First published 1980
A collection presents seventeen mystery tales where the authors' true identities become part of the puzzle. Each story comes from a recognized mystery writer, but their names appear in coded form that readers must crack. The stories span different moods and types of mysteries, creating a double challenge for readers who must solve both the fictional crimes within each tale and the real-world puzzle of which acclaimed author penned each piece. The range covers various mystery subgenres and approaches, from cozy puzzles to darker criminal scenarios. Readers engage with familiar mystery tropes while simultaneously playing detective with the anthology itself, decoding clues about authorship alongside the narrative mysteries.
Genres: fiction, short-stories, mystery
Vibes: puzzle, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: puzzle, unreliable-narrator
229 pages · Hardcover · Houghton Mifflin Harcourt