I was eager to read No Place for Mercy by Brian G. Walsh because I've always been a fan of short stories, I grew up with Louis L'amour stories about Bowdrie (see here) and have read all of the short story anthologies of Alfred Hitchcock. Secondly, I've just published my own anthology of short stories and wanted to see how Walsh's stacked up to mine . . . . or mine stacked up to his.
They stack up well.
Walsh has a way with words and phrasing. His analogies are vivid and compelling. His prose make the ready want to read on. This one about mistakes shaking you like a rag doll got me:
She smiled with nice, even white teeth, probably paid for by her pimp. A beautiful young girl, probably no more than 18. Some day she'd wake up and realize the true cost of making this life decision. She'd learn what Cleon had learned, that some mistakes never let go of you, they shake you like a rag doll until you break, but Cleon wasn't in a lecturing mood tonight.
A very good collection and I enjoyed it very much.
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