A Merry Band of Murderers: An Original Mystery Anthology of Songs and Stories with CD    edited by Claudia Bishop & Don Bruns Order:  USA  Can Poisoned Pen, 2006 (2006) Hardcover     Reviewed by Mary Ann Smyth The subtitle of A Merry Band of Murderers reads 'An original mystery anthology of songs and stories'. And it is just that. This unique anthology arose from casual conversation about how a certain song would make a great story. Ideas flew from that and a new concept was born. Along with thirteen mystery stories that will have you double checking your locks are thirteen interviews with the authors. Of course, thirteen biographic sketches of said authors are also included. And, joy of all joys, there's original music for each story on the accompanying CD. What a bargain for hours of delight. I'm usually not one for short stories, although I have written a number myself and know they can be very hard to produce. I normally like a good long tale I can get my teeth into. Believe me, my teeth were sunk in deep as I read - and thoroughly enjoyed - each story here. The plots run the gamut, as would be expected with diverse authors – but they are alike in that each is gripping and mysterious. The authors, all well-known in their field, also run the gamut from Claudia Bishop to Robert Rosenwald; from Rhys Bowen to John Lescroart; from Mary Anna Evans to Jeffrey Deaver. And more! A Merry Band of Murderers is good reading. 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