Mean Streets Anthology

Mean Streets: Anthology
Written By: Jim Butcher, Simon R Green, Kat Richardson, & Thomas E Sniegoski
Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Roc Trade
Language: English
January 2009, $14.99
Genre: Fiction/Anthology, Urban Fantasy

They walk the streets no one else can walk, take the jobs no one else will take, and if you've got a problem-and the cash-they can solve it. Of course, if your case involves rabid werewolves, cursed objects, the living dead, malevolent beings from another dimension, or other 'unusual' circumstances, it may cost you a bit extra . . .

Finally, the best paranormal private investigators have been brought together in a single volume boasting all-new novellas by the greatest authors in the genre. And cases don't come any harder than these . . .

New York Times Bestselling Author JIM BUTCHER delivers a story in which Harry Dresden-Chicago's only professional wizard-tries to protect a friend from danger and ends up becoming a target himself.

John Taylor, the best PI in the secret heart of London known as the Nightside, has a rep to uphold-he can find anything. But locating the lost memory of a desperate woman may prove to be his toughest case ever in a in a thrilling noir tale from New York Times Bestselling Author SIMON R. GREEN

National bestselling Author KAT RICHARDSON's Greywalker finds herself in too deep when a 'simple job' in Mexico goes awry on the Day of the Dead, and Harper Blaine is enmeshed in a tangle of dark family secrets and revenge from beyond the grave.

He was known as Noah, an ancient being who lived among us for centuries. Now he is dead, and Boston-based fallen angel-turned-detective Remy Chandler has been hired to find out who-or what-murdered him in a whodunit by National Bestselling Author THOMAS E. SNIEGOSKI

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While anthologies can be hit or miss a lot of the time, I had a feeling I would enjoy this one because it not only features a Harry Dresden novella, but a John Taylor one as well. Add in a recent fave of Remy Chandler and I am set. Sadly I wasn’t wholly impressed with the first Harper Blaine novel I read, but willing to give Kat Richardson another shot. I thoroughly enjoyed these four lovelies.

The Warrior by Jim Butcher
This Harry Dresden story takes place right after Small Favor. Harry’s best friend and former Knight of the Cross, Michael is still recovering from that last tale’s events. Now that he no longer has the ‘protection’ of Amoracchius Harry thinks that Michael and his family may be in danger. So of course our dashing hero has to do something. Its old school snarky inner monologue Harry with enough quips to make a girl like me extremely happy. While not the best entry point for new Harry fans, it is a great story that any fan should read.

The Difference a Day Makes by Simon R Green
Set in the Nightside, a woman from the mundane side of the world comes to the Nightside not only in search of her missing memories, but in search of her missing husband. Along with Deadboy’s help, John does what he does best…finding things, but the client may not like what is found. The Nightside series is another series I really enjoy. I love the world of the John Taylor and Green continues to come up with creatures, characters and new Nightside hotspots to make my imagination soar. However this wasn’t my favorite. It works well as a novella, short and tidy in the end. Then again, none of the Nightside books are epic in length. For me, there was just something missing. It felt too rushed, too many throw away lines, and yet I love the expansion on the Nightside. And I heart Deadboy to pieces. Decent story though.

The Third Death of the Little Clay Dog by Kat Richardson
In this Harper Blaine tale, Harper heads to Mexico after she is requested specifically in a late woman’s will. A woman Harper has never met. Contracted to place a little dog statue on a grave during Dia de los Muertos Harper’s adventure continues to take on a weird little turn, especially when the little dog statue holds a cute little ghost dog. Mix in a pouting emo kid who has his own kind of magic, a couple of twists and turns and you have an enjoyable read. In fact I liked it enough that I may have to give the Harper Blaine series another go. It was funny, entertaining and I want a little ghost dog of my own.

Noah’s Orphans by Thomas E Sniegoski.
Remy Chandler is forced, once again, to confront those from his past; from a time when he was Remiel the angel and not just Remy the PI. Still mourning a tremendous loss Sariel, leader of the fallen Grigori, asks Remy to investigate the murder of Noah (you know the guy that built the really big ship). But not everything is as it seems, it never really is when Heaven and Hell are involved, and the twists and turns are aplenty. I like Sniegoski. Not only has he done the Menagerie series with Christopher Golden, but I enjoyed the first Remy Chandler novel. It factors in religion without being religious and I love the twists on the biblical mythos. In fact this would have made a great second book, though I did just start reading that one as well. It’s a great little story and I heart Marlowe a lot. Somehow I have decided that is how Sage would talk…if she could.

A great little urban fantasy anthology and one I really recommend.

3.75 out of 4 happy bibliosnark bookmarks

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