The Cutting Room Floor, by Eric Beetner

"The Cutting Room Floor," by Eric Beetner, in Hollywood Kills, edited by Adam Meyer and Alan Orloff, Level Short, 2005.

This is the third appearance in my blog by Eric Beetner. There are lots of crime stories about Hollywood but this book has a clever gimmick: each story is written by someone who has done the same work in The Industry as their protagonist. For example, Beetner has been nominated eight times for Emmys for editing.

Scott is editing episodes of a reality show.  Its success has been based on one of the contestants: Violet.

She was blunt, rude, short-tempered. She "didn't come here to make friends." She was "a bad bitch and I know it, honey." She was ratings gold. 

But all bad things come to an end and she was getting kicked off the show. Who would have guessed that she wouldn't take the news well? 

Violet finds Scott in his editing room and demands to know why he is making let look like a bitch.  The obvious answer is not going to make her happy. Did I mention that she has a razor and she's not afraid to use it? And that they are locked in the little room together?

Nice use of suspense and a real Hollywood feel, speaking of reality shows. 

Well-Known Gun, by Sam Wiebe

"Well-Known Gun," by Sam Wiebe, in Better Off Dead, vol. 1, edited by D.M. Barr, Down and Out Books, 2025. 

I have a story in this book. 

This is the third story I have reviewed here by Wiebe and, except for quality,  they couldn't be more different. 

 Of the seventeen persons I am accused of killing, I acknowledge all but three. 

This story is the final confession of Joshua Calhoun, former Confederate soldier, now ruthless gunman.  In the hours before he hangs he takes us through his remarkable life and the killing of fourteen men.

But when he gets to the three people he denies killing, well, that's when things get truly surprisingly.  An eloquently written little tale.  

A reminder: Down and Out Books is going out of business, so if you want a copy of this book, grab it. 

 

Hitchcock Blondes Have More Fun, by Lily Samson

 

"Hitchcock Blondes Have More Fun," by Lily Samson, in Birds, Strangers, and Psychos, edited by Maxim Jakubowski, Titan Books, 2025.

As I have said before one of the fun things about themed anthologies is seeing how different authors play with the theme.  In a few cases in this book, I don't see the connection to Hitchcock.  That's not a problem with this one.  

It was written in the stars, my collaboration with Alfred Hitchcock.  We met when we were both young and unknown, yet to be appreciated by the public.

Quite an opening paragraph.  We soon learn that the narrator, Rebecca (hah) is a bored English housewife.  Her big introduction to the Master of Suspense came in 1926 when she was roped in as a last-minute extra in The Lodger. She becomes convinced that she was his favorite extra, as crucial to his movies as his own cameo appearances.  

What we're talking about here is obsession about a person, and that is a theme of both Hitch's work and his life, so it is highly appropriate for the book.  A very neat story with a lovely bit of foreshadowing (because the Master believed in suspense, not surprise).

Take Me To The Pilot, by dbschlosser

 "Take Me To The Pilot," by dbschlosser, in Better Off Dead, vol. 1, edited by D.M. Barr, Down and Out Books, 2025. 

I have a story in this book.

This is the second tale by my friend dbschlosser to make my list. 

Apex (pronounced ahh-pecks, and no "Mister" in front, please) is a security guy in Kansas City.  When a top legal defense firm wants to hire him he jumps at the chance, but it is a pretty strange assignment.  Chuy Lopez is a top member of a criminal motorcycle gang. He is in prison, awaiting trial, and he wants Apex to find his lost dog.

Well, that seems a bit of overkill.

What complicate the matter is that Piloto the pooch is in the possession of Lopez's ex and she is in the Witness Protection Program.

Apex makes it clear he is not interested in letting the gangsters know where a protected witness is being held but Lopez assures him he doesn't care about her at all, just the doggie.  

This is a good private eye procedural with plenty of interesting twists.