Mystery for Halloween

 Mystery for Halloween (1991) by Cynthia Mason, ed

Well...the blurb says that these "modern masters of the chilling word whip up a witch's brew of mystery fiction" (emphasis mine) which would lead me to believe that this is full of mysteries. It's not--nearly half of them have no mystery to be solved even though there may be some element of the mysterious. But for the most part the stories that are true mysteries are very good. I count among those: "Kiss the Vampire Goodbye," "Fun & Games at the House of Whacks," "The Theft of the Halloween Pumpkin," and "Tony Libra and the Killer's Calendar." The last is probably the most classic of mysteries--although I don't think the average mystery reader would be able to correctly interpret the vital clue. And the vampire story does the best job of mixing mystery with the supernatural element. I enjoyed most of the other, more supernatural stories--but could have done without "The Sitter" and the "The Night Watchman." They didn't do it for me in either the ghostly or mystery category. ★★★

"The Haunted Portrait" by Lawrence Treat: A mild mannered museum creator is worried about a famous portrait that's supposed to reveal the name of the killer of the portrait's subject. But a painting can't do that...can it? (two stabbed)

"Clancy's Bride" by Terry Bacon: Clancy snags himself a beautiful bride--who most unexpectedly takes to farm life, particularly the slaughtering of animals. When animals start disappearing from the neighboring farms, the local poacher is blamed. But is he responsible? (two beheaded)

"Kiss the Vampire Goodbye" by Alan Ryan: Mike Kendall, LA private eye, and Danny Lavendar, his huge, albino Eskimo partner, investigate the mysterious death of a wealthy bank owner at the behest of his beautiful daughter. Mary Cantrell believes her father was killed by a vampire--and there were puncture wounds on his neck to prove it. But does Kendall believe it? (one stabbed; one burned by sun's rays)

"The Dog" by Pauline C. Smith: Aunt Bessie's husband swears that she'll never be rid of him--not even if he dies. He believes in reincarnation--even if she doesn't. And, just like Arnold, he'll be back... (one natural)

"House by the Road" by Janet O'Daniel: Jane thinks she's found the perfect little house where she can do her writing in peace. Until strange things start happening and the woman she hired to do odd jobs and gardening tells her that there's a spell on the house and that evil spirits want the place for their own...

"The Ghost of Monday" by Andrew Klavan: A man thinks he's committed the perfect crime when he does away with his blackmailing mistress. But then the ghost shows up in his bathroom... (one hit with axe)

"Sitter" by Theodore H. Hoffman: A neurotic teenager who has watched one too many slasher films scares herself silly while babysitting a couple of kids. Is she as neurotic as we think?

"Ghost in the House" by George Sumner Albee: Deborah is upset and Henry can't believe her reason. She's sure that their house is haunted--a man, apparently a realtor, appeared in the living room with a young couple and walked right through her. When they reappear and Henry tries to confront the man, the same happens. But since when do ghosts try to sell houses? (two car accident)

"Behold, Kra K'l!" by Richard F. McGonegal: George convinces his fellow student to help him raise a demon to prove the existence of God. The two young men get more than they bargained for when George's ultra-conservative Czech landlady breaks into their session. 

"Fun & Games at the Whacks Museum" by Elliott Capone: The kids of Bellerive love Berrigan's wax museum; the townspeople hate it. And when the mayor and city council pass an ordinance against taking money without giving a tangible product, it looks like Berrigan will be out of business. And then the mayor is run down by an out of control car...  (one hit by car)

"The Theft of the Halloween Pumpkin" by Edward D. Hoch: Nick Velvet is hired by a reclusive rich publisher's ex-mistress to steal the Halloween pumpkin off the man's front porch. To add a little spice...the last man to invade the publisher's privacy was shot and killed. But Nick always finds a way to deliver the goods. (two shot)

"The Night Watchman" by David Braly: Young Thomas Perkins is obsessed with the night watchman who walks the streets after dark. No one seems to know where he came from or when he was hired or by whom. He's just always been there. Perkins finally decides to find out where he goes after his rounds are done. But does he really want to know?

"Tony Libra & the Killer's Calendar" by Richard Ciciarelli: Tony Libra is hosting a Halloween costume party when his colleague, English Professor Jameson, arrives and asks for a private word. Jameson suspects that a faculty member has been running a drug ring but he doesn't have evidence--yet. He plans on getting it, but tells Tony that if anything should happen to him then Tony should "check up on the calendar." When Jameson is found murdered, Libra must figure out what that statement meant.(one stabbed)

"In the Morgue" by Dashiell Hammett: Walter Dowe's wife is missing and he learns that she went to the theater while he was busy writing away in his room. Oh...and the theater burned down that very night. He takes a friend along as he visits hospitals and, finally, the morgue in search of  her. A very different twist ending. (one fire)

"The Black Cat" by Lee Somerville: Our narrator's Cousin Rush comes into town just in time for the Heritage Festival. Cousin Rush is the black sheep of the family and is only interested in the funds that have been raised during the festivities. He might have gotten away with a robbery if he hadn't kicked that black cat... (two shot)

"This Is Death" by Donald E. Westlake: When a man who has attempted suicide in the past finally succeeds, his ghost wishes that he hadn't. (one hanged)

1st Line (first story): Sometimes I watch a guide bring his group into Gallery 18, in the East Wing of the museum.

...the more I listened, the more I realized that Mary Cantrell's spunkiness was definitely riding in the back seat today. She was scared, badly scared. And when a spunky girl gets scared, I get interested. ("Kiss the Vampire Goodbye")

I was looking at the second vampire I've ever seen. That's a lot of vampires when you didn't even believe in them thirty-six hours before. ("Kiss the Vampire Goodbye")

It's hard not to believe in ghosts when you are one. ("This Is Death")

Last line (last story): This is death.