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Best of "The Strand Magazine": 25 Years of Twists, Turns, and Tales from the Modern Masters of Mystery and Fiction
Best of "The Strand Magazine": 25 Years of Twists, Turns, and Tales from the Modern Masters of Mystery and Fiction
This star-studded anniversary collection features over twenty-five unforgettable stories from internationally bestselling authors and literary legends. From the Nordic noir of Jo Nesbø and the lyricism of Tennessee Williams to the timeless imagination of Ray Bradbury and the courtroom wit of John Mortimer, these vivid tales reflect the range and tone that have defined The Strand Magazine for a quarter century.
Alongside lost works by icons like Shirley Jackson are stories by contemporary bestsellers including Ruth Ware, Joyce Carol Oates, Jeffery Deaver, James Lee Burke, Michael Connelly, and R. L. Stine. With a foreword by Alexander McCall Smith, this collection offers a rare blend of depth, wit, and atmospheric storytelling.
This star-studded anniversary collection features over twenty-five unforgettable stories from internationally bestselling authors and literary legends. From the Nordic noir of Jo Nesbø and the lyricism of Tennessee Williams to the timeless imagination of Ray Bradbury and the courtroom wit of John Mortimer, these vivid tales reflect the range and tone that have defined The Strand Magazine for a quarter century.
Alongside lost works by icons like Shirley Jackson are stories by contemporary bestsellers including Ruth Ware, Joyce Carol Oates, Jeffery Deaver, James Lee Burke, Michael Connelly, and R. L. Stine. With a foreword by Alexander McCall Smith, this collection offers a rare blend of depth, wit, and atmospheric storytelling.
466 pages, Hardcover
Published November 4, 2025
About the author
Andrew Gulli
36 books48 followersthe editor-in-chief of The Strand Magazine, one of the most established and popular journals of mystery fiction active today.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
September 24, 2025
ARC for review. To be published November 4, 2025.
4 stars
I am not familiar with “The Strand Magazine” but it seems to have been in existence for quite some time (with one very long hiatus if I’m reading the Introduction correctly) and it publishes crime fiction. The brother and sister editors (I love my brother but could never, ever work with him, so kudos to them) have collected some of the best stories from the magazine, some from such luminaries as Tennessee Williams, Shirley Jackson, Michael Connelly and Alexander McCall Smith.
Anthologies are often a disappointment to me as they are so often uneven, but this was quality throughout. I enjoyed nearly every story. Standouts for me were “Carnival” by Laura Benedict, “The Property Ladder” by Ruth Ware, “Due Diligence” by the late Catherine Aird, James S. Dorr’s “The Great Man” and the cheery “Rumpole and the Old Familiar Faces” by John Mortimer.
A thoroughly great collection. Crime fans, and admirers of short stories will like it.
Oh, and did I know Jo Nesbo was a man? No, I did not.
4 stars
I am not familiar with “The Strand Magazine” but it seems to have been in existence for quite some time (with one very long hiatus if I’m reading the Introduction correctly) and it publishes crime fiction. The brother and sister editors (I love my brother but could never, ever work with him, so kudos to them) have collected some of the best stories from the magazine, some from such luminaries as Tennessee Williams, Shirley Jackson, Michael Connelly and Alexander McCall Smith.
Anthologies are often a disappointment to me as they are so often uneven, but this was quality throughout. I enjoyed nearly every story. Standouts for me were “Carnival” by Laura Benedict, “The Property Ladder” by Ruth Ware, “Due Diligence” by the late Catherine Aird, James S. Dorr’s “The Great Man” and the cheery “Rumpole and the Old Familiar Faces” by John Mortimer.
A thoroughly great collection. Crime fans, and admirers of short stories will like it.
Oh, and did I know Jo Nesbo was a man? No, I did not.
November 4, 2025
The Strand Magazine is iconic! It, after all, gave the world Sherlock Holmes, starting with “A Scandal in Bohemia” in the summer of 1891. The modern revival carries that same torch, and this anthology, Best of "The Strand Magazine": 25 Years of Twists, Turns, and Tales from the Modern Masters of Mystery and Fiction, gathers a quarter-century of its finest short fiction. How could I possibly resist?
Alexander McCall Smith, whose voice I’ve long admired, opens with a foreword that feels like a fireside chat—wry, affectionate, perfectly pitched. Then the stories begin: a generous sprawl of voices, some familiar, some new, moving between classic locked-room riddles and contemporary sleights of hand. Most are exquisitely crafted—lean, surprising, the sort that leave you nodding at the page with quiet satisfaction. It’s the ideal volume for an idle afternoon, one you can open at random and trust to deliver.
Not every piece struck the same chord. I’ve never warmed to the supernatural, and a few tales leaned heavily on spectral machinery; for me, they drifted off-key. Others may savor them. I also wished the contents had listed authors beside titles—knowing who’s waiting inside a book this size would have guided the hand more surely.
Those are small cavils. The collection’s breadth and depth more than compensate, mapping the mystery genre’s living tradition with grace and vigor. If you relish fiction that rewards attention in compact, brilliant doses, this belongs on your shelf. It’s a book you’ll return to, again and again, for the pleasure of a well-turned puzzle.
I received an advanced digital copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Alexander McCall Smith, whose voice I’ve long admired, opens with a foreword that feels like a fireside chat—wry, affectionate, perfectly pitched. Then the stories begin: a generous sprawl of voices, some familiar, some new, moving between classic locked-room riddles and contemporary sleights of hand. Most are exquisitely crafted—lean, surprising, the sort that leave you nodding at the page with quiet satisfaction. It’s the ideal volume for an idle afternoon, one you can open at random and trust to deliver.
Not every piece struck the same chord. I’ve never warmed to the supernatural, and a few tales leaned heavily on spectral machinery; for me, they drifted off-key. Others may savor them. I also wished the contents had listed authors beside titles—knowing who’s waiting inside a book this size would have guided the hand more surely.
Those are small cavils. The collection’s breadth and depth more than compensate, mapping the mystery genre’s living tradition with grace and vigor. If you relish fiction that rewards attention in compact, brilliant doses, this belongs on your shelf. It’s a book you’ll return to, again and again, for the pleasure of a well-turned puzzle.
I received an advanced digital copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 27, 2026
A collection of short stories by some of the world's best-known authors - full of surprises!
October 21, 2026
When crime fiction fans hear the name “The Strand Magazine,” they immediately think of Sherlock Holmes, and with good reason. Holmes’s enormous popularity with the general public began with the publication of the first Holmes stories in the early issues of “The Strand.” Over the ensuing years, “The Strand” became synonymous with quality British mystery fiction. Agatha Christie published several Hercule Poirot stories in “The Strand,” and other notable authors who contributed included Dorothy Sayers, Rudyard Kipling, and P. G. Wodehouse, who published many of his Jeeves stories in the magazine. Unfortunately, changing public tastes and rising costs led to the magazine’s demise in 1950.
A demise, that is, until managing editor Andrew Gulli launched a new version of “The Strand” in 1998 in the United States. This version of “The Strand” is patterned after the original, with stories, author interviews, book reviews, and non-fiction articles. Editors Andrew and Lamia Gulli personally recruited many well-known authors to contribute to the publication. To commemorate the magazine’s 25th anniversary, they published “Best of The Strand Magazine,” an anthology of 29 stories they believe represent the magazine’s content and quality. The author list reads like a veritable who’s who of modern mystery fiction, including Michael Connelly, Jeffery Deaver, Alexander McCall Smith (who also wrote an introduction for the anthology), James Lee Burke, Jo Nesbo, Joyce Carol Oates, Ray Bradbury, Walter Mosley, and John Mortimer. The stories don’t represent the best examples of these authors’ output, only the best of what previously appeared in “The Strand.” As a result, some stories seem routine and unexceptional. However, the anthology has enough high-quality material to please genre fans.
As an introductory explanation, although the anthology’s subtitle claims it comprises “tales from the modern masters of mystery and fiction,” some stories aren’t mysteries or crime fiction as most readers understand those terms. The anthology includes fantasy, real-life and paranormal horror, and other stories best classified as general literature. Those expecting something similar to what they might find in genre magazines like “Ellery Queen” or “Alfred Hitchcock” may be disappointed for that reason (although the anthology has several such stories). Also, the anthology does not contain an introduction or other explanatory material for each story, only a brief biography of the various authors at the end of the book. This results in some radical, possibly disconcerting, mood shifts from story to story. (A list of publication dates for each story would have been helpful as well.)
The editors front-load “Best of the Strand Magazine” with stories by Michael Connelly and Jeffery Deaver featuring their popular series detectives, Harry Bosch and Lincoln Rhyme. The Bosch story is merely routine (one of several such in the book), but Deaver’s “Where the Evidence Lies” is a delight. The story’s title describes Lincoln Rhyme’s dilemma here. He’s in Florida as a guest lecturer when the local sheriff’s department asks for his help. A private plane exploded shortly after takeoff, and its passengers and cargo are now at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. Rhyme can’t conduct his usual forensic analysis, so he must rely on witness interviews to figure out what happened.
Several stories in the anthology touch on today’s relevant social issues, and the authors’ personal views may influence how some readers regard the story. Walter Mosley’s “An Unlikely Series of Conversations” looks at diversity and racial stereotyping in somewhat of a whimsical manner. James Lee Burke’s “Deportees” strikes a more serious tone. The story is set in the early days of World War II, as Hackberry Holland, one of Burke’s series protagonists, hides a group of Mexican immigrants on his ranch. A local lawman is rounding up all the immigrants he can find on the supposed theory that they are Japanese agents sneaking over the border. The parallels between this story and today’s immigration issues are obvious, but Burke handles the story’s resolution in a manner that definitely wouldn’t happen today.
“Adventure on a Bad Night” by Shirley Jackson also touches on some of the same issues as “Deportees.” Most readers will note that Jackson and some other authors in the anthology, such as H.G. Wells and Tennessee Williams, died well before the new version of “The Strand” began publication. However, these stories had never been published before, and the editors conducted extensive research to find them. In the case of Jackson’s story, their effort was well worth it. The story also takes place during World War II, as a woman named Vivien goes to a local cigar store one night to pick up some cigarettes. She finds a frightened, very pregnant foreign woman wanting to send a telegram to her boyfriend in the service. The clerk suspects the message is just a scam, but Vivien wants to help the pregnant woman out. The story is a brief, touching episode that contrasts callousness with kindness.
“Best of The Strand Magazine” also includes several more traditional stories by lesser-known authors, like those found in magazines such as “Ellery Queen” and “Alfred Hitchcock.” In “Foreverglow” by John M. Floyd, a department store sales associate and her boyfriend hatch a scheme to steal the store’s most valuable diamond collection. The robbery doesn’t quite go as planned, and the story ends with a highly satisfying twist. In “Santa Muerte” by Jonathan Rabb, an Englishman in Mexico gets caught up in a scheme to steal a valuable formula for a new cancer drug. Once again, things aren’t quite as they seem. “Risk Assessment” by Zoe Sharp is the story of a serial killer who poses as an insurance salesman to find potential victims whose deaths won’t lead to a major investigation. His most recent killing proves more challenging than he first anticipated.
The most unusual story in the anthology is probably “A Sad Mistake” by R. L. Stine. The main character is Victor Frankenstein, who has gone into hiding following the events in the novel. Despite the doctor’s precautions, a stranger finds him and requests that the doctor bring the stranger’s dead brother back to life. The experiment succeeds, but the results spin wildly out of control. Despite its horror trappings, this story would have fit well in a traditional mystery magazine.
No collection of stories from any version of “The Strand” would be complete without a tribute to Sherlock Holmes. This anthology has two such tales. “’Twas the Season” by Mark Mower is a typical Holmes pastiche, set at Christmas time, as the detective and Dr. Watson try to prevent a murder. Nothing distinguishes this story from dozens of other Holmes pastiches written in recent years. By contrast, the anthology’s last story, “The Murderer at the Falls” by Michael Mallory, is, as the title suggests, another variation on the classic encounter between Holmes and Moriarty at Reichenbach Falls. I thought I had seen every possible permutation of those events, but the author comes up with something new and fascinating here.
Most of the stories in “Best of The Strand Magazine” are very good. A few, like “Deportees" and “A Sad Mistake,” are excellent. And as those two tales illustrate, the stories provide readers with many fictional themes that go far beyond traditional mystery. There are no outright duds here. A few stories are disappointments only because I had expected more from the authors involved. Overall, however, “Best of The Strand Magazine” is a great tribute, both to the magazine’s current incarnation and its illustrious predecessor.
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.
A demise, that is, until managing editor Andrew Gulli launched a new version of “The Strand” in 1998 in the United States. This version of “The Strand” is patterned after the original, with stories, author interviews, book reviews, and non-fiction articles. Editors Andrew and Lamia Gulli personally recruited many well-known authors to contribute to the publication. To commemorate the magazine’s 25th anniversary, they published “Best of The Strand Magazine,” an anthology of 29 stories they believe represent the magazine’s content and quality. The author list reads like a veritable who’s who of modern mystery fiction, including Michael Connelly, Jeffery Deaver, Alexander McCall Smith (who also wrote an introduction for the anthology), James Lee Burke, Jo Nesbo, Joyce Carol Oates, Ray Bradbury, Walter Mosley, and John Mortimer. The stories don’t represent the best examples of these authors’ output, only the best of what previously appeared in “The Strand.” As a result, some stories seem routine and unexceptional. However, the anthology has enough high-quality material to please genre fans.
As an introductory explanation, although the anthology’s subtitle claims it comprises “tales from the modern masters of mystery and fiction,” some stories aren’t mysteries or crime fiction as most readers understand those terms. The anthology includes fantasy, real-life and paranormal horror, and other stories best classified as general literature. Those expecting something similar to what they might find in genre magazines like “Ellery Queen” or “Alfred Hitchcock” may be disappointed for that reason (although the anthology has several such stories). Also, the anthology does not contain an introduction or other explanatory material for each story, only a brief biography of the various authors at the end of the book. This results in some radical, possibly disconcerting, mood shifts from story to story. (A list of publication dates for each story would have been helpful as well.)
The editors front-load “Best of the Strand Magazine” with stories by Michael Connelly and Jeffery Deaver featuring their popular series detectives, Harry Bosch and Lincoln Rhyme. The Bosch story is merely routine (one of several such in the book), but Deaver’s “Where the Evidence Lies” is a delight. The story’s title describes Lincoln Rhyme’s dilemma here. He’s in Florida as a guest lecturer when the local sheriff’s department asks for his help. A private plane exploded shortly after takeoff, and its passengers and cargo are now at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. Rhyme can’t conduct his usual forensic analysis, so he must rely on witness interviews to figure out what happened.
Several stories in the anthology touch on today’s relevant social issues, and the authors’ personal views may influence how some readers regard the story. Walter Mosley’s “An Unlikely Series of Conversations” looks at diversity and racial stereotyping in somewhat of a whimsical manner. James Lee Burke’s “Deportees” strikes a more serious tone. The story is set in the early days of World War II, as Hackberry Holland, one of Burke’s series protagonists, hides a group of Mexican immigrants on his ranch. A local lawman is rounding up all the immigrants he can find on the supposed theory that they are Japanese agents sneaking over the border. The parallels between this story and today’s immigration issues are obvious, but Burke handles the story’s resolution in a manner that definitely wouldn’t happen today.
“Adventure on a Bad Night” by Shirley Jackson also touches on some of the same issues as “Deportees.” Most readers will note that Jackson and some other authors in the anthology, such as H.G. Wells and Tennessee Williams, died well before the new version of “The Strand” began publication. However, these stories had never been published before, and the editors conducted extensive research to find them. In the case of Jackson’s story, their effort was well worth it. The story also takes place during World War II, as a woman named Vivien goes to a local cigar store one night to pick up some cigarettes. She finds a frightened, very pregnant foreign woman wanting to send a telegram to her boyfriend in the service. The clerk suspects the message is just a scam, but Vivien wants to help the pregnant woman out. The story is a brief, touching episode that contrasts callousness with kindness.
“Best of The Strand Magazine” also includes several more traditional stories by lesser-known authors, like those found in magazines such as “Ellery Queen” and “Alfred Hitchcock.” In “Foreverglow” by John M. Floyd, a department store sales associate and her boyfriend hatch a scheme to steal the store’s most valuable diamond collection. The robbery doesn’t quite go as planned, and the story ends with a highly satisfying twist. In “Santa Muerte” by Jonathan Rabb, an Englishman in Mexico gets caught up in a scheme to steal a valuable formula for a new cancer drug. Once again, things aren’t quite as they seem. “Risk Assessment” by Zoe Sharp is the story of a serial killer who poses as an insurance salesman to find potential victims whose deaths won’t lead to a major investigation. His most recent killing proves more challenging than he first anticipated.
The most unusual story in the anthology is probably “A Sad Mistake” by R. L. Stine. The main character is Victor Frankenstein, who has gone into hiding following the events in the novel. Despite the doctor’s precautions, a stranger finds him and requests that the doctor bring the stranger’s dead brother back to life. The experiment succeeds, but the results spin wildly out of control. Despite its horror trappings, this story would have fit well in a traditional mystery magazine.
No collection of stories from any version of “The Strand” would be complete without a tribute to Sherlock Holmes. This anthology has two such tales. “’Twas the Season” by Mark Mower is a typical Holmes pastiche, set at Christmas time, as the detective and Dr. Watson try to prevent a murder. Nothing distinguishes this story from dozens of other Holmes pastiches written in recent years. By contrast, the anthology’s last story, “The Murderer at the Falls” by Michael Mallory, is, as the title suggests, another variation on the classic encounter between Holmes and Moriarty at Reichenbach Falls. I thought I had seen every possible permutation of those events, but the author comes up with something new and fascinating here.
Most of the stories in “Best of The Strand Magazine” are very good. A few, like “Deportees" and “A Sad Mistake,” are excellent. And as those two tales illustrate, the stories provide readers with many fictional themes that go far beyond traditional mystery. There are no outright duds here. A few stories are disappointments only because I had expected more from the authors involved. Overall, however, “Best of The Strand Magazine” is a great tribute, both to the magazine’s current incarnation and its illustrious predecessor.
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.
December 2, 2025
What a great collection of stories. Thank you Goodreads Giveaways for the opportunity to review this book, now I've discovered new authors to read!
August 25, 2026
Best of The Strand Magazine: 25 Years of Twists, Turns, and Tales from the Modern Masters of Mystery and Fiction is an ambitious anniversary anthology that celebrates twenty-five years of The Strand Magazine’s modern history. Edited by Andrew F. Gulli and Lamia J. Gulli, the collection brings together more than twenty-five stories by established contemporary writers, literary icons, and rediscovered masters of mystery and fiction.
What makes the anthology particularly appealing is its variety. Courtroom puzzles sit alongside noir, gothic unease, wartime stories, psychological suspense, speculative fiction, and darkly comic tales. Readers will encounter very different approaches to mystery, from the precision of Michael Connelly and Jeffery Deaver to the lyrical and unsettling work of Shirley Jackson, Tennessee Williams, and H. G. Wells. Other highlights include contributions from Joyce Carol Oates, Jo Nesbø, Ruth Ware, James Lee Burke, Walter Mosley, John Mortimer, R. L. Stine, P. G. Wodehouse, and several other notable authors.
The collection’s greatest strength is the way it demonstrates that mystery does not depend on a single formula. Some stories are driven by ingenious plotting and clean, satisfying reveals, while others rely more heavily on atmosphere, ambiguity, character, or moral tension. In several cases, the lasting impression comes less from the final twist than from the emotional or psychological unease that remains afterward.
The anthology is not entirely consistent, which is inevitable in a collection this broad. Some stories offer fully developed characters and memorable emotional depth, while others use their characters primarily to serve the mechanics of the plot. The pacing also shifts considerably: certain pieces move quickly and remain tightly focused, whereas others take a slower, more atmospheric approach.
For me, however, that unevenness is also part of the anthology’s appeal. The change in tone and structure keeps the reading experience fresh and encourages discovery. Not every story will suit every reader, but the collection offers enough range that most fans of mystery, suspense, crime, gothic fiction, or speculative storytelling are likely to find several memorable pieces.
Best of “The Strand Magazine” is a strong anniversary anthology and an enjoyable showcase for the flexibility of short fiction. I would recommend it to readers who enjoy discovering both familiar authors and lesser-known or rediscovered works, and who appreciate the many different ways a mystery can unsettle, entertain, or linger in the mind.
I received an advance copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
What makes the anthology particularly appealing is its variety. Courtroom puzzles sit alongside noir, gothic unease, wartime stories, psychological suspense, speculative fiction, and darkly comic tales. Readers will encounter very different approaches to mystery, from the precision of Michael Connelly and Jeffery Deaver to the lyrical and unsettling work of Shirley Jackson, Tennessee Williams, and H. G. Wells. Other highlights include contributions from Joyce Carol Oates, Jo Nesbø, Ruth Ware, James Lee Burke, Walter Mosley, John Mortimer, R. L. Stine, P. G. Wodehouse, and several other notable authors.
The collection’s greatest strength is the way it demonstrates that mystery does not depend on a single formula. Some stories are driven by ingenious plotting and clean, satisfying reveals, while others rely more heavily on atmosphere, ambiguity, character, or moral tension. In several cases, the lasting impression comes less from the final twist than from the emotional or psychological unease that remains afterward.
The anthology is not entirely consistent, which is inevitable in a collection this broad. Some stories offer fully developed characters and memorable emotional depth, while others use their characters primarily to serve the mechanics of the plot. The pacing also shifts considerably: certain pieces move quickly and remain tightly focused, whereas others take a slower, more atmospheric approach.
For me, however, that unevenness is also part of the anthology’s appeal. The change in tone and structure keeps the reading experience fresh and encourages discovery. Not every story will suit every reader, but the collection offers enough range that most fans of mystery, suspense, crime, gothic fiction, or speculative storytelling are likely to find several memorable pieces.
Best of “The Strand Magazine” is a strong anniversary anthology and an enjoyable showcase for the flexibility of short fiction. I would recommend it to readers who enjoy discovering both familiar authors and lesser-known or rediscovered works, and who appreciate the many different ways a mystery can unsettle, entertain, or linger in the mind.
I received an advance copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 1, 2026
I've always been a fan of short stories, particularly those brimming with mystery, unexpected twists, and memorable characters. The Strand Magazine is known for publishing engaging stories by acclaimed writers, as well as insightful reviews, articles, and other literary gems. Although the magazine has a rich history, I only recently discovered it when the publisher reached out to me for a review. I thoroughly enjoyed the diverse collection of stories in this book—especially those by authors who were new to me. If you love mysteries and suspense, this collection is a must-read. I give it a well-deserved 5 out of 5 stars.
November 6, 2025
The Strand is a British mystery magazine known best for publishing the first Sherlock Holmes story well over a century ago. The Best of "The Strand Magazine" anthology collects 29 tales published within the last twenty-five years. Their authors are as diverse as Michael Connelly, Shirley Jackson and H.G. Wells. There is truly something for every mystery reader here. 5 stars and highly recommended to mystery fans!
Thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for providing me with an advanced review copy.
Thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for providing me with an advanced review copy.
November 22, 2025
A mixed bag. For a "Best of" collection, there are quite a few duds from some established authors.
April 20, 2026
Nice bedside book for the mystery fan. A well thought out anniversary anthology.
May 24, 2026
Great stories by big well-known authors.
June 14, 2026
2.5⭐️
The stories were written rather well, but a good portion of them were so dull. For a collection of the best the magazine had to offer, they weren't well picked.
The stories were written rather well, but a good portion of them were so dull. For a collection of the best the magazine had to offer, they weren't well picked.
June 15, 2026
Great collection... some I really loved...others not so much but overall very good and discovered a couple of authors I never knew before
September 2, 2026
A good anthology of mystery and fiction short stories. Enjoyable read over time - a few stories every few days.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews