Small Plates: Short Fiction    by Katherine Hall Page Order:  USA  Can William Morrow, 2014 (2014) Hardcover, CD, e-Book     Reviewed by Bob Walch In this short story collection's introduction, Katherine Hall Page admits that writing a short is more challenging than writing a novel. That being said, the author then introduces the nine stories in this book. Page calls her characters an assorted lot, which includes a man who 'longs for widowhood, dreams of the attention from the casserole brigade – good women lining up at his door, hopefully presenting unburnt offerings and perhaps themselves as offerings as well'. Other characters run the gamut from a spinster who needs help with the supernatural and another who discovers a baby in her barn on Christmas Eve to an elderly lobsterman who proves to have exceptional observational skills. A number of these stories feature the author's well liked mystery series heroine, Faith Fairchild. You'll find Faith on the set of a reality cooking show, attempting to locate a missing will and dealing with her mother-in-law's superstitions that may not all be malarkey. Seasoned with occasional humor and showcasing her talent for creating unforgettable characters, these tasty morsels prove that the author is as good with short fiction as with longer works. When you come to this literary table you may find that the individual servings won't take long to consume but that doesn't mean they won't be fulfilling or satisfy your desire to be entertained. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Mystery books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews