August 16, 2013

Book 13: The Best American Mystery Stories 2012

The Best American Mystery Stories 2012
Edited by Robert Crais

Year in and year out, I'm amazed at the sheer variety offered in these volumes. Though the traditional detective-type stories are few and far between, they are mostly enjoyable, offering unique takes on the genre as writers successfully reinvent the compelling narrative of a man (occasionally a woman) staring down a mystery. More common, however, are the more literary stories that somehow integrate crime, often in varying and unusual ways. The inherent variety will please most readers, though the stories do, of course, vary greatly in quality. Yet guest editor Robert Crais has selected a strong group of stories to represent the year in crime fiction, and The Best American Mystery Stories 2012 is a welcome addition to and continuation of the series.

Grade: A

No comments: