Joanie just read .... ( )

This is an anthology of eleven short mystery stories. The common factor is that all of them have to do with "the wild," which, depending on the author's interpretation, can be anything from the wilderness to the city. * "Following the Quarters" by Michael Armstrong: A kid with fetal alcohol syndrome is arrested for stealing quarters from a newspaper box, only he says he was putting them in instead of taking them out. It's up to Nick to find out what really happened and why. * "The Man Who Thought He Was a Deer" by Margaret Coel: The title says it all. A man living in the wild identifies a little too much with the rest of the wildlife, and takes offense at hunters. * "Gambling on Death" by Mike Doogan: Speedy Dave has PTSD, and tends to see dead bodies. Is this one real, or another of his hallucinations? * "The Bog" by Loren D. Estleman: A writer comes up with the perfect crime to get back at someone who stole his story. Fate gets the last laugh, though. * "The Salt Pond" by Laurie R. King: Linda steps off the plane in New Guinea and straight into a murder investigation. * "These Crowded Woods" by Skye K. Moody: Eight hermits living in the woods. When one is killed, it upsets the balance and they all turn on each other. * "Bad-Hearted" by Brad Reynolds: Isidore Pete tells stories of the old days to a couple of school kids doing a project. * "Birds of Paradise" by S. J. Rozan: A sidewalk preacher has claimed the spot right outside a small hardware store to do his preaching, and the store's in danger of going out of business because potential customers avoid walking past him. The law's hands are tied, so it's up to Bill Smith to come up with a solution to save the store. * "The Quiet Cold" by James Sarafin: Bootlegging in Alaska turns to murder. * "Wreck Rights" by Dana Stabenow: Also in Alaska, when trucks crash and end up in a ravine, a not uncommon occurrence, it's not cost effective for the owners to salvage them. Is someone helping them along? * "My Heart Went Boom" by John Straley: Gloria says her husband Max is going to lose it when his girlfriend Lori dumps him. Will Cecil be able to stop the violence? A collection that runs the gamut from fun and clever to dark and disturbing. Nice to carry with you for those times when you're waiting in line or for an appointment and have only a few minutes to read.