by C. J. Box
First published 2020
This anthology brings together twenty outstanding mystery and crime stories published during 2020. C. J. Box, creator of the Joe Pickett series and Edgar Award winner, handpicked each tale from hundreds of submissions and publications. The collection spans the full spectrum of mystery fiction, from cozy puzzles to hard-boiled noir, from psychological thrillers to police procedurals. Each story represents the peak of short mystery writing from that year, showcasing both established masters and emerging voices in the genre. Box's selections demonstrate the breadth and quality of contemporary mystery fiction, offering readers a comprehensive survey of the year's finest work. The stories explore themes of justice, revenge, family secrets, and moral ambiguity through diverse settings and characters. This annual volume continues the tradition of celebrating excellence in mystery short fiction while introducing readers to writers they might not have discovered otherwise.
Genres: short-stories, mystery, crime
Vibes: dark, emotional, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: diverse-characters, emerging-voices, established-masters, short-fiction
Period: 2020
432 pages · ebook · Mariner Books