Divided into three main sections, "The Ancient World", "The Middle Ages" and "Regency and Gaslight", The Mammoth Book of Historical Whodunnits includes:

"The Thief versus Rhampsinitus" by Herodotus - probably the earliest detective story ever written.

"The Locked Tomb Mystery", set in ancient Egypt, by Elizabeth Peters.

A new story by John Maddox Roberts featuring the young Roman detective Decius Metellus.

Robert van Gulik's ingenious "He Came With the Rain", featuring Judge Dee, a real-life character who lived in seventh-century China.

A new story by Peter Tremayne, set in seventh-century Ireland and featuring Sister Fidelma.

Ellis Peters' Brother Cadfael story "The Price of Light".

Paul Harding's "The Confession of Brother Athelstan.

A classic locked-room mystery featuring Lillian de la Torre's popular detective Sam Johnson.

A story by Michael Harrison featuring August Dupin, the detective created by Edgar Allan Poe and the inspiration behind Sherlock Holmes.

John Dickson Carr's acclaimed "The Gentleman from Paris".

...and many more!

Contents:

• Introduction: The Chronicles of Crime by Mike Ashley
• Foreword by Ellis Peters
• Part I: The Ancient World
  • The Locked Tomb Mystery (1989) by Elizabeth Peters
  • The Thief versus King Rhampsinitus by Herodotus
  • Socrates Solves a Murder (1954) by Brèni James
  • Mightier than the Sword (1993) by John Maddox Roberts
  • The Case of the Empress’s Jewels (1950) by Wallace Nichols
  • The Treasury Thefts (1950) by Wallace Nichols
  • A Byzantine Mystery (1993) by Mary Reed & Eric Mayer
  • He Came with the Rain (1967) by Robert van Gulik
  • The High King’s Sword (1993) by Peter Tremayne
• Part II: The Middle Ages
  • The Price of Light (1979) by Ellis Peters
  • The Confession of Brother Athelstan (1993) by Paul Harding
  • The Witch’s Tale (1993) by Margaret Frazer
  • Father Hugh and the Deadly Scythe (1990) by Mary Monica Pulver
  • Leonardo Da Vinci, Detective (1959) by Theodore Mathieson
  • A Sad and Bloody Hour (1965) by Joe Gores
• Part III: Regency and Gaslight
  • The Christmas Masque (1976) by S.S. Rafferty
  • Murder Lock’d In (1980) by Lillian de la Torre
  • Captain Nash and the Wroth Inheritance (1975) by Raymond Butler
  • The Doomdorf Mystery (1914) by Melville Davisson Post
  • Murder in the Rue Royale (1968) by Michael Harrison
  • The Gentleman from Paris (1950) by John Dickson Carr
  • The Golden Nugget Poker Game (1987) by Edward D. Hoch
• Part IV: Holmes and Beyond
  • The Case of the Deptford Horror (1953) by Adrian Conan Doyle
  • Five Rings in Reno (1976) by R.L. Stevens
• Afterword: Old-Time Detection by Arthur Griffiths
• Appendix: The Chroniclers of Crime by Mike Ashley