If you love crime fiction and a detective tale, Watching the Detectives is for you. Watching the Detectives is an anthology that brings together thirteen short stories, alongside interviews with each author. Each story transports the reader to a different time in history, from Ancient Rome, World War Two Algiers, to Post-COVID-19 USA. Each contribution explores a different mystery; many of the stories are linked to the author’s previous or upcoming novels. This anthology offers readers a glimpse into various fictional worlds.
Although all stories within the anthology are worth reading, I have picked out a few favourites of mine, which offer an array of historical periods, detectives, themes and mysteries.
Mark Ellis’s Vengeance Is Mine has the feel of an Agatha Christie mystery and is set in World War Two London. The story follows Detective Frank Merlin as he investigates the murder of a crime novelist. The victim, Charlton, is found with his throat viciously slit by a letter opener. His bleeding corpse is sprawled across his open manuscript. At first, suspicion falls on his brother, who consequently was the man Charlton’s wife left him for; a stolen idea soon opens the case wide open for Merlin. Ellis’ short story is a perfect introduction or … if you can’t wait for the next novel in the Frank Merlin series. Merlin is a brilliant character; he captures the aura of an honourable and true British detective. The short story is laced with humour, contrasting with the heavy history of World War Two London.
Ancilla, written by Fiona Forsyth, transports the reader back to Ancient Rome, to the time of the Roman Republic. The title refers to the slave girl, who has recently been bought by a new master, Hermes. Hermes mysteriously dies, and his wife suspects Ancilla, although her judgment is clouded by jealousy. The banished poet Ovid makes a reappearance, being a detective in Forsyth’s latest novel, Written in Blood. Ovid offers a reason (peculiar for a poet) when solving the mysterious death of Hermes. Forsyth’s combination of excellent character portrayal, humour and recreation of the world of the ancient empire is vivid and credible. The combination of an arousal herb going wrong is very humorous and an excellent introduction to the Ovid series.
Take All Necessary Measures by R.N Morris is a quick-witted, contemporary short story, combining a struggling novelist (Col Newton), an exploitative MI6 agent (Chris Lazenby), the emergence of AI and an old brick phone. Take All Necessary Measures revisits the characters of R.N Morris’ recent novel Cover Story. The short story offers a fresh perspective within this anthology, including the usage of AI, which was unexpected and accurate within this time period. Both Newton and Lazenby, although very different, offer a very human and realistic vision of two blokes. I particularly enjoyed the pedalo scene in a park in London; who knew a brick phone could be so lethal!
Steven Veerapen’s The Morning After is an excellent tale of witchcraft and scepticism. The detective of the story is Anthony Blanke, who also appears in Veerapen’s novel Of Judgement Fallen. Set during the Jacobean Era, during the reign of King James I, the time of witchcraft, superstition, scepticism and misogyny, this short story immerses the reader into a time of cruelty, scepticism and mystery. Veerapen’s vivid descriptions of unpleasant odours and repulsive personal hygiene truly capture the essence of the Jacobean era. The story centres on the bizarre and gruesome death of a local man, and individuals are quick to accuse a woman of the devil’s work. Veerapen’s excellent ability to set a scene, as well as his vivid depictions of the Jacobean Era, are brilliant.
Overall, Watching the Detectives is an exciting and engaging anthology that combines crime writing, psychological suspense and science fiction. The anthology’s array of authors, stories, characters and time periods offers readers an assortment of choices.
The author interviews provide useful insight into the creative process behind the stories, as well as detailing the release of future projects. For readers who love crime fiction, the anthology provides a perfect combination of stories and will introduce the reader to a new crime series or a standalone they can become obsessed with.
