Dolphin Junction

Dolphin Junction is a collection of eleven short stories of varying lengths by award-winning British author, Mick Herron. Published previously between 2006 and 2021 in Ellery Mystery Magazines, Women's Weekly Fiction Specials, Best British Crime collections, as audio by Audio Go and BBC, and by Bookdealer and Soho Press, these are marvellous little bites of Mick Herron magic.

Proof of Love is a Zoe Boehm PI (The Oxford Investigations) short story. Zoe's husband and partner, Joe Silvermann takes on a case for one of Oxford's richest men, promising to deliver a blackmail fee whilst also discovering the identity of the blackmailer. He's going to need Zoe's help: Joe is more of a "traditional" PI; this might need Zoe's internet expertise. Joe delivers, as promised, but with an admonition for his client. Zoe's solution comes from a different angle. Delightful!

In Remote Control, a casual remark (or two) from a perennially peeved fellow commuter leads a husband, who has previously proven a tendency to jealousy, to suspect his beautiful wife of infidelity. An excellent final twist!

Lost Luggage: On her way to work early one morning, Jane Carpenter is taken from a nearby park. Some hours later, at a motorway services café, Peter Mason and Jennifer Holmes, on their way to a party, indulge in some people watching. They make observations about a lone diner who sits where he can keep an eye on his car. A chilling twist to this one!

Mirror Images is a Zoe Boehm PI (The Oxford Investigations) short story. A client comes to Joe Silvermann with an unusual problem: the man he shot dead sixteen years ago on the boathouse balcony has suddenly sprung back into his mind, and won't leave. After first suggesting a therapist, Joe takes on the case. "His normal reaction to a new problem was to seek Zoe's input, ideally without her noticing that he was unsure what to do next. The word 'ideally' was unavoidable here, as Zoe not noticing never actually occurred in practice." Not wanting to attract her scorn (again) leaves "… Joe's fallback position: What would Marlowe do?" Joe's investigations include poling up the river on a punt (and falling in) to view the site of the since-burned -down boathouse. This one has a brilliant twist, and Zoe Boehm provides a tidy solution.

In the title story, Dolphin Junction, David Wallace returns home from a conference to find his wife has packed some of her things, quit her job, withdrawn half their savings from their bank account and left him a postcard saying it's over between them. But one word on that card has him convinced that Michelle has been abducted. Unfortunately, no-one, not friends, not the police, agree, so David has to follow his instincts.

In An American Fridge, an engineer at a nuclear research lab learns that betrayal of one's country and a new allegiance (for the perceived purpose of maintaining balance of power) comes with an American fridge.

The Other Half is a Zoe Boehm PI (The Oxford Investigations) short story. PI Joe Silvermann agrees to tail a disgruntled ex whom a casual acquaintance claims has been stalking him, and vandalising his flat. The woman certainly seems to be acting a bit crazy, but Joe knows that his wife and partner, Zoe Boehm, is unlikely to approve, especially of the man's next request. This one has a laugh-out-loud twist and sees justice neatly done.

All The Livelong Day, describes a married couple walking in Derbyshire on the third day of a five-day break. Missing waymarkers set them on the wrong course and, halfway down a hill with no mobile reception and ominous rainclouds approaching, Jon falls and fractures his ankle. Helen heads off to the farmhouse below where an enormous flock of birds swirls above the barnyard. It's a tale that demonstrates how an ailing marriage that can just about survive the good times will fracture badly when under stress. A rather dark twist at the end.

The Last Dead Letter is a short story in the Jackson Lamb series. When Molly Doran demands Jackson Lamb's attendance, he obeys: she is, after all the Queen of the Archives. Molly relates a story about a Berlin operative during the cold war who falls in love, and requires Jackson to fill in certain blanks. A crumb of insight into the enigmatic Jackson Lamb.

The Usual Santas is a perfect little Christmas tale in which eight rather disillusioned Retail Outlet Centre Santas find their number swollen by one at their usual Christmas Eve buffet. With their anonymity preserved, as always, by their costumes, they are unable to detect the imposter. A philosophical discussion ensues, the outcome of which is a mass action bringing great delight to those who really need Santa's generosity.

What We Do is a Zoe Boehm PI (The Oxford Investigations) short story. As unlikely as it is, Zoe Boehm is sharing personal stories with a therapist. She relates the tale of when a casual acquaintance with inside knowledge tried to recruit her to tail a young, soon-to-be-released-from-prison burglar whom she was convinced had the location of the unrecovered share of loot from a jewellery heist. Zoe was unconvinced: it was likely all smoke and whispers. But still, she was there, following the guy when he set out, spade in hand. This one ends with a delightful twist.

Herron is the master of clever twists and has a superb turn of phrase: "The sloth of others was best enjoyed in their presence." and "… Joe had liked Italy, once he'd worked out that zebra crossings were designated accident spots, not safe places to cross." Eleven excellent doses of Herron, that include a sample of Jackson Lamb and, for those not familiar with her, four tastes of Zoe Boehm. Quick but very enjoyable.