The Best American Mystery and Suspense 2024

by S.A. Cosby

A collection of the year’s best mystery and suspense short fiction selected by New York Times bestselling author S. A. Cosby, author of Razorblade Tears, and series editor Steph Cha.

S. A. Cosby, award-winning and New York Times bestselling author of Razorblade Tears and Blacktop Wasteland, picks the best twenty mystery and suspense stories from the previous year.

Genres: Short Stories, Mystery, Fiction, Audiobook, Suspense, Anthologies, Crime

432 pages, Paperback

First published October 22, 2024

Reviews

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This year’s volume was edited by the great S.A. Cosby and this is definitely an above average anthology, a lot of good stuff in this collection of twenty stories. My two favorites were “Baby Trap” by Toni L.P. Kelner and “Scorpions” by Nick Kolakowski. I had read two of the stories previously, “Just a Girl” by Alyssa Cole and “Unknown Caller” by Lisa Unger, both were published as part of one of those stand-alone shorts collections that Amazon issues from time to time. Both are very good and I enjoyed revisiting them.

Well worth your time.

[Books_the_Magical_Fruit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oooh, there are great stories in here! This is my third short story anthology from Mariner Books, and it is by far my favorite of the three. The anthology starts off with a bang and doesn’t let go. Admittedly, there are a couple of stories that did ruin the emperor’s groove, but they’re not terrible. I highly recommend picking this book up in October.

Thanks to NetGalley and Mariner Books for the advance copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truth be told, I haven’t read all of these stories yet. It might even be true that I only read one so far. But fuck it! This collection deserves 5 stars for Jordan Harper’s My Savage Year alone.

Harper’s story is scary. Raw, real, and scary! I suck at trying to describe his writing style. Words fail me. It's more of a feeling. For me, reading one of his worlds is like when you scuff up your knuckles or press on a bruise. That ache and pressure hits you full on in the chest when you walk through a Harper story. It’s amazing when a writer can pull a physical reaction out of a reader. It’s magic to me!

This story’s words and characters and tone dig,dig,dig away at you. The justice and injustice and rumors and facts all force their way into your skull and make you remember, regret, and ask yourself questions. Like…Would I have looked? Or cared?

The truth of the matter is that this story will linger on your skin and in your head. The truth…well. What is the truth of the matter? Read it and see.

*tip of my hat* Thank you for the story, Mr. Harper. It now sits at the top of my favorite short stories list.

Two of my favorite lines:

What’s the difference between terror and horror?

“Terror’s what you feel when you’re running from the wolf. Horror’s what you feel while you watch the wolf feeding on your guts. Showing you what you’re really made of.”

AND

“Some things you see burn so hot they brand themselves into your eyelids. Some things don’t leave until you do.”

---------------------------------------

Will I See the Birds When I Am Gone by Stanton McCaffery did a number on my heart.

It's told in letters between a man serving time behind bars to his mother. It’s a tough, powerful read that’ll get you thinking about all the challenges incarcerated individuals face trying to adjust to life outside. This short story touches on quite a few points—from homelessness to anger to religion. I know Matthew’s story will stick with me for quite some time. In fact, I have a feeling every time I look to the sky I’ll think of him.

Pick up this collection! Highly recommended.

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been reading this collection of short mystery and suspense fiction for the last few weeks, just a few at a time. All the works were published in collections in 2023, from which they were gathered, read, and selected for this collection by the editors. Not one of these stories is a dud. Quite a few c0ntinue to live deep within me for different reasons. Nearly all I rank as 5 star reads. That says a whole lot about the care and judgment used by both editors in the selection and organization of this collection. In truth, I expected no less from guest editor S.A. Cosby, one of my favorite contemporary crime fiction writers. It was his name on the cover that had me pick up this collection and not another from a different year, or any other. I wanted to see what he judged as great short story writing.

These are almost universally dark or gritty, but it's a true mix of styles, themes, genres - not all deal with murder, some are chilling, even creepy. Good and Evil are not always clear, nor is justice always served at all or as you would expect. Most authors were new to me, now on my TBR. A few like Alyssa Cole, Lisa Unger, and Toni LP Kelner, are familiar names. The majority of them average 20 pages with only 2 significantly longer.

Some the the stories that most standout to me at the moment:

Scarlet Ribbons by Megan Abbott - I'll never hear the son Scarlet Ribbons without thinking of this tragic story ever again.
Just a Girl bu Alyssa Cole - the longest story in the collection - reminded me of toxic masculine online commentaries I remember reading a to posts by Barnard College students during #MeToo. This one does see justice meted out - from an unexpected source.
Unknown Caller by Lisa Unger - the second longest story addresses a similar toxic environment revolving around teens in high school.
Baby Trap by Toni LP Kelner - was clever as all get out and great fun to read
Possessory Credit by Diana Gould - reminds me of some of the great Donald Westlake's crime fiction, revolving around a screen writer who feels he's not getting suitable credit.

The book also includes all the 'semifinalist' short stories that didn't make the cut - another 20 or so. It also includes not just bio detail on each contributor, but a description written by each of the inspiration and background for the story. Those were fascinating, something I took to reading before each one.

I want to just laud to all the high quality of Mariner Books short story collections published annually - there are ones not just for mystery and suspense, which started in 1997 with Robert B. Parker as guest editor, but include collections for SciFI and Fantasy (you will find Martha Wells as a recent guest editor), Nature and Science Writing, Food and Travel Writing, Essays, and Short Stories which are no doubt literary fiction. I'm already on the hunt for a couple more with favorite authors as guest editors.

[Darius Ostrowski · Rating 3 out of 5]

Being very familiar with the annual collection, I kind of knew what to expect with “The Best American Mystery and Suspense 2024” edited by by S.A. Cosby, Steph Cha: a variety of stories that usually reflect a theme from the guest editor, a gathering of both well known and little known authors, and a range of quality from fascinating to so-so to “huh?”. This year the stories do have a bit of a depressing air about them, a lot of reflections of past wrongs coming back to haunt the present.

“Scarlet Ribbons” by Megan Abbott: It seems that every neighborhood has a house where something evil happened, where generations of children test their courage about going in. But what happens if the nightmares are real?

“Matter of Trust” by Frankie Y. Bailey: A murder in broad daylight, a note on a car windshield, and a cowardly best friend lead to a gruesome revelation.

“For I Hungered, and Ye Gave Me” by Barrett Bowlin: A set of interviews around a road accident leads to a surprising conclusion. Weird.

“Just a Girl” by Alyssa Cole: A cautionary tale about how comments on social media can lead to harassment and worse. Really scary but unfortunately too real in today’s society.

“Rumpus Room” by Tananarive Due: A woman running away from her own demons accepts a job offer from a stranger who has demons of his own. A touch of the supernatural and horror around this one.

“The Body Farm” by Abby Geni: How far will one go to protect one’s family and loved ones? What can you do when the police can’t help? Ms. Geni comes up with a unique solution.

“Lovely and Useless Things” by Nils Gilbertson: A prohibition tale of the violence taking place between the anti-saloon folks and a speakeasy. Enjoyable.

“Possessory Credit” by Diana Gould: A screenwriter feels slighted by his director friend, and decides to take matters into his own hands, with unforeseen results. Kind of funny.

“My Savage Year” by Jordan Harper: A teacher murders his whole family and gets away with it, at first, but once the secrets start spilling they don’t stop until revenge is served.

“The Mysterious Disappearance of Jason Whetsone” by Karen Harrington: Two sisters who argue about a rather insignificant incident in their childhood go to a mediator for help, with disastrous consequences. A bit over the top.

“With the Right Bait” by Gar Anthony Haywood: A rich old man with a much younger wife plans her murder as he plays a boardgame of Mousetrap with her before surgery, but will he be able to escape the trap?

“Baby Trap” by Toni LP Kelner: A troublesome mother-in-law goes too far trying to get at her widowed daughter-in-law’s baby. Interesting twist.

“Scorpions” by Nick Kolakowski: A police officer goes to her old childhood friend when she needs an illegal favor, but once you cross that line you cannot really go back.

“The Funeral Suit” by Bobby Mathews: An old gunslinger terrorizes a town on his birthday every year. Not my favorite.

“Will I See the Birds When I am Gone” by Stanton McCaffery: A series of letters from a boy to his mother written from juvie, then his release, then prison again. Depressing.

“Monster” by Shannon Taft: A woman’s mother-in-law gets murdered, and it becomes clear that her husband is the prime suspect. A great setup and twist.

“The Book of Ruth” by Mary Thorson: A daughter returns home from a cult. Also depressing.

“Sarah Lane’s School for Girls” by Rebecca Turkewitz: A student has to choose between friendship and losing a golden opportunity. A story where everyone carries many secrets.

“Unknown Caller” by Lisa Unger: A volunteer at a call-in crisis center has to deal with her own past demons when she is stalked by a mysterious stranger who seems to know her secrets. Predictable but well crafted.

“Holler, Child” by Latoya Watkins: History repeats itself as a rape victim is confronted by the horro of what her son has become. Also depressing.

I requested and received a free advanced electronic copy from Mariner Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

[Colin Brightwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

“My Savage Year” by Jordan Harper is worth the price of admission.

[Hannah J]

The gulf between good mystery short stories and EH mystery short stories is so huge that sometimes you have to read a book of somewhat EH short stories to appreciate how much it takes to really write a good, thrilling short story with an unexpected twist. Practically a superhuman feat!!!

[Kerry Pickens · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mysteries are my favorite genre, but I could not get interested in this collection. I tried to read one of editor’s books and didn’t finish that one either. It seems like these are not stories, they are strung together but someone who spends to much time on SnapChat.

[Alison Faichney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice little collection! Obviously I’m a huge S.A. Cosby stan so his editing this group of stories is absolutely what drew me in.

I’m not a bit short story reader. I like to be completely immersed and deep in a book, and tend to struggle achieving that with a short story. While I still grappled with that a bit with this collection, I still found some stories that deeply resonated with me. Will I Still See the Birds When I am Gone was my absolute favorite. Definitely a story that gets deep within your bones. I also enjoyed Baby Trap, Monster, The Body Farm, The Mysterious Disappearance of Jason Whetstone, and With the Right Bait.

All in all I’d definitely recommend the collection. It features a diverse collection of authors and subject matters which makes for a really nice overall read. I likely wouldn’t have selected this had it not been for the editor, but this was a solid read.

[Kaitlyn Vana · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s hard to rate a collection of stories, but I just couldn’t commit to some of the more modern-framed ones. There were definitely a couple that really got to me, though. Thematic thread seems mostly to be nostalgia, grief, and regret, which I’m always down for

[Suz Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

“These days the market for short stories is eroding like a thin strip of beach in a hurricane and I think that’s a shame. Some of the greatest crime and mystery writers of all time were masters of the form. It’s a special skill that combines brevity with wit and cleverness and the hint of the existential malaise that imbues crime fiction with its gravitas.“*—excerpt from S.A. Cosby’s introduction.

Steph Cha describes her family’s brush with burglary in her forward and crime fiction superstar S.A. Cosby’s introduction speaks to the power of the short crime story. I continue to be impress with the direction of this series with Steph Cha as Series Editor.

My favorite stories are as follows:

“Scarlet Ribbons” by Megan Abbott: A young girl’s obsession with a local murder house distracts her from the problems facing her own family. The imagery in this story is superb as is the way reoccurring themes create suspense and turn the story from dreamy to nightmarish.

“Just a Girl” by Alyssa Cole: A TikToker shares a misogynistic dating app exchange and a group of toxic men make her a target. The epistolary/hermit crab style of the story works perfectly to tell the tale and show the escalation of the harassment. Fantastic details such as the changes in her social media bio show the protagonist’s arc and serve to characterize the various story people.

“Rumpus Room” by Tananarive Due: A desperate woman takes a stranger up on his job offer, but living in his rumpus room reveals his dark secrets. The generational trauma along with the supernatural elements and strong characterization make the story a gripping read.

“The Body Farm” by Abby Geni: An entomologist uses her special skills to protect her family from the sociopath stalking her wife. Written as a letter to their two young sons, this story is absolutely stunning and beautifully written. This phenomenal tale will live in mind for a long time. 

“My Savage Year” by Jordan Harper: Inspired by Harper’s own experience, the story follows a boy whose biology teacher murdered his wife and children and got away with the crime. The teacher’s secrets have a ripple effect that touches the protagonist and his friend group and continue to haunt him as an adult. The brutal poetry of the writing style and the visceral voice of the protagonist add to the richness of the story.

“The Mysterious Disappearance of Jason Whetsone” by Karen Harrington: The death of an arbiter is linked to his recent case concerning a dispute between two sisters who have differing views about a piece of family history. The story provides distance in its essay style that casually lays out the horrifying elements of the crime. 

“With the Right Bait” by Gar Anthony Haywood: An elderly man plans to have his wife murdered after beating her at a classic board game and before his planned surgery. Haywood uses Mouse Trap brilliantly while creating a delightfully despicable protagonist.

“Baby Trap” by Toni LP Kelner: A widow shares her woes about her problematic mother-in-law on Reddit hoping to find a solution to her inheritance dilemma. The ending is earned through a suspenseful setup.

“Will I See the Birds When I am Gone” by Stanton McCaffery: Told in epistolary style, a boy writes letters to his mother from juvenile detention and after his release. McCafferty nails the protagonist’s voice and emotion, while beautifully showing the various familial relationships and the hopelessness of the protagonist’s life trajectory.

“Unknown Caller” by Lisa Unger: A crisis center worker thinks the only person haunting her is the one she lost to suicide until a mysterious caller starts to stalk her. The safe haven of the crisis hotline nicely contrasts with the nefarious dark web site that encourages people to self harm.

“Holler, Child” by Latoya Watkins: A victim of sexual assault discovers a horrible truth about her cherished son. The vivid voice along with the visceral recount of the protagonist’s trauma makes it impossible not to sympathize with her tragic situation.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thanks to Mariner Books, an imprint HarperCollins Publishers, for providing an Advance Reader Copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

*Please note that my review is based on uncorrected text, and the quoted material might be altered or removed from the final version of the book.

[Silver Screen Videos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whenever an anthology or collection claims to be the “best” of a particular year or genre, I often take it with a grain of salt. That description frequently means that it’s the best collection the editor could get the rights to use without too much trouble. However, in the case of “The Best American Mystery and Suspense 2024,” the superlative is well-earned. I expect some duds in any anthology I read, but this collection has only two stories I considered disappointing. All the rest of them were enjoyable, and a few were far superior to what I usually find in places like “Ellery Queen” or “Alfred Hitchcock” magazines.

“The Best American Mystery and Suspense” anthologies have been around since 1997 (although the series was initially titled “The Best American Mystery Stories”). In 2021, former series editor Otto Penzler began publishing his own “best of” anthologies. Steph Cha became the editor of this series, which was also renamed under its current title. Regardless of the title and editor, the format has been the same since 1997. The only criteria for inclusion are that a story must have been initially published in the preceding calendar year (in this case, 2023) and that the author is American or Canadian. Cha reviews hundreds of stories in various collections, magazines, and anthologies each year, including some that authors submit themselves. Some stories in these anthologies originally appeared in literary journals. She selects 50 finalists from that list, and that year’s guest editor (in this case, S.A. Cosby) chooses the 20 “best.” Cosby’s stories have appeared in earlier editions of the anthology, but his only literary contribution here is a brief introduction.

The editors’ definition of “mystery and suspense” is quite broad, and these stories can best be categorized as tales that involve, in some way, the commission or attempted commission of a crime. The stories include a couple of genuine whodunits and a few morality stories of the sort often found in popular mystery magazines. Others include several stories about the effects of crime on “ordinary” people. Some of these are very depressing, even though well written. The stories appear in alphabetical order by the author, so the mood shifts from one story to the next can be jarring.

Besides the usual biographical information about the authors in the book’s afterword, the anthology includes a brief explanation by each author why they wrote their tale. That’s especially helpful for readers of one of my favorites from the anthology, “Possessory Credit,” by Diana Gould. The author, a veteran screenwriter, explains that possessory credit involves giving one person (usually the director) prominent mention for being most responsible for a film, like “Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho.” In this story, a screenwriter gets increasingly jealous when a successful director takes possessory credit for the writer’s work. The writer plots what he thinks is the perfect murder, but things don’t quite go as planned.

Other similarly enjoyable stories include Gar Anthony Haywood’s “With the Right Bait.” An elderly man is convinced his younger wife is a gold digger and plans to eliminate her after the couple finishes playing the children’s game of Mouse Trap. The twist ending here is the very last word in the story. “Monster,” by Shannon Taft, involves the murder of a woman whose two sons both had reasons to want her inheritance. The author is an attorney, and the dead woman’s will figures prominently in the story. “Baby Trap” by Toni Kelner is the story of a young widow whose mother-in-law, aided by her relatives in the local police department, wants to gain custody of the widow’s baby. The story involves a major twist and the most satisfying ending in the book.

Several of the authors use unorthodox narrative techniques to tell their stories. These aren’t gimmicks; instead, they make the stories more effective than they would have been with straightforward narration. “Just a Girl” by Alyssa Cole is the story of a teenager who started making TikTok cooking videos during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, when she slams a particularly obnoxious commenter, he takes it personally. He also enlists the help of his buddies in some incel chat rooms to start a real-life campaign of stalking and harassment against the girl. The author tells the story exclusively through social media and chatroom posts. “For I Hungered, and Ye Gave Me” by Barrett Bowlin tells the story of a feral teenager who survives years in the woods by scavenging roadkill. The author tells the story through excerpts from interviews conducted by the Arkansas Highway Patrol of various witnesses. The story is predictable, but the narrative technique gives it much more of a kick.

Two of the more disturbing but compelling stories are “The Book of Ruth” by Mary Thorson and “Holler, Child” by LaToya Watkins. In “Ruth,” a teenager runs off to join a cult. She later returns, but her parents discover the cult isn’t finished with her. The end of this story is especially chilling. In “Holler Child,” a woman who was raped as a teenager discovers that her own teenage son (a result of that assault) may also have raped a girl. This may be the most depressing story in the entire anthology. (It’s also the last story in the anthology.)

“The Mysterious Disappearance of Jason Whetstone” by Karen Harrington is an effective parody of a true-crime TV series. The title character is a professional mediator trying to settle a dispute between two sisters, both authors, who wrote different accounts about the same childhood incident 25 years later. This incident involved a family dinner in which the sisters’ mother believed someone had taken too much pasta sauce. Both daughters have written about the incident, and one accuses the other of plagiarism. Before the mediator can settle the dispute, he disappears. This story is ridiculously bizarre but precisely the sort of backstory you’ll find in an episode of “Dateline.” (The author acknowledges using “Dateline” as an inspiration for her first draft.)

The most disappointing story in the collection is “The Funeral Suit” by Bobby Mathews. It’s a Western and not a very good one. Every year on his birthday, an aging gunfighter has breakfast at the local hotel, and almost every year some upstart shows up to challenge him. This plot is quite similar to John Wayne’s last movie, “The Shootist.” Unfortunately, it doesn’t work as a Western, and the connection to crime stories is very remote. I was also disappointed by “Unknown Caller” by Lisa Unger. The narrator works for a suicide prevention hotline, and she receives several disturbing calls from the same man. The author introduces another storyline about halfway through, told in the third person. However, most readers will soon figure out how the two storylines intersect. This was one of the longer stories in the collection and should have been trimmed considerably.

“The Best American Mystery and Suspense 2024” has stories to meet any crime fiction enthusiast’s taste. Those who expect an all-star version of an “Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine” issue may be disappointed. Frankly, with as wide a variety of subject matter, technique, and style as are displayed in this anthology, most readers will quibble with a few of the stories. However, I’ve read many mystery, horror, and science fiction anthologies, and this collection is one of the best overall I can recall. Taken as a whole, these stories may not be the best of the year, but you’ll have a hard time finding 20 better tales.

NOTE: The publisher graciously provided me with a copy of this book through NetGalley. However, the decision to review the book and the contents of this review are entirely my own.

[Michael Reilly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an OK collection of twenty stories published in 2023. (Despite the title. This kind of collection comes out at the end of the title year, so they are necessarily stories from the year before.)

I have two old grumpy guy comments.

First, traditional mystery stories usually start with a crime, or a mystery. A detective of some type, police, private, amateur etc., investigates the crime and solves it. Maybe, with a loose definition, one or two of these stories are traditional mystery stories. We get some revenge stories, some unsolved crime stories, some interesting personal stories but no straightforward mystery stories with a crime, detective and solution.

Second, and I am treading carefully here, by my count 13 or 14 of these 20 stories revolve around a woman in peril. The stories are about woman raped, assaulted, abused, stalked in person and online, brainwashed or whose children are threatened. These are obviously important issues and several of the stories are very well written. There also many classic mystery and suspense stories which deal with these issues.

It is surprising to me that 70% of the best mystery and suspense stories published in 2023 would deal with these issues.

[Dig The Plot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book: The Best American Mystery and Suspense 2024
Author: S.A. Cosby
Publisher: Mariner Books
Pub Date: October 22, 2024

I highly recommend reading this around Halloween. It’s a perfect spooky season read and includes 20 short stories. Authors include Megan Abbott, Alyssa Cole, Tananarive Due and Lisa Unger just to name a few. These stories will take you on a wild ride through the bumpus room, the body farm, the game The Mouse Trap and a whole lot of morally questionable decisions. Some of my absolute favorites were: Possessory Credit by Diana Gould; My Savage Year by Jordan Harper; With The Right Bait by Gar Anthony Haywood; and Unknown Caller by Lisa Unger. Out of twenty there were only three stories that didn’t appeal to me.

Thank you Mariner Books and NetGalley for this sneak peak! Publication date is October 22, 2024.

[Christina · Rating 3 out of 5]

A few stand out stories but this collection was just okay

[angela · Rating 2 out of 5]

dnf @ 7%

cringe….

[Rachel Burke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Scarlet ribbons Megan Abbott (from a darker shade of noir) - awful. Very my uncle is a vampire, but far more telegraphed

Matter of trust - Frankie Y Bailey (Schools of hard Knox)- not do much a mystery. 2-3 stars

For I Hungered, and Ye Gave Me Barrett Bowlin (TriQuarterly) Not even close to a mystery. But clever

Just a Girl, Alyssa Cole, obsession Amazon originals - still not a mystery

Rumpus Room - Tananarive Due (The Wishing Pool and Other Stories) only suspense, but well written.

The Body Farm - Abby Geni (Epoch) ditto well written suspense

Lovely and Useless Things - Nils Gilbertson (Prohibition Peepers) an actual Mystery!!

Possessory Credit - Diana Gould - Entertainment to Die For - weirdly a mystery and so good.

My Savage Year - Jordan Harper (from Southwest Review)

The Mysterious Disappearance of Jason Whetstone - Karen Harrington )from Reckless in Texas) somewhat blah

With the Right Bait - Gar Anthony Haywood (from Playing Games) :/

Baby Trap - Toni LP Kelner (from School of Hard Knox) - weirdly well done

Scorpions - Nick Kolakowski (from Dark Yonder) - really well written. Really terrible.

The Funeral Suit - Bobby Mathews (from Frontier Tales) - interesting. Again, still, not a mystery

Will I See the Birds When I Am Gone a Stanton McCaffery (from Dark Yonder) - just a terrible tragedy

Monster - Shannon Taft (from Reckless in Texas) - Really good!

The Book of Ruth - Mary Thorson (from Thicker Than Water) - I mean, it’s a short story. Not a mystery or a suspense. But ok.

Sarah Lane’s School for Girls - Rebecca Turkewitz (from Bayou Magazine) - good, but frustratingly incomplete

Unknown Caller - Lisa Unger (from We Could Be Heroes, Amazon Originals) well written

Holler, Child - LaToya Watkins (from Holler, Child: Stories) ugh

[Cherryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Best American Mystery and Suspense 2024" is a captivating anthology that brings together the very best in contemporary mystery and suspense short fiction. Edited by acclaimed authors S.A. Cosby and Steph Cha, this collection features a diverse array of voices and perspectives, offering readers a thrilling and thought-provoking journey through the genre.

With 20 short stories carefully curated from the previous year's publications, this anthology showcases a wide range of styles and themes, from classic whodunits to psychological thrillers. The editors' discerning eye for talent ensures that each story is of the highest caliber, offering a unique and engaging reading experience.

While this anthology may not appeal to those who are not typically fans of the mystery genre, its quality and diversity make it a standout collection that is sure to captivate even the most discerning reader. Whether you're a die-hard mystery buff or simply looking for a compelling read, "The Best American Mystery and Suspense 2024" is an excellent choice that is not to be missed.

** Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review **

[Kimberly Loner · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are different amounts of mystery and suspense in these short stories, but they are all readable and completely different. Even if they weren’t my favorite stories, some of them are still lingering with me after I finished the book. Personal favorites include…

- Just a Girl- a terrifying story of a lifestyle influencer who chronicles a bad date online, and all his incel friends come after her
- Monster- when the murder victim is a sweet and kind grandmother and no one has an apparent motive to kill her, how do you catch a killer?
- Baby Trap- a disturbed mother-in-law who will stop at nothing to steal her grandchild and what to do when she is related to the chief of police; great twist!
- Will I See the Birds when I am gone- an incredibly sad series of letters from a death row inmate to his mother, analyzing his childhood and life to that point
- Holler, Child- a story that I had trouble following it first due the dialect, but then stuck on my mind for a while after I read it. What happens when a rape victim’s son also admits to raping a 13-year-old girl?

Overall, a very good mix of short intriguing mysteries, and observations.

[Robert Yokoyama · Rating 5 out of 5]

The pieces of writing in this Mystery and Suspense collection are very moving. All of the pieces of writing in this book are thought provoking to me, and the authors make me ponder how I would respond in these situations. My favorite piece is "Unknown Caller". by Lisa Unger. This is a story about a woman who works on a suicide crisis hotline. This story resonates with me because of my friend who has suicidal tendencies. There is a line in this piece that I can use to mitigate his thoughts, and that is You are enough you are more than enough". I hope this line will help to eliminate his suicidal thoughts. I also love the story "Scorpions". This piece is about a man who is a victim of a violent crime. This story makes me about how I would respond should I ever be victimized. I hope I would get the support of the people around me and not have to use a gun to protect myself. I also like the story "The Body Farm". This is a story about how a woman deals with her wife's stalker. "The Body Farm" reminds me to be cautious of the people I welcome into my social life. The diversity of themes in the book are superb.

[Carole Barker · Rating 5 out of 5]

A compilation of some of this year's best

I am a fan both of mystery/suspense writing and of author S. A. Cosby, so wanting to read this year's collection was pretty much a given (and I was not disappointed). Culled from various publications, including a couple of Amazon-commissioned short story stand-alones, there is quite a variety from which to choose from in this group of twenty. Some of the authors are well-known, some not as much....the quality of writing in each is excellent, although not every story will to be every reader's taste. Fans of short stories, particularly within the mystery/suspense genre, should definitely give this tome a try, as should fans of editor Cosby. There's Lisa Unger, Alyssa Cole, Megan Abbott, Gar Anthony Haywood, and Nick Kolakowski among many author talented authors to sample....read story at a sitting, or plow through the entirety....such is the pleasure of short stories. My thanks to NetGalley and Mariner Books for allowing me access to this year's compilation in exchange for my honest review

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciate the "Best of" series as a way to read bite-size pieces of interesting work that introduce me to new writers and showcase strong writing from authors already known to me. The Best American Mystery and Suspense 2024, edited by Steph Cha and SA Cosby, did not disappoint! Some pieces were only a few pages long, a couple were slightly longer - but these were a great way to fit in some reading when you are short on time. I was a bit skeptical about whether a mystery or suspense novel could "work" in just a few pages, but more often than not, I found myself nervous, anxious, uneasy, horrified and maybe a bit scared because I was totally immersed in the story. I also enjoyed the wide range of stories and styles covered in this collection. 4.5/5

Many thanks to Mariner Books and NetGalley for the e-arc and the opportunity to get to know some new writers!

[Ray Chandler · Rating 1 out of 5]

Megan Abbott's story, Scarlet Ribbons is not worth the price of the book by itself.

Jordan Harper's My Savage Year is easily the worst modern short story I've read in ages.

Karen Harrington's The Mysterious Disappearance of Jason Whetstone was very bad.

Not thinking about Bobby Matthews' story The Funeral Suit. Didn't expect a terrible western in this collection.

I didn't care for Lisa Unger's story, but there's always going to be the previous editor of this series that doesn't resonate I guess.

Mary Thorson's The Book of Ruth is the sign of a minor literary talent. Pass.

Nick Koalakowski's Scorpions was really bad. I know his work from other places and he's a water in the gas tank action guy.

Rebecca Turkeywitz's Sarah Lane's School for Girls was sharply all over the place.

Not worth the money.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

With a focus on unexpected and unique formats, the short stories in "The Best American Mystery and Suspense 2024" can be difficult and challenging to read. However, standouts like "Scarlet Ribbons" (by Megan Abbott), "For I Hungered, and Ye Gave Me" (by Barrett Bowlin), "Just a Girl" (by Alyssa Cole), "Will I See the Birds When I Am Gone?" (by Stanton McCaffery), and "Book of Ruth" (Mary Thorson) made the effort incredibly worthwhile.

Perhaps the highlights here are Jordan Harper's "My Savage Year" and Bobby Mathews's "The Funeral Suit," both employing understated, atmospheric writing to paint vivid pictures in a finite amount of space. S.A. Cosby -- a favorite in his own right -- has done a phenomenal job curating this collection, which represents a kaleidoscope of writing styles and approaches.

[Dash Hammett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Megan Abbott's story, Scarlet Ribbons is worth the price of the book by itself.

Jordan Harper's My Savage Year is easily the best modern short story I've read in ages.

Karen Harrington's The Mysterious Disappearance of Jason Whetstone was very good.

Still thinking about Bobby Matthews' story The Funeral Suit. Didn't expect a western in this collection.

I didn't care for Lisa Unger's story, but there's always going to be one that doesn't resonate I guess.

Mary Thorson's The Book of Ruth is the sign of a major literary talent. Dark.

Nick Koalakowski's Scorpions was really good. I know his work from other places and he's a pedal to the medal action guy.

Rebecca Turkeywitz's Sarah Lane's School for Girls was sharply drawn.

Well worth the money.

[Denice Langley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Collections of short stories are one of my most recommended books to family and friends. When asked for author recommendations, I always offer up the numerous collections in my personal library, as this is where I find so many wonderful authors that I would never have chosen. Short stories require an author to flex their writing skills, capturing readers in fewer pages than many chapters in a novel. They must immediately immerse readers into a story in progress and bring the characters to life so quickly, all the "meat" of the mystery is revealed in just a few pages. This collection includes the best of the best and will be appreciated by my reading circle as we choose new books to share.

[Elaine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of The Best American Mystery and Suspense 2024.

I like short story collections because they're short; they're just a mouthful and you can easily figure out whether you like a story or not.

On the other hand, short stories are iffy since they're based on the editor's preferences and what the editor likes I may not like. It's subjective.

The writing was good, no surprise there, and I liked a few stories like Baby Trap and Body Farm, but nothing really stood out for me.

Also, I wouldn't categorize most of these stories as suspenseful or a mystery, like the last story.

[kelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

this collection, like any anthology, had some stories that really captured my attention and some that didn't speak to me. that's part of the beauty of these books! i find it really valuable to get outside of my own comfort zone and read new things by new-to-me authors and take something from the experience -- whether it's something i loved in their writing, in the plot details, in the characterization, in the format, or in the concept, there's always so much to consider and learn. some of the stories that i really loved were "my savage year" by jordan harper and "the body farm" by abby geni.

[Bailey Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

I spent and afternoon with this book looking for stories for group discussion. I found that many of them center on past wrongs or secrets, with key events often occurring in high school days or before. Secrets and crimes from adolescence isn't my favorite thing, in part because I don't love the built-in nostalgia that usually goes with it.

Still, they weren't all like that, and some of the stories really grabbed me. My Savage Year was a favorite, as was Monster.

Overall a worthy investment to see what highly skilled short story artists can do.

[Poe Knows Things · Rating 1 out of 5]

S.A. Cosby edits virtue signaling putting together his drinking buddies and star struck groupies. This book has zilch to do with mystery or suspense. All those years writers spent fetching for him and this is how he repays them. All that support and he chucked them into this infantile, limited grasp of the short form. It’s terrifying, actually.. S.A. Cosby should stick to editing rants about republicans on x.