First published 2020
This anthology brings together nineteen stories that transform the concept of anniversaries into occasions for crime. Each tale explores how commemorative dates can trigger violence, revenge, or revelation. The collection spans multiple eras and locations, from historical mysteries to contemporary thrillers. Authors approach the anniversary theme through various lenses: detective investigations, family secrets, psychological manipulation, and dark comedy. Some stories examine how annual remembrances of births, marriages, or deaths become catalysts for murder. Others reveal how the passage of time changes the meaning of significant dates. The contributors include both established masters and award winners who demonstrate the breadth of mystery fiction. Their combined work shows how a single concept can generate vastly different narratives across subgenres. The stories range from cozy domestic puzzles to hard-boiled action, united by their exploration of how memory and time intersect with criminal behavior.
Genres: short-stories, anthologies, mystery, crime, thriller, detective
Vibes: dark, emotional, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: detective-investigation, psychological-manipulation, time-travel
Period: 19th-century, 20th-century, 21st-century
400 pages · Kindle Edition · Hanover Square Press
Content warnings: death, murder, violence