Many Deadly Returns

by Martin Edwards (Editor)

Murder Squad, a group of award-winning crime and mystery writers, celebrate their twenty-first birthday with a bang in this criminally good collection of short stories.

A dawn swim turns deadly in a brand-new short story starring DCI Vera Stanhope . . . Two bored cell-mates play a game with chilling results . . . A hen night in an isolated cottage brings new meaning to ‘I will survive’ . . . A train traveller teaches a valuable lesson in reading labels . . . A day at the seaside turns stormy for a woman who doesn’t care for foreigners . . . A wealthy retiree makes a new friend who connects her to the Other Side . . . and much much more.

Short, sharp and packed with twists, these 21 unputdownable tales showcase Murder Squad’s range and talent throughout the years. So why not treat yourself to a slice of murderously moreish fiction, and join us in wishing the squad ‘ Many Deadly Returns ’.

With stories by Ann Cleeves, Martin Edwards, Kate Ellis, Margaret Murphy, Chris Simms and Cath Staincliffe , as well as John Baker, Chaz Brenchley and Stuart Pawson .

Genres: Short Stories, Mystery, Crime, Anthologies, Murder Mystery, Historical Fiction, British Literature

240 pages, Hardcover

Published November 2, 2021

About the author

Martin Edwards has been described by Richard Osman as ‘a true master of British crime writing.’ He has published twenty-three novels, which include the eight Lake District Mysteries, one of which was shortlisted for the Theakston’s Prize for best crime novel of the year and four books featuring Rachel Savernake, including the Dagger-nominated Gallows Court and Blackstone Fell, while Gallows Court and Sepulchre Street were shortlisted for the eDunnit award for best crime novel of the year. He is also the author of two multi-award-winning histories of crime fiction, The Life of Crime and The Golden Age of Murder. He has received three Daggers from the Crime Writers’ Association and two Edgars from the Mystery Writers of America and has also been nominated three times for Gold Daggers. In addition to the CWA Diamond Dagger (the highest honour in UK crime writing) he has received four other lifetime achievement awards: for his fiction, short fiction, non-fiction, and scholarship. He is consultant to the British Library’s Crime Classics, a former Chair of the CWA, and since 2015 has been President of the Detection Club.

Reviews

[Sandysbookaday (taking a step back for a while) · Rating 3 out of 5]

EXCERPT: Taken from Skeleton Crew by Chris Simms

The old Cortina passing under the height barrier at the entrance catches my eye. Hey up, it's them again. Tweedledum and Tweedledee. A right pair, those two. Quick glance at my watch: six fifty-five. Always the same. Seconds ahead of when the lorry arrives to take the waste-to-energy container away.

As I walk down the ramp to unlock the main gates in readiness for the lorry turning up, their battered old Cortina stops alongside the container for unwanted clothing. One bag goes in, but the flap isn't able to close completely. Thing must need emptying too.

Here comes the lorry, as I knew it would. 'Evening Harry,' I say to the driver as he slows to a halt. 'How's things back at base?'

He gives me an awkward glance as I swing the gates open. 'Same old, same old.'

As he steers the lorry towards the waste-to-energy container, I can see Tweedledum and Tweedledee standing at the railings above it. Even though one's lost most of his black curls, they must be twins. The same jowly cheeks and squashed out bottom lip. Sad, droopy eyes that are devoid of life. Open-mouth breathers - that's what Trevor, my ex-policeman friend, calls their type. Both are wearing hideous, cheap-looking leather jackets that end in thick elasticated waistbands. Shapeless jeans tucked into wellington boots that are caked in manure, or something similar.

Every time they reach over to drop a shoebox sized package,into the container, the waistbands of their leather jackets ride up over their fat stomachs. Tugging them back down in unison, they turn to the boot of their car and repeat the process, avoiding eye contact with me all the while. Something's not right about them, I just know it.

ABOUT 'MANY DEADLY RETURNS': Murder Squad, a group of award-winning crime and mystery writers, celebrate their twenty-first birthday with a bang in this criminally good collection of short stories. A dawn swim turns deadly in a brand-new short story starring DCI Vera Stanhope . . . Two bored cell-mates play a game with chilling results . . . A hen night in an isolated cottage brings new meaning to 'I will survive' . . . A train traveller teaches a valuable lesson in reading labels . . . A day at the seaside turns stormy for a woman who doesn't care for foreigners . . . A wealthy retiree makes a new friend who connects her to the Other Side . . . and much much more. Short, sharp and packed with twists, these 21 unputdownable tales showcase Murder Squad's range and talent throughout the years. So why not treat yourself to a slice of murderously moreish fiction, and join us in wishing the squad 'Many Deadly Returns'. With stories by Ann Cleeves, Martin Edwards, Kate Ellis, Margaret Murphy, Chris Simms and Cath Staincliffe, as well as John Baker, Chaz Brenchley and Stuart Pawson.

MY THOUGHTS: I largely enjoyed this collection of stories: some by authors who I have followed for years, some who I have read occasionally, and a small number of whom I was unfamiliar with. There were only two stories that I really disliked.

There are twenty one short stories, one for each year the Murder Squad has been in existence. I have listed them, along with my rating.
Wild Swimming by Ann Cleeves - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Lucky Liam by Martin Edwards - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Scorpion by Cath Staincliffe - ⭐⭐.5
Skeleton Crew by Chris Simms - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Fox and the Hens by Kate Ellis - ⭐⭐.5
An Old Fashioned Poisoning by John Baker - ⭐⭐
Read the Label by Margaret Murphy - ⭐⭐
My Oleander by Kate Ellis - ⭐⭐⭐.5
The Queen of Mystery by Ann Cleeves - ⭐⭐⭐
For Kicks by Chaz Brenchly - ⭐⭐⭐
Two Birds by Cath Staincliffe - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Big End Blues by Margaret Murphy - ⭐⭐⭐.5
Bad Friday by Martin Edwards - ⭐⭐⭐.5
The Passenger by Chris Simms - ⭐⭐⭐
The Confessions of Edward Prime by Kate Ellis - ⭐⭐⭐
Ultra Violet by Stewart Pawson - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Perfect Storm by Cath Staincliffe - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Gaffed by Chris Simms - ⭐⭐⭐
The Other Life by Martin Edwards - ⭐⭐⭐
A Winter's Tale by Ann Cleeves - ⭐⭐⭐
Still Life by Margaret Murphy - ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5

Definitely worth keeping on your nightstand for those nights you want something short to read.

⭐⭐⭐.4

#ManyDeadlyReturns #NetGalley

I: @medwardsbooks @severnhouseimprint

T: @medwardsbooks @severnhouse

#contemporaryfiction #crime #detectivefiction #domesticdrama #historicalfiction #murdermystery #shortstories

THE AUTHOR: Kenneth Martin Edwards is a British crime novelist, whose work has won awards in the UK and the United States. As a crime fiction critic and historian, and also in his career as a solicitor, he has written non-fiction books and many articles.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Severn House via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Many Deadly Returns, edited by Martin Edwards. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or my webpage sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...

[Ceecee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a 21st anniversary collection of short stories by a northern group of writers known as ‘The Murder Squad’, it’s purpose to broaden their reader base which I think you can safely say they have achieved!

Ann Cleeves gives us three stories, Wild Swimming features the much loved Vera Stanhope who sees right through one one wild swimmer to get to the truth, a Queen of Mystery who says her goodbyes in her own inimitable way and revenge is taken in A Winter’s Tale.

Martin Edwards three stories includes Lucky Liam, whoops, not so lucky now eh, Liam? Very loud phone conversations in a railway carriage leads to unexpected results in Bad Friday and Jean and Arthur really are connected in The Other Life.

Chris Simms Skeleton Crew has an excellent twist with Tweedledum and Tweedledee getting their own back on stickler Peter, a day out at the seaside doesn’t go as planned for Kay in The Passenger and in Gaffed there’s an unexpected table turn.

Cath Staincliffe’s Scorpion is a sad denial and tale of regret, there’s a clever and unexpected twist in Two Birds with One Stone and Dennis believes he has the perfect solution for Betty but there’s life in the old girl yet in Perfect Storm.

Kate Ellis - who is the fox in The Fox and the Hens? Who indeed. In My Oleander there’s a forking good twist - RIP, whilst Edward Prime confesses for the final time. Very final.

In a very clever tale Margaret Murphy urges us to Read the Label or our first impressions are fooled and you certainly shouldn’t trust the contents. The Harlequin Girls sort out their Big End Blues in their own inimitable way and Still Life is a clever locked in story. These three are my personal favourites!

John Baker gives us an Old Fashioned Poisoning using grandma’s knowledge, Chaz Benchley’s For Kicks is a sad tale of a young girl in a coma and in Stuart Pawson’s Ultra Violent is a tale of a murdered who thinks he’s clever with his UV pen. Not so smug now.

This is a very good collection from writers at the top of their game. Inevitably some with resonate more than others but that’s down to personal taste. Some are witty and darkly humorous such as Lucky Liam, they all have good, well thought out twists, some are tongue in cheek or chillingly shocking and a few are bang up to date. They are all well written and highly entertaining demonstrating that short stories can have pace, be perfectly pitched and cracking reads. This is a good way to check out which authors style of writing appeals to you and lead you to their full length novels.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Canongate, Severn House for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection of crime, mystery and suspense stories has been compiled to celebrate the twenty-first birthday of the Murder Squad, a group of now well known writers who banded together all those years ago in an act of mutual support and problem solving. The authors are Ann Cleeves, Martin Edwards, Kate Ellis, Margaret Murphy, Chris Simms, and Cath Staincliffe, as well as John Baker, Chaz Brenchley, and Stuart Pawson (1940-2016). There are three stories each from current members of the squad as well as one each from retired members.

While I was familiar with a few of these writers going into this collection, I left it with more stories, books and series to explore. There are procedurals here, twisted tales of murder or revenge, some psychological portraits. The vast majority were strong entries. Among the authors that I will seek out is Margaret Murphy whose “Still Life” was quite different and intriguing, but there are others that I also plan to follow.

There is a brief biography of each author at the end of the book, including website address. The collection is edited by Martin Edwards who has done another excellent job, as well as a foreword by Margaret Murphy who explains the initial formation of the group.

I recommend this collection to anyone who enjoys mysteries, short stories and certainly, the combination.

A copy of this book was provided by Severn House through NetGalley in return for an honest review.

[Marianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many Deadly Returns is a collection of twenty-one short stories celebrating twenty-one years of the Murder Squad, a group of Northern writers, initially mid-list authors, who connect with readers via website, festivals, print and other media, and a newsletter. Seven authors have contributed to this collection, with stories both new and previously published as early as 1992.

Ann Cleeves –Wild Swimming: on the last day of a winter wild-water swimming challenge, four women stumble on the body of a lone swimmer. A small dose of DI Vera Stanhope that will delight fans.

Martin Edwards –Lucky Liam: an avid reader suspects his aspiring-writer wife of having an affair with an author he detests. He feels compelled to take action, but it backfires…

Cath Staincliffe –Scorpion: Nathan’s best friend Cody buys them both flick knives as protection from the notorious Leeson brothers, with tragic consequences.

Chris Simms –Skeleton Crew: a manager at the council tip, Peter tries to convince his ex-cop mate that a certain pair of “open mouth breathers” is disposing of body parts at his tip.

Kate Ellis –The Fox and the Hens: Inspector Jonah Westerman is called in when one of a hen party is murdered at a holiday cottage. Suspicion may fall on the woman’s ex-husband, or on the cottage landlord, but Westerman digs deeper.

John Baker –An Old-Fashioned Poisoning: Isabella’s hatred of her mother’s new lover prompts recall of Grandma Agnus’s knowledge of effective poisons.

Margaret Murphy –Read the Label: a psychopath’s inner musings prove just how unreliable first impressions can be in the face of someone who knows how to present…

Kate Ellis –My Oleander: Detective Superintendent Raphael Inigo Penhalen, now retired, recalls a solved case of poisoning early in his career, and puts the knowledge garnered to use.

Ann Cleeves –The Queen of Mystery: ageing mystery writer Stella Monkhouse attends another Malice Domestic crime convention, vowing that if she again wins the Agatha, there will be a shock for the audience.

Chaz Brenchley –For Kicks: a seventeen-year-old girl lies in a coma after a violent attack, but some of her bruises are not so recent. On investigation, police learn of a background of beatings by those who should have loved her…

Cath Staincliffe –Two Birds: a widower neighbour observes as a young woman braves her father’s religious intolerance to secretly meet with her Fenian young man. When the father is murdered, the suspect is obvious, isn’t he?

Margaret Murphy –Big End Blues: showbiz duo Jemma and Cherise find that a big gorilla of a removalist turns out to be both a problem and a solution for their transport woes.

Martin Edwards –Bad Friday: a young woman’s loud complaints into her mobile phone on a crowded train carriage lead to an unexpected interaction with a fellow passenger.

Chris Simms –The Passenger: a day on the beach turns ironic as a woman openly scornful of boat people needs rescue from wild water.

Kate Ellis –The Confessions of Edward Prime: serial confessor Edward Prime plagues DC Janet Crowley with an insistence that he is guilty of the murder of local woman, Paula Sloane. But a man answering to his description was seen in the area: could he be telling the truth this time?

Stuart Pawson –Ultra Violent: a vain young man decides to commit the perfect murder; anticipating success, he is already planning a career as a serial killer.

Cath Staincliffe –Perfect Storm: in a post-apocalyptic future, impatience to own his old, blind neighbour’s hens and food crops leads a man to murder.

Chris Simms –Gaffed: a man comes to a secluded cabin to share information with a police detective on a criminal organisation run by an elusive character.

Martin Edwards –The Other Life: widow Jean Parkinson is too smart to be the victim of a spiritual medium scam her Bosnian cleaner takes her to. It’s when she returns home to unexpected visitors that the fun really begins.

Ann Cleeves –A Winter’s Tale: Inspector Ramsay and Sergeant Hunter are called out to Blackstoneburn farm on the Saturday before Christmas. Neighbour Joe Helms has found a dead woman in the kitchen. As soon as Ramsay sees who it is, he has it figured out. Hunter, unfamiliar with the players, is not so quick.

Margaret Murphy –Still Life: a young woman crippled in an accident does not hide her repulsion each time she encounters the man with locked-in syndrome in her rehab physio sessions. The man is painfully aware of her compulsive stares. She thinks he should die: surely he wants to? Someone should…. He understands that she wants to die. Over the months, though, something changes.

This is a brilliant collection of short stories from masters of the crime genre. There are many excellent twists, some delicious, some devious, some chilling. Highly recommended!
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Canongate Books Severn House.

[Gail C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a pot of vegetable soup you find a lot of vegetables you like and a few you don’t. The same can be said of Many Deadly Returns. There are twenty-one short stories in all, and if you are a mystery lover you will probably find something that suits your fancy.

The book starts with a story by Ann Cleeves and it is interesting to see how she crafts a story that features her well-known detective Vera Stanhope, seen through the eyes of one of the suspects. It’s an interesting look at Vera you don’t get in the books that make up her well known series. Her other story doesn’t feature Vera, but it is still classic Ann Cleeves. These were probably my two favorite stories in the book, although, to be honest, I’m a big Ann Cleeves fan so that should come as no surprise.

As you might expect, you will probably find some stories you like more than others; you may even find some you don’t like. What I found interesting is the emotions these authors were able to evoke in just a few short pages. By and large they all were able to fill the reader with a sense of time and place within the first few paragraphs and maintain that feeling throughout. In the stories that were on the more eerie side, you might find yourself glancing over your shoulder or being glad you didn’t read that one when you were home alone after dark.

They all have a twist of some sort, even though each one is just a few pages long. The twist may or may not be expected in most cases and in one I can almost guarantee it will be so unexpected it will turn the whole story on it’s side. No, I’m not telling which one, that would spoil everything.

One recommendation I have is give yourself a bit of time between stories. It doesn’t have to be lots of time, maybe just a few minutes in some cases. What you want is to have your emotions come back to normal before you start each one. That gives it the opportunity to have a complete effect on you. If you read them too rapidly you may have a feeling of impending doom or a sense of shock you carry onto the next story and those emotions may not mesh with the next story you read.

This is an excellent book to take with you on a trip as you can read a complete story in a short period of time, then put it away to enjoy the next activity. Then when you find some more down time you can pick up the book and do it all again. Even if a story is not your typical type of read, it’s short enough for you to complete it to get a sense of that writer and what you might expect from them in a full length novel.

One of the benefits of this book is that it gives you the opportunity to sample several different styles of writing and writers. For example, although only one of Cleeve’s stories features Vera Stanhope, both are police procedurals. There are others that deal more with psychological suspense, futuristic drama, open-ended finale, etc. and after reading a few you may have a better idea of the type of book you prefer.

You may want to pick this up for yourself, or if you have a friend who is a lover of mystery fiction. It’s also a good gift for someone who may be convalescing as an alternative to a magazine since it offers the opportunity to read in very short spurts. In either event, this is a book worth considering.

My thanks to Canongate Books, Severn House, and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy of this book for review. The opinions stated here are entirely my own.


.

[Les Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve said this so many times aunt it’s still true that it is difficult to give a rating to a collection of short stories. These range from 2-5.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like almost all short story collections, I enjoyed some of these stories much more than others. The book caught my attention because it featured stories by Ann Cleeves. These were my favorites, especially the one with Vera Stanhope and Holly. However, I'm pleased to be introduced to other authors I wasn't familiar with like Martin Edwards, Kate Ellis, and Cath Staincliffe. Since there were a couple stories I really enjoyed, I gave the book as a while a rating of four stars.

[jeff popple · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fans of British crime fiction will greatly enjoy this new collection of short stories from the Murder Squad.

The Murder Squad was formed in 1999 by a group of British crime writers who were, at that time, struggling to gain traction with paying readers, despite enjoying very good reviews for their books. The original members of the group were Cath Staincliffe, Ann Cleeves, John Baker, Martin Edwards, Chaz Brenchley, Stuart Pawson and Margaret Murphy. By joining forces they hoped to increase their publicity budget and draw more attention to their books. Ann Cleeves and Cath Staincliffe were to enjoy relatively quick success though their television series, while Martin Edwards has gained acclaim through his Detection Club books. Success has been mixed for other members of the Squad, although all are well respected.

Twenty one years on and the Murder Squad is still going strong, although there have been some changes. John Baker and Chaz Brenchley have left the Squad, while the highly entertaining Stuart Pawson passed away a few years ago. Their places have been taken by Kate Ellis and the very talented Chris Simms.

To celebrate their twenty-first anniversary the Squad have issued a superb collection of short stories, Many Deadly Returns, that highlights the diversity of the group’s approach to writing crime fiction and provides some enjoyable entertainment. Each of the current members have contributed three stories, some new and some reworked old ones, while past members have provided one each.

Many Deadly Returns gets off to a great start with a terrific opening entry by Ann Cleeves, Wild Swimming, which dazzles with its twisty, surprising plot and moves with is poignant reflections on COVID pandemic. Ann’s other entries are also stand-outs, especially the tongue-in-cheek and occasionally bitchy swipe at crime writers and mystery conventions, The Queen Of Mystery.

Other highlights are Martin Edwards’ dark and witty duo of Lucky Liam and The Other Life; Margaret Murphy’s sharp and clever Read The Label and Kate Ellis’ cleverly constructed My Oleander. Chris Simms’ brings some grit and grimness to the collection and it is a pleasure to be reminded of the late Stuart Pawson’s talent with Ultra Violent.

In fact all the stories are very good and will appeal to a wide range of crime readers.

I am not usually a big fan of short story collections, but I really enjoyed this one.

See my full review at https://murdermayhemandlongdogs.com/m...

[Jennifer (JC-S) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A twenty-first birthday celebration for the Murder Squad.

And what better way to celebrate a twenty-first birthday than with a collection of twenty-one short stories?

The Murder Squad was formed in 1999 by a group of British crime writers who were trying to achieve a wider audience for their work. The original members of the group were Ann Cleeves, Cath Staincliffe, Chaz Brenchley, John Baker, Martin Edwards, Stuart Pawson, and Margaret Murphy. Since then, Chaz Brenchley and John Baker have left the squad, Stuart Pawson has passed away and Kate Ellis and Chris Simms have joined the group. The six existing members of the group have contributed three stories each to the anthology, with an additional story each by John Baker, Chaz Brenchley, and Stuart Pawson.

Every self-contained story captured and held my attention. Perhaps a brief sentence or two about one story from each author might tempt you:

Ann Cleeves – Wild Swimming: on the last day of a winter wild-water swimming challenge, four women stumble on the body of a lone swimmer. DI Vera Stanhope attends.

Martin Edwards – Lucky Liam: an avid reader suspects his aspiring-writer wife of having an affair with an author he detests. He acts, with unintended consequences.

Cath Staincliffe – Scorpion: Nathan’s best friend Cody buys them both flick knives as protection from the notorious Leeson brothers, with disastrous results.

Chris Simms – Skeleton Crew: Peter, a manager at the council tip, tries to convince his ex-cop mate that body parts are being disposed of at the tip.

John Baker – An Old-Fashioned Poisoning: Isabella hates her mother’s new lover and remembers that her Grandma Agnus’s knew a lot about effective poisons.

Kate Ellis – My Oleander: Detective Superintendent Raphael Inigo Penhalen, now retired, recalls a case of poisoning from early in his career. Perhaps he can put that knowledge to good use.

Chaz Brenchley – For Kicks: a seventeen-year-old girl lies in a coma after a violent attack, but some of her bruises are not recent. On investigation, police learn of a background of beatings by those who should have cared for her.

Stuart Pawson – Ultra Violent: a self-absorbed young man decides to commit the perfect murder. He is so sure of his success that he plans a career as a serial killer.

I read this collection over several days. Each story is cleverly done, some have unexpected twists, all are completely self-contained.

Highly recommended to crime readers who enjoy well-written stories with a twist or two.

Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Severn House for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

[Becki Sims · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed these short stories. They are clever, interesting and draw you in, to read more from each author.

In this book there will definitely be stories for everyone. They are all different and brilliant. What a joy.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for gifting me this arc in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

[Jenni Ogden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous collection of short stories from the suspense authors whose full-length books we all love. Perfect when you need a quick read before sleep, or perhaps while the baby's asleep! Some stories I like more than others but that is the plus of a collection like this; something for everyone, and new authors to get a taste of before going on to their full-length novels. So nice to read also about the way they first got together many years ago, to do a collection, to support all of them, back then struggling authors! No longer... One of the best things about being a novelist; the author friends one makes and keeps forever.

[Renita D'Silva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful

[Paromjit · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a crime and mystery short story collection compiled to celebrate The Murder Squad, a group of Northern England crime fiction writers, many of whom will be very familiar to readers of the genre. Established in 1999, The Murder Squad contributers are Anne Cleeves, Martin Edwards, Kate Ellis, Margaret Murphy, Chris Simms, Cath Staincliffe, all of whom offer three stories, and the late Stuart Pawson, Chaz Brenchley and John Baker. There are 21 stories in all:

Wild Swimming - Ann Cleeves
Lucky Liam - Martin Edwards
Scorpion - Cath Staincliffe
Skeleton Crew - Chris Simms
The Fox and the Hens - Kate Ellis
An Old Fashioned Poisoning - John Baker
Read the Label - Margaret Murphy
My Oleander - Kate Ellis
The Queen of Mystery - Ann Cleeves
For Kicks - Chaz Brenchley
Two Birds - Cath Staincliffe
Big End Blues - Margaret Murphy
Bad Friday - Martin Edwards
The Passenger - Chris Simms
The Confessions of Edward Prime - Kate Ellis
Ultra Violent - Stuart Pawson
Perfect Storm - Cath Staincliffe
Gaffed - Chris Simms
The Other Life - Martin Edwards
A Winter's Tale - Ann Cleeves
Still Life - Margaret Murphy

There is not a single dud in this terrific crime collection, with its twisted tales, DI Vera Stanhope features in a story of a wild swimming group of women who find a body on the beach, Nathan and Cody converse in prison, a man has suspicions about 2 men and what they dispose of in a local authority run recycling centre, and a member of a hen party ends up dead. A slow poisoning occurs within a family, and how labelling a person can mislead, a retired police officer reflects back on a old locked room case, and a queen of cozy crime frets that she is no longer good enough at a Malice Crime Convention in Maryland. A 17 year old girl has spent a life time being kicked hard, and in the 19th century, there is murder and a hanging, a woman is a passenger on a packed Euston to Liverpool train where she eavesdrops on phone conversations, and a young man makes his latest false confession to crimes, but a locket suggests to a police officer that this time more investigation may be required.

This great collection provides a wonderful opportunity to become acquainted with crime writers you may have never read before. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

[Helianthus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up this eARC mostly because it contained three short stories by one of my favourite crime authors Ann Cleeves, and I am so glad I did because I have discovered so many more crime authors I would love to read more of. I was also curious as to how these authors could fit a crime story that would usually require so much detail and backstory into the short-story style. As I soon realised, this could be done, and could be done very well at that.

Each of these pocket size crime stories managed to surprise me in ways I wasn’t expecting. This was something I loved. The twists and surprises that mystery and crime novels offer is what draws me back to this genre time and time again. So to read exactly that in a different form was great.

As always with a collection of short stories there will be some I loved and some that I didn’t quite as much. When I pick a collection that is right for me, I find myself really enjoying most of them, but the odd few that I didn’t as much are still a great read. That was the case here which was so good.

My favourites were easily the three by Ann Cleeves – Wild Swimming, The Queen of Mystery, and A Winter’s Tale. I also loved The Fox and the Hens and The Confessions of Edward Prime by Kate Ellis. Those are the ones that come to mind for me, but there weren’t any I didn’t enjoy.

I highly recommend this as a quick read with many twists and turns throughout. If you’re deterred by the format there’s no need, while the pieces are short and have no connection to each other, they work as a collection wonderfully. If you’re a murder mystery fan, this is for you!

Thank you to NetGalley, the authors, and the publisher for sending me this free eARC (eAdvanced Reader Copy), I am leaving this review voluntarily. This title was published 2nd November 2021.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

1. Ann Cleeves - Wild Swimming - on the last day of their daily swim in the cold water, a body is discovered. One of the swimmers being a police officer calls in D.I. Stanhope
2. Martin Edwards - Lucky Liam - Always best to be lucky rather than rich, but how does Liam North's life change.
3. Cath Staincliffe - Scorpion - how did Cody and Nathan end up in jail
4. Chris Simms - Skeleton Crew - why is Pete suspicious of two men
5, Kate Ellis - The Fox and The Hens - How and why does a hen weekend go badly wrong
6. John Baker - An Old Fashioned Poisoning - A poisoning within the family
7. Margaret Murphy - Read the Label - but does it really tell who you are
8. Kate Ellis - My Oleander- Detective Superintendent Penhalen looks back at an old case when he was a D.C. - a locked room mystery
9. Ann Cleeves - The Queen of Mystery - Can Stella Monkhouse Queen of the cozy mystery go out on top
10. Chaz Brenchley - For Kicks - why did she put up with the kicks
11. Cath Staincliffe - Two Birds - 1871 Murder - but by whom and why (John Crowther dead, innocent Sheehey Donal hanged
12. Margaret Murphy - Big End Blues - What can you do when you are broke and your vehicle needs repairs
13. Martin Edwards - Bad Friday- On the train who really is having a bad day.
14. Chris Simms - The Passenger - How does a date out at the beach bring problems
15. Kate Ellis - The Confessions of Edward Prime - Prime is a serial confessor, but is he guilty this time.
16. Stuart Pawson - Ultra Violent - One way to be better than the rest of humanity is to kill without getting caught, is it possible
17. Cath Staincliffe - Perfect Storm - What does the future hold for Dennis and Bessie
18. Chris Sims - Gaffed - Can Malcolm finally leave his past and enter a witness protection place
19. Marin Edwards - The Other Life - Can old Jean Parkinson survive without her husband
20. Ann Cleeves - A Winter’s Tale - Who did kill Rebecca Joyce and why
21. Margaret Murphy - Still Life - Life as a locked-in syndrome man

Twenty one good well-written short stories all with their twists at the end. How did two young men end in jail - what will be the result of one man's suspicions - a locked room mystery - a serial confessor, is he guilty this time - and many more entertaining stories
An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Judy Lesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am quite impressed with this collection of stories. Usually I find several stories in an anthology that I just don't like at all, but this group of 21 stories was pleasing, each in their own individual way. I really think the difference is that these works don't fit into any kind of theme; it was like reading work submitted by nine students as a classroom assignment. Some are quirky, some offer expected crime solving plots and some of the stories are surprising.

This collection is a celebration of the 21st anniversary of a group of northern England mystery authors called Murder Squad. There are three stories each by current members of Murder Squad: Ann Cleeves, Martin Edwards, Margaret Murphy, Cath Staincliff, Kate Ellis, and Chris Simms. One story each is included from former members of the group: John Baker, Chaz Brenchley and Stuart Pawson. I would have been very glad to have been able to read longer versions of these stories. It was also nice to find that the majority of these works are described by Martin Edwards in his Introduction as "freshly written or have not been previously published in the UK". This is an ideal collection to read if you want a way to sample the style of authors you are curious about or to find something new from an author you already follow. I enjoyed it quite a lot.

Thank you to NetGalley and Canongate Books, Severn House Publishing for an e-galley of this anthology.

[Cathy Cole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many Deadly Returns contains twenty-one short stories written by nine past and present members of Murder Squad, a group of midlist crime writers based in the north of England.

Several of the writers showcased in this anthology were familiar to me: Ann Cleeves, Martin Edwards, Kate Ellis, John Baker, Stuart Pawson, and Cath Staincliffe. Others, like Chris Simms, Margaret Murphy, and Chaz Brenchley, I met for the first time. That's something every good anthology should do: give you more of the familiar yet introduce you to the new.

The stories run the gamut from sly and humorous to grim and heartbreaking. Three of my favorites? Chris Simms' "Skeleton Crew" is set in a garbage dump and features a man who doesn't know how to leave well enough alone. Kate Ellis' "The Confessions of Edward Prime" is about a young man who likes to come into the police station to confess to each new crime as it's reported. And Margaret Murphy's "Still Life" is about a man with locked-in syndrome and the young girl who's repulsed by him.

There's not a bad'un in the bunch; there's something to be enjoyed in each of these short stories. From great turns of phrase ("He was more simian than sapiens.") to O. Henry-like twists and other feats of plotting and characterization, Many Deadly Returns is a pleasure to read. Not only did I enjoy reading the ones by my favorite authors, but I also found new authors to read. Pardon me while I go look up their books...

[Stephen the Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Using a cliche to write a review isn’t something I would normally consider especially a well used analogy but reading this brilliant collection kept making me think what was coming next …how would I feel upon the “ reveal “ and to that extent making a selection from a box of chocolates arises.However this is no sweet soft-centred array but darker and bitter chocolate outsides with something shaper and even sour within. The art of the short story is never easy but to encapsulate the darker emotions and motivations of criminals/ murderers within a few pages is a talent and this is what The Murder Squad achieves. These are tales that will surprise and shock and give that final twist reminiscent of a Dahl short story. Never again will I visit a local refuse tip in the same way, pick up a wooden eating implement without wondering about its source..it is the everyday worlds that these stories embrace and the people that to most of us could be neighbours or friends who harbour darker secrets that really shock and surprise. This is an amazingly talented team who have produced a perfect collection for winter nights ( of course whilst biting into a dark chocolate of two by your side)

Forgive the analogy and thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do like a good bit of crime fiction and with the wonderful team at the Murder Squad, we are gifted more than a good bit. 21 stories which run a whole gamut of crimes and emotions and which are pretty well guaranteed to give you at least one tale to make you ponder, or maybe even chuckle.

As with any short story collection, I found myself immersed in a myriad of mini adventures, some of which I have to admit I have read before (one of the perils of reading almost exclusively crime fiction I suppose) but the majority of which are new to me. Short story collections are perfect for me as it's a quick lunchtime fix of fiction, or a way to act as a bit of a pallet cleanser between full length crime novels, when you don't want to go cold turkey but haven't the time or start a big tome. The real bonus of this book is that it also introduced me to some authors who I was aware of but had never actually read before. I like that about these books. It's like a literary taster session, only with less calories.

This book has everything to offer, as you'd expect from the very experienced and talented team behind it. A variety of characters, settings and various deadly encounters and motives to keep you fully entertained. Some of the names may seem very familiar - there is a wonderful Vera short story from Ann Cleeves for example, but that's not the sole draw of this book. Some of the standout stories for me included Kate Ellis' My Oleander, a brilliant locked room mystery with a smile inducing twist in the tale, and Chaz Benchley's For Kicks, a story which is a fabulous commentary on modern life and definitely provoking. Then there is Chris Simms, The Passenger. Definitely one to make the blood boil, at least if you have any kind of conscience. All perfectly pitched and paced stories, self contained but making me curious to read more.

If you like crime fiction then this really is a great collection and one I'd heartily recommend.

[Annarella · Rating 5 out of 5]

An anthology of short stories is usually a mixed bag: some are top level, some are good, and some a re bit meh.
This is not the case, assuming a rating on 10 base, they're all over 8/10.
A group of well known master joined forces and you can feel they had a lot of fun in writing these short stories: a lot of dark humour, unexpected twists, a very high level of entertainment.
It starts with a bang and the level is never under "WOW": I think all the possible range of motives, killing means and type of stories were featured.
My favorite:
Ann Cleeves - The Queen of Mystery : a humorous and satirical description of a mystery convention with an expected twists. I loved the description and loved the final twist
Martin Edwards –Bad Friday: It starts as a very realistic description of crowded train travel and the final twists came as a surprise
Kate Ellis –My Oleander: it could be a classic whodunnit with a locked room puzzle. It is and something more
Even if I listed these three stories I loved them all and this anthology made me discover some new to me author (my TBR is groaning)
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

[Roselyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've seen The Murder Squad books before but never took much notice of them not knowing what they are. Before I even review the book the actual group and what they do is just fantastic. I think the fact its 21 years later and still going even though the authors are now well known is great.

The book is made of 21 short stories written by the members of the Murder Squad and a great introduction to the authors if you don't know them already - I know of them but haven't actually read their books!

The first story really got me hooked. the characters are casually walking along and someone trips over a body - i was as shocked as the character! I just really enjoyed the whole book, it would be a perfect read before bed, a short story every night for 21 days - if you can manage to pace it out - I didn't!

Thanks to NetGalley and The Murder Squad! Now I have a huge TBR pile after looking up all the authors!

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has 21 short stories, many taking place in Great Britain. Some were excellent, some were mediocre. On the whole, the collection was refreshing. Of 21 stories, I rated ten of them at 5; and I rate the collection 5 overall, rather than only 4.

Here is the list of stories I rated 5 out of 5: Wild Swimming by Ann Cleeves; Skeleton Crew by Chris Simms; My Oleander by Kate Ellis; For Kicks by Chaz Brenchley; Two Birds by Cath Staincliffe; The Passenger by Chris Simms; the Confessions of Edward Prine by Kate Ellis; Perfect Storm by Cath Staincliffe; Gaffed by Chris Simms; Still Life by Margaret Murphy.

[Angela DT · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many Deadly Returns .

I didn't quite know what to expect when I began to read this . I usually avoid short stories as prefer to get my teeth into a good long book.
Have to say I was very pleasantly surprised by Many Deadly Returns, the stories were great by the authors I love . Good solid stories by people such as Ann Sleeves who brought back Vera Stanhope for her story. I was imaging Brenda Blethyn standing on the beach. Cath Staincliffe was a poignant story of two lifelong friends.
All in all a very good read.

[Hannelore Cheney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and Canon gate, Severn House for the eARC.
Generally I don't read short stories, but with all the wonderful authors contributing to this book, I couldn't resist. Excellent decision ... great stuff!
Every story is a page turner and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough.
Highly recommended!

[Marty Tool · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short stories are wonderful if written by talented writers, and these are. All are mystery or murder related, and definitely karma can be a bitch. Great for reading when you just want a story but don't have a lot of time, each is a full story in a few pages. Terrific assortment of murder and mystery, just kept reading one more, unfortunately it finished the book too soon.

[Chris-Cuddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cracking collection of crime thriller shorts. Starting with Ann Cleeves' 'Wild Swimming' featuring DCI Vera Stanhope, then Martin Edwards' 'Lucky Liam' a cuckold husband getting his revenge, and the list goes on. From cops to killers, and some that are both in these twisty tales. A must read for the crime fiction aficionados.

[Claudete Takahashi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many Deadly Returns is a great anthology with stories that will keep you glued to your reader (or book)from the beginning. The stories have mystery and action and are easy-to-read providing great entertainment!
I thank the authors and NetGalley for the copy of this book.

[Martina]

21 short stories celebrating 21 years of the Murder Squad. Stories by Ann Cleeves, Martin Edwards, Kate Ellis and others should not be missed! Expected out end of September.

[Terri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice group of short mysteries..but a couple I never did 'get' the ending.

[Penny Little · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some are better than others, but all were at least okay.