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The World's Finest Mystery and Crime Stories #2
The World's Finest Mystery and Crime Stories: Second Annual Collection
Forty-one of the best mystery and suspense stories from around the world together in "a standout among mystery anthologies" (
Booklist
).
"This collection, the second in an annual series, has heft and authority. . . . Capers, cozies, character puzzles, mysteries that hinge on wordplay, excursions into noir, and comic jaunts are all represented." — Booklist
A Banquete of Mystery and Crime Fiction
Here, for the delectation of readers who hunger for outstanding mystery reading, are gathered the greatest mystery and crime stories of 2000. Award-winning author and editor Ed Gorman has once again collected the best stories of the year from around the world, to baffle, tantalize, and delight mystery readers. Included are tales of crime, mystery, and suspense from such authors
· Lawrence Block
· Jan Burke
· Dorothy Cannell
· Clark Howard
· Peter Lovesey
· Joyce Carol Oates
· Nancy Pickard
· Bill Pronzini
· Ian Rankin
· And a host of others
"The stories range in quality from above average to superb; indeed the biggest mystery is how a single year could have produced a bumper crop of so many outstanding tales." — Kirkus Reviews
"This collection, the second in an annual series, has heft and authority. . . . Capers, cozies, character puzzles, mysteries that hinge on wordplay, excursions into noir, and comic jaunts are all represented." — Booklist
A Banquete of Mystery and Crime Fiction
Here, for the delectation of readers who hunger for outstanding mystery reading, are gathered the greatest mystery and crime stories of 2000. Award-winning author and editor Ed Gorman has once again collected the best stories of the year from around the world, to baffle, tantalize, and delight mystery readers. Included are tales of crime, mystery, and suspense from such authors
· Lawrence Block
· Jan Burke
· Dorothy Cannell
· Clark Howard
· Peter Lovesey
· Joyce Carol Oates
· Nancy Pickard
· Bill Pronzini
· Ian Rankin
· And a host of others
"The stories range in quality from above average to superb; indeed the biggest mystery is how a single year could have produced a bumper crop of so many outstanding tales." — Kirkus Reviews
689 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 20, 2000
About the author
Lawrence Block
742 books3,067 followersLawrence Block has been writing crime, mystery, and suspense fiction for more than half a century. He has published in excess (oh, wretched excess!) of 100 books, and no end of short stories.
Born in Buffalo, N.Y., LB attended Antioch College, but left before completing his studies; school authorities advised him that they felt he’d be happier elsewhere, and he thought this was remarkably perceptive of them.
His earliest work, published pseudonymously in the late 1950s, was mostly in the field of midcentury erotica, an apprenticeship he shared with Donald E. Westlake and Robert Silverberg. The first time Lawrence Block’s name appeared in print was when his short story “You Can’t Lose” was published in the February 1958 issue of Manhunt. The first book published under his own name was Mona (1961); it was reissued several times over the years, once as Sweet Slow Death. In 2005 it became the first offering from Hard Case Crime, and bore for the first time LB’s original title, Grifter’s Game.
LB is best known for his series characters, including cop-turned-private investigator Matthew Scudder, gentleman burglar Bernie Rhodenbarr, globe-trotting insomniac Evan Tanner, and introspective assassin Keller.
Because one name is never enough, LB has also published under pseudonyms including Jill Emerson, John Warren Wells, Lesley Evans, and Anne Campbell Clarke.
LB’s magazine appearances include American Heritage, Redbook, Playboy, Linn’s Stamp News, Cosmopolitan, GQ, and The New York Times. His monthly instructional column ran in Writer’s Digest for 14 years, and led to a string of books for writers, including the classics Telling Lies for Fun & Profit and The Liar’s Bible. He has also written episodic television (Tilt!) and the Wong Kar-wai film, My Blueberry Nights.
Several of LB’s books have been filmed. The latest, A Walk Among the Tombstones, stars Liam Neeson as Matthew Scudder and is scheduled for release in September, 2014.
LB is a Grand Master of Mystery Writers of America, and a past president of MWA and the Private Eye Writers of America. He has won the Edgar and Shamus awards four times each, and the Japanese Maltese Falcon award twice, as well as the Nero Wolfe and Philip Marlowe awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Private Eye Writers of America, and the Diamond Dagger for Life Achievement from the Crime Writers Association (UK). He’s also been honored with the Gumshoe Lifetime Achievement Award from Mystery Ink magazine and the Edward D. Hoch Memorial Golden Derringer for Lifetime Achievement in the short story. In France, he has been proclaimed a Grand Maitre du Roman Noir and has twice been awarded the Societe 813 trophy. He has been a guest of honor at Bouchercon and at book fairs and mystery festivals in France, Germany, Australia, Italy, New Zealand, Spain and Taiwan. As if that were not enough, he was also presented with the key to the city of Muncie, Indiana. (But as soon as he left, they changed the locks.)
LB and his wife Lynne are enthusiastic New Yorkers and relentless world travelers; the two are members of the Travelers Century Club, and have visited around 160 countries.
He is a modest and humble fellow, although you would never guess as much from this biographical note.
Born in Buffalo, N.Y., LB attended Antioch College, but left before completing his studies; school authorities advised him that they felt he’d be happier elsewhere, and he thought this was remarkably perceptive of them.
His earliest work, published pseudonymously in the late 1950s, was mostly in the field of midcentury erotica, an apprenticeship he shared with Donald E. Westlake and Robert Silverberg. The first time Lawrence Block’s name appeared in print was when his short story “You Can’t Lose” was published in the February 1958 issue of Manhunt. The first book published under his own name was Mona (1961); it was reissued several times over the years, once as Sweet Slow Death. In 2005 it became the first offering from Hard Case Crime, and bore for the first time LB’s original title, Grifter’s Game.
LB is best known for his series characters, including cop-turned-private investigator Matthew Scudder, gentleman burglar Bernie Rhodenbarr, globe-trotting insomniac Evan Tanner, and introspective assassin Keller.
Because one name is never enough, LB has also published under pseudonyms including Jill Emerson, John Warren Wells, Lesley Evans, and Anne Campbell Clarke.
LB’s magazine appearances include American Heritage, Redbook, Playboy, Linn’s Stamp News, Cosmopolitan, GQ, and The New York Times. His monthly instructional column ran in Writer’s Digest for 14 years, and led to a string of books for writers, including the classics Telling Lies for Fun & Profit and The Liar’s Bible. He has also written episodic television (Tilt!) and the Wong Kar-wai film, My Blueberry Nights.
Several of LB’s books have been filmed. The latest, A Walk Among the Tombstones, stars Liam Neeson as Matthew Scudder and is scheduled for release in September, 2014.
LB is a Grand Master of Mystery Writers of America, and a past president of MWA and the Private Eye Writers of America. He has won the Edgar and Shamus awards four times each, and the Japanese Maltese Falcon award twice, as well as the Nero Wolfe and Philip Marlowe awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Private Eye Writers of America, and the Diamond Dagger for Life Achievement from the Crime Writers Association (UK). He’s also been honored with the Gumshoe Lifetime Achievement Award from Mystery Ink magazine and the Edward D. Hoch Memorial Golden Derringer for Lifetime Achievement in the short story. In France, he has been proclaimed a Grand Maitre du Roman Noir and has twice been awarded the Societe 813 trophy. He has been a guest of honor at Bouchercon and at book fairs and mystery festivals in France, Germany, Australia, Italy, New Zealand, Spain and Taiwan. As if that were not enough, he was also presented with the key to the city of Muncie, Indiana. (But as soon as he left, they changed the locks.)
LB and his wife Lynne are enthusiastic New Yorkers and relentless world travelers; the two are members of the Travelers Century Club, and have visited around 160 countries.
He is a modest and humble fellow, although you would never guess as much from this biographical note.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 12, 2023
4.5 stars. Well worth the effort. The only story I couldn’t finish was the shortest in this weighty tome. I particularly enjoyed Country of the Bling by Doug Allen and Helena and the Babies by Denise Mina.
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January 13, 2026Page upon pages of text about various authors and 'awards' which should have been at the end of the book, I managed three 'short' stories and as the author of this book was claiming that the book contained the BEST short stories I decided not to bother to continue. The 3 I read were poor and lacked any tension, credibility, suspense etc I am sure the individual authors have and could write more successful stories I'm not sure why I gave i't want to be meant 4 stars-probably because I didn't want to be too mean.
February 26, 2020
I love a book that has different short stories of murder mysteries & crime novels all built into one. It's like Incase you find one that doesn't tweak your interest, well then you've got more to choose from. That's what I found with this book, good old murder & crime mysteries. Some you might be interested in reading others you won't. Whatever the case may be your gonna find yourself a Good read!!!!!
October 15, 2020
Excellent collection of high quality crime stories from all over the world. Well edited and contains a wide variety of story types. Enjoy!
February 12, 2008
I'm only luke warm on Mystery stories, Crime shorts I like a little better. It's what you'd expect. The major writer's stories were great, the newer writers had a few gems. The translated stories weren't very good at all, I think they lost something in the translation.
July 6, 2008
A nice collection. Something for everyone and anyone who likes mysteries or suspense. By the time I finished, I felt like I could go back and read from the begining again because of enjoyment of the stories.
August 7, 2008
Hit or miss like any collections this size.
April 9, 2009
great book with excellent stories. This format of short stories lets the reader experience different authors and then seek them out individually. Excellent book.
September 6, 2010
loved "the perfectionist" and "the allotment."
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews