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The Big Book of Reel Murders: Stories that Inspired Great Crime Films
Edgar Award-winning editor Otto Penzler's new anthology rolls out the red carpet for the stories that Hollywood is made of. A Vintage Crime/Black Lizard Original.
Lights! Camera! Action! The latest book in the Big Book series takes us behind the curtain to uncover the stories that became some of the greatest films of the silver screen. There's the W. Somerset Maugham short story that inspired Hitchcock's Secret Agent ; Robert Louis Stevenson's horrifying tale that was later turned into the iconic movie The Body Snatcher , starring Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff; Sir Ian Fleming's "From a View to a Kill," later one of Roger Moore's greatest Bond films; and "Cyclists' Raid," the short story that formed the basis for the legendary Brando film The Wild One .
Otto Penzler delivers the director's cut on these classic short stories and the films they gave rise to. So grab your Sno-Caps and a jumbo box of popcorn and curl up with these cinematic tales from the likes of Agatha Christie, Dennis Lehane, Joyce Carol Oates, Dashiell Hammett, O. Henry, Edgar Allan Poe, and Arthur Conan Doyle.
Lights! Camera! Action! The latest book in the Big Book series takes us behind the curtain to uncover the stories that became some of the greatest films of the silver screen. There's the W. Somerset Maugham short story that inspired Hitchcock's Secret Agent ; Robert Louis Stevenson's horrifying tale that was later turned into the iconic movie The Body Snatcher , starring Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff; Sir Ian Fleming's "From a View to a Kill," later one of Roger Moore's greatest Bond films; and "Cyclists' Raid," the short story that formed the basis for the legendary Brando film The Wild One .
Otto Penzler delivers the director's cut on these classic short stories and the films they gave rise to. So grab your Sno-Caps and a jumbo box of popcorn and curl up with these cinematic tales from the likes of Agatha Christie, Dennis Lehane, Joyce Carol Oates, Dashiell Hammett, O. Henry, Edgar Allan Poe, and Arthur Conan Doyle.
1200 pages, Paperback
First published October 22, 2019
73 people are currently reading
313 people want to read
About the author
Otto Penzler
374 books533 followersOtto Penzler is an editor of mystery fiction in the United States, and proprietor of The Mysterious Bookshop in New York City, where he lives.
Otto Penzler founded The Mysteriour Press in 1975 and was the publisher of The Armchair Detective, the Edgar-winning quarterly journal devoted to the study of mystery and suspense fiction, for seventeen years.
Penzler has won two Edgar Awards, for The Encyclopedia of Mystery and Detection in 1977, and The Lineup in 2010. The Mystery Writers of America awarded him the prestigious Ellery Queen Award in 1994, and the Raven--the group's highest non-writing award--in 2003.
Otto Penzler founded The Mysteriour Press in 1975 and was the publisher of The Armchair Detective, the Edgar-winning quarterly journal devoted to the study of mystery and suspense fiction, for seventeen years.
Penzler has won two Edgar Awards, for The Encyclopedia of Mystery and Detection in 1977, and The Lineup in 2010. The Mystery Writers of America awarded him the prestigious Ellery Queen Award in 1994, and the Raven--the group's highest non-writing award--in 2003.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
October 4, 2025
This huge, 1200 page volume, contains (inter many alia) 8 Cornell Woolrich stories that were turned into movies. I will update this review as I work through those particular tales.
1.) “I Wouldn’t Be in Your Shoes”. Orig. Detective Fiction Weekly, 1938. Filmed as same, 1948. Screenplay by Steve Fisher. (Didn’t grab me)
2.) “And So To Death”. Orig. Argosy, 1941. Filmed as Fear in the Night, 1947 (didn’t read)
3.) “The Boy Cried Murder.” Orig. “Mystery Book Magazine, 1947. Filmed as The Window, 1949. The film earned numerous awards, won the Edgar Allan Poe award for Best Picture, with the Screenplay by Mel Dinelli and Cornell Woolrich, and inspired three other films between 1966 and 1984. Neat little story = 5
4.) “Face Work”. Orig. Black Mask, 1937. Filmed as Convicted, 1938 (with a 20 year-old Rita Hayworth). One of Woolrich’s favorite plots, this story was the basis for the 1943 novel and 1946 film, The Black Angel (the latter with Peter Lorre). Skipped.
5.) “Dormant Account”. Orig. Black Mask, 1942. Filmed as The Mark of Mr. Whistler in 1944. Very clever = 5+
6.) “He Looked Liked Murder”. Orig. Detective Fiction Weekly, 1941. Reprinted as “Two Fellows in a Furnished Room” in *The Dancing Detective*, and filmed as The Guilty, 1947. This is *really* good. 5.5
7.) “C-Jag”. Orig. Black Mask, 1940 (later retitled “Cocaine”). Filmed as Fall Guy, 1947. Screen debut of the actor Clifford Penn, father of Sean Penn. Skipped.
8.) “All at Once, No Alice”. Orig. Argosy, 1940. Filmed as Return of the Whistler, 1948. Though often anthologized, I only rate this one a 4- or 3.5.
1.) “I Wouldn’t Be in Your Shoes”. Orig. Detective Fiction Weekly, 1938. Filmed as same, 1948. Screenplay by Steve Fisher. (Didn’t grab me)
2.) “And So To Death”. Orig. Argosy, 1941. Filmed as Fear in the Night, 1947 (didn’t read)
3.) “The Boy Cried Murder.” Orig. “Mystery Book Magazine, 1947. Filmed as The Window, 1949. The film earned numerous awards, won the Edgar Allan Poe award for Best Picture, with the Screenplay by Mel Dinelli and Cornell Woolrich, and inspired three other films between 1966 and 1984. Neat little story = 5
4.) “Face Work”. Orig. Black Mask, 1937. Filmed as Convicted, 1938 (with a 20 year-old Rita Hayworth). One of Woolrich’s favorite plots, this story was the basis for the 1943 novel and 1946 film, The Black Angel (the latter with Peter Lorre). Skipped.
5.) “Dormant Account”. Orig. Black Mask, 1942. Filmed as The Mark of Mr. Whistler in 1944. Very clever = 5+
6.) “He Looked Liked Murder”. Orig. Detective Fiction Weekly, 1941. Reprinted as “Two Fellows in a Furnished Room” in *The Dancing Detective*, and filmed as The Guilty, 1947. This is *really* good. 5.5
7.) “C-Jag”. Orig. Black Mask, 1940 (later retitled “Cocaine”). Filmed as Fall Guy, 1947. Screen debut of the actor Clifford Penn, father of Sean Penn. Skipped.
8.) “All at Once, No Alice”. Orig. Argosy, 1940. Filmed as Return of the Whistler, 1948. Though often anthologized, I only rate this one a 4- or 3.5.
June 8, 2020
In his introductions, Otto "Spoiler" Penzler, quite unforgivably, gives away significant elements of the plot of each story he is introducing. In the case of the first piece, Agatha Christie's "The Witness For The Prosecution", he even reveals the "twist" at the end. I have read the first fifteen stories of the anthology and every introduction so far has a recap of key elements of the plot. After the second tale, I switched to reading the introduction only after finishing the corresponding story, and I recommend this strategy to all potential readers. It defies understanding that such an experienced editor and publisher would deem it appropriate to spoil the experience for readers like this.
My one-star rating is based purely on this blatant disregard for the reader. The anthology itself I would rate as four stars so far.
My one-star rating is based purely on this blatant disregard for the reader. The anthology itself I would rate as four stars so far.
November 20, 2019
“The Big Book of Reel Murders” is a collection of mystery stories that have also been made into movies. Otto Penzler assembled a fascinating group of “crime fiction” literature and film. The stories are compelling and page after page is filled with suspense, action, and non-stop twists and turns. The best part is that after reading, one can view the film adaptation of the same work. Some of the films take some searching to access, but many can easily be found on streaming services or even the collection of the local public library.
My usual position on film adaptations of literature is that the book is always better, but for some of the examples in this book, I was familiar with only one half of the pair, either film only or literature only, and so I eagerly sought out the other half of the pair. I found that a good film can indeed be as good as the book, and that, to my surprise, I did like some of the films as much if not more than I liked the book.
The anthology of literature by itself is compelling and quick to read. I like to have collections such as this on hand so that I can finish a story while catching a plane, before an appointment, or waiting during a child’s lesson.
I received a review copy of “The Big Book of Reel Murders” from Otto Penzler, Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, and Vintage Crime/Black lizard. I recommend it whole heartedly. Readers who love crime fiction and film aficionados who love a good “crime” movie will not be disappointed by this anthology.
My usual position on film adaptations of literature is that the book is always better, but for some of the examples in this book, I was familiar with only one half of the pair, either film only or literature only, and so I eagerly sought out the other half of the pair. I found that a good film can indeed be as good as the book, and that, to my surprise, I did like some of the films as much if not more than I liked the book.
The anthology of literature by itself is compelling and quick to read. I like to have collections such as this on hand so that I can finish a story while catching a plane, before an appointment, or waiting during a child’s lesson.
I received a review copy of “The Big Book of Reel Murders” from Otto Penzler, Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, and Vintage Crime/Black lizard. I recommend it whole heartedly. Readers who love crime fiction and film aficionados who love a good “crime” movie will not be disappointed by this anthology.
October 28, 2019
This is a great collection of classic short stories! The connection is that they were all the source materials for mystery and noir films. There are many stories of various lengths... would make a great beach or travel read!
Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for a digital ARC!
Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for a digital ARC!
January 9, 2020
This book took FOREVER to read, but it was worth it. Full of so many good stories, but also some clunkers. I do admit to skipping a few (I apparently do not like Dashiell Hammett), but I finished most of them. If you like old mystery movies, you'll probably love this book.
January 2, 2022
I hate to give Otto a bad review, but I gotta say, this is my least favorite of all the anthologies of his I have read.
Many of the stories in this collection are featured in other and better collections.
(For example: "The Lodger" is featured not only in this collection, but also in THE BIG BOOK OF JACK THE RIPPER).
Yes, it is cool to read the stories many of our favorite films are based on, but if you are a fan of Otto's and appreciate all the hard work he puts into these anthologies, then you will quickly realize that this one is the least exciting of the bunch.
If I was to rank all of The Otto Penzler anthologies I have read, here is where I would put them from my least favorite to my number one.
9. The Big Book of Reel Murders
8. The Big Book of Ghost Stories
7. Dangerous Women
6. The Big Book of Pulps
5. The Big Book of Sherlock Holmes
4. The Big Book of Jack The Ripper
3. The Big Book of Christmas Mysteries
2. The Big Book of Rogues and Villains
1. Black Noir
Many of the stories in this collection are featured in other and better collections.
(For example: "The Lodger" is featured not only in this collection, but also in THE BIG BOOK OF JACK THE RIPPER).
Yes, it is cool to read the stories many of our favorite films are based on, but if you are a fan of Otto's and appreciate all the hard work he puts into these anthologies, then you will quickly realize that this one is the least exciting of the bunch.
If I was to rank all of The Otto Penzler anthologies I have read, here is where I would put them from my least favorite to my number one.
9. The Big Book of Reel Murders
8. The Big Book of Ghost Stories
7. Dangerous Women
6. The Big Book of Pulps
5. The Big Book of Sherlock Holmes
4. The Big Book of Jack The Ripper
3. The Big Book of Christmas Mysteries
2. The Big Book of Rogues and Villains
1. Black Noir
September 11, 2023
Woo boy, the struggle was real with this one. If it wasn't a library book, I probably wouldn't have plowed through it (and even with singular, focused reading, to took more than a month to get through).
This is the second "Big Book" collection I've tried, and the first I was able to get all the way through. These collections are too big, too unfocused, too unwieldy. This one featured stories that weren't even crimes, much less murders, with films that barely shared titles, much less plots with their namesake shorts. It was nice to get so much Cornell Woolrich in one place (that dude was seriously crazy, though), but otherwise the longer this collection went on, the more unsatisfying it was.
As with any Otto Penzler collection, DO NOT read the introductions to the stories before you read the actual story: it spoils everything. It's really bizarre that he insists on writing intros that are really afterwards.
This is the second "Big Book" collection I've tried, and the first I was able to get all the way through. These collections are too big, too unfocused, too unwieldy. This one featured stories that weren't even crimes, much less murders, with films that barely shared titles, much less plots with their namesake shorts. It was nice to get so much Cornell Woolrich in one place (that dude was seriously crazy, though), but otherwise the longer this collection went on, the more unsatisfying it was.
As with any Otto Penzler collection, DO NOT read the introductions to the stories before you read the actual story: it spoils everything. It's really bizarre that he insists on writing intros that are really afterwards.
December 23, 2019
Somehow not as compelling a collection as others I've enjoyed by Penzler. Not bad, just not as much fun to read.
October 31, 2019
Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
The Big Book of Reel Murders: Stories That Inspired Great Crime Films is a stunning anthology of crime fiction expertly curated and edited (as always) by Otto Penzler. Released by Knopf Doubleday on their Black Lizard imprint it's 1200 (!!!) pages and available in ebook and paperback formats.
This is a gob-smacking reference collection of shorter fiction stories which were adapted into some of the most iconic crime films in history. The stories are collected roughly thematically with sections for love (to death), real life horror, suspense, classic detectives and more. The author list reads like a literal who's who of crime fiction: Christie, Ian Fleming, Maugham, Bloch, RL Stevenson, Hammett, O. Henry, Huxley, Sinclair Lewis, Conan Doyle and many more, both modern and classic.
This anthology would be well worth the cost of admission -just- for the stories alone of course, but what made this a personal library keeper (even bought my own copy) is the erudite and meticulous historical notes and cast notes for each and every one of the included stories and the films they inspired. Mr. Penzler has a dizzying command of crime fiction history (or possibly a stable of librarians stashed in his basement) and his comments are worth reading in their own right.
Five stars. The other books in the series from the same publisher are also well worth seeking out.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
The Big Book of Reel Murders: Stories That Inspired Great Crime Films is a stunning anthology of crime fiction expertly curated and edited (as always) by Otto Penzler. Released by Knopf Doubleday on their Black Lizard imprint it's 1200 (!!!) pages and available in ebook and paperback formats.
This is a gob-smacking reference collection of shorter fiction stories which were adapted into some of the most iconic crime films in history. The stories are collected roughly thematically with sections for love (to death), real life horror, suspense, classic detectives and more. The author list reads like a literal who's who of crime fiction: Christie, Ian Fleming, Maugham, Bloch, RL Stevenson, Hammett, O. Henry, Huxley, Sinclair Lewis, Conan Doyle and many more, both modern and classic.
This anthology would be well worth the cost of admission -just- for the stories alone of course, but what made this a personal library keeper (even bought my own copy) is the erudite and meticulous historical notes and cast notes for each and every one of the included stories and the films they inspired. Mr. Penzler has a dizzying command of crime fiction history (or possibly a stable of librarians stashed in his basement) and his comments are worth reading in their own right.
Five stars. The other books in the series from the same publisher are also well worth seeking out.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
October 22, 2019
The Big Book of Reel Murders is chockful of well-known authors like Dashiell Hammett, Arthur Conan Doyle, Ian Fleming, and W. Somerset Maugham. Even better, it has some of my favorite silver-age short story writers from 1950-1989 Alfred Hitchcock and Ellery Queen mystery magazines like Cornell Woolrich and Stanley Ellin.
Stories are grouped by type: suspense, murder, thriller, horror, general crime, love (to death, of course), and detective fiction. There is literally something for everyone here. And then some. At 1200 pages, clearly this is a great value. However, you also get a curated collection of truly great stories. Many were made into iconic movies like Psycho and Witness for the Prosecution.
I can’t recommend this anthology highly enough. Here is your chance to read the source material for many of your favorite noir, mystery, and thriller movies. Some were better on the silver screen but many were not. It’s fun to see the changes. The Big Book of Reel Murders is extremely recommended for both mystery and movie fans. 5 stars!
Thanks to Vintage Crime, Black Lizard, Knopf Doubleday and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.
Stories are grouped by type: suspense, murder, thriller, horror, general crime, love (to death, of course), and detective fiction. There is literally something for everyone here. And then some. At 1200 pages, clearly this is a great value. However, you also get a curated collection of truly great stories. Many were made into iconic movies like Psycho and Witness for the Prosecution.
I can’t recommend this anthology highly enough. Here is your chance to read the source material for many of your favorite noir, mystery, and thriller movies. Some were better on the silver screen but many were not. It’s fun to see the changes. The Big Book of Reel Murders is extremely recommended for both mystery and movie fans. 5 stars!
Thanks to Vintage Crime, Black Lizard, Knopf Doubleday and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.
November 2, 2019
Princess Fuzzypants here: There is no denying, I like anthologies of short stories. There are times when something short that can be consumed in one sitting is what this reader needs. It allows you to dip in and out without losing track of characters or events. This collection is no different in this regard.
Where it does differ, and in a good way for film buffs such as my family, is these stories are the original material for either a movie or tv show. Ergo the “Reel” in the title. I found myself looking for titles of movies that I have seen first. Prior to the story, the editor gossips a bit about interesting details that happened either to the author or on the set. As an example, Witness For The Prosecution, starred Tyrone Power, Charles Laughton and Marlene Dietrich. It seems both of the last two had crushes on Mr. Power. It allows the reader some insight into hither to unknown details. It makes for additional fun.
If you are a fan of movies or just like some very good stories that were made into movies, this book will be appreciated greatly. It earns four purrs and two paws up.
Where it does differ, and in a good way for film buffs such as my family, is these stories are the original material for either a movie or tv show. Ergo the “Reel” in the title. I found myself looking for titles of movies that I have seen first. Prior to the story, the editor gossips a bit about interesting details that happened either to the author or on the set. As an example, Witness For The Prosecution, starred Tyrone Power, Charles Laughton and Marlene Dietrich. It seems both of the last two had crushes on Mr. Power. It allows the reader some insight into hither to unknown details. It makes for additional fun.
If you are a fan of movies or just like some very good stories that were made into movies, this book will be appreciated greatly. It earns four purrs and two paws up.
July 30, 2020
This is a very impressive and incredibly entertaining collection. I didn't realize just how big this book was before I got it, but yes, the "big" in the title is definitely appropriate!
There's well over a thousand pages here of many, many wonderful stories. Not only are the stories great, but I loved reading about the film and TV adaptations of the stories.
Otto Penzler did a fantastic job here. I just saw that he also has some other "Big Books" of mystery anthologies. I'll be checking them out later too.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for a fair review.
There's well over a thousand pages here of many, many wonderful stories. Not only are the stories great, but I loved reading about the film and TV adaptations of the stories.
Otto Penzler did a fantastic job here. I just saw that he also has some other "Big Books" of mystery anthologies. I'll be checking them out later too.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for a fair review.
October 15, 2024
Typical Penzler anthology: quantity over quality. He crams every obscure story that inspired any obscure film into this book, regardless of the quality of either. The stories are mostly either extremely over-anthologized ("The Murders in the Rue Morgue") or obscure and generic. There's a heavy bias towards stories that inspired B movies of the 40s and 50s, so that will give you an idea of the level of this book.
August 3, 2019
Great execution of a great idea, especially for cinema fans (that like to read). "Big" is certainly apt. The book contain some great stories and authors. The background sections for each film/story are excellent. Recommended for crime readers and film lovers alike. 4.5 stars.
I really appreciate the advanced copy for review!!
I really appreciate the advanced copy for review!!
September 10, 2019
The Big Book of Reel Murders is a fun and entertaining read for book lovers and cinephiles. Each film is introduced with an interesting background section, including the original cast, and then follows with the story that inspired the film. It's a great combination of real and reel reading, and I would be glad to see more books in a series like this.
March 16, 2023
An entertaining and, often, engrossing recording of some of the worlds most popular magazine episodes. If the genre interests you, this will give hours of good memories. Mostly clean, all but one are complete (without missing words at the end), and professionally well read. I plan to go thru it again … and again. I hope you do as well.
Than you, Mr. Penzler!
Than you, Mr. Penzler!
October 21, 2019
Movie buffs know that many of the best crime movies are based on stories by authors ranging from Ian Fleming to Robert Louis Stevenson to Agatha Christie and more. The latest in the Big Book series takes the reader on a journey through the movies and the stories that inspired the movies.
When they call this series the "Big Book" series, they aren't kidding. This installment is 1200 pages long, and is both entertaining and interesting, especially for crime readers who enjoy movies as well. There are more than five dozen "chapters" in the book, one for each story/movie. Each chapter begins with background information about the movie, including a list of the original cast and other notes. This background is followed by the story itself, which I found much more interesting than the information about the movie, perhaps because I'm more of a reader than a movie-goer. That said, I made a list of the movies I would like to try to watch and look forward to seeing how the stories were adapted for the big screen. I will also be watching for Mr. Penzler's next book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
When they call this series the "Big Book" series, they aren't kidding. This installment is 1200 pages long, and is both entertaining and interesting, especially for crime readers who enjoy movies as well. There are more than five dozen "chapters" in the book, one for each story/movie. Each chapter begins with background information about the movie, including a list of the original cast and other notes. This background is followed by the story itself, which I found much more interesting than the information about the movie, perhaps because I'm more of a reader than a movie-goer. That said, I made a list of the movies I would like to try to watch and look forward to seeing how the stories were adapted for the big screen. I will also be watching for Mr. Penzler's next book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
March 22, 2020
Now I want to rewatch (or seek out) these films.
April 1, 2020
As much as I liked this book, honestly I was glad when I finally finished it. I liked some of the stories better than others and some stories I thought went on for too long.
Read
August 1, 2020This book is the size of a large city telephone book! I fuou like murder stories, this is the book for you!
August 20, 2020
Very uneven collection, but the varied styles are intriguing, and there are a few gems
November 18, 2021
A very long book of murders and their movie adaptations. I read a few of the authors that I recognized and found some good short stories. May come back to this one to read them all.
June 2, 2024
A impressively sized compendium but, sadly, it seems that quantity soon outshines quality.
October 27, 2025
Good collection of myster/detective short stories. I checked it out to read Spurs, but all were worth the read.
Read
December 8, 2023The concept of this collection is still mostly pulpy stories (though with some other older stories and more contemporary stories not really pulpy) that were made into films. It should really be called “Reel Crimes” as not every story involves a murder, but the concept mostly works. It ends up being a little frayed throughout as apparently it’s just much easier to get some rights to stories than others, so like the other collections, you end up with several stories by the same authors. The first section alone is basically a small anthology of Cornell Woolrich stories, which ends up with some accidental comedy as Penzler spends a lot of times introducing Woolrich in repeated ways trying to find new ways to say that Woolrich was a sad guy whose personal life often made it into his stories, minus the murders. It’s also funny because Woolrich’s stories are often retreads of his other stories. This collection is much more varied though than other Penzler collections, as the pulp is often broken up with stories by, simply put, better writers.
Some thoughts on the stories:
The Woolrich story (I mean this in a Platonic way) starts with someone coming to from some kind of state and thinking for whatever reason they might have done a murder. The reasons are always different. Maybe they got drunk. Maybe they were hypnotized. And in one story, maybe they blacked out doing cocaine! The rest of the story usually involves them solving the murder, usually with the help of a cop they just happen to know.
One great story involves a character getting spurned by a woman and thinking of a great way to murder her. Luckily for both of them, he’s a playwright who simply wants to use his idea for a play idea he has. He spends a night in a bar telling someone all about the idea, and follows this up by going out into the street where he’s hit by a car and gets some amnesia. He spends the rest of the story trying to track the guy down in order to find out what he told him so he can finish his play. You can just guess what that guy does with the information.
This collection thankfully also anthologizes several stories by British writers, so we end up moving away from the American idiom for awhile. You get several Sherlock Holmes stories, which are kind of a waste here since they’re so widely available otherwise, Daphne du Maurier’s “Don’t Look Back” which is weird and worth reading, some Agatha Christie, and even the first Raffles story, among others. There’s also a Robert Louis Stevenson true crime story and a few others. It helps break up the effect.
It wouldn’t be a Penzler collection without the addition of some specific detective he just loves and isn’t very good. Here there’s a bunch of stories about a semi-retired school teacher who helps the NYPD solve heists.
Ultimately the collection is salvaged (not from being bad, but from being indistinct from the Big Book of Pulps) by the addition of so many stories by well-known and often literary writers. It’s hard not to notice how much better a writer, say Somerset Maugham, is from some of the other pulpier writers.
Some thoughts on the stories:
The Woolrich story (I mean this in a Platonic way) starts with someone coming to from some kind of state and thinking for whatever reason they might have done a murder. The reasons are always different. Maybe they got drunk. Maybe they were hypnotized. And in one story, maybe they blacked out doing cocaine! The rest of the story usually involves them solving the murder, usually with the help of a cop they just happen to know.
One great story involves a character getting spurned by a woman and thinking of a great way to murder her. Luckily for both of them, he’s a playwright who simply wants to use his idea for a play idea he has. He spends a night in a bar telling someone all about the idea, and follows this up by going out into the street where he’s hit by a car and gets some amnesia. He spends the rest of the story trying to track the guy down in order to find out what he told him so he can finish his play. You can just guess what that guy does with the information.
This collection thankfully also anthologizes several stories by British writers, so we end up moving away from the American idiom for awhile. You get several Sherlock Holmes stories, which are kind of a waste here since they’re so widely available otherwise, Daphne du Maurier’s “Don’t Look Back” which is weird and worth reading, some Agatha Christie, and even the first Raffles story, among others. There’s also a Robert Louis Stevenson true crime story and a few others. It helps break up the effect.
It wouldn’t be a Penzler collection without the addition of some specific detective he just loves and isn’t very good. Here there’s a bunch of stories about a semi-retired school teacher who helps the NYPD solve heists.
Ultimately the collection is salvaged (not from being bad, but from being indistinct from the Big Book of Pulps) by the addition of so many stories by well-known and often literary writers. It’s hard not to notice how much better a writer, say Somerset Maugham, is from some of the other pulpier writers.
October 24, 2021
A wonderful anthology of crime/mystery/thriller short stories and novellas that have been adapted into movies. I read this ebook over several weeks. It's 1200 pages long!
Cornell Woolrich has eight stories included, and they're all high-concept stories that are more fun than his gloomy noir novels. The book has changed my opinion of Woolrich. His stories, although gimmicky, are surprisingly entertaining.
Edgar-award-winning editor Otto Penzler (who also runs The Mysterious Press and The Mysterious Bookshop in Manhattan) does a great job introducing the stories and the movies made from them. He provides a wealth of background information on both the stories and the movies. His intros were wise, witty, informative, and entertaining. Contrary to several reviewers' comments, I didn't think Penzler revealed too much.
The book is generous in spirit and broad in concept. There are 61 stories in several categories: suspense, murder, thrillers, horror, crime, romance, and detective stories. Sure, there are familiar writers represented, such as Agatha Christie, Arthur Conan Doyle, Dashiell Hammett, Ian Fleming, and Cornell Woolrich, but there are also excellent selections from less celebrated writers, such as Stuart Palmer, MacKinlay Kantor, Edgar Wallace, Frederick Nebel, and Raoul Whitfield.
Many of these stories were made into B-movies during the Thirties through the Fifties, when low-budget studios like Monagram Pictures churned out 60-minute thrillers that you can now find on YouTube. The movies weren't great, but many of them had great performances and tight scripts.
The most recent movie adapted from the stories is No Good Deed (2002), a noir directed by Bob Rafelson, likely his last, which was adapted from Dashiell Hammett's "The House in Turk Street." I honestly never heard of the movie.
My three favorite stories in this mammoth collection are Stanley Ellin's "The Best of Everything" (which may have inspired Patricia Highsmith's The Talented Mr. Ripley), Irwin Shaw's "Tip on a Dead Jockey," and Daphne du Maurier's "Don't Look Now," which is one of my favorite stories of all time.
Cornell Woolrich has eight stories included, and they're all high-concept stories that are more fun than his gloomy noir novels. The book has changed my opinion of Woolrich. His stories, although gimmicky, are surprisingly entertaining.
Edgar-award-winning editor Otto Penzler (who also runs The Mysterious Press and The Mysterious Bookshop in Manhattan) does a great job introducing the stories and the movies made from them. He provides a wealth of background information on both the stories and the movies. His intros were wise, witty, informative, and entertaining. Contrary to several reviewers' comments, I didn't think Penzler revealed too much.
The book is generous in spirit and broad in concept. There are 61 stories in several categories: suspense, murder, thrillers, horror, crime, romance, and detective stories. Sure, there are familiar writers represented, such as Agatha Christie, Arthur Conan Doyle, Dashiell Hammett, Ian Fleming, and Cornell Woolrich, but there are also excellent selections from less celebrated writers, such as Stuart Palmer, MacKinlay Kantor, Edgar Wallace, Frederick Nebel, and Raoul Whitfield.
Many of these stories were made into B-movies during the Thirties through the Fifties, when low-budget studios like Monagram Pictures churned out 60-minute thrillers that you can now find on YouTube. The movies weren't great, but many of them had great performances and tight scripts.
The most recent movie adapted from the stories is No Good Deed (2002), a noir directed by Bob Rafelson, likely his last, which was adapted from Dashiell Hammett's "The House in Turk Street." I honestly never heard of the movie.
My three favorite stories in this mammoth collection are Stanley Ellin's "The Best of Everything" (which may have inspired Patricia Highsmith's The Talented Mr. Ripley), Irwin Shaw's "Tip on a Dead Jockey," and Daphne du Maurier's "Don't Look Now," which is one of my favorite stories of all time.
August 1, 2019
Crime enthusiasts, settle in and get ready to read because this is definitely for any and all fans of crime films. We all love to read here, but nothing is as good as a great crime film. This book, edited by none other than Otto Penzler, will take you through stories that inspired great crime films.
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