Transgressions are not normally viewed as opportunities, but this
eponymous collection of novellas by Stephen King, Lawrence Block,
Walter Mosley, Anne Perry, and more offer a superb opportunity for
readers of mystery, crime, and suspense fiction. Compiled by
perennial best-selling author McBain, these ten tales, three to
four times longer than a typical short story, provide just enough
vital depth to entrap readers, as well as the requisite brevity to
fit them into one collection. From the disaffected teenager in
Joyce Carol Oates's "The Corn Maiden" to the haunted
9/11 survivor in King's "The Things They Left Behind"
to the reluctant grave robber in Sharyn McCrumb's "The
Resurrection Man," this assortment of stories and characters
does not disappoint. Although the ten novellas analyze a variety of
topics and situations, they all exhibit the level of quality
expected from such a stellar collection of writing talent. Highly
recommended for all fiction collections.-Ken Bolton, Cornell Univ.,
Ithaca, NY Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.
