The Best American Mystery Stories of the Century

The Best American Mystery Stories of the Century is a collection of mystery short stories curated by Otto Penzler and Tony Hillerman. The anthology spans from 1925 to 1998 and features works by major American authors like William Faulkner, John Steinbeck, and Raymond Chandler. Each story was chosen from thousands of candidates based on its enduring literary merit and impact on the mystery genre. The collection includes both classic detective stories and noir tales, representing different styles and approaches to crime fiction over multiple decades. The volume showcases how American mystery writing evolved through the twentieth century, moving between rural and urban settings, professional detectives and amateur sleuths, straightforward whodunits and complex psychological studies. Stories range from traditional puzzle mysteries to tales of suspense and criminal minds. The anthology demonstrates how mystery fiction serves as a lens for examining American society, morality, and justice across different eras. Through these stories, readers can trace changing cultural attitudes toward crime, law enforcement, and the nature of guilt.

Readers praise the diverse selection of mystery stories spanning 1920-1999, with many noting the anthology introduces them to authors beyond the typical mystery canon. Several reviews highlight the inclusion of both pulp-style tales and literary works. Readers appreciate: - The detailed author biographies before each story - Mix of well-known and obscure writers - Stories arranged chronologically to show genre evolution - Inclusion of hard-to-find classics Common criticisms: - Too many noir/hardboiled stories from 1940s-50s - Some stories feel dated or slow-paced - Notable authors/stories missing from collection - Male authors overrepresented Average ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (1,247 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (89 ratings) One frequent reader comment notes the anthology works better read in small doses rather than straight through, as similar story styles can feel repetitive when read consecutively.

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Great American Mystery Stories of the 20th Century by David Penzler This anthology contains 33 stories from American mystery writers between 1905 and 1967, featuring works by Raymond Chandler, Cornell Woolrich, and other notable authors.

The Black Lizard Big Book of Pulps by Otto Penzler A compilation of hard-boiled detective stories from the golden age of pulp fiction magazines presents works by noir pioneers including Dashiell Hammett, Raymond Chandler, and Erle Stanley Gardner.

A Century of Great Suspense Stories by Jeffery Deaver This collection brings together 36 suspense stories from the past century, featuring works by Patricia Highsmith, Ruth Rendell, and Lawrence Block.

Masterpieces of Mystery and Suspense by Martin H. Greenberg A compilation of mystery stories from the 1920s through the 1990s presents works by authors including Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, and P.D. James.

🔍 This anthology was guest-edited by Tony Hillerman, himself a renowned mystery writer famous for his Navajo Tribal Police series. 📚 The collection spans from 1925 to 1998 and includes works by Raymond Chandler, Dashiell Hammett, and James M. Cain—authors who helped define the hard-boiled detective genre. 🏆 Editor Otto Penzler founded The Mysterious Press in 1975, which became one of the most respected publishers of mystery fiction in the United States. 📖 The book features "The Simple Art of Murder" by Raymond Chandler, both as a story and as an influential essay that helped establish the critical standards for detective fiction. 🌟 Despite being called "of the Century," the anthology deliberately excludes many pre-1925 mystery stories because the editors felt the genre didn't truly come into its own until the 1920s.