Status Updates From The Collected Short Stories...

2/2

Under the Hanging Wall - 4 Stars

I really enjoyed the intrigue of the investigation into a murder (coverup). The main character...under pressure, finds the truth. Foils a scheme to convict an innocent person. I was hoping against hope that it was true (the instincts of the investigator). Had me on the edge of my seat the entire time.

Sand Trap - 4.25 Stars

The unexpected patsy, isn't what they thought he'd be. I really had fun with this story...and I felt it has a very satisfying ending. I was worried...at the beginning, but by the end...I had a smile across my face. If I had been in his place, I would've been dead, or in jail for the crime.

1/2

The Hand of Kuan-yin - 3 Stars

I don't know why, but I was discombobulated throughout this story. On another night, I might have been locked. Right story/wrong time.

A robbery gone wrong & an innocent person getting involved by happenstance. Also the police not letting go of solving the crime.

I think one of the things that threw me, was the setting. Don't know why. Others may love it, I just couldn't get into it.

The Gravel Pit - 4 Stars

The idea of the perfect heist, at the job that you work at. Well, our main character thinks a perfect heist falls into his lap. He could do one thing, and he'd be setup for life (or at least a long time), if only he did this one thing that was illegal. Everytime I read stories like this, I put myself in this man's shoes. Wouldn't do it for moral reasons, or because of all the surveillance.

P. 2 - ..."all the books I wanted to read" and now I won't be able to would definitely cross my mind, too (I wouldn't be able to read all of Brandon Sanderson's Cosmere all-the-way-through. That'd be a bummer, indeed.

I liked the way that this story ended. Being a person of quick thinking...actually was a net positive. If I had been the "bad guy", now...I would definitely have bought his story. Him, though.

Time of Terror - 4.25 Stars

Here is another, seemingly coincidental situation that the main character has been placed in. Again, my mind goes to "what if this was happeing...to me"? I don't think that I would've been as "quick on my feet" with the story to "get out of this situation" like our main character was able to do. The possibility of his bluff not working, though. P1

Police Band - 4 Stars

I really liked this story. A innocent bystander...waiting for his plane to Bolivia, gets involved in something he should never been involved with. The guy was just bored, when he heard a commotion down the street, and saw a young girl fleeing from a disturbance. Thinking a little girl was in need, he "got involved", but it wasn't what he thought...which became a theme.

Unguarded Moment - 3.75 Stars

In all these old time stories, I put myself in this situation, now. One...if I was tempted to take the wallet...what is the likelyhood of getting caught. A LOT higher now, than then.

He thought it would be easy. Something just fell into his lap.

Well, it didn't work out for him that way. Good story, but I kept thinking...a good person wouldn't have done it in the first place.

Volume Six for me is broken up into two parts, I finished the first part not too long ago. A solid four out of five, it’s very understandable why his western stuff shines more than his adventures or his crime stories, but I cannot lie, a good chunk of this was incredibly enjoyable and a breeze to read through. I’ll read part two tomorrow.