I enjoyed Otto Pensler’s first Bibliomysteries volume (you can read my review here) so I read this new latest volume. These anthologies require the stories include books and bookstores in their plots. I enjoyed Peter Lovesey’s “Remaindered” about a successful heist where the loot ends up in a bookstore. F. Paul Wilson’s baroque “The Compendium of Srem” explores the impact of a book with Special Powers. I also liked Thomas Perry’s “The Book of the Lion”–the legendary book by Chaucer–that might be worth $18 million in a cunning scheme. Megan Abbott blends books and a tormented young woman into a dangerous mix. James W. Hall’s “The Haze” features a ancient hit man in a nursing home reading crime novels and hallucinating. Once again, Bibliomysteries: Volume 2 keeps the pages turning. GRADE: B+
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Introduction / Otto Penzler — vii
Remaindered / Peter Lovesey — 1
The compendium of Srem / F. Paul Wilson — 29
The gospel of Sheba / Lyndsay Faye — 71
The nature of my inheritance / Bradford Morrow — 119
The sequel / R.L. Stine — 167
Mystery, Inc. / Joyce Carol Oates — 195
The book of the lion / Thomas Perry — 235
The mysterious disappearance of the reluctant book fairy / Elizabeth George — 267
From the queen / Carolyn Hart — 311
The little men / Megan Abbott — 343
Citadel / Stephen Hunter — 381
Every seven years / Denise Mina — 479
Condor in the stacks / James Grady — 503
The travelling companion / Ian Rankin — 549
The haze / James W. Hall — 585
I have been trying to get this from the library but no luck. I liked the first volume. Buffalo beat Detroit because of a missed kick. They keep finding new ways to lose.
Steve, I had a feeling the Detroit Lions’ kicker might miss because of the breeze in New Era Field yesterday. I was rooting for the Lions so the Bills would get a better Draft Pick position. You’ll like BIBLIOMYSTERIES: VOLUME 2 when you get your hands on it!
That’s just wrong. If you’re a Bills fan, root for them!
Rick, I’m looking toward the Future for the Bills. They need to draft some quality Offensive players in 2019. Winning meaningless games hurts their cause now!
George, do you read all the stories in an anthology in one or two sittings or do you read only a handful of stories? On the occasions I have read anthologies, I usually read a few that appeal to me and then promise myself that I’ll read the rest later. Never happens.
Prashant, I sometimes take “breaks” from long anthologies like CLASSIC AMERICAN CRIME FICTION OF THE 1920s but I finish them. And I start with the first story in an anthology and power through to the last story even if I’m not entertained by some stories. These are old reading habits I developed when I was a teenager.
Have to see if my library bought this. I doubt it.
Patti, I really enjoyed Megan’s story in BIBLIOMYSTERIES, VOLUME 2!
I liked the first collection. That’s the one with Laura Lippman’s story about The Book Place in Baltimore, right?
Jeff, correct. I liked that Laura Lippman story about THE BOOK PLACE, too. I found BIBLIOMYSTERIES, VOLUME 2 just as good as the first volume.
I didn’t even know Laura had written a story involving The Book Thing (not Place). I had to get and read it, just now.
I still donate to and acquire from Book Thing, and have gotten some interesting books from there.
Jeff, the Buffalo area could use a branch of THE BOOK THING. The local thrift stores are flooded with books and music CDs and DVDs. I fear thousands of books are being sent to a landfill because people don’t know what to do with books and CDs and DVDs now that we’re down to just a couple used bookstores.
I need to read the first one, then this one later.
Rick, you can read these BIBLIOMYSTERIES anthologies in any order.