James Holding

The ugliest dog in the world seeks the secret of success.

Charmingly insidious and satisfyingly devious, these 100 baffling little mysteries—selected by such prominent authors as Isaac Asimov—are just the thing to suit your most malevolent mood. These tales come from the pen of many well-known writers in the field, including Michael Gilbert, Edward Wellen, Edward D. Hack, Bill Bronzini, Lawrence Treat, and Francis Nevins, Jr. Whether it’s “The Unfriendly Neighbor,” or a “Class Reunion,” “A Recipe for Revenge,” or “An Exercise in Insurance,” these stories are sure to keep you up all night, puzzling over their possible solutions. Each one has its own particular and irresistible appeal: an unexpected twist, a delectable puzzle, a devastating revelation, or perhaps even a refreshing display of pernicious spit Six words / Lew Gillis Little things / Isaac Asimov Matter of life and death / Bill Pronzini and Barry N. Malzberg Perfect pigeon / Carroll Mayers Cop who loved flowers / Henry Slesar Trick or treat / Judith Garner Twice around the block / Lawrence Treat Easy score / Al Nussbaum Good Lord will provide / Lawrence Treat and Charles M. Plotz Boomerang / Harold Q. Masur Way it's supposed to be / Elsin Ann Graffam Thank you, Mr. Thurston / Ed Dumonte Funeral music / Francis M. Nevins, Jr. Murder will out / Edward Wellen Insignificant crime / Maxine O'Callaghan Stray bullet / Gary Brandner Night out with the boys / Elsin Ann Graffam Office party / Mary Bradford Comes the dawn / Michael Kurland Acting job / Richard Deming Last smile / Henry Slesar Grief counselor / Julie Smith Best place / A.F. Oreshnik Dead end / Alvin S. Fick Pure Rotten / John Lutz Grounds for divorce / James Holding Inside out / Barry N. Malzberg Bell / Isak Romun Box / Isak Romun Physician and the opium fiend / R.L. Stevens Over the borderline / Jeff Sweet It could happen to you / John Lutz Class reunion / Charles Boeckman Way it is now / Elaine Slater Hot rock / James McKimmey Puff of orange smoke / Lael J. Littke Chicken player / Joe L. Hensley Nothing but bad news / Henry Slesar Quick and the dead / Helen McCloy Exercise in insurance / James Holding Old heap / Alvin S. Fick As the wheel turns / Jane Speed Knit one, purl two... / Thomasina Weber Paternal instinct / Al Nussbaum What kind of person are you? / Bill Pronzini and Barry N. Malzberg Shatter proof / Jack Ritchie Out of order / Carl Henry Rathjen Handy man / Marion M. Markham Nightmare / Elaine Slater Recipe for revenge / Jane Speed Sweet fever / Bill Pronzini Magnum / Jack Ritchie Two postludes / Isak Romun Deal in diamonds / Edward D. Hoch Last Day of Shooting / Dion Henderson Blisters in May / Jack Ritchie Collector / Patricia A. Mathews House call / Elsin Ann Graffam Adventure of the blind alley / Edward Wellen Unfriendly neighbor / Al Nussbaum Feline felony / Lael J. Littke Don't I know you? / Henry Slesar Meet Mr. Murder / Morris Hershman Co-Incidence / Edward D. Hoch Alma / Al Nussbaum Grand exit / Leo R. Ellis Hunting ground / A.F. Oreshnik Big trip / Elsin Ann Graffam Dutch / William F. Nolan Loaded quest / Thomasina Weber Hand in glove / James Holding Slantwise scales of justice / Phyllis Ann Karr Child on a journey / Fred S. Tobey Witches in the closet / Anne Chamberlain Setup / Jack Ritchie Very rare disease / Henry Slesar Two small vials / Elsin Ann Graffam Sweet remembrance / Betty Ren Wright Dip in the poole / Bill Pronzini Doctor's orders / John F. Suter Mrs. Twiller takes a trip / Lael J. Littke Such a lovely day / Penelope Wallace Matinee / Ruth Wissmann Big mouth / Robert Edmond Alter Weathered board / Alvin S. Fick Lot 721/XY258 / R.L. Stevens Thirteen / Edward D. Hoch Operative 375 / Gary Brandner He'll kill you / Richard Deming Caveat Emptor / Kay Nolte Smith Facsimile shop / Bill Pronzini and Jeffrey Wallman Corner of the cellar / Michael Gilbert Every fifth man / Edward D. Hoch Pro / Robert H. Curtis Nobody, that's who / William F. Nolan Pigeon / William F. Nolan Prisoner / Edward Wellen Sooey pill / Elaine Slater Backing up / Barry N. Malzberg Wide O— / Elsin Ann Graffam

The son of a fisherman meets a girl vacationing on his Florida key, and together, while exploring a secluded inlet, they stumble across a strange situation which they continue to investigate.

A missing diamond ring precipitates a series of thefts in the neighborhood.

Their desire for a bottle of orange pop on a hot day leads two boys into a series of troubles.

Always self-concious about his small size, an eleven-year-old boy finds that it can be an advantage when he is the only one of his tribe able to hunt down a great fish during a period of famine.

"Feline felonies by Ruth Rendell, Lilian Jackson Braun, Patricia Highsmith, and thirteen other modern masters of mystery"--Cover subtitle. Susu and the 8:30 ghost / Lilian Jackson Braun Miss Paisley's cat / Roy Vickers Arnold / Fred Hamlin Cat's-paw / Mary Reed The abominable house guest / Theodore Sturgeon The faithful cat / Patricia Moyes The lady wore black / Hugh B. Cave Hardrock / Gary Erickson The beast within / Margaret B. Maron The theft of the Mafia cat / Edward D. Hoch The old gray cat / Joyce Harrington The highwayman's hostage / Lillian de la Torre [Black Cat]( / Edgar Allan Poe Visitor to Mombasa / James Holding Ming's biggest prey / Patricia Highsmith Long live the queen / Ruth Rendell

When the twins bring home the Siamese cat with the unusually loud voice, they declare him a watchcat, little realizing how appropriate that title will prove.

A young Moroccan boy devises a clever plan to help his father plow their barley field.

Two high school boys are exposed to danger when they set out to solve the theft from a local museum of five ceremonial Egyptian fingertips.