To celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the Crime Writers' Association this volume gathers together short stories by the authors who encapsulate the perennial appeal of the mystery novel. From its founder, John Creasey, to the winner of the 2002 Cartier Diamond Dagger, Robert Barnard, here are perfect gems of murder and mayhem from such luminaries as Colin Dexter, Dick Francis, Ian Rankin, Peter Lovesey, Eric Ambler, Julian Symons, H.R.F. Keating, Ngaio Marsh, Ellis Peters, Ruth Rendell and many more. A box of delights, some hard-centred, some soft, sprinkled with a smidgeon of poison.

Contents:

• One Morning They’ll Hang Him by Margery Allingham
• The Blood Bargain by Eric Ambler
• Everybody’s Girl by Robert Barnard
• The Mystery of the Child’s Toy by Leslie Charteris
• The Chief Witness by John Creasey
• Indian Rope Trick by Lionel Davidson
• Something Spooky on Geophys by Lindsey Davis
• The Double Crossing by Colin Dexter
• The Gift by Dick Francis
• The Twist by Antonia Fraser
• Judith by Michael Gilbert
• Name of Smith by Cyril Hare
• The Game of Dog by Reginald Hill
• The Hound of the Hanging Gardens by H.R.F. Keating
• The Man Who Jumped for England by Peter Lovesey
• The Interview by Ed McBain
• The Consolation Blonde by Val McDermid
• At the "Century of Progress" by Sara Paretsky
• Guide to Doom by Ellis Peters
• Tell Me Who to Kill by Ian Rankin
• When the Wedding Was Over by Ruth Rendell
• The Tigers of Subtopia by Julian Symons
• Mugs by Margaret Yorke