Tangled Web UK Review November 2007
Dead Man's Hand by
Otto Penzler(ed)
hbk out November 07
Published by Quercus
at £17.99
'Fifteen crime-writing aces deliver a royal flush of brand new poker tales,' proclaims
the blurb to this themed anthology and, with contributors such as Michael Connelly,
Alexander McCall Smith, Jeffery Deaver and Walter Moseley, the boast that 'this is
the best hand of crime short stories you will ever be dealt' is not entirely idle. Editor
Penzler makes the point in his introduction that 'if ever a subject begged to be
associated with crime, it is gambling' and the authors make effective use of it. Two of
my particular favourite crime writers are Peter Robinson and (a more recent
discovery) Laura Lippman and their stories are up to their usual high standards. Joyce
Carol Oates, a novelist of distinction who makes regular forays into the genre
contributes the very dark 'Strip Poker', while among the other offerings is a good
story from songwriter-turned-crime-writer Rupert Holmes.
(
Martin Edwards
- author of the highly acclaimed Harry Devlin Mysteries)
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