Open Road Media have published a series of Bibliomysteries (Short tales about deadly books, by top mystery authors). I have read four of them so far. The first one I read and enjoyed was by Elizabeth George called “The mysterious disappearance of the reluctant book fairy” ; the second was the wonderful “Every seven years” by Denise Mina; and the third was “The Travelling Companion” by Ian Rankin. Now, I have just read “Rides a Stranger” by David Bell.
Don Kurtwood, a university literature professor goes home to attend his father’s funeral. Father and son were never close. A love of books was their only common interest and even that was sketchy as Don loved the classics – real literature – and his Dad favoured pulp fiction, especially paperback westerns.
At the funeral reception Don is approached by a rotund little man who wants Don to visit his store later that same evening. He gives Don his card:
After a trying day, Don does go to the man’s bookstore – only to find him dead. He reports the death to the police and finds out that Lou Caledonia wasn’t interested in purchasing Don father’s old book collection. Instead, he was interested in buying the book Don’s father wrote!
This is a revelation Don didn’t expect. Even his mother had no idea that her late husband had penned a novel under the pseudonym Herbert Henry…
Don goes in search of the elusive book. He believes that if he reads it he might understand his father better.
At only 53 pages, this short story was a very enjoyable read. The short length didn’t deter the author from excellent characterization.
The point that the story exemplifies is that we, as adults, often do not ‘know‘ our own parents on a personal level. It is often only after our parents have passed away that we realize that our parents were vibrant and young at one time. People with dreams and hobbies, loves and insecurities.
This short story will be enjoyed by bibliophiles and short story lovers alike. But then that comes as no surprise… the author is David Bell.
This short story was in my own collection of ebooks. I plan to read more Bibliomysteries when time permits.
Check out the other great titles in the Bibliomysteries series from Open Road Media.
David Bell is the author of seven novels from Berkley/Penguin, including BRING HER HOME, SINCE SHE WENT AWAY, SOMEBODY I USED TO KNOW, THE FORGOTTEN GIRL, NEVER COME BACK, THE HIDING PLACE, and CEMETERY GIRL. His work has been translated into numerous foreign languages, and in 2013, he won the prestigious Prix Polar International de Cognac for best crime novel by an international author. He is an associate professor of English at Western Kentucky University where he directs the MFA program in creative writing. A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, he spends his free time rooting for the Reds and Bengals, watching movies, and walking in the cemetery near his house. He lives in Bowling Green, Kentucky, with his wife, writer Molly McCaffrey.
Most readers will acknowledge that some words reappear time and time again in titles. Often these words are associated with a particular genre. Case in point: “The girl on the train” and “Gone girl” spawned countless thriller titles with the word ‘girl’ in the title.
In fact, there were few likable characters in this book. Even the mother of the missing child was cold, unreadable, and unsympathetic. She viewed her daughter Lola Jade as a possession – someone she ‘owned’. The only character I warmed to was Rachel Prince’s Detective Sergeant, Mark Brickall. I enjoyed the irreverent rapport he had with Rachel Prince and the way she missed him as a sounding board when he wasn’t on duty.
Alison James was born in the Cotswolds but spent most of her formative years abroad. She studied languages at Oxford, then became a journalist and author, returning to university after having two children to take a law degree. After a three-year stint as a criminal paralegal, she worked as a commercial copywriter and then a TV storyliner, before coming full circle to write fiction again.
D.I. Kim Stone – An acerbic, brusque, and driven young woman who works as a Detective Inspector for the West Midlands Police, the second largest police force in the country. She is socially inept, and has been known to break the rules, as well as to disregard instructions and protocols in her search for justice. An insomniac, she is fueled by nervous energy and lots of coffee, and is beautiful, but she works hard to hide it. She is 34 years old, brilliant, hot-headed, and damaged. As a child, she suffered horribly, and was shunted from foster home to foster home. Only once did she experience a nurturing, loving relationship – and that was very short lived…. Now, when not working, her favourite thing to do is work at restoring vintage motorbikes. Bikes are her passion, and she uses a Kawasaki Ninja as her regular form of transport.
Other than her second in command, Bryant, she is friendless. Her one real weakness is her fondness for her adopted dog, Barney.
Police team
In DI Kim Stone’s seventh outing we find her team working on a case of murdered prostitutes. The murders take place in the Hollytree housing estate. A place of criminal gangs, despair, and hopelessness run by the ruthless and heartless pimp, gang boss, and overall criminal, Kai Lord.
Meanwhile, a male infant is left at the freezing cold police station parking lot. Kim discovers the child and tasks her team members Kevin Dawson and Stacy Wood to find out his identity and that of his mother.
Four from NetGalley:
“They were living with the enemy; it was time to do what she could to resist.”
DC Gaby Darin has just moved to Pembrokeshire, Wales after a difficult work-related experience in Swansea. She is teamed up with DCI Rhys Walker, a man who seems to have hidden secrets but is a copper that she respects.
Born in Dublin, Ireland, Jenny O’Brien says she is a wife and mother first – a writer second. She has written romance, thrillers, and children’s books.
I’ve been a staunch fan of Clare Mackintosh’s work ever since reading the fantastic “
Published by Bloodhound Books ASIN B07V5M2VYV
Born in Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire, 
