The Best American Mystery Stories 2005 [Paperback]

Quality writing from some of the biggest names in the genre marks the 10th collection in this series, though Turow concedes in the introduction that the 21 stories are more crime tales than mysteries. Walter Mosley contributes the collection's standout, "Karma," a classic noir exercise that brings the sweat and despair of the characters to life. Jeffery Deaver's "Born Bad" and Jane Haddam's "Edelweiss" are also solid entries, with nifty plot twists reminiscent of the TV series Alfred Hitchcock Presents and the short stories of Roald Dahl. A number of stories share the same hook, though, which lessens the impact, and the editor's omission of even one fair-play whodunit will disappoint some readers. Series editor Otto Penzler provides his usual cogent, candid foreword. (Oct.)
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*Starred Review* "If you like all your characters living at the end of a story, this may not be the book for you," writes guest editor Turow in the introduction to the latest installment in this superb series, now in its tenth year. Indeed, homicide rests at the icy heart of these 21 taut tales, set in locales ranging from small-town Indiana and the Texas Hill Country to an ominous rock canyon on the outskirts of Las Vegas. Mystery fans will welcome the diversity of voices here, from veterans Walter Mosley, Joyce Carol Oates, Elmore Leonard, and the late Ed McBain ("Improvisation," the last short story he wrote, begins with the tantalizing line, "Why don't we kill somebody?") to lesser-known but no-less--impressive talents Alan Heathcock, Jeff Somers, and Mike MacLean. Among the best: Edgar winner Wendy Hornsby's "Dust Up," in which a fierce female wildlife conservationist overcomes a trio of Mob thugs, and novelist Andrew Klavan's mordant "Her Lord and Master," which serves up equal doses of sadomasochism and suspense. According to series editor Otto Penzler, the number of entries, culled from periodicals, literary journals, and e-zines, has increased nearly tenfold over the years (Penzler considered a "quaint" 500 in 1997). Copious contributors' notes reveal the fiendishly clever minds behind this criminal dim sum. A showcase series finishes its first decade on a resoundingly high note. Allison Block
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"A sterling collection that should both entertain and serve as an introduction to some formidable new talents" Publishers Weekly

Edited by the critically acclaimed author Joyce Carol Oates, "The Best American Mystery Stories" brings together the genres finest from the past year. With stories from mystery veterans and newly discovered talents, this thrilling collection is sure to appeal to crime fiction fans of all tastes. It includes stories from Scott Turow, Edward P. Jones, Louise Erdrich, Dennis Lehane, Daniel Handler, Laura Lippman, George V. Higgins, David Means, Richard Burgin, Scott Wolven, Stuart M. Kaminsky and others.

Joyce Carol Oates is the author of numerous books, including the National Book Award winner Then and most recently the novel The Falls. The series editor, Otto Penzler, is the founder of the Mysterious Bookshop and the Mysterious Press