From Publishers Weekly
No hit-or-miss anthology, this first-rate collection of 25 contemporary mysteries offers a cross-section view of the American detective, suspense and mystery short-story worlds. Gorman, editor of Mystery Scene, gathers the works of such masters as Tony Hillerman, Sharyn McCrumb, Ed McBain and Margaret Maron to fully support Jon L. Breen's introductory appreciation of "the amazing breadth and depth of the present-day output." Margaret Millar's opening tale (one of the six stories with original copyright dates preceding the 1980s) sets the tone by warning readers to expect the unexpected when a little girl becomes infatuated with the new family in the neighborhood. Marcia Muller's Sharon McCone ferrets out a murderer at a clown convention; Bill Pronzini's Nameless Detective quickly puts together small clues to find a killer. Robert Bloch, Linda Grant, Lawrence Block, Joe Gores and Joan Hess are among the talented crew whose stories comprise this admirably representative, memorable collection. Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

This is the essential one-volume companion for all lovers of mystery and suspense fiction. Here you'll find the leading storytellers of our time including Tony Hillerman, Ed McBain, Sara Paretsky, Charlotte MacLeod and many others. This handsome, comprehensive book represents crime fiction at its absolute best. With a knowledgeable introduction by Jon L. Breen and head notes for each story by mystery novelist and editor Ed Gorman, the collection traces the development of contemporary fiction from a seminal period late in the 1960s, when such stories as Joe Gores' "The Second Coming" foreshadowed the social changes that would become subject matter for crime fiction and Margaret Millar's "The People Across the Canyon" exemplified the school of psychological suspense that would be the province of women writers. The anthology also includes an extensive recommended reading list that will have great appeal to readers who want to expand or deepen their mystery reading. Ideal as a gift, perfect for every library, A Modern Treasury of Great Detective and Murder Mysteries is the finest mystery and crime collection available.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly