A New Omnibus of Crime

This fantastic new collection picks up where Dorothy L. Sayers' landmark 1929 anthology The Omnibus of Crime left off, bringing together monumental, important, and entertaining works of short crime fiction published over eight decades from the era of the Great Depression to the first yearsof the twenty-first century. In lively introductory essays, celebrated crime writer Tony Hillerman and critic Rosemary Herbert place each story in the context of the author's work and the genre's literary history. Their extraordinary collection is international in scope and emphasizes the most exciting styles and voices,rather than taking a typical decade-by-decade approach. As a result A New Omnibus of Crime is packed with page-turning, engaging, and spine-tingling selections. Stories in this collection include Patricia Highsmith's "Woodrow Wilson's Necktie," Sue Grafton's "A Poison That Leaves No Trace," andmany more, including never-before-published works from Jefferey Deaver, Catherine Aird, and Alexander McCall Smith. A New Omnibus of Crime is a marvelous achievement that brings together some of the greatest crime and mystery short fiction ever collected. Showcasing the work of such revered authors as Dashiell Hammett, P.D James, Ross Macdonald, Sara Paretsky, Ruth Rendell, and Elmore Leonard, it is adefinitive volume that will be treasured by all fans of the genre. "Essential for anyone with more than a passing interest in detective fiction. Brilliantly assembled, and beautifully edited by people who know what they're doing." --Robert B. Parker, author of Cold Service and Resolution "This recent anthology boldly evokes the title of Dorothy Sayers's classic anthology of 1920. The editors aim to showcase the work of the four-score-and-seven years since. Here you'll find the whole gamut, from the tough-guy patter of hard-boiled Raymond Chandler ('He looked tough, but he looked asif he thought he was a little tougher than he was') to the more decorous detection practiced by Miss Sayers." --David Lehman, Wall Street Journal "The best and most satisfying mystery bargain to come along in years. It will give readers countless hours of pleasure and surprise in one volume." --Cleveland Plain Dealer "Not a clunker in the bunch.... There have been numerous collections since [Dorothy L. Sayers'], but until now, none has had the depth, intelligence and chutzpah to call itself A New Omnibus of Crime." --Bloomberg News "Catch this Omnibus." --Booklist

Tony Hillerman, one of America's leading mystery novelists, was named a Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America. He is the creator of the Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee characters, and his books include Dance Hall of the Dead, A Thief of Time, Talking God, and The Shape Shifter. He lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Rosemary Herbert has reviewed mysteries for many publications including the New York Times, Washington Post, Boston Herald, and Minneapolis Star-Tribune. She is editor-in-chief of The Oxford Companion to Crime and Mystery Writing and the co-editor (with Tony Hillerman) of The Oxford Book of American Detective Stories. She also edited Whodunit? A Who's Who in Crime and Mystery Writing and Murder on Deck! Shipboard & Shoreline Mystery Stories. She lives in Rockland, Maine, and Gloucester, Massachusetts.