Tar Heel Dead

Book excerpt: From O. Henry to Lilian Jackson Braun, North Carolina has nurtured some of the world's best-known mystery writers. This unique collection of mystery short stories showcases some of North Carolina's best writing talent from the past and the present--some famous, some less well known. Some of the mysteries are by authors who have earned solid reputations in other genres, such as Orson Scott Card and William Brittain, but as their stories here demonstrate, their talent embraces the mysterious. The stories in this collection are as diverse as the "detectives" they feature: the Native American policeman who solves his first case on the reservation; a Siamese cat with an intuitive affection for his paraplegic neighbor; an attentive convenience store owner; and a thirty-year-old computer whiz whose body stopped growing when he was nine. They solve crimes, locate treasures, and uncover deceit in a range of tales that reflects the breadth of the genre. With stories to delight mystery devotees and fans of all good writing, this anthology highlights one of the most vibrant and popular elements of North Carolina's literary legacy. Contributors: Nancy Bartholomew, Greensboro, N.C. Lilian Jackson Braun, Tryon, N.C. William E. Brittain, Asheville, N.C. Lisa Cantrell, Madison, N.C. Orson Scott Card, Greensboro, N.C. O. Henry (1862-1910) Toni L. P. Kelner, Malden, Mass. Michael Malone, Hillsborough, N.C. Margaret Maron, Willow Springs, N.C. Katy Munger, writing as Gallagher Gray, Durham, N.C. BarbaraNeely, Jamaica Plain, Mass. Guy Owen (1925-1981) David B. Sentelle, writing as Clyde Haywood, Washington, D.C. Sarah R. Shaber, Raleigh, N.C. Elizabeth Daniels Squire (1926-2001) Kathy Hogan Trocheck, Raleigh, N.C. Manly Wade Wellman (1903-1986) Brenda Witchger, writing as Brynn Bonner, Cary, N.C.