Delta Blues

( 3 )

Overview

This collection of short fiction captures both the art of the tale and the power of the blues, and is a nod at the human condition that often inspires musicians to write and sing the blues. These stories tell about bad men and bad women who sometimes do good-or sometimes follow their true nature. Some of these characters know all about the dangers of making a bargain with the devil. And some know the power of redemption. These are characters who would not be out of place in a Honeyboy Edwards tune, and would be ...

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More About This Book

Overview

This collection of short fiction captures both the art of the tale and the power of the blues, and is a nod at the human condition that often inspires musicians to write and sing the blues. These stories tell about bad men and bad women who sometimes do good-or sometimes follow their true nature. Some of these characters know all about the dangers of making a bargain with the devil. And some know the power of redemption. These are characters who would not be out of place in a Honeyboy Edwards tune, and would be right at home alongside the desolate wail of Clarksdale, Mississippi, native Son House.

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Editorial Reviews

Library Journal
This proficient collection of 19 short stories is compiled along the lines of Akashic Books' noir anthologies set in a wide range of cities such as Washington, DC, Miami, Los Angeles, London, and New Orleans. The stories here take place in the Mississippi Delta, and directly or peripherally they all involve the blues. Some contributing authors will be familiar to crime aficionados: John Grisham's "Fetching Franklin" is the best, simplest, and most direct story in the collection, and there are solid tales by James Lee Burke and Ace Atkins. Others will be pleasant surprises: set during the 1927 flooding of the Mississippi, Tom Franklin and Beth Henley's "What His Hands Had Been Waiting For" revolves around a vigilante group that stumbles upon some starving homesteaders in a rundown house. What happens is too good to give away, but it's lovely. As in any compilation like this, some stories are better than others, but the overall quality is high. The Delta seems to evoke stories of wild men and bitter women, hungry blues singers, and a sneaky Devil. It's all quite fun. VERDICT This pleasing collection of crime noir should attract fans of the genre. [One dollar from the sale of each book will be donated to actor Morgan Freeman's Rock River Foundation to address literacy issues in the Mississippi Delta.—Ed.]—David Keymer, Modesto, CA
Publishers Weekly
The blues are at home anywhere, but the epicenter is Clarksdale, Miss., the setting for at least a third of the 19 original stories in this virtuoso crime anthology. Despite the common theme, this diverse volume ranges from Tom Franklin and Beth Ann Fennelly's “What His Hands Had Been Waiting For,” a memorably redemptive story set during the 1927 flood of the Mississippi, to John Grisham's long, haunting “Fetching Raymond,” in which members of a dysfunctional family trek to notorious Parchman Farm, the state penitentiary. James Lee Burke's “Big Midnight Special” is a powerful story about a Parchman Farm inmate driven too far. Several tales play off the legendary crossroads meeting of the devil and Robert Johnson, including Michael Lister's “Death at the Crossroads,” Charlaine Harris's “Crossroads Bargain,” and Daniel Martine's “Kidd Diamond.” Other contributors include Les Standiford, Ace Atkins, Nathan Singer, Dean James, and Haines. (May)
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Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9781935562061
  • Publisher: F+W Media, Inc.
  • Publication date: 5/1/2010
  • Pages: 392
  • Sales rank: 1,325,098
  • Product dimensions: 8.62 (w) x 5.66 (h) x 1.14 (d)

Table of Contents

All the Way to Memphis Suzanne Hudson 19

Love in Vain David Sheffield 36

Nine Below Zero Ace Atkins 44

Cuttin' Heads Alice Jackson 50

Blind, Crippled, and Crazy Bill Fitzhugh 77

Big Midnight Special James Lee Burke 92

My Own Little Room in Hell Dean James 113

Dog Thunder Blues Nathan Singer 127

Songbyrd Dead at 23 Suzann Ellingsworth 144

Death at the Crossroads Michael Lister 162

Blues for Veneece Lynne Barrett 181

Crossroads Bargain Charlaine Harris 211

A Man Feeling Bad Toni L.P. Kelner 227

Kidd Diamond Daniel Martine 258

Run Don't Run Mary Saums 287

The Sugar Cure Carolyn Haines 301

Life and Casualty Les Standiford 319

Fetching Raymond John Grisham 332

What His Hands Had Been Waiting For Tom Franklin Beth Ann Fennelly 374

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Customer Reviews

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Sort by: Showing all of 3 Customer Reviews

  • Posted March 22, 2010

    I Also Recommend:

    Delta Blues

    A delightful book.. a futuristic collector's item

    I am marveling over this sublime collection. Salivating at the fact that exquisite mystery authors have banded together to sing us the blues, mixed with crime in the Delta. Can't wait until the Delta Blues Launch Party on March 27, 2010 at Morgan Freeman's GROUND ZERO blues club! WOOoo HOOoOO!!

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted February 20, 2010

    I Also Recommend:

    Delta Blues

    Delta Blues

    This is one amazing anthology packed with crime and blues, mingled together. Morgan Freeman wrote such an accurate, descript foreword and Carolyn Haines did an amazing job serving as editor to this collection of short stories. This book sells itself, truly.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted May 8, 2010

    No text was provided for this review.

Sort by: Showing all of 3 Customer Reviews
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