Private Dicks: Undercovers Paperback – October 21, 2012

Rating: 3,75 starsIn an anthology there are usually stories one likes and some one doesn't. On the plus side there were no real flops in this one. But on the other hand there is only 1 story that deserved more 5 stars and it was suprisingly not the story I expected!Temper by Siobhan Crosslin - 5 starsReese is a shifter and a PI and he is hired to investigate the Deepine pack, since shifters had gone missing and there are hints, that it's the flourishing pack of Deepine, that is behind this. So Reese finds himself in a position where he cannot refuse to takte this task, since it's not only his Alpha(who is a bastard and treats Nick abdominable), who wants him to infiltrate the pack, but also the authorities. Suprisingly for Nick he is treated very well in his new pack and made to feel welcome, their Alpha is also showing a particular interest in him.This story is well written, I liked how the mystery was slowly revealed, the investigation was interesting as was the getting to know the Deepine pack and all of this shifter world. Reese was a compeling character, strong and vulnerable and really clueless in the romance department.It turns out there is another story set in this world coming out and it's on my auto-to-buy list, I think that say a lot about how much I liked this story.The Demon Bride by Isabella Carter - 4 starsAnother surprise in this anthology. This one is a paranormal story, which reminded me of something set in the Middle Ages and of Witches Burnings. The Demon Bride had love, suspence, a dark unknown mystery man and an interesting mystery around some missing people. One of the representive of the church is of course especially suspicious of Quinton's involvment. The romance is light and I think this might turn into a menage if there ever was a sequel but it had me turning pages and anxiously waiting to see how it will turn out.The Royal Inquisitor by Megan Derr - 4 starsInteresting story about the issue of trust. Esmour was in love and was deceived by that person. I'm surprised, that he forgave him in the end and I would have rated the story better if it had taken Esmour longer to forgive Prince Teigh, who had him more or less enslaved and working for the crown and seduced him, for Esmours dealings with a robber band, which Esmour quit, because of his new lover(Amabel aka Prince Teigh).Too Dangerous by Sasha L. Miller - 4 starsThis one was a sci-fi story. Shi's probably ex -lover is missing and the military hired him to help them extract him. Ironically it's it turns out his lover left him to protect him from exactly the same danger Shi had to face to help save this lover, from his prison. Fast paced, good writting and Shi is very likable.The PI and the Rockstar by K-lee Klein 3 starsThe PI is in a relationship with the rockstar, who is accused by his clients daughter, of fathering her baby, since she is underage, this could be messy - except Mason is sure his boyfriend didn't do it and sets about to prove it. It's ok, but wasn't anything special or really exiting, since one knew the boyfriend was innocent, they were happy together and just had to find out why he was accused.Regarding the Detective's Companion by E.E. Ottoman - 3,5 starsIt's set in historical England and I liked the romance part, the mystery was a bit less exiting. Jamie, the PI was a very lovable character, who didn't give up easily. Well written, I liked the word building and the characters.Glamour by Holly Rinna-White - 3 starsThe little brother is snatched away, because of his psychic abilities and Jason's crush, who is also a PI is set on helping him. It turns out all is not like it seems and Jason's crush a lot more famous than he thought. I did particular liked or disliked the characters, the story wasn't bad but the investigation wasn't all that interesting and since I didn't care about the characters, neither was the romance. The case is resolved pretty quick, so there wasn't all that much belivable drama.Least favorite story was:The Virginia Gentleman by Alison Bailey - 2 starsI didn't get into this story and would have skiped it, if it was not for the challenge. This was a western story and I don't know if it was just me not being in the mood for western stories but I didn't really get into this story.

You can see the theme of the anthology from the blurbs - private detectives go undercover to investigate their cases, often in paranormal and magical setting. Overall I can say that I enjoyed three stories in this collection, every other was either Meh, or I disliked it, so I cannot say I was overall very happy with it, but let me highlight my favourites and some not favourites. Here is their descriptions copied from the blurb:1. Temper by Siobhan Crosslin--Reese hates deception, but that's all his life has been since he was sent to investigate a wolf pack on clashing sets of orders. Keeping his lies separated is all that's keeping him alive, and it's a job that grows harder by the day--especially with the unexpected complications of the alpha he's investigating.I loved Reese in this story, I loved his tortured past and how it played in the present, I should not like his love story, but I enjoyed how it all played out for him pretty much despite myself.4 stars2. The PI and the Rockstar by K-lee Klein--Mason is a detective. He's not flashy or hip and he doesn't have an office conducive to entertaining wealthy clients. But when made-of-money Durango and his gum-snapping daughter hire him to do surveillance on a popular rockstar named Jade Jonathan Lee, Mason's business world collides with his personal life, and the result is a mystery that must be solved.I loved this story, loved it so very much. It is self contained and I was not left frustrated that anything in the story was rushed. The case is not complicated, but as blurb hints (and I cannot say more for the fear of spoilers) the case collides with Mason's personal life in a very amusing and wonderful way and we get a chance to see his personal life. Loved it. 5 stars3. The Royal Inquisitor by Megan Derr--Esmour is one the best Inquisitors in the kingdom, but the penance bracelets on his wrists serve as constant reminder that once he was not a master of deception, but a victim. To solve his latest case, he must work alongside the liar who changed his life, and the love he learned too late was never real.Sighs happily. This writer does all the variations of my favourite "from enemies to lovers" so well and this short story is no exception. So pleased how the personal connection played the main fiddle here.4.5 starsAnd now for the least favourite one.4. Regarding the Detective's Companion by E.E. Ottoman--Jamie is desperate: he has no money, rent is coming due, and if he doesn't do something soon he'll be forced back into a life of charity and pity. So when he is brought a case, Jamie takes it--even if it will mean lying to his client, manipulating the suspect and propelling himself into the middle of a plot involving murder and political intrigue.Oh my goodness - boring. Investigation? What investigation? If Jamie was actually investigating much, I blinked and missed it. Also present tense did not work in this one at all for me. I could not wait for it to be over. And Karl Marx's ideas as an inspiration for one of the characters, really?2 starsThe rest of the stories were meh for me, probably three stars.

It's inevitable in an anthology that you like some stories better than others. I'm giving this 5 stars because of its overall high quality in this genre: all the stories were enjoyable with characters you care about, none were duds, and some merit periodic re-reading. Siobhan Crosslin's "Temper" is so good that it's a pity she hasn't anything else similar to buy. K-lee Klein's "PI and Rock Star" was excellently crafted, with 3-dimensional characters including the redemption of the two you hate at the beginning. Megan Derr's "Royal Inquisitor" was as good or better than her usual high standard and (yay) with few or none of the cringe-worthy typos that sometimes afflict her work. Holly Rinna-White's "Glamour" was fun and I liked the focus on precognition, which seems like a paranormal slant that hasn't been done to death. Ottoman's "Regarding the Detective's Companion" may have spent more time on other issues than detective work (though the hero did figure out how and why the murdered man was killed, and roughly by whom), but it did a great job of evoking the story's time and place, and also handled well the issues surrounding a physically handicapped hero. Alison Bailey's "Virginia Gentleman" wasn't as gripping but had a setting, and a twist, reminiscent of O. Henry. The atmosphere of dread that permeated Isabella Carter's "Demon Bride" was well-done but probably put me off, and I don't recall the plot or character development being that great. Sasha Miller's "Too Dangerous" seemed to end the book with its weakest selection - but I see that as a compliment to the rest of the stories in the book rather than a slap at Miller's work.

Bought for Megan Derr which was excellent, and I'll be buying more by Siobhan Crosslin and E.E. Ottoman