Harlan Coben's "A Simple Philosophy" is a sly little story of a woman who kills her own sister for love of the sister's husband. Planting a poison in a lip balm struck me as a wild way to go. But all is not what it seems, and the twist at the end was delightfully quirky.

"The Village Vampire and the Oboe of Death" features a most unusual sleuth. Dean James has crafted a clever short story which introduces Simon Kirby-Jones, an irreverent smartass and reluctant vampire living in England. Since Simon is already dead, he's the perfect person to uncover the truth behind the death of a no-talent oboist. Parts of the story are laugh-out-loud funny and I hope Simon finds a home in a longer novel – soon.

"Rock of Ages", by Gillian Liscott, is the story of a double death. Lifelong enemies Jack Sinclair and Stan Briggs are found dead on the same day in an area of the Pennines they both hiked frequently. Their last quarrel was over the placement of a garden bench on a hiking trail. When Jack's granddaughter and Stan's grandson team up to investigate, they find a lot of answers and a little romance as well. An enjoyable story, and these two leads could feature well in a novel-length book.

Stephanie Barron's "Jane and the Spoils of Stoneleigh" was a bit of a clunker for me. The author's rather heavy writing style and the overly-liberal use of footnotes made for a read that was more work than pleasure. As novelist/sleuth Jane Austen searches for the clues to the ownership of Stoneleigh Abbey, she comes face to face with an old murder. The plot is interesting if one can adapt to the style used to tell it.

Malice Domestic 7 is a perfect book to curl up with when your reading time is limited. My favorites might not be yours, but I guarantee you'll find something you'll like.

--Cathy Sova