Publishers Weekly
★ 09/27/2021
In this wonderful all-original anthology, Vandiver (the Romaine Wilder series) showcases 20 mystery and suspense stories written by people of color, each with a pivotal moment set at midnight. One highlight is Callie Browning’s twisty “Dead Men Tell No Tales,” which centers on the murder of the prime minister of Barbados, “a notorious Lothario with a penchant for dim-witted women with loose morals.” Another standout is Christopher Chambers’s clever “In the Matter of Mabel and Bobby Jefferson,” in which Shane, an English major now working the night shift at an insurance company call center, wearily concludes, “It’s going to get funny tonight,” but he doesn’t know the half of it. In Tina Kashian’s unsettling “Cape May Murders,” Sona and Priya, both mothers of young daughters, go away for a relaxing weekend at the Jersey Shore and wind up sharing their B&B with a murderer. Sanjay, the Hindi Houdini, finds his séance spinning out of control in Gigi Pandian’s droll “The Diamond Vanishes.” Each contributor offers a surprising and original take on the mystery genre. Full of varied voices, this volume is must reading for mystery aficionados. (Nov.)
From the Publisher
Praise for Midnight Hour:
“[A] wonderful all-original anthology . . . Full of varied voices, this volume is a must read for mystery aficionados.”
—Publishers Weekly, starred review
"An excellent collection of stories told from many different viewpoints."
—Kirkus Reviews
“A smorgasbord of crime writing . . . [that] shows how unique points of view can freshen up even the hoariest of genres.”
—New York Journal of Books
"Midnight Hour is an absorbing anthology that exhibits the range and talent of some of crime fiction's most interesting writers. Full of vim and intrigue, fun and horror, these stories explore the suspenseful possibilities of trouble at midnight."
—Steph Cha, award-winning author of Your House Will Pay
“A magnificent collection of the work of truly fine writers. Each story is unique and compelling, and lingers with the reader. Midnight Hour is simply extraordinary.”
—Sulari Gentill, award-winning author of the Rowland Sinclair mysteries
“A collection of stories that made my jaw drop with each clever ending, Midnight Hour offers a thrilling selection written by and about people of color that will keep you reading until well past the dead of night.”
—Elle Marr, bestselling author of The Missing Sister and Lies We Bury
“From Tracy Clark’s chilling ‘Lucky Thirteen’ to Raquel V. Reyes’s comical ‘Mata Hambra,’ each story in this unique anthology offers a clever, macabre twist that will keep readers up way past midnight. A shivery, humorous collection!”
—Valerie Wilson Wesley, author of A Glimmer of Death
Kirkus Reviews
2021-09-01
An exciting anthology of 20 crime and suspense tales by and about people of color.
Vandiver brings together a diverse group of short stories that chill and thrill in their exploration of the many human passions that lead to crime. Tracy Clark tells the tale of a young punk looking for easy money who makes the fatal mistake of choosing the wrong victim. David Heska Wanbli Weiden explores the theft of a book covered in the skin of a Native American that turns out to be much more than a theft for hire. Editor Vandiver’s tale of murder has a surprise you won’t see coming. Callie Browning’s story of hate and karma is set on tropical Barbados. Richie Narvaez’s account of blackmail and revenge in Puerto Rico has plenty of odd twists. A district nurse and a parrot help solve a convoluted case of murder during a robbery in Frankie Y. Bailey’s quick read. E.A. Aymar surveys the choices available to a man down on his luck. Jennifer Chow follows two old high school friends whose decision to meet in an escape room has unexpected consequences, and magic and a séance drive Gigi Pandian’s story of a clever escape from an abusive husband. This eclectic collection will appeal to mystery readers.
An excellent collection of stories told from many different viewpoints.
