Death's Excellent Vacation

"Harris and Kelner's third short-story anthology sends paranormals on vacation. Some of the 13 journeys are romps: Harris dispatches Sookie Stackhouse on a weekend getaway with an errand to a strip club that involves more than Sookie bargained for, in 'Two Blondes.' Katie MacAlister gives Guardian Aisling Grey's demon servant a trip to remember in 'The Perils of Effrijim.' And A. Lee Martinez's 'The Innsmouth Nook' B&B caters to an unusual crowd, to say the least. Other tales are chilling: Jeff Abbott's tabloid journalist pursues the 'Safe and Sound' return of a missing tourist; Christopher Golden observes the a hotel's 'Thin Walls' for connections between a mourning man and a succubus; and Chris Grabenstein's 'The Demon in the Dunes' stresses the perils of smoking. Sarah Smith, Daniel Stashower, L.A. Banks, Lilith Saintcrow, and Sharan Newman also contribute quality work, and readers will find this collection a great sampler for discovering authors they'll want to follow. (Aug.) Zookeeper Iris Oakley, who lost her husband in her first outing (2008's Night Kill), returns to Finley Memorial Zoo near Vancouver, Wash., for a second harrowing adventure that meshes the complexities of animal care and human failings. Early one morning, Iris discovers her boss, Kevin Wallace, face down in the elephant enclosure, apparently being mauled. What first appears to be a dreadful accident is revealed by autopsy to be a murder and merely the first incident to bedevil the little zoo. Although she's six months pregnant, several colleagues suggest that Iris should look into other disturbing events, including the theft of a zoo van and the body of a tiger. Fascinating details of zoo life--the impending birth of clouded leopards, collecting urine samples from elephants--lend color. Man again proves to be the most dangerous animal, and Iris needs all her cunning to discover the rogue behind the violence in a follow-up that should win Littlewood more fans. (July)" Publishers Weekly (Copyright PWyxz LLC)

"New York Times"-bestselling authors Charlaine Harris, Katie MacAlister, Jeaniene Frost--plus Lilith Saintcrow, Jeff Abbott, and others--send postcards from the edge of the paranormal world to fans. Includes a brand-new Sookie Stackhouse story and 12 other original tales.

Charlaine Harris writes the #1 New York Times bestselling paranormal fantasy series featuring Sookie Stackhouse (the basis for the HBO series True Blood) and the New York Times bestselling mystery series featuring sleuth Harper Connelly. She lives in a small town in southern Arkansas.

Toni L.P. Kelner is the award-winning author of the "Where Are They Now?" mystery series. She lives in Boston, Massachusetts.