Publishers Weekly
10/30/2017
MWA Grand Master Block follows 2016’s In Sunlight or In Shadow—which gathered stories inspired by the paintings of Edward Hopper—with an anthology whose theme is a bit more nebulous: stories inspired by iconic paintings, from the cave drawings at Lascaux to Georgia O’Keeffe’s Red Cannas. Among the 16 contributors are such luminaries as Joyce Carol Oates, Lee Child, and Michael Connelly, most of whom are best known for their thriller and mystery fiction. Standouts include David Morrell’s Van Gogh–inspired “Orange Is for Anguish, Blue for Insanity,” which chronicles an artist’s horrifying descent into madness; Jeffery Deaver’s “A Significant Find,” in which a husband-and-wife archeologist team makes what seems to be the discovery of a lifetime in the caves of southern France; and Joe R. Lansdale’s “Charlie the Barber,” which uses a charming Rockwell painting, First Trip to the Beauty Shop, as a jumping-off point for a horrifying tale about a robbery gone wrong. Other selections aren’t so memorable. Still, the fascinating premise has yielded some dark gems that are worth the price of admission. (Dec.)
Washington Post [Praise for Lawrence Block's In S Michael Dirda
"If a picture is worth a thousand words, any of Edward Hopper’s paintings of American loneliness is worth an entire short story. Ekphrasis—seeing a story in a picture—was seldom so much fun."
Mystery Scene Magazine
"Several [stories] capture every hue, tint, and tone of what makes a story captivating. Over the past few years, Lee Child’s short fiction has become my favorite of his work, and ‘Pierre, Lucien, and Me’ is an example of why. ‘Charlie the Barber’ by Joe R. Lansdale is a hard- boiled, richly detailed and violent story. The anthology’s only reprint, David Morrell’s ‘Orange Is for Anguish, Blue for Insanity,’ is also my favorite."
Seattle Book Review
"A great collection. These stories are suspenseful and display masterful writing ability."
San Francisco Chronicle [Praise for Lawrence Block's In Sunlight Or In Shadow]
"For anyone who has puzzled over the vividly evocative works of the beloved Edward Hopper, this little volume is the perfect gift. Short stories by 17 writers dramatically start where the paintings leave off."
Booklist (starred) [praise for ‘Hiroshima Nagasaki’]
"An imaginative collection bristling with surprises. Block has masterminded another delectably provocative union of art and suspense."
4 out of 4 stars [Praise for Lawrence Block's In USA Today
"This absolutely superb anthology starts out with two advantages: a true legend at the helm in crime writer Lawrence Block, and a fascinating concept. Every story is superlative. Hopper, America’s great mournful lyric realist, deserves a tribute of this grace and sensitivity."
Bookgasm
"Belongs on the reading table of all crime and mystery fans. Allows readers the unique opportunity to directly experience the motivation of each story and follow where the artwork took each author."
Booklist (starred) [praise for `Hiroshima Nagasaki]
"An imaginative collection bristling with surprises. Block has masterminded another delectably provocative union of art and suspense."
Booklist (starred) [praise for ‘Hiroshima Nagasaki’]
"An imaginative collection bristling with surprises. Block has masterminded another delectably provocative union of art and suspense."
Booklist [praise for ‘Hiroshima Nagasaki’]
"An imaginative collection bristling with surprises. Block has masterminded another delectably provocative union of art and suspense."
Michael Dirda
If a picture is worth a thousand words, any of Edward Hopper’s paintings of American loneliness is worth an entire short story. Ekphrasis—seeing a story in a picture—was seldom so much fun.
Booklist
An imaginative collection bristling with surprises. Block has masterminded another delectably provocative union of art and suspense.
USA Today
This absolutely superb anthology starts out with two advantages: a true legend at the helm in crime writer Lawrence Block, and a fascinating concept. Every story is superlative. Hopper, America’s great mournful lyric realist, deserves a tribute of this grace and sensitivity.
USA Today
This absolutely superb anthology starts out with two advantages: a true legend at the helm in crime writer Lawrence Block, and a fascinating concept. Every story is superlative. Hopper, America’s great mournful lyric realist, deserves a tribute of this grace and sensitivity.
Booklist
An imaginative collection bristling with surprises. Block has masterminded another delectably provocative union of art and suspense.
