Music of the Night: from the Crime Writers' Association

Malabar House #3.5 - Bombay Blues

by Martin Edwards (Editor)

The Annual Crime Writers' Association anthology is always a thrilling read, and eagerly anticipated by readers and authors of crime and mystery fiction worldwide.Music of the Night is a new anthology of original short stories contributed by Crime Writers' Association (CWA) members and edited by Martin Edwards, with music as the connecting theme. The aim, as always, is to produce a book which is representative both of the genre and the membership of the world’s premier crime writing association.The CWA has published anthologies of members’ stories in most years since 1956, with Martin Edwards as editor for over 25 years, during which time the anthologies have yielded many award-winning and nominated stories by writers such as Ian Rankin, Reginald Hill, Lawrence Block, and Edward D. Hoch. Stories by long-standing authors and stellar names sit alongside contributions from relative newcomers, authors from overseas, and members whose work haven’t appeared in a CWA anthology before.Contents Abi Silver – Be PreparedAlison Joseph – A Sharp ThornAndrew Taylor – Wrong NotesAntony M. Brown – The Melody of MurderArt Taylor – Love Me or Leave MeBrian Price – The Scent of an EndingCath Staincliffe – Mix TapeC. Aird – The Last Green BottleChris Simms – TaxiChristine Poulson – Some Other DraculaDavid Stuart Davies – Violin – CEDea Parkin – The Sound and the FuryJason Monaghan – A Vulture Sang in Berkeley SquareKate Ellis – Not a NoteL.C. Tyler – His Greatest HitLeo McNeir – RequiemMartin Edwards – The Crazy Cries of LoveMaxim Jakubowski – Waiting for CorneliaNeil Daws – The Watch RoomPaul Charles – The Ghosts of PeacePaul Gitsham – No More ‘I Love You’s’Peter Lovesey – And the Band Played OnRagnar Jónasson – 4x3Shawn Reilly Simmons – A Death in Four PartsVaseem Khan – Bombay BluesFLAME TREE PRESS is the imprint of long-standing independent Flame Tree Publishing, dedicated to full-length original fiction in the horror andsuspense, science fiction & fantasy, and crime / mystery / thriller categories. The list brings together fantastic new authors and the more established; the award winners, and exciting, original voices. Learn more about Flame Tree Press at www.flametreepress.com and connect on social media @FlameTreePress

Genres: Short Stories, Mystery, Fiction, Thriller

385 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2022

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

[Karen Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two of the greatest pleasures of love; arguably perhaps two of the greatest necessities are music and literature so the theme of this most recent CWA anthology was a mouthwatering prospect. Music of the Night, expertly curated by Martin Edwards could be described as 'Now That's What I Call Crime Fiction' and while an eclectic mixtape of short stories, is definitely all thrillers and no fillers.
It's always tricky when reviewing an anthology to know whether it's best to pick out a few choice stories that particularly stood out, to give a general overview of the collection without going into specific details about any of the titles or to say something about all of them. After much deliberation, I've decided to briefly share my thoughts about each of the stories, in the order in which they appear in the anthology.

Abi Silver – Be Prepared
Having thoroughly enjoyed a couple of Abi Silver's excellent Burton and Lamb legal thrillers, this opening story set at a joint guide and scout camp in the early 80s might be a departure from that contemporary series but proves to be no less hard-hitting. The sense of menace as those present sing songs and perform skits around the ubiquitous camp fire builds gradually as it becomes increasingly clear that something terrible is going to happen. With a witty yet dark sense of time and place and a fabulous conclusion, Be Prepared is a superb opener.

Alison Joseph – A Sharp Thorn
A Sharp Thorn is an intriguing mystery and a wonderful example of how to write a short story that feels like a novel. Emma Collett receives a puzzling phone call from a care home in Cornwall because a dying man called Robert Sinclair wishes to see her. She has no idea who he is but this obviously isn't a case of mistaken identity. The truth involves a vintage harpsichord and a chilling, long-kept secret

Andrew Taylor – Wrong Notes
This twisty little historical mystery finds a young cub reporter sent to cover a concert at girls' school but the story turns out to be rather more exciting when a murder takes place during the performance. Full of red herrings and with an excellent sense of place, how the murderer is uncovered is hugely satisfying.

Antony M. Brown – The Melody of Murder
Another story set in the 80s, The Melody of the Murder captures the period beautifully, from the headlines about the Falklands War to the mentions of Wogan and the upcoming World Cup in Spain. The case at the heart of the investigation would easily grace a full-length novel so it's to Antony M. Brown's credit that I wasn't left feeling short-changed. A serial killer has been staging his victims to look like the covers of albums and leaving clues as to his next murder - which proves to be especially macabre...

Art Taylor – Love Me or Leave Me
One of the most terrifying stories in the collection; Love Me or Leave Me finds Garrett increasingly tormented by music that only he can hear. Later revelations suggest something dark happened in his past and this fragmented, disturbing tale echoes his tortured mind. The open ending of this one is wonderfully ominous.

Brian Price – The Scent of an Ending
No crime fiction anthology would be complete without a locked room mystery. This story about Keith, a collector of vintage records who dies while ensconced in his soundproofed haven is a satisfyingly perplexing puzzle, featuring a cunning murder, an intriguing cast of suspects, some dogged police work and a cleverly worked dénouement.

Cath Staincliffe – Mix Tape
This is one of the shortest stories in the collection but provides perhaps the longest playlist with some great songs included on the mix tape of the title. Short but definitely not sweet, the black humour of the final song mentioned concludes this shocking tale of love gone wrong perfectly.

Catherine Aird – The Last Green Bottle
The Last Green Bottle is an absorbing detective story featuring Sloan and Crosby from Catherine Aird's Callenshire Chronicles, with an English village setting that brings to mind Midsomer Murders and its ilk. After DI Sloan and DC Crosby receive a mysterious phone call informing them of a murder but with no body and little evidence, they have to uncover how the clues linked to 'Ten Green Bottles' are connected to a cold case.

Chris Simms – Taxi
Underlining the wonderful breadth of crime fiction perfectly, Taxi follows the cosy crime mystery of The Last Green Bottle with a modern, gritty story about a serial killer who targets young women. Told partly from the killer's narrative and partly from the perspective of his next potential victim, this is a grim, tense story where the murderer's choice of music provides a chilling soundtrack to his crimes.

Christine Poulson – Some Other Dracula
Despite the title, this isn't horror crime fiction so much as a closed circle mystery with a setting at an upmarket party that would grace a Golden Age detective novel. With the guests in Halloween themed fancy dress, the murderer might have the perfect disguise in this atmospheric, rather witty story.

David Stuart Davies – Violin – CE
Another of the shorter stories but no less unsettling for that; Violin is a chilling tale of obsession and covetousness. Written entirely in dialogue, it's a wonderful example of how short stories allow authors to play around with form, with a pitch-perfect conclusion.

Dea Parkin – The Sound and the Fury
If music hath charms to soothe the savage beast, it can also rouse emotions to fever pitch as we discover here when a woman makes a furious journey to her lover's house accompanied by her 'Murder at Midnight' playlist. It's a brutal tale of jealousy and possession, with the lyrics to her favourite song punctuating her increasingly frenzied house call.

Jason Monaghan – A Vulture Sang in Berkeley Square
The title to this one obviously brings to mind the famous wartime song but set just after the end of the war, A Vulture Sang in Berkeley Square is a chilling story about exchanging secrets. Unlike the often rose-tinted nostalgia about this period, Jason Monaghan explores a bleaker, more honest reality where opportunism flourished alongside the more celebrated attributes of the time. The two men in the story might seem to lead very different lives but it turns out they may not be quite so different after all...


Kate Ellis – Not a Note
Not a Note is a twisted tale about overbearing parents, thwarted ambitions and dark revenge. Narrated by young Hester, who is forced to attend piano lessons by her controlling mother, she bears witness to murder shortly after the country celebrates the Coronation. Superbly evocative of the time, this is an undoubtedly chilling story with a nuanced conclusion that left me with some sympathy for the guilty too.

L.C. Tyler – His Greatest Hit
His Greatest Hit perhaps takes the brief to this anthology most literally, with a story that is structured rather like a song, with verses, bridges and a repeating chorus. Set at a funeral for a one-time pop star attended by crime writer, Ethelred Tressider and his literary agent, Elsie Thirkettle from L.C. Tyler's Herring comic crime series, it cleverly reveals the truth not to the death that led to this burial but to a murder driven by passion, jealousy and blackmail.

Leo McNeir – Requiem
Another of the stories in the anthology that give readers a tempting taster of the author's characters from their series, Requiem finds Marnie and Ralph from his long-running Marnie Walker books taking a few days away from it all on a trip along the Grand Union Canal. When they hear noises from a nearby church, they go exploring; with Mozart's Lacrimosa as a sad backdrop to a recent unsolved murderer, they may come closer to the killer than they realise. These aren't characters I'm familiar with but this beautifully descriptive story has left me wanting to know more.

Martin Edwards – The Crazy Cries of Love
A sad tale of loneliness after bereavement or a dark story about love turning sour? The Crazy Cries of Love could be described as both and is a creepy, complex exploration of voyeurism and guilt. Twisted, shocking and very clever.

Maxim Jakubowski – Waiting for Cornelia
Fiction echoes real life in the most unsettling way here as the narrator, a crime author and music journalist accidentally realises that the deaths of real-life celebrities might not be the tragic accidents or sad losses to illness they were reported as. A biting satire about the opportunistic commodification of musicians following their death, it's fiction that had me almost believing it was real. The conclusion is deliciously dark too.

Neil Daws – The Watch Room
Sibling rivalry taken to its most sinister extreme here as two brothers, one woman and a brooding, isolated setting lead to an atmospheric tale of bitter revenge. The music theme is perhaps at its loosest here, with one of the brothers' fiddle playing merely helping to build characterisation but it's an affecting, haunting tragedy that could easily form the basis of a traditional murder ballad

Paul Charles – The Ghosts of Peace
The Ghosts of Peace is another story that introduced me to a recurring character and I've made a note that I need to read more about DI Kennedy soon. The seemingly impossible murder of a man at a gig in a Camden theatre allows Paul Charles to explore the bitter history and rivalries of a band and provides Kennedy with red herrings and a cleverly worked reveal.

Paul Gitsham – No More ‘I Love You’s’
Annie Lennox isn't just the soundtrack to this story but I'll leave you to discover how one of her songs turns out to be an important clue. Paul Gitsham is the author of the DCI Warren Jones books and this perfectly scaled down mystery is exactly what I'm looking for in a police procedural. It's a really cleverly constructed detective story that belies its short nature. If it's not already obvious, this anthology is seriously adding to my tbr mountain!

Peter Lovesey – And the Band Played On
Arguably the most poignant story in the collection, And the Band Played On takes its title from the old music hall number that memorably features in Hitchcock's Strangers on a Train. An old man with a dark past featuring gangsters, murder and love, this is a beautifully observed, empathetic short story with a surprising twist.

Ragnar Jónasson – 4x3
There's nobody better than Ragnar Jónasson at creating a terrifying oppressive sense of claustrophobia and this short, simple story is the perfect example of the way he develops a chilling atmosphere. We are instructed to listen to 4'33" by John Cage while reading the story; why will soon become clear. At just a few pages long, this might be short but it turns out to be the stuff of nightmares (mine at least!)

Shawn Reilly Simmons – A Death in Four Parts
Mendoza is the archetypal tortured musician in A Death in Four Parts. Now down on his luck having been unable to replicate his early success, he has a deadline to meet and resents the interruptions from his neighbours. He eventually rediscovers his muse but this engrossing, bloody tale has another twist before the conclusion. An acerbically cynical look at ambition and talent, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Vaseem Khan – Bombay Blues
Persia Wadia makes a welcome appearance to conclude this fabulous anthology as she investigates the puzzling murder of a well-known jazz musician. The protagonist of the Malabar House series has to figure out which of her suspects was responsible for killing a man when they could all have a motive. As always, Vaseem Khan's sense of place is sublime and this engrossing story explores the more unglamorous side of the jazz scene and the changing, tumultuous social conditions of the still newly independent India.

I loved seeing how each of the authors met the 'Music of the Night' brief; some based their plot on music, others used it more subtly but every story in this outstanding anthology deserves its place here. I thought it was wonderful and highly recommend it.

[Les Wilson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Must stop reading short story collections after over 90% of the time it is disappointing. This book was no exception.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The contributors to this anthology are a positive Who’s Who of contemporary crime fiction and much of the fun is seeing how each author responds to the theme of music.  In some of the stories the musical element is in the background, for example as a setting for a crime.  In others it is the key (pardon the pun) to the whole structure of the story.  A particularly good example of the latter is the story by Ragnar Jónasson who instructs that it should be read while listening to 4’33” by John Cage. I also really enjoyed ‘The Melody of Murder’ by Antony M Brown in which the killer’s trademark is creating crime scenes which resemble famous album covers.  Perhaps my favourite story was ‘Love Me Or Leave Me: A Fugue in G Minor’ by Art Taylor, a strange and rather unsettling story based around a fragment of melody that apparently no-one else can hear.

I always admire authors who can create really taut short stories and some great examples in the collection are ‘Mix Tape’ by Cath Staincliffe, ‘Taxi!’ by Chris Simms, ‘Violin – CE’ by David Stuart Davies and ‘A Vulture Sang in Berkeley Square’. I also enjoyed being introduced in short story form to some crime series I’ve heard of but haven’t read such as Vaseem Khan’s Malabar House series.

There is something for everyone in the collection whether you’re a fan of historical crime, police procedural or noir – or perhaps I should say whether your playlist contains classical music, pop, rock, jazz… or even silence. Whichever is the case, I can safely say that Music of the Night contains no bum notes.

[Runalong · Rating 3 out of 5]

Playful collection of crime tales based around the theme of music. Some stretch it a little too much but some well worth a look

Full review - https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...

[Nicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Be Prepared by Abi Silver

In previous years Campfire had always been the highlight of the week for our fourteen year old narrator and her two best friends Helen and Ruth. The culmination of four days of hard work,the chance for the Guides, Scouts and their leaders to gather together,stay up late and sing their hearts out to popular songs. But by the dawn of this particular campfire night events would occur that would change the friends innocent lives....forever 

A Sharp Thorn by Alison Joseph

A mysterious phone call sends Emma Collett on a journey from her home in London to a care home in Cornwall where she will finally confront hidden truths from her past and start making plans to change her future.

Wrong Notes by Andrew Taylor

A murder mystery set in 1956 and narrated from the perspectives of three Jill (The editor of a newspaper) Roderick Hanbridge (A young reporter) and Chief Inspector Richard Thornhill. The pages of this story which is set in a exclusive school for girl's and has a unexpected sting to it's tale are permeated with the vibes of a good old fashioned murder mystery

The Melody of Murder by Antony M Brown

This story is set in London in the early 80s and follows a detective and his team as they search for a very intelligent and artistically gifted killer. The plot contains references to new headlines and the pop culture of the era. It also mentions the realistic fact that in notorious murder cases all media outlets concentrate their coverage on the killer.The identities of the victims very often appear inconsequential and less important than the perpetrator(s) of the crimes committed against them.

Love Me Or Leave Me: A Fugue In G Minor by Art Taylor

This intelligently written study of a deeply troubled mind is written from the perspectives of four realistic individuals, Gareth, Tess, A Doctor Bitterman and a woman called Phoebe. The plot covers number of relatable issues, has a dash of mystery and suspense,and the story has a spine chilling conclusion. The psychology elements of the story are fascinating and never come across as confusing and difficult to follow or understand.never

The Scent Of Ending by Brian Price

The mysterious death of record collector Keith Watts is the catalyst for a good old locked door murder mystery for Detective inspector Matilda Barrett and her team. He had obviously been murdered but how had he died,who was his killer and what was the motive behind his death?

Mix Tape by Cath Staincliffe 

Oh, the memories this story brought into my thoughts. Hands up who remembers taking the songs they liked whilst listening to the top 40 in a Sunday evening. Making sure that you remembered to press both the play and record buttons at the same time and hoping that the do would start talking before the song had finished. This is a short story about a Mic tape (which actually had a very good track list) a man and a woman and the story had a  unexpected ironic twist to it's tale.

The Last Green Bottle by Catherine Aird

Detective inspector Slone (never a man to waste words) and his team receive a phone call from someone mumbling about a murder who then makes a strange comment that refers to green bottles. The detectives find themselves investigating a complex case with fingers that reach back into the past.

Taxi by Chris Simms

The chapters of this intensity story alternate between the perspectives of a taxi driver and his female passenger. It's a fast paced story with pages that are permeated with atmosphere and suspense and has a cleverly plotted, ironic conclusion. This was one of my favourite stories.

Some Other Dracula by Christine Poulson 

This story opens with a scene featuring a dead body lying in the heart of a maze then we are introduced to our main characters Cass and her husband Richard who are waiting for a taxi to take them to the Halloween masked ball which was being held at Hamberly Hall. A fund raising event that would not go quite the way that anyone would have planned or expected.

Violin-ce by David Stuart Davies

Some people are prepared to do whatever it takes to get their hands on something or someone that they desire but sometimes they are so obsessed that they forget that very often things in life are not always what they appear to be. 

The Sound And The Fury by Dea Parkin 

They say that hell have no fury than a woman scorned and in this story, Gina was determined to move on with Keir, no matter what had to do in order to achieve her goal. I couldn't see what the attraction was myself, the bloke came across as a bit of a wimpy coward.

A Vulture Sang In Berkeley Square by Jason Monaghan

This is a cautionary tale about secrets and not passing judgement on people who are less fortunate than yourself because you never know what date has in store for you during your journey through life.

Not A Note by Kate Ellis

Kate Ellis is one of my favourite author's, I love her Wesley Peterson series in which the stories are set in both the present and the past and there is a clever connection between the two time frames. I love the historical detail that she includes in the plots of her mysteries. This story is set in 1953 and is narrated from the perspective of a fourteen year old girl who finds herself caught up in a murder investigation after the death of her piano teacher. As with all of Kate Ellie's stories,the settings are realistic and authentic and the story has a unexpected twist in its tale.

His Greatest Hit by L C TylerTyler

A mystery author talks to a eclectic mix of characters who were involved in the life of the musician who's funeral they had all just attended. The story is written in the form of song with verses and a chorus and is a tale of deception, secrets and murder with fingers that reached back into the past.

Requiem by Leo McNeir

Marine Walker and her partner Ralph set out for a weekend cruising the Grand Union Canal, a journey which will take them through some stunning countryside, experience some beautiful music and encounter a mysterious stranger on a bench outside a church.

The Crazy Cries Of Love by Martin Edwards

Twenty years had passed since Gordon's beloved wife Millie had passed away and it had taken a long time for him to get used to the loneliness of their double bed. Now, he spent his time observing the lives of his Polish neighbours Rule and Thomasz, a couple who he had grown rather find of despite the fact that the neighbours hardly ever interacted with each other. Rule reminded Gordon of Millie and conjured up memories of their life together. But people are not always who they appear to be and it's impossible to know what happens behind closed doors. What secrets were hiding within the walls of the homes of these seemingly innocent and unremarkable characters?

Waiting For Cornelia by Maxim Jakubowski 

This is a cautionary tale about being very careful what subjects you choose to write about with a plot that contains indents information about the inner workings of the music industry and references to various musicians from the past. The story also contains references to author's who been involved with bands including Mark Billingham, Stuart Neville and Luca Veste. 

The Watch Room by Neil Daws

Abe had always been made to feel second best to his brother Luke,a suspicion that was proved correct after their father named Luke as his successor to run the Stark Rock Lighthouse once he passed away. Abe thought that his life was actually starting to improve when he met and fell in love with Becca  and all was going well until Becca accompanied him to the lighthouse one day and met Luke. After the inevitable happened Abe couldn't help feeling that his life was over, he had lost everything and was destined to spend his life trapped in the lighthouse being nothing more than a servant to his brother. Then, suddenly a plan crept into his mind and after biding his time, plotting and planning, the perfect opportunity to enact his plan arrived. What was his plan and would it work? You will just have to read this book if you want to know the conclusion of Abe's story.

The Ghosts Of Peace by Paul Charles

Inspector Kennedy and his team find themselves investigating a murder at the majestic Camden Theatre. A tale of double cross and deception,smoke and mirrors that keeps the reader guessing until the unexpected truth is revealed. 

No more ' I Love You's by Paul Gitsham 

DCI Warren Jones is gifted the perfect opportunity to get his revenge on his DI Tony Sutton by subjecting him to some music from the 80s whilst they are on their way to the scene of a woman's death. ( I can't say that I blame Sutton for being a bit grumpy about the situation,I love 80s music but I was never a big fan of The Eurythmics) They find themselves investigating a complex case involving a rope and a skylight,a case that's made even more complicated by the fact that the victim's husband is a aspiring MP. The lightbulb moment whilst solving a case can often come in.many different guises and both Warren and the reader will be very surprised how the team solve this particular case.

And The Band Played In by Peter Lovesey

I think we all have songs that are connected to certain times in our lives and conjure up memories which can be both good or bad whenever we hear them. Young Josh's Grandfather had a chequered past and the song that he kept singing was dismissed by his family as unimportant and the ramblings of a old man. But as Josh will soon uncover,people can be judged unfairly and very often events in our lives are not as clear cut as they first appear to be. 

4x3x3 by Ragnar Jonasson

I really loved this short,intense story about a man who finds himself trapped in a tiny room. But was he being held prisoner of the victim of a practical joke. This is a gripping little take with a spine chilling conclusion and was a bit too short for my liking.

A Death In Four Parts by Shawn Reilly Simmons 

Twenty years had passed since Xavier Mendoza's debut symphony had been a runaway success, now he was down on his luck and suffering from a serious case of composer's block. His attempts to concentrate and actually write some music were not helped by the constant interruptions by his neighbours Ruby and Cruz ( or mole man as Mendoza called him) But people in Mendoza's life weren't who they appeared to be and just when he thought that he had finally got his life back on track, fate decided to throw a spanner in the works and send Mendoza's life crashing out of control.

Bombay Blues by Vaseem Khan

Life in India was difficult enough when you were a woman and Persis had fought hard to qualify as India's first female police inspector. The discovery of a body slumped over the keyboard of a piano in a sweltering hot room with find her once again confronting sexism and growing pressure to get the case solved as quickly as possible. In a world dominated by men and prejudice will she be able to figure our who commuted the crime and why?

Every one of the 23 stories in this captivating anthology is extremely well written, the book is a addictive mix of police procedural, thrillers,mysteries many of which contain unexpected and unpredictable plot twists. The characters are a collection of vivid, realistic individuals, some more likeable than others. There is a story that would please every fan of crime stories no matter what type of story you enjoy reading. A very enjoyable, entertaining read and very highly recommended by little old me.

[David Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have a soft spot for themed anthologies and was delighted by this one.

For me, the themed anthology is a chance to see how a range of authors tackle a subject. As here, there is always great variety - some will use the theme as a jumping off point, others will plan it into the warp and weft of their story. Still others will find a clever angle, a direction to go off in. No approach is right: no approach is wrong. But together, we get a broader picture. And seeing a number of stories together like this is a great way to get tips for new (to me) authors to follow up on - whether for contributing a rattling good story, for introducing serial characters I'd like to hear more about, or indeed, for the ingenuity of the way they've tackled the brief. (Or managed not to).

So, twenty five stories in this book, some of which I enjoyed better than others but each with something to say and so varied that, I think, everyone will find something here. If you want an intriguing mystery with a great premise, you will go for Alison Joseph's A Sharp Thorn, in which Emma Collett is surprised to receive a telephone call from a Cornish care home where a dying man wishes to see her. Just who is Robert Sinclair, and how does he know so much about her? The answer takes her into her past, and an unsuspected crime that centres on a vintage harpsichord. Or perhaps Brian Price's The Scent of an Ending - one of the stories here that takes music as a more incidental feature, introduced at the beginning as a troubled Keith relaxes with a favourite album, this is a perfect miniature detective story, challenging the police to solve what is basically a locked room mystery. (I LOVE a locked room mystery). Satisfying with a number of strands left open - I wasn't sure that they got the right perpetrator in the end.

For stories that integrate music into the narrative really well there's Cath Staincliffe's Mix Tape. It's one of the shortest of these stories and perhaps the one where music is most effectively used. Mix Tape actually tells its story of crime through the titles of the songs on the eponymous tape. And it is bitter, it is pointed and it is succinct. Another great example would be Kate Ellis's Not a Note which takes us to 1950s Manchester where teenage Hester is chafing as her mother tries to make her fulfil the mother's lost dreams of musical stardom. Interspersed by accounts of violent robberies, and revolving around the Coronation, there are hints here of a society under strain, of hidden histories and suppressed desires. Very atmospheric and, in Hester's rejection of a musical career, a confident inversion of the central motif of this volume. Effective and absorbing.

Music wouldn't get far without a whole industry behind it - not just the creators themselves but the world of specialist journalists, lawyers, managers, publishers and backstage hustling. But it's not always a pretty scene, as Maxim Jakubowski makes clear in Waiting for Cornelia. Jakubowski powerfully evoking the atmosphere of the business - his narrator is a seasoned journalist and author (Jakubowski cleverly blends that identity with his own history) who stumbles on an odd connection between the deaths of a series of high-profile artists. Where, though, can he take that information? Why, a fictionalised account... but however coy he is in naming names, it seems that doing so might draw the wrong sort of attention. This story also, like others here, explores the borders between crime and outright horror, and does so especially well. The business of music is also explored by Paul Charles in The Ghosts of Peace, set in the trendy Camden music scene, and turning on the history and rivalries of a band. The twists and turns of commercial reality in the music business creates plenty of scope for jealousy and even for murder, but motive isn't enough. Detective Inspector Christy Kennedy here needs to unpick just how the crime was committed. An ingenious and intriguing crime story - and a great introduction to DI Kennedy.

As I mentioned above, several of the stories here showcase the writers' recurring characters, none of these more intriguing to me than Requiem in which Leo McNeir gives us his Marnie and Ralph, off for a few days on Ralph's canal boat with some good food, good music and a shower large enough for two... their idyll is interrupted when they stumble across the aftermath of a murder. No gore, no overt detection but a definite sense that the two may have spotted something that the authorities missed. I think I'm going to have to read more about Marnie and Ralph.

I've picked out some choice stories above, but really all of these are well worth a read - let me try and persuade you!

In Be Prepared by Abi Silver, three girls at that awkward age between childhood and adolescence attend their annual Scout/ Guide camp. In the early 80s, there is perhaps a greater tolerance for inappropriate behaviour than there would be now and the unnamed narrator witnesses events which seem foreboding from the start - the question being, just when will the blow fall?
Andrew Taylor's Wrong Notes visits the town of Lydmouth in July 1956, where the local paper is a big deal, and their new cub reporter, Roderick, wants to make an impression when he's sent to cover a concert at a girls' school. Reflecting the attitudes of the age it is set in, this is an uncomfortable read in places but a pitch-perfect (unlike the school piano!) mystery in miniature.

The Melody of Murder by Antony M. Brown goes to 1980s London, as the Falklands war rages. The Met confronts a series of artistically-staged murders inspired by album covers. Turning on the sometimes close relationship between art and crime, this story captured, for me, the atmosphere of the times.

Love Me or Leave Me by Art Taylor is another story which often seems about to cross over into outright horror. Garrett is haunted by a sequence of notes which gradually unsettle and even consume him. Counterpointed by hints of something troubling in his early life, this one ends on a genuinely disturbing note suggesting something unresolved - but about to be, and not in a good way.

Catherine Aird's The Last Green Bottle features a telephone tip-off that leads to a bizarre chase across England's green and pleasant land (this could easily be Midsomer) in pursuit of a resolution to a cold case. With the song "ten Green Bottles' providing hints and clues, DI Sloan and his sidekick DC Crosby still have their work cut out to establish what actually happened and whether, indeed, a crime was committed.

Grimmer in setting and theme is Chris Simms' Taxi. A serial killer in preying on young women in Manchester's clubs and bars. Told from both the murderer's, and other, perspectives, this builds up to a tense climax, orchestrated to the killer's favourite music.

In Some Other Dracula by Christine Poulson the "Music" is the original music of the night, referred to by the Count in Dracula and suitable as, again, this book teeters on the brink of horror with crime visiting a posh Cambridge party at Hallowe'en. Some nifty detective work will sort out what's real though - won't it?

Violin – CE by David Stuart Davies is written as a dialogue, exploring the intensity of passion and possessiveness that a fan may develop towards a creator or performer. Scanty in detail, it's nevertheless chilling and raises questions about authenticity, perception and obsession. Well done, and rather scary.

Dea Parkin's The Sound and the Fury opens as a woman takes to the motorway on some desperate errand, following her state of mind, again accompanied by suitable music, whose increasingly troubling lyrics hint at what might be to come when she arrives. This ever more ominous story packs a real punch in its endgame.

A Vulture Sang in Berkeley Square by Jason Monaghan explores the squalor and contrasts of postwar London, getting behind the nostalgic fictions and the collective amnesia over the war years and comparing two men who came out of those years very differently. But are they really so unalike? Bonding when a certain song (no, not that one) is sung in Berkeley Square, there is a hint of menace in the air, reminding me of Margary Allingham's tales at their most sulphurous.

L.C. Tyler's His Greatest Hit takes the musical theme seriously both in form - it's organised loosely according to the structure of a pop sing, with chorus, verses and bridges - and content, delving into the darker side of the music business and exploring events of several decades before, revealing a sharp little tale of ambition and manipulation.

The Crazy Cries of Love by Martin Edwards is CREEPY as Gordon eavesdrops on his young neighbours, taking advantage of the thin walls in their poorly-subdivided house. Listening both to their enthusiastic lovemaking and their arguments, he muses on his own life - one which has left him pretty much in solitude. Edwards cleverly builds up our picture of Gordon - but then something happens which transforms the reader's viewpoint - and then be turns EVERYTHING upside down, all over again.

In The Watch Room, Neil Daws gives us all the makings of a classic, haunting folk ballad - the story of two brothers who are rivals for the same woman - though that isn't the musical hook for the story, rather the "in" is that one of the brothers is a skilled fiddle player. But I prefer the Ballard as background! With its setting in a lighthouse, a wild, brooding coast, and the isolation of the two men, you really have all you need for a tragedy.

Paul Gitsham's No More 'I Love You's' is a story featuring his DCI Warren. As I've said, one of the treats for me in this volume is seeing authors show off their recurring characters. This can be difficult in a short story, but Gitsham constructs here an excellent example, showing the team working together to investigate the suicide of the wife of a prominent businessman, a close friend of the Chief Constable. Almost the only source of friction is the music of Annie Lennox and Eurythmics... which, in the end, supplies the vital clue to close the case. A gem of a detective story.

The title of Peter Lovesey's And the Band Played On refers to a song which the unnamed narrator's grandfather keeps singing. Grandad turned up on the doorstep one day, fresh out of Wormwood Scrubs, and as his past and history unspool we're treated to an account that read to me like something out of Orwell's "Decline of the English Murder" - a tale of dance-halls, gangsters and burials in the woods. It's perhaps stretching the timeline a bit for that world to be within memory of the characters here, but I forgave Lovesey this for the sake of his empathetic and thrilling story.

It was great to see that Ragnar Jónasson had a story in this volume. His 4x3 is a simple story, a very simple little story 'to be read while listening to 4'33" by John Cage'. That piece will certainly put the reader in the right frame of mind for the situation in which the protagonist ends up.

In A Death in Four Parts by Shawn Reilly Simmons, washed up composer Mendoza is desperately trying to recapture the fire of his early career, while fending off kind neighbours who bring him soup and annoying ones who complain about the noise. Then - and I won't say how - he is writing again. But there will be a cost.

In the final story here, Bombay Blues by Vaseem Khan, which is one of my favourites, we travel to India three years after Independence. In Bombay, Persis, the country's first and only (so far) woman DI investigates a perplexing death in the city's flourishing jazz scene. A clever and twisted tale, negotiating not only the facts behind the crime but the social conditions too. Great fun, great atmosphere and yet another story where the messy and unglamorous details of the music business feature.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an anthology of twenty five new crime and mystery tales from the Crime Writers’ Association (CWA) edited by Martin Edwards. It has a huge range of stories - contemporary and historical, established characters or totally new creations, well known authors with those who are emerging. They have been selected from a large volume of submissions by Edwards, who has “tried to cater to a wide range of tastes” and I believe he has certainly succeeded. All the books have a linking theme of music; some are based on particular pieces or types of music, some feature musicians, fans of music or performers, others have a more fleeting reference to music in the background. Some are elaborate pieces with several scenes and elaborate plots, while others are very short and based on a single idea, which are no less effective. The settings vary widely which reflects where music is important; in homes of various types, theatres, a school, and other sites. Many stories involve murder or crimes of a serious nature, either in the story or reflecting past actions. Some crimes are detected, even if they are of the “locked room” type, whereas others happen and detection and punishment is to happen. There are detectives of various types and abilities, official and unofficial, and some reflect “classic” mysteries whereas others are very different. This is an excellent selection of stories which I enjoyed, and I was pleased to have the opportunity to read and review this special book.

This collection is well set out with biographies of all the authors in the back of the book in the same order in which the stories appear. In the excellent Introduction, Edwards points out that music is a popular aspect of many crime stories, from Sherlock’s violin to modern music fans. Some of the contributors have a musical background, and have chosen to exploit that as a strong element in their story. For others there is a recurring song that a character sings or plays that are very revealing. Some stories use the fact that death, whether of the musician or someone close to them, will sell more recordings and generate more interest. In at least one case the lyrics of a song gives a huge clue to what really happened. In other stories the making of music leads to all sorts of trouble, and musicians are killed. While all the stories are new, they often reflect past times, historical or half remembered events in earlier times. There are musical instruments that get damaged for various reasons connected with the crimes in the story, or represent certain elements of the story. People are in locked rooms in order to enjoy music but still get killed, and then the pressure is on to find out how they were killed. Some stories are clever constructions, others just have a strong and memorable central point. In general I found the longer pieces more absorbing, but the impact of some short pieces is stronger.

Some of the authors I recognised, such as Martin Edwards, the amusing LC Tyler, Kate Ellis and Peter Lovesey. Andrew Taylor, Christine Poulson, Paul Charles, Vaseem Khan and Paul Gitsham’s stories in particular caught my interest, but every story in the book deserves its place. I thoroughly recommend this book to those who enjoy short stories, crime mysteries and collections of fascinating tales.

[Veronika Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great selection of crime fiction, all with a musical theme. Most of the authors are ones that I have not read before though there are a few old favourites. These include Andrew Taylor, whose works are very familiar to me – I’ve probably read virtually all his crime novels and most of his historical fiction as well.

So it came as no surprise that his Wrong Notes was one of my favourites, full of dark humour in his inimitable style. Can the ‘Cub’ – aka rookie reporter Roddy Hanbridge – cope with a simple write-up of a concert at a girls’ school. He should be OK as ‘unlike most teenagers he seemed fully formed, rather than a work in progress,’ …until something far more sinister occurs.

I think my favourite though was A Sharp Thorn by Alison Joseph in which a middle-aged divorcee receives a strange invitation to meet a dying man in Cornwall and features a harpsichord with a hammer through it. All very mysterious.

I also liked Taxi, in which a girl sets out to discover the identity of a serial killer and revenge her sister’s murder. Be warned though, this is no cosy mystery.

Reading other reviews, I think the one that comes out top is The Melody of Murder by Antony M Brown in which a series of murders is staged to look like the covers of pop records. The most interesting part for me though was the references to the eighties, such as the Falklands War, Wogan, the SDP winning the Glasgow by-election, the Snooker World Championships and much more. It was very cleverly written.

I’ve read stories by Peter Lovesey before and I am quite familiar with his work. In The Band Played On, grandpa sings the same song (the one in the title) over and over. Why that song and what does it mean? A slightly sentimental, cosy mystery, this was another one I really enjoyed.

The final story is another of my favourites. In Bombay Blues by Vaseem Khan, a well-known jazz musician has been murdered in the Taj ballroom in Bombay. Shot twice at close range. A handsome, charming man with a reputation as a womaniser and gambler, but who hated him enough to want him dead?

Music of the Night is a series of 25 short stories. I have selected a few of my favourites to give a flavour of another brilliant anthology of crime thrillers from authors both well-established and new to the genre from around the world.

Many thanks to @annecater for inviting me to be part of #RandomThingsTours

[Terri (BooklyMatters) · Rating 4 out of 5]

*** four and a half stars

A feast for lovers of contemporary crime fiction, this stellar collection of 25 stories, all written by members of CWA and embracing a theme of music, is both a must read and a rare and captivating treat.

With stories reaching broadly across the crime genre, including procedural police investigations, terrifying suspense-driven murders, moody atmospheric historical dramas, an inside look at the psychopathic mind, challenging puzzles, and thwarted love stories, there is something here for all crime-fiction tastes.

For this reader, reading the collection presented here was very reminiscent of early days racing through the pages of new and quickly much-thumbed editions of Ellery Queen and Alfred Hitchcock mystery magazines. Many of the stories invoke a twinge of nostalgia, harkening back to memories of albums on vinyl, playlists, early jazz clubs, and evocative settings ranging from the 50s and the 80s.

With stories providing touches of Hercules Poirot, a definite tinge of Sherlock Holmes, and lots of good-old British DIs, there are twists, creepy terrors, and plenty of clues and red herrings to keep a reader guessing long into the night.

Some favorite stories from this collection include:

-Be Prepared - Abi Silver
-Set in 1982 and narrated by an observant and clever fourteen year old, all bets are off when a seemingly normal Brownie/Cub Scout camping trip goes terribly wrong.

-The Melody of Murder - Antony M Brown
-An entertaining puzzle involving a series of horrific theatrical crimes, painstakingly staged to replicate gruesome past record covers of popular artists.

-Taxi! - Chris Simms
- A riveting suspenseful drama told in dual voice - first, the POV of a young female taxi passenger, and second, a serial-murderer eager to finish off his next victim.

- The Sound and the Fury - Dea Parkin
- An angry musical soundtrack sets the tone for a violent and terrifying confrontation.


A great big thank you to the author and the publisher for an ARC of this book. All thoughts provided are my own.

[Kerry https://likeherdingcatsblog.wordpress.com Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Music Of The Night is an eclectic collection of short crime stories with a musical link/theme. They are perfect for reading when you have a quick 15 minutes or so and need something gripping to get get your teeth into.
I’d like to take a minute to reflect on the skill it must take to develop an idea within a small word limit. To write a fully plotted story, develop characters and come to a satisfying conclusion in a short space of time is an immense skill and I am in awe.
Don’t be fooled by the fact they are short stories. They pack a punch in so many ways. Some of the stories are dark and gritty, some are amusing and some are more mysterious and sinister. What they all have in common is they are incredibly well written and very entertaining, often making me feel as though I had fit a full novel into the short time. Some are very thought provoking too – I loved to spend time considering what had happened before or after and I enjoyed filling in missing information myself.
Each and every story in this collection is strong and entertaining but I wanted to mention a few of my absolute favourites.
The Melody of Murder’ by Antony M Brown follows an investigation into a serial killer who stages his crime scenes like record covers. I loved the creativity of murder scenes in this one and cleverly it was brought to a climax.
Taxi! by Chris Simms centres around a young woman and her drunken taxi ride home but all is not as it seems. This one really gave me the chills and has a very relevant atmosphere to it.
Some Other Dracula by Christine Poulson made me chuckle and was so much fun to read. It reads like a very short-closed room mystery and involves several Draculas and a fun Halloween party.
This is such a fun and entertaining collection of short crime stories, all with different vibes and purposes and I cannot recommend it enough.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am rather particular about what short story collections I read, I like there to be a theme or some kind of link between the stories….so Music of the Night is right up my alley. A collection of writers writing crime all based around Music, most impressive is the number of different ways music has been woven into the narrative, from rock bands, struggling composers, jazz musicians, record collectors and a blatant attack on the mighty Annie Lennox there is nothing repetitive about this collection.

Before starting this I saw a reviewer on Goodreads saying this was a disappointing collection, I have no idea what they read as there are some proper good gems here. Stand out stories were Love Me or Leave Me: A Fugue in G Minor using text messages to evolve the story to it’s unexpected conclusion, Taxi! was fantastic the most violent and desperate of the collection, Some Other Dracula had a real murder mystery evening to it and Not a Note which will have a twist ending you won’t be expecting. My favourite has quite surprised me as it had the weakest link to music, detectives chatting about music in the car but it grew on me as the story was less about the murder and more about the process the detectives take to come to their conclusion including using all the technology available to them, No More ‘I Love You’s’ was top for me.

The biggest strength this book has is there is none of the TV detective series silliness that rely on the criminal easily confessing to the crime to wrap things up, the detectives do all the work here, massive praise goes to these talented writers for managing to do this in so few pages.

Blog review: https://felcherman.wordpress.com/2022...

[LJ (ljwritesandreviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The premise of this collection intrigued me and I thought by the end who would have thought music and murder when so well together!

What I love about the sorts of collections is a) I get to discover new authors who may have slipped under my radar and b) seeing every author's unique approach to the theme.

Some standouts for me were:

The Melody of Murder by Anthony M Brown. A serial killer is using bodies to recreate album covers. It was such a good premise. I would honestly have loved to see this as a full-length story.

Taxi by Chris Simms. A tale of revenge packed full of tension all the way through. I will definitely look up this author's books in the future.

Some Other Dracula by Christine Poulson. A murder mystery at a fancy dress party. Another new to me author who wove a clever mystery in such a short amount of words.

Not A Note by Kate Ellis. I'm already a bit of a fan of Kate Ellis so I enjoyed this little historical short. Even though it was a short story, it still got a couple of twists in there.

His Greatest Hits by L.C. Tyler. Another clever premise about a crime writer who's looking into a cold case at a funeral. I especially loved the fact this was set up like a song.

Bombay Blues by Vaseem Khan. A bite sized murder mystery about the death of a jazz musician, featuring characters from his Malabar House. An intriguing story that has made me put the first in the series on my wishlist.

A fantastic collection of short stories, I feel, has something that will appeal to just about any crime fiction lover out there.

[Lynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve read a few anthologies lately and I am really enjoying them. I took this one away with me on a short break and it was perfect to pop in and out of. This collection of 25 short stories from members of The Crime Writers Association had some really great stories, lots of good ones and not a bad one amongst them. With a music-theme there are stories from various genres mystery, thriller, suspense, crime… Even though I only recognised the names of a couple of the authors I now have a number of new authors to investigate!

I can’t really pick out a favourite as they are all so different but I must admit to being a fan of Ragnar Jonasson so went straight to that one. It was gripping but oh so short. I wanted more. The locked door mystery by Brian Price was also very good. Bombay Blues by Vaseem Khan was a great read. And the story by Cath Staincliffe brought back memories of taping songs off the radio. I could go on they really were that good. Such an enjoyable and eclectic mix of tales.

It must be hard to get a good tale into so few words but everyone achieved it faultlessly. A good read for anyone who likes a good short read, or if it’s not your thing it’s a great way to find new authors. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

For me, music can evoke a multitude of emotions. One track can get me dancing like no one is watching, another can set me off crying like I’ve lost a loved one. Music is is an evocative medium.

This anthology of short stories takes the theme of music and wraps it around the genre of crime to produce an anthology of short stories to get to you thinking. Each story weaves a musical undertone in its own unique way from record collectors to campfire songs to buskers. Each one brilliant in it’s own unique way.

Antony M Brown’s The Melody Of Murder is a standout story. I actually had to google the name of the culprit as I believed it to be a true story! Cath Staincliffe’s Mix Tape is a subtle one when it comes to the crime but gave me a playlist for my listening pleasure! Nancy Sinatra was singing in my head for hours after! Peter Lovesey’s story is one of history. One of gangsters and love. This not-so-old romantic rather enjoyed this little ditty.

The Music Of The Night was a joy to read. Two of my favourite distractions, music and crime fiction intertwined into one. I’ve discovered new authors and some new music. And this was the perfect read as I muddle my way through a rather hectic period of time.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crime fiction aficionados will strike gold with Music of the Night, a superb collection of short stories from the Crime Writers’ Association, full of chilling and twisted tales guaranteed to keep you glued to the page.

This anthology has the theme of music connecting all the short stories in this compilation and whether your tastes run to cozy and traditional or dark and gritty, there is something to tempt and delight discerning readers everywhere. From luminaries of the genre such as Martin Edwards, Catherine Aird, Cath Staincliffe and Peter Lovesay to newer authors on the block who will have you checking out their backlists such as Paul Gitsham and Jason Monaghan, this is a collection where you cannot just read one story per sitting as you will not be able to resist turning the pages to see what other gripping stories await. It is impossible to single out a favourite story, but kudos to L C Tyler’s His Greatest Hit and Vaseem Khan’s Bombay Blues, the two stands-outs in this collection, in my opinion.

Music of the Night does not hit a single bad note and it is an enjoyable and entertaining anthology of short stories that I highly recommend.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Donna Morfett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I heard great things about this and a lot of excitement surrounding its release so I was excited to start it.
I wasn't disappointed in the least. I only recognised a few of the writers involved, so it was a great opportunity to learn more about new authors.
The basic premise is a short story with music as its central theme.
This has been taken in very different forms, a vinyl collectors that's killed, two children who are learning the piano, a prisoner putting a mix tape together ready to return to jail.
They are all unique and wonderful in their own way.
I particularly enjoyed The Scent of an Ending by Brian Price, it had a very Jonathan Creek feel to it, Some Other Dracula by Christine Poulson which also did, and both of which I felt could have been loads longer.
No More 'I Love You's' by Paul Gitsham is as clever as it is funny. The links to Annie Lennox and the Eurythmics songs and the banter was great.
Considering they are short stories a couple of these will stick in my mind for a while, which is a really impressive feat.
Congratulations to all involved.

[JL Dixon · Rating 5 out of 5]

As soon as I saw this book I knew I had to read it. This is not my first Crime Writers Association (CWA) anthology (see a previous review of Afraid Of The Christmas Lights), so I knew the collection of contemporary crime stories would be top notch. I was right!

I admire any author who can fit a story with a fully formed plot, characters, twists and turns, and an ending which satisfies the reader, into a shorter word limit. Every one of these authors within the pages managed that perfectly. From Scouts and Guides, to drunken taxi rides, to a Melody nobody else can hear, to multiple Draculas.

Each story will delight and entertain, but (if I must choose) my personal favourite was Anthony M. Brown’s The Melody Of Murder, where the killer stages each crime scene to copy an album cover. Brilliant!

I could write all day but then my review would be longer than many of the stories. Just take my word for it, you’ll be glad you read it. You can thank me with coffee and a pastry. I gave Music Of The Night, edited by Martin Edwards, five well deserved stars.

[Renata · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of short stories from members of the Crime Writers' Association, Music of the Night is an interesting music-themed anthology edited by Martin Edwards. The book has an array of crime, mystery, thriller and suspense stories, all surrounding music. I liked how the diverse set of writers interpreted the theme, using songs, music production, classical instruments, mix tapes, journalistic features on musicians and concerts, and a range of topics about the music industry. An impressive collection to dip into if you're looking for something short and engaging. I read a story every other day, and recommend it to readers who love thrillers and crime fiction but lack the time to read lengthy novels.

[Elinor Perry-Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer alert: I hardly ever read crime stories but someone sent me this book so I gave it a go. It's fair to say that there is something for everyone here. All the stories carry music in them. My personal favourite was Taxi! by Chris Simms, told from the dual viewpoints of a serial killer taxi driver and his intended victim. I thought this was a very refreshing take on the genre. Someone make it into a short film! It encompasses misogyny, slut-shaming, police incompetence and has a very satisying ending for this reader.

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

This, I regret to say, was something of a slog. With only a couple or so exceptions (Cath Staincliffe, Chris Simms) the stories felt outdated, lacked interest and impetus and what ought to have been as gripping a theme as is promised on the cover too often failed to compel. One or two I failed to finish.

[Kally Sheng · Rating 3 out of 5]

CONTENTS
Introduction

1. Be Prepared** - Abi Silver
2. A Sharp Thorn*** - Alison Joseph
3. Wrong Notes - Andrew Taylor
4. The Melody of Murder*** - Antony M. Brown
5. Love Me or Leave Me: A Fugue in G Minor** - Art Taylor
6. The Scent of an Ending*** - Brian Price
7. Mix Tape** - Cath Staincliffe
8. The Last Green Bottle*** - Catherine Aird
9. Taxi!**** - Chris Simms
10. Some Other Dracula** - Christine Poulson
11. Violin – CE*** - David Stuart Davies
12. The Sound and the Fury*** - Dea Parkin
13. A Vulture Sang in Berkeley Square*** - Jason Monaghan
14. Not a Note**** - Kate Ellis
15. His Greatest Hit**** - L.C. Tyler
16. Requiem*** - Leo McNeir
17. The Crazy Cries of Love*** - Martin Edwards
18. Waiting For Cornelia*** - Maxim Jakubowski
19. The Watch Room*** - Neil Daws
20. The Ghosts of Peace*** - Paul Charles
21. No More ‘I Love You’s’*** - Paul Gitsham
22. And The Band Played On*** - Peter Lovesey
23. 4 x 3.3*** - Ragnar Jónasson
24. A Death in Four Parts - Shawn Reilly Simmons
25. Bombay Blues - Vaseem Khan

Biographies

Murderers are feted like celebrities, their crimes treated like bestselling novels. - Page 82, The Melody of Murder

life and death streamed on demand in an age of unconstrained leisure. - Page 82, The Melody of Murder

It’s where we all end up, I suppose. In a box in the ground. You can’t take your royalties with you. You can’t take the stretch limo. You can’t even take your secrets. - Page 211, His Greatest Hit

It’s where we all end up, I suppose. In a box in the ground. You can’t take your royalties. You can’t take the stretch limo. But occasionally, very occasionally, you get to keep one of your secrets. - Page 228, His Greatest Hit

Time’s a healer, people said, but the scars of loss never stopped itching. - Page 240, The Crazy Cries of Love

Everyone knows that in the cases of artists, sometimes the adage ‘better dead than alive’ certainly comes into the equation, as the aura of death carries with it a twisted sense of romanticism that many find compelling. - Page 258, Waiting For Cornelia


A fun and enjoyable book of short stories.

[Gabriela Galescu · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some good stories, some bad

Unfortunately, no memorable stories in this book. You know when you finish a book and ask yourself why you didn’t stop reading it a while ago? For me this was that book.

[Jane Irish Nelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of short mystery stories, all with an element of music, by members of the Crime Writers Association. It is very hard to rate such a collection, as I really liked a few of the stories, but there were some I personally would have preferred never to have read.

[Terry · Rating 3 out of 5]

An anthology of relatively tame mysteries.

[Tom Carrico · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall somewhat uneven, but a few really good stories here.

[Steven Abercrombie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mixed bag, some stories really good.

[Les · Rating 5 out of 5]

What is it about British mystery writing that makes it so much better than American ? I have no idea but this book is chock full of twisty short stories from a variety of authors all of which somehow involve music

Loved it!!

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

The stories:
The latest short story collection from the Crime Writers’ Association, edited by Martin Edwards, brings together tales of crime and mystery from some of the group’s top authors, all tied together by the common theme of music. From campfire songs to electric guitar, from Joni Mitchell to John Cage, music and musicians form the backdrop to our lives, and help paint a vivid picture in the tales of crime presented here.

My thoughts:
I love reading short stories, and it’s such a pleasure when the authors are able to capture the mystery, tension and surprise of a good crime story in a small package, as is the case in this new collection from the CWA.

Music is something universal, and as editor Martin Edwards points out in his introduction, fascinates many crime writers (for example, my favourite Agatha Christie, who harboured ambitions to be a musician before turning to writing). It is featured in a huge variety of ways in this collection of 25 stories, and makes for a great thread throughout the anthology, while still spanning an eclectic mix of plots.

Featuring some authors I was familiar with, but more that were brand new to me, this was a really enjoyable read, and perfect for dipping into whenever you’re in the mood for a bit of crime!