Second-Act Sleuths launches new crime anthology

The Second-Act Sleuths, a collective of British Columbia authors, has released a new crime anthology titled ‘Murder on the Menu’. The collection features eight short stories from various regional writers, including Joanna Vander Vlugt, Winona Kent, Debra Henry, CJ Papoutsis, and Judge Fong, with a foreword by Canadian crime writer Vicki Delany.

Joanna Vander Vlugt, a Chemainus-based author, contributes two stories: ‘Mr. Buffed and Buttered’ and ‘The Lady in Pink’. The latter was inspired by a real-life encounter during a road trip to California. Winona Kent opens the anthology with ‘Between Stations’, a story set in 1973 London inspired by her teenage years in England.

The anthology explores diverse themes, ranging from murders in wine cellars to detectives hunting killers who leave chocolate clues. Other narratives include a Polish immigrant operating a food truck and a Greek cafe owner in Victoria.