From Sea to Stormy Sea

November 1, 2019

Inspired by the work of Edward Hopper, Edgar Award winner Block published the anthology In Sunlight or in Shadow. Paintings are once again at the center of this latest collection, which includes a story by Block, as well as pieces by Sara Paretsky, John Sandford, Gary Phillips, Jan Burke, and others. The authors were invited to pick from a group of paintings by American artists, such as Andy Warhol, Thomas Hart Benton, and Grant Wood, and write a story influenced by that artwork. Patti Abbott's "The Prairie Is My Garden" introduces a minister's wife who uses an accident to her advantage. Moved by Winslow Homer's Diamond Shoal, Brendan DuBois shows how a hurricane provides a perfect opportunity for revenge in "Adrift Off the Diamond Shoals." A tent revival leads to tragedy and a powerful ending in Paretsky's "Baptism in Kansas." VERDICT Block has put together an intriguing and diverse collection featuring acclaimed authors and artists. Mystery fans who enjoyed the previous collection will welcome this strong new anthology.--Lesa Holstine, Evansville Vanderburgh P.L., IN

Copyright 2019 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.