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Landfall: The Best New England Crime Stories 2018
LANDFALL, the sixteenth Best New England Crime Stories anthology, continues the tradition of presenting the best mystery and crime fiction from both acclaimed seasoned authors and exciting new voices.
We've gathered thirty-one original tales by New England authors or with a New England setting, ranging from the historical to contemporary, to noir, and everything in between.
We've gathered thirty-one original tales by New England authors or with a New England setting, ranging from the historical to contemporary, to noir, and everything in between.
458 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 25, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
July 17, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5 Stars
As someone who enjoys crime fiction, I found Landfall: The Best New England Crime Stories 2018 to be an entertaining and worthwhile collection. Anthologies can sometimes feel uneven, but this one offers an impressive variety of stories while maintaining a consistently high standard. Each tale has its own unique voice and style, which kept the reading experience fresh from beginning to end.
What I enjoyed most was the range of settings and moods. Some stories were dark and suspenseful, others focused more on clever mysteries or psychological tension, and a few even included unexpected twists that genuinely caught me off guard. The New England backdrop added a distinctive atmosphere, making the collection feel connected despite the diversity of the stories.
Naturally, I connected with some stories more than others, which is part of the fun with anthologies. A few became instant favorites that I wished had continued beyond their final pages. I also appreciated the opportunity to discover several authors I hadn't read before and have since added to my reading list.
Overall, this is an excellent collection for mystery and crime fans who enjoy sampling different writing styles and perspectives. Whether you read one story at a time or binge several in a sitting, Landfall offers plenty of suspense, intrigue, and memorable characters. It's a satisfying anthology that showcases the depth of crime fiction talent from New England.
As someone who enjoys crime fiction, I found Landfall: The Best New England Crime Stories 2018 to be an entertaining and worthwhile collection. Anthologies can sometimes feel uneven, but this one offers an impressive variety of stories while maintaining a consistently high standard. Each tale has its own unique voice and style, which kept the reading experience fresh from beginning to end.
What I enjoyed most was the range of settings and moods. Some stories were dark and suspenseful, others focused more on clever mysteries or psychological tension, and a few even included unexpected twists that genuinely caught me off guard. The New England backdrop added a distinctive atmosphere, making the collection feel connected despite the diversity of the stories.
Naturally, I connected with some stories more than others, which is part of the fun with anthologies. A few became instant favorites that I wished had continued beyond their final pages. I also appreciated the opportunity to discover several authors I hadn't read before and have since added to my reading list.
Overall, this is an excellent collection for mystery and crime fans who enjoy sampling different writing styles and perspectives. Whether you read one story at a time or binge several in a sitting, Landfall offers plenty of suspense, intrigue, and memorable characters. It's a satisfying anthology that showcases the depth of crime fiction talent from New England.
March 2, 2019
Full disclosure: I have a story of my own in this collection ("Color Theory"): one of thirty-one crime stories by New England authors and/or with New England themes.
Landfall offers the fan of the short-story mystery some surprising and satisfying reads—and as with almost any anthology, there are going to be some selections that resonate more strongly while others might miss the mark just a bit. Some of my favorites were William Ade's wicked "Happy Wife, Happy Life," Shawn Reilly Simmons' atmospheric "Downcity Detective," Michael Bracken's hardboiled "Remission," and Harriet Sackler's sharp-edged "Baby Blues."
In a regional collection, settings are an important part of the appeal. James R. Benn's "The Horse Chestnut Tree" takes place in rural colonial Connecticut, where the then-commonplace institution of slavery drives the plot. (Benn won the 2018 Al Blanchard Short Story Crime Fiction Award for his story.) Travis Kennedy reveals the seamy side of foodie-favorite Portland, ME in his tough-as-nails "Priceless." And "Off the Beaten Path" by Patricia Dusenbury opens on a remote, bird-filled Maine coast—"authentic and unspoiled" until a dead body shows up.
But of course, a dead body is what crime fiction is all about.
Landfall offers the fan of the short-story mystery some surprising and satisfying reads—and as with almost any anthology, there are going to be some selections that resonate more strongly while others might miss the mark just a bit. Some of my favorites were William Ade's wicked "Happy Wife, Happy Life," Shawn Reilly Simmons' atmospheric "Downcity Detective," Michael Bracken's hardboiled "Remission," and Harriet Sackler's sharp-edged "Baby Blues."
In a regional collection, settings are an important part of the appeal. James R. Benn's "The Horse Chestnut Tree" takes place in rural colonial Connecticut, where the then-commonplace institution of slavery drives the plot. (Benn won the 2018 Al Blanchard Short Story Crime Fiction Award for his story.) Travis Kennedy reveals the seamy side of foodie-favorite Portland, ME in his tough-as-nails "Priceless." And "Off the Beaten Path" by Patricia Dusenbury opens on a remote, bird-filled Maine coast—"authentic and unspoiled" until a dead body shows up.
But of course, a dead body is what crime fiction is all about.
December 1, 2018
A collection of short stories with each New England state getting its fair share of criminal mayhem. A mixed bag, favorites include: School Daze (Joesph Souza), The Quarry (Alan Orloff), Happy Wife,Happy Life (William Ace), The Last Ferry ( Jason Half), Old Habit Are Hard to Break (Olive Pollak), Clearing the Deck (Tim Queeney) and Buried in Bressingham (Kathryn Gerwig) I would really like to give this 3 1/2 stars but Goodreads does not allow.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews