Short Story Wednesday: Stories from Midsummer Mysteries

I was initially attracted to Midsummer Mysteries: Short Stories, edited by Martin Edwards, because of its striking cover and the lovely sprayed edges. I am a sucker for beautiful books. But it did not hurt that the book was a Crime Writers' Association anthology, and that I was familiar with some of the authors.

In the Introduction, Edwards notes that he endeavors to include authors that have not shown up before in previous Crime Writers' Association anthologies, and that is true here. But for the first two stories I read from this volume, I picked two by authors I have read previously and liked.

"St John's Eve" by Christine Poulson

This was a very atmospheric and sometimes spooky story about a Midsummer Eve in 1585. A statute had been passed that Jesuit or seminary-trained priests were not allowed in the realm, and any support they received was considered treasonous. Two priests were being hidden in the manor house and the owners fear that they will be discovered when neighbors arrive for the celebration feast. The story is told partially by the house itself (or spirits in the house), and finishes up 400 years later when the building is being restored. I enjoyed this story immensely; it was 12 pages long, a very good length.

"The Widow" by Martin Edwards

This is a chilling story, set in the 1960s, about a wife who wants to protect her dead husband's reputation at any cost. 

Gerry and Beatrice had run a taxi service in Berwick-upon-Tweed since before the war; Gerry came back from the war and time spent in a prison camp a changed person. But between the two of them, they kept the taxis running and bringing in money. Until Gerry died unexpectedly. Now a policeman keeps bothering Beatrice with questions about deaths in the area.

The setting in time and place was very effective. This may have been the only short story I have read by Martin Edwards, but I would like to read more.