Barbara Paul's versatility is apparent in the diversity of short stories in her first collection. "French Asparagus" explores a dysfunctional family's reaction when one of their own is in danger. "Scat" features a neurotic, half-starved cat who has trouble trusting humans. The title story, "Jack Be Quick, " gives the reader a new look at Jack the Ripper and his victims - all respectable women forced into prostitution by related circumstances...

Contents:

• Introduction · in
• Okay, Diogenes, You Can Stop Looking—We Found Him · nv Murder Most Delicious, ed. Martin H. Greenberg, Signet, 1995
• Scat · nv Cat Crimes, ed. Martin H. Greenberg & Ed Gorman, Fine, 1991
• French Asparagus · ss Murderous Intent Fll ’96
• The Favor · ss Mystery Monthly Jul ’76
• Portrait of the Artist as a Young Corpse [Enrico Caruso] · ss Crime Through Time, ed. Miriam Grace Monfredo & Sharan Newman, Berkley, 1997
• Stet · ss Brought to Book, ed. Penny Sumner, London: Women’s Press, 1998
• Ho, Ho, Ho · ss Santa Clues, ed. Martin H. Greenberg & Carol-Lynn Rossel Waugh, Signet, 1993
• Play Nice · ss EQMM Mar ’94
• Jack Be Quick · nv Solved, ed. Ed Gorman & Martin H. Greenberg, Carroll & Graf, 1991