TABLE OF CONTENTS:
I enjoyed John Grisham’s Introduction where he writes about the murderers he encountered as a young attorney–before he became a best selling writer. I was also delighted by David Avallone–son of the famous Mike Avallone–who shows in “The Golden Road” that he has some of his father’s writing chops.
The mix of stories in this volume will appeal to most mystery fans. “The Secret Menu” by Sean McCluskey features a private investigator hired to follow the husband of a wealthy woman who suspects he might be cheating on her. In “Home Game” by Craig Faustus Buck, a couple is confronted by a killer in their house and have to decide who must die.
A feature of Otto Penzler’s The Best Mysteries of the Year series is the inclusion of a classic mystery story. That honor goes to The Problem of Cell 13 by Jacques Futrelle. I read it again for maybe the fifth time…still enjoyed it and still consider it great! GRADE: A
- Foreword, Otto Penzler — xi
- Introduction, John Grisham — xv
- The Golden Road, David Avallone — 1
- Home Game, Craig Faustus Buck — 13
- Under the Blackjack Tree, V.P. Chander — 31
- Jamming at Jollies, Tracy Falenwolfe — 49
- Totality, James Hearn — 65
- The Art of Disappearance, April Kelly — 81
- Eat My Moose, Erika Krouse — 95
- The Other Brother, Tom Larsen — 113
- Same Old Song, Billie Livingston –143
- Only a Story, Kai Lovelace — 163
- The Secret Menu, Sean McCluskey — 191
- Mister George, Richard McMahon — 202
- Dream Stuff, Lou Manfredo — 229
- Her Dangerously Clever Hands, Karen Odden — 249
- A New Weariness, Anna Scotti — 277
- Snapshot, Shelagh Smith — 303
- Effie’s Oasis, Casey Stegman — 319
- The Lost and the Lonely, Lamont A. Turner — 335
- Run and Gun, Joseph S. Walker — 363
- Through Thick and Thin, Andrew Welsh-Huggins — 405
- Bonus Story: The Problem of Cell 13, Jacques Futrelle — 441
- The Best Mystery Stories of 2025 Honor Roll — 479
I’d say David A has rather better chops than his father, who was definitely in the *fast more important than good* category…and not a little crazy. I’m trying to remember which anthology I read the Futrelle in first…probably one of the “Hitchcock”-branded ones, edited by Robert Arthur or his successors.
And am glad you reminded us of this annual, with my continuing interest in that realm of publishing, but not keeping up, of late.
Todd, I’m trying to keep Up to Date in 2026, too! This is an excellent anthology with a wide range of stories.
I don’t recognize many of the authors participating, but then most of the authors at mystery conventions are unknown to me. One reason for that is many of the authors are now self published or small press authors. The San Diego Bouchercon was badly run by a local who basically had stories published by fan publications that were run by friends.
Maggie, I didn’t recognize many of these authors either, but some of them will get my future consideration.
The one new author I’ve read – and would definitely recommend – is Andrew Welsh-Huggins, who wrote THE MAILMAN. Agree on the Futrelle. Of course, he went down on the Titanic. He insisted his wife get in the lifeboat, from where she saw him smoking a cigarette with John Jacob Astor IV.
Jeff, sad story about Futrelle. I’ll keep an eye on Andrew Welsh-Huggins.
The authors included have been drawn from a much larger group of publications than I am familiar with. I got it for years but haven’t for the last decade or so. I don’t think my library purchases it either.
Patti, the sources of these stories are listed on the TABLE OF CONTENTS. I’m glad Otto tracks all these stories down from such a variety of sources.
Otto did the Best American Mysteries for years before the publisher removed him to go in a different direction. He was so bitter about it. He just continued what he had been doing, with himself as publisher, but his introduction to his first new volume really turned me off with its invective. I’ve stuck with Best American with Steph Cha rather than follow Otto.
Jeff, I hope to read both BEST AMERICAN MYSTERY volumes.
I fervently hope David Avallone doesn’t jump the mental rails the way his father did!
Bob, David seems quite normal from the comments on his story included in this volume.
I had seen this anthology and was very interested, but I think I will have to wait until I can find it for less money. I prefer a kindle version for short stories, but even that is too expensive at this time.
Tracy, my local public Library had a copy. I think Jeff Meyerson found an ebook version at his Library.