An anthology of seventeen stories, edited by Bill Pronzini and Martin H. Greenberg, three of the stories (*) published here for the first time. Each story is prefaced by an introduction to the literary careers of the detective, sometimes with a comparison to similar fictional detectives, and of the author.

ix • Introduction
• 1 • The Chinese Detective: Judge Dee
  The Coffins of the Emperor, Robert van Gulik, Judge Dee at Work ©1967
• 26 • The Native American Detective ("Tsichah") : David Return
  A Star for a Warrior, Manly Wade Wellman, Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, ©1946
• 46 • The Czechoslovakian Detective: Dr. Jan Czissar
  The Case of the Emerald Sky, Eric Ambler, ©1940
• 58 • The Filipino Detective: Jo Gar
  The Black Sampan, Raoul Whitfield (as "Ramon Decolta"), Black Mask, June 1932, ©1932
• 78 • The Jewish Detective: "Mom"
  Mom Makes a Wish, James Yaffe, EQMM, ©1955
• 94 • The Indian Detective: Inspector Ganesh Ghote
  Inspector Ghote and the Test Match, H. R. F. Keating, ©1969
• 100 • The French Detective: Inspector Maigret
  The Most Obstinate Man in Paris, Georges Simenon, ©1947
• 140 • The Mexican Detective: Sergeant Vincente Lopez
  The Hair of the Widow, Robert Somerlott, EQMM, ©1964
• 153 • The Métis Detective: Poleon Baptiste
  White Water, W. Ryerson Johnson, This Week Magazine, ©1941
• 164 • The Japanese Detective: Inspector Saito
  Inspector Saito's Small Satori, Janwillem van der Wetering (as "Seiko Legru") Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, ©1978
• 187 • The Black Detective: Virgil Tibbs
  One for Virgil Tibbs, John Ball, EQMM, ©1977
• 207 • The Gypsy Detective: Michael Vlado
  The Luck of a Gypsy, Edward D. Hoch, ©1985 *
• 225 • The Tahitian Detective: Commissaire Alexandre Tama
  Goldfish, Hayford Peirce, ©1985 *
• 248 • The Native American Detective (Navajo) : Corporal Jim Chee
  The Witch, Yazzie, and the Nine of Clubs, Tony Hillerman, ©1981 by the Swedish Academy of Detection
• 265 • The Pakistani/Bahrainian Detective: Mahboob Ahmed Chaudri
  The Beer Drinkers, Josh Pachter, EQMM, ©1984
• 283 • The Chicana Detective: Elena Oliverez
  The Sanchez Sacraments, Marcia Muller, ©1985 *
• 306 • The Ethnic Detectives: The 87th Precinct (focus on Meyer Meyer, with backup by Steve Carella)
  "J", Ed McBain, EQMM, ©1961

"Defining what makes a detective ethnic is not always so simple. The most accepted definition requires the sleuth to be a member of a minority group within a dominant culture, one whose mannerisms, world view and approach reflect his or her ethnic origins. In addition, there is the question of just how ethnic a detective must be. Mere possession of an ethnic surname is not enough; the character's ethnicity should ideally play an important role in his/her life, and frequently play an important role in regard to a crime and/or its solution." -edited from front flap copy