M.O. - Crimes of Practice: The Offical CWA Anthology

by Martin Edwards (Editor), Mick Herron, Ann Cleeves

Picking up the primary scent of any investigation, this anthology of wicked tales paints a chilling portrait of modus operandi—the signature that identifies any repeat offender. In this collection of villainous narratives, a coroner reveals a body’s telltale clues to his students as he unwittingly dissects his own relationship, a broken-down driver turns his roadside routine into a quite different type of pick-up, and two creative-writing tutors discuss the merits of “hard-boiled” versus “cozy” schools of crime writing while a murderous student points out that it’s really procedure that counts. From the ex-doctor tenderly administering a final prescription to his victims to the party of finishing school debutantes exacting revenge on their lecherous host, these stories demonstrate that, even with the most despicable of crimes, there is always methodology within the madness.

248 pages, Paperback

First published May 4, 2008

About the author

Martin Edwards has been described by Richard Osman as ‘a true master of British crime writing.’ He has published twenty-three novels, which include the eight Lake District Mysteries, one of which was shortlisted for the Theakston’s Prize for best crime novel of the year and four books featuring Rachel Savernake, including the Dagger-nominated Gallows Court and Blackstone Fell, while Gallows Court and Sepulchre Street were shortlisted for the eDunnit award for best crime novel of the year. He is also the author of two multi-award-winning histories of crime fiction, The Life of Crime and The Golden Age of Murder. He has received three Daggers from the Crime Writers’ Association and two Edgars from the Mystery Writers of America and has also been nominated three times for Gold Daggers. In addition to the CWA Diamond Dagger (the highest honour in UK crime writing) he has received four other lifetime achievement awards: for his fiction, short fiction, non-fiction, and scholarship. He is consultant to the British Library’s Crime Classics, a former Chair of the CWA, and since 2015 has been President of the Detection Club.

Reviews

[Liv · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was a nice little anthology containing many short stories, all centred around crime and the theme of Modus Operandi, yet all quite varied in terms of setting, characters and individual plots - some stories were excellent, some not as good, but all fairly enjoyable. Some of my favourites were Closure, Going Back, Funeral Weather, Inglenook and A Missing Person’s Enquiry.

This was my first time reading an anthology in a long time and I really appreciated the easy to read format - all the stories were short and snappy, which really appealed to me. I have also found a few good crime authors who I would love to read more stories from!

[Adam Thomas · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was a random charity shop purchase, but it's a little too gritty and unpleasant for my liking.

[Kally Sheng · Rating 4 out of 5]

CONTENTS
Introduction - Martin Edwards, vii
Vivisection - Bernie Crosthwaite, 1
And Here's the Next Clue... - Amy Myers, 15
Closure - Carol Anne Davis, 31
Anne and Clare - Liz Evans, 43
The Nether World - Paul A. Freeman, 59
Dirty, Evil Greed - Karline Smith, 65
Bedside Manners - Martin Edwards, 83
The Last Get-Together - Robert Barnard, 89
All She Wrote - Mick Herron, 103
Going Back - Ann Cleeves, 115
The Blogging Game - Yvonne Eve Walus, 129
The End of a Series - Jürgen Ehlers, 139
A Cabinet of Curiosities - Christine Poulson, 153
Just Coming, After I Kill Myself - André Marois, Translated by Alba Griffin, 167
Funeral Weather - Kate Ellis, 173
One Last Pick-Up - Sarah Hilary, 189
Inglenook - Douglas Stewart, 191
Outrage - Jim Gregson, 207
A Missing Person's Inquiry - Martyn Bedford, 221
Contributors, 235

[Julie Clarke · Rating 4 out of 5]

A riveting read for any would-be crime author.