Short Mystery Collection

In these psychologically daring, chillingly suspenseful pieces, the author of We Were the Mulvaneys and Blonde writes about women facing threats past and present, once again cementing her reputation for "great intelligence and dead-on imaginative powers" (Los Angeles Times Book Review).

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.

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.

"ALICE CROWLEY'S ENDINGS TO HER STORIES ARE ALWAYS UNEXPECTED!" ~ HWK "I LOVED THE IMAGINATION OF THIS AUTHOR!" ~ Satisfied Kindle Reader "ALICE CROWLEY IS ONE OF OUR GREATEST LIVING WRITERS!" ~ G. Taylor Debbie is a housewife who is frustrated and desperate to have her reality gaped and stretched. The perfect opportunity has come hard because Debbie's best friend introduces her to a powerful Tantric yoga coach who is also a stud combat vet and war hero. This alpha is nursing a few wounds of his own, and Debbie immediately gushes with attraction. But not all is as it seems, because now ...

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 ...

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 ...

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.

Clea McAllister returns to the Newport haven of her childhood, a gilded mansion by the sea once owned by her beloved grandmother. Now she is a paying guest at her own ancestral home, and Clea’s vacation hides a darker intention: to confront the estate lawyer who stole her rightful inheritance. But wicked games are still being played at Belle Mer, and Clea uncovers more than she ever intended.

Voracious monsters threaten to consume a helpful priest. A gamer girl finds herself trapped in a digital realm of death. One widow’s worst nightmare reaches out from beyond the grave. Scare Street is proud to present the best in bone-chilling supernatural horror. This volume contains three macabre morsels for your listening pleasure. These fast-paced tales of terror are guaranteed to keep you listening well past your bedtime.

With gimlet-eyed cool and razor-sharp wit, these spare, stylish stories from a master of modern-crime fiction assemble a world of gangsters and con men, of do-gooders breaking bad and those caught in the crossfire. The uncle of an FBI agent spends his life as sheriff in different cities, living too close to the violent acts of men; a cocktail waitress moves through several desert towns trying to escape the unexplainable loss of an adopted daughter; a drug dealer with a penchant for karaoke meets a talkative lawyer and a silent clown in a Palm Springs bar.

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.

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...

With heart-stopping stories by Zane, Tananarive Due and Steven Barnes, Joy M. Copeland, Robert Fleming, Terence Taylor, Francine Lewis, Brandon Massey, and 12 other established or up-and-coming writers, Dark Dreams is a must-have contemporary anthology for fans of the supernatural.

Dramatisations and readings of five of Josephine Tey's classic mystery novels. Scottish novelist and playwright Josephine Tey was one of the greatest Golden Age crime writers and the author of eight mysteries, including six featuring Scotland Yard inspector Alan Grant. The most famous of these, The Daughter of Time, was acclaimed the greatest crime novel of all time by the Crime Writers' Association. A full-cast dramatisation of this iconic story is included here, along with adaptations of four of her other much-loved mystery novels.

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 the love of his life left him at the altar in a rather cruel manner, Lord Godden understandably falls into a deep sadness that concerns his parents to a desperate extent. When they announce that he is to be married to the Duke and Duchess of Stowe’s daughter, Lord Godden is less that thrilled. He had sworn himself off women and no-one was going to convince him otherwise. Lady Hannah is unlike anyone Lord Godden has ever met in in his life and soon he learns that it only takes the right person to both heal his heart, and to restore the feelings he had buried within himself. This Box ...

»You Will Be the Death of Me« Ivy, Mateo und Cal waren einmal befreundet, jetzt haben sie nichts mehr miteinander zu tun. Aber als Cal zu spät zur Schule kommt und dort auf Ivy und Mateo trifft, ist das die Gelegenheit, eine alte Tradition wiederaufleben zu lassen: einen Tag blau machen. Bei ihrem spontanen Ausflug in die Stadt sichten sie zufällig einen vierten Schüler auf Abwegen und folgen ihm – mitten hinein in einen Tatort. Ivy, Cal und Mateo kennen den Toten, der vor ihnen liegt – und eigentlich sollten sie jetzt die Polizei rufen. Doch sie alle haben eine Verbindung zum Opfer.

This book is a collection of 10 short horror stories. The Pantry in The Basement A lot of people think that basements can be a bit on the scary side, but there was always something about that house with the blocked off pantry in the basement. Secret rooms aren't always a pleasant surprise for everyone, as Paul and Stephanie would learn. The Girl Who Loved to Smile Everyone talks about the importance of smiling. They say it makes you look more attractive and charming. What they fail to mention is that the reason for smiling can be more important than the smile itself. Everyone talks about ...

The victims are the most popular girls in school, each murdered and arranged in a grim fairy-tale tableau. To find the killer, rookie detective Callum Pederson has gone undercover where the Princes hold court. He’s found enough secrets among the bros to bring them in for questioning - but he could very well get lost in the games the Princes play.

It’s almost Valentine’s Day, the busiest time of the year at Beechy’s Sweets, where the Amish gifts of love and faith are even sweeter than the home-made candy. This audiobook includes three stories: The Sweetest Courtship by national best-selling author Emma Miller, The Sweetest Truth by national best-selling author Laura Bradford, and Nothing Tastes so Sweet by award-winning author Mary Ellis.