Dreamland

Dreamland is the sixth collection of short fiction by Mississippi author John M. Floyd. Like the others, it contains mostly mystery stories but drifts occasionally into other genres as well. Unlike the others, this book includes several stories from Floyd’s popular “Law and Daughter” mystery series, featuring Sheriff Lucy Valentine and her crimesolving mother Fran. Also included here are his Edgar-nominated mystery “200 Feet”; two Derringer Award winners, “Dentonville” and “Driver”; “High Places” from the Bram Stoker Award-winning anthology After Death; and “Molly’s Plan,” which was selected by Otto Penzler and guest editor James Patterson for inclusion in The Best American Mystery Stories 2015.

The thirty tales in this volume feature something that’s always been a part of Floyd’s short stories: Hitchockian suspense and surprises. His mastery of plot twists has earned him the praise of bestselling authors Nevada Barr, Jan Burke, Marcus Sakey, Steve Hamilton, and others.

If you’ve read any of Floyd’s previous books, or his stories in national magazines, then you already know what’s in store for you here. If you haven’t, you’re in for a pleasant surprise. These stories will sweep you away (maybe for ten minutes, maybe for an hour) from things like politics and household chores and corporate deadlines. You can escape reality altogether, and parachute into a world of enchanted settings, fascinating people, and spinetingling action. Welcome … to a land of dreams.