Witnesses for the Dead: Stories

by Gary Phillips (Editor), Gar Anthony Haywood (Editor)

How does witnessing a crime change a person? This powerful collection of stories by a star-studded roster of contributors examines this very question, with proceeds benefitting the Alliance for Safe Traffic Stops.

Inspired by recent true events, the all-original stories in Witnesses for the Dead are set in motion by the act of witnessing. The characters who populate these pages are not themselves the perpetrators of the crimes they see, but as they grapple with what to do—take action or retreat into the shadows—their lives are indelibly changed.

In “Envy” by Christopher Chambers, a sweet, shy wallflower looks on as something horrific happens in his neighborhood—revealing something horrific about himself. Agatha Award–winner Richie Narvaez’s “The Gardener of Roses” sees a Puertorriqueña college student on the run from the FBI for her accidental involvement in a “terrorist” plot. Anthony Award–winner Gary Phillips confronts police corruption in “Spiders and Fly.” And the protagonist of “A Family Matter” by IPPY Award–winner Sarah M. Chen investigates the murder of a stranger, leading her to question the political structure of Taiwan entirely. Other stories feature a brothel, the film industry, immigrant detention centers at the Mexico-US border, World War II–torn France, and the COVID-19 pandemic. The stories are incisive, unflinching, wry, dark, and, in some cases, terrifying. You’ll ask yourself: If I saw what they saw, what would I do?

Genres: Short Stories, Mystery, Fiction

303 pages, Hardcover

First published November 8, 2022

About the author

GARY PHILLIPS has been a community activist, labor organizer and delivered dog cages. He’s published various novels, comics, short stories and edited several anthologies including South Central Noir and the Anthony award-winning The Obama Inheritance: Fifteen Stories of Conspiracy Noir. Violent Spring, first published in 1994 was named in 2020 one of the essential crime novels of Los Angeles. He was also a writer/co-producer on FX’s Snowfall (streaming on Hulu), about crack and the CIA in 1980s South Central where he grew up. Recent novels include One-Shot Harry and Matthew Henson and the Ice Temple of Harlem. He lives with his family in the wilds of Los Angeles.

Reviews

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection of short stories serves to remind us that often speaking up for the right requires courage, but the good achieved rewards the brave and society as a whole. The stories cross borders and represent several races. Well done.

My thanks to the editors (and contributors), Gary Phillips and Gar Anthony Haywood, and the publisher, Soho Press, for my copy of this book. #Goodreads Giveaway

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was another in-between book – read in-between while reading various other novels.

Short stories by different authors about people who may have witnessed something (a crime), or accidentally got themselves involved in something outside their comfort zone, or in the middle of something – like, questioning corruption. Witnesses.

In many instances, as readers we may wonder what we would do if we were in their shoes.

There is a rawness to some of the stories… sensitivity.

Sometimes I wanted to shut my eyes and wish the words gone.

In naïve moments, I would even question, does this cruelty really exist in the world? Of course, the answer is probably already yes – I’ve read enough headlines to know the world isn’t always pretty.

The book tells us that the stories are inspired by recent true events, and you can almost identify which ones they remind you of, as well.

Take this book slowly. It can certainly be an in-between book for you, too.

But don’t walk away because you think the stories will be too hard to read.

[Allison Willey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I both liked and disliked this book. It read somewhat like a corny TV show, or a budget crime and drama film. Sometimes it seemed too fantastical to actually be true, which made it hard to see the writers purpose (highlighting systemic problems with the criminal justice system and society at large). But I thought the writers' purpose in creating the book was great and very timely, the execution was just a little rough.

[Diana N. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of these stories were a bit out there, but they each told a lesson in their own way. Due to being a bit campy, I think the mood lightened on some otherwise hard topics.

This book worked well as a collection and the characters were diverse and from all different backgrounds. Definitely enjoyable and easy to read in quick little chunks.

[Connie Giese · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book! I took breaks between the stories to think about each of them further, as I really didn't want to let go of each lesson they were teaching. Great stories! Each one was so very different yet all were well written, and took you to another place or even another time in history. The main characters weren't your stereotypical heroes but instead were ordinary normal people who witnessed something horrifying and made their own choices as to how to deal with those issues...just like Darnella Frazier did! Our world, and especially our country, needs more heroes like Ms. Frazier.

[Michelle Arredondo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun read. I went through it fairly quickly. A collection of short stories and each were their own fantastical dark tale with a lesson to be learned. I found that entertaining. Witnesses For the Dead is just that. Each story ends up with a dead person and they elaborate on someone who witnessed each death. I thought that was pretty unique of a format. The first story told me basically how the others would go.

I know a lot of people that read this book read these stories one at a time and took breaks in between. Usually, my method for short stories but this time I decided to read them all the way through. I really enjoyed that experience with this book. Some stories better than others, some stories seemed a bit rushed, but all stories left an impression on me.

Entertaning and a fast read.

Thanks to the good people of Goodreads and SOHO CRIME for my copy of this book won via giveaway. I received. I received. I read this book honestly and voluntarily.

[Mystic Miraflores · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most of the stories in this book were good. My favorite one was "The Killing at Joshua Lake", where the good guy won. I also liked "Fatal Assumptions" (sad tale solved by a smart sister); "On Gossamer Wings" (the teen made me laugh); and "Pearl Joy" (paranormal events were satisfactorily explained). "Spiders and Fly" reminded me so much of Lee Goldberg's Eva Ronin series that I had to make sure who the author really was. It seemed derivative of Lee's work. (As it turned out, his brother, Tod, has a story in this anthology. It was a paranormal one, which I didn't like that much.) Cara Black's story, "Code Name Penelope", reminded me of Adolfo Kaminsky's real-life story as a forger of identity documents for Jews and French resistance fighters in Paris during WWII. I can't remember from his autobiography if he had been associated with the real Odette Pilpoul.

[Tara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I stopped reading the book. I got through a few of the stories. But I couldn’t finish this book. I didn’t like short story format. There’s nothing wrong with the stories, but I couldn’t get into them. They all seemed rushed, even though they were written to be short stories. Just felt rushed, and under developed. The social issues and societal implications are impactful, but there wasn’t enough story to chew on.

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great read! I enjoyed every single story in this book, some more then others, but all were good. I would definitely recommend this book. I wasn't in the mood to dive into a full book, this was perfect with 14 short stories. I won this book in a giveaway. So happy I had the opportunity to read an advance copy.

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a bunch of short stories. There are many different authors with their short story. Some were very good and some were good. It was an interesting array of stories where someone witnesses a death. I found them interesting and good. They were very believable stories. Well done and easy read.

[Bruce Sembar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really nice book of short stories. Each story was about somebody dying and how someone reacted to that death. Each main character witnessed the death in some way and many became heroes but some did not. And finally, each person's life was changed by what they witnessed.

[Sami Davidson · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I picked up this book, I thought that it was nonfiction. Turns out it's fiction, however much based on true stories. The stories are intriguing. I do wish that I knew which parts were embellished and/or fabricated.

[Crissy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am writing a holding spot for my future review. I won this book through Goodreads Giveaways and am excited to receive and read! I will give an honest review coming up. Thank you.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some stories just okay, some quite chilling

[Carly Really Very Normal · Rating 4 out of 5]

A variety of short stories, some mysteries, some thrillers, all about stepping up and finding, or creating, justice for the dead. Inspired by Darnella Frazier, the teen who recorded and would not be silent about the murder of George Floyd, these stories of witnessing and acting are thrilling, interesting, and well-written.

[Karan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't wowed by most of the stories in this book, which was disappointing.

[David Riester · Rating 1 out of 5]

Short stories.

[Courtney · Rating 2 out of 5]

Long book of short stories to get through. Some stuck out as good. Some were just so so.

[Nicki Jo Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always uplifting when a story ends with justice!