This is the essential one-volume companion for all lovers of mystery and suspense fiction. Here you'll find the leading storytellers of our time including Tony Hillerman, Ed McBain, Sara Paretsky, Charlotte MacLeod and many others. This handsome, comprehensive book represents crime fiction at its absolute best. With a knowledgeable introduction by Jon L. Breen and head notes for each story by mystery novelist and editor Ed Gorman, the collection traces the development of contemporary fiction from a seminal period late in the 1960s, when such stories as Joe Gore's "The Second Coming" foreshadowed the social changes that would become subject matter for crime fiction and Margaret Millar's "The People Across the Canyon" exemplified the school of psychological suspense that would be the province of women writers. The anthology also includes an extensive recommended reading list that will have great appeal to readers who want to expand or deepen their mystery reading. Ideal as a gift, perfect for every library, A Modern Treasury of Great Detective and Murder Mysteries is the finest mystery and crime collection available.