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Reader, I Buried Them & Other Stories
Mystery Writers of America Grand Master Peter Lovesey presents a collection of short fiction spanning fifty years, including the first story he ever published and three brand-new stories.
More than fifty years ago, Peter Lovesey published a short story in an anthology. That short story caught the eye of the great Ruth Rendell, whose praise ignited Lovesey’s lifelong passion for short form crime fiction. On the occasion of his hundredth short story, Peter Lovesey has assembled this devilishly clever collection, eighteen yarns of mystery, melancholy, and mischief, inhabiting such deadly settings as a theater, a monastery, and the book publishing industry. The collection includes the career-launching story, as well as three never-before-published works. And surprising the author himself, the irascible Bath detective, Peter Diamond, "bulldozed his way" into this volume.
385 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 2022
76 people are currently reading
380 people want to read
About the author
Peter Lovesey
295 books643 followersPeter Harmer Lovesey, also known by his pen name Peter Lear, was a British writer of historical and contemporary detective novels and short stories. His best-known series characters are Sergeant Cribb, a Victorian-era police detective based in London, and Peter Diamond, a modern-day police detective in Bath. He was also one of the world's leading track and field statisticians.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
February 25, 2022
What attracted me to this mystery story collection initially, apart from Peter Lovesey’s well known name, was the flippant and fun title. I had to know what laid behind that lead in. It turns out there are many wonderful stories, some straight out mysteries, some crime, a few in the cozy style, all well written, and some surprising.
The settings for most are various places in Britain but one, set at a Crime Writers event, occurs in the U.S. While initially I was concerned that the stories didn’t seem to have much edge or ironic feel to them, I need not have worried. As the collection opened up, so too did the plots and characters and I was more than satisfied. There is even a true crime tie-in with great historical detail. In addition, there is a listing at the end of Lovesey’s writing by novels, stories, collections, anthologies, etc should you wish to check out some more.
Recommended.
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.
The settings for most are various places in Britain but one, set at a Crime Writers event, occurs in the U.S. While initially I was concerned that the stories didn’t seem to have much edge or ironic feel to them, I need not have worried. As the collection opened up, so too did the plots and characters and I was more than satisfied. There is even a true crime tie-in with great historical detail. In addition, there is a listing at the end of Lovesey’s writing by novels, stories, collections, anthologies, etc should you wish to check out some more.
Recommended.
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.
March 17, 2022
For fans of Peter Lovesey, this is a wonderful collection of stories. There is a great variety and many will bring a smile.
Perfect book to relax with in between bouts of struggling with doing my taxes!
The intro shares Lovesey's encounter with and encouragement from Ruth Rendell years ago when he first spent some of his energies writing in this form.
Perfect book to relax with in between bouts of struggling with doing my taxes!
The intro shares Lovesey's encounter with and encouragement from Ruth Rendell years ago when he first spent some of his energies writing in this form.
February 19, 2022
I’ve always been partial to British mystery authors, whose whimsical styles and types of crimes differ from the gun-toting, gangland shoot ’em ups of American writers. The Brits tend to kill people off in such quirky ways. Poisons are a popular method --- any number of confusing types of mushrooms, undetectable chemicals, powders secreted in handkerchiefs or shirt cuffs. Some are macabre, and haunted houses were a favorite theme of Ruth Rendell, who took fellow British writer Peter Lovesey under her wing and encouraged him to continue writing in his early days.
It's been 10 years since I had the pleasure of getting acquainted with Lovesey’s Peter Diamond, a reluctant mall cop who eventually became a detective and starred in 20 tidy little mysteries. I’ve reviewed a few of them and read many others for my own enjoyment.
In READER, I BURIED THEM, Lovesey appears to have thumbed through his notebooks and filing cabinets to find some of his early pieces. A musician might call them “noodling” around on a keyboard --- experimenting with an idea or concept to see if it would develop into something worthy. Here, he offers up 18 short stories, some merely a few pages long. Many ended up in various publications, and three are brand new.
The most absorbing piece is “The Bathroom,” a bizarre tale based on an actual crime that is later detailed in “The Tale of Three Tubs.” Three brides mysteriously drowned in bathtubs between 1912 and 1915 in locales as far removed from each other as Herne Bay, Blackpool and Highgate. The guilty party was George Joseph Smith, a bigamist who was hanged for the murders. The tubs ended up in various museums for nearly a century because of the diabolical nature of the crimes. Jack the Ripper immediately came to mind as I was immersed in this shocking story.
My favorite droll tale is “Agony Column,” which reminded me of Ann Landers’ advice columns. A woman who calls herself “Neglected” writes to Dr. Wisefellow that her husband, Hamish, isn’t paying attention to her and disappears every evening. She is becoming suspicious of his activities and is even on the verge of calling the police.
After a fair amount of back and forth between them, Dr. Wisefellow responds that there is no need to go to the authorities. “I can now set your fears at rest…. Hamish is becoming a crime writer. A peculiar condition, but not usually dangerous. Soon you will find that he gives up those long walks and starts shutting himself away in a place of isolation, like the garden shed or an attic. If you pass anywhere near, you may hear a tapping sound, or, more likely, shouts of “Blast!” as paper is screwed up and thrown across the room.” Following this warning, the good doctor advises her to stay out of his way. It isn’t easy being married to a crime writer, but it certainly can have its exciting moments.
The same can be said for READER, I BURIED THEM, which I am happy to say is a fun read for any mystery buff.
Reviewed by Roz Shea
It's been 10 years since I had the pleasure of getting acquainted with Lovesey’s Peter Diamond, a reluctant mall cop who eventually became a detective and starred in 20 tidy little mysteries. I’ve reviewed a few of them and read many others for my own enjoyment.
In READER, I BURIED THEM, Lovesey appears to have thumbed through his notebooks and filing cabinets to find some of his early pieces. A musician might call them “noodling” around on a keyboard --- experimenting with an idea or concept to see if it would develop into something worthy. Here, he offers up 18 short stories, some merely a few pages long. Many ended up in various publications, and three are brand new.
The most absorbing piece is “The Bathroom,” a bizarre tale based on an actual crime that is later detailed in “The Tale of Three Tubs.” Three brides mysteriously drowned in bathtubs between 1912 and 1915 in locales as far removed from each other as Herne Bay, Blackpool and Highgate. The guilty party was George Joseph Smith, a bigamist who was hanged for the murders. The tubs ended up in various museums for nearly a century because of the diabolical nature of the crimes. Jack the Ripper immediately came to mind as I was immersed in this shocking story.
My favorite droll tale is “Agony Column,” which reminded me of Ann Landers’ advice columns. A woman who calls herself “Neglected” writes to Dr. Wisefellow that her husband, Hamish, isn’t paying attention to her and disappears every evening. She is becoming suspicious of his activities and is even on the verge of calling the police.
After a fair amount of back and forth between them, Dr. Wisefellow responds that there is no need to go to the authorities. “I can now set your fears at rest…. Hamish is becoming a crime writer. A peculiar condition, but not usually dangerous. Soon you will find that he gives up those long walks and starts shutting himself away in a place of isolation, like the garden shed or an attic. If you pass anywhere near, you may hear a tapping sound, or, more likely, shouts of “Blast!” as paper is screwed up and thrown across the room.” Following this warning, the good doctor advises her to stay out of his way. It isn’t easy being married to a crime writer, but it certainly can have its exciting moments.
The same can be said for READER, I BURIED THEM, which I am happy to say is a fun read for any mystery buff.
Reviewed by Roz Shea
April 9, 2022
This short story collection by Peter Lovesey to celebrate his 100th short story has both his old and new stories. We get a glimpse on how the author gets his inspiration (lucky to have Ruth Rendell herself encouraging him to keep writing). I have read some of these before (Remaindered was one story i clearly remembered).
"Bathroom" was one of stories written when he started as an author, which apparently was rejected by the publishers. He details out the true crime which inspired this story. I was surprised that this story was rejected, (he mentions many other crime writers whose books were based on this true crime)
Eerily, this reminded me of the death of the beautiful Indian actress, Sridevi, in a bathtub in a Dubai hotel (ruled as an accident).
All the stories are interesting, it is difficult to pick a favorite. Gaslighting, Bathroom, Remaindered, Ghosted, Agony Column and Formidophobia stand out. Writers feature in most of the stories. There is a story about Edgar Allan Poe and his controversial work.
The last one is a poem - A monologue for mystery lovers - tells about Agatha Christie's inspiration.
"Bathroom" was one of stories written when he started as an author, which apparently was rejected by the publishers. He details out the true crime which inspired this story. I was surprised that this story was rejected, (he mentions many other crime writers whose books were based on this true crime)
Eerily, this reminded me of the death of the beautiful Indian actress, Sridevi, in a bathtub in a Dubai hotel (ruled as an accident).
All the stories are interesting, it is difficult to pick a favorite. Gaslighting, Bathroom, Remaindered, Ghosted, Agony Column and Formidophobia stand out. Writers feature in most of the stories. There is a story about Edgar Allan Poe and his controversial work.
The last one is a poem - A monologue for mystery lovers - tells about Agatha Christie's inspiration.
January 26, 2022
• A copy of this book was given by NetGalley in return for an honest review •
Rating: 3.5 Stars
The Review
Let me preface this by stating that I haven’t really read crime and mystery stories in this short story form before and this book has me wondering why I haven’t done so sooner.
The title was what first drew me in – Reader, I Buried Them. Wasn’t that interesting, I thought and it got me to turn the page.
Each short story in this collection holds within it a crime and manages to balance the suspense, intrigue and reveal of it well, foreshadowing without being too obvious and, at times, pulling the rug from under you. This more than anything is really what impressed me: a good twist without being obvious in a story 30 or so pages long.
With various unlikely protagonists distinct to their tale, from beekeepers to monks, to a fancy hat contestant, the stories make for an engaging, quick read. The characters from each tale also felt distinct in a way I appreciated – I could tell by their dialog and their characterization that they could only be who they were, if you get what I mean. I particularly liked Sweet and Low and Formidophobia.
All in all, a delightful short story collection. I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a little intrigue.
Rating: 3.5 Stars
The Review
Let me preface this by stating that I haven’t really read crime and mystery stories in this short story form before and this book has me wondering why I haven’t done so sooner.
The title was what first drew me in – Reader, I Buried Them. Wasn’t that interesting, I thought and it got me to turn the page.
Each short story in this collection holds within it a crime and manages to balance the suspense, intrigue and reveal of it well, foreshadowing without being too obvious and, at times, pulling the rug from under you. This more than anything is really what impressed me: a good twist without being obvious in a story 30 or so pages long.
With various unlikely protagonists distinct to their tale, from beekeepers to monks, to a fancy hat contestant, the stories make for an engaging, quick read. The characters from each tale also felt distinct in a way I appreciated – I could tell by their dialog and their characterization that they could only be who they were, if you get what I mean. I particularly liked Sweet and Low and Formidophobia.
All in all, a delightful short story collection. I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a little intrigue.
July 26, 2022
This was a delightful collection of short murder mysteries, tales of vengeance, clever characters, and an almost absurd number of poisonings. A few were just average stories, but most were really good to great. This is well-worth your time, and is a book which naturally divides easily into quick reading bursts, perfect for busy people who still want to enjoy good stories.
May 8, 2025
Surprisingly delightful with quirky fun twists.
January 13, 2022
My first question was, "Who could resist that title?" and with Peter Lovesey as the author, who would want to? Peter Lovesey has had a long and distinguished career as a crime novelist, telling stories in the classic puzzle vein. I am a great fan of his contemporary series, set in Bath and featuring the overweight, irascible Peter Diamond. I was unaware of his Victorian series and many short stories.
The stories in Reader, I Buried Them include characters both high and low-born, rich and poor, good and evil, and those caught in situations, not of their making. I found And The Band Played On heart-wrenching and The Homicidal Hat hilarious. Each of the stories is a small gem, many with a touch of macabre humor. Anyone who knows Peter Lovesey's work will be delighted by this collection, and those who aren't familiar will have a pleasant introduction.
Thanks to SoHo Crime, NetGalley, and Mystery and Suspense Magazine for an advance digital copy.
The stories in Reader, I Buried Them include characters both high and low-born, rich and poor, good and evil, and those caught in situations, not of their making. I found And The Band Played On heart-wrenching and The Homicidal Hat hilarious. Each of the stories is a small gem, many with a touch of macabre humor. Anyone who knows Peter Lovesey's work will be delighted by this collection, and those who aren't familiar will have a pleasant introduction.
Thanks to SoHo Crime, NetGalley, and Mystery and Suspense Magazine for an advance digital copy.
June 24, 2023
This review contains no spoilers.
A couple weeks ago, we got to visit some of the local bookstores in our new home when our daughters paid a visit. Any time we visit a bookstore (new or otherwise), I always make a beeline for the L's in Mystery to see if there's anything there by my favorite author, Peter Lovesey. On our initial visit to the amazing Park Road Books in Charlotte, I found this delightful collection of short stories.
Compiled to commemorate the creation of Mr. Lovesey's 100th short story, this group of tales offers an entertaining and impressive range of great stories, filled to bursting with wonderful ideas. Most take place in modern times, but there is at least one 19th century offering. The characters' interests are diverse and invariably fascinating, and the plots themselves are terrific. Each story showcases the author's trademark firm command of his environment, his crisp and artful prose, and his incisive sense of humor. I breezed through every story in short order and was hungry for more when I completed the last one, a surprisingly clever, funny, and unexpected poem about Sherlock Holmes.
The collection has the distinction of featuring Mr. Lovesey's very first short story, and I was thrilled to find a new Peter Diamond offering in there, as well. My favorite story of the bunch, however, was the namesake of the entire collection: Reader, I Buried Them. There really are no duds in the set, though, so if you're a fan of well-crafted, smartly-written crime fiction that explores all manner of the human condition, then you should definitely pick up your own copy of this fun collection. Highly recommended.
A couple weeks ago, we got to visit some of the local bookstores in our new home when our daughters paid a visit. Any time we visit a bookstore (new or otherwise), I always make a beeline for the L's in Mystery to see if there's anything there by my favorite author, Peter Lovesey. On our initial visit to the amazing Park Road Books in Charlotte, I found this delightful collection of short stories.
Compiled to commemorate the creation of Mr. Lovesey's 100th short story, this group of tales offers an entertaining and impressive range of great stories, filled to bursting with wonderful ideas. Most take place in modern times, but there is at least one 19th century offering. The characters' interests are diverse and invariably fascinating, and the plots themselves are terrific. Each story showcases the author's trademark firm command of his environment, his crisp and artful prose, and his incisive sense of humor. I breezed through every story in short order and was hungry for more when I completed the last one, a surprisingly clever, funny, and unexpected poem about Sherlock Holmes.
The collection has the distinction of featuring Mr. Lovesey's very first short story, and I was thrilled to find a new Peter Diamond offering in there, as well. My favorite story of the bunch, however, was the namesake of the entire collection: Reader, I Buried Them. There really are no duds in the set, though, so if you're a fan of well-crafted, smartly-written crime fiction that explores all manner of the human condition, then you should definitely pick up your own copy of this fun collection. Highly recommended.
September 26, 2022
I just finished reading the 1st short story in this collection, and it reminded me why I DO NOT usually like short stories... as in many others, there was zero character development and it had an abrupt ending that came out of left field.
As if that wasn't bad enough, this author had committed what I perceive to be a Cardinal Sin. He chose to divulge details from other stories to help his own story along. Not only did the author give away the essence of the "twist" from the movie "Gaslight", but he also gave away details from "And Then There Were None" by Agatha Christie. I could almost forgive "Gaslight" since gaslighting has become such a buzzword lately, but I CANNOT forgive any discussion of what happens at the end of "And Then There Were None".
NOTE: The narration was very good, but not good enough to impel me to go any further with this.
I'm also trying to figure out why "Gaslighting" is the 1st story in the audiobook but the 12th one in the print version.
As if that wasn't bad enough, this author had committed what I perceive to be a Cardinal Sin. He chose to divulge details from other stories to help his own story along. Not only did the author give away the essence of the "twist" from the movie "Gaslight", but he also gave away details from "And Then There Were None" by Agatha Christie. I could almost forgive "Gaslight" since gaslighting has become such a buzzword lately, but I CANNOT forgive any discussion of what happens at the end of "And Then There Were None".
NOTE: The narration was very good, but not good enough to impel me to go any further with this.
I'm also trying to figure out why "Gaslighting" is the 1st story in the audiobook but the 12th one in the print version.
September 29, 2022
A wonderful collection of short stories from master writer Peter Lovesey. What is brilliant about them, beyond the experimentation with form, is the fact that they all carry different voices. I love how the characters have unique personalities, and the crimes are committed through resourceful means.
September 11, 2022
A solid collection of Lovesey's short stories--and one poem!--provides quite a lot of entertainment. Varying largely in setting and plot (though two have the same motif), these range from the isle of Corfu to 19th century Baltimore, from Lovesey's first published short story to a short piece on the factual basis of the background. There's even one story about Lovesey's series detective Peter Diamond.
March 23, 2022
I found it to have great charm!!
February 14, 2022
Reader, I Buried Them & Other
by Peter Lovesey
Pub Date 01 Feb 2022 |
Soho Press, Soho Crime
Mystery & Thrillers
I am reviewing a copy of Reader, I Buried Them & Other Stories through Soho Press and Netgalley:
Peter Lovesey published a short story in an anthology, more than fifty years ago.
That short story caught the eye of the great Ruth Rendell, whose praise ignited Lovesey’s lifelong passion for short form crime fiction.
While working on his one hundredth short story Peter Lovesey has assembled this devilishly clever collection, eighteen yarns of mystery, melancholy, and mischief, inhabiting such deadly settings as a theater, a monastery, and the book publishing industry.
The collection includes that first storythat launched his story-writing career as well as three exclusive new stories. In addition, Loveseyfans will delight in a personal essay by the author about the historical inspirations—and in an appearance by the irascible Bath detective Peter Diamond, who has, in the author’s words, “bulldozed his way” into this volume.
I give Reader, I Buried Them & Other Stories five out of five stars!
Happy Reading!
by Peter Lovesey
Pub Date 01 Feb 2022 |
Soho Press, Soho Crime
Mystery & Thrillers
I am reviewing a copy of Reader, I Buried Them & Other Stories through Soho Press and Netgalley:
Peter Lovesey published a short story in an anthology, more than fifty years ago.
That short story caught the eye of the great Ruth Rendell, whose praise ignited Lovesey’s lifelong passion for short form crime fiction.
While working on his one hundredth short story Peter Lovesey has assembled this devilishly clever collection, eighteen yarns of mystery, melancholy, and mischief, inhabiting such deadly settings as a theater, a monastery, and the book publishing industry.
The collection includes that first storythat launched his story-writing career as well as three exclusive new stories. In addition, Loveseyfans will delight in a personal essay by the author about the historical inspirations—and in an appearance by the irascible Bath detective Peter Diamond, who has, in the author’s words, “bulldozed his way” into this volume.
I give Reader, I Buried Them & Other Stories five out of five stars!
Happy Reading!
January 28, 2022
More than fifty years ago, Peter Lovesey wrote a short story that got the attention of crime fiction master Ruth Rendell, and her praise ignited Lovesey's passion for short stories.
This collection contains eighteen short stories, including that very first one, three brand-new ones, and even one featuring his well-known Bath detective Peter Diamond. The settings vary wildly: the book publishing industry, a monastery, a theater, the island of Corfu, and a farmer's field containing a scarecrow wearing a checked jacket.
For readers unfamiliar with Peter Lovesey, these stories would be a good introduction. Since I am no stranger to this talented man's writing, I enjoyed each setting, each twist and turn, each clue illustrating the deviousness of Lovesey's mind.
Now, after feasting on these stories, what I'm really in the mood for is Peter Diamond solving another puzzling case in Bath.
(Review copy courtesy of the publisher and Net Galley)
This collection contains eighteen short stories, including that very first one, three brand-new ones, and even one featuring his well-known Bath detective Peter Diamond. The settings vary wildly: the book publishing industry, a monastery, a theater, the island of Corfu, and a farmer's field containing a scarecrow wearing a checked jacket.
For readers unfamiliar with Peter Lovesey, these stories would be a good introduction. Since I am no stranger to this talented man's writing, I enjoyed each setting, each twist and turn, each clue illustrating the deviousness of Lovesey's mind.
Now, after feasting on these stories, what I'm really in the mood for is Peter Diamond solving another puzzling case in Bath.
(Review copy courtesy of the publisher and Net Galley)
February 9, 2022
On the occasion of his hundredth short story, Peter Lovesey has assembled this devilishly clever collection, eighteen yarns of mystery, melancholy, and mischief, inhabiting such deadly settings as a theater, a monastery, and the book publishing industry. If you haven't read Peter before this, this collection is the perfect place to start. Each of these short stories are more like reading a full length novel...they are comprehensive, clever and so very good. I don't usually read short stories but this book has changed that. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced readers copy for review.
September 23, 2022
I was lured in by the title and the cover, and then found it cozy and charming and clever. Loved it!
June 10, 2023
Charming and fun. My first full Lovesey novel and now I want to read more.
June 18, 2023
Fun read with some very good stories. Like most short story collections, it has its duds, overall this is much better than most! 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
June 15, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️
As is to be expected, there are some terrific stories in this collection, including a very welcome outing for Lovesey's Bath-based detective Peter Diamond in a hugely entertaining and faintly silly tale.
I enjoyed these stories, and there's not a bad one in the bunch; there's a tale about scarecrows with a fine twist and another about skullduggery between villains. However, whilst I was reading this set of short stories, I found that - once read, I didn't remember much about the majority of them afterwards: they really don't remain long in the memory.
I very quickly came to the realisation that whilst I've enjoyed the Sergeant Cribb books I've read, on the whole I really only like Lovesey's Peter Diamond fiction, which would explain why many of these stories left me cold: I'm so fond of the regular characters and the settings in this series that I'm not particularly interested in Lovesey's other works.
As is to be expected, there are some terrific stories in this collection, including a very welcome outing for Lovesey's Bath-based detective Peter Diamond in a hugely entertaining and faintly silly tale.
I enjoyed these stories, and there's not a bad one in the bunch; there's a tale about scarecrows with a fine twist and another about skullduggery between villains. However, whilst I was reading this set of short stories, I found that - once read, I didn't remember much about the majority of them afterwards: they really don't remain long in the memory.
I very quickly came to the realisation that whilst I've enjoyed the Sergeant Cribb books I've read, on the whole I really only like Lovesey's Peter Diamond fiction, which would explain why many of these stories left me cold: I'm so fond of the regular characters and the settings in this series that I'm not particularly interested in Lovesey's other works.
February 17, 2022
I found two super great books of short stories in my Overdrive queue and decided that I would read them back and forth. Two of my favorite authors, and great writers of novels and short fiction. As with the Christie book, the second story in the Lovesey's book, 'Sweet and Low," began with a case of 'bee rustling' and something more than I expected. Not just going back and forth one by one has been super interesting. I thought I was reading the other author more than once! The stories in this collection were as varied as I could have wanted. Great fun!
February 9, 2022
As a fan of Lovesey’s series books, I figured short stories wouldn’t be satisfying. Boy was I wrong. Great read, full of all the things you want in a mystery. I assumed I would read a couple and then go back to a novel, but I stuck with the book willingly and was sorry to see it end.
February 4, 2022
It was a real treat to read these delightful stories. Intriguing mysteries, humor, great characters and great writing. These stories have it all. It's no wonder Peter Lovesey has enjoyed a brilliant career.
January 4, 2023
A thoroughly intriguing mix of crime shorts featuring some very interesting characters, not to mention the blending of historical figures, both famous and infamous, amongst their number.
August 14, 2024
Story-by-story ratings:
And the Band Played On - 3* that turned into 4*. The funeral scene made me cry. A very unexpected start to a book that I thought would be about mysteries.
Sweet and Low - 4.25*. Don't mess with the queen bee.
Lady Luck - 4*. Enjoyable read, but unsatisfying ending.
Reader, I Buried Them - 4.5*. Loved the gardening theme. Fun quote: "This is one of the difficulties with the monastic life. There isn't a lot of consultation at shop-floor level."
Angela's Alterations - 4*. I'm starting to see that the "final-sentence-twist-revelation" is a theme Lovesey uses -- both in Sweet and Low and here.
The Bitter Truth - 3*. I don't know if I'm the hugest fan of Lovesey's writing style. I'm on Perrin's side in this story -- the journalist is rude. On second read, this line stood out as classic: "He was no better in bed than he was in government."
Ghosted - 4*. Fun premise with the ghost writer.
The Homicidal Hat - 3.5*. Interesting, but a bit too matter-of-fact.
Oracle of the Dead - 3.5*. Again an enjoyable read, but unsatisfying ending. I feel like I'm missing something.
Formidophobia - 3.75*. A longer story, and one which I think maybe went on too long. The writing pulled me along, but there was one too many twists.
The Deadliest Tale of All - Reading this made me curious how much of it was true, but it's fairly boring. 1.5*. Truly bizarre story and ending. I wonder why Lovesey even bothered writing a story on this topic.
Gaslighting - 2.5*. I was actually into this story....and then it just ended, like an entire page was missing.
A Three Pie Problem - 4*. Finally, an actual proper mystery story! I'm thinking I'm rating some of these highly just in comparison.
Remaindered - 4.5*. Another winner -- these stories are looking up!
Agony Column - 4*. A cute little epistolary meta story.
The Bathroom - 2*. Okay. I see why it was rejected. Feels like it belongs in a creepy horror anthology instead of a mystery magazine -- you know something is wrong from the very beginning. On a second read, this time in order instead of reading it first, I rate it a 3.5*. Generally, I think I've been eating the stories too highly because I'm rating them in comparison to each other, not to stories I enjoy more.
The Tale of Three Tubs - A non-fiction telling of the true crime behind The Bathroom.
A Monologue for Mystery Lovers - 4.5*. Very fun poem. It took a sec to get into it, but then the rhythm gripped me.
Overall rating -- 2*? I hate to rate any book so low, but I just didn't particularly enjoy a lot of these stories.
And the Band Played On - 3* that turned into 4*. The funeral scene made me cry. A very unexpected start to a book that I thought would be about mysteries.
Sweet and Low - 4.25*. Don't mess with the queen bee.
Lady Luck - 4*. Enjoyable read, but unsatisfying ending.
Reader, I Buried Them - 4.5*. Loved the gardening theme. Fun quote: "This is one of the difficulties with the monastic life. There isn't a lot of consultation at shop-floor level."
Angela's Alterations - 4*. I'm starting to see that the "final-sentence-twist-revelation" is a theme Lovesey uses -- both in Sweet and Low and here.
The Bitter Truth - 3*. I don't know if I'm the hugest fan of Lovesey's writing style. I'm on Perrin's side in this story -- the journalist is rude. On second read, this line stood out as classic: "He was no better in bed than he was in government."
Ghosted - 4*. Fun premise with the ghost writer.
The Homicidal Hat - 3.5*. Interesting, but a bit too matter-of-fact.
Oracle of the Dead - 3.5*. Again an enjoyable read, but unsatisfying ending. I feel like I'm missing something.
Formidophobia - 3.75*. A longer story, and one which I think maybe went on too long. The writing pulled me along, but there was one too many twists.
The Deadliest Tale of All - Reading this made me curious how much of it was true, but it's fairly boring. 1.5*. Truly bizarre story and ending. I wonder why Lovesey even bothered writing a story on this topic.
Gaslighting - 2.5*. I was actually into this story....and then it just ended, like an entire page was missing.
A Three Pie Problem - 4*. Finally, an actual proper mystery story! I'm thinking I'm rating some of these highly just in comparison.
Remaindered - 4.5*. Another winner -- these stories are looking up!
Agony Column - 4*. A cute little epistolary meta story.
The Bathroom - 2*. Okay. I see why it was rejected. Feels like it belongs in a creepy horror anthology instead of a mystery magazine -- you know something is wrong from the very beginning. On a second read, this time in order instead of reading it first, I rate it a 3.5*. Generally, I think I've been eating the stories too highly because I'm rating them in comparison to each other, not to stories I enjoy more.
The Tale of Three Tubs - A non-fiction telling of the true crime behind The Bathroom.
A Monologue for Mystery Lovers - 4.5*. Very fun poem. It took a sec to get into it, but then the rhythm gripped me.
Overall rating -- 2*? I hate to rate any book so low, but I just didn't particularly enjoy a lot of these stories.
August 30, 2023
I haven’t found a mystery author to fall in love with in a long while. That’s not to say that I’ll love his novels as much as his short stories, but I’m hoping! (And on a side note, when I google “if you’ve never read Peter Lovesey before, which book should you start with?” - nobody can give me a straight answer. 😂 Any fans out there want to give me some recommendations?)
But to review this book… I thoroughly enjoyed this collection. There is a generous mix of stories, different and interesting, with nice little plot twists. It has some meta moments as well, which any mystery fan would catch. I really appreciate how contemporary the stories are without contemporary swearing and graphic sex and violence. Some of the stories have the feel of a cozy mystery even though they aren’t. Basically I like that I can hand this off to my middle schooler if I wanted without worrying about excess swearing and violence. Actually, I probably wouldn’t hand it over to my middle schooler because of murder topics… but definitely my older teens. Lol.
I could’ve done without the story of the three tubs. Mildly interesting, but an excess of information. And I knew exactly where the final poem was going before the punchline. I have to protest that this pub scenario could never happen because it’s out of character with the old lady we all know and love. She would never yell her story loudly at a bar full of people. But it’s a cute poem.
I’m really surprised I never read any of Peter Lovesey’s books before, but I do struggle to get out of my comfort zone of Agatha Christie. Short stories are definitely my fave way to discover new authors. All in all, I recommend!
But to review this book… I thoroughly enjoyed this collection. There is a generous mix of stories, different and interesting, with nice little plot twists. It has some meta moments as well, which any mystery fan would catch. I really appreciate how contemporary the stories are without contemporary swearing and graphic sex and violence. Some of the stories have the feel of a cozy mystery even though they aren’t. Basically I like that I can hand this off to my middle schooler if I wanted without worrying about excess swearing and violence. Actually, I probably wouldn’t hand it over to my middle schooler because of murder topics… but definitely my older teens. Lol.
I could’ve done without the story of the three tubs. Mildly interesting, but an excess of information. And I knew exactly where the final poem was going before the punchline. I have to protest that this pub scenario could never happen because it’s out of character with the old lady we all know and love. She would never yell her story loudly at a bar full of people. But it’s a cute poem.
I’m really surprised I never read any of Peter Lovesey’s books before, but I do struggle to get out of my comfort zone of Agatha Christie. Short stories are definitely my fave way to discover new authors. All in all, I recommend!
February 22, 2022
I am at the front of the line when a new Lovesey book is released. More often than not the UK gets first look, often months before the US and so I dutifully order from my favorite UK bookseller and have read before the book appears in the US. But with Reader, I Buried Them the US release preceded the UK release by a couple of days.
Short story collections take a little longer to read than novels. Novels are building to a conclusion, and I can gallop along if I have the time. Short stories are self-contained. Once I am done with a story I need time to work through the story before moving on to the next.
Lovesey's body of short work is always a joy. The stories are well-told and compact and more often than not have ironic endings.
I have read two of these stories before - the charmer "Remaindered" is a stand-alone chapbook available from Mysterious Bookshop.
There are some real gems here, including a story about Poe, a Peter Diamond piece and the first published short story of Lovesey's career.
The book includes a non-fiction piece regarding the historic origins of the first published story. That is interesting but also out of place. The book end with a long form poem on crime fiction and finally a list of Lovesey work which ignores his non-fiction and the Lear novels.
The work after the story The Bathroom is clutter. None of it is necessary. The pieces do not detract from the book, but they also do not strengthen the book.
I would give this 3.5 stars but I cannot and so Lovesey gets rounded-up.
Short story collections take a little longer to read than novels. Novels are building to a conclusion, and I can gallop along if I have the time. Short stories are self-contained. Once I am done with a story I need time to work through the story before moving on to the next.
Lovesey's body of short work is always a joy. The stories are well-told and compact and more often than not have ironic endings.
I have read two of these stories before - the charmer "Remaindered" is a stand-alone chapbook available from Mysterious Bookshop.
There are some real gems here, including a story about Poe, a Peter Diamond piece and the first published short story of Lovesey's career.
The book includes a non-fiction piece regarding the historic origins of the first published story. That is interesting but also out of place. The book end with a long form poem on crime fiction and finally a list of Lovesey work which ignores his non-fiction and the Lear novels.
The work after the story The Bathroom is clutter. None of it is necessary. The pieces do not detract from the book, but they also do not strengthen the book.
I would give this 3.5 stars but I cannot and so Lovesey gets rounded-up.
February 8, 2023
I’m a big fan of short stories, so I jumped on the chance to borrow this from my library’s collection of new books. I haven’t read any other reviews of it yet, so this is purely my opinion. Although familiar with the author’s name, I’m ashamed to admit his other book titles don’t ring a bell, even though they apparently are wildly popular. I assure you this says more about my aging literary memory than the quality of his writing.
I found these stories very readable. Not too long (which tests my patience in this genre) or complicated, or dully obvious. They’re perfect airline reading, where you can finish a story, look out the window and ponder, then start another and probably finish 4 or 5 on a one-way, non-stop ticket.
The plots were a little uneven, and I got the feeling he could afford, at this point in his career, a little experimentation. I can forgive this in a collection of stories, since there are fresh starts (and truly surprise endings) every dozen pages or so.
I also felt the overall writing style a little dated, but again I can forgive that when reading murder mysteries. I have already returned the book so I can’t cite specifics, but my overall impression was very positive, and it’s a worthwhile read for all mystery fans.
I found these stories very readable. Not too long (which tests my patience in this genre) or complicated, or dully obvious. They’re perfect airline reading, where you can finish a story, look out the window and ponder, then start another and probably finish 4 or 5 on a one-way, non-stop ticket.
The plots were a little uneven, and I got the feeling he could afford, at this point in his career, a little experimentation. I can forgive this in a collection of stories, since there are fresh starts (and truly surprise endings) every dozen pages or so.
I also felt the overall writing style a little dated, but again I can forgive that when reading murder mysteries. I have already returned the book so I can’t cite specifics, but my overall impression was very positive, and it’s a worthwhile read for all mystery fans.
January 24, 2024
For context - before reading this short story collection, I'd never read anything by Lovesey. I may have run across a stray story or two in one of those huge Otto Penzler-edited Big Books, but this was my first time consciously reading this author. I got an ARC of this somehow and it's been staring at me from the shelves for a year. Every time I saw it I'd think - what a title.
And now it's time has come!
My main takeaway was how varied the collection was. I loved the variety of settings (Greece! France! Bathtubs! Bookstores!) and occupations (authors! monks! thieves! beekeepers!). The various modes of death, too (insert excited parenthetical words!). I had an unexpectedly enjoyable time reading this. Lovesey's tone... I wouldn't call it light - maybe ironic on occasion - but never over serious and... almost gentle at times? The weird poem that ended the collection was almost moving - what the hell?
Consistently engaging and a lot of fun. Glad I let the title guide me - that is the same logic by which I will soon read the book Man, Fuck This House.
And now it's time has come!
My main takeaway was how varied the collection was. I loved the variety of settings (Greece! France! Bathtubs! Bookstores!) and occupations (authors! monks! thieves! beekeepers!). The various modes of death, too (insert excited parenthetical words!). I had an unexpectedly enjoyable time reading this. Lovesey's tone... I wouldn't call it light - maybe ironic on occasion - but never over serious and... almost gentle at times? The weird poem that ended the collection was almost moving - what the hell?
Consistently engaging and a lot of fun. Glad I let the title guide me - that is the same logic by which I will soon read the book Man, Fuck This House.
December 31, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of
Reader, I Buried Them & Other Stories.
I love the title of this anthology as well as the short story itself it refers to.
I've heard of the author, Peter Lovesey, but have never read any of his work before.
That's amazing considering how much I love mysteries.
This collection of short stories is diverse, featuring angry couples, a retired detective, gangs and thieves, mistresses and duped wives.
I enjoyed how straight to the point nearly all of these stories are; someone dies, someone figures out whodunit and the end.
There are some good twists in a few stories, most are obvious, others not really, especially if you're not paying attention.
This was a great introduction to Mr. Lovesey's work as well as authors I'm not familiar with.
I liked most of the stories, which is pretty amazing since a collection of shorts means I typically only like a few.
I love the title of this anthology as well as the short story itself it refers to.
I've heard of the author, Peter Lovesey, but have never read any of his work before.
That's amazing considering how much I love mysteries.
This collection of short stories is diverse, featuring angry couples, a retired detective, gangs and thieves, mistresses and duped wives.
I enjoyed how straight to the point nearly all of these stories are; someone dies, someone figures out whodunit and the end.
There are some good twists in a few stories, most are obvious, others not really, especially if you're not paying attention.
This was a great introduction to Mr. Lovesey's work as well as authors I'm not familiar with.
I liked most of the stories, which is pretty amazing since a collection of shorts means I typically only like a few.
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