You'd think that I'd have heard about the Mystery Writers of America before now but I guess I've just been stumbling around in the dark. There was the time that I reviewed their cookbook but that's quite different from the collection of short stories that comprise Manhattan Mayhem. It introduces the reader to a variety of writing styles, tropes, and authors which you may or may not have heard of (along with a list of their written works which will be added to my TRL). I really enjoyed the pace of this anthology. Not only is the reader bounced around to different areas of Manhattan but also to different time periods. It's a grab bag where you're left asking, "What's going to happen next? Is it a story about the mob? Is it a cold blooded murder? Will it be obvious who are the good guys and the bad guys?". This would probably be an excellent choice for "book to take while on vacation". For fans of crime and/or mystery stories, you can't go wrong with this one.

 

I don't think we've ever had a BookLikes giveaway month this epic before. Seriously. So many books. Too many books? Possibly. 

 

Here's what you can enter to win on BookLikes this month. 

 

* Hollow City by Ransom Riggs (Until February 15th!)

 

* The Fangirl's Guide to the Galaxy by Sam Maggs

 

* Summer Cocktails by Maria del mar Sacasa

 

* Find Momo Coast to Coast by Andrew Knapp

 

* Manhattan Mayhem (Sampler) by Mary Higgins Clark

 

* Nick & Tesla's Special Effects Spectacular by Steve Hockensmith & Science Bob

 

Go forth, and good luck! 

The first Spider-Man novel isn't too bad. It captures the flavor of the seventies Spider-Man comics to a tee. You can see this story in your head, played out over two or three issues. Unlike a lot of these sorts of initial adaptations, it doesn't spend a lot of time going over Spidey's origin; Wein and Wolfman seem to understand that if you're buying a Spider-Man novel, you already know a bit about the character. The story is fast-paced, and even though an astute reader will know who the Master Planner is by the middle of Chapter One, you don't really care; it's not that kind of book. It isn't the first Marvel Comics' novel, though. Just an FYI, the first one was The Avengers Battle the Earth Wrecker, back in 1967. It was the first book in the short-lived (eleven official entries) Marvel Novel Series.