Dead of Night

J.D. Robb, Mary Blayney, Ruth Ryan Langnan, and Mary Kay McComas

These four novelettes/long short stories are paranormal mystery and romance tales by authors who enjoy working together (they have at least four of these collections). Two of them have time travel and one has an alternate reality "what if?".

The first story in the book is another installment in J.D. Robb's In Death series - "Eternity in Death". Eve Dallas and Peabody investagate a death that appears to have been caused by a vampire. It appears the victim was willing - she believed she would live forever. Eve knows who killed her; now she has to prove it.

In "Amy and the Earl's Amazing Adventure" by Mary Blayney Amy is finishing up a year of studies in London. She visits a pub where she's spent a lot of time. This time, though, she meets the owner's brother. He invites her up to their home above the pub to show her a painting that features a coin she has. The coin has special properties - and both of them time travel back to 1805 England to solve the mystery of a missing painting.

Laurel is on vacation in Scotland. She peeks behind a hanging tapestry to discover a man dressed in the plaids from the 1400's. When he drags her with him, she finds herself back in 15th century Scotland. The great Conal MacLennon believes she is his missing wife in "Timeless" by Ruth Ann Langnan. She thinks someone is trying to take over his clan and is afraid she will be a pawn a second time by someone close to him.

After twenty years of marriage Susan and Joe are "taking a break" in "On the Fringe" by Mary Kay McComas. Susan knows they still love each other, but their romance is flat. Joe doesn't feel she's at the same place in their life as she is. She wonders what her life would have been like if she hadn't met and married him. A magic carpet lets her find out.

Since these are romances, the story lines are predictable. The 'vampire' in "Eternity in Death" is an interesting character He owns an underground club that caters to people who like an alternate life style. It's eerie in that club. The time travel stories follow expected lines, with an interesting final twist in "Amy and the Earl's Amazing Adventure". I also like Joe's declaration at the end of "On the Fringe".

These aren't deep, but they're fun tales that fit well within the genre. And if you like the In Death series, you'll have to read "Eternity in Death".

Notice:  Non-graphic violence, Strong indecent language, Strong sexual content