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.