About the Author

Ed McBain was also known as Evan Hunter. His writing career has spanned almost five decades, from his first novel, The Blackboard Jungle, in 1954 to the screenplay for Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds to Candyland, written in tandem with his alter ego, Ed McBain, to his most recent novel, The Moment She Was Gone. He is the first American ever to receive the Diamond Dagger, the British Crime Writers Association's highest award. He also holds the Mystery Writers of America's prestigious Grand Master Award. His last 87th Precinct novel was Fiddlers. Evan Hunter / Ed McBain passed away in Fall 2005.
Walter Mosley is the New York Times bestselling author of twenty-three critically acclaimed books and his work has been translated into twenty-one languages. His popular mysteries featuring Easy Rawlins began with Devil in a Blue Dress in 1990. His most recent novels are The Wave and Fortunate Son.Donald Westlake has written numerous novels during the past 40 years, under his own name and various pseudonyms--most famously Richard Stark. He is generally regarded as the greatest writer of comic mystery of all time. Many of his books have been made into movies, including The Hunter which was filmed first as the noir classic with Lee Marvin and Angie Dickinson, and then as Payback starring Mel Gibson. He has won three Edgar Allan Poe Awards, and has been named a Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America.

Reviews

Transgressions are not normally viewed as opportunities, but this eponymous collection of novellas by Stephen King, Lawrence Block, Walter Mosley, Anne Perry, and more offer a superb opportunity for readers of mystery, crime, and suspense fiction. Compiled by perennial best-selling author McBain, these ten tales, three to four times longer than a typical short story, provide just enough vital depth to entrap readers, as well as the requisite brevity to fit them into one collection. From the disaffected teenager in Joyce Carol Oates's "The Corn Maiden" to the haunted 9/11 survivor in King's "The Things They Left Behind" to the reluctant grave robber in Sharyn McCrumb's "The Resurrection Man," this assortment of stories and characters does not disappoint. Although the ten novellas analyze a variety of topics and situations, they all exhibit the level of quality expected from such a stellar collection of writing talent. Highly recommended for all fiction collections.-Ken Bolton, Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

As editor McBain admits in his introduction, it was a bit of a challenge to persuade 10 superstar authors (well, only nine, since he's also a contributor) to each write an original novella, with its awkward length between 10,000 and 40,000 words, for this excellent crime and suspense anthology, but he's come up with an impressive roster. One can't help wondering how a writer like Donald E. Westlake, who writes so much under several names, can fit in a jolly new story, "Walking Around Money," about his humorous burglar hero Dortmunder . And how does Anne Perry, who now writes three separate series and is probably planning another, move to a completely different period with "Hostages," a touching portrait of a woman caught up in the current Irish troubles who tries to keep her sanity by doing household chores? Walter Mosley, on the other hand, seems to be looking for new ways to get his points across: his "Archibald Lawless, Anarchist at Large: Walking the Line" might be the fuse to light a fire. McBain's own "Merely Hate" lends fresh insight into his 87th Precinct series. The remaining novellas, from the ubiquitous Joyce Carol Oates and the welcome return of Lawrence Block's hit man Keller to the diverse pleasures of Sharyn McCrumb and Stephen King, make this hefty volume pound-for-pound the best reading value of the season. Agent, Jane Gelfman at Gelfman-Schneider Literary. $200,000 marketing budget. (May 10) Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

Fresh insight to the 87th precinct series.

Mosley debuts a promisingly eccentric new hero.
Mosley profiles an irresistible, off-beat hero.

A thrilling NYC police procedural.

Fresh insight to the 87th precinct series.


Mosley profiles an irresistible, off-beat hero.


Mosley debuts a promisingly eccentric new hero.



Such great prose.
& nbsp;

A thrilling NYC police procedural.

Such great prose.


"A deadpan-hilarious tale that should also serve as a Zen how-to for budding writers."--Booklist on "Walking Around Money"

"Mosley profiles an irrestible, off-beat hero."--Booklist on "Walking the Line"

"A jolly new story...about his humorous burglar hero Dortmunder."--Publishers Weekly on "Walking Around Money."

"Fresh insight to the 87th precint series."--Publishers Weekly on "Merely Hate"

"Such great prose."--Kirkus Reviews on "Walking the Line"

"Mosley introduces...one of the most bizarre and off-beat detectives in fictional history."--Mystery Scene on "Walking the Line"

"Mosley debuts a promisingly eccentric new hero."--Entertainment Weekly on "Walking the Line"

"A thrilling NYC police procedural."--Entertainment Weekly on "Merely Hate"

A deadpan-hilarious tale that should also serve as a Zen how-to for budding writers. "Booklist on "Walking Around Money"" Mosley profiles an irrestible, off-beat hero. "Booklist on "Walking the Line"" A jolly new story...about his humorous burglar hero Dortmunder. "Publishers Weekly on "Walking Around Money."" Fresh insight to the 87th precint series. "Publishers Weekly on "Merely Hate"" Such great prose. "Kirkus Reviews on "Walking the Line"" Mosley introduces...one of the most bizarre and off-beat detectives in fictional history. "Mystery Scene on "Walking the Line"" Mosley debuts a promisingly eccentric new hero. "Entertainment Weekly on "Walking the Line"" A thrilling NYC police procedural. "Entertainment Weekly on "Merely Hate"""

"A deadpan-hilarious tale that should also serve as a Zen how-to for budding writers." --Booklist on "Walking Around Money""Mosley profiles an irrestible, off-beat hero." --Booklist on "Walking the Line""A jolly new story...about his humorous burglar hero Dortmunder." --Publishers Weekly on "Walking Around Money.""Fresh insight to the 87th precint series." --Publishers Weekly on "Merely Hate""Such great prose." --Kirkus Reviews on "Walking the Line""Mosley introduces...one of the most bizarre and off-beat detectives in fictional history." --Mystery Scene on "Walking the Line""Mosley debuts a promisingly eccentric new hero." --Entertainment Weekly on "Walking the Line""A thrilling NYC police procedural." --Entertainment Weekly on "Merely Hate"