From the massively
magnificent archive…
As author Reed
Farrel Coleman writes in the introduction, crime fiction these days has grown
far beyond the private investigator. Not that PI novels no longer exist, far
from it. But, these days the PI novel does not hold the preeminent position in
the world of crime fiction as it used to back decades ago. The classic PI of
yesteryear may be gone to a certain extent as no one walks around in trench
coats while wearing a fedora these days. But the classic PI is still present in
manner and action, though he or she appears in a far different form these days.
That idea is very clearly illustrated in the excellent read The Shamus Sampler
that features “new detective stories from around the world.”
This highly
entertaining anthology begins with one of the hardest stories to explain while
not giving away too much. “Mysterious Private Investigations” by Peter
DiChellis is one very complicated tale. It involves a jewelry heist, a private
investigator, a man in jail for a crime he did not commit, and a search for
justice, among other elements.
Jake Diamond is
up next in “One Hit Wonder: A Jake Diamond Short Story” by J. L. Abramo. If
Darlene Roman had answered the phone like she should have instead of ducking
across the street for a drink at the health food bar across the street, Jake
would not have answered the phone. He did answer and the caller, who didn't
give him time to speak, gave the instructions on how he wanted somebody killed.
With little to go on, Jake has six hours to find the intended victim somewhere
in the city of San Francisco.
“The Case of the
Derby Diamond” by Jeffery Marks comes next with a classic style PI tale set
just after World War II. Mrs. Van Hoskins is a very wealthy woman and
exceedingly unhappy as her ring, a seven carat diamond surrounded by a jewel
encrusted horseshoe, is missing. She wants it back. PI Donnelly has the chance
to find the ring and make some money as The Van Hoskins want things keep very
quiet.
Gypsy is a call
girl and is about to get out of the life. She plans on making Nick Kepler her
final client in “Gypsy's Kiss” by Jim Winter. Somebody is not happy with her,
or her decision, and is making the point loud and clear. The Cleveland PI will
have his hands full trying to keep Gypsy alive and well.
Sergeant Thomas
Hamilton kept Harry Charters alive during the war and Harry knows he owes him a
huge debt. It has been ten years since they saw each other and the passing
years have not been kind to either man. Hamilton’s son is missing in “The Smell
Of Perfume” by Graham Smith. Hamilton wants Chet found and wants Harry’s help.
Jim Wolf,
private investigator, lives on a boat in a harbor in Oakland. When he isn't
actively working he hangs out at a bar known as “Big Emma’s.” He almost never
works for lawyers, but makes an exception for defense lawyer Sandra Jacobs. She
needs his help on behalf of a client in “Rage: A Jim Wolf Mystery” by Tim
Wohlforth. Wealthy psychotherapist Henry Platt was brutally killed at his
outdoor pool. Sandra’s client, his wife Carol, has admitted to killing him, but
none of it makes sense.
Set in Morris,
Oklahoma in 1965 “The Patriot” by Sean Benjamin Dexter is right out of the Cold
War with a tale of Russian spies, espionage, and life in small town, Oklahoma.
One of the residents thinks he heard somebody who sounded like a “Ruskie” on
his amateur radio talking about the local Dow Chemical plant. Local police
can’t be trusted so the resident has come to local private investigator, Alex
Taylor, for help.
He may not be a
private investigator as such, but reporter Liam Michael Murphy who goes by the
nickname of “Mad Mick Murphy” acts like one in “Drumstick Murder” by Michael
Haskins. He is at the annual Key West Songwriters Festival and is supposed to
interview the legendary Dallas Lucas. His interview subject is dead and it is
very clear it was not a suicide. With Lucas murdered the planned interview
feature will now be a piece on his murder--unless the local cops decide the
reporter did it.
It is always a
treat to come across a story from Texas author Bill Crider. Far from the East
Texas stomping grounds of his Sheriff Dan Rhodes series, “A Matter Of Heart” is
set on Galveston Island. The highly entertaining tale features a private
investigator working the murder case of one Sue Traylor. It is a complicated
case that has links to the past and the colorful history of Galveston when
literally anything was possible on the island.
“Christmas Morning” by Stephen D. Rogers comes
next where a man is sure his wife is cheating on him. He bases that on how she
behaved at the recent holiday party they attended. He wants proof and will use
that to convince her to stop. First up, the private investigator has to find
proof that his client is right.
Keith Dixon
takes readers over to the United Kingdom in “The Same Old Story.” Richie Downes
is insisting that he be the latest client of a private investigator by the name
of Sam Dyke. He is a big physically imposing man who insists that he is not
looking for a divorce; he just wants to know who his wife is seeing. All he
wants is the name of the person and does not want proof. He is willing to
promise not to hurt anyone. Dykes needs the money and reluctantly agrees.
“Q” didn't want
to have to give up a knife she liked, but considering she just used it to gut a
man in the frozen alley, it seemed like wiping and dropping it was a good idea.
That dead guy is just one of the many issues going on in the complicated “The
Dutch Connection” by Kit Rohrbach.
Fred Zackel is
next with his tale set in San Francisco titled “Mario and Cheryse.” A
streetwalker named Cheryse should lead to Mario Rosales. His grandmother wants
him found and convinced to turn himself in before the cops find him. She would
much rather have Mario alive and in jail as opposed to being killed in the
streets by the cops.
Editor Jochem
Vandersteen brings the book to a close his own tale titled “Hired From The
Grave: A Noah Milano Short Story.” Noah Milano is a security specialist/
investigator who got a phone call from a man named Mark Beck who wanted to hire
him. He would explain why when Milano cane to his Burbank area apartment. When
Milano arrived, he found Beck dead in what could be construed as an accidental
auto-erotic asphyxiation. Milano doesn't buy it and soon is working the case as
a murder.
Each of the
fourteen stories in “The Shamus Sampler” features a small introduction to the
piece that provides context to the story as well as an author bio at the end.
Each of the author bios makes a point of mentioning titles of other works by
the author as well as the name of the publisher. The tales in this anthology
are not only very good ones, but are often very complicated and provide plenty
of twists right up to the end.
Material supplied by a good friend for my use in an objective review.
Kevin R. Tipple
© 2013, 2022
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