5 stars    Great stories that’ll leave you in the edge.

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Although I didn’t enjoy all the stories, it wouldn’t be fair to give less than a 5-star review to “A Time For Violence”. There are 26 short stories in this book, but in despite of the fact that I didn’t like much a few of them because they are not for me, I must say they are all quite well written by very talented authors. 

My favorites in order of preference were:
 

“The Edge” by Richard Christian Matheson – A man bored with life, only feels pleasure when some misfortune happens, or when he sees someone suffering. But nothing is what it seems and the author gives us a totally unexpected ending.
 

“The Problem With Mice” by James L. Longmore – A man plays a game with himself every day upon arriving home. That goes on until he sees a mouse and the dispute takes an unexpected turn. If you are like me and don’t like mice, then you’ll fear them even more.
 

“One Hit Wonder” by Elka Ray –A 79-year-old English musician marries a Thai girl fifty years younger than him, and they move to Thailand. One day she goes to visit her mother, and he meets an old friend in a bar who claims he stole from him his most successful song. The two get drunk and end up in the musician’s house. The next day, a series of events shows us the true story.
 

“The Sweetest Ass In The Ozarks” by Andy Rausch – A stinking homeless guy is stealing in a store when he sees a beautiful young woman and is attracted to her. She leaves the store, then he follows her. When he reaches her, what happens is unimaginable.
 

“Lacquer” by Isobel Blackthorn – A PI get wasted and ended vomiting, as usual, in an alley near the bar. He vomits over the mutilated body of a black woman. Through his investigation we get to know the whole story behind this crime.
 

“Ladies Day At The Olympia Car Wash” by Andrew Nette – A car wash’s employee is listening to his co-worker talking about a plan. They’ve known each other since childhood, and his friend’s ideas always end putting him in trouble. Then, a mysterious woman arrives and asks him to wash her car.
 

Other great stories, in no particular order, are “Blood Brothers” by Richard Chizmar; “Santa At The Café” by Joe R. Lansdale; “Guest Service: A Quarry Story” by Max Allan Collins; “Wise” by C. Courtney Joyner; “Seasons Don’t Fear The Reaper” by Billy Chizmar; “Boy’s Club” by Tony Knighton; “Epiphany In The Third” by David. C. Hayes; and “Channel 666” by John A. Russo.

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Tags: Crime; Anthology.