Collected

by Nicole Givens Kurtz

Before the Change, before Jane, and before she became a PI badass, Cybil Lewis cut her teeth in the District as a solo, brand new private inspector. At last, those stories of her early years are collected into this volume of short stories and novellas. Offering beautiful illustrations by comic book and brilliant artist, Julia Lacquement (DC Comics), Collected: A Cybil Lewis SF Mystery Collection provides action-packed, mystery stories set in the futuristic territory of D.C. (the District).

Whether this is your first time meeting Cybil or are a long-time fan, this collection should be a part of yours.
You won't be disappointed.

254 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 11, 2019

About the author

Nicole Givens Kurtz is an author, editor, and educator. She's the recipient of the Ladies of Horror Grant (2021), the Horror Writers Association's Diversity Grant (2020) and the two-time Atomacon Palmetto Scribe Award Winner (2021 and 2022). She's also the editor of the groundbreaking anthology, SLAY: Stories of the Vampire Noire. She’s written for White Wolf, The Realm's The Vela: Salvation series, and Baen’s No Game for Knights and Straight Outta Tombstone. Nicole has over numerous short stories published as well as numerous novels and three active speculative mystery series. She enjoys reading scary stories and watching true crime.

Reviews

[Susan Ragsdale · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Collected” is an excellent snapshot of what makes Cybil Lewis the no nonsense private inspector she is. The fast-paced action showcases Cybil facing dilemmas that call for quick thinking choices. Tested and tried, Cybil holds true to her own code whether anyone else is with her or not. She’s one tough heroine who does the work no one else will because it has to be done.

In “Collected” writer Nicole Givens Kurtz squares Cybil off against the underbelly of “society” and brings to light some societal problems that are seemingly hopeless and unsolvable in Cybil’s world. The gem of each futuristic story is not only good storytelling but how Kurtz has Cybil question, critique, and prod the understanding of what it really means to be human.

[Darrell Grizzle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Four novellas about my favorite hard-boiled private eye in a futuristic sci-fi setting! The novellas have been previously released but it was great to sit down and reread them all in one volume. These stories take place before the Cybil Lewis series of novels, but we see Cybil as the same bad-ass P.I. who manages to balance her vinegar with honey (most of the time). The novellas are:
Hatched
Replicated
Reunited
Recruited
Highly recommended for anyone who loves noir mysteries, science fiction, or both! If you're new to the world of Cybil Lewis, this is a good starting point. You'll love it!

[Riju Ganguly · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book contains four novellas, all dealing with cases of Cybil Lewis— a psedo-hardboiled PI operating in a post-apocalyptic United States. The plots are very basic, less than almost any cyberpunk noir tales available elsewhere. The protagonist is annoyingly prejudiced and baggage-ridden. The stories are devoid of either wit or literary flourish.
Overall, a distinctly 'meh' collection, which is still superior to the stand-alone works penned by the author after expanding these and other works.
I would NOT be coming back to this world, or this author.

[JJ Broenner · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good sampling of related stories centered around the character Cybil Lewis a Private Investigator and former soldier. She takes on unusual cases while working within a heavily regulated society. She has many obstacles and works with hackers and regulators in order to solve those tough cases that no one else is willing to take on. Each story can be enjoyed stand alone and is rewarding to gain more insight into this world and characters. Cyborgs, hatchlings, hackers, and regulators are some of encountered meetings that are normal for Cybil; never know what or who she might encounter next.

[Maya Preisler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kurtz excels at weaving together the science fiction, future-noir, and hard-boiled detective genres into a single seamless entity that is better than its individual components could ever be. The end result is a collection of masterfully written tales which have something to offer everyone.

Cyborgs, genetically engineered humans, and flying cars fit perfectly alongside fistfights and hired thugs in suspense-filled stories sure to thrill action lovers. Well-written characters with complex emotional development tug at the heartstrings of readers who live for character-driven storylines. And all of it is packaged in powerfully written and poetic prose with the perfect dose of social commentary that is key to classic sci-fi.

Legal Disclaimer: I received a free editing copy for this as a proofreader. I did not receive any compensation for this review.