Sunday Story Ratings #49: The Saturday Night Deaths

Originally published at a denizen's entertainment. You can comment here or there.

The Saturday Night Deaths by Michael Kerr

Originally published July 1976 in Mystery Monthly; this edition 1995

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Collected in: Hard-Boiled: An Anthology of American Crime Stories (ed. Bill Pronzini & Jack Adrian)

 

MA15+

Considered unsuitable for persons under 15 years of age; legally restricted

(D, V, T)

Drug References {PG} {alcohol}

Strong Violence {MA15+}

Themes {MA15+} {crime, corruption, suicide, death}

 

Representations

Gender:

Female characters existing in relation to men, but distributed on a continuum of innocence to vice.

Sex:

Heterosexuality only.

Race & Ethnicity:

No mention, US characters presumed to be white.

Disability, Physical Diversity and Health:

Scars as relics of organised criminal violence.

 

Awards

None found

 

Notes

Another non-detective story I liked. Satisfying in a vengeful sort of way, with a strong sense of melancholy in the latter half. I suppose the appeal of the recent set I enjoyed despite not being 'detective stories' is they were still clever, decently executed short fiction. Not merely another bleak tale of human darkness. Interesting for at least one of plot or craft.

Sunday Story Ratings #50: Graveyard Shift

Originally published at a denizen's entertainment. You can comment here or there.

Graveyard Shift by James M. Reasoner

Originally published November 1978 in Mike Shayne Mystery Magazine as by M. R. James; this edition 1995

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Collected in: Hard-Boiled: An Anthology of American Crime Stories (ed. Bill Pronzini & Jack Adrian)

 

M

Not recommended for persons under 15 years of age, but no legal restrictions

(D, L, V, T)

Drug References {PG} {alcohol, tobacco}

Coarse Language {PG}

Violence {M}

Themes {crime, death, vengeance}

 

Representations

Gender:

The only specified woman is the protagonist's dead wife.

Sex:

Implicit heterosexuality in references to aforementioned dead wife and to couples buying late night infant supplies.

Race & Ethnicity:

Unmentioned; as usual characters presumed white US citizens.

Disability, Physical Diversity and Health:

Unmentioned.

 

Awards

None found

 

Notes

Very short, sharp tale of undetected, vengeance-driven serial killing.