The Best American Mystery Stories 2010

by Lee Child (Editor)

Featuring twenty of the year's standout crime short stories handpicked by one of the world's best thriller writers, Best American Mystery Stories 2010 showcases not only the very best of the crime genre, but the best of American writing full stop. Within its pages, literary legends rub shoulders with the hottest new talent. Contributors in the past have included James Lee Burke, Jeffrey Deaver, Michael Connelly, Alice Munro and Joyce Carol Oates.

This year's guest editor is Lee Child, the creator of Jack Reacher and a simultaneous bestseller on both sides of the Atlantic.

Stories:

GARY ALEXANDER - Charlie and the Pirates
R. A. ALLEN - The Emerald Coast
DOUG ALLYN - An Early Christmas
MARY STEWART ATWELL -Maynard
MATT BELL - Dredge
JAY BRANDON - A Jury of His Peers
PHYLLIS COHEN -Designer Justice
JOHN DUFRESNE - The Cross-Eyed Bear
LYNDSAY FAYE - The Case of Colonel Warburton’s Madness
GAR ANTHONY HAYWOOD - The First Rule Is
JON LAND - Killing Time
DENNIS LEHANE - Animal Rescue
LYNDA LEIDIGER - Tell Me
PHILLIP MARGOLIN -The House on Pine Terrace
CHRIS MUESSIG - Bias
ALBERT TUCHER - Bismarck Rules
KURT VONNEGUT - Ed Luby’s Key Club
JOSEPH WALLACE - Custom Sets
MIKE WIECEK - The Shipbreaker
RYAN ZIMMERMAN - Blood and Dirt

Genres: Mystery, Short Stories, Fiction, Anthologies, Crime, Mystery Thriller, Thriller

402 pages, Paperback

First published October 5, 2010

About the author

Lee Child was born October 29th, 1954 in Coventry, England, but spent his formative years in the nearby city of Birmingham. By coincidence he won a scholarship to the same high school that JRR Tolkien had attended. He went to law school in Sheffield, England, and after part-time work in the theater he joined Granada Television in Manchester for what turned out to be an eighteen-year career as a presentation director during British TV's "golden age." During his tenure his company made Brideshead Revisited, The Jewel in the Crown, Prime Suspect, and Cracker. But he was fired in 1995 at the age of 40 as a result of corporate restructuring. Always a voracious reader, he decided to see an opportunity where others might have seen a crisis and bought six dollars' worth of paper and pencils and sat down to write a book, Killing Floor, the first in the Jack Reacher series.

Killing Floor was an immediate success and launched the series which has grown in sales and impact with every new installment. The first Jack Reacher movie, based on the novel One Shot and starring Tom Cruise and Rosamund Pike, was released in December 2012.

Lee has three homes—an apartment in Manhattan, a country house in the south of France, and whatever airplane cabin he happens to be in while traveling between the two. In the US he drives a supercharged Jaguar, which was built in Jaguar's Browns Lane plant, thirty yards from the hospital in which he was born.

Lee spends his spare time reading, listening to music, and watching the Yankees, Aston Villa, or Marseilles soccer. He is married with a grown-up daughter. He is tall and slim, despite an appalling diet and a refusal to exercise.

Reviews

[Christina · Rating 1 out of 5]

I guess my idea of a mystery story is out-of-date and old fashioned. These stories are gritty, graphic, gory, and lack the intrigue of a carefully crafted whodunit. But, as the series editor noted in his foreword, the whodunit is rare in "mysteries" by today's authors. Why? What makes the art of a logical, rational approach to solving a crime antiquated? (Maybe I am bitter because I have the audacity to revere the likes of Christie and Sayers.) I also scorn the editor's pointed remark that these stories focus on the whydunit; if I were interested in pop psychology, I would watch Dr. Phil. How many times do we blame the parents? Buck up and take responsibility for yourself!

Beware of the last story; it left my stomach churning to the point of nearly needing to visit the ladies' room and worship at the throne of the porcelain gods.

[S.B. Wright · Rating 3 out of 5]

With Lee Child as guest editor for The Best American Mystery Stories 2010 you won't find Miss Marple or the Fat Belgian in this collection. You might, however be forgiven for expecting a little more Mystery than this tome provides.

I found the collection to be more crime fiction than mystery, with two notable exceptions - The Case of Colonel Warburton's Madness, a well done Sherlock Holmes pastiche by Lindsay Faye and Early Christmas by Doug Allyn.

When I think mystery writing, I am chiefly thinking whodunits rather why or how. The series editor, Otto Penzler, dispels this misconception of mine in his foreword. Mystery writing is a broad umbrella and all the stories in the collection fall beneath it-apparenty.

So now that I am clear what Mystery writing entails, what of the collection? Was I blown away? Well, not initially. This collection did grow on me though. I found it to be a balanced collection, a good cross section of the genre. There's thriller action in Killing Time by John Land, a interesting story of a skilled assassin hiding out as a secondary school English teacher. Then there's the ever so slightly off putting Dredge by Matt Bell, where our protagonist stores the body of a dead teenager he's found in his freezer.

If I were to select three standouts they would be:

The Shipbreaker by Mike Wiecek - an interesting piece set in the Ship breaking region of Bangladesh. This was a wonderfully evocative bit a writing for me. Wiecek captured the atmosphere perfectly.

Animal Rescue by Dennis Lehane - a story about a local tough guy who saves an abandoned puppy that brings with it a set of human problems that the protagonist seems perfectly suited to solving. In the end though, the reader is left pondering who is being rescued.

Early Christmas by Doug Allyn - this one really did keep me reading. A traditional whodunit where you are attempting to think ahead of the writing to figure out the culprit. A story involving a philandering real estate lawyer, a girl dying of cancer and a hit man in hiding.

I'd recommend the book to fans of crime and thriller fiction. If you are strictly old fashioned in your Mystery reading tastes, then you might not find the hit you are looking for. That being said, if you just enjoy reading good fiction, it's here in abundance.

[Nancy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mr. Child and I, we do not agree on what makes a good mystery story. Ah, well.

[Rafal Jasinski · Rating 3 out of 5]

Zbiór opowiadań z szerokiego spektrum historii kryminalnych, wśród których każdy wielbiciel gatunku powinien znaleźć coś dla siebie. Nie brak tu więc historii o charakterze stricte detektywistycznym, wśród których warte wyróżnienia są te, które prezentują dość nietypowych "detektywów", osadzone są w interesującym tle społecznym lub kulturowym ("Połów"Matta Bella, gdzie sprawę śmierci znalezionej przez siebie martwej dziewczyny, której ciało notabene postanawia przechować w swojej zamrażarce, próbuje rozwiązać socjopata i wyrzutek społeczny, czyli w zasadzie "pierwszy podejrzany" w takich sprawach; "Zasady rodem z Bismarck" Alberta Tuchera - tu mimowolną "detektywką" jest prostytutka Krystal, której klient zostaje zamordowany; "Złomiarz" Mike'a Wiecka, gdzie tytułowy bohater, żyjący w slamsach Bangladeszu Mohit, po utracie "fortuny", na którą pracował długie lata, próbuje rozwikłać sprawę tajemniczej śmierci swojego pracodawcy).

Nie brak tu też ciekawych opowiadań detektywistycznych, w których narracja prowadzona jest w bardziej klasycznej formie ("Uprzedzenie" "Chrisa Muessiga, "Sprawiedliwość w każdym calu" Phyllis Cohen, z nutą dramatu sądowego i wątkiem sprawiedliwości wymierzonej ponad prawem; "Wcześniejsza Gwiazdka" Douga Allyna i wykorzystujące postaci Sherlocka Holmesa i doktora Watsona "Przypadek szaleństwa pułkownika Warburtona" Lyndsay Faye, w którym słynna para prowadzi śledztwo w Ameryce).

Obok opowiadań detektywistycznych, znalazło się też kilka nowel o bardziej sensacyjnym stylu, opowieści o porachunkach pomiędzy gangsterami i przestępcami ("Pierwsza zasada to…" Gara Anthony'ego Haywooda) "i historii o pragnących porzucić dawne życie recydywistach. Oczywiście, to nigdy nie jest takie proste i "duchy" przeszłości stają na drodze do odkupienia ("Charlie i piraci" Gary'ego Alexandra, "Krew i ziemia" Ryana Zimmermana, "Szmaragdowe wybrzeże" R.A. Allena).

Ponadto, na wyróżnienie zasługują dwa opowiadania podejmujące tematy zemsty wymierzonej na pedofilach - pierwsze skupione wokół tematyki przestępstw tego rodzaju popełnianych na łonie Kościoła ("Dźwigaj swój krzyż" Johna Dufresne'a), drugie o dręczonej przez ojca i brata rosyjskiej imigrantce, której zdjęcia udostępniane były grupie wysoko postawionych dewiantów seksualnych ("Zestaw na zamówienie" Josepha Wallace'a.

Na deser zaś świetne opowiadanie Kurta Vonneguta "Klub Eda Luby’ego", trochę kafkowskie, trochę jakby ze "Strefy Mroku", w którym małżonkowie wplątani zostają w morderstwo i uwięzieni w przeżartym korupcją amerykańskim mieście.

Bardzo dobry zbiór prezentujący bodajże wszelkie odmiany literatury kryminalnej, z wieloma stojącymi na bardzo dobrym a nawet wybitnym poziomie opowiadaniami. Szkoda, że zarzucono wydawanie tego cyklu - ukazującego się w Ameryce corocznie - w Polsce. Polecam!

[Sandie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The twenty stories in this anthology are by a mix of authors. Some are well known names in the mystery genre, others are less well known. Authors most mystery readers will recognize include Matt Bell, Lyndsay Faye, Jon Land, Dennis Lehane, Phillip Margolin and Kurt Vonnegut.

One of my favorite stories in this collection was Animal Rescue by Dennis Lehane. It's the story of a guy who works in a bar, a neighborhood figure nobody really notices. He finds a dog thrown into the garbage and he and a woman he meets save the dog. When the original owner shows back up a few months later and demands the dog back, it starts a series of events that won't be soon forgotten. This book is recommended for mystery and anthology readers.

[Amratansh · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a treat to my hunger for reading suspense and mystery. It is a great collection of short stories that should entertain any mystery fan. Within the mystery genre, this book offers a little bit from every subgenre, including suspense, police procedurals, espionage, and private detectives. This collection is a great way to discover new authors, many of whom also write full-length novels. Overall, I found the stories highly entertaining which engaged me till the end of stories.

[Michael Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

If these were the BEST of 2010, then American Mystery Stories are in trouble. As short stories go they all fit the bill of quick presentations. As for content, many were not very good. They tried but failed overall to really tell a mystery / suspenseful Some were terrible and had no place in this or any collection labeled 'Best'. Only a few were enjoyable reads.

[Jared Donis · Rating 3 out of 5]

My first was the 2001 collection. I did not like that one one bit. This is better. But still, I wonder… is the concept of “mystery” being diluted or redefined? Because some stories just don’t qualify as such. May be the editors have their own taste. Anyway, it’s confusing to find dull stories passing off as mystery. It was a good read, and a slow one, admittedly.

[Mariann · Rating 3 out of 5]

YAY! I’m done. It took me a long time, but I like having a nice collection of short stories to read between other books, especially if the other book is a bit harder going. Mysteries are good because I love mysteries, and with the Best American short story collection there’s a nice variety. THis is no exception. They are all so different from one another.

[Pam Coll · Rating 2 out of 5]

I only like happy endings, or "justice is done". Some of these stories were very satisfying, some were so horrid they have played on my mind. A couple were too weird to qualify I thought. However I thought this collection gave a good insight into the realities (nastiness) of human nature! Sad picture...

[Natalia Konieczna · Rating 3 out of 5]

6,5/10
Kilka świetnych opowiadań, ale większość jednak niezapamiętywalna. Zdecydowanie najlepsze to "Sprawiedliwość w każdym calu" Cohena, "Pies" Lehane'a, "Powiedzcie mi" Leidiger i "Klub Teda Luby'ego" Vonneguta.

[Dagnija · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good stories, some not so.

[Jeneva Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mixed bunch, several really wonderful, couple not so good.

[Geo Forman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most were very good, some just plain good. It's nice to have a book of short stories always readily at hand.

[Gfec · Rating 4 out of 5]

2-3 not good & even not crimi or thriller stories, 3-4 top great, other works well

[Jeannie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great stories. I really enjoyed reading all of them!

[Robert Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

+A good anthology of twenty short stories. My favorite was: An Early Christmas by Doug Allyn. One I did not like was: Maynard by Mary Stewart Atwell. Some very familiar authors, and many that I had never read before. Well worth reading.+

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

You win some and lose some.

Which ones are winners and which ones are losers really depends on your personal definition of a mystery story. Do you need a whodunnit? Crime? Murder? No matter what your poison there is something for everyone in here. But there is not everything for everyone.

I love short story collections because often I don't have time to read a lot at a time. Short stories give me my "reading fix" before bed. And I do have expectations for a mystery short story. I expect to be interested from the first line or two. I expect to have a reaction - whether it be a little shocked or a little appalled doesn't matter. I do not have expectations like being connected to the characters in a such a short time. I'm having a fling, not a relationship. This collection gave me a good chunk of 4-star flings. Unfortunately, I got a handful of forgettable drunken one-night stands, too.

A 3-Star compromise.

[Darcia Helle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great collection of short stories that should entertain any mystery fan. Within the mystery genre, this book offers a little bit from every subgenre, including suspense, police procedurals, espionage, and private detective. Not every story was a 5 star for me but that likely spoke more of personal preference than writing talent. This collection is a great way to discover new authors, many of whom also write full-length novels. Overall, I found the stories highly entertaining.

** I received this book as an early review copy from the publisher, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, through NetGalley.com. **

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's hard to give one straight review to a collection of so many varied stories. Really, it's between three and four stars. I enjoyed being able to sit down and finish a story in one sitting. And Mr. Child ensured that each story was strikingly different from the last so you never knew what to expect. A few were a bit too violent or creepy for my taste - many of the ones told from the point of view of the murderers. But nearly all are engaging and they do represent the full spectrum of "detective fiction" from Sherlock Holmes to courtroom dramas, to detective stories, to murderers narratives. I recommend, but with the caveat that many of the stories do deal with very dark topics.

[Karl Jorgenson · Rating 3 out of 5]

They put Lee Child on the cover, because it sells books. They could have put Woody Allen, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Laura Ingalls Wilder, and William Shakespeare on the cover: they're not in it either.
This is a rich, excellent collection of short stories. Several are fabulous, the rest are pretty good.
But what is it about a short story? You can only go so deep. You can only build a little tension. There it is, and then it's done. Much less satisfying than a good novel.
Still, a nice fill-in when you have twenty minutes to kill.

[Gordon Kirby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I rated this book four stars because I found it very entertaining. I took away one star because I feel that the book is falsely advertised. One would expect a book with "mystery stories" in the title to be comprised solely of mystery stories. In my estimation, more than half of the stories included were not mysteries but in fact setups for mysteries involving white trash committing crimes. Despite the misleading advertising, I mostly enjoyed the stories included in the book.

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I prefer novels to short stories, this collection wowed me! A true gem for mystery and short story fans. There is something for everyone in this anthology. Whether you like your mysteries hard-boiled or light,you wont be disappointed!

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I consider these stories to be more psychological thrillers that mysteries but all of them were published in mystery magazines. Many of them are very good and I always like to read a variety of authors new to me.

[Trish · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always enjoy this series. There were a couple of clunkers (Designer Justice and The Killing Time), but overall a pleasing anthology of crime.

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! Not a clunker in the bunch! A great collection of stories that kept me glued to every page. Designer was my absolute favorite! God I LOVE short stories!

[James Curtin · Rating 3 out of 5]

read at keenan house. the story 'designer justice' had a wonderful ending.

[Jess · Rating 2 out of 5]

As so, so very many characters in these stories would say, I'm glad this book is finito.

[Wendopolis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good stories. Only skipped one.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jon Land's story was my favorite.