Minnesota Not So Nice: Eighteen Tales of Bad Behavior

by Barbara Merritt Deese (Editor), Pat Dennis (Editor), Michael Allan Mallory (Editor)

2021 Silver Falchion Award Finalist for Best Short Story Collection presented by the Killer Nashville International Writers’ Conference

When ''Minnesota Nice'' flies out the window, Bad Behavior takes center stage. The Twin Cities Chapter of Sisters in Crime explores what defines the legendary ''Minnesota Nice'' and why Bad Behavior sometimes has its own rewards in their latest mystery anthology. Eighteen tales of Bad Behavior from some of Minnesota's best crime fiction authors.

Stories by Marcia Adair, Karen Engstrom Anderson, C.N. Buchholz, Barbara DaCosta, Greg Dahlager, Barbara Merritt Deese, Pat Dennis, Douglas Dorow, Thekla Fagerlie-Madsen, Steven G. Hoffmeyer, Carol Huss, Karl W. Jorgenson, Brian Lutterman, Michael Allan Mallory, Colin T. Nelson, T.S. Owen, Sherry Roberts, and C.M. Surrisi.

200 pages, Paperback

Published September 4, 2020

Reviews

[Karl Jorgenson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anthology of crime stories from the Twin Cities Chapter of Sisters in Crime. Eighteen different authors; eighteen tales of bad behavior. Some clever, some creepy, some twisty, some cute. One story is mine; but the other seventeen are pretty good too.

[Jamie Chandler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book of short stories, all by Minnesota authors. Each short story is a mystery, murder, crime saga that plays on the "Minnesota nice" (or in these cases not so nice). Quick easy read, entertaining and enjoyable. Most stories leave you laughing at how audacious they are!!

[Amy Jauman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great stories...and so fun to read all of the Minnesota references.

[Joe · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don’t understand how anyone rated this book 5 stars, but I suppose tastes differ, dramatically. I didn’t find a single story in this collection even remotely good or interesting. Every story left me questioning not only its purpose, but also how each disparate author could write such depressing and pointless stories. Thoroughly underwhelmed with this collection of stories. Almost DNF’d, but persevered in hopes of one story being somewhat redeeming. I do understand that the book is literally a collection of stories about bad behavior, but again, none were the least bit interesting.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading all of these stories. I usually do not read collections of short stories because I end up disliking more stories than I like. After I read about this collection in the St. Paul Pioneer Press, I thought it sounded good and decided to give it a try. I am so glad that I did. I highly recommend reading this book.

[Shawn Costello · Rating 4 out of 5]

While not my usual fair, I really enjoyed this compilation. Some were darker, some more humorous, but each authors individual voice was very clear.

It was also fun, as a born and raised Minnesotan, to see where things took place in my mind, to have a fair lay of the land.

[William Wehrmacher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite liked some of the short stories, but they're all downers. I guess that's what's required to make stories "Not So Nice"

[Vince · Rating 3 out of 5]

All stories around 10 pages, so good bedtime reading. Some better than others of course, as is invariably the case with collections of this type