Review: Much to admire in this diverse, gritty short story collection
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 12 13, 2011
I've known Patti Abbott for a number of years as a fellow fan of classic flim noir and crime fiction. She's a tireless promoter with her weblogs for other authors as well as her own postings. Her short fiction has graced many prestigious ezines and anthologies, 23 stories of which are assembled in MONKEY JUSTICE AND OTHER STORIES. I've been reading them, and there's so much I admire here. Foremost, "Catnap" is a devastating noirish tale about a baby snatcher named Melissa, a young, conniving lady who doesn't have a clue about herself or the world. Young Louellen in "Escapes" does figure a way out of northern Indiana's desolation. The title story brims with biting irony, first suggested by its title. Bernie and Marsha in "Like a Hawk Rising" deal with a knee-breaker named Buzzy coming around for delinquent payments. However, all isn't grim and bleak here. "Re: University Protocol on Incidents of Student Plagiarizing" and "My Hero" both offer their lighter moments. This excellent collection should satisfy all fans of noir and crime fiction.