Robert Alter - 100 Malicious Little Mysteries

“Six Words” by Lew Gillis. Copyright © 1978 by Lew Gillis. First published in Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine (March 1978). Reprinted by permission of the author.

“The Little Things” by Isaac Asimov. Copyright © 1975 by Isaac Asimov. First published in Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine (May 1975). Reprinted by permission of the author.

“A Matter of Life and Death” by Bill Pronzini and Barry N. Malzberg. Copyright © 1974 by Renown Publications, Inc. First published in Mike Shayne Mystery Magazine. Reprinted by permission of the authors.

“Perfect Pigeon” by Carroll Mayers. Copyright © 1978 by Carroll Mayers. Reprinted by permission of the author.

“The Cop Who Loved Flowers” by Henry Slesar. Copyright © 1966 by Davis Publications, Inc. Reprinted by permission of the author.

“Trick or Treat” by Judith Garner. Copyright © 1975 by Judith Garner. Reprinted by permission of the author.

“Twice Around the Block” by Lawrence Treat. Copyright © 1956 by Renown Publications, Inc. Reprinted by permission of the author.

“An Easy Score” by Al Nussbaum. Copyright © 1973 by by H.S.D. Publications, Inc. Reprinted by permission of the author.

“The Good Lord Will Provide” by Lawrence Treat and Charles M. Plotz. Copyright © 1973 by Lawrence Treat and Charles M. Plotz. Reprinted by permission of the authors.

“Boomerang” by Harold Q. Masur. Copyright © 1964 by Harold Q. Masur. Reprinted by permission of the author.

“The Way It’s Supposed To Be” by Elsin Ann Graffam. Copyright © 1976 by Davis Publications, Inc. First published in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine (February 1977). Reprinted by permission of the author.

“Thank You, Mr. Thurston” by Ed Dumonte. Copyright © 1963 by H.S.D. Publications, Inc. Originally published in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine . Reprinted by permission of Larry Sternig Literary Agency.

“Funeral Music” by Francis M. Nevins, Jr. Copyright © 1975 by Francis M. Nevins, Jr. Originally published in Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine (February 1976). Reprinted by permission of the author.

“Murder Will Out” by Edward Wellen. Copyright © 1971 by Edward Wellen. First published in Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine (August 1971). Reprinted by permission of the author.

“An Insignificant Crime” by Maxine O’Callaghan. Copyright © 1976 by Maxine O’Callaghan. First published in Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine (February 1977). Reprinted by permission of the author.

“The Stray Bullet” by Gary Brandner. Copyright © 1971 by Gary Brandner. Reprinted by permission of the author.

“A Night Out With the Boys” by Elsin Ann Graffam. Copyright © 1974 by Elsin Ann Graffam. First published in Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine (February 1974). Reprinted by permission of the author.

“Office Party” by Mary Bradford. Copyright © 1976 by Davis Publications, Inc. First published in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine (July 1976). Reprinted by permission of the author.

“Comes the Dawn” by Michael Kurland. Copyright © 1966 by Michael Kurland. Reprinted by permission of the author.

“Acting Job” by Richard Deming. Copyright © 1960 by Renown Publications, Inc. First published in Mike Shayne Mystery Magazine (January 1961). Reprinted by permission of the author.

“The Last Smile” by Henry Slesar. Copyright © 1961 by HMH Publishing Co., Inc. First published in Playboy Magazine . Reprinted by permission of the author.

“Grief Counselor” by Julie Smith. Copyright © 1978 by Renown Publications, Inc. First published in Mike Shayne Mystery Magazine. Reprinted by permission of the author.

“The Best Place” by A. F. Oreshnik. Copyright © 1974 by H.S.D. Publications, Inc. Reprinted by permission of Al Nussbaum.

“Dead End” by Alvin S. Fick. Copyright © 1977 by Davis Publications, Inc. First published in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine . Reprinted by permission of the author.

“Pure Rotten” by John Lutz. Copyright © 1977 by Renown Publications, Inc. Reprinted by permission of the author.

“Grounds for Divorce” by James Holding. Copyright © 1973 by H.S.D. Publications, Inc. Reprinted by permission of the author and the author’s agents, Scott Meredith Literary Agency, Inc., 845 Third Avenue, New York, New York 10022.

“Inside Out” by Barry N. Malzberg. Copyright © 1978 by Davis Publications, Inc. First published in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine (May 1978). Reprinted by permission of the author.

“The Bell” by Isak Romun. Copyright © 1978 by Isak Romun. First published in Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine . Reprinted by permission of the author.

“The Box” by Isak Romun. Copyright © 1976 by Isak Romun. First published in Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine. Reprinted by permission of the author.

“The Physician and the Opium Fiend” by R. L. Stevens (Edward D. Hoch). Copyright © 1971 by R. L. Stevens. First published in Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine . Reprinted by permission of Larry Sternig Literary Agency.

“Over the Borderline” by Jeff Sweet. Copyright © 1973 by Jeff Sweet. Reprinted by permission of the author.

“It Could Happen to You” by John Lutz. Copyright © 1975 by H.S.D. Publications, Inc. Reprinted by permission of the author.

“Class Reunion” by Charles Boeckman. Copyright © 1973 by H.S.D. Publications, Inc. First published in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine . Reprinted by permission of the author.

“The Way It Is Now” by Elaine Slater. Copyright © 1967 by Elaine Slater. First published in Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine . Reprinted by permission of the author.

“The Hot Rock” by James McKimmey. Copyright © 1971 by H.S.D. Publications, Inc. First published in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine . Reprinted by permission of the author.

“A Puff of Orange Smoke” by Lael J. Littke. Copyright © 1972 by Davis Publications, Inc. First published in Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine (December 1972). Reprinted by permission of the author and Larry Sternig Literary Agency.

“The Chicken Player” by Joe L. Hensley. Copyright © 1967 by Magnum-Royal Publications, Inc. First published in Swank Magazine (June 1967). Reprinted by permission of the author.

“Nothing But Bad News” by Henry Slesar. Copyright © 1974 by PLAYBOY. First published in Playboy Magazine (February 1974). Reprinted by permission of the author.

“The Quick and the Dead” by Helen McCloy. Copyright © 1964 by Helen McCloy. First published as “Murder Ad Lib” in Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine . Reprinted by permission of the author.

“An Exercise in Insurance” by James Holding. Copyright © 1964 by H.S.D. Publications, Inc. First published in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine . Reprinted by permission of the author and the author’s agents, Scott Meredith Literary Agency, Inc., 845 Third Avenue, New York, New York 10022.

“The Old Heap” by Alvin S. Fick. Copyright © 1976 by Renown Publications, Inc. First published in Mike Shayne Mystery Magazine . Reprinted by permission of the author.

“As the Wheel Turns” by Jane Speed. Copyright © 1966 by Davis Publications, Inc. First published in Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine (April 1966). Reprinted by permission of the author.

“Knit One, Purl Two...” by Thomasina Weber. Copyright © 1970 by W/W Twentyfirst Corp. First published in Weight Watchers Magazine (October 1970). Reprinted by permission of the author.