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The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, serialized in the Strand Magazine in 1891-2 and published in volume form in 1892, made Sherlock Holmes and his creator Arthur Conan Doyle famous. This, the first critical edition for twenty-five years, provides an authoritative text, a full textual apparatus, and a scholarly introduction and notes. It also reproduces a selection of the 104 illustrations by Sidney Paget which appeared in the first British edition.

For classic murder mystery readers, a scintillating anthology of lost treasures to read alongside Edgar Allan Poe and Sherlock HolmesA Penguin ClassicFor The Penguin Book of Murder Mysteries, writer and anthologist Michael Sims did not summon the usual suspects. He sought the unfamiliar, the unjustly forgotten, and little-known gems by writers from outside the genre. This historical tour of one of our most popular literary categories includes stories never before reprinted, features rebellious early “lady detectives,'and spotlights former stars of the crime field—Austrian novelist Auguste Groner and prolific American Geraldine Bonner among them. For twenty-first century connoisseurs of crime, The Penguin Book of Murder Mysteries celebrates how the nineteenth century added a fierce modern twist to the ancient theme of bloody murder.

Another thrilling adventure for Frank and Joe with their friends Biff and Chet. This time they are using an iceboat and camping in a cabin on Cabin Island. They have to fight off some rowdy no-gooders and a pretty insistent bad guy named Hanleigh as well as ghosts.

This entertaining short story collection features Professor Augustus S.F.X. Van Dusen, nicknamed'The Thinking Machine'—a brilliant but abrasive scientist who proves time and again that any puzzle can be solved by the application of logic.Could you beat the world chess master in one try if you'd never played or studied the game? Or plot and execute a successful escape from an inescapable prison cell? And could you do it at the turn of the twentieth century, without benefit of modern technology? Sound impossible?Never use that word in the presence of The Thinking Machine—it angers him greatly and does not give him a favorable impression of the user. Professor Augustus S.F.X. Van Dusen knows that both feats are indeed possible, having accomplished them himself. But he also applies his superior intellect and deductive reasoning to more official ends—namely helping the police solve'impossible'crimes.With assistance from reporter Hutchinson Hatch, who is only too happy to suggest potential cases and then write about the outcome, The Thinking Machine proves that no puzzle is unsolvable—not corporate espionage, nor a kidnapped baby, nor a pilfered necklace, And certainly not a'perfect murder.'

In the'Vintage Murder Mysteries - Anna Katharine Green Collection,'readers are invited into a labyrinth of intricately woven plots and shrewd characterizations that epitomize early detective fiction. This compilation marvelously showcases Green's hallmark literary style: a blend of meticulous narrative pacing, psychological depth, and social commentary. Each story features clever twists and richly drawn suspects, highlighting the societal norms and legal landscapes of late 19th-century America while reinforcing Green's role as a pioneer in establishing the modern mystery genre. Anna Katharine Green, often heralded as the'mother of American detective fiction,'authored over 40 novels and numerous short stories, reflecting her keen observations of crime and justice in her own society. Raised in a well-educated family, Green's extensive legal knowledge, gained through her father's profession as a lawyer, profoundly influenced her work. Her commitment to creating strong female characters and pioneering female sleuths exemplifies her progressive views, making her a trailblazer in a largely male-dominated literary world. This collection is a must-read for enthusiasts of classic mystery literature as well as those seeking insight into the foundations of the genre. Green's adept storytelling invites readers to engage with meticulously crafted narratives that not only entertain but also provoke thought surrounding morality, justice, and the complexities of human nature.

In the 1960s the masters of crime fiction expanded the genre's literary and psychological possibilities with audacious new themes, forms, and subject matter—here are four of their finest worksThis is the second of two volumes gathering the best American crime fiction of the 1960s, nine novels of astonishing variety and inventiveness that pulse with the energies of that turbulent, transformative decade.In Margaret Millar's The Fiend (1964) a nine-year-old girl disappears and a local sex offender comes under suspicion. So begins a suspenseful investigation of an apparently tranquil California suburb which will expose a hidden tangle of fear and animosity, jealousy and desperation.Ed McBain (a pen name of Evan Hunter) pioneered the multi-protagonist police procedural in his long-running series of 87th Precinct novels, set in a parallel Manhattan called Isola. Doll (1965) opens at a pitch of extreme violence and careens with breakneck speed through a tale that mixes murder, drugs, the modeling business, and psychotherapy with the everyday professionalism of McBain's harried cops.The racial paranoia of a drunken police detective in Run Man Run (1966) leads to a double murder and the relentless pursuit of the young Black college student who witnessed it. In Chester Himes's breathless narrative, New York City is a place with no safe havens for a fugitive whom no one wants to believe.In Patricia Highsmith's The Tremor of Forgery (1969) a man whose personality is disintegrating is writing a book called The Tremor of Forgery about a man whose personality is disintegrating, “like a mountain collapsing from within.” Stranded unexpectedly in Tunisia, Howard Ingham struggles to hold on to himself in a strange locale, while a slightly damaged typewriter may be the only trace of a killing committed almost by accident.Volume features include an introduction by editor Geoffrey O'Brien (Hardboiled America), newly researched biographies of the writers and helpful notes, and an essay on textual selection.

An ideal way to teach information literacy and leadership skills to 1st to 4th graders—using chocolate chip cookies and glitter pens! The Cayuga Island Kids are five big-hearted friends who solve mysteries and have wonderful adventures together. They are fact detectives who think, brainstorm, research, and work together to follow clues, find answers, and puzzle out solutions. Above all, they are kind, helpful, smart, and resourceful kids who have lots of fun together. Book 1 is based on real events surrounding one of the biggest puzzles of the Great Lakes! The Cayuga Island Kids set off on a hunt for a certain kind of tree and instead unearth a cannonball thought to be from a treasure ship built right on their island that sank in 1679 and was never recovered. As they hunt for clues and follow leads, they discover that the island they live on is home to a whole lot of history. And, it turns out, a whole lot of mystery, too. We all have history in our own backyards, just waiting to be discovered by inquisitive, adventurous, and fun-loving fact detectives! In award-winning Book 2, the Kids rescue a mallard caught in the plastic rings from six-pack of cans. How they go from fishing a plastic bottle out of the creek to bringing the community together to build a recycling bin big enough to hold plenty of plastic makes for a lively adventure. Young readers come to realize the importance of brainstorming, teamwork, community effort, recycling, and friendship. Although we are each just one person, together we can make a BIG difference! In Book 3, Julian and his dad are trying to bake the perfect chocolate chip cookie and Maya is helping with the Make-and-Take-Club. And then two glitter pens go missing. The clues and evidence point to a suspect, But when a classmate shares false information about Julian's cookies and they uncover misinformation when researching explorers, the importance of being a fact detective becomes crystal clear. The Kids learn that you have to have all the facts, not just a fraction of the truth. Young readers will cheer for the Kids on this adventure involving misinformation, faulty assumptions, flour bugs, glitter pens, and chocolate chip cookies.

Cleveland Noir joins Columbus Noir as the Akashic Noir Series continues its tour of Ohio, and navigates the dregs of the North ShoreFEATURING BRAND-NEW STORIES FROM: Paula McLain, Jill Bialosky, Thrity Umrigar, Michael Ruhlman, Daniel Stashower, D.M. Pulley, J.D. Belcher, Alex DiFrancesco, Miesha Wilson Headen, Abby L. Vandiver, Sam Conrad, Angela Crook, Susan Petrone, Dana McSwain, and Mary Grimm. FROM THE EDITORS'INTRODUCTION:“Cleveland is a working-class town, though its great institutions were founded by twentieth-century robber barons and magnates... It's this mix of the wealthy and the working class that makes this city—an urban center of brick and girders surrounded by verdant suburbs—a perfect backdrop for lawlessness. Cleveland has certainly seen its share of high-profile crime. Eliot Ness, Cleveland's director of public safety in the 1930s, hunted unsuccessfully for the ‘torso murderer'who killed and dismembered twelve people in Kingsbury Run, the area now known as the Flats, then populated by bars, brothels, flophouses, and gambling dens. The famous disappearance of Beverly Potts in the early 1950s on Cleveland's west side made national headlines. The sensational murder of Marilyn Sheppard in Bay Village and the imprisonment and eventual acquittal of her husband, the surgeon Sam Sheppard, became the basis for a popular television drama The Fugitive... “The noir stories in this volume hit all these same notes, and their geographies reflect the history of the city and its politics, its laws, poverty, alienation, racism, crime, and violence.”

Austin joins Dallas and Houston in Akashic's deep dive into the Lone Star State's darkest dimensionsFeaturing brand-new stories by: Gabino Iglesias, Ace Atkins, Amanda Moore, Jeff Abbott, Scott Montgomery, Richard Z. Santos, Alexandra Burt, Lee Thomas, Miriam Kuznets, Jacob Grovey, Chaitali Sen, Molly Odintz, Amy Gentry, and Andrew Hilbert.From the editors'introduction:'You've probably heard of Austin. You may have been here for South by Southwest. Your best friend may have recently relocated here from California. You might have thought about moving here yourself, then decided it wasn't worth it to live in Texas. You may have moved to Austin decades ago. You may even have been born and raised in Austin, and now you're on the outskirts of San Antonio or (god forbid) Waco because you can't afford to buy a house anywhere else. Or you may be living in a shiny new building downtown, watching the final stages of a sleepy town's transformation into modern metropolis. One thing you'll hear from almost any Austin resident: it was better when they got here...'As the city expands, construction never stops, struggling futilely to keep up with new demand. The running joke is that the city bird is the crane. Rents and property values keep climbing. We fear becoming Dallas... The writers contributing to this collection represent a kaleidoscopic view of the city—not just in where they set the stories, but in their different social, economic, and cultural perspectives.'

Discover Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson through the eyes of those who knew them best. From familiar faces like Mrs Hudson to minor characters like Lomax the sub-librarian, Observations by Gaslight – told through diaries, telegrams, and even grocery lists – paints a masterful portrait of Holmes and Watson as you have never seen them before. See Irene Adler team up with her former adversary in an eerie and near-deadly enquiry. Learn of the case that cemented the friendship between Holmes and Inspector Lestrade of Scotland Yard. And witness Stanley Hopkins'first meeting with the remote logician he idolizes.Lyndsay Faye, two-time Edgar Award nominee, debuted with Dust and Shadow, her much-admired novel pitting Sherlock Holmes against Jack the Ripper. Now Faye is back with a thrilling volume of new and previously published short stories and novellas narrated by those who knew the Great Detective best.Reviewers on Observations by Gaslight:'Faye is an expert on all things Sherlockian, she has unparalleled flair.'CrimeReads'Meat and drink for fans of the Canon of the Sacred Writings.'Kirkus

Doc seeks a holy man, or perhaps he's a madman, stirring up war in the Middle East. Only his investigation is hampered by everyone around him, including his contacts, who all seem to be lying!

Excerpt:'In April, 1873, Henry Vane was sitting on the perron of a small summer house in Brittany, poking the pebbles in the driveway with his cane. He had been there for half an hour, and there was nothing in his appearance and attitude to indicate that he would not be there for half an hour more. There was one red pebble, in particular, which he had an especial desire to prod out from among the others, which were gray. But it was round and slippery, and slid about the ferruled end of his cane. After poking it some time, he desisted and held the cane in his hands in front of his knees, which, as the next step of the porch was not much lower, were as high as his chin. “C'en est fait de moi,” he muttered Henry Vane, though a New Yorker, had been brought up in France, and in the French language his thoughts came most readily. He had just seen, for the last time, an old friend of his—a girl, whom he had known in infancy, in childhood, in maidenhood; and whom it seemed incredible, impossible, intolerable, that he should know no more. It was upon the piazza of her uncle's house that he was sitting; and she was to leave the next day for Switzerland. He was of age that day, and was “his own man now.” “And hers,” he thought, bitterly. She did not love him, however; and, at his request, had just told him so.'

John Waring seems to have everything to look forward to. He's just been elected as president of Corinth University, and his engagement has been confirmed to an attractive local widow, who loves him dearly. But then there appears on the scene a beautiful and mysterious young woman who's quite clearly lying about who she is. At sight of her, Waring is clearly more than startled. Later that night he continues to work alone in his study, all doors locked, and the following morning he's found dead at his desk, stabbed in the jugular. Aside from the locked doors, just to make matters more mysterious there's no trace of the weapon. There are, however, small footprints in the snow outside the study's French windows, and these lead toward the boarding house where the Mystery Girl is lodging. (goodreads)

Raspberry Jam is a classic locked-room whodunit featuring Detective Fleming Stone and is widely considered to be one of the best of the Fleming Stone Mysteries. Millionaire Sanford Embury is found dead in bed, alone, with the door of his second-story bedroom bolted shut from the inside. He was known to be a controlling husband, refusing to give his pretty young wife an allowance of cash or her own checking account. Was his wife a party to the murder, or perhaps did she commit the murder in a fit of rage? Who else had a motive? And how does a clue of raspberry jam point to the killer? (goodreads)

This unnamed government agent is in pursuit of a lead on a counterfeiting case when he stumbled headlong into a crime in progress! He steps into the very shoes of the person being framed for the crime, with some interesting results. (Amazon)

Eighteen short stories of crime, suspense, and seduction exploring the timeless allure of lethal ladies.Dangerous women are a steadfast tradition in crime and mystery books—smart, sexy, and an invitation to trouble. From wealthy wives with secret lives to baby-faced beauties spinning webs and laying traps, this collection is filled with compelling short fiction featuring females who are deadlier than the male.With stories by Robert Lopresti, Bev Vincent, Ali Seay, Ana Teresa Pereira, Bernie Crosthwaite, and many more, this seductive volume was handpicked by Anthony Award winner Maxim Jakubowski to represent the finest femmes fatales in crime and mystery fiction.

The complete collection of Criminal Macabre prose stories by Steve Niles (30 Days of Night) featuring two brand new tales and an introduction by horror legend John Carpenter! The world has two faces. The natural and the supernatural. The face we see every day, people filing past us in an almost zombie-like stupor, numb to the horrors of everyday life or driven to madness by the pain and agony of modern-day existence. And those are the people who aren't zombies or monsters!Cal McDonald is a detective with one foot in the real world, and one in the world of magic. For Cal, the horrors we all dream about in the fevered darkness of the night are all-too real, kept at bay through an almost constant influx of drugs to numb the pain, but never erase it. Cut from the same mold as Sam Spade, Jake Gittes, and the famous detectives of Chandler, Hammett and Spillane, Cal McDonald, whether he likes it or not, is all that stands between us and the nightmare world just outside our vision. Collects the complete Criminal Macabre prose stories Savage Membrane; Guns, Drugs, and Monsters; Dial M for Monster, All My Bloody Things, and two new prose stories: The Dead Son and Out of Water.

Deep Lake, in Wisconsin, had a curious and sinister charm. By day it was a charming resort for summer visitors, but by night its character took on sinister depth like the swirl of its own waters. The murder of Sampson Tracy was purely the strangest of all murders. He died of a nail driven into his skull, and round his body were found flowers, fruit, a feather duster, and other seemingly meaningless articles. Find the motive and you find the criminal. But several people have motives which may have led them to the deed. Which one did it? Why did the murderer decorate his victim with those gruesome inanities? And how was the crime committed in a sealed room?

Classic Starts. The stories are abridged; the quality is complete. No child is too young to appreciate the amazing deductive powers of the worlds smartest detective. These easy-to-read Sherlock Holmes stories provide the perfect introduction to the super sleuth and his friend and assistant, Dr. Watson. Among the intriguing tales:'A Scandal in Bohemia,'Holmess first encounter with the mysterious Irene Adler;'The Red-Headed League';'The Adventure of the Six Napoleons'and others.

A collection of twenty-two disturbing tales of crime and suspense from literary icon Joyce Carol Oates, author of Blonde and'America's preeminent fiction writer'(New Yorker).Two hitmen in a depressed rust belt town struggle with a job gone wrong. A girl witnesses a horrifying accident and carries it with her for the rest of her life. Medical students bring a severed foot to a college party. Five-time Pulitzer Prize finalist Joyce Carol Oates has made a career of exploring the forbidden corners of human experience, and the stories collected here, spanning her first three decades as a writer, are among her most unsettling and unforgettable works to date.Originally published in long out-of-print volumes, these tales have not appeared in any form this century – until now. They show a writer boldly engaging with disturbing truths and terrifying possibilities, and deconstructing the tropes and expectations of traditional prose writing as she does so. But beyond their stylistic ingenuity, these are creepy, suspenseful stories that cut straight to the bone; their darkness will linger long after the final page is turned.A must-read for long-time fans of Joyce Carol Oates and an excellent introduction for the uninitiated.Reviews for Joyce Carol Oates:'Oates chillingly depicts the darkness lurking within the everyday.'Sunday Express'Both haunting and sublime.'Literary Review'Splendidly chilling.'Financial Times'Visceral, psychologically involving, and socially astute.'Booklist

Musico was willing to aid the Gestapo colonel—for a price. A classic historical crime story by the author of the Johnny Liddell series.Das E-Book Thirty Pieces of Lead wird angeboten von Wildside Press und wurde mit folgenden Begriffen kategorisiert: crime;short story;world war II;military;mystery;suspense;historical

In 7 to 12 the theft of a valuable diamond necklace is reported to the police. Investigation reveals that the circumstances of the crime are not as they first appear as the dark secrets of a wealthy family come to light.

Andrew Bascombe has been courting Hilda Patrell in his old-fashioned, priggish way. He doesn't realize that Hilda is still married to her husband, separated but not divorced. So when Charles Patrell returns and begins to interfere with his plans, Andrew accidentally kills him in a fit of rage and fear. Panicked at first, his terror soon turns to exhilaration as he realizes he can get away with the deed. All he has to do is keep everyone from the truth...

This early work by Anna Katharine Green was originally published in 1923.'The Step on the Stair'is a must read for fans of one of the first American authors to write in the detective fiction genre. Anna Katharine Green was born in Brooklyn, New York, USA in 1846. She aspired to be a writer from a young age, and corresponded with Ralph Waldo Emerson during her late teens. When her poetry failed to gain recognition, Green produced her first and best-known novel, The Leavenworth Case (1878). Praised by Wilkie Collins, the novel was year's bestseller, establishing Green's reputation. Green wrote at a time when fiction, and especially crime fiction, was dominated by men. However, she is now credited with shaping detective fiction into its classic form, and developing the trope of the recurring detective. (Amazon)

The e-book «Mystery Tales» (Illustrated edition) is a fabulous compilation of the best Poe's suspenseful and imaginative tales. The «Animedia Company» e-book edition (2013) contains 27 original color illustrations by Arthur Rackham and Byam Shaw, which were carefully restored by a publisher. This edition is redesigned especially for the e-book format. The e-book «Mystery Tales» includes 20 tales, such as: William Wilson, The Gold-bug, The Fall Of The House Of Usher, The Assignation, Ligeia, Eleonora, The Masque Of The Red Death, The Cask Of Amontillado, Metzengerstein, The Pit And The Pendulum, A Descent Into The Maelström, Manuscript Found In A Bottle, The Facts In The Case Of M. Valdemar, The Murders In The Rue Morgue, The Black Cat, The Spectacles, The Tell-Tale Heart, King Pest, The Oval Portrait, Hop-Frog.

Edgar Poe was born in Boston Massachusetts on 19th January 1809. His father abandoned his family the following year and within a year his mother had died leaving him an orphan. He was taken in by the Allan family but never formally adopted although he now referred to himself as Edgar Allan Poe. His father alternatively spoiled or chastised him and tension was frequent over gambling debts and monies for his education. His university years to study ancient and modern languages was cut short by lack of money and he enlisted as a private in the army claiming he was 22, it is more probable he was 18. After 2 years he obtained a discharge in order to take up an appointment at the military academy, West Point, where he failed to become an officer.Poe had released his 1st poetry volume in 1827 and after his 3rd turned to prose and placing short stories in several magazines and journals. At age 26 he obtained a licence to marry his cousin. She was a mere 13 but they stayed together until her death from tuberculosis 11 years after.In January 1845 ‘The Raven'was published and became an instant classic. Thereafter followed the prose works for which he is now so rightly famed as a master of the mysterious and the macabre.Edgar Allan Poe died at the tragically early age of 40 on 7th October 1849 in Baltimore, Maryland. Newspapers at the time reported Poe's death as ‘congestion of the brain'or ‘cerebral inflammation', common euphemisms for death from disreputable causes such as alcoholism but the actual cause of death remains a mystery.Many authors have been cited as inventing the detective genre. Perhaps the strongest claimant is the American Edgar Allan Poe. His creation of the Parisian sleuth C. Auguste Dupin with his quite astounding analysis and deductive powers allied to Poe's great imagination and wit create a literary tour de force.Poe's opening story ‘The Murders in the Rue Morgue'met with phenomenal success and indeed is a still a favourite to this day. From this came the sequel ‘The Mystery of Marie Roget'and then ‘The Purloined Letter'. Together they create a strong and vibrant Parisian trilogy, a credit to Poe, Paris and, of course Dupin and a cast of unforgettable characters.

Selected by #1 bestselling author Lee Child: the twenty finest crime stories of the year.There is no finer form for a crime than the short story. WIthin a few pages, a clue can be discovered, divulged and its significance determined; all else is mere embellishment. The classic mystery tale will be familiar to aficionados and casual readers alike: it was invented by Edgar Allen Poe, popularised by Arthur Conan Doyle, and perfected by Agatha Christie.But mystery fiction has changed a great deal over the years – as have all things – and the writers within these pages present far more than a simple case of crime and resolution. Far from predictable, these stories provide fertile grounds of aberrant circumstances and the poor choices they lead to. You will find diverse methods and motivations, original perspectives and perils. Above all, you will find tales of the extremes of human psychology caused by despair, hate, greed, fear, envy, insanity or love.Featuring stories by: Doug Allyn, Jim Allyn, Ambrose Bierce, Michael Bracken, James Lee Burke, Martin Edwards, John Floyd, Jacqueline Freimor, Alison Gaylin, Sue Grafton, Paul Kemprecos, Stephen King, Janice Law, Dennis McFadden, David Marcum, Tom Mead, David Morrell, Joyce Carol Oates, Sara Paretsky, Joseph Walker, Andrew Welsh-Huggins.

Sherlock Holmes is the most famous of all fictional detectives but, across the Atlantic, he had plenty of rivals.Between 1890 and 1920, American writers created dozens and dozens of crime-solvers. This thrilling, unusual anthology features stories about 15 of them, including Professor Augustus SFX Van Dusen, ‘The Thinking Machine', even more cerebral than Holmes; Craig Kennedy, the so-called ‘scientific detective'; Uncle Abner, a shrewd backwoodsman in pre-Civil War Virginia; Violet Strange, New York debutante turned criminologist; and Nick Carter, the original pulp private eye. Editor Nick Rennison gathers together often neglected tales which highlight American crime fiction's early years.

Steph Cha, a rising star who brings a fresh perspective as series editor, takes the helm of the new The Best American Mystery and Suspense, with best-selling crime novelist Alafair Burke joining her as the first guest editor.“Crime writers, forgive the pun, are killing it right now creatively,” writes guest editor Alafair Burke in her introduction. “It was difficult—painful even—to narrow this year's Best American Mystery and Suspense to only twenty stories.” Spanning from a mediocre spa in Florida, to New York's gritty East Village, to death row in Alabama, this collection reveals boundless suspense in small, quiet moments, offering startling twists in the least likely of places. From a powerful response to hateful bullying, to a fight for health care, to a gripping desperation to vote, these stories are equal parts shocking, devastating, and enthralling, revealing the tension pulsing through our everyday lives and affirming that mystery and suspense writing is better than ever before.The Best American Mystery and Suspense 2021includes JENNY BHATT• GAR ANTHONY HAYWOOD• GABINO IGLESIAS• AYA DE LEÓN• LAURA LIPPMAN DELIA C. PITTS• ALEX SEGURA• FAYE SNOWDEN• LISA UNGER and others

The police knew only one fact about the Patent Leather Kid—strange things happened to men who tried to get him! A classic mystery by the author of the Perry Mason mysteries.

Accra is the perfect setting for noir fiction. The telling of such tales—ones involving or suggesting death, with a protagonist who is flawed or devious, driven by either a self-serving motive or one of the seven deadly sins—is woven into the fabric of the city's everyday life... Accra is more than just a capital city. It is a microcosm of Ghana. It is a virtual map of the nation's soul, a complex geographical display of its indigenous presence, the colonial imposition, declarations of freedom, followed by coups d'état, decades of dictatorship, and then, finally, a steady march forward into a promising future... Much like Accra, these stories are not always what they seem. The contributors who penned them know too well how to spin a story into a web... It is an honour and a pleasure to share them and all they reveal about Accra, a city of allegories, one of the most dynamic and diverse places in the world.

When a former NYPD colleague is shot dead in front of him, private investigator Marshall Grade discovers there's far more to the killing than meets the eye. Ray Vialoux is in trouble. Big trouble. And he needs Marshall Grade's help. Reluctantly, Grade agrees to meet. Over dinner in a Brooklyn restaurant, he learns that his former NYPD colleague owes money – a lot of money – to the wrong people. But the conversation is cut short by gunfire, and suddenly Ray is lying dead on the restaurant floor. As Marshall investigates the circumstances leading up to the murder, tracking down the drug dealers, bag men, bent cops and mob players within Ray's orbit, it becomes clear there's far more to the killing than a gambling debt. Just who is responsible for Vialoux's death... and why? What secrets are his family hiding? And can Marshall find the answers before his own history marks him as the prime suspect?

At three o'clock one afternoon the Continental Op started to investigate what looked like a simple case of a stolen car; by four o'clock that same afternoon he had packed one hour—sixty short minutes—ram-jam-full of explosive action.

Sometimes, losing a bet isn't all that bad. This wasn't one of those times. The Barb Goffman Presents series showcases the best in modern mystery and crime stories, personally selected by one of the most acclaimed short stories authors and editors in the mystery field.

First published in 1923, Jim Hanvey, Detective is a collection of seven stories that originally appeared in The Saturday Evening Post and features private eye Jim Hanvey in classic whodunit style mysteries. Described as the'backwoods Nero Wolfe,'the genial Hanvey befriends'good guys'and criminals alike to get the job done.Bank robberies, jewel heists, and all-purposes cons—none are a match for Octavus Roy Cohen's waddling sleuth.

Catch the first three Curious Cat Spy Club titles in one adorable collection! No one at school knows that Kelsey, Becca, and Leo are secretly friends. They have nothing in common—until they rescue three kittens and form a club to help animals through volunteering, spying, and solving mysteries. Includes The Curious Cat Spy Club, The Mystery of the Zorse's Mask, and Kelsey the Spy.

“X Y Z: A Detective Story” is an 1883 detective novella by American novelist and poet Anna Katharine Green (1846–1935). Among the first writers of detective fiction in America, she is considered to be the “mother” of the genre for her legally-accurate and well-thought-out plots. A Government agent is assigned a case involving counterfeiting, but ends up head first in an active criminal investigation, with many twists along the way and accidently stepping inside the shoes of the ones being investigated, this fun, action packed mystery will keep you guessing. A gripping tale of mystery and intrigue that will not disappoint fans of classic detective fiction. Contents include: “The Mysterious Rendezvous”, “The Black Domino”, “An Unexpected Calamity”, “In the Library”, and “The Yellow Domino”. Other notable works by this author include: “The Leavenworth Case” (1878), “A Strange Disappearance” (1880), and “The Circular Study” (1900). Read & Co. Classics is proudly republishing this vintage detective novel now in a brand new edition complete with a specially-commissioned new biography of the author.

'A collection that might have been called CSI: 1912.'—Kirkus ReviewsThe seventh book in the esteemed Library of Congress Crime Classics, an exciting new classic mystery series created in exclusive partnership with the Library of Congress. This short story collection features twelve tales of intrigue and suspense, starring Craig Kennedy, the'American Sherlock Holmes.'New York City, early 1900s.Craig Kennedy, a university professor who uses science to help catch criminals, investigates crimes in and around NYC boroughs featuring deaths by apparent-but-inexplicable means. These highly imaginative crimes include spontaneous combustion and vengeful spirits, along with less fatal crimes involving kidnapping, safe-cracking, and a missing fortune in diamonds. With his impressive knowledge, friend Walter Jameson (his own Watson!), and use of cutting-edge technology of the day, Kennedy cracks each case using unorthodox yet entertaining means.Arthur B. Reeve's Craig Kennedy stories were so popular in his time that he went on to publish twenty-six books featuring the professor, who also appeared in comic strips and a number of films. Readers of classic crime fiction will delight in this collection of twelve short stories. Fans of Sherlock Holmes will especially appreciate Kennedy's insistence on logic and science over brawn.

The first Black Cat Mystery Magazine of 2021 presents 7 compelling original tales, plus a classic reprint by Donald Barr Chidsey. Included are: TRIP UP ON HIGH STREET, by John HegenbergerST. KILLIAN'S CHOICE, by M.A. MonninYOU LOSE, WE FIND, by Jon Matthew FarberTHE BIG PICTURE, by John M. FloydAN ARTIST IN THE HAREM, by Elizabeth ZelvinPLANTED IN MIDAIR, by D.V. BennettAN INCONVENIENT SLEUTH, by Barb Goffman'Just Another Bum,'by Donald Barr Chidsey

This collection brings together more than fifty of Edgar Allan Poe's most important stories, poems, and critical writings, which established him as one of the most distinctive voices in American Literature, in a single accessible volume.Alongside annotated texts of each work, it also includes a complete Reader's Guide to Poe's work to help readers explore the contexts, style, and reception of his writing from his own time to today.An essential resource for students and teachers of Poe, this book includes stories such as'The Fall of the House of Usher','The Tell-Tale Heart', and'The Purloined Letter'as well as his Gothic narrative poem'The Raven'and some of his most significant critical writings.

The Greatest Works of Edgar Allan Poe brings together the haunting and mesmerizing tales of the literary master. Immerse yourself in Poe's macabre imagination, explore his gothic themes, and experience the chilling beauty of his prose. Discover the iconic stories and poems of Edgar Allan Poe. Engage with his masterful blend of horror, mystery, and psychological depth. Experience the timeless allure of classics like'The Purloined Letter'and'The Raven'. Delve into the dark recesses of the human psyche through Poe's vivid storytelling. This collection showcases Poe's unparalleled literary talent, making it an essential addition for fans of gothic literature and lovers of the macabre.

Set in Los Angeles from 1947 to 1959, Hollywood Nocturnes gives us an afterword and six stories set in the same crime-ridden, sex-crazed period of history of James Ellroy's L.A. Quartet novels (which include L.A. Confidential and The Big Nowhere).Dig this: the swinging sax man's doing repos and plotting a kidnapping-of himself; a tommy gun is ripping apart windows, curtains, and bodies in High Darktown; a carhop at Scrivner's is keeping two extremely sweet sugar daddies, Howard Hughes and mobster Mickey Cohen, happy-until the scene turns murderous.This is the hip-hop hard-edged world of L.A. 1950s style: cars with fins, Commies in closets, starmakers with come-ons, ex-cons with guns, and cops with mean streaks as wide as Sunset Strip.James Ellroy's bizarre, stark tales dazzle us with their unexpected humor, raw brutality, and slightly lighter-than-usual noir realism. Hollywood Nocturnes is quintessential Ellroy: bluesy, black, and very, very hot.

A collection of the year's best mystery short fiction selected by New York Times best-selling and Edgar Award–winning author C. J. Box.C. J. Box, #1 New York Times best-selling author of the hugely popular Joe Pickett series, selects the best short mystery and crime fiction of the year in this annual “treat for crime-fiction fans” (Library Journal).

The first three holiday mini-mysteries in the New York Times bestselling Tourist Trap Mystery series, together for the first time!Jill Gardner, owner of Coffee, Books, and More, knows better than anyone that Sunny South Cove, California, is the picture-perfect place to spend the holidays—solving murders... ROCKETS'DEAD GLARE When the local volunteer fire chief is found buried in ashes, Jill will have to work quickly to nab a killer with a short fuse—or else everyone's Fourth of July will end with a fizzle... A DEADLY BREW Jill and her friends gather for an overnight Halloween fright fest in an abandoned house. Sounds like fun until a ghost makes contact with Jill IRL. SANTA PUPPY Jill Gardner has volunteered to host a Christmas adopt-a-pet party at Coffee, Books, and More. But when a dog owner mysteriously dies, it's up to Jill to play Santa's Little Crime Solver... Praise for The Tourist Trap Mysteries “I love the author's style, which was warm and friendly... [A] wonderfully appealing series.” —Dru's Book Musings “Light, fun, and kept me thoroughly engaged.”—The Young Folks

Rebellion, revolution, and rock and roll defined the ‘60s. As music moved from country to folk protest songs, rock became the voice of the “turn on, tune in, drop out,” generation. Peace, love, and harmony were the goals. Meditation, mysticism, and psychedelic drugs were the way to enlightenment. Peace, love, and crime were often the result, sometimes humorous, sometimes deadly. And the music played on. As Harold says in The Big Chill, “There is no other music, not in my house.” Spinning their chosen tunes and the tale of its matching crime are: Earl Staggs, Jack Bates, Linda Kay Hardie, Jeanne DuBois, Terrie Farley Moran, Heidi Hunter, Merrilee Robson, Claire A. Murray, Michael Bracken, Maddi Davidson, Joseph S. Walker, Dawn Dixon, Karen Keely, Paul D. Marks, Wendy Harrison, Mary Keliikoa, Maxim Jakubowski, James A. Hearn, C. A, Fehmel, Catina Williams, Josh Pachter, and John Floyd, talented writers all.

These stories and poems come from the mind of one of the earliest masters of macabre literature.From the mysterious to the macabre, the works of Edgar Allan Poe have the power to evoke readers'deepest emotions. Poe's stories and poems explore the darker side of life and still offer lessons and insight into human behavior today. This Word Cloud edition presents many of Poe's best-known works, including “The Raven,” “The Murders in the Rue Morgue,” “The Tell-Tale Heart,” and “The Fall of the House of Usher,” along with dozens of other short stories and poems.

Alabama joins Mississippi as fertile Deep South soil for the Noir Series.“The Good Thief” by Ravi Howard has been selected for inclusion in Best American Mystery and Suspense 2021!'A beautifully engineered anthology of 16 crime and mystery stories that are heavy on setting, atmosphere, and human emotion.'--Mystery Scene'Each story springs from a particular place, actual streets, honkytonks or stomping grounds any Alabamian may have walked.'--Tuscaloosa NewsOne of the Southern Review of Book's Best Southern Books of April 2020One of Alabama.com's 10 recent books with Alabama ties you'll want to read'Alabama Noir is known for its fertile deep-south perspective and encounters troubles and foibles galore as well as darkness in many forms.'--Birmingham Times'Short fiction is alive and well in Alabama...There is not a single story unworthy of this collection infused with Alabama settings, and all readers will find tasty literary morsels to their liking.'--Alabama Writers'Forum'If the darkness suits you, there's a new anthology to suit your shadowy heart...[Alabama Noir] holds 16 tales packed with sinister ambition, iniquity, revenge and the prices we pay for our schemes.'--Lagniappe Weekly'Alabama Noir presents a group of stories diverse in their approach, their subject matter, their sub-genre, their influences, and their political perspective, and it can be fascinating to see how those varied influences intersect.'--Another Chicago Magazine'Banish any boredom with a descent into Alabama Noir.'--Southern Review of Books'The 16 tales in this entertaining Akashic noir anthology cover the entire state of Alabama...The flaws are few and far between, and as is so often the case for the series, each contributor consistently embraces the setting.'--Publishers Weekly'Especially and unreservedly recommended.'--Midwest Book ReviewAkashic Books continues its award-winning series of original noir anthologies, launched in 2004 with Brooklyn Noir. Each book comprises all new stories, each one set in a distinct location within the geographic area of the book.Brand-new stories by: Ace Atkins, Tom Franklin, Anita Miller Garner, Suzanne Hudson, Kirk Curnutt, Wendy Reed, Carolyn Haines, Anthony Grooms, Michelle Richmond, Winston Groom, Ravi Howard, Thom Gossom Jr., Brad Watson, Daniel Wallace, D. Winston Brown, and Marlin Barton.From the introduction by Don Noble:Some locales seem to come with their own soundtrack. Don Ho and his tiny bubbles provide the background music for Hawaii, Edith Piaf for Paris. The reggae of Bob Marley evokes Jamaica. The soundtrack for Alabama is without question provided by our troubled troubadour Hank Williams. The 2016 biography Hank by Mark Ribowsky paints a dark picture of the musician's short, alcoholic, drug-filled life: a life of loneliness and pain. He goes so far as to call Hank's life story'noir-ish'...In Alabama Noir we encounter'troubles and foibles'galore, darkness in many forms. The stories range from the deadly grim to some that are actually mildly humorous. We see desperate behavior on the banks of the Tennessee River, in the neighborhoods of Birmingham, in the affluent suburbs of Mobile, in a cemetery in Montgomery, and even on the deceptively pleasant beaches of the Gulf of Mexico.Fans of noir should all find something to enjoy.

A tall, elegant middle-aged woman sat in front of a mirror, and the finishing touches of her rich toilet seat young woman were kneeling on the floor next to her. The noted picture, and this is not from belonging to the wealth and splendor observed everywhere, but from the character of two persons who, although of completely different composition, and possibly belong to the two extremes of society, were both remarkable for their strength and individuality of expression, but also the appearance of anxiety and suppressed anxiety that made them both look like the shadows of one deep dark thought

This edition of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes contains twelve short stories that introduce the reader to the iconic detective and his sidekick, Dr. Watson. Sherlock Holmes is a mysterious person. Extremely observant, highly intelligent, and yet emotionally unstable, Holmes'reputation as a detective is unparalleled. Beyond his proclivity for forensic science, Sherlock Homes is a gifted violinist, thoroughly enjoys using the word, “elementary,” and is always dressed in his signature deerstalker cap and cape – all of which serve him in fending off his arch nemesis, Moriarty. Dr. Watson, one of Sherlock Holmes'few acquaintances, aids him in his mystery-solving adventures, and the duo are legendary among the ranks of fictional crime-solving sleuths. Written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, this edition of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes includes stories such as A Scandal in Bohemia, The Red-Headed League, A Case of Identity and many more. With an eye-catching new cover and new note about the author, this book is both modern and readable. Since our inception in 2020, Mint Editions has kept sustainability and innovation at the forefront of our mission. Each and every Mint Edition title gets a fresh, professionally typeset manuscript and a dazzling new cover, all while maintaining the integrity of the original book. With thousands of titles in our collection, we aim to spotlight diverse public domain works to help them find modern audiences. Mint Editions celebrates a breadth of literary works, curated from both canonical and overlooked classics from writers around the globe.

Charlie Chen – the hero of the detective series, owned by the pen of the American writer Earl D. Biggers. Biggers wrote about two dozen action stories and plays, but he has been preserved in the memory of many generations of readers primarily as the creator of the image of this handsome inspector, the immense thickness of a Chinese living in Honolulu, where he now has to deal with purely Chinese dexterity. The multibook includes the most read novels of the author, such as: „The House Without a Key”, „The Chinese Parrot”, „Behind That Curtain”, „The Black Camel”, „Charlie Chan Carries On”, „Keeper of the Keys”.