From the massive archive ....
According to the
author’s forward, the editor refused to include the short story It
Doesn’t Take A Genius in the short story collection Inhuman
Condition because of its “graphic subject matter.” For those who read a lot of crime or non-cozy
mystery stories, the so called “graphic subject matter” is really not that
graphic at all and certainly not at all disturbing. Interestingly enough, the
tale was first published in the short story mystery and crime anthology LAndmarked
For Murder by Top Press in 2006.
The California
Institute of Technology (Caltech) is like every other smart place in the world.
The students and the faculty are really smart and tend to look down on the
support staff that keeps things humming along. Especially a certain middle aged
slightly overweight woman who works in payroll and accounting. The only time
anyone pays attention to “Miss Dean” is when something is amiss.
That works out
well for her during a lunch break from a computer training class. Two guys from
another department are also in the class and they tend to stand out. Thanks to
the fact they are oblivious of everyone around them and run their mouths it
becomes clear that Brian Spain and Tony Brandt have a serious dark interest in
the class instructor, Jennifer Pearson. She is in trouble if they really do
what are planning and she has no idea of the threat. Miss Dean does, but would
anyone believe her?
This is a very
good tale that features an intriguing character. There is much that lurks below
the surface with Miss Dean and those details gradually become clear in It
Doesn’t Take A Genius. While it easily
could and should have appeared in the very good collection Inhuman Condition
this short story is well worth it as a mystery stand alone.
It Doesn’t Take
A Genius
Kate Thornton
Self-Published
March 2011
ASIN: B004RID1JS
E-Book
20 Pages
I recently picked this up to read and review using funds in my Amazon Associate account after the author mentioned it on Facebook. I realized I had never read it and wanted to rectify that situation. I am glad I did.
Kevin R. Tipple
©2015, 2021
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4 comments:
One of my favorite setups for a story. The unnoticed woman who is noticing.
Yep. They exist.
This sounds great, Kevin. I purchased a copy.
Kate writes great stuff. Hope you like it. She also has a series of science fiction/Mystery short stories that are very good and highly recommended. "Blue Plate Special" and others.
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