The Best American Mystery Stories 2019

New York Times best-selling author of ten genre-bending novels Jonathan Lethem helms this collection of the year’s best mystery short fiction.  For Jonathan Lethem, “crime stories are deep species gossip.” He writes in his introduction that “they’re fundamentally stories of power, of its exercise, both spontaneous and conspiratorial; stories of impulse and desire, and of the turning of tables.” The Best American Mystery Stories 2019 has its full share of salacious intrigue, guilt, and retribution. The twists and bad decisions pile up when a thief picks the wrong target or a simple scavenger hunt takes a terrible turn. What happens when you befriend a death row inmate, or just how does writing Internet clickbait became a decidedly dangerous occupation? “How can we not hang on their outcomes?” asks Lethem. “Are we innocent ourselves, or complicit?” Read on to find out. Foreword / Otto Penzler -- Introduction / Jonathan Lethem -- Coach O / Robert Hinderliter -- keepers of all sins / Sharon Hunt -- Open house / Reed Johnson -- damn fine town / Arthur Klepchukov -- walk-in / Harley Jane Kozak -- Top ten vacation selfies of YouTube stars / Preston Lang -- Mastermind / Jared Lipof -- That Donnelly crowd / Anne Therese Macdonald -- clown / Mark Mayer -- Interpreting American Gothic / Rebecca McKanna -- Hannah-beast / Jennifer McMahon -- archivist / Joyce Carol Oates -- box of hope / Brian Panowich -- Payback / Tonya D. Price -- If you say so / Suzanne Proulx -- Neighbors / Ron Rash -- Faint of heart / Amanda Rea -- Lush / Duane Swierczynski -- Inside man / Robb T. White -- Burning down the house / Ted White -- Contributor's notes -- Other distinguished mystery stories of 2018