Somewhere in the City: Selected Stories

by Marcia Muller

"Her stories crackle like few others on the mystery landscape."-San Francisco Chronicle "One of the treasures of the genre."-Chicago Tribune

A new collection of Marcia Muller's best short fiction from the past twenty years, including hardboiled private-eye, horror, western, and psychological suspense stories.

Marcia Muller, a Mystery Writers of America Grand Master, is the author of more than twenty novels. She has been awarded the Private Eye Writers of America Life Achievement Award; her books have been nominated for Best Crime Novel at the Edgars, and she has won the Anthony Boucher Award. She lives in California.

Genres: Mystery, Short Stories, Fiction

372 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2007

About the author

Marcia Muller is an American author of mystery and thriller novels.
Muller has written many novels featuring her Sharon McCone female private detective character. Vanishing Point won the Shamus Award for Best P.I. Novel. Muller had been nominated for the Shamus Award four times previously.
In 2005, Muller was awarded the Mystery Writers of America's Grand Master award.
She was born in Detroit, Michigan, and grew up in Birmingham, Michigan, and graduated in English from the University of Michigan and worked as a journalist at Sunset magazine. She is married to detective fiction author Bill Pronzini with whom she has collaborated on several novels.

Reviews

[Paul Manytravels · Rating 3 out of 5]

The introduction to this book points out that it is a collection of short stories written over a period of years. As such, it was easy to see the growth and development of Muller as the quality of her stories continued to improve. In fact, after reading the first three or four stories, I doubt very much if I would have finished the book if I had not been given the hope that they would improve.
The first stories really ought not to have been included in this collection; they were very inferior to those that followed and gave me serious doubts about reading forward. They were replete with tired cliched settings, events and characters and included a lot of extraneous information that had no impact whatsoever on the story being told. Later stories committed none of these offences. The writing became tight, the cliches were gone and the datails and information all related to carrying the stories forward. In fact, the latter stories were altogether more engaging than those that came before.
What is especially impressive about the book was the range of the stories told: different time periods, different setttings, occasional westerns and suspence stories in addition to the detective, mystery stories that were the primary offering i this book. I think that if the first few stories had simply not been included, this book would have rated an additional star rating, but, as it stands, I couldn't bring myself to think any higher of the volume.

[Bonnie Irwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will admit that I did not read this whole volume because westerns are not really my genre of choice, but, fortunately, most of the stories featured the characters I already knew, Sharon McCone and her colleagues. These were excellent, as are the novels, and I particularly enjoyed reading the story versions of those that eventually became novels. In addition to good pacing and characters I like, the way in which Muller writes about San Francisco and northern California generally is always a joy.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I especially enjoyed the Sharon McCone stories and the one about the Loma Prieta earthquake, which I experienced at Candlestick Park.

Marcia does an excellent job describing San Francisco and the Bay Area.

I savored this for as long as I could. Now I will encourage my friends to enjoy it too.

I own a copy.

[Bob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply a book full of very, very good writing.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was particularly amused by Muller's expression of frustration at the very beginning of the book, it was aimed at this inability (rather, lack of desire) to shorten her stories. I can understand, what with the imagination these authors have, to put a limit on the number of words, it must have been a lengthy process. What would they ever do on Twitter?

Despite the repetitive theme in some of the stories, it was an interesting read. Odd characters, eerie stories, hurried endings (perhaps that's where she decides to pull the plug? - Naturally. But you know what I mean). There are some I would like to read again, others wish I hadn't read at all. But some stories, certain characters linger. Perhaps that's where the credit is due.

[Alisa]

Another triumph by Marcia Muller! A collection of her short stories that allow her to try out new voices and new conceits. Centered around San Francisco, these stories never disappoint. "Forbidden Things" is an especially engaging story.

[Cat. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful mixture of stories, not all of which are based on Sharon McCone. There are a couple of supernatural tales, one or two historical stories, and a lot of background around the collective in which McCone works. Nice.

[Linda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not realize this was a collection of short stories when I brought the book home and was very disappointed. I read them all but was sorely disappointed. I never felt like she developed them. I will stick to her novels.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like her female characters, and how a lot of these short stories revolve around a interconnected group of characters, namely a detective agency. I like short story collections that revolve about a set group of characters.

[Wendroz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes I am so in the mood for short stories. This book was fabulous with many great short detective stories.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marcia Muller is one of my all time favorite mystery writers. Her characters are so rich and interesting. This collection of short stories really highlights what is so great about her writing

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fine book by one of my favorite authors, I just think I prefer a full novel to short stories.

[Rue · Rating 2 out of 5]

diff stories have been very slow. will not be a repeat checkout.

[Maryedith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Muller never fails to keep my attention.

[Randy · Rating 1 out of 5]

So cliche....such obvious and dumb plots....so bad.

[Pam]

rec as birthday book