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Inspector Ian Rutledge #15.5 - The Honour of Dundee
Mystery Writers of America Presents The Mystery Box
There's nothing more mysterious than a locked box. Whether it's a literal strongbox, an empty coffin, the inner workings of a scientist's mind, or an underground prison cell, there are those who will use any means necessary to unlock the secrets of...The Mystery Box. With this anthology, bestselling author Brad Meltzer introduces twenty-one original stories from today's most prominent mystery writers. In Laura Lippman's "Waco 1982," a young reporter stuck with a seemingly mundane assignment on lost-and-found boxes unwittingly discovers a dark crime. In Joseph Finder's "Heirloom," a scheming neighbor frightens the new couple on the block with an unnerving tale of buried treasure. In R.L. Stine's "High Stakes," a man on his honeymoon gets drawn into a bizarre bet involving a coffin--a bet he may pay for with his life. From the foothills of Mount Fuji to Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp, from a physics laboratory in wartime Leipzig to an unusual fitness club in Boca Raton, these sometimes terrifying, sometimes funny, and always suspenseful tales will keep you riveted to the page.
376 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 30, 2013
73 people are currently reading
850 people want to read
About the author
Brad Meltzer
319 books7,310 followersBrad Meltzer is the Emmy-nominated, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Lightning Rod, The Escape Artist, and eleven other bestselling thrillers. He also writes non-fiction books like The JFK Conspiracy, about a secret plot to kill JFK before he was sworn in – and the Ordinary People Change the World kids book series, which he does with Chris Eliopoulos and inspired the PBS KIDS TV show, Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum. His newest kids books are We are the Beatles, We are the Beatles, and I am Simone Biles. His newest inspirational book is Make Magic, based on his viral commencement address.
In addition to his fiction, Brad is one of the only authors to ever have books on the bestseller list for Non-Fiction (The Nazi Conspiracy), Advice (Heroes for My Son and Heroes for My Daughter), Children’s Books (I Am Amelia Earhart and I Am Abraham Lincoln) and even comic books (Justice League of America), for which he won the prestigious Eisner Award.
He is also the host of Brad Meltzer’s Lost History and Brad Meltzer’s Decoded on the History Channel, and is responsible for helping find the missing 9/11 flag that the firefighters raised at Ground Zero, making national news on the 15th anniversary of 9/11. Meltzer unveiled the flag at the 9/11 Museum in New York, where it is now on display. See the video here. The Hollywood Reporter recently put him on their list of Hollywood’s 25 Most Powerful Authors.
He also recently delivered the commencement address at the University of Michigan, in front of 70,000 people, including his graduating son. Entitled Make Magic and called “one of the best commencement addresses of all time,” it’s been shared millions of times across social media. Do yourself a favor, watch it here and buy the book here.
For sure, it’s tough to find anyone being so successful in so many different mediums of the popular culture. But why does Brad thrive in all these different professions? His belief that ordinary people change the world. It is that core belief that runs through every one of his projects.
His newest thriller, The Lightning Rod, brings back characters Nola and Zig in a setting that will blow your mind (you won't believe where the government let Brad go). For now, we'll say this: What's the one secret no one knows about you? It's about to come out. Nearly 2,000 five-star reviews. Raves by everyone from the Wall Street Journal, to James Patterson, to Brad's mother-in-law. Plus that twist at the end! And yes, the new Zig & Nola thriller is coming soon!
His newest non-fiction book, The JFK Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill Kennedy -- and Why It Failed, which he wrote with Josh Mensch, is a true story about a secret assassination plot to kill JFK at the start of his Presidency and, if successful, would’ve changed history.
His illustrated children’s books I Am Amelia Earhart and I Am Abraham Lincoln, which he does with artist Chris Eliopoulos, were written for his own children, to give them better heroes to look up to. Try them. You won’t believe how inspired you and your family will be. Some of our favorites in the series are I am Mister Rogers and I am Dolly Parton.
His other non-fiction books, Heroes for My Son and Heroes for My Daughter, are collections of heroes – from Jim Henson to Sally Ride — that he’s been working on since the day his kids were born and is on sale now, as well as History Decoded: The 10 Greatest Conspiracies of All Time.
He’s also one of the co-creators of the TV show, Jack & Bobby.
Raised in Brooklyn and Miami, Brad is a graduate of the University of Michigan and Columbia Law School. The Tenth Justice was his first published work and became an instant New York Times bestseller. Dead Even followed a year later and also hit the New York Times bestseller list, as have all thirteen of his novels. The First Counsel came next, which was about a White House lawyer dating the President’s daughter, then The Millionaires, which was about two brothers who
In addition to his fiction, Brad is one of the only authors to ever have books on the bestseller list for Non-Fiction (The Nazi Conspiracy), Advice (Heroes for My Son and Heroes for My Daughter), Children’s Books (I Am Amelia Earhart and I Am Abraham Lincoln) and even comic books (Justice League of America), for which he won the prestigious Eisner Award.
He is also the host of Brad Meltzer’s Lost History and Brad Meltzer’s Decoded on the History Channel, and is responsible for helping find the missing 9/11 flag that the firefighters raised at Ground Zero, making national news on the 15th anniversary of 9/11. Meltzer unveiled the flag at the 9/11 Museum in New York, where it is now on display. See the video here. The Hollywood Reporter recently put him on their list of Hollywood’s 25 Most Powerful Authors.
He also recently delivered the commencement address at the University of Michigan, in front of 70,000 people, including his graduating son. Entitled Make Magic and called “one of the best commencement addresses of all time,” it’s been shared millions of times across social media. Do yourself a favor, watch it here and buy the book here.
For sure, it’s tough to find anyone being so successful in so many different mediums of the popular culture. But why does Brad thrive in all these different professions? His belief that ordinary people change the world. It is that core belief that runs through every one of his projects.
His newest thriller, The Lightning Rod, brings back characters Nola and Zig in a setting that will blow your mind (you won't believe where the government let Brad go). For now, we'll say this: What's the one secret no one knows about you? It's about to come out. Nearly 2,000 five-star reviews. Raves by everyone from the Wall Street Journal, to James Patterson, to Brad's mother-in-law. Plus that twist at the end! And yes, the new Zig & Nola thriller is coming soon!
His newest non-fiction book, The JFK Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill Kennedy -- and Why It Failed, which he wrote with Josh Mensch, is a true story about a secret assassination plot to kill JFK at the start of his Presidency and, if successful, would’ve changed history.
His illustrated children’s books I Am Amelia Earhart and I Am Abraham Lincoln, which he does with artist Chris Eliopoulos, were written for his own children, to give them better heroes to look up to. Try them. You won’t believe how inspired you and your family will be. Some of our favorites in the series are I am Mister Rogers and I am Dolly Parton.
His other non-fiction books, Heroes for My Son and Heroes for My Daughter, are collections of heroes – from Jim Henson to Sally Ride — that he’s been working on since the day his kids were born and is on sale now, as well as History Decoded: The 10 Greatest Conspiracies of All Time.
He’s also one of the co-creators of the TV show, Jack & Bobby.
Raised in Brooklyn and Miami, Brad is a graduate of the University of Michigan and Columbia Law School. The Tenth Justice was his first published work and became an instant New York Times bestseller. Dead Even followed a year later and also hit the New York Times bestseller list, as have all thirteen of his novels. The First Counsel came next, which was about a White House lawyer dating the President’s daughter, then The Millionaires, which was about two brothers who
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews
October 25, 2017
An anthology with the theme that each story has to feature a mystery box of some kind. I wasn't too thrilled with any of the stories, to tell the truth. As a whole, they were very predictable. even though there were some fairly prominent authors involved. Maybe the editor should have been more involved.
August 7, 2013
Overall the authors used a box in a key part of the story, but some did not, which was annoying.
The Amiable Miss Edith Montague by Jan Burke - liked, though was a little confused on why the victim would have allowed the protagonist to see the contents of the box - 4 stars.
Waco 1982 by Laura Lippman - interesting and different - 4 stars.
War Secrets by Libby Fischer Hellman - world war II - too short to care about the characters - 2 stars.
The Vly by C. E. Lawrence - a little spooky, different - 4 stars.
Heirloom by Joseph Finder - worked a little hard for the twist, but kept me reading to catch it, a little disturbing - 3 stars.
The Boca Box by James O. Born - Again, the twist was a little obvious, but entertaining - 3 stars.
Mad Blood by S. W. Hubbard - Liked it to the point that I'll look for other things by this author - 5 stars.
Dear Mr. Queen by Joseph Goodrich - liked it but didn't love it - 3 stars.
The Delivery by R. T. Lawton - Subtle and it left me hanging in a good way - 4 stars.
Mokume Gane by Tom Rob Smith - paranoia is never fun to read but this was well done - 4 stars.
Angelina by Mary Anne Kelly - interesting twists - 3 stars.
The Remaining Unknowns by Tony Broadbent - not my usual cup of tea, but well written and cerebral and interesting - 3 stars.
Double Jeopardy by Steve Berry - too sad, painful - 4 stars.
The Secret Life of Books by Angela Gerst - The characters weren't very likable or developed - 3 stars.
The Very Private Detectress by Catherine Mambretti - Liked the main character, would like to read more with these characters - 4 stars.
The Birdhouse by Stephen Ross - Liked this story and will look for more books by this author - 4 stars.
The Honour of Dundee by Charles Todd - Things were stretched a little too far to really enjoy this - 3 stars.
Hedge by Jonathan Stone - Didn't like much - 2 stars.
The Lunar Society by Katherine Neville - iffy - between 2 and 3 stars.
High Stakes by R. L. Stine - Liked it - 4 stars.
Remmy Rothstein Toes the Line (annotated)by Karin Slaughter - 1 star - unreadable!
Total of 69.5 stars divided by 21 stories = 3.3 stars
The Amiable Miss Edith Montague by Jan Burke - liked, though was a little confused on why the victim would have allowed the protagonist to see the contents of the box - 4 stars.
Waco 1982 by Laura Lippman - interesting and different - 4 stars.
War Secrets by Libby Fischer Hellman - world war II - too short to care about the characters - 2 stars.
The Vly by C. E. Lawrence - a little spooky, different - 4 stars.
Heirloom by Joseph Finder - worked a little hard for the twist, but kept me reading to catch it, a little disturbing - 3 stars.
The Boca Box by James O. Born - Again, the twist was a little obvious, but entertaining - 3 stars.
Mad Blood by S. W. Hubbard - Liked it to the point that I'll look for other things by this author - 5 stars.
Dear Mr. Queen by Joseph Goodrich - liked it but didn't love it - 3 stars.
The Delivery by R. T. Lawton - Subtle and it left me hanging in a good way - 4 stars.
Mokume Gane by Tom Rob Smith - paranoia is never fun to read but this was well done - 4 stars.
Angelina by Mary Anne Kelly - interesting twists - 3 stars.
The Remaining Unknowns by Tony Broadbent - not my usual cup of tea, but well written and cerebral and interesting - 3 stars.
Double Jeopardy by Steve Berry - too sad, painful - 4 stars.
The Secret Life of Books by Angela Gerst - The characters weren't very likable or developed - 3 stars.
The Very Private Detectress by Catherine Mambretti - Liked the main character, would like to read more with these characters - 4 stars.
The Birdhouse by Stephen Ross - Liked this story and will look for more books by this author - 4 stars.
The Honour of Dundee by Charles Todd - Things were stretched a little too far to really enjoy this - 3 stars.
Hedge by Jonathan Stone - Didn't like much - 2 stars.
The Lunar Society by Katherine Neville - iffy - between 2 and 3 stars.
High Stakes by R. L. Stine - Liked it - 4 stars.
Remmy Rothstein Toes the Line (annotated)by Karin Slaughter - 1 star - unreadable!
Total of 69.5 stars divided by 21 stories = 3.3 stars
February 4, 2019
This was an excellent collection of short stories, each featuring a box. It was interesting how many ways there were to work one in & yet still keep a fine story. While some were certainly more to my taste than others, overall they were excellent. Each & every one was very well narrated, too. A few were horror & a couple humorous, but they all had a pretty good mystery. Highly recommended.
Introduction, by Brad Meltzer
The amiable Miss Edith Montague, by Jan Burke
Waco 1982, by Laura Lippman
War secrets, by Libby Fischer Hellmann
The vly, by C. E. Lawrence
Heirloom, by Joseph Finder
The boca box, by James O. Born
Mad blood, by S. W. Hubbard
Dear Mr. Queen, by Joseph Goodrich
The delivery, by R. T. Lawton
Mokume gane, by Tom Rob Smith
Angelina, by Mary Anne Kelly
The remaining unknowns, by Tony Broadbent
Double jeopardy, by Steve Berry
The secret life of books, by Angela Gerst
The very private detectress, by Catherine Mambretti
The bird house, by Stephen Ross
The honour of Dundee, by Charles Todd
Hedge, by Jonathan Stone
The Lunar Society, by Katherine Neville
High stakes, by R. L. Stine
Remmy Rothstein toes the line (annotated) by Karin Slaughter
Introduction, by Brad Meltzer
The amiable Miss Edith Montague, by Jan Burke
Waco 1982, by Laura Lippman
War secrets, by Libby Fischer Hellmann
The vly, by C. E. Lawrence
Heirloom, by Joseph Finder
The boca box, by James O. Born
Mad blood, by S. W. Hubbard
Dear Mr. Queen, by Joseph Goodrich
The delivery, by R. T. Lawton
Mokume gane, by Tom Rob Smith
Angelina, by Mary Anne Kelly
The remaining unknowns, by Tony Broadbent
Double jeopardy, by Steve Berry
The secret life of books, by Angela Gerst
The very private detectress, by Catherine Mambretti
The bird house, by Stephen Ross
The honour of Dundee, by Charles Todd
Hedge, by Jonathan Stone
The Lunar Society, by Katherine Neville
High stakes, by R. L. Stine
Remmy Rothstein toes the line (annotated) by Karin Slaughter
August 6, 2013
The introduction says that this is collection of stories that use a mystery box (literal or not) and I suppose that each of them did so. But, like most collections the quality of the stories was uneven. I also found most of them too “breezy”, but that may have more to do with length restrictions than the ability of the authors. As an anthology I give it a Three (3.0) Stars. Below are those stories that I especially liked – it seems that established writers stood out more.
The Amiable Miss Edith Montague
This is a bit old-fashioned and uses a proper box for the mystery. I thought it was one of the best in the collection. (Sometimes the old ways are the best.)
Waco 1982
At first I wasn’t impressed, but on a week’s reflection I think the author came up with a tidy story that I’ll remember for years to come.
The Boca Box
Excellent build-up and nice finish. Wasn’t what I was expecting and that is to the author’s credit!
Dear Mr. Queen
I’ve read something more farcical that was framed as letter to an editor before, but this was a new take on the device. Nicely done.
Mokume Gane
Felt like Japan while reading it. Time to go back.
The Very Private Detectress
An interesting and novel re-telling of a unique working relationship.
Hedge
Applying good American know-how to a newly emergent business opportunity. Not only was I amused, but it felt like Capitalism as it is practiced here.
High Stakes
Turnabout is such fun.
Remmy Rothstein Toes The Line
Funny, hilarious, and skin-crawling-inducing all in one untidy & steamy package.
May 8, 2014
Some really good, some really great and one that I will never forget.
Years ago I was stunned and haunted forever after by a Stephen King short story called Survivor Type in the Skeleton Crew compilation. I still consider it one of the best stories I have ever read for its brilliant concept and execution but mostly for the audacity to think it up in the first place. It was amazing even for Stephen King. In Mystery Box I found The Hedge which comes awfully close to that same jaw-dropping audacity, same fine execution, and very memorable.
Years ago I was stunned and haunted forever after by a Stephen King short story called Survivor Type in the Skeleton Crew compilation. I still consider it one of the best stories I have ever read for its brilliant concept and execution but mostly for the audacity to think it up in the first place. It was amazing even for Stephen King. In Mystery Box I found The Hedge which comes awfully close to that same jaw-dropping audacity, same fine execution, and very memorable.
January 16, 2020
Recently, I decided to start listening to audiobooks during quiet times at work. I am pretty new to audiobooks and the mystery genre, so I downloaded Mystery Writers of America Presents the Mystery Box as a trial. I really enjoyed this anthology. Of course quality varied, but the stories and readers were almost all decent to great.
I was surprised by the diversity of stories in this anthology. The theme is “mystery box”, and every story was supposed to include one in some way. Not all did, but most found creative ways to satisfy the theme. The styles also showed remarkable range. I guess I was expecting more stereotypical mystery stories, all murders and detectives (noir or quirky, naturally). Many of the stories have no murder or even threat of murder. I enjoyed the mundane mysteries as well as the detours into horror and historical fiction. This anthology expanded my conception of the mystery genre.
I think Mystery Writers of America Presents the Mystery Box is a great introduction to the mystery genre. I gave six stories 5 stars, and another five stories 4 stars. I plan to read more by each of the authors that wrote a 5 star review. Below are my spoiler free reviews of each story.
"The Amiable Miss Edith Montague" by Jan Burke
This is a murder mystery set in the early 1920s. A wealthy and beloved great aunt is killed in her study. Her grandnephew and his fiance investigate, and discover there was more to her than anyone knew. This story would fit in alongside Agatha Christie or Murder, She Wrote in terms of style. 3/5
"Waco 1982" by Laura Lippman
This story is about a 21 year old new journalist inspired by Watergate but stuck at a small town paper. It revolves around her sex life. Specifically, she is investigating a one night stand that turned her on to BDSM. It was nice to find a mystery that was not about murder, but the subject matter was not for me. 3/5
“War Secrets” by Libby Fischer Hellmann
I am not sure what the mystery in this story was. It is historical fiction set in Germany in 1939. It follows Davood Sarand, a Kurdish physics student working on the Nazi nuclear weapons program and in love with the Jewish Julia Goldblum. I found it boring and stereotypical, although it was nice to see this sort of story from a different perspective. 2/5
“The Vly” by C. E. Lawrence
This was a surprising mystery. It felt like a folk tale with a strong horror streak. It reminded me of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” more than anything else. The mystery box is Jacob’s father’s coffin, but there is little investigation. Discovery comes in the form of a tale by Uncle Franz. I was here for this spooky mystery, and Malcolm Hillgartner did a great job reading it. 4/5
“Heirloom” by Joseph Finder
The story starts as a visit to the new neighbors in a Cape Cod town. It seems that one of the older residents is trying to drive the new couple away. Walter is a real bastard. The mystery itself is revealed at the end along with its answer. It snuck up on me, and really tied the story together. 4/5
"The Boca Box" by James O. Born
This story is about overweight Det. Paul "Tubby" Tubman, who has to lose weight before he can marry his Venezuelan bombshell girlfriend. He signs up at a weight loss clinic run by a former scam artist. It works, but he simply must know the secret of the Last Resort. There is something in the box, and it makes sense and justifies the hype. 5/5
“Mad Blood” by S. W. Hubbard
I'm not sure that the author read the solicitation for this anthology. This story is not a mystery, and it has no mystery box. It is a story about domestic violence. Mostly it was uncomfortable to read, but the ending was great. I love Ducky. 3/5
“Dear Mr. Queen” by Joseph Goodrich
This one was about a high school student who aspires to write mystery stories. He bases one on the murder-suicide of several people close to him. His story inadvertently hits on the truth of the affair. It felt a lot like if Nancy Drew did Rear Window. I actually really like that concept, but the story did not hold my attention. 2/5
“The Delivery” by R. T. Lawton
I love this story. It is short and sweet. It starts as a story about busybody neighbors getting too interested in a delivery on a hot day. Then it takes a subtle turn. This story has so much texture. It feels like one of those true stories that people post on Reddit. It also feels one step away from Tales from the Crypt. This might actually go on my list of favorite short stories. 5/5
“Mokume Gane” by Tom Rob Smith
I am not sure what the mystery is in this story. It is a story about a businessman with a lifelong connection to Aokigahara saving a girl from suicide there. It really is a study of suspicion destroying a good opportunity. 2/5
“Angelina” by Mary Anne Kelly
This is another good one. It is about two Italian women in NYC. The unnamed narrator becomes concerned about her neighbor Angelina when she seems to withdraw. She tries to meddle, and everything seems to work out. But what made Angelina withdraw? Very mundane, and carried by a believable and likable character. The excellent performance by Bernadette Dunne really sells it. 4/5
“The Remaining Unknowns” by Tony Broadbent
This story follows an NYPD bomb tech while defusing a car bomb. It runs with the idea that your life flashes before your eyes at the moment of death. Runs too far, I say. The mystery of the bomb gets overwhelmed by flashbacks to his dead NYPD father, remembrances of his brother who died on 9-11, and reflections on his poor love life and career decisions. That’s a shame, because I was far more interested in how a bomb tech would handle a bomb than his emotional baggage. If the bomb defusal had been more prominent, or the internal monologue more connected to the action, I would have really liked this story. This story may have been better in text, which would have made it easier to identify the transitions from action to reflection. 2/5
“Double Jeopardy” by Steve Berry
This one is short and painful. Again, I don't see much of a mystery here. I see an expertly rendered representation of a parent forced to pull the plug on their child with a surprise ending. If I were more of a mystery fan, I might be annoyed by another bait-and-switch, but this is truly a heart wrenching story. 4/5
“The Secret Life of Books”, by Angela Gerst
I did not like this story. It took a long time to set up the mystery. Worse, it spent that time establishing a setting I do not care for - aristocratic France. I was not particularly fond of the characters either. By the time the mystery appeared, I was half checked-out. Even so, I saw one twist from the beginning. 2/5
“The Very Private Detectress” by Catherine Mambretti
This story started very strong. The mystery is immediately apparent and fairly unique. It has some interesting period characters. It’s about a woman who applies to become the first female detective for the Pinkertons. When Alan Pinkerton demurs, she challenges him to investigate her past. There is a twist that explains her odd behavior, but also relies on an overworn cliche. Stephen Bowlby does a fantastic job reading the story, with distinct and interesting accents and good pacing. 3/5
“The Bird House” by Stephen Ross
This is a great story. It starts with a mystery hook. It then follows an American WWII pilot in a British military hospital. It balances the mystery and his internal experience brilliantly. I love the injured man discovering the truth from his hospital bed. The ending is triumphant as well. 5/5
“The Honour of Dundee” by Charles Todd
Now, this is what I expected from this anthology. Instant mystery surrounding a box. It starts with a widow burying a box, which is then found by children. It passes through a few hands before Scotland Yard starts to investigate. This story is brimming with English history, especially military history. This one hit my soft spot for Sherlock Holmes. 5/5
“Hedge” by Jonathan Stone
The protagonist is in the box! But why? This story is genuinely one of the best critiques of modern American capitalism I have ever seen, as brutal as it is believable. Seriously, if someone at Reason magazine reads this they will write an article defending the bad guys. Thankfully, the commentary is embedded in a strong and organic mystery. At turns reminiscent of “The Pit and the Pendulum”, The Jungle and The Wolf of Wall Street, this story manages to feel both unique and familiar at the same time. Immediate favorite of all time for me. 5/5
“The Lunar Society” by Katherine Neville
This is another story with a subtle mystery. In fact, at no point did I find the mystery to be clearly identified, let alone resolved. It seems to be pure historical fiction. All of the characters were real people, and all of the facts familiar to me were accurate. I wonder if the story was meant to answer a real historical mystery that the author expected me to know, or “correct” history like The Da Vinci Code. I was highly intrigued. I wish the story had been more fleshed out. 3/5
“High Stakes” by R. L. Stine
This was by far the most uncomfortable story for me. Newlyweds take a $2 million bet from a stranger. All the husband has to do is stay in a coffin overnight. What could go wrong? This one kept me guessing, and some of my guesses were terribly dark. I am glad I stuck with it to the end. 4/5
“Remmy Rothstein Toes the Line (annotated)” by Karin Slaughter
This is a hilarious story. It is about an adjudicator for a world records firm visiting Okefenokee Swamp to judge a man's tongue. It is told through dispatches from the adjudicator to the home office, with annotations about previous records. It is a crazy adventure dripping with sarcasm, and the reader really elevated the text. 5/5
I was surprised by the diversity of stories in this anthology. The theme is “mystery box”, and every story was supposed to include one in some way. Not all did, but most found creative ways to satisfy the theme. The styles also showed remarkable range. I guess I was expecting more stereotypical mystery stories, all murders and detectives (noir or quirky, naturally). Many of the stories have no murder or even threat of murder. I enjoyed the mundane mysteries as well as the detours into horror and historical fiction. This anthology expanded my conception of the mystery genre.
I think Mystery Writers of America Presents the Mystery Box is a great introduction to the mystery genre. I gave six stories 5 stars, and another five stories 4 stars. I plan to read more by each of the authors that wrote a 5 star review. Below are my spoiler free reviews of each story.
"The Amiable Miss Edith Montague" by Jan Burke
This is a murder mystery set in the early 1920s. A wealthy and beloved great aunt is killed in her study. Her grandnephew and his fiance investigate, and discover there was more to her than anyone knew. This story would fit in alongside Agatha Christie or Murder, She Wrote in terms of style. 3/5
"Waco 1982" by Laura Lippman
This story is about a 21 year old new journalist inspired by Watergate but stuck at a small town paper. It revolves around her sex life. Specifically, she is investigating a one night stand that turned her on to BDSM. It was nice to find a mystery that was not about murder, but the subject matter was not for me. 3/5
“War Secrets” by Libby Fischer Hellmann
I am not sure what the mystery in this story was. It is historical fiction set in Germany in 1939. It follows Davood Sarand, a Kurdish physics student working on the Nazi nuclear weapons program and in love with the Jewish Julia Goldblum. I found it boring and stereotypical, although it was nice to see this sort of story from a different perspective. 2/5
“The Vly” by C. E. Lawrence
This was a surprising mystery. It felt like a folk tale with a strong horror streak. It reminded me of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” more than anything else. The mystery box is Jacob’s father’s coffin, but there is little investigation. Discovery comes in the form of a tale by Uncle Franz. I was here for this spooky mystery, and Malcolm Hillgartner did a great job reading it. 4/5
“Heirloom” by Joseph Finder
The story starts as a visit to the new neighbors in a Cape Cod town. It seems that one of the older residents is trying to drive the new couple away. Walter is a real bastard. The mystery itself is revealed at the end along with its answer. It snuck up on me, and really tied the story together. 4/5
"The Boca Box" by James O. Born
This story is about overweight Det. Paul "Tubby" Tubman, who has to lose weight before he can marry his Venezuelan bombshell girlfriend. He signs up at a weight loss clinic run by a former scam artist. It works, but he simply must know the secret of the Last Resort. There is something in the box, and it makes sense and justifies the hype. 5/5
“Mad Blood” by S. W. Hubbard
I'm not sure that the author read the solicitation for this anthology. This story is not a mystery, and it has no mystery box. It is a story about domestic violence. Mostly it was uncomfortable to read, but the ending was great. I love Ducky. 3/5
“Dear Mr. Queen” by Joseph Goodrich
This one was about a high school student who aspires to write mystery stories. He bases one on the murder-suicide of several people close to him. His story inadvertently hits on the truth of the affair. It felt a lot like if Nancy Drew did Rear Window. I actually really like that concept, but the story did not hold my attention. 2/5
“The Delivery” by R. T. Lawton
I love this story. It is short and sweet. It starts as a story about busybody neighbors getting too interested in a delivery on a hot day. Then it takes a subtle turn. This story has so much texture. It feels like one of those true stories that people post on Reddit. It also feels one step away from Tales from the Crypt. This might actually go on my list of favorite short stories. 5/5
“Mokume Gane” by Tom Rob Smith
I am not sure what the mystery is in this story. It is a story about a businessman with a lifelong connection to Aokigahara saving a girl from suicide there. It really is a study of suspicion destroying a good opportunity. 2/5
“Angelina” by Mary Anne Kelly
This is another good one. It is about two Italian women in NYC. The unnamed narrator becomes concerned about her neighbor Angelina when she seems to withdraw. She tries to meddle, and everything seems to work out. But what made Angelina withdraw? Very mundane, and carried by a believable and likable character. The excellent performance by Bernadette Dunne really sells it. 4/5
“The Remaining Unknowns” by Tony Broadbent
This story follows an NYPD bomb tech while defusing a car bomb. It runs with the idea that your life flashes before your eyes at the moment of death. Runs too far, I say. The mystery of the bomb gets overwhelmed by flashbacks to his dead NYPD father, remembrances of his brother who died on 9-11, and reflections on his poor love life and career decisions. That’s a shame, because I was far more interested in how a bomb tech would handle a bomb than his emotional baggage. If the bomb defusal had been more prominent, or the internal monologue more connected to the action, I would have really liked this story. This story may have been better in text, which would have made it easier to identify the transitions from action to reflection. 2/5
“Double Jeopardy” by Steve Berry
This one is short and painful. Again, I don't see much of a mystery here. I see an expertly rendered representation of a parent forced to pull the plug on their child with a surprise ending. If I were more of a mystery fan, I might be annoyed by another bait-and-switch, but this is truly a heart wrenching story. 4/5
“The Secret Life of Books”, by Angela Gerst
I did not like this story. It took a long time to set up the mystery. Worse, it spent that time establishing a setting I do not care for - aristocratic France. I was not particularly fond of the characters either. By the time the mystery appeared, I was half checked-out. Even so, I saw one twist from the beginning. 2/5
“The Very Private Detectress” by Catherine Mambretti
This story started very strong. The mystery is immediately apparent and fairly unique. It has some interesting period characters. It’s about a woman who applies to become the first female detective for the Pinkertons. When Alan Pinkerton demurs, she challenges him to investigate her past. There is a twist that explains her odd behavior, but also relies on an overworn cliche. Stephen Bowlby does a fantastic job reading the story, with distinct and interesting accents and good pacing. 3/5
“The Bird House” by Stephen Ross
This is a great story. It starts with a mystery hook. It then follows an American WWII pilot in a British military hospital. It balances the mystery and his internal experience brilliantly. I love the injured man discovering the truth from his hospital bed. The ending is triumphant as well. 5/5
“The Honour of Dundee” by Charles Todd
Now, this is what I expected from this anthology. Instant mystery surrounding a box. It starts with a widow burying a box, which is then found by children. It passes through a few hands before Scotland Yard starts to investigate. This story is brimming with English history, especially military history. This one hit my soft spot for Sherlock Holmes. 5/5
“Hedge” by Jonathan Stone
The protagonist is in the box! But why? This story is genuinely one of the best critiques of modern American capitalism I have ever seen, as brutal as it is believable. Seriously, if someone at Reason magazine reads this they will write an article defending the bad guys. Thankfully, the commentary is embedded in a strong and organic mystery. At turns reminiscent of “The Pit and the Pendulum”, The Jungle and The Wolf of Wall Street, this story manages to feel both unique and familiar at the same time. Immediate favorite of all time for me. 5/5
“The Lunar Society” by Katherine Neville
This is another story with a subtle mystery. In fact, at no point did I find the mystery to be clearly identified, let alone resolved. It seems to be pure historical fiction. All of the characters were real people, and all of the facts familiar to me were accurate. I wonder if the story was meant to answer a real historical mystery that the author expected me to know, or “correct” history like The Da Vinci Code. I was highly intrigued. I wish the story had been more fleshed out. 3/5
“High Stakes” by R. L. Stine
This was by far the most uncomfortable story for me. Newlyweds take a $2 million bet from a stranger. All the husband has to do is stay in a coffin overnight. What could go wrong? This one kept me guessing, and some of my guesses were terribly dark. I am glad I stuck with it to the end. 4/5
“Remmy Rothstein Toes the Line (annotated)” by Karin Slaughter
This is a hilarious story. It is about an adjudicator for a world records firm visiting Okefenokee Swamp to judge a man's tongue. It is told through dispatches from the adjudicator to the home office, with annotations about previous records. It is a crazy adventure dripping with sarcasm, and the reader really elevated the text. 5/5
September 10, 2019
This is not the type of book I was expecting it to be. With a cover like that my eyes ignored the “mystery writers” and just assumed “horror writers” and my brain was confused when there wasn’t a lot of scary bits at first.
You get my confusion, right? I know that Mystery is written in a huge white super-prominent font but c’mon. The rest looks like a blood soaked coffin full of terror.
There were some stellar stories in here and some that were indeed creepy (like Heirloom by Joseph Finder). Mad Blood by S.W. Hubbard stayed with me for a while after I read it. My favorite was The Very Private Detectress. There was such a lovely twist at the end and I would read a whole series about these characters (Pretty please, Catherine Mambretti!?!?!?!)
The last story is the longest one, or it felt like it with all the annotations. It gets sillier and more and more over the top and was a good ending to the collection.
I listened to this while I played my candy games at night before bed and the variety of voice actors was nice. The only one that didn’t work so well was the last story because of the excessive use of annotations, but it made for an even wilder story as a whole.
You get my confusion, right? I know that Mystery is written in a huge white super-prominent font but c’mon. The rest looks like a blood soaked coffin full of terror.
There were some stellar stories in here and some that were indeed creepy (like Heirloom by Joseph Finder). Mad Blood by S.W. Hubbard stayed with me for a while after I read it. My favorite was The Very Private Detectress. There was such a lovely twist at the end and I would read a whole series about these characters (Pretty please, Catherine Mambretti!?!?!?!)
The last story is the longest one, or it felt like it with all the annotations. It gets sillier and more and more over the top and was a good ending to the collection.
I listened to this while I played my candy games at night before bed and the variety of voice actors was nice. The only one that didn’t work so well was the last story because of the excessive use of annotations, but it made for an even wilder story as a whole.
December 4, 2023
anthologies of short stories are always going to be hit and miss for any one reader. You'll like this half; I'll like that other half. In this case, I liked more than half, even though some didn't really follow the instruction, and one wasn't at all a mystery. My favorite tale was by Joseph Goodrich (you've likely not heard of him) who really nailed the voice of a teenage boy submitting stories to the mystery magazines back in the 60s or 70s. It was such an authentic voice, I smiled often at that. I suspect it's Mr. Goodrich's own past, in a way, as most of his publications are short stories. Other reviewers have done story-by-story reviews.
If you're in a short story mood, I recommend this one.
If you're in a short story mood, I recommend this one.
August 31, 2022
I have to admit it I am addicted to these books. I love mysteries but sometimes I don't want to get to know either the detectives or the criminals in any meaningful way I just want a wham bam thank you m'am story then go on with my day.
This is a delightful collection of stories ranging from the 20s to modern era, some are scary, some are hilarious and some are just darned good.
I don't know most of the authors and I didn't read the bios
This is a delightful collection of stories ranging from the 20s to modern era, some are scary, some are hilarious and some are just darned good.
I don't know most of the authors and I didn't read the bios
December 2, 2022
Some hits and some misses in this short story complication, but still worth a read. The theme of mystery box in each story was a fun Easter egg to find.
March 11, 2023
A terrific selection of mysteries. Some I ran across before. Most are new and a great introduction to authors I’m going to investigate further.
July 5, 2025
A Group of mystery writers that write independent stories all using a”mystery box” as a storyline feature .
All of the stories are not the same quality although all these authors are particularly well respected.
All of the stories are not the same quality although all these authors are particularly well respected.
January 23, 2018
The Mystery Writers of America Presents The Mystery Box - Mystery Writers of America Anthology
In A Nutshell: 21 Stories with a box as a theme. It's to be expected that some would be better than others. But short story collections are good fun. And it is interesting to see what authors can do with a box. It was not always 'terrifying, funny' or 'suspenseful' as promoted. But some of the tales deserve three stars.
My favourites include the opening story The Amiable Miss Montague by Jan Burke. It's all about small-town gossip, dignity and murder.
Heirloon by Joseph Finder is definitely creepy and annoying because it should not end that way. It's how a neighbour cons the new residents with a twist in the tale.
Mad Blood by S. W. Hubbard left me jubilant. It's a tale of domestic violence and bullying. And it's Ducky, the young girl who proves wise beyond her years.
The Boca Box by James O. Born. The tubby Detective Tubman proves the old adage 'curiosity kills the cat'.
Dear Mr. Queen by Joseph Goodrich is different. It is a short story written around a series of drafts. And manages a rollercoaster of emotions.
Entertaining and there is something for everyone.
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Book Rating
Would I read the next oneor reread ?: Yes
My rating system (* = star)
0* Could not finish this book (waste of time)
1* Finished the book but didn't like it.
2* Finished the book it was okay.
3* A good read worth your time.
4* An excellent read often with a novel concept or unusual plot.
5* A magnificent read. A prominent example of the genre.
In A Nutshell: 21 Stories with a box as a theme. It's to be expected that some would be better than others. But short story collections are good fun. And it is interesting to see what authors can do with a box. It was not always 'terrifying, funny' or 'suspenseful' as promoted. But some of the tales deserve three stars.
My favourites include the opening story The Amiable Miss Montague by Jan Burke. It's all about small-town gossip, dignity and murder.
Heirloon by Joseph Finder is definitely creepy and annoying because it should not end that way. It's how a neighbour cons the new residents with a twist in the tale.
Mad Blood by S. W. Hubbard left me jubilant. It's a tale of domestic violence and bullying. And it's Ducky, the young girl who proves wise beyond her years.
The Boca Box by James O. Born. The tubby Detective Tubman proves the old adage 'curiosity kills the cat'.
Dear Mr. Queen by Joseph Goodrich is different. It is a short story written around a series of drafts. And manages a rollercoaster of emotions.
Entertaining and there is something for everyone.
Connect with me on Twitter
Follow my blog on Bloglovin’
Book Rating
Would I read the next one
My rating system (* = star)
0* Could not finish this book (waste of time)
1* Finished the book but didn't like it.
2* Finished the book it was okay.
3* A good read worth your time.
4* An excellent read often with a novel concept or unusual plot.
5* A magnificent read. A prominent example of the genre.
April 30, 2013
This was such an intriguing collection of short mysteries that came together as a great collaboration in The Mystery Box. I normally don’t like short stories for some reason. I think because I like to get more in depth with the characters and the stories. Mysteries seem to be the exception to the rule.
With mysteries, the focus is more on the mystery itself so you’re eager to find out what that is and don’t need 200 pages leading up to it. These stories were all suspenseful and all unique in their own right.
Meltzer writes the introduction and therein explains that the overall theme of the stories has to be a box. It can be an actual box or a metaphor but has to be somehow part of the story. It was interesting to see all these different takes on it from this creative group of writers.
The stories are so diverse that there is something for everyone. I am not the biggest mystery fan ever so I appreciate when other things like humor are incorporated. I love anything that makes me laugh and there were quite a few.
The Mystery Box is a great collection of mysteries that every lover of mystery should read!
With mysteries, the focus is more on the mystery itself so you’re eager to find out what that is and don’t need 200 pages leading up to it. These stories were all suspenseful and all unique in their own right.
Meltzer writes the introduction and therein explains that the overall theme of the stories has to be a box. It can be an actual box or a metaphor but has to be somehow part of the story. It was interesting to see all these different takes on it from this creative group of writers.
The stories are so diverse that there is something for everyone. I am not the biggest mystery fan ever so I appreciate when other things like humor are incorporated. I love anything that makes me laugh and there were quite a few.
The Mystery Box is a great collection of mysteries that every lover of mystery should read!
March 14, 2015
The theme is box. Each story needed a box in it in some way. And the variations were all over. Quite creative. One of the better short story anthologies I have run across. A couple weren't that appealing to me, but there were a few I would deem excellent and the rest good to very good.
July 8, 2014
♫ You take the good,
you take the bad,
you take them both,
and there you have,
The Mystery Box. ♫
you take the bad,
you take them both,
and there you have,
The Mystery Box. ♫
Read
April 11, 2020Mystery Writers of American Presents A series of stories by 15 mystery writers.
I am not a fan of short stories but several of these mystery writers are authors I like.
These authors were given the topic of writing a story about a box any size and shape.
I especially liked Laura Lippman and her story “Waco 1982”.
A young reporter is given the assignment of writing a story about the things that turn up in the” lost and found” box. Things left by vacationers when the leave at the motel after vacationing. Our reporter finds an item connected to a dark crime.
I only read a few of the stories. So I believe I cannot give the entire book a rating
I am not a fan of short stories but several of these mystery writers are authors I like.
These authors were given the topic of writing a story about a box any size and shape.
I especially liked Laura Lippman and her story “Waco 1982”.
A young reporter is given the assignment of writing a story about the things that turn up in the” lost and found” box. Things left by vacationers when the leave at the motel after vacationing. Our reporter finds an item connected to a dark crime.
I only read a few of the stories. So I believe I cannot give the entire book a rating
July 15, 2018
I love short story anthologies. They give me an opportunity to explore many authors I may not have read before and get an idea what their longer works might be like. I felt this was a very mixed bag. With the stated lead in that all stories in the anthology will have some type of mysterious box contained within their pages, I expected the boxes to be fairly obvious. Some of them were, others were more subtle. Some were so subtle, I couldn’t find the mysterious box in them at all. Part of this could have been because I was listening to the audio wasn’t giving it my full attention, but it also didn’t compel my full attention either.
September 7, 2018
“The Vly, the Vly is dark inside, Where strange and fearsome things may hide Heed my warning, hear the cry— Don’t go nigh the Vly, the Vly.”
Like most books of short stories this one had some great ones and some not so great ones. Because of that, they tend to almost always hover in the three star range. I would give this one a solid 3.5 so I rounded up because it was better than most. The Vly may have been my favorite.
I would certainly recommend this to readers who enjoy mysteries and short stories. There are far worse ways to spend some time than delving into the mysteries of the Vly.
Like most books of short stories this one had some great ones and some not so great ones. Because of that, they tend to almost always hover in the three star range. I would give this one a solid 3.5 so I rounded up because it was better than most. The Vly may have been my favorite.
I would certainly recommend this to readers who enjoy mysteries and short stories. There are far worse ways to spend some time than delving into the mysteries of the Vly.
June 23, 2021
Oh, this is one of the good ones, an anthology about boxes, literal and metaphorical, that gleefully spans the gamut of human experience. There are laugh-out-loud moments as well as others of lip-shredding horror.
Crimes abound (as they must when people chase after a locked container). But what the authors give you are several moments of recognizably human behavior as people con, romance, deceive, challenge and flirt with each other.
I’ll admit that I liked this anthology much more than I expected, given that I’m not a fan of any of the writers. But if I can be wooed and won then I invite you to open The Mystery Box
Go on. Take a peek. I dare you.
Crimes abound (as they must when people chase after a locked container). But what the authors give you are several moments of recognizably human behavior as people con, romance, deceive, challenge and flirt with each other.
I’ll admit that I liked this anthology much more than I expected, given that I’m not a fan of any of the writers. But if I can be wooed and won then I invite you to open The Mystery Box
Go on. Take a peek. I dare you.
May 20, 2023
Standouts: “The Amiable Miss Edith Montague,” “Waco 1982,” “Heirloom,” “The Secret Life of Books,” “Hedge,” “Remmy Rothstein Toes the Line”
CN: sexual assault and murder of disabled teen in “Heirloom,” weight loss/eating triggers in “The Boca Box,” explicit domestic violence in “Mad Blood” (so much that I had to skip it) and mentions in “Dear Mr. Queen” and “The Secret Life of Books, suicide in “Mokume Gane,” 9/11 in “Remaining Unknowns,” child death and suicide in “Double Jeopardy,” violence against women and mild ableism in “The Birdhouse,” historical racism in “The Lunar Society” (about abolitionists), homophobic slur and filicide in “Remmy Rothstein Toes the Line”
CN: sexual assault and murder of disabled teen in “Heirloom,” weight loss/eating triggers in “The Boca Box,” explicit domestic violence in “Mad Blood” (so much that I had to skip it) and mentions in “Dear Mr. Queen” and “The Secret Life of Books, suicide in “Mokume Gane,” 9/11 in “Remaining Unknowns,” child death and suicide in “Double Jeopardy,” violence against women and mild ableism in “The Birdhouse,” historical racism in “The Lunar Society” (about abolitionists), homophobic slur and filicide in “Remmy Rothstein Toes the Line”
December 29, 2018
I only give it a 3-star rating.
This anthology of short stories it's supposed to involve some type of box. In a few of the stories I was confused as to what the box was.
Overall it was entertaining, like most collections of short stories interest is subjective. Some of the stories in this collection were very clever, some were very entertaining, while some just fell flat.
There were two stories that I started it became so bored that I did not even finish. So I don't ruin anything for anybody I will not mention the two stories.
This anthology of short stories it's supposed to involve some type of box. In a few of the stories I was confused as to what the box was.
Overall it was entertaining, like most collections of short stories interest is subjective. Some of the stories in this collection were very clever, some were very entertaining, while some just fell flat.
There were two stories that I started it became so bored that I did not even finish. So I don't ruin anything for anybody I will not mention the two stories.
February 9, 2022
These Mystery Writers of America short story collections are hit or miss for me. This theme . . . well, I really loved the story about Kate Warren, the first woman detective in the Pinkertons. The rest were just low level interesting - so five stars for Catherine Mambretti and The Very Private Detectress. The rest? Meh.
I did laugh out loud at the last one - Remmy Rothstein Toes the Line. World record adjudicator Minny Patel gets more than she bargained for in the Okefenokee swamp.
I did laugh out loud at the last one - Remmy Rothstein Toes the Line. World record adjudicator Minny Patel gets more than she bargained for in the Okefenokee swamp.
April 29, 2023
A truly unmemorable collection of short stories. I only finished it, thinking that surely the next one would have to be better. A proof that writing a novel doesn't ensure the ability to craft a short story. Only Charles Todd's story was worth the effort. Usually the MWA compilations are much better than this one; everyone's entitled to a miss, I guess
January 22, 2018
My high points:
-- Waco 1982 by Laura Lippman,
-- Heirloom by Joseph Finder,
-- The Secret Life of Books by Angela Gerst, and
-- The Birdhouse by Stephen Ross.
The rest of the stories were just okay. Not as many winners as most anthologies.
-- Waco 1982 by Laura Lippman,
-- Heirloom by Joseph Finder,
-- The Secret Life of Books by Angela Gerst, and
-- The Birdhouse by Stephen Ross.
The rest of the stories were just okay. Not as many winners as most anthologies.
May 2, 2018
What are Mystery Novels .... what are Mystery Short Stories?
They are some great and entertaining short stories, and there are some gruesome, heartbreaking occurrences.
Try them if you dare ... some are good, scary, clever ..... some are gruesome!
They are some great and entertaining short stories, and there are some gruesome, heartbreaking occurrences.
Try them if you dare ... some are good, scary, clever ..... some are gruesome!
November 14, 2019
A satisfactory collection on the theme of "write a mystery short that involves a box." Some of the authors interpreted that rather loosely, some strictly. Some were invited, others competed to get in.
You get a wide variety of plots, different eras and countries, some humour and some not-so-much.
You get a wide variety of plots, different eras and countries, some humour and some not-so-much.
January 12, 2020
I was really hoping to enjoy this book more. To me it felt like some stories the author had a good story they wanted to share, and a box was just thrown into the story as an afterthought.
My favorite story is the Amiable Miss Montague. Another interesting one is The Hedge.
My favorite story is the Amiable Miss Montague. Another interesting one is The Hedge.
July 5, 2021
Didn't finish it. Not that big a fan of short stories. Listened to it on audio in the car and some were ok, some were good, some did not like. I was looking for a new writer to read for rest of summer. I ty wasn't bad--just not my cup of tea.
March 29, 2022
I'm giving this a 4 because I LOVED two stories but had to quit early because overall most of the stories had bad language or inappropriate subject matter.
But I totally recommend:
R. L. Stine's "High Stakes"
C. E. Lawrence's "The Vly" (this one was awesome!)
But I totally recommend:
R. L. Stine's "High Stakes"
C. E. Lawrence's "The Vly" (this one was awesome!)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews