First published 1991
This collection gathers sixteen crime stories where holidays turn deadly. Robert Barnard opens with newlyweds whose perfect honeymoon takes a sinister turn. Julian Symons follows with summer murders that shatter a peaceful retreat. Anna Clarke sets her mystery aboard a ship where three passengers form a dangerous triangle. Arthur Conan Doyle contributes a Sherlock Holmes adventure involving the devil's foot case. The stories span exotic locations from Guatemalan villages to seaside cottages, golf courses to beach houses. Each author transforms supposedly relaxing settings into scenes of suspense and murder. Guy Cullingford explores the deadly side of health retreats, while Norman Daniels turns a beach house into a trap. The collection includes both established masters like Chesterton and Doyle alongside skilled practitioners of the mystery form. These tales remind readers that danger can strike anywhere, even during moments meant for rest and pleasure.
Genres: short-stories, 20th-century, mystery, crime
Vibes: suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, fish-out-of-water
Setting: Guatemalan Villages, Seaside Cottages, Golf Courses, Beach Houses, Health Retreats
Period: Honeymoon, Summer
247 pages · Hardcover · Gallery Books
Content warnings: murder, violence