The Mysterious Bookshop Presents the Best Mystery Stories of the Year 2025

by Various, John Grisham (Editor), Otto Penzler (Contributor)

1 pages, Audio CD

Published September 23, 2025

About the author

Various is the correct author for any book with multiple unknown authors, and is acceptable for books with multiple known authors, especially if not all are known or the list is very long (over 50).

If an editor is known, however, Various is not necessary. List the name of the editor as the primary author (with role "editor"). Contributing authors' names follow it.

Note: WorldCat is an excellent resource for finding author information and contents of anthologies.

Reviews

[Holly Hurst · Rating 4 out of 5]

This annual collection has become one of my favorite traditions—an entire year’s worth of mystery distilled into one audiobook, featuring writers both familiar and new. John Grisham’s introduction and Otto Penzler’s foreword set the tone perfectly: mysteries may evolve, but the thrill of a good puzzle never gets old.

The stories range from clever noir to emotional domestic suspense to historical crime. A few that really stood out to me:

- Erika Krouse’s Eat My Moose A bittersweet story of two friends that travel Alaska to help people with assisted suicides.
- Shelagh Smith’s Snapshot Two daughters are going through their recently deceased former policeman’s things when a picture is found that could solve his biggest cold case.
- V.P. Chandler’s Under the Blackjack Tree The young daughter of the jailer is used to pass information from one thief to another, with long lasting psychological consequences.
- Richard A. McMahan’s Mister George I love how the policeman helps figure out the crime and how he helps find a replacement for Mister George.
- Jacques Futrelle’s classic “The Problem of Cell 13” closes things out with wit, logic, and humor, as well as a sort of twisted take on the classic “locked room” mystery.

Jamie Renell and Marnye Young’s narration adds just the right mix of grit and polish. Each voice feels distinct, carrying the mood from noir alleyways to dusty motel parking lots to fog-drenched London streets.

If you love mystery anthologies that balance variety with depth—and that introduce you to new authors you’ll want to read more from—this one’s a must-listen. A standout mix of classic craft and fresh ideas, all tied together by the timeless question: what really happened, and why?

Full list of authors and titles:
- Otto Penzler, Foreword
- John Grisham, Introduction
- David Avallone, The Golden Road (To Unlimited Devotion)
- Craig Faustus Buck, Home Game
- V. P. Chandler, Under the Blackjack Tree
- Tracy Falenwolfe, Jamming at Jollies
- James Hearn, Totality
- April Kelly, The Art of Disappearance
- Erika Krouse, Eat My Moose
- Tom Larsen, The Other Brother
- Billie Livingston, Same Old Song
- Kai Lovelace, Only a Story
- Sean McCluskey, The Secret Menu
- Richard A. McMahan, Mister George
- Lou Manfredo, Dream Stuff
- Karen Odden, Her Dangerously Clever Hands
- Anna Scotti, A New Weariness
- Shelagh Smith, Snapshot
- Casey Stegman, Effie's Oasis
- Lamont A. Turner, The Lost and the Lonely
- Joseph S. Walker, Run and Gun
- Andrew Welsh-Huggins, Through Thick and Thin
- Bonus Story: Jacques Futrelle, The Problem of Cell 13

Special thanks to NetGalley and RBmedia for a copy of the audiobook in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Angel · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Best Mystery Stories of the Year" is an anthology of short mystery stories by various authors curated by The Mystery Bookshop out of over 3000 entries. This book was edited by John Grisham and Otto Penzler.

This was narrated by Marnye Young and Jamie Renell who both did excellent jobs.

This took me awhile to read and process. There are 21 short stories in this anthology. I wrote a summary and rated each story. The average rating comes to 3.83 rounded up to 4 stars.

I had four stories rated 5 stars. Twelve rated at 4 stars. Four rated 3 stars. Two rated 2 stars. Zero rated 1 star.

My favorite 5 star stories were "Home Game" by Carrie Faustus Buck, "Mr. George" by Richard A. McMahon, "A New Wariness" by Anna Scotty, and "Effie's Oasis Hotel" by Kasey Stegman. My favorite stories have either an older character or an animal or more character detail or extra subterfuge that is clear.

One story, "Eat My Moose" is included in both this book and the other well known mystery anthology of the year. "Eat My Moose" by Erika Kraus is about an elder man who helps euthanize people who wish to be. This one is somewhat creepy and interesting, but not especially mysterious.

Some stories don't have enough detail or are just too confusing. It is difficult to get enough info into a short story for it to make sense.

This is a good collection and I recommend this to short story lovers.

Thank you to Netgalley, High Bridge Audio, and The Mystery Bookshop for providing this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

[Belva W · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think seeing John Grisham's name associated with these stories really drew me in. Some of the stories were better than others but none of them excited me. After listening to these mysteries I've come to the conclusion that short stories are just not for me. My thanks to HighBridge Audio for providing the audiobook via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Jennifer Baratta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh this is great listen for working. Very different authors with Mystery for stories.