Last Shot

by Alice Bienia, Dwayne Clayden, Winona Kent

Sometimes fear prevents us from taking our last shot, sometimes it pushes us to do the unimaginable.

From Alice Bienia comes a story about an aging mystery writer about to be dropped by her publisher and under pressure from her agent to write something brilliant. When an opportunity presents itself, she must decide how far she’s willing to go for a killer plot.

Dwayne Clayden tells the tale of a rookie cop who puts himself in harms way as he races to find a missing boy. With a known pedophile on the loose, and mother nature thwarting him at every turn, he begs the universe to keep the boy alive—and for a chance to face the boy’s abductor.

Winona Kent takes us to a rundown nightclub in London, where an out-of-work jazz musician’s priceless Strat is stolen—and the club owner turns up dead. Desperate to find his guitar, his search takes him to an abandoned Underground station where he discovers a unique employment opportunity—and the nightclub owner’s killer.

Peter Kingsmill takes us on a trip up Canada’s famous Trent Severn Canal where a former coastguardsman, and his partner, try to outrace and outwit the bad guys after they discover some unwanted cargo on their newly purchased tour boat.

Genres: Anthologies

Kindle Edition

Published June 2, 2021

Reviews

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining mystery listening 😁

This kindle ebook novel was free from Amazon

Four short stories each different with interesting characters lots of action, misdirection, and violence leading to each conclusion 😎

I would recommend this novel and authors to readers of mystery novels 😃👒 2025 🤔😁

[Christina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unfortunately, most of these short stories fell flat for me, with one notable exception. Alicia Bienia’s story about an author facing a creative dry spell and the threat of being dropped by her publisher was a real winner. I was immediately drawn into the dynamics between the aging author and her new protégé. Just when I thought I knew where the story was headed, the murder twist took me by surprise—making the entire read worthwhile. I give five stars to this standout story, while the rest of the collection rates between one and three stars.

[Delvin Chatterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Talented Canadian writers with enjoyable short stories.

A great collection of short stories - drama, suspense and dead bodies - by talented Canadian crime writers. Enjoyable, intriguing stories, and introductions to fascinating new characters. Well written. A good summer read.

[Taija Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Last Shot is a collection of four short stories by four Canadian crime/mystery writers, set on the premise of: “How far would you go if you knew it was your last shot?” (at redemption/winning/etc.) It’s a premise of desperate characters committing desperate acts. It makes for some sharp tension and suspense even in a short amount of space.

Here’s a brief look at each of the short stories (spoiler-free)…

Killer Muse by Alice Bienia: I’ve read almost all of Bienia’s work, either recreationally or professionally, so I’m already a fan (I know, super biased!). Bienia is also the author of the Jorja Knight Mystery series, which I recommend highly if you’re a mystery aficionado like I am. This short story is about an older writer whose career is failing. She’s facing a deadline and gets an opportunity to do some in-person research on stalking. This is a little darker, in my estimation, than some of her other work, and for that I actually love it even more. It is fantastically, deliciously devious. It does offer a great taste of her writing style and tendency toward tight plotting and exciting twists, so if you like this you’ll like her other work. Definitely the kind of short story that stays with you.

On the Run by Dwayne Clayden: Like Bienia, I’ve also read all Clayden’s work either recreationally or professionally and am a fan already (I know, biased again!). This short story is actually a prequel to his already established Brad Coulter series, which has several books at this point. It’s more of a Thriller series, so if you love thrillers, go scoop a few. In this one we get to see Coulter when he is just starting out in his policing career—before he is the Detective Coulter we come to know and love. This one I really don’t want to spoil so I’m only going to say they have to hunt down a bad guy and save a kidnapped kid on a ticking clock, which Clayden is masterful at. If you haven’t read his work before, this is a great taste of a few of the characters that pop up in the Coulter series, as well as his overall writing style, pacing, and what you can expect from the series.

Blue Devil Blues by Winona Kent: This was a new writer for me, which is always fun! In this, jazz musician Jason Davey’s beloved Strat guitar is stolen after an audition, leading him to stumble upon a murder scene. The blues music focus was a plus and gave a great depth to the sympathetic main character. Enjoyed the writing.

Where Ordinary People Go To Die by Peter Kingsmill: A body on a boat triggers a “cross between amateur sleuth and police procedural” set in Ontario. Also a new writer for me and a great title. I enjoyed the setting details and the rich visual imagery. At every point in the story I felt like I was right there with the characters, I was so grounded in the scene and setting, which is one of the sensations I enjoy most while reading.

All excellent stories by excellent writers—definitely worth the quick read!

[Judy Sheluk · Rating 5 out of 5]

How far would you go if you knew it was your last shot at redemption? At winning, no matter the cost, either personally or professionally? What if the last shot belonged to the villain instead of the hero? Those are the questions posed to the four authors represented in this collection, and each one offers their answer, complete with the requisite twists and turns we’ve come to expect from crime fiction.
It all starts with the diabolically clever ‘Killer Muse’ by Alice Bienia. Nora, a bestselling mystery author, is facing an already extended deadline for her ninth novel. There’s just one not-so-small problem: every potential plot in her folder of “Great Story Ideas” has been considered and discarded, and by day twenty-three she’s pretty much reached the point of desperation.
In 'On the Run' by Dwayne Clayden, it's May 1975 in Calgary, and Constable Brad Coulter and his new partner, Constable Curtis Young, are dispatched to the Earl Grey Elementary School, where eight-year-old boy has been reported missing.
Laced with musical references, wit, and an insider’s look at London’s Underground, Winona Kent’s ‘Blue Devil Blues’ hits all the right notes as we watch jazz musician Jason Davey go for his last shot: an audition for Howard Parfitt, owner of Diamonds, a club in the heart of London’s Soho that, in the sixties, had been a rock and roll mecca.
In Peter Kingsmill’s ‘Where Ordinary People Go To Die,” former OPS auxiliary officer and Coast Guard Frank Anderson, and his partner, Marjorie Webster, have just purchased the Rusty Bee. Their idyllic plans to boat along Ontario’s Trent-Severn Waterway from their home on Anwan Lake in Maple Falls quickly evaporate when Marjorie wakes up to discover a dead man hanging off the side of their crew-boat, a man she recognizes as “the idiot” who’d annoyed Frank at the local pub the night before.
Four authors. Four opportunities to sample the sort of stories they write. After all, this may be your first shot at reading them, but my guess is, it won’t be your last.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I usually don't read books that a a collection of short stories but thought I would give this one a try and boy was I glad I did. It was well written and really interesting. Made me change my mind about short story collections.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Four outstanding mystery writers together. Alice Bienia is one of my favourites. These stories are definitely binge worthy.