A collection of short stories written by the following authors: Anita Rowe, Beryl Roberts, Caroline Clark, Del Richards, Helen Lewis, Hilary Bowers, Imogen Rhia Herrad, Jan Baker, Joy Tucker, Kate Kinnersley, Kay Sheard, Maggie Cainen, Sue Anderson, Valerie Douglas, Yasmin Ali.

Casgliad o straeon byrion gan yr awduron canlynol: Anita Rowe, Beryl Roberts, Caroline Clark, Del Richards, Helen Lewis, Hilary Bowers, Imogen Rhia Herrad, Jan Baker, Joy Tucker, Kate Kinnersley, Kay Sheard, Maggie Cainen, Sue Anderson, Valerie Douglas, Yasmin Ali.

This anthology of new crime short stories by Welsh women writers is a delight. I can be a real wuss when it comes to blood and gore and over-stretched suspense, and I arranged to read the book during daylight hours to avoid potential nightmares. I need not have worried – these are writers who gauge the boundaries with finesse, who suggest rather than elaborate, and some who lighten the tone with a touch of subversive humour. These women’s voices are varied and many, yet consistently effective and convincing.

In any collection, whether by a single author or several, I would expect to find at least one story that, purely subjectively, didn’t quite hit the spot for me or even that I downright loathed. This is not the case here. Every one of these stories works in its own unique way, and the variety and range of the writing keeps you on your toes, never knowing quite what to expect next. There are, of course, murders – no crime anthology would be complete without them - but there are also tragic accidental deaths, memories of abuse both true and false, abductions, crimes against property, and long-held secrets ready (or not) to be revealed. There are gritty, Chandleresque, male voices; characters treading the edges of sanity; carefully measured narratives stripped of the superfluous; lyrical evocations of place; quirky tales that tinge tragedy or crime with a wry smile; and unreliable narrators.

Written in Blood will appeal to crime aficionados and short-story lovers alike. It is a fine selection of contemporary writing by women in Wales, some of whose names I feel sure we shall see writ large in the future.

Suzy Ceulan Hughes

It is possible to use this review for promotional purposes, but the following acknowledgment should be included: A review from www.gwales.com, with the permission of the Welsh Books Council.

Gellir defnyddio'r adolygiad hwn at bwrpas hybu, ond gofynnir i chi gynnwys y gydnabyddiaeth ganlynol: Adolygiad oddi ar www.gwales.com, trwy ganiatâd Cyngor Llyfrau Cymru.