David W. McCullough

A reader will find any anthology to have its ups and downs. This large (727 page) detective compendium is uneven but generally worthwhile. Two full novels are included, Ross Macdonald’s The Chill and Ruth Rendell’s Death Notes (the US title for Put on by Cunning). My review of each of the novels is found separately under their titles, but in summary they are great and good. The rest of the anthology consists of a wordy 1891 novella and short stories by mystery masters like Sayers, show more Christie, Queen, and Stout and by authors best known in other genres, like Faulkner and Bradbury. You’re bound to like some and dislike others because of the breadth of the types of stories included. I never had much use for Rex Stout or Robert van Gulik and nothing has changed after reading their stories. The Raymond Chandler story is a decidedly minor work, dialogue sounding like a ‘30s B movie. For the most part, they’re enjoyable little puzzles and perhaps will introduce you to a writer whose longer works you’ll seek out. show less

The "detective story" has evolved markedly over the past century, in the time since Arthur Conan Doyle popularized the genre. This book offers a comprehensive and enjoyable collection of such stories published over the past 100 years. Editor David W. McCullough not only knows the genre and its history intimately, he has excellent taste. The 20 stories (and 17 authors) that he has reprinted in this collection include many major contributors and stories, with little duplication of other such show more volumes. For example, while the book includes the obligatory contribution by Agatha Christie, it is the light-hearted “Girl in the Train,” not one of her oft - reprinted Poirot or Miss Marple mysteries. The stories are listed more - or less chronologically, allowing readers to trace the history and development of the genre. Short essays by the editor introduce each story, describing its publication and putting it in the context of the genre and the author’s work and career.

The volume begins with Israel Zangwill‘s brilliant 1891 “The Big Bow Mystery”. Not only is this work the first “locked room” story (!), it is surely one of the funniest of detective stories ever written. All three of Dashiell Hammett’s Sam Spade stories are included, as is Raymond Chandler’s memorable “Trouble is My Business”. Ross MacDonald’s full novel “The Chill” is included -- an outstanding work that is one of the best detective novels this reviewer has ever read. Other notable works include Ruth Rendell’s “Death Notes”, and Donald Westlake’s “Never Shake a Family Tree”. Two surprises include short stories by William Faulkner (“Hand Upon the Waters”) and Ray Bradbury’s “Yesterday I Lived”). Other stories are contributed by Dorothy Sayers (the forgettable “The Queen’s Square”), GK Chesterton (“The Invisible Man“), PD James (“The Murder of Santa Claus”), Ed McBain (the troubling “Sadie When She Died”), and Rex Stout (“See No Evil”), along with others from Ellery Queen, Robert van Gulik, and Edmund Crispin.

This collection has been reprinted since its original publication in 1984, and with good reason. It deserves a place on the shelves of readers who love the genre. show less

A good survey-style history of labyrinths and mazes (and yes, the two are different, as the author explains at some length). Okay, but gets a bit repetitive, and I found I wanted some more documentation at various points.

Quite possibly one of the best bedside books ever, and an excellent sampler for mystery fans for haven't found the time to sample every single significant detective ever written. Philip Marlowe, Nero Wolfe, Sam Spade, Father Brown, Inspector Wexford--all the greats are here. It's a big book--seventeen stories and two complete mystery novels. I've been dipping into it for over a year, and I'm sorry to have finished it. I'll miss it. If you're a fan of detective fiction, I doubt there's a show more better sampler collection out there. show less