Short Story Wednesday Review: The Perp Wore Pumpkin II: A Humorous Crime Anthology to Benefit Second Harvest Food Bank

 

The Perp Wore Pumpkin II: A Humorous Crime Anthology to Benefit Second Harvest Food Bank is the new release from White City Press, an imprint of Misti Media. Published by J. Alan Hartman, edited by Sandra Murphy, the anthology contains eleven tales of the season where crime, food, and humor are in large supply. There are also three recipes from the Mr. Hartman’s sister, Lisa Lynn.

 

It should be noted that the anthology includes the short story, Choked on Love, by yours truly. I am breaking my long-standing policy of not reviewing books I am in because this is a charity anthology. The mission here, and one I believe in, is to help others with food insolvency in some way. I am unable to do much, but I can do this, and so I am.  

 

After an introduction from the publisher, J. Alan Hartman, it is on to the stories. “A Trifle Too Far” by Shari Held kicks things off where Aunt Sadie is well known for bringing inedible concoctions to the holiday dinner. For example, it wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without her pumpkin whoopie pies. She soon arrives in her red Mustang with yet more surprises for this year. She isn’t the only one with surprises.

 

Editor Sandra Murphy is next with “And a Thanksgiving Turkey Names John Glenn.” Ronnie and Buddy are private detectives and on a stakeout. Neither one of them wants a repeat of last year when Buddy got shot. Though that did bring Sharon into his life and a lot of other changes.

 

My story, Choked on Love, is next. Enough said about that.

 

After a recipe for “Easy Poultry, Rice, and Carrot Soup” it is back to the stories with “What Cranberry Relish Can Add to Your Holiday” by Vicki Erwin. Like the main character in the last story, she had plans to for dinner, a bit of reading, and television at home. But, little sister Jenna refuses to take no for an answer and knows her weak spots.

 

Fedora Amis is up next with “A Faery Tale Thanksgiving” where Rodney and his buddy have significant expenses. They have bills to cover as professional criminals and the lifestyle is not cheap. Grabbing the daughter of a rich guy sounds like just the ticket.

 

Alice and Lorna are going to spend time with Lorna’s family in “The Turducken Murder” by Lisa Krystosek. Upon arrival, they discover the police and a lot more is already going on at the house of Lorna’s parents. They also still have to participate in all the family traditions that some folks would also consider crimes.

 

After a recipe for “Quick Black Beans” it is on to “Easy as Pie” by Mike Rusetsky. Big brother Dusty Bruiser and Davey have the huge bag of potatoes after it fell off a farmer’s truck with nobody the wiser. Now, if they could just get their hands on some pies. Dusty Bruiser has a plan.

 

He wants no part of the Rehabilitation Center in “Gelatin and Soda” by Stephen M. Pierce. But, his mom in in the place after a bad fall. Sandra King is also now missing a shoe. There will be no peace for him or anyone else until his mom’s shoe is found.

 

Ruth Harper used to be an attorney. She retired, got bored, and took a job as a sales rep for New Orleans Naughty and Nice. Basically, she sells erotica products at small parties in homes. The latest event was a fun evening. Until it wasn’t in “Laissez les Bons Temps Rouler” by donalee Moulton.

 

After a recipe for “Fruit Crumble” it is back to the stories with “Great Aunt Martha’s Pumpkin Pie” by Sally Milliken. Instead of the annual football game, these folks play a soccer game. They also do it full costumes. Dad might be having cognitive issues and some folks might be trying to take advantage of that fact.  

 

NYPD Officer Sumi Lin is a rookie and working her first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in “What the Dicken’s Is Going On?” by Wendy Harrison. She is pretty sure there is some criminality going with the folks on the float she has been assigned to be with, but Sergeant Arlo Harris won’t listen to her at all.

 

The list of authors and their short bios bring the enjoyable anthology to a close.

 

A fun read full of crimes, hijinks, shenanigans, foods, and more, The Perp Wore Pumpkin II: A Humorous Crime Anthology to Benefit Second Harvest Food Bank, delivers in all aspects. It definitely will make you laugh and it will make you hungry as food is everywhere in the read.

 

Publisher Purchasing Link: https://whitecitypress.com/product/perp2/

 

Amazon Purchasing Link: https://amzn.to/4pfI5nV 

 

My reading copy was several proofs during the editing process because of my contribution as well as a digital ARC.

 

 

Kevin R. Tipple ©2025

Short Story Wednesday Review: Sex & Violins: An Erotic Crime Anthology

 

Sex & Violins: An Erotic Crime Anthology features exactly what the title states. There is crime. There is music as a backdrop to every short story. There is a lot of sex. The sex is graphic and detailed which makes this anthology from White City Press very much an adults only read. The book isn’t for everybody. It is a good one and well worth your read.

After an introduction by Editor Sandra Murphy explaining the history of the project, it is on to the stories.

 

Jack Bates gets the book started with “A Legacy for Murder.” Rachel McKinnon is in town to appear with the Port Pinnebog Symphony Orchestra. Internationally recognized, she is a legendary vocalist. She also likes to toy with the men in an orchestra. She has her target selected and wheels are in motion that could alter opening night.

 

“Winter Performance” by Lara Hazzan follows where, Anna, the Maestro of the Baltimore Symphony, has been called to the performance hall as there has been a murder on the premises. David, the symphony librarian, is dead on the premises. Anna saw him very late the night before. What they were doing and a lot more is about to come out.

 

Her husband is a pianist and is playing in the symphony. But, he does not feel challenged by the pieces he has been told to play for the concert. He is also a bit down lately in “Piano Tuning” by Anna V. Nelson. There are also issues in the bed room. The new celloist could make things worse as men are seriously attracted to her. Other women are annoyed by how she plays her instrument.

 

Nico Benedetto wants to hire the private investigator to tail his wife in “The Tail” by Chandler Christie. His wife goes somewhere every Thursday night. He just wants to know where she is going and what she is doing. Joelle is the principal cello for the Pacific Heights Chamber Orchestra and Thursday nights are supposed to be rehearsal night. He wants to know what is going on and wants to know now.

 

Diana is with Tom Bradshaw as he goes to meet Stephanie in “The Law of Stephanie” by Albert Tucher. Stephanie will play cello at the swingers party and Tom wants Diana to help get close to her. Diana is used to working, professionally, one on one, but Tom is paying handsomely, so she is going to work. That is until a murder brings the event to a halt and a new complication.

 

Shari Held is up next with “Concerto for Harp and Homicide.” Hannigan play the harp superbly well and is a prima donna. The orchestra is on their annual outreach tour in various small towns where they will give free concerts. Harry Hannigan plans his own personal outreach with Millie Mason. She is also looking forward to it. She has a plan to change him too.  

 

They had been practicing Beethoven’s Fifth for weeks, but things are not going well in “What’s Love Got to do With It?” by Karen Keeley. Our narrator plans to commit murder for her fellow musician Leonard Giovanni and Rosa. Her plan is well thought out and already in motion.

 

She figured out a major piece of herself back in college in “Ruby Wants to Watch” by Joseph S. Walker. Porn does not work for her. It has to be real people, imperfections and all. Her friend Carmen also has some of the same desires. She also has a plan on how to take their voyeurism to a totally new level.

 

It was May 2022 in downtown Reno when our narrator found the cello in the local pawn shop. She bought it and took it home in “The Cello of Monkey Pawn Shop” by Linda Kay Hardie. It is a beautiful looking instrument and it plays beautifully. It is also trouble.

 

Grant Fuchs is massively hated in Chamberlain County and for good reason. He is the local art critic and just ripped to shreds the first outdoor concert of the season by Riverton Symphony. He is also soon dead in “Reed Between the Lines” by Steve Lisko. Now the cops are talking to everyone. Including Trask who has a long history of ruins with Grant Fuchs in his role as coordinator of the city arts events. Mr. Trask also knows at least two of the possible murder suspects intimately.

 

It is about to be time for the 2019 holiday concert and the semiprofessional, the Porta Larga Symphony Orchestra, is doing their best they can.  Conductor Vall Hall is trying to get their best, but intimate relationships between musicians are a bad thing when those relationships collapse with hard feelings. Siggy Hagen is the rock star of the Orchestra. He is supremely confident of his abilities on stage and in the bedroom. The trail of carnage in his wake proves his bedroom powers. Now he is dead and his murder case needs to be solved.

 

“Rescue Me” by Editor Sandra Murphy is the final story in the anthology. The woman’s clothing is ripped as she comes into his room and locks the door. She tells him two men are after her. They are planning to kill her because of what she saw. Dave helps her to hide, gets rid of the thugs, and then gets his reward. What seems to be an all too predictable short story, has a lot more going on as it unfolds.

 

Short bios in the “Our Orgasmic Orchestra” section follows and brings the read to the final note.

 

Edited by Sandra Murphy, Sex & Violins: An Erotic Crime Anthology provides quite the read. The twelve stories included are entertaining with plenty of crime, music, and graphic sex. The anthology lives up to the title and then some. Well worth your time, though you may wish to pace yourself a bit as you make your way through the reads.

 

Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3YEKTkg 

  

My reading copy was an ARC from Publisher Jay Hartman of White City Press with no expectation of a review. The book releases tomorrow, October 31^st.

 

Kevin R. Tipple ©2024