The Black Lizard Big Book of Locked-Room Mysteries

The Black Lizard Big Book of Locked-Room Mysteries is a comprehensive anthology of impossible crime stories curated by Otto Penzler. At 937 pages, this collection brings together 68 tales from mystery writers spanning over a century of the genre. The stories feature crimes that occur in sealed rooms, remote locations, and other seemingly impenetrable settings where the perpetrator appears to have vanished. Contributors include Arthur Conan Doyle, Edgar Allan Poe, Wilkie Collins, Stephen King, and Dashiell Hammett, among many others. Each story presents a different take on the locked-room puzzle, from traditional manor house mysteries to urban crimes in modern settings. The collection includes both well-known classics of the genre and rare gems that have been out of print for decades. The anthology demonstrates how the locked-room mystery endures as a framework for exploring human ingenuity, deception, and the eternal contest between criminal and detective. These stories continue to challenge readers' powers of deduction while testing the boundaries between possible and impossible.

Readers value this anthology's comprehensive collection of impossible crime stories from both famous and obscure authors. Many note it serves as a thorough introduction to the locked-room mystery subgenre. Likes: - Includes rare stories not found in other collections - Mix of well-known authors (Poe, Christie) with lesser-known writers - Historical span shows evolution of the genre - Editorial notes provide context for each story Dislikes: - Some stories feel dated or use racist/sexist language of their era - Length (over 900 pages) makes it unwieldy to hold - Print size is small and dense - Several readers note the book lacks modern locked-room mysteries Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (466 ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (378 ratings) Multiple reviewers mention the anthology works best when read gradually rather than straight through, as the similar puzzle structures can become repetitive. Several point out that the stories' quality varies significantly, with some solutions feeling unsatisfying or implausible.

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🔐 At 941 pages and featuring 68 stories, this anthology is considered one of the most comprehensive collections of locked-room mysteries ever published 📚 Otto Penzler, the editor, owns The Mysterious Bookshop in New York City, which is the oldest and largest mystery-specific bookstore in America 🕵️ The term "locked-room mystery" was popularized by John Dickson Carr, who called it "the grandest game in the world" and is represented in this collection ⭐ The anthology includes works from legendary authors like Edgar Allan Poe, Arthur Conan Doyle, and Stephen King, spanning over 150 years of mystery writing 🏆 The collection features "The Problem of Cell 13" by Jacques Futrelle, considered one of the greatest locked-room mysteries ever written - sadly, Futrelle died on the Titanic before achieving wider recognition