Short Mystery Collection

The best mysteries have one thing in common: a memorable perpetrator. For every Sherlock Holmes or Sam Spade in noble pursuit, there's a Count Dracula, a Lester Leith, or a Jimmy Valentine. These are the rogues and villains who haunt our imaginations - and who often have more in common with their heroic counterparts than we might expect. Now, for the first time ever, Otto Penzler gathers the iconic traitors, thieves, con men, sociopaths, and killers who have crept through the mystery canon over the past 150 years, captivating and horrifying readers in equal measure.

The Innocence of Father Brown is the first collection of short stories featuring G.K. Chesterton's beloved detective, Father Brown, a humble and unassuming Catholic priest with a sharp mind for solving mysteries. Unlike the typical detectives of his time, Father Brown relies on his deep understanding of human nature, morality, and logic to unravel even the most perplexing cases. This complete collection includes classic stories such as The Blue Cross, where Father Brown first crosses paths with the brilliant thief Flambeau, and The Secret Garden, a dark and puzzling murder mystery.

Spadework was published on the 25th anniversary of The Snatch, the first Nameless Detective novel. Spadework collects 15 short stories perfect for those who love the Nameless Detective. Two of the stories appear in print for the first time ("Worried Mother Job" and "Zero Tolerance"). The book has an excellent foreword by Marcia Muller about her take on her husband's work, and an interesting afterword by Mr. Bill Pronzini in which he talks about his dedication to the needs of the story.

A perfect weekend read for fans of thrillers, horror, and psychological suspense. This collection of psychological horror novellas will keep you looking over your shoulder. Featuring the Amazon Best-Selling The Girl Who Reappeared, Outward, and There is Something in the Sky, along with bonus content. Customer Reviews: “DeLuise has created quite a horrific tragedy, and I can't wait to read the second installment.” “Thrilling, captivating. An amazing story.” “It was absolutely horrifying. Little by little the real story unravels.”

Matchmaker Eve Brantley, who happens to be a billionaire in her own right, likes all of her ducks in a row. She’s knowledgeable, has an innate knack for reading people and is generally successful at matching people with potential partners; except for when it comes to herself. Hannah Dillard hasn’t been to Aruba since her high school graduation trip. During her stay she bumps into a beautiful woman who definitely makes her look twice. Deciding a matchmaker’s conference might be fun; she pays the fee at the door and roams the halls, where she finds the beautiful woman again. Can these ...

It’s bad enough that its venom-dripping chelicerae can slice through flesh like warm butter. Worse? It’s right there under the bunk. It’s a fact now. To make it through the night, the children must obey the rules: don’t get out of bed, stay out of the shadows, and don’t wake the beast. But as the threats multiply, so do the rules of survival. And with the safety of dawn still hours away, the fun is just beginning.

Newly qualified cop Rachel Prince’s week has been a mixed bag. While thrilled to qualify as a fully fledged police officer, she’s still trying to get over being spectacularly dumped by her fiancé. So a refreshing cruise ship vacation seems like the perfect remedy, except for the charismatic Italian man with the shifty eyes.

Enjoy three stories of romance, mystery, and the magic of Christmas! THE OXFORD STREET COFFEE HOUSE DETECTIVES Two young women and one young man lead unobtrusive lives working at a Victorian coffee house, for the owner Mr. McDougal. But when a famous painting is stolen, they must assume their other identities--for they moonlight as apprentice detectives under the employ of Mycroft Holmes. THE ROOKS OF MISSELTHWAITE - PART 1: IN THE FORGOTTEN GARDEN Lilias Lennox and her sister Evelia have lost everything. Their parents are dead, their brother is serving in India, and now their sole ...

The handpicked stories in this collection introduce us to the most determined of gumshoe gals, from debutant detectives like Anna Katharine Green's Violet Strange to spinster sleuths like Mary Roberts Rinehart's Hilda Adams, from groundbreaking female cops like Baroness Orczy's Lady Molly to contemporary crime-fighting PIs like Sue Grafton's Kinsey Millhone, and include indelible tales from Agatha Christie, Carolyn Wells, Edgar Wallace, L. T. Meade and Robert Eustace, Sara Paretsky, Nevada Barr, Laura Lippman, and many more.

Crime fiction has been a beloved genre for generations, capturing the imaginations of readers around the world. But what is it about these stories of murder, deceit, and suspense that keep us coming back for more? One reason may be the thrill of the unknown. Crime fiction often presents complex and intriguing mysteries for readers to solve, keeping us on the edge of our seats as we try to unravel the clues and uncover the truth. The anticipation of discovering the culprit can be both exhilarating and satisfying, drawing us deeper into the world of the story. Crime fiction allows us to ...

The terror at Hotel Caligula continues, as ghost-hunting enthusiasts explore its sinister corners. Ancient forces of nature turn the table on a lonely old man. And bullied teenagers discover that supernatural vengeance comes with a deadly price....

When Ama’s straitlaced boyfriend, Nathan, invites her to his secluded upstate New York cabin for the weekend, she can’t say no. It’s a chance for them to escape the city’s distractions, share intimate secrets, and take their relationship to a deeper level. By day, it feels like the perfect love story. But when Ama is awakened by strange events, she starts to wonder if she really wants to know everything about Nathan.

A collection of short stories including: The Maid and the Wine Glass; The Perfect Alibi; What are You Doing in Jail Mom?, What's for Dinner? Six and Out. and Roses for Her Birthday. These edgy stories combine humor with irreverence. They are a perfect mix of humor and mystery for afternoons at the beach.

A collection of thrilling tales from H. P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos by one of horror's biggest legends, this volume contains the very best of Brian Lumley's Mythos short stories.

After years of traditional treatments and therapies, Derrick still suffers from pain ineluctable enough that it has become his identity. Then he hears of an exclusive, very private New York clinic that promises relief. It comes highly recommended by a friend. The multisession remedy unfolds as a sensorial wonder that’s so illuminating it’s enough to bring tears to Derrick’s eyes. It’s all working so well. So unexpectedly well.

All 26 fiendish tales from the best-selling series, A-Z of Horror, by Iain Rob Wright. From neighbourhood yetis to military robots, this terrifying collection has it all and will leave you sleeping with the lights on!

If you like your cozy mysteries with a bit of humour, small town Canadian life, a hint of romance, a close circle of quirky, lovable characters that you wish you knew in real life, dogs and cats, and free knitting patterns, there's something in this series for you.

Few characters have the loyal readership of Bill Pronzini's "Nameless Detective." The 14 stories in this collection span his entire 35-year life on the printed page. They include "It's a Lousy World," where Nameless proves that a friend did not commit the crime he was accused of; "Dead Man's Slough" and "The Ghosts of Ragged-Ass Gulch," which take him out of San Francisco into the hinterlands; and "Souls Burning," where he tries to help an old friend make one last try at setting things right.

Ivy Bloom wants to believe you can go home again and so she does, leaving her work as a writer in NYC and returning to Hydrangea Bay on Cape Cod to start the next chapter of her book-loving life. She and her sister Gigi work to turn the rambling old mansion they have inherited into a bookstore. Baby books in the nursery, entertaining books in the dining room and romance reads in the ladies boudoir. It looked like it would work out great right up until the moment that the leader of a local religious cult turned up dead in the driveway. Soon his wife is dead as well. Through no fault of her ...

When I was a child, one of my favorite stories was about a haunted house on the edge of town. The tale was embellished with gory details and bone-chilling twists, leaving me both terrified and fascinated. Despite the fear that crept into my bones, I couldn't get enough of these gruesome tales. As I grew older, I found myself seeking out horror stories in books, movies, and even podcasts. The adrenaline rush that came with each jump scare and the thrill of being transported to a world of darkness and terror became almost addicting. I reveled in the feeling of being scared out of my wits, yet...