Tar Heel Dead: Tales of Mystery and Mayhem from North Carolina

by Sarah R. Shaber (Editor)

From O. Henry to Lilian Jackson Braun, North Carolina has nurtured some of the world's best-known mystery writers. This unique collection of mystery short stories showcases some of North Carolina's best writing talent from the past and the present--some famous, some less well known. Some of the mysteries are by authors who have earned solid reputations in other genres, such as Orson Scott Card and William Brittain, but as their stories here demonstrate, their talent embraces the mysterious.

The stories in this collection are as diverse as the "detectives" they the Native American policeman who solves his first case on the reservation; a Siamese cat with an intuitive affection for his paraplegic neighbor; an attentive convenience store owner; and a thirty-year-old computer whiz whose body stopped growing when he was nine. They solve crimes, locate treasures, and uncover deceit in a range of tales that reflects the breadth of the genre. With stories to delight mystery devotees and fans of all good writing, this anthology highlights one of the most vibrant and popular elements of North Carolina's literary legacy.



Nancy Bartholomew, Greensboro, N.C.
Lilian Jackson Braun, Tryon, N.C.
William E. Brittain, Asheville, N.C.
Lisa Cantrell, Madison, N.C.
Orson Scott Card, Greensboro, N.C.
O. Henry (1862-1910)
Toni L. P. Kelner, Malden, Mass.
Michael Malone, Hillsborough, N.C.
Margaret Maron, Willow Springs, N.C.
Katy Munger, writing as Gallagher Gray, Durham, N.C.
BarbaraNeely, Jamaica Plain, Mass.
Guy Owen (1925-1981)
David B. Sentelle, writing as Clyde Haywood, Washington, D.C.
Sarah R. Shaber, Raleigh, N.C.
Elizabeth Daniels Squire (1926-2001)
Kathy Hogan Trocheck, Raleigh, N.C.
Manly Wade Wellman (1903-1986)
Brenda Witchger, writing as Brynn Bonner, Cary, N.C.

Genres: Mystery, Short Stories, Fiction

277 pages, Paperback

First published April 25, 2005

About the author

Sarah Shaber is an award-winning mystery author from North Carolina. Her WWII historical mystery series begins with LOUISE'S WAR. It features young widow Louise Pearlie, a government girl who works for the Office of Strategic Services, the United States’ first spy agency.

Shaber is also the author of the Professor Simon Shaw mysteries, BLOOD TEST, and editor of TAR HEEL DEAD. Her first book, SIMON SAID, won the St. Martin’s Press/Malice Domestic Award for best first traditional mystery. She is the Bouchercon15 (World Mystery Conference, 2015) Local Guest of Honor. Her home bookstore is Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh. www.facebook.com/LouisePearlie

Reviews

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book of short mysteries by North Carolina writers. The style varies, giving us a good selection of different ways to approach this genre. The quality varies from the very good to "how is this even a mystery?". Still, it is certainly worth reading.

[Jeannie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an anthology of books set in North Carolina. I read it for a specific author, but enjoyed several of the stories. And it's always fun to read a story or book set in a state I have lived in. May pick up other books by some of these authors.

[Sharron · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great collection of short stories set in North Carolina, or written by NC authors. Some were familiar, some were surprising, and a few were new leads for interesting mystery series.

[Penny Dawson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't read all the stories - the ones I did were so-so

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

"My wife smiles most of the time and still giggles like she did when she was a girl. Some people think this means she's easy to push around, but they don't think that for long. "

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

OK. I found a few new authors to try.