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The Night Awakens |
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 The Night AwakensEditor: Mary Higgins Clark Pocket Books December 1999, 320 pages ISBN 0671519182 Reviewed by Morgan Ann Adams Murder and mayhem caused by the desire to love and to be loved, fill this anthology of short stories. Mystery buffs will be sated with the contributions of accomplished and well-known authors. Sally Gunning presents a thrilling spin on jealousy and the often dangerous decisions made by those in love. A private investigator turned rancher displays amazing powers of deduction in Joseph Hansen's offering. In Afraid of the Dark, Nancy Pickard introduces an electrifying element of suspense into the average mystery novel. Eleanor Taylor Bland, Brendan dubious, Edward D. Hoch, Loren D. Estleman, Angela Zeman and Noreen Ayres fill out the anthology. Editor Mary Higgins Clark introduces the collection, but is not represented by a story. Sarah Shankman writes the most compelling story in the set. In it, the power of love and revenge is displayed in the most mysterious of circumstances. An agoraphobic woman braves the outside only after her apartment is burned to the ground. While looking for new lodgings, she meets a man destined to betray her. With deft writing talent, Shankman leads the reader into a soft tunnel vision. With the final sentence, every conclusion is called into question. Each word is seen with new knowledge of the shy woman's hidden strength and capacity for love above all else. Shankman accomplished in those last few words more than most authors do in entire stories. Approximately half the stories in this anthology fit better into the category of suspense rather than mystery. Indeed there are few classic who-dun-its. Instead, many of these stories seem to be embarking on a more modern stage of mystery writing, increasingly based on misconceptions arranged within the plot (the red herring), than on character analysis or scientifically crafted scheme. The difference is alternately successful and lacking, though Shankman's story alone is worth wading through tales that are not as strong. Quite interesting is Higgins Clark's introduction to these mysteries steeped in romance. After all, she says, romance inspires betrayal, jealousy, hatred and need for revenge. It is a natural subject for mystery and suspense. With the exception of Joseph Hansen's series character Bohannon and Angela Zeman's Mrs. Risk, these stories do not include the regular cast of series characters created by the authors. This point may be disappointing to fans, and the difference can be seen even by those not so familiar with the individual authors. Despite this, the overall effect of such able talent is satisfactory. The Night Awakens is a collection of short stories with gripping themes and descriptions. It is released as a mass market paperback only, sure to please readers seeking a variety in the best the mystery genre has to offer. |
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