Mini Murders

If you enjoy thrilling short stories, pick up Sleep No More: Six Murderous Tales by the late P.D. James. She lives up to her title as the English “Queen of Crime” in these deceptively crafty short sagas. They will leave you wondering about the killers, the victims and much more. Cheers! D.B.

Mysterious morsels

If you have a hankering for mysteries try Small Plates by Katherine Hall Page. This is a collection of short stories featuring Faith Fairchild, a clever caterer who seems to have a knack for solving “who-dunnits”.  Faith is the main character in The Body series, but Small Plates is just a sampler of sleuthing. The author has included several puzzling cases from New England to London with enough twists and turns to keep you going. Faith investigates a haunted house in Boston, encounters a strange couple in Cape Cod, and aids a bullied bride-to-be in London. This book has a little something for everyone. DB     

Jhumpa Lahiri

The next title on my "to-read" list is Jhumpa Lahiri's latest book, The Lowland, because she never fails to disappoint -- I honestly believe that if she wrote a technical manual on lawnmowers it would still be poetic.  I first read her debut collection of short stories, Interpreter of Maladies when I was in college, and it's a book that's stuck with me over the years.  Her description and use of language draws the reader in, and it's impossible not to become fascinated with and even care deeply for the characters she introduces you to.  Interpreter of Maladies won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 2000, and consists of nine short stories exploring issues of identity, love, and humanity -- all the good stuff.  Also be sure to check out her other titles, The Namesake and Unaccustomed Earth.  HM