A MAP FOR MURDER

A murder-and-mayhem adventure unfolds in the small Texas town of Shotgun City.

Twenty-four chapters and 24 authors, each one forwarding a chapter to the next writer without knowing what that scribe would contribute to the narrative. This was the assignment from Cozy Cat Press for what is the publisher’s third such experimental endeavor. The tale opens at 4 a.m. Saturday, when Molly Jones is awakened by a phone call from her roommate, Janet Phillips. Janet is in Shotgun City, 50 miles outside of Dallas, where their close friend Merilee Mason has been arrested on an apparently trumped-up charge. Now, Janet is stuck with a car that will not start, and she needs a ride home. The two friends meet at the jail, where they eventually encounter Officer Eric Bartlett, a three-year veteran of Shotgun’s police force. He later tells them Merilee is being charged with the murder of her mother, who died six months earlier in what had been ruled an accident. But Molly and Janet are sure someone powerful is framing Merilee. The villain is quickly revealed to be Merilee’s uncle, Raymond Boyd, owner of the Flying B Ranch. While there is no mystery as to who the bad guy is and the conclusion is predictable, there are more than a couple of surprises concerning the relationships among the dizzying array of players. Each author adds a new character, a twist, or a piece of an unanticipated backstory. The occasionally humorous, action-fueled storyline builds on the traditional Texas lore of bandits and long-hidden treasure. Then adds a corrupt police department, misfit ranch hands, plenty of guns, a couple of oversized macho trucks, and a refreshing bonus—two strong, young women determined to obtain justice for their friend. Kudos to editor Donley and the team of authors for maintaining a level, lighthearted linguistic tone. There are no jarring switches from chapter to chapter, and readers are likely to forget this is a book composed by committee.

A fun, escapist read with a dynamic duo.