Great Detectives: A Century of the Best Mysteries from England and America

The Raymond Chandler selection alone, "Trouble Is My Business," makes the book worth owning. Chandler's superb and influential style is masterfully displayed. The four Sam Spade stories of Hammett are rare fiction from the early years of 'Black Mask' magazine. The story by Israel Zangwill is an 1891 `locked room' mystery and the selection by Robert van Gulik is an interesting tale set in 7th century China. Both the Zangwill and van Gulik selections are out of the mainstream, but will fascinate many readers. With additional selections by Ross McDonald, Rex Stout, Edmond Crispin, Donald Westlake, Ed McBain, and others, how can you go wrong? Not every story will connect with every reader. However, there are some real gems and each work is intelligently introduced. If you believe crime fiction starts in 1980, the anthology will not appeal to you. This volume, however, will delight those who appreciate classic mystery fiction and have some interest in the history of the genre. Unlike some anthologies, the font is large enough for easy reading. There are enough strong and hard to find works here to certainly be worth a few bucks on a used copy and the cost of postage. Go for it.