Infinity: A Suspense Magazine Anthology

by Catherine Coulter (Editor), Kelley Armstrong (Contributor), Allison Brennan (Contributor)

What does infinity hold? Does anything or anyone get buried and remain quiet for all time, or is death just a second life that lasts forever? From traversing the gnarled roots of trees reaching from the sand like claws, to the moment where one finds out the price of justice and who serves it, to a masquerade that can be murder--this collection was created to frighten, engage, entice and, worse yet, make you wonder what awaits you in eternity when your number is up. To believe in infinity means you must acknowledge that all things are possible, and Suspense Publishing has brought together a menu of bestselling authors to express their beliefs in those endless possibilities. Using the art of mystery and suspense, these well-known writers have merged their innate talents to create INFINITY . This haunting choir of voices is made up of your favorites who have elevated the literary scene with their astounding Kelley Armstrong, Allison Brennan, J. T. Ellison, Jamie Freveletti, K. J. Howe, Darynda Jones, Shannon Kirk, Tosca Lee, Sheila Lowe, Isabella Maldonado, Susan Santangelo, Susan Wingate, and Daryl Wood Gerber. Edited by one of the very best, Catherine Coulter, this anthology consists of memorable tales that open doors into thrilling and chilling realms you never knew existed.

Genres: Fiction, Anthologies

1 pages, Audio CD

First published March 21, 2023

Reviews

[Melissa Borsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best Anthology I have ever had the pleasure to read. Each short story was captivating from start to finish. I love mysteries and the talent of the Authors selected for this Anthology is just superb. Highly recommend!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Infinity: A Suspense Magazine Anthology


Seven Minutes in Heaven - Darynda Jones - 4 Stars - Coco, Duff - I’ll admit I only came here for Darynda and I was not disappointed. Coco’s determination to find out what happened to her cousin is admirable.

Poniatowa - Sheila Lowe - Stars - Character Names - Review

Masquerades Can Be Murder - Susan Santangelo - Stars - Character Names - Review

Louche 49 - J.T. Ellison - Stars - Character Names - Review

Justice is Served - Daryl Wood Gerber - Stars - Character Names - Review

The Disappearing Place - Jamie Freveletti - Stars - Character Names - Review

Three Minutes Past Midnight - Susan Wingate - Stars - CHARACTER NAMES HERE - REVIEW/THOUGHTS HERE

The Cancun Game - SERIES INFO - Tosca Lee - Stars - CHARACTER NAMES HERE - REVIEW/THOUGHTS HERE

911 - Allison Brennan - Stars - Character Names - Review

I’ve Got Your Number - SERIES INFO - Isabella Maldonado- Stars - CHARACTER NAMES HERE - REVIEW/THOUGHTS HERE

Eight Years and Seven Secrets at Ten Stacks - Shannon Kirk - Stars - CHARACTER NAMES HERE - REVIEW/THOUGHTS HERE

The Joy of Wrong Numbers - SERIES INFO - Kelley Armstrong - Stars - CHARACTER NAMES HERE - REVIEW/THOUGHTS HERE

Under Pressure - SERIES INFO - K.J. Howe - Stars - CHARACTER NAMES HERE - REVIEW/THOUGHTS HERE

[Chrissy]

Only read "The Joy of Wrong Numbers" by Kelley Armstrong - 4.5 stars

I loved this stand-alone short story. It features con-artists and to say more about why I loved it would be a spoiler, so just take my word for it: It's great. (I only wish it had been longer.)

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

OMG this book is full of great authors like Derenda Jones Shelly low David Woods Gerber the list goes on and on from teen spice to mysterious murders to terrorism this book is full of great stories by great authors and there’s definitely has to be more than one story any mystery/thriller reader will love I have only given three names when they have at least a dozen good riders in this book from long lost relative to ghostly apparition this book is full of any kind of mystery/thriller staying with love and I love the most every story in this book. If only they had more collections like this and if they have them I will certainly be looking for them. I received this book from Book Sirens but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

[Chrys Minter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very very good

I love anthologies. This book was full of authors I haven't had the privilege of reading as of yet. Thank you Catherine Coulter for the awesome introduction to some brilliant authors.

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

These were exceptional short mystery stories by Allison Brennan, Isabella Maldonado, Darynda Jones, and Kelly Armstrong among others.

[Priya]

Short stories have become a favourite genre of late and this anthology contains stories with a mystery/suspense element, making it doubly good! Each of the stories has a different kind of theme but with that something to keep you guessing what will happen. I liked some more than the others but there were none that I disliked.

Seven minutes in heaven by Darynda Jones starts off the collection and is a proper mystery story with an undercover investigation of a suspected crime in a boarding school. It was well plotted and the twist was well done.

Poniatowa by Sheila Lowe tugs at the heartstrings with its WW2 theme and in a dual timeline narrative, it explores the power of hope, family and love through the years.

Masquerades can be murder by Susan Santangelo was funny and unique because of the older protagonist and the setting of a historical reenactment. The characters and the banter as well as the history were very enjoyable.

Louche 49 by JT Ellison brought a spy thriller feel which was exciting. It had an unexpected twist that made it better! This is an author whose books have been on my tbr forever so it was good to get this sneak peek at her writing.

Justice is served by Daryl Wood Gerber brought a touch of not exactly vigilantism but a quest for justice beyond what is possible through the channels of law. It was an intriguing read and one in which several elements were relatable.

The disappearing place by Jamie Freveletti was the only story with a sci-fi/fantasy element and though it was complete and full of action, I wished it was a little more detailed.

Three minutes past midnight by Susan Wingate was probably my least favorite only because I am not really a fan of too much technical detail about weapons and such. It was well plotted if a little gory!

The Cancun game by Tosca Lee was one of the best for me because of the very relevant theme of social media obsession and influencer culture it is based on. I enjoyed reading about how this world is navigated and the perils of being in it. If short stories could have a sequel, I would want one for this.

911 by Allison Brennan was a classical thriller with multiple players involved over a single night and the narrative alternating. The main character is a veterinary doctor and the situation he was placed in and his handling of it save this from being too simple.

I've got your number by Isabella Maldonado was an instant favourite because I have read the first book of the series featuring detective Nina Guerrera and love her spunk and intuition as well as her courage. This story had all of these in plenty and it was great to 'reunite' with a beloved character!

Eight years and Seven secrets at ten stacks by Shannon Kirk was deliciously spooky and riveting with one of my favourite tropes of old collegemates at a reunion discussing the past and secrets. Very satisfying!

The joy of wrong numbers by Kelley Armstrong was once again full of themes very relevant to our increasingly technological world. Loved how the title relates to the story here.

Under pressure by KJ Howe was a hostage drama with an underwater setting and really tense. I can't swim so the thought of having to dive into deep water and get to a cave and facing a deadline on top of that was unfathomable to me! I loved how it all played out.

Many of these authors are familiar to me; some are not. I definitely want to check out their books after getting a taste of their writing here. Recommended if you like short stories.

Thanks to BookSirens for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had the pleasure to be able to read this set of short thrillers by many authors I had never heard of. It was like a ‘box of chocolates’ as Forest Gump would say. For the most part, I enjoyed the twists and turns. There was even the occasional part that made me chuckle! To be able to pick up a book and read a complete story when there are only a few minutes available during a busy day was also nice.

Seven Minutes in Heaven was well written, and a good story, but it was not to my liking. Sticking with the ‘chocolates’ theme, let’s just say that I don’t like coconut. Others will absolutely love it.

Poniatowa was a wonderful story! It was somewhat predictable, but I still really enjoyed the tale.

Masquerades can be Murder - So fun!! I loved this old-time ghost story, and plan to follow this author.

Louche 49 – A nice, quick-paced story that kept me guessing. So much is left unanswered, you can craft your own ending with the characters.

Justice is Served – Another great story. Corinne’s inner dialogue made her character fun. Justice was served!

The Disappearing Place – I’m sorry, but I didn’t enjoy this story, and couldn’t even finish it. There were just too many strong females in this story. I do like stories with a strong female role, but this had so many in it, that it seemed contrived, and that the author had more of an agenda, versus writing a good story. The idea behind the story was good, though.

Three Minutes Past Midnight – I loved it! Zainey was a really fun character, and a dog lover to boot! It was a fun spy story.

The Cancun Game – WOW. This is what a thriller should be. Great read!

911 – I enjoyed this story. It was an easy read, and believable. I really liked the characters (Britt, Will, Dennis, and Jack).

I’ve Got Your Number – This story was fun, if not predictable. A good police adventure.

Eight Years and Seven Secrets at Ten Stacks – This was my favorite story in the book. Once I started it, I could not put it down. Thanks so much for sharing!

The Joy of Wrong Numbers – What can I say. I thought this story was so predictable. And then it wasn’t! This was a really good story.

Under Pressure – This story was a wonderful way to wrap up the book. It was a rousing, suspenseful tale.

I received an advance review copy of Infinity for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Voracious Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy reading anthologies for a couple of reasons. One is that it is so easy to pick up anytime you have a short window for reading and get a story read before you have to put it down. Another reason is that I get to try out authors I may have never heard of or read before. This usually has me finding new authors I enjoy by having had a chance to read a fairly good example of their work. This anthology introduced me to 12 authors I had not previously read as well as a story from one who was already a favorite of mine. As is usual in most anthologies the stories are usually a mixed lot of some really good ones with some just okay ones; it is all a matter of personal taste.

A few that really stood out for me were stories by Darynda Jones, Sheila Lowe … and I just realized as I went back to the story briefs for a refresher, they all stood out in my mind in one way or another. Suffice it to say if you like short stories that are suspenseful this anthology is definitely worth reading. I am now going to have to back up and raise my rating.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Madelaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free through Book Sirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Anthologies by their nature are a mixed bag of styles and appeal. Catherine Coulter has brought together an interesting assortment of stories with some big names thrown in for spice. Kelley Armstrong's piece is particularly delightful. The first three stories in the collection didn't click with me, and I highly doubt I'm the market audience for the Baby Boomer Mystery series. I couldn't even finish that one, since the humour mostly read as "I wish my spouse would go away." The rest of the book was great with a mix of thrills and chills. Definitely worth a read, but no shame if you pick out the stories that resonate with you.

[Diana Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Booksirens for the chance to read Infinity: A Suspense Magazine Anthology for a review. I requested this because of the authors that appear in the anthology, especially Kelley Armstrong and Catherine Coulter.  I enjoyed reading the stories and introducing me to new authors like Isabella Maldonado, Susan Santangelo, Susan Wingate.  I enjoyed all the stories and like the fact a portion of the proceeds go to breast cancer research.  Anthologies are great because it's a way to introduce you to new authors that you may not have heard of. 
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Raymond · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting collection of short stories. I didn't see how a couple fit into the Infinity theme and I was not too fond of all of the stories. But I liked most of them and loved a few.

In these stories, you will find, ghosts, spies, murders, and science fiction. You will probably find works by unfamiliar authors as well as familiar ones.

My favorite story was The Joy of Wrong Numbers by Kelley Armstrong. It kept me guessing as to how it would end. I knew there would be a twist or two but I was still fooled.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Randy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Being a mixture of shorter stories, you always run the risk of some lesser appealing stories affecting the overall book, yet as a reader you can skip those that just don't hold your attention. Over all the stories I liked were quite good. They certainly varied in themes and that was interesting to jump from one genre to another. This anthology was my first with such a variety of stories and that made it both interesting and challenging at times. Interesting as you did not know what was coming next and challenging for the same reason. Overall, it was a good read and I enjoyed 75 to 80% of the stories presented.

[Netresha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Semi-interesting collection of stories. Really short, each can be read in a single sitting, I finished a few in 20-30 mins. Like on a train or bus ride. None of them ended in a cliffhanger so I was happy for that, but at the moment of writing this review I’ve been done reading the book for almost a week and only remember three of the stories out of the many included.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kat M · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a great mystery anthology, each story was what I was looking for in the mystery genre. There was no weak story in the collection and the writers had the spirit for the genre. I look forward to more books like this.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read!

A collection of short stories that were all winners. It would be hard to choose a favorite as I enjoyed each story. Whatever your interests - ghosts, spies, murder,- this book has it!

I highly recommend this book. It is an enjoyable, cozy read.

Thank you to the publisher and author for a chance to read an advanced copy of the book.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I choose this anthology because a couple of my favorite authors are included. I'm not sure if I'm a short story reader because I enjoy a detail-rich, fully fleshed out story in general. That said, these were quick, fun reads and the variety of the stories was interesting. I received an advance review copy for free from BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Sally Channing · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have managed about half the book already and every story has been great. Often with short stories your are left feeling ‘what a waste of time’ but not with these they have all been excellent, I will have to look out for more books by the writers I haven’t read before. I would recommend this collection when you don’t want to get into a long book

[xyZeereads · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating collection of suspenseful stories from numerous authors, with some standouts and some misses. A few of them made me wish they were much longer, but they were long enough to pique my interest.

Many thanks to BookSirens and the author for the eARC.

[Vic]

Lots of great stories from popular authors. They give you a glimpse at some of their series and style of writing. Most of the stories were really good. There are a few that were just okay. Overall a good book. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Curly's Ramblings · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this book up for Darynda Jones’ story; not paranormal but still an exciting short read.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic collection of stories. Each and every author did an amazing job of drawing me in and making me wanting more. Full of suspense with each page you turn.

[Lynette Ott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read!

Great stories! Varied plots, good characters. Found some new authors I'd like to follow. Some were quite chilling! Would read another anthology from this group.

[Bev · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has various authors story stories in it. A great way to read some authors you may not know. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Janna]

Only read the Kelley Armstrong story

[Paige Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed every story in this anthology!

[Jo Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Infinity

What a fun read with some of my favorite authors. I highly recommend reading this. I do so enjoy it.

[Jennifer Baratta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worth listening to while working

[Patty Rice Groth · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not My Cup of Tea

I must admit that by the third story I was ready to put this book down. I have no specific reason for this low rating. It's just not for me.

[Sara M · Rating 4 out of 5]

I mainly read this for Kelley Armstrong’s short story “the joy of wrong numbers”. I loved the twists and the suspense of the story. Definitely would recommend if someone is in need of a quick read.