But I found a place where I can erase my past: THE MAN IN BLACK - STORIES.

The Man in Black: Stories by Elly Griffiths
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It's funny, I just read a set of short stories recently and concluded that short stories are not really for me. But this set proves that is not true. I love all these stories from Elly Griffiths, one of my favorite writers.

All of these stories are interesting and do not feel unfinished. They seem just right, which is rare for short stories. What I love most is that they do not come across as pretentious or force you to grasp for meaning.

The stories in THE MAN IN BLACK often center around Griffiths' series -- so we see Ruth Galloway, Max Mephisto, Justice Jones, and Harbinder Kaur. I believe they all stand alone if you don't know these folks, but will mean more if you know their backstories. For instance, we see Ruth and Nelson on a cruise in the nearly present day, allowing us to know what they are up to post the most recent book. We even hear from Ruth's beloved cat, Flint.

But there are plenty of other "regular" tales, too, featuring bits of crime or archaeology or little snippets of everyday life. Many are centered around various holidays. They cover parts of mysteries or daily life, are easy to read, and keep your interest.

I loved reading about Harbinder's first day as detective and meeting Neil! I also very much enjoyed a story with a brief Nelson/Ruth and Harbinder crossover!

As always, Griffiths is a wonderful writer who brings you into her character's lives, whether for two pages or an entire novel. This is an excellent collection for devout fans and a great introduction for new ones.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Mariner Books in return for an unbiased review.

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