The Best American Short Stories

'The short story deals with issues and themes large and small. But it does it succinctly and quickly. The short story is a car for the short track. Put the top down and power into the curves.' From the introduction by Michael Connelly This year's instalment boasts pulse-quickening stories from all reaches of the genre, selected by the one and only Michael Connelly. His choices include the Prohibition-era tale of a scorned lover's revenge, a bar owner's gutsy attempt to outwit the mob and a tale of murder by psychology.This edition features mystery favourites Elmore Leonard, Walter Mosley, James Crumley and Joyce Carol Oates as well as talented up-and-comers, for a diverse collection sure to thrill all readers.

These days when I have very little time to dedicate to reading high-quality fiction they server the purpose of keeping my interest in literature aflame. However, that collection has been very uneven in terms of quality of writing. Some years I would read one amazing story after another, while with a different guest editor I would struggle to go through the entire collection.