First published 2022
Sara Paretsky opens her anthology with a simple premise: the mystery story follows a formula perfected across generations. From Edgar Allan Poe's invention through Arthur Conan Doyle's popularization to Agatha Christie's refinement, the form demands precision. Within mere pages, writers must plant clues, reveal them, and deliver their meaning. Everything else serves as decoration. Paretsky selects twenty tales that honor this tradition while pushing its boundaries. Michael Connelly crafts his signature detective work. Jo Nesbo delivers Nordic noir intensity. Joyce Carol Oates explores psychological depths. Colson Whitehead brings literary weight to genre conventions. The collection spans established masters and emerging voices, each story chosen for its ability to puzzle, thrill, and mystify readers. Otto Penzler, Edgar Award winner and mystery anthologist, provides guidance. The Mysterious Bookshop, New York's legendary specialty store, lends institutional support. A bonus vintage story from over a century past completes the volume, connecting contemporary crime fiction to its roots.
Genres: short-stories, mystery, crime
Vibes: atmospheric, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: anthology, mystery, puzzle
Setting: New York
Period: 2022
Paperback