The Mysterious Press Anniversary Anthology: Celebrating 25 Years

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of The Mysterious Press, the first publishing house dedicated solely to mystery writing, the editors of the company asked their distiguished authors to each contribute a short story each to an anniversary volume. In the process, not only did they collect some excellent writing, but they helped give a boost to that sadly sagging art form: the short story. Not all of the stories included are first rate, but enough of them are to make this anthology well worth owning.The highlights include the always dependable Loren Estleman with an Amos Walker P.I. story, appropriately titled "The Anniversaary Waltz;" Stuart M. Kaminisky's grim, gritty caper drama "Sometimes Something Goes Wrong;" Archer Mayor's brutal "Instinct;" Marcia Muller's playful "The Imposter;" and Robert Greer's "Revision." There are 18 stories included in all that run the gamut from cozies to hard-boiled. Mysterious Press founder Otto Penzler provides the introduction. Overall, a very good anthology that includes stories for every type of mystery fan.

This book would make a wonderful gift for your favorite mystery buff. The quality is high, the big boys (and girls!) are represented, and there is all the variety one could wish. Comedy, whodunit, cozy, wild, psychological thriller-there is something for everyone.James Crumley's "Coming Round the Mountain" transcends the genre. It is a story of dignified despair and is immensely moving. I am going to try and find some other works by this author. Joe Landsdale isn't satisfied with giving us a good chuckle or two over "The Mule Rustlers." He has to scare and shock us while we insist, "this cannot be happening." Peter Lovesey's intricate little piece of misdirection "The Usual Table" is very well done. Archer Mayor's "Instinct" is a perfect portrait of the psychology of guilt. Mr. Mayor is another author of whom I must read more. Stuart Kaminsky's "Sometimes Something Goes Wrong" reads like the nightmare you wish you had never had. He is compelling and his characterizations are excellent.I had a fine time with this anthology. I read one and put the book down; then when I picked it up again, I read them all, one after another. I am sure you will show better discipline. All types of readers, even if they only enjoy an occasional mystery (I suppose there are people like that!), will get pleasure from this book.

MYSTERIOUS PRESS deserves to be sued by people like me for publishing this anthology, though it is superb reading. How dare the editors remind this reviewer that a quarter of a century has passed since I first read one of their novels. Like Steely Dan, "I guess I'm just getting old."The contributors are some of the best writers around today, who seem to really care about this anniversary collection more than usually seen in an anthology. The authors turn the celebration golden with their eighteen strong tales that run the genre's gamut. Each story is well written and fans of mystery will know that the tales hold up with the better anthologies regardless of genre. Here's to Mysterious Press for a wonderful short story collection, twenty-five great years of powerful books, and to reviewing their fiftieth year of excellent literature aggregation.Harriet Klausner