Bill Pronzini

Mystery Writers of America is proud to present Deadly Anniversaries, a collection of crime and mystery stories from some of the best contemporary authors, all of whom have been invited to put their own unique spin on what it means to recognize a certain day or event every year. An anniversary can take many forms, and by the time this group of bestsellers and award winners is through, none of us will ever look at anniversaries the same way again. Edited by Marcia Muller and Bill Pronzini, Deadly Anniversaries will feature original stories from twenty industry giants, including one final story from Sue Grafton, never seen before, in her own inimitable sly voice. Deadly Anniversaries is sure to shock, scare and delight mystery and suspense fans of all kinds. The list of writers includes: Doug AllynLee ChildMax Allan CollinsJeffery DeaverMeg GardinerAlison GaylinSue GraftonCarolyn HartNaomi HiraharaWendy HornsbyLaurie R. KingWilliam Kent KruegerLaura LippmanPeter LoveseyMargaret MaronMarcia MullerBill PronziniPeter RobinsonS. J. RozanJulie Smit

A gritty and thrilling anthology of 30 new short stories in tribute to pulp noir master, Cornell Woolrich, author of 'Rear Window' that inspired Alfred Hitchock's classic film. Featuring Kim Newman, James Sallis, A. K. Benedict, USA Today-bestseller Samantha Lee Howe, Joe R. Lansdale and many more. This anthology of exclusive new short stories offers tribute to the master of the pulp era - Cornell Woolrich, who stands with Raymond Chandler, Erle Stanley Gardner and Dashiell Hammett as a legend in the genre. Enter a world of vengeful brides and black widows, where cold-blooded killers watch from every window and every sin shall be paid for, no matter how deep you bury them. See the chilling fate of a young woman, and the darkness in every family, in Joe R. Lansdale's "Missing Sister", the cold, calculating mind of an ambitious wife and her cheating husband in Samantha Lee Howe's "Trophy Wife", a reunion dinner ripped apart by conspiracies and violence in Susi Holliday's "The Invitation", and the tight-knit family of a New York dive bar explode into violence in William Boyle's "New York Blues Redux". Hope that the long, dark night will keep your sins and secrets. FEATURINGCHARLES ARDAIBRANDON BARROWSA. K. BENEDICTWILLIAM BOYLEM. W. CRAVENMASON CROSSMAX DECHARNEO'NEIL DE NOUXMARTIN EDWARDSPAUL DI FILIPPOJAMES GRADYSUSI HOLLIDAYSAMANTHA LEE HOWEMAXIM JAKUBOWSKIVASEEM KHANJOEL LANEJOE R. LANSDALEBARRY N. MALZBERGNICK MAMATASWARREN MOOREDONNA MOORETARA MOSSKIM NEWMANANA TERESA PEREIRABILL PRONZINIDAVID QUANTICKKRISTINE KATHRYNRUSCHJAMES SALLISLAVIE TIDHARJOSEPH S. WALKER

SMALL FELONIES 250 short-short stories told in first-person, third-person, present as well as past tense, and in epistolary format; tales of detection (three feature long-running series character, the "Nameless Detective"), psychological suspense, historical noir, light and dark fantasy, satirical humor, horror, the biter-bitten, the O. Henry twist, a shaggy dog story or two, even a shameless futuristic Hemingway pastiche. The earliest entry, "I Know a Way," was published in 1971; the most recent, "Such Things As Nightmares Are Made Of," appears here for the first time. Fourteen were written in collaboration with Barry Malzberg. More than a score were first printed in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine; others in Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, Mystery Scene, Cemetery Dance, The Strand Magazine, Analog Science Fiction, Mike Shayne Mystery Magazine; the balance in anthologies.50 crime stories... each a connoisseur's delight

A Best Book of 2020 from Suspense Magazine Deadly Anniversaries celebrates the 75th anniversary of the Mystery Writers of America with a collection of stories from some of the top names in crime fiction. An anniversary can honor many things: a birth, a wedding and sometimes even a death. In Deadly Anniversaries, editors Marcia Muller and Bill Pronzini present new stories from some of the best contemporary authors to honor the diamond jubilee of the Mystery Writers of America, an organization founded on the principle that "Crime Doesn't Pay--Enough." Each author puts their own unique spin on what it means to recognize a certain day or event each year. These nineteen stories travel across a wide range of historical and contemporary settings and remind readers of how broad the mystery writing tradition can be, encompassing detective tales, domestic intrigue, psychological suspense, black humor and thrilling action. By the time this group of bestsellers and award-winners is through, none of us will ever look at anniversaries the same way again. Deadly Anniversaries is sure to shock, scare and delight mystery and suspense fans of all kinds, featuring the following contributors: Sue Grafton Laurie R. King Lee Child Margaret Maron S. J. Rozan Max Allan Collins Wendy Hornsby Jeffery Deaver Bill Pronzini Carolyn Hart Peter Lovesey Meg Gardiner Marcia Muller Julie Smith William Kent Krueger Peter Robinson Naomi Hirahara Doug Allyn Alison Gaylin Laura Lippman

The Stolen Gold Affair is the latest charming historical mystery in Mystery Writers of America Grand Master Bill Pronzini's detective series. In response to a string of gold thefts in a Mother Lode mine, Quincannon goes undercover as a newly-hired miner to identify and capture the men responsible. Meanwhile, Sabina finds herself not only making plans for her and Quincannon's wedding, but also investigating both an audacious real estate scam and an abusive young man's villainous secret. The Carpenter and Quincannon Mysteries: #1 The Bughouse Affair#2 The Spook Lights Affair#3 The Body Snatchers Affair#4 The Plague of Thieves Affair#5 The Dangerous Ladies Affair#6 The Bags of Tricks Affair#7 The Flimflam Affair#8 The Stolen Gold Affair

Mystery Writers of America is proud to present Deadly Anniversaries, a collection of crime and mystery stories from some of the best contemporary authors, all of whom have been invited to put their own unique spin on what it means to recognize a certain day or event every year. An anniversary can take many forms, and by the time this group of bestsellers and award winners is through, none of us will ever look at anniversaries the same way again. Edited by Marcia Muller and Bill Pronzini, Deadly Anniversaries will feature original stories from twenty industry giants, including one final story from Sue Grafton, never seen before, in her own inimitable sly voice. Deadly Anniversaries is sure to shock, scare and delight mystery and suspense fans of all kinds. The list of writers includes: Doug AllynLee ChildMax Allan CollinsJeffery DeaverMeg GardinerAlison GaylinSue GraftonCarolyn HartNaomi HiraharaWendy HornsbyLaurie R. KingWilliam Kent KruegerLaura LippmanPeter LoveseyMargaret MaronMarcia MullerBill PronziniPeter RobinsonS. J. RozanJulie Smit

Mystery Writers of America is proud to present Deadly Anniversaries, a collection of crime and mystery stories from some of the best contemporary authors, all of whom have been invited to put their own unique spin on what it means to recognize a certain day or event every year. An anniversary can take many forms, and by the time this group of bestsellers and award winners is through, none of us will ever look at anniversaries the same way again. Edited by Marcia Muller and Bill Pronzini, Deadly Anniversaries will feature original stories from twenty industry giants, including one final story from Sue Grafton, never seen before, in her own inimitable sly voice. Deadly Anniversaries is sure to shock, scare and delight mystery and suspense fans of all kinds. The list of writers includes: Doug AllynLee ChildMax Allan CollinsJeffery DeaverMeg GardinerAlison GaylinSue GraftonCarolyn HartNaomi HiraharaWendy HornsbyLaurie R. KingWilliam Kent KruegerLaura LippmanPeter LoveseyMargaret MaronMarcia MullerBill PronziniPeter RobinsonS. J. RozanJulie Smit

Nothing much happens in Peaceful Valley, Montana. And that�s just how Sheriff Lucas Monk likes it. Aside from the occasional drunken brawl or minor disturbance out on the reservation, he hasn�t had to resort to his fists or sidearm in years. That is, until mid-October, 1914, when the theft of a wooden cigar store Indian sets off a crime wave like nothing Lucas has ever seen. Teenager Charity Axthelm goes missing, Reba Purvis�s housekeeper is poisoned with cyanide Reba is sure was meant for her, and Lucas�s gut tells him that this is only the beginning. It�s not long before the first corpse shows up, bringing the peace in the valley to a thundering end.

30 CRIME AND MYSTERY STORIES GOOD TO THE LAST LINEThe McGuffin has long been a staple tool in any crime and mystery writer's arsenal. A perfectly placed last line of a short story can pull together subtle plot threads into a devastating d nouement or give everything that came before it a brand-new meaning, sometimes even reshaping the story entirely for the reader. Joe Gores and Bill Pronzini, two of the most talented mystery writers of the 20th century, joined forces to assemble the very best McGuffin stories by such celebrated authors as Anthony Boucher, Harlan Ellison, Joe L. Hensley, Edward D. Hoch, John Lutz, John D. MacDonald, and Donald E. Westlake. They, along with 24 more authors, have created some of the very best mystery stories that often save their best twists for the very last line...

The Flimflam Affair is the latest charming historical mystery in Mystery Writers of America Grand Master Bill Pronzini's detective series. Carpenter and Quincannon, Professional Detective Services is a fixture in San Francisco at the dawn of a new century. While the future is unclear, Sabina and John know one thing for certain: they will protect their clients from flimflammers, thieves, and murderers, and do whatever it takes to run these dregs of society into the arms of the law. Sometimes, that requires a subtle touch. Professor A. Vargas, self-styled medium extraordinaire, and his partner Annabelle, use guile and trickery to swindle bereaved men and women eager to contact the spirits of deceased loved ones. John and Sabina must not only unmask these charlatans, but also solve the riddle of an impossible murder in the midst of a seance. Other cases involve brute force and personal danger. Such as the theft of a burglarproof safe mysteriously emptied of gold bullion. And John's pursuit of a ruthless gang of counterfeiters, whose leader appears to be a man from John's past in the Secret Service-a man thought long dead. Adding spice to these exploits is Sabina and John's personal relationship, which is rapidly progressing to an exciting new level.

The Bags of Tricks Affair is the latest charming historical mystery in Mystery Writers of America Grand Master Bill Pronzini's detective series. A conman always has a bag of tricks, ready to fool the unsuspecting, and almost everyone is unsuspecting until they get taken. When that happens, they turn to Carpenter and Quincannon, Professional Detective Services, to recover their money and what's left of their dignity, and perhaps even to save their lives. When one such case leaves Sabina Carpenter the only witness to a murder, the family of the culprit vows to stop at nothing to keep her silent. The threat leaves John Quincannon deeply concerned for Sabina's safety, but there's no rest for the wicked and so the crime-solving duo must split up to tackle two separate con games, run by two villains with deadly bags of tricks at hand. And when Sabina's life is put in danger, John must rush to save her while grappling with the terrifying realization of exactly how much she means to him. The Carpenter and Quincannon Mysteries: #1 The Bughouse Affair#2 The Spook Lights Affair#3 The Body Snatchers Affair#4 The Plague of Thieves Affair#5 The Dangerous Ladies Affair#6 The Bags of Tricks Affair

Fresh from his recent marriage, the Nameless Detective returns to what appears to be a routine investigation, an adoption case. While searching through the effects of her recently deceased mother, twenty-three year old Melanie Ann Aldrich discovers some papers which show she was adopted. With her father dead as well, it seems unlikely she will ever find out why she was never told. So she hires Nameless to find her true parents. In the course of his investigation, Nameless quickly learns why Melanie's parents never told her she was adopted and why everyone is so eager to keep it quiet. Melanie's biological mother, an emotionally disturbed young woman who died in her early twenties of a brain tumor, was raped by a then teenage delinquent named Steven Chehalis. In his attempt to piece together the past, Nameless tracks down Chehalis only to discover that he's a serial rapist responsible for a large number of rapes and at least two murders as well. Nameless finds himself in a race to bring Chehalis to justice. Chehalis, aware of Nameless's intention, sets his psychotic sights on both his biological daughter, Melanie, and Nameless's new bride. Hardcase is Pronzini's most suspenseful mystery to date.

The Body Snatchers Affair: The latest in the Carpenter and Quincannon historical mystery series set in 1890's San Francisco from Marcia Muller and Bill Pronzini. Two missing bodies and two separate investigations take Carpenter and Quincannon from the heights above San Francisco Bay to the depths of Chinatown's opium dens. For John Quincannon, this is a first: searching a Chinatown opium den for his client's husband, missing in the middle of a brewing tong war set to ignite over the stolen corpse of Bing Ah Kee. Meanwhile, his partner, Sabina Carpenter, unsure of the dark secrets her suitor might be concealing, searches for the corpse of a millionaire, stolen from a sealed family crypt and currently being held for ransom. With the threat of a tong war hanging over the city (a war perhaps being spurred on by corrupt officials), Carpenter and Quincannon have no time to lose in solving their cases. Is there a connection between the two body snatchers? Or is simple greed the answer to this one? And why is the enigmatic Englishman who calls himself Sherlock Holmes watching so carefully from the shadows?