Mystery Writers of America Presents the Rich and the Dead

April 4, 2011
Rich people can be both criminals and victims, as shown by the 20 stories in this solid anthology, whose contributors range from bestselling veterans to newcomers. Standouts include Michael Connelly's "Blood Washes Off," in which detective Harry Bosch makes a welcome appearance in the interview room; Harley Jane Kozak's "Lamborghini Mommy," which plays a nice variation on look-alikes; and Roberta Isleib's "The Itinerary," in which widowed Connecticut detective Jack Meigs vacations in Key West, but can't keep his cop instincts from sniffing out crime instead of tourist attractions. Carolyn Mullen's first published fiction, "Poetic Justice," is a wonderfully sly, clever story with literary underpinnings. In Frank Cook's "The Gift," two partners separate and take very different paths to success, but can't separate their fates. Using everything from Ponzi schemes to trophy wives to inherited wealth, these MWA authors prove that money isn't always the right answer.

May 15, 2011

The 20 new stories in this year's Mystery Writers of America's annual anthology focus on financial vicissitudes.

Editor DeMille, a perennial resident on the bestseller lists, is less deft at finding surefire short-story winners, with only two standouts. One of them, seasoned pro Lee Child, turns the tables on a coke dealer with a defective Bic. The other, newcomer K. Catalona, drolly presents a literary agent and his spunky geriatric helper who co-opt a client's manuscript. As for the rest: Angela Zeman takes a society journalist to task; Elaine Togneri establishes a photojournalist in his career; Ted Bell nails a tabloid reporter for stealing; and S.J. Rozan goes one better and offs a tabloid blackmailer between poker hands. A Ponzi scheme fails to enliven a surprisingly dull appearance by Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch. Tim Chapman makes a mom resort to murder. Twist Phelan shows how a father and grandfather's get-rich dreams go awry. DeMille plots insurance fraud in the Hamptons; Carolyn Mullen plots murder for revenge in a mill town. Daniel Hale places diamonds in a Texas cabin; David Morrell sets up a fake murder attempt at Lincoln Center; Joseph Goodrich assuages poverty and loneliness in a Paris cemetery; Roberta Islieb puckishly demeans the tourist potential of Key West. Peter Blauner topples a faded Hollywood star; David DeLee's on-the-skids rap star gains street cred. Frank Cook's scientific breakthrough leads to dementia, and Jonathan Santlofer's deals with the Old Masters.

Not helped by DeMille's lackluster introduction or the generally pedestrian handling of the volume's uninspiring theme.

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