BACK IN BLACK

Ten dark tales inspired by a classic heavy metal album.

AC/DC’s Back in Black (1980) is the jumping-off point for this surprisingly diverse collection. While the stories—whose titles match the 10 tracks on the album—are all rooted in mystery and suspense, they range over various subgenres, from the tale of an urban serial killer to a revisiting of World War I carnage to the familiar face-off between a hardboiled gumshoe and a mysterious blond. Highlights include Dave Bruns’ “Givin the Dog a Bone,” which features loner Carl Boyd, raised in isolation on a farm, and the faithful mutt who latches onto him, as well as some Mexican desperados; Reed Farrel Coleman’s “Shoot To Thrill: A Tale From Gun Church,” a gritty account about an unhealthy and surprisingly sensual obsession with the most intimate details of weapons and heavy metal; and Tori Eldridge’s “Rock and Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution,” in which Dr. Candace Stone, the jaded host of a call-in radio advice program, snaps to when she’s taunted by a shooter. The marquee entry is Andrew Child’s “You Shook Me All Night Long,” a brisk and stylish espionage yarn featuring the KGB, a crucial briefcase, and happy-go-lucky superspy Jack Reacher, protagonist of the long-running series. Heather Graham, Sandra Balzo, Rick Bleiweiss, Charles Todd, Ward Larsen, and editor Bruns round out the roster of contributors. The quality is understandably uneven but mostly above average. And the terrific idea behind the collection kindles the hope that every reader will someday be gifted with an anthology based on their favorite album.

A crisp and clever marriage of music and mystery.