2024 the best 2024 review

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(as of Nov 13, 2024 03:45:14 UTC - Details)

Anthony Horowitz selects and introduces the best mystery stories from the past year, under the auspices of the world's oldest mystery fiction specialty bookshop.

From a pool of over 3,000 considered stories published last year—anything that touched on crime, mystery, and suspense, from venues as disparate as the Strand Magazine, Dark Yonder, Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, the Bellevue Literary Review, and more—these are the twenty best, selected by series editor Otto Penzler and guest editor Anthony Horowitz.

The tales included cover a range of styles, highlighting the diversity of subjects and forms comprising the genre we call mystery fiction. Featuring a mixture of household names, masters of the short form, and newcomers to the field, the collection offers a variety that promises something for every listener. And it's all capped off by a vintage story from the first half of the previous century, sourced directly from the rare book room at the Mysterious Bookshop, the oldest mystery fiction specialty store in the world.

Reviewer: BirdieKate
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Just the best collection, year over year
Review: Such a great collection of stories, every year. Outstanding writing, story lines, and variety. I'm always so impressed, and this year's volume is no exception.I always pre-order so it comes to me hot off the presses, when there's still time to sit on my porch and read it, one great story at a time. Thank you Mysterious Bookshop for another great collection.

Reviewer: Char
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Great stories!!!!
Review: I own every one of these short story books...From 1997 to 2024. Short stories are wonderful for when you want something to read but not a lot time to do it. We will love them.

Reviewer: Springfever
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Well Curated Selection of Short Mystery Stories - something for everyone!
Review: The Mysterious Bookshop Presents: The Best Mystery Stories of the Year 2024 Edited with an introduction by Anthony HorowitzThis collection of the best short stories for 2024 is narrated by Kim Niemi and BJ Harrison. The pacing of the story telling is perfect and they are both engaging with appropriate modulation – pausing for affect, speaking with energy while describing movement and so on.It is difficult to choose the number of stars – rating - for a collection of short stories, but this gets a 5 for the writing and the introductions as well as providing a broad range of stories (something for everyone) and writers (most of them were new to me). As to the stories themselves – there are a range of sub-genres which I’ve individually rated 2 – 5 stars, inclusive, with 5-star ratings being most prevalent. These ratings are based solely on personal interest/preference (historical fiction, for example, is not my cup of tea); they are all well written.Both introductions were interesting. Otto Penzler shares the process of how the short stories are selected. Anthony Horowitz talks about the questions people ask him - where he gets his ideas from, who their publishers are and how they found them. And he shares his thoughts as to why people like mysteries.The stories that follow begin with an introduction to the author - describing some of the stories they’ve published and where, and finish with the stories of what inspired their short story. Twenty-one stories - tales of retribution, redemption, empathy; lawyers and policemen, social workers and people who happen to be in the wrong or the right place (depending on perspective) at the wrong time.Lastly, my top 3 favorites (of my 5-starred stories) were “How to Teach Yourself to Swim” by Fleur Bradley, “The Back Woods” by Shells Legoullon and “Dead Names” by Annie Reed;Thank you to Otto Penzler, NetGalley and HighBridge Audio for a copy of the audiobook.