First published 1985
The game is afoot across twenty-six carefully selected cases. Sherlock Holmes applies his razor-sharp deductions to baffling crimes. Hercule Poirot relies on his little grey cells to untangle seemingly impossible murders. Miss Jane Marple observes human nature from her village perch to solve deadly puzzles. Each story presents a different master detective confronting murder, theft, and deception. The cases span locked room mysteries, country house murders, and urban crimes that challenge even the most brilliant minds. Frank D. McSherry assembled these tales from mystery fiction's most celebrated authors, creating an anthology that demonstrates the evolution and variety of detective storytelling. Readers encounter the methodical approach of Father Brown, the psychological insights of Dr. Gideon Fell, and the street-smart tactics of Continental Op investigators. The collection reveals how different detectives use observation, logic, intuition, and experience to crack cases that baffle police. These stories capture the satisfaction of watching sharp minds cut through lies and misdirection to reach the truth.
Genres: short-stories, mystery, detective
Vibes: cozy, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: amateur-sleuth, locked-room-mystery
Setting: Copper Beeches, Hampshire, Winchester
641 pages · Hardcover · Random House Value Publishing