A New Omnibus of Crime

By Jeffery Deaver

Book Overview

In 1929, Dorothy L. Sayers published her landmark anthology, The Omnibus of Crime. More recently, Tony Hillerman and Rosemary Herbert decided it was time to produce a definitive new anthology representing the best of the genre since then - the critically acclaimed A New Omnibus of Crime. This extraordinary collection emphasizes the most exciting styles and voices in each genre, rather than taking a typical decade-by-decade approach. As a result, A New Omnibus of Crime boasts a broad range of engaging, page-turning, and spine-tingling selections from the past eight decades. Stories in this collection include Patricia Highsmith's "Woodrow Wilson's Necktie," Sue Grafton's "A Poison That Leaves No Trace," Alexander McCall Smith's "He Loved to Go for Drives with His Father," and many more. A New Omnibus of Crime is a marvelous achievement that brings together some of the greatest crime and mystery short fiction ever collected.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0195370716
• ISBN13: 9780195370713
• Release Date: May 2010
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Length: 412 Pages
• Weight: 0.92 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.3" x 7.9"

Customer Reviews

Great Read and Overview of the Genre

Title says it all. I especially enjoyed seeing how the conventions of the genre have changed over the years, and was pleased at how well represented women writers were. Not a dud in the book, but lots of variety, and new authors to check out.

An Impressive Collection

Three-quarters of a century ago, Dorothy L. Sayers, the doyenne of mystery writers, assembled an anthology of work by her peers that provided an overview of the genre in 1928. Now, Tony Hillerman and Rosemary Herbert have followed suit in providing a new anthology which seeks to do the same for mystery writing in the modern era. Whether they have succeeded in providing a gathering equivalent to that of Miss Sayers may depend as much on personal taste of the reader as on the quality of the assembled works. That they have gathered an impressive collection of works by writers from the 1930s to the present goes without saying. The collection also illustrates the changes which have taken place in style, characterization and attitude. The anthology begins with a gem of a story by Miss Sayers and concludes with a charming little piece written by Alexander McCall Smith especially for this volume. Hillerman, himself, is represented with two stories. There are tales by many familiar names and I was pleased to be introduced to a few writers new to me who will now be added to my reading list. This is a volume worthy of any mystery-lover's bookshelf.

Delicious selection of page-turners

An unbeatable combination: Excellent mystery stories with varied flavors all packed into one beautiful hardbound book. Wish it was Christmas! Men and Women authors are well represented, both male and female protagonists are featured. The collection features all my favorite crime genres: The slick thriller, the tranquil suburban shudder, the whodunnit as well as my favorite PIs. Here is detective fiction at its best, lovingly packaged and presented. Go forth and enjoy!