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Heartbreaks & Half-truths: 22 Stories of Mystery & Suspense
Lovers and losers.
Whether it’s 1950s Hollywood, a scientific experiment, or a yard sale in suburbia, the twenty-two authors represented in this collection of mystery and suspense interpret the overarching theme of “heartbreaks and half-truths” in their own inimitable style, where only one thing is certain: Behind every broken heart lies a half-truth.
And behind every half-truth lies a secret.
Whether it’s 1950s Hollywood, a scientific experiment, or a yard sale in suburbia, the twenty-two authors represented in this collection of mystery and suspense interpret the overarching theme of “heartbreaks and half-truths” in their own inimitable style, where only one thing is certain: Behind every broken heart lies a half-truth.
And behind every half-truth lies a secret.
- GenresShort StoriesMystery
302 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 18, 2020
28 people are currently reading
19 people want to read
About the author
Judy Penz Sheluk
45 books357 followersA former journalist and magazine editor, Judy Penz Sheluk is the bestselling author of Finding Your Path to Publication and Self-publishing: The Ins & Outs of Going Indie, as well as two mystery series: the Glass Dolphin Mysteries and Marketville Mysteries, both of which have been published in multiple languages. Her short crime fiction appears in several collections, including the Superior Shores Anthologies, which she also edited.
Judy is a member of the Independent Book Publishers Association, Sisters in Crime, International Thriller Writers, the Short Mystery Fiction Society, and Crime Writers of Canada, where she served on the Board of Directors for five years, the final two as Chair. She lives in Northern Ontario.
Judy is a member of the Independent Book Publishers Association, Sisters in Crime, International Thriller Writers, the Short Mystery Fiction Society, and Crime Writers of Canada, where she served on the Board of Directors for five years, the final two as Chair. She lives in Northern Ontario.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 27, 2020
Writing to a prescribed theme is not so easy a task as some might assume. When 22 writers achieve the goal, it's a smorgasbord of delight for lovers of the short story.
How each of those writers interprets the theme provides a varied menu of crimes minor and major perpetrated by an intriguing mixture of characters, each with his/her individual motivation to spice the tale and, often, with a surprising twist at the conclusion.
Whether your taste runs to the cozy or a darker shade of noir, I guarantee you'll find something to like in this collection.
Every reader will have some favorites, and I'm no exception. Among mine were Steve Liskow's Ugly Fat; Blackjack Road by John Floyd (who never fails to provide a good read), and Goulaigans by Judy Penz Sheluk.
How each of those writers interprets the theme provides a varied menu of crimes minor and major perpetrated by an intriguing mixture of characters, each with his/her individual motivation to spice the tale and, often, with a surprising twist at the conclusion.
Whether your taste runs to the cozy or a darker shade of noir, I guarantee you'll find something to like in this collection.
Every reader will have some favorites, and I'm no exception. Among mine were Steve Liskow's Ugly Fat; Blackjack Road by John Floyd (who never fails to provide a good read), and Goulaigans by Judy Penz Sheluk.
June 25, 2020
Heartbreaks & Half-Truths earns 5/5 Karmic Endings...Entertaining Wows!
I personally love collections: pins, movies, cookies, of course, and short stories. Short story collections afford me a marvelous opportunity to enjoy a variety of authors, many new to me, all at one time as well as being exposed to a variety of writing styles. These twenty-two shorts, edited by friend and author Judy Penz Sheluk, offer a glimpse into each author’s interpretation of the book’s theme “heartbreaks” and “half-truths.” From the East coast to the West, from Canada to the UK, and from Argentina to Australia, each author brings an entertaining style and cleverness easily capturing a readers interest, and maybe causing a few sleepless nights.
Each of the stories are rich with descriptive language, some first-person others third-person narratives, along with dialogue that sets tone, emotions and personalities. Karma is a silent character in many of the stories providing readers the sense of justice served...although not always in way one would suspect or hope. Readers might clearly see the direction of the drama, but so many stories will make you audibly “Wow” at the surprise revelations. I highly recommend this collection!
Disclosure: I received an ARC from the editor. My review is voluntary with honest insights and comments.
I personally love collections: pins, movies, cookies, of course, and short stories. Short story collections afford me a marvelous opportunity to enjoy a variety of authors, many new to me, all at one time as well as being exposed to a variety of writing styles. These twenty-two shorts, edited by friend and author Judy Penz Sheluk, offer a glimpse into each author’s interpretation of the book’s theme “heartbreaks” and “half-truths.” From the East coast to the West, from Canada to the UK, and from Argentina to Australia, each author brings an entertaining style and cleverness easily capturing a readers interest, and maybe causing a few sleepless nights.
Each of the stories are rich with descriptive language, some first-person others third-person narratives, along with dialogue that sets tone, emotions and personalities. Karma is a silent character in many of the stories providing readers the sense of justice served...although not always in way one would suspect or hope. Readers might clearly see the direction of the drama, but so many stories will make you audibly “Wow” at the surprise revelations. I highly recommend this collection!
Disclosure: I received an ARC from the editor. My review is voluntary with honest insights and comments.
May 22, 2020
A fun collection of crime stories about the way things go wrong as we humans tangle ourselves in lies and plots. Some real high points and very few disapointments.
May 24, 2020
I was sent an ARC of this to review.
Judy Penz Sheluk is doing important work in Canadian crime fiction, as a writer as well as the current Chair of the Crime Writers of Canada. However her most valuable task may very well be as an anthologist. In her second collection, Heartbreaks and Half-truths from Superior Shores Press, her own imprint, she continues to build on the stellar reputation begun with 2019's anthology The Best Laid Plans. Along with usual suspects Edward Lodi, KM Rockwood, Chris Wheatley and Peggy Rothschild, she has managed to unearth a collection of different writers for her sophomore work who are just as talented and twisted. While all of the tales are at the very least engaging, some are superior indeed. James Lincoln Warren's story, The Short Answer, is a modern classic gumshoe that channels the great North American detectives of the golden age. Penz Sheluk's own offering, Goulaigans, is a delightful paean both to the rugged Canadian outdoors as well the chilly heights of noir, with a twist that staggers the reader in the last paragraph. Elsewhere Blair Keetch entertains with Deadly Cargo and his own surprises, and Peggy Rothschild's The Devil's Club will surely raise a vengeful cheer from the reader.
Heartbreaks and Half-truths is a lovely collection of short stories, and the reader is in constant quandary. Insofar as you wish to linger on the ending of one delightful gem of a tale there is also the urge to dive into the next and to stay up into the small hours.
I stayed up.
Judy Penz Sheluk is doing important work in Canadian crime fiction, as a writer as well as the current Chair of the Crime Writers of Canada. However her most valuable task may very well be as an anthologist. In her second collection, Heartbreaks and Half-truths from Superior Shores Press, her own imprint, she continues to build on the stellar reputation begun with 2019's anthology The Best Laid Plans. Along with usual suspects Edward Lodi, KM Rockwood, Chris Wheatley and Peggy Rothschild, she has managed to unearth a collection of different writers for her sophomore work who are just as talented and twisted. While all of the tales are at the very least engaging, some are superior indeed. James Lincoln Warren's story, The Short Answer, is a modern classic gumshoe that channels the great North American detectives of the golden age. Penz Sheluk's own offering, Goulaigans, is a delightful paean both to the rugged Canadian outdoors as well the chilly heights of noir, with a twist that staggers the reader in the last paragraph. Elsewhere Blair Keetch entertains with Deadly Cargo and his own surprises, and Peggy Rothschild's The Devil's Club will surely raise a vengeful cheer from the reader.
Heartbreaks and Half-truths is a lovely collection of short stories, and the reader is in constant quandary. Insofar as you wish to linger on the ending of one delightful gem of a tale there is also the urge to dive into the next and to stay up into the small hours.
I stayed up.
June 12, 2020
Half of the truth is better than nothing, right?
Dave had lost nearly everyone dear to him by the time “Blackjack Road” began. His hopelessness at the thought of living the rest of his life with so little companionship shone through the storyline beautifully. It made the arrival of a dangerous fugitive on his property even more poignant. Threatening someone who has nothing left to lose isn’t an easy task, especially when they’re someone as stubborn as Dave. I devoured this story and was left yearning for more. Reading it was such an immersive experience that I felt both satisfied and eager to find out what happened to him next.
Horror wasn’t a genre I was expecting to find in this anthology. That made “So Long” an unexpected treat! This tale was composed of a series of voicemails left at the apartment of a woman who had completely withdrawn from the outside world for reasons that were soon made clear. While I do wish some of her doctor’s actions were explained better, I still had a wonderful time slowly unravelling the mystery of why she wasn’t responding to calls from her employer, relatives, and other folks in her life who were perplexed by her disappearance.
“Pink Hearts Pierced by Arrows” followed a character named Crystal whose best friend was worried about infidelity. What I liked the most about the plot from that point was how much it twisted and turned around as Crystal tried to find out what was really going on in her friend’s life and marriage. Even though I did have a hunch about what was happening, it was still a great deal of fun to see if my prediction was correct.
Heartbreaks & Half-Truths: 22 Stories of Mystery & Suspense was a rock solid anthology that everyone who loves this genre should check out.
Dave had lost nearly everyone dear to him by the time “Blackjack Road” began. His hopelessness at the thought of living the rest of his life with so little companionship shone through the storyline beautifully. It made the arrival of a dangerous fugitive on his property even more poignant. Threatening someone who has nothing left to lose isn’t an easy task, especially when they’re someone as stubborn as Dave. I devoured this story and was left yearning for more. Reading it was such an immersive experience that I felt both satisfied and eager to find out what happened to him next.
Horror wasn’t a genre I was expecting to find in this anthology. That made “So Long” an unexpected treat! This tale was composed of a series of voicemails left at the apartment of a woman who had completely withdrawn from the outside world for reasons that were soon made clear. While I do wish some of her doctor’s actions were explained better, I still had a wonderful time slowly unravelling the mystery of why she wasn’t responding to calls from her employer, relatives, and other folks in her life who were perplexed by her disappearance.
“Pink Hearts Pierced by Arrows” followed a character named Crystal whose best friend was worried about infidelity. What I liked the most about the plot from that point was how much it twisted and turned around as Crystal tried to find out what was really going on in her friend’s life and marriage. Even though I did have a hunch about what was happening, it was still a great deal of fun to see if my prediction was correct.
Heartbreaks & Half-Truths: 22 Stories of Mystery & Suspense was a rock solid anthology that everyone who loves this genre should check out.
June 30, 2020
I had planned to read one short story each evening but found I couldn’t put the anthology down. Each of the twenty-two authors, a diverse group from across the globe, has presented his/her unique take on the theme of “heartbreaks and half-truths.” More often than not, I was surprised by that final plot twist and sometimes even gasped, “Oh, no!”
Congrats, Ms. Sheluk, on another excellent anthology!
Congrats, Ms. Sheluk, on another excellent anthology!
July 31, 2020
HEARTBREAKS AND HALF-TRUTHS is a fun collection of stories. Each installment is engaging and short enough to be enjoyed in one sitting. Some include some surprising twists while others are more predictable, but there's no denying all of these authors have talent and can weave a good tale.
Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book.
Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews