Murder for Love

A collection of sixteen Valentine's Day mysteries that blend love and murder encompasses stories by Ed McBain, Anne Perry, William J. Caunitz, Mary Higgins Clark, Jonathan Kellerman, Joyce Carol Oates, Elmore Leonard, Sara Paretsky, Bobbie Ann Mason, and other notable authors. From Library Journal Penzler suggests that these tales of murder instigated by passion might suit Valentine's Day or wedding anniversaries. Whether that's true or not, these stories, all written for this collection, should appeal to most readers. Authors include Bobbie Ann Mason, Anne Perry, Ed McBain, and William Caunitz. Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. From Booklist Penzler, a mystery superbuff himself (he owns the world's largest mystery bookstore and founded Mysterious Press), offers up a panoply of short stories from some of today's most popular and most talented mystery writers, including Jonathan Kellerman, Sara Paretsky, and Elmore Leonard. The 16 selections possess all the usual ingredients--from page-turning suspense to off-the-wall humor to 90 mph action--but in addition, as the title implies, they all have something to do with love, usually the misguided kind. There isn't a weak story among the group, but especially noteworthy are Kellerman's portrait of a working mom with an unusual career, Leonard's humorously bittersweet portrait of a doomed romance between a U.S. marshal and a bank robber, and Carol Higgins Clark's hilarious yet disturbing account of an out-of-work actress and her answering machine. Expect mystery readers to be clamoring for this fine collection, which has already been made a selection of the Mystery Guild, the Doubleday Book Club, and the Literary Guild. Buy multiple copies. Emily Melton