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.)