The fourth installment in the Music and Murder Mystery series, edited by Don Bruns, Bat Out of Hell is a nonstop thrill ride of engrossing mysteries from some of the best authors in the business. An anthology unlike any other, this collection includes a brand-new Jack Reacher story from Andrew Child, a never-before-seen Pignon Scorbion prequel from Rick Bleiweiss, as well as exciting new mysteries from Heather Graham, Don Bruns, John Gilstrap, Dave Bruns, C. J. Kudlacz, and Charles Todd. Whether you are familiar with the series or encountering it for the first time, Bat Out of Hell has something for everyone.
This collection of short stories was published July 15, 2025. Blackstone Publishing provided a galley for review.
I was a pre-teen when the album that inspired this collection was released. I believe that Jim Steinman's compositions were true masterpieces and that Meat Loaf's delivery of the lyrics was pure perfection. How could I turn down checking out this volume? It is a fun concept of doing stories inspired by songs (I've done it myself once or twice).
How much the song each author was assigned/chose influences their story is a very mixed bag. Some went out of their way to incorporate lyrical elements into details of their tale, others maybe worked in the title of their song in some manner and that was it, while still others (maybe) crafted their story in a bit of a vibe to their song. There were a couple I had a hard time finding the connection, if there was one even made.
Even still, the collection provided a good reading experience overall. This was my first exposure to Child's Jack Reacher which I liked. John Gilstrap's tale was my favorite of the group (I might have to seek out more of his work).
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