Review: Small Kingdoms and Other Stories by Charlaine Harris

Anne DeWitt wasn't always Anne DeWitt. Once upon a time, she was known as Twyla Burnside. Nor was she always a high school principal. In these 4 short stories, we see how her past affects her present.

It begins in "Small Kingdoms" where Anne's normal routine is interrupted and she has to kill a man and dispose of the body. It continues in "Sarah Smiles" where we get a pretty good idea of how Anne deals with some of her students' problems. This is followed by "Small Chances" where someone tries to ruin Anne's carefully built reputation. The collection concludes in "Small Signs" where her past catches up with her.

Although Anne is remorseless and perhaps a little bit of a psychopath, I still liked her. She works hard at being a good principal and improving her school. Coach Holt Halsey plays a good second to her. He's a good supporting character and appears in all 4 stories.

The stories are well-written. They move quickly. There is no extraneous material. Everything works toward the ending. There is just the right amount of telling and showing. Unlike her Sookie Stackhouse series or her Midnight, Texas series, there is no paranormal activity. The closest character that Anne resembles is Olivia in the Midnight, Texas series.

Small Kingdoms and Other stories by Charlaine Harris was published May 28th, 2019 by JABberwocky Literary Agency, Inc.

I give this collection 5 out of 5 stars. It's well-written with interesting characters and imaginative plot lines. I would love to see more stories about Anne DeWitt. I recommend this collection to people who enjoy short stories that are thrillers or mysteries.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions herein are my own and freely given.