Short Stories
Murder-A-Go-Go’s

by Holly West, ed.
Down & Out, March 2019, $18.95

Murder-A-Go-Go’s, edited by Holly West, is a crime anthology with two purposes. The first, as Holly West explains in her introduction, is to raise money for women’s reproductive healthcare; “the net proceeds” from the book’s sales will be donated to Planned Parenthood. The second, which is the same goal as every popular fiction anthology, is to entertain its audience. As far as the latter goal, Murder-A-Go-Go’s is a smashing success. The 25 stories are inspired by the music of the 1980s all-female band the Go- Go’s. The stories are a shade darker than expected, with mostly good results, and a deep understanding of the music isn’t required.

Eric Beetner, in his always reliable manner, provides a twisty tale of love and betrayal, written in a terse and hardboiled eloquence, with his “Skidmarks on My Heart.” Thomas Pluck’s “We Got the Beat” is an all-girl vigilante story with a satisfying twist and jerk. My favorite story in the anthology, “Good for Gone,” by Jen Conley, is a nicely played psychological thriller that left me wanting more. The story’s depth, especially the characterization of its female lead, its atmosphere, and its style reminded me of Joyce Carol Oates in a very good way. There are also stories by Lori Rader-Day, Patricia Abbott, Lisa Brackmann, and Hilary Davidson.

Ben Boulden
Teri Duerr
6466
West, ed.
March 2019
murder-a-go-go-s
18.95
Down & Out