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Case Closed
From New York Times bestselling author Jan Burke comes the last of six short story collections—sure to please fans of suspense masters Patricia Cornwell, Sue Grafton, and Robert Parker.
Case Closed is a mini-anthology containing a brand-new short story—“The Last Place You Look,” featuring Frank Harriman in his younger days as a rookie cop—with an added bonus of three stories from the highly acclaimed print anthology Eighteen : “At turns chilling, funny, poignant—and always insightful” ( New York Times bestselling author Jonathan Kellerman); “Astonishing…wry…these stories are sure to delight” (Jeffery Deaver, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Kill Room ).
Case Closed is a mini-anthology containing a brand-new short story—“The Last Place You Look,” featuring Frank Harriman in his younger days as a rookie cop—with an added bonus of three stories from the highly acclaimed print anthology Eighteen : “At turns chilling, funny, poignant—and always insightful” ( New York Times bestselling author Jonathan Kellerman); “Astonishing…wry…these stories are sure to delight” (Jeffery Deaver, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Kill Room ).
- GenresMystery
105 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 5, 2014
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102 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
December 9, 2014
*NetGalley book review*
The short stories that were in this anthology were not really the best I have ever read. The started out good, then each went further down hill from there. I just felt they need more oomph to them. Nothing really that good stood out from each of them. Wished this had been better.
The short stories that were in this anthology were not really the best I have ever read. The started out good, then each went further down hill from there. I just felt they need more oomph to them. Nothing really that good stood out from each of them. Wished this had been better.
February 19, 2022
The final book in the short story series from Burke. This one had one story featuring Detective Frank Harriman from the Irene Kelly series--this was another tale of his rookie days in the police dept. & how the veteran cops love to prank the rookies--Frank is sent out on a missing persons call so he's wary of what he'll find. What he does find is a case that's 6 years old; the woman has been reporting her husband missing for years, but the police, after a cursory investigation, are no longer interested & save her yearly call for a rookie prank. Only Frank doesn't find it funny & listens to the woman's story & thinks he has some idea of what happened. Acting upon his hunch, the case is finally solved. Another very interesting one tells the story of a 19th century young man whose family is almost entirely wiped out by consumption & the neighbor who convinces the rest of the town that all the recent consumptive deaths are caused by vampires & won't stop until their dead are exhumed & stopped with a gruesome ritual to prevent their rising & infecting more people. While the tale is fiction, the practice actually happened before the disease was understood. A couple more tales with twists round out the quartet. Very enjoyable.
November 19, 2014
I usually struggle with the short story format but they do have their benefits when one is time poor as you’re not forced to put aside a book in the middle of a gut-wrenching or hold-your-breath scene.
Jan Burke’s Case Closed (76 pages in total) features three short stories from her 2002 collection Eighteen and a new story, featuring Burke regular Detective Frank Harriman back when he just joined the police force.
The Last Place You Look is set in 1976, and despite his policing pedigree fellow detectives take the opportunity to have a play with their new recruit sending Frank off to speak to an elderly woman about a missing person’s report.
On meeting Frieda Sarton, Frank discovers she’s been pestering the police for six years about her missing husband. Frank unwittingly listens to the old lady’s story before realising he’s been duped. Nonetheless he decides to take her claims seriously much to the chagrin of his colleagues.
Other short stories in the anthology include a slightly confusing tale about ‘consumption’ (TB) and vampires, story about a young boy who’s grappling with his father’s death and a bullying step-father; and finally the tale of a man with a troublesome future brother-in-law.
The Last Place You Look is the clear winner in this batch of short stories but they’re all an easy way to while away some time.
Jan Burke’s Case Closed (76 pages in total) features three short stories from her 2002 collection Eighteen and a new story, featuring Burke regular Detective Frank Harriman back when he just joined the police force.
The Last Place You Look is set in 1976, and despite his policing pedigree fellow detectives take the opportunity to have a play with their new recruit sending Frank off to speak to an elderly woman about a missing person’s report.
On meeting Frieda Sarton, Frank discovers she’s been pestering the police for six years about her missing husband. Frank unwittingly listens to the old lady’s story before realising he’s been duped. Nonetheless he decides to take her claims seriously much to the chagrin of his colleagues.
Other short stories in the anthology include a slightly confusing tale about ‘consumption’ (TB) and vampires, story about a young boy who’s grappling with his father’s death and a bullying step-father; and finally the tale of a man with a troublesome future brother-in-law.
The Last Place You Look is the clear winner in this batch of short stories but they’re all an easy way to while away some time.
November 16, 2014
I received an advanced copy from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books!
Case Closed includes four wonderful short stories. I had never read anything by Jan Burke before, so I didn't know Frank Harriman. The first story, The Last Place you look is apparently a flashback to his early days as a rookie. You don't need to know anything about the character, though, since it is a classic detective story. It is well-written and funny. The Haunting of Carrick Hollow is a vampire story with a scientific twist and an unforgettable ending. Mea Culpa is another detective story. In this one, the amateur sleuth is a kid and the case has high stakes and a heart-warming resolution. The Man in the Civil Suit was entertaining, if in my opinion it was the weaker of the four.
The problem with short story collections is that they tend to be uneven. This is not the case with Case Closed. All the stories are perfectly written and I simply couldn't put the book down. I will be reading more books by Jan Burke.
Case Closed includes four wonderful short stories. I had never read anything by Jan Burke before, so I didn't know Frank Harriman. The first story, The Last Place you look is apparently a flashback to his early days as a rookie. You don't need to know anything about the character, though, since it is a classic detective story. It is well-written and funny. The Haunting of Carrick Hollow is a vampire story with a scientific twist and an unforgettable ending. Mea Culpa is another detective story. In this one, the amateur sleuth is a kid and the case has high stakes and a heart-warming resolution. The Man in the Civil Suit was entertaining, if in my opinion it was the weaker of the four.
The problem with short story collections is that they tend to be uneven. This is not the case with Case Closed. All the stories are perfectly written and I simply couldn't put the book down. I will be reading more books by Jan Burke.
February 1, 2015
http://ensuingchapters.com/2014/12/15...
For two decades, Burke has thrilled a wide audience (including Bill Clinton) with her series of novels set around journalist Irene Kelly. Over the years, fans have enjoyed her blossoming romance with detective Frank Harriman, but in Case Closed—the last of six ebook collections pairing Burke’s new short fiction with stories from her anthology, Eighteen—we meet Harriman as a bumbling rookie. In this tale, he responds to a missing persons call, all the time wondering why the other cops are treating it with such cynicism. And it only gets stranger from there. Burke’s skill for dialogue and wit shine through. The interaction between Harriman and the old lady is delightful. There is a glaring plot hole in the big reveal (I won’t spill it, but it’s safe to say even the laziest, most cynical cop would have thought to check there), but it doesn’t spoil the enjoyment of the story, nor the others in the collection. It’s a wonderful introduction to Burke’s underworld.
For two decades, Burke has thrilled a wide audience (including Bill Clinton) with her series of novels set around journalist Irene Kelly. Over the years, fans have enjoyed her blossoming romance with detective Frank Harriman, but in Case Closed—the last of six ebook collections pairing Burke’s new short fiction with stories from her anthology, Eighteen—we meet Harriman as a bumbling rookie. In this tale, he responds to a missing persons call, all the time wondering why the other cops are treating it with such cynicism. And it only gets stranger from there. Burke’s skill for dialogue and wit shine through. The interaction between Harriman and the old lady is delightful. There is a glaring plot hole in the big reveal (I won’t spill it, but it’s safe to say even the laziest, most cynical cop would have thought to check there), but it doesn’t spoil the enjoyment of the story, nor the others in the collection. It’s a wonderful introduction to Burke’s underworld.
October 28, 2014
What a treat! Four differing stories by one of our top mystery writers – a six year old mystery solved by a rookie’s patience; the tale of vampires in Rhode Island – ‘vampires’ thought to cause TB and a young doctor’s solution – a totally odd guy who makes a pest out of himself in art museums and the Natural History Museum and that solution by a young suitor of his sister – and …well, jump into this and find out!
This is a treat – a treat you will relish and you deserve – right? You know I’m right! You’ve been working hard and putting up with a lot and now deserve something – and this is it! If you don’t love it, send it to me, and I’ll have it for dinner!
This is a treat – a treat you will relish and you deserve – right? You know I’m right! You’ve been working hard and putting up with a lot and now deserve something – and this is it! If you don’t love it, send it to me, and I’ll have it for dinner!
December 1, 2014
This is a book of four short stories. I enjoyed the first three stories quite a bit, however, the last story did not have enough meat to it, in my opinion. Overall a very good group of stories.
All in all this group of stories has made me want to read more by this author.
I received this book via netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
All in all this group of stories has made me want to read more by this author.
I received this book via netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
February 9, 2015
I have read and enjoyed Jan Burke's Irene books in the past and I enjoyed most of the stories in this short story collection. They are well written short glimpses of lives. I especially liked the first story of Frank's rookie year. I found only the last story lacking. Recommended. I received a copy from Netgalley for review.
June 24, 2016
This is filled with short stories. When you first start reading the first one is a catcher. But then the rest of the stories start losing it's spin on keeping the reader interested. At least that is what happen in my case. I hated that because I love a good mystery.
*received for an honest review*
*received for an honest review*
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December 29, 2014This collection of short stories, was not what I initially anticipated.
January 17, 2015
This book is a collection of short mysteries. Instead of feeling suspenseful, they come across as someone giving a quick synopsis of a bigger mystery that was previously solved.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews