Short Story Wednesday: Stories from Midsummer Mysteries

I was initially attracted to Midsummer Mysteries: Short Stories, edited by Martin Edwards, because of its striking cover and the lovely sprayed edges. I am a sucker for beautiful books. But it did not hurt that the book was a Crime Writers' Association anthology, and that I was familiar with some of the authors.In the Introduction, Edwards notes that he endeavors to include authors that have not shown up before in previous Crime Writers' Association anthologies, and that is true here. But for the first two stories I read from this volume, I picked two by authors I have read previously and liked."St John's Eve" by Christine PoulsonThis was a very atmospheric and sometimes spooky story about a Midsummer Eve in 1585. A statute had been passed that Jesuit or seminary-trained priests were not allowed in the realm, and any support they received was considered treasonous. Two priests were being hidden in the manor house and the owners fear that they will be discovered neighbors arrive for…