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A Sampling of Sleuths: Short Stories from Bingeworthy Mystery Authors
A Sampling of Award-Winning Mystery Authors For You To TryIs there anything better than discovering a new crime fiction author you like — then finding out that they have plenty of books in their series for you to enjoy?
From cozies to contemporaries , with a crime caper or two thrown in for good measure, A Sampling of Sleuths features short stories from 10 proven mystery authors, each one with strong backlists. It's a great, risk-free way to quickly explore authors you may not have heard of yet — and find the ones that you deem bingeworthy. After that, the rest is up to you...
Featuring short mystery stories R. AllenMichelle BenningtonKate FloraLise McClendonKaty MungerGary PhillipsJ.M. Poole Sarah ShaberConnie SheltonSusan Slater
From cozies to contemporaries , with a crime caper or two thrown in for good measure, A Sampling of Sleuths features short stories from 10 proven mystery authors, each one with strong backlists. It's a great, risk-free way to quickly explore authors you may not have heard of yet — and find the ones that you deem bingeworthy. After that, the rest is up to you...
Featuring short mystery stories R. AllenMichelle BenningtonKate FloraLise McClendonKaty MungerGary PhillipsJ.M. Poole Sarah ShaberConnie SheltonSusan Slater
247 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 20, 2023
214 people are currently reading
118 people want to read
About the author
Lise McClendon
79 books225 followersLise McClendon is a fiction writer living in the Rocky Mountains of Montana. She has been a film reviewer, a film maker, a journalism professor, and a PR flack. Since her first novel, The Bluejay Shaman, in 1994, she has served on the national board of Mystery Writers of America and the International Association of Crime Writers/North America, as well as on faculty of the Jackson Hole Writers Conference where each year she critiques, speaks, and learns from writers new and old.
Check out the Lise McClendon Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/LiseMcClendon
Lise McClendon also writes as Rory Tate in the 2011 thriller, JUMP CUT. Her new novel by Rory Tate is PLAN X, available now. Read her latest novel, Château des Corbeaux, 17th in the Bennett Sisters mystery series that began with Blackbird Fly.
Check out the Lise McClendon Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/LiseMcClendon
Lise McClendon also writes as Rory Tate in the 2011 thriller, JUMP CUT. Her new novel by Rory Tate is PLAN X, available now. Read her latest novel, Château des Corbeaux, 17th in the Bennett Sisters mystery series that began with Blackbird Fly.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
December 13, 2023
Sampling of Sleuths indeed!
This collection of short stories was a delight to curl up with on a cold winter afternoon! I enjoyed it immensely and was impressed with this stellar group of authors. If forced to pick, I’d have to say that Michelle Bennington’s “Killer Thanksgiving” hit the sweet spot for me. Just the right amount of humor (Birdie and her sister, Oda Dean, were a riot) and I had no clue “who done it” until the end! Excellent pacing and a fun read :)
This collection of short stories was a delight to curl up with on a cold winter afternoon! I enjoyed it immensely and was impressed with this stellar group of authors. If forced to pick, I’d have to say that Michelle Bennington’s “Killer Thanksgiving” hit the sweet spot for me. Just the right amount of humor (Birdie and her sister, Oda Dean, were a riot) and I had no clue “who done it” until the end! Excellent pacing and a fun read :)
July 6, 2023
The ten short stories are:
- Twelve Highlanders An' A Bagpipe
- Killer Thanksgiving
- Fideau Saves the Day
- Cozy Cottage for Rent
- A Tale of Two Vineyards
- Inventions Can Be Murder
- One Night in Brownsville
- The Totem
- Pound of Flesh
- Case of the Prized Pies
These are all cosy mystery stories, following amateur sleuths such as human Birdie in Killer Thanksgiving and dog Fideau in Fideau Saves the Day. As short reads, these are good stories for start-up mystery readers due to the quick read and the range of style, from dog instincts to murder. My favourites are Killer Thanksgiving, Fideau Saves the Day, Cozy Cottage for Rent, and Pound of Flesh.
I received a free copy and am leaving a review voluntarily.
Thank you to StoryOrigin and author.
- Twelve Highlanders An' A Bagpipe
- Killer Thanksgiving
- Fideau Saves the Day
- Cozy Cottage for Rent
- A Tale of Two Vineyards
- Inventions Can Be Murder
- One Night in Brownsville
- The Totem
- Pound of Flesh
- Case of the Prized Pies
These are all cosy mystery stories, following amateur sleuths such as human Birdie in Killer Thanksgiving and dog Fideau in Fideau Saves the Day. As short reads, these are good stories for start-up mystery readers due to the quick read and the range of style, from dog instincts to murder. My favourites are Killer Thanksgiving, Fideau Saves the Day, Cozy Cottage for Rent, and Pound of Flesh.
I received a free copy and am leaving a review voluntarily.
Thank you to StoryOrigin and author.
July 10, 2023
A Sampling of Sleuths!
This book is exactly what it’s title says! It’s a compilation of fairly short mystery stories by 10 different authors, some of whom I’ve read and others known to me. I did like some stories better than others, and that’s the point! It’s a great way to sample the writing of 10 authors, so you can decide if you’d like to read more of. I received a free copy of this book and write this review voluntarily.
This book is exactly what it’s title says! It’s a compilation of fairly short mystery stories by 10 different authors, some of whom I’ve read and others known to me. I did like some stories better than others, and that’s the point! It’s a great way to sample the writing of 10 authors, so you can decide if you’d like to read more of. I received a free copy of this book and write this review voluntarily.
July 3, 2023
What a fun collection of short story mysteries! I really enjoyed finding some newer authors' work, as well as reading some new stories from familiar authors such as Susan Slater, Connie Shelton, and Jeffrey Poole. So much fun! Highly recommend!
August 15, 2023
A Great Read
I am a fan of short story collections, and this is a good one. All the stories are well constructed. A bonus is that all the authors also have series you can read next. A+++
I am a fan of short story collections, and this is a good one. All the stories are well constructed. A bonus is that all the authors also have series you can read next. A+++
January 20, 2024
A handful of great short reads
If you're looking for a new author or two, but dread the idea of reading a full-length book to find one, I highly recommend this anthology of short mysteries.
If you're looking for a new author or two, but dread the idea of reading a full-length book to find one, I highly recommend this anthology of short mysteries.
October 21, 2024
good compilation
I was happy discovering new mystery authors through this sample of short stories. I hope I can get some of the series and get to know some of the characters better.
I was happy discovering new mystery authors through this sample of short stories. I hope I can get some of the series and get to know some of the characters better.
October 1, 2025
A sampling of poor writing
None of the plots came even close to engaging. However, what makes this collection singularly bad is the poor writing. Maybe middle school would have put up with the sad simplicity of the phrase and clunky paragraphs. Who are these “writers”?!
None of the plots came even close to engaging. However, what makes this collection singularly bad is the poor writing. Maybe middle school would have put up with the sad simplicity of the phrase and clunky paragraphs. Who are these “writers”?!
August 3, 2023
Short Stories
This is a collection of short stories by different authors. The stories were entertaining and intriguing. Really enjoyed these stories.
This is a collection of short stories by different authors. The stories were entertaining and intriguing. Really enjoyed these stories.
October 9, 2023
I enjoyed some of these stories, others were a bit…meh!
November 13, 2023
A few of the stories were cute. Most were duds.
February 10, 2024
I enjoy a short story at bedtime. These were a very good way for me to be introduced to these authors. They are all very different and interesting. Enjoy!
August 9, 2024
4 1/2 stars
A terrific offering of short stories by excellent authors! Each one was quite different and each grabbed and held my interest. If you haven't read these authors before, I think this collection will encourage you to read them more!
A terrific offering of short stories by excellent authors! Each one was quite different and each grabbed and held my interest. If you haven't read these authors before, I think this collection will encourage you to read them more!
September 5, 2024
Bought this book after attending Bouchercon--has some amazing author's works, and I ended up buying several books from each of the authors--they are truly "Bingeworthy" books and stories. Thanks!
July 29, 2023
A Sampling of Sleuths features short stories from 10 proven mystery authors, each one with strong backlists. It's a great, risk-free way to quickly explore authors you may not have heard of yet — and find the ones that you deem bingeworthy.
This book is exactly what its description says! It’s short mystery stories by 10 different authors, some of whom I’ve read and others known to me. I did like some stories better than others, and that’s the point! It’s a great way to sample the writing of 10 authors, so you can decide if you’d like to read more of. I received a free copy of this book and write this review voluntarily.
This book is exactly what its description says! It’s short mystery stories by 10 different authors, some of whom I’ve read and others known to me. I did like some stories better than others, and that’s the point! It’s a great way to sample the writing of 10 authors, so you can decide if you’d like to read more of. I received a free copy of this book and write this review voluntarily.
June 17, 2023
Excellent short story compilation , ideal beach reading, well written novellas from excellent penmanship. I read an arc of this and my review is voluntary
July 8, 2023
I don't usually not read the whole book even if its boring. But this one I must admit I only read some of it. Most all of them were okay but I have so many more good books I want to read more. Sorry
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews