Five women in their forties, who grew up together in Kansas City, discuss the shooting by a sixth of her husband, to whom they were all connected in some way. They paint him in colors ranging from perfect lover, to wife abuser, to hated brother. After they have finished, the author allows the husband to reply from the grave.

In Mary Monroe's "Nightmare in Paradise," a dutiful wife explores her wild side during a Caribbean getaway, and in Victor McGlothin's "Bad Luck Shadow," a killer on the run from the law prepares to pull the biggest heist in history.

"When the world is brought to a standstill in the early days of a global pandemic, Etta Wilmont finds herself suddenly stranded in Kansas City. Desperate to secure a roof over her head, Etta crosses paths with Henry Logan, a lonely older man in need of a caretaker. His invitation for Etta to stay with him seems to be the solution to both their problems--and maybe the spontaneous adventure Etta's life has been missing. As Etta and Henry settle into...