Lucky by Charlaine Harris answers the question of
what happens when an insurance salesman amps his clients'
luck; readers familiar with the series may be interested in
the reappearance of Greg Aubert.
Sharon Shinn's The House of Seven Spirits is a
treat, giving a glimpse into one possibility of what
happens when someone moves into a haunted house and treats
it more like having roommates than having a haunting.
Excellently detailed, the story has a nice twist.
Mike Doogan's Glamor is a gently comedic mystery
that winks at the differing needs of men and women, as well
as what they'll do to get their ways. Donna
Andrews' "Spellbound" approaches magic a little
differently, providing a narrative from the eyes of a
female apprentice who wants to do more than learn magic
from her wizard.
John Straley's Weight of the World demonstrates one
perspective on why Santa Clause has to even look at the
list of who's naughty and nice; a bittersweet tale, it is
one worth reading twice.
Dana Stabenow's A Woman's Work follows the
sword/sorceress tradition crafted by Mercedes
Lackey, among many others, but she adds her own twist
to what those representing Justice can do when they enter a
community.
All of the stories are tight and interesting, each with its
own unique attributes, so each story is an entirely new
entity, rather than rehashing of similar themes or similar
genres/approaches.
From video game characters seeking civil rights and a cave
dragon loan shark pondering an investment, to Santa
Clause's Australian vacation and an enemy of Sam Spade's
seeking revenge-plus visits to the Nightside and Sookie
Stackhouse's hometown--Unusual Suspectsinvokes a dozen
imaginative tales featuring otherworldly investigators
trailing uncanny criminals across fantastical realms
governed by the laws of magic.