Murder by the Book: Literary Mysteries from Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine and Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine - Hardcover

Manson, who has edited a half-dozen other "themed" mystery collections, focuses on the world of literature, books, and publishing in her latest venture. These 20 short stories feature the works of some of the best-known, best-loved mystery writers, from Ruth Rendell and Dorothy Sayers to Margaret Maron and Michael Z. Lewin. Manson has selected a nicely balanced representation of mysteries, each related to some aspect of the book/author/writing world. Highlights include Robert Cenedella's laugh-out-loud story about a mystery writer who decides to kill off his wife and Ruth Rendell's disturbing "Copper Peacock," in which a revoltingly egotistical writer is so focused on his own fantasies that he completely ignores a most horrifying drama taking place right before his eyes. The book is an excellent choice for all mystery collections, but it's an especially effective acquisition for smaller libraries without the resources to offer a wide selection of books by these outstanding authors. Emily Melton

The short stories in this collection center on crime writers, libraries, book collectors, and literary characters. All entries have appeared in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine or Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine and are conveniently grouped here. Contributors include Maron, Sayers, Thurber, Pronzini, Rendell, and others.
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