Short stories

"The detectives in these stories are shrewd, sophisticated, even hard-boiled. Amateur or professional, they unravel mysteries that involve the reader right from the start. From Edwardian London to sleek modern Chicago, from discerning academics to gun-toting P.I.'s, 'Ms. Murder' presents the best by the best. It is destined to become a collectable classic."

Cats travel to the nation’s capital in these 19 mystery short stories:
The president's cat is missing / John Lutz -- Sax and the single cat / Carole Nelson Douglas -- That damn cat / Barbara Collins -- Close, but no cigar / Barbara Paul -- Rachel and the bookstore cat / Jon L. Breen -- A capital cat crime / Richard Chizmar -- The black hawthorn / Carolyn Wheat -- Catcage / Max Allan Collins -- Photo opportunity / Larry Segriff -- A tast for the good life / Dan Brauner -- The cat's-paw affair / Gary Braunbeck -- Cat and the canary / William J. Reynolds -- Enduring as dust / Bruce Holland Rogers -- Code red: Terror on the mall! / Bill Crider -- Indiscreet / Wendi Lee -- Dumb animals / Petet Crowther -- Talk shows just kill me / Billie Sue Mosiman -- Freedom of the press / Barbara D'Amato -- Strays / Kristine Kathryn Rusch

17 short stories featuring cats by some of the great writers of mystery:
Ginger's Waterloo / Peter Lovesey -- Bedeviled: A  Nameless detective story / Bill Pronzini -- A Weekend at Lookout Lodge / Joan E. Hess -- Tea and 'biscuit / Jon L. Breen -- Horation ruminates / Dorothy B. Hughes -- Scat / Barbara Paul -- Blindsided / William J. Reynolds -- The Last temptation of Tony the C. / Christopher Fahy -- Buster / Bill Crider -- Catnap / David H. Everson -- Last kiss / Douglas Borton -- Little cat feet / Les Roberts -- Finicky / John Lutz -- The Duel / J. A. Jance -- Archimedes and the doughnuts / Gene DeWeese and Barbara Paul -- The Lower wacker Hilton / Barbara D-Amato -- A Proper burial / Barbara Collins

"Acclaimed by critics, beloved by readers of all ages, taught everywhere from inner-city grade schools to universities across the country, and translated all over the world, The House on Mango Street is the remarkable story of Esperanza Cordero. Told in a series of vignettes – sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes deeply joyous – it is the story of a young Latina girl growing up in Chicago, inventing for herself who and what she will become."

Ray Kinsella hears a voice, followed by a brief vision of a baseball field. He believes that if he builds a baseball diamond in his cornfield, Shoeless Joe Jackson from the infamous 1919 Chicago "Black" Sox will return to play baseball. By being willing to take a chance, Ray gets a second time up at bat in life. Basis of the film, Field of Dreams.

A compelling chorus of voices that together depict the experiences of the many Vietnamese expatriates living in America.