International bestseller Amor Towles, critically acclaimed author of A Gentleman in Moscow and Rules of Civility, together with award-winning editor and Mysterious Press founder, Otto Penzler, has selected the crème de la crème of the year's crime and mystery stories.

The classic mystery tale was invented by Poe, popularised by Conan Doyle, and perfected by Agatha Christie. Within a few pages, a clue can be discovered, divulged, and its significance determined: all else is mere embellishment.

Whittled down from over 3,000 stories, the twenty-two tales collected herein include a high-stakes chess match with a surprising twist, a darkly witty homage to Christie's Miss Marple, and a vintage mystery tale from the fabled chronicler of the American Gilded Age, Edith Wharton - to give mystery lovers just a taste of this superb selection!

Featuring stories by: Doug Allyn, Andrew Child, Jeffery Deaver, Brendan DuBois, Kerry Hammond, David Krugler, Avram Lavinsky, Michael Mallory, Joseph S. Walker, Edith Wharton, and many more.

'Deserves a place in every mystery collection.' Booklist
'There's something here for every mystery fan.' Publishers Weekly