Stanley Ellin

FIFTEEN STORIES ABOUT THE MOST HEINOUS CRIME OF ALL... Of all the crimes humankind can commit, the act of murder-of cold-bloodedly taking another human life-is often the most shocking, and can tear couples, families, and even entire towns apart. Mystery Writers of America is proud to present this volume in the Classics series, featuring fourteen stories by acclaimed writers, all exploring the terrible crime of murder. From chill-master Robert Bloch comes a story of outwardly domestic bliss, but with rotten secrets at its core. Mystery master Dorothy Salisbury Davis takes us to a small town where the killing of a mean-spirited landscaper makes the local sheriff question everything he knows in his pursuit of justice. Joe Gores visits the harsh, unforgiving land of South Africa, where a farmer is forever chased by the sins of his past. Patricia McGerr invites us to the White House, where a foreign dignitary's gift to the First Lady may have deadly consequences. And Ellery Queen solves a curious conundrum of a murdered boxer...and also how his own jacket got stolen while at the match. Fifteen stories of plots, plans, and perfidy-all in pursuit of the perfect murder... Featuring stories by: Robert BlochDorothy Salisbury DavisStanley EllinRobert L. FishJoe GoresAllen Kim LangPatricia McGerrRoss MacdonaldWilliam P. McGivernWilliam F. NolanCharles NormanEllery QueenLawrence TreatHillary WaughDonald A. Wollheim

'Ellin consistently wrote the best mystery stories of his time' Lawrence BlockStanley Ellin's first short story, 'The Specialty of the House', about a New York restaurant with a special gourmet menu, was published in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine in 1948 and caused an immediate sensation, winning him a special Ellery Queen Award. 'The House Party' and 'The Blessington Method' subsequently both won Edgar Awards. Stanley Ellin, who was made a Grand Master of the Mystery Writers of America in 1980, is acknowledged as one of the great masters of the 20th-century short story, and this volume brings together the best of his work in the genre.