Dark Detectives: An Anthology of Supernatural Mysteries

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This is an extremely good collection of stories bound together by the theme of a detective dealing with something that appears to be supernatural. I particularly liked the historical angle to the collection. The editor, Stephen Jones, opens the collection with an overview of the history of stories dealing with the “detective and demons” or “detective and ghosts” trope. The essay starts with an acknowledgment of Edgar Allen Poe's detective C. Auguste Dupin and then proceeds to move into the supernatural detective stories of the nineteenth century and beyond, bringing us up to the current time.

I recommend reading this essay in order to appreciate the collection because many of the stories adopt the characters mentioned in the essay and one was written in 1913.

The stories are:

‘Introduction: The Serial Sleuths' by Stephen Jones.

‘Seven Stars Prologue: In Egypt's Land' by Kim Newman - A nice feature of the book, which helps with the historical feel of the book, is the Kim Newman stories about the “Seven Stars Jewel.” The jewel has some unusual properties. The Newman stories involve episodes set in the 1890s, 1920s, 1950s, 1970s and the 21st century as related characters deal with the threat posed by the jewel.

‘Our Lady of Death' by Peter Tremayne - This is a “Sister Fidelma” story. Tremayne has written several books about this ninth century Celtic nun who solves crimes. This is a well-written mystery, but it has more of a “Scooby Doo” approach than a truly supernatural story.

‘Seven Stars Episode One: The Mummy's Heart' by Kim Newman.

‘The Horse of the Invisible' by William Hope Hodgson. Originally published in Carnacki, The Ghost-Finder (1913) - This is well-written, but it is in an older, more formal writing style. Like the Sister Fidelma story, this is more “Scooby Doo” than supernatural.

‘Seven Stars Episode Two: The Magician and the Matinee Idol' by Kim Newman.

‘The Adventure of the Crawling Horror' by Basil Copper - This story features Solar Pons, a character that August Derleth created to totally rip-off Sherlock Holmes. After Derleth, Basil Copper apparently used the character. This is a decent mystery story, albeit more “Scooby Doo.”

‘Seven Stars Episode Three: The Trouble With Barrymore' by Kim Newman.

‘Rouse Him Not' by Manly Wade Wellman - I love Manly Wade Wellman and was quite happy to get a taste of his John Thunstone character. Definitely not Scooby Doo.

‘De Marigny's Clock' by Brian Lumley- After the Wellman story, the collection moves into real supernatural territory. This story is well-done and introduces Titus Crow, a character that I am interested in reading more of.

‘Seven Stars Episode Four: The Biafran Bank Manager' 1999 by Kim Newman.

‘Someone is Dead' by R. Chetwynd-Hayes - This is actually a decent story, but I didn't particularly like the main characters. The story had a 1970s feel to it.

‘Vultures Gather' by Brian Mooney - Like the Lumley story, I found myself attracted to the detective character, Reuben Calloway, in this one. The story is good and there is definitely a mystery to be solved. On reflection, it occurs to me that the character of the detective - whether he has tics and quirks that entertain - are essential to a mystery story, even the supernatural variety.

‘Lost Souls' by Clive Barker. Henry D'amour is a detective who kills demons. Scott Bakula played the character in the movie “Lord of Illusions.” I think I will check that movie out.

‘Seven Stars Episode Five: Mimsy' by Kim Newman.

‘The Man Who Shot the Man Who Shot The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence' by Jay Russell - This is the funniest story in the collection. It's lightweight but funny.

‘Seven Stars Episode Six: The Dog Story' by Kim Newman.

‘Bay Wolf' by Neil Gaiman - Gaiman does a short epic poem where the Wolfman meets the Creature from the Black Lagoon.

‘Seven Stars Episode Seven: The Duel of Seven Stars' by Kim Newman.

I enjoyed all the stories. The stories had a nice variety. It was a nice introduction to characters that I have somehow missed in nearly 50 years of reading science fiction and fantasy.