The Mysterious Bookshop Presents the Best Mystery Stories of the Year 2025

by John Grisham, editor

This title was previously available on NetGalley and is now archived.

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Pub Date Sep 23 2025 | Archive Date Aug 31 2025

Penzler Publishers | Mysterious Press

Mystery & Thrillers

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Description

From over 3,000 considered stories published in the past year, this anthology contains the twenty best, selected by #1 New York Times bestselling author John Grisham under the auspices of New York City’s legendary crime fiction specialty store The Mysterious Bookshop.

Included are tales of suspense, detection, and puzzlement that illuminate the diversity of styles contained under the “mystery” umbrella and highlight some of the greatest practitioners of the short form working today, with a blend of household names and lesser known writers no less worthy of your attention.

There’s something for everyone in this celebrated anthology, now in its fifth year, which continues to dazzle with the breadth of its selection and which draws from sources as disparate as Black Cat Weekly, Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, and Conjunctions. Plus, it’s all capped off with an additional “bonus story” from an earlier era, sourced from the bookshop’s rare book room.

Available Editions

EDITION	Other Format
ISBN	9781613166833
PRICE	$28.95 (USD)
PAGES	504

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Additional Information

Average rating from 29 members

Featured Reviews

Kelly F, Reviewer

This book is a wonderfully curated with a fantastic mix of short stories, each with its unique style and genre. I couldn't put it down! "Home Game" was a standout, but the whole collection is full of surprises. Some stories are mysteries, others have unexpected twists. You'll find everything from heartwarming tales to thrilling suspense – perfect for quick, engaging reads anytime. Highly recommended!

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Sandra M, Educator

A fun, fast-paced collection of mystery stories picked by John Grisham. There’s a great mix of styles—some dark, some clever, all entertaining. Perfect if you love a good twist and want quick reads that keep you hooked.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy for an honest review.

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Ryan W, Reviewer

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a review copy of these stories. I think this is a wonderful collection of stories and finished this book fairly quickly.

I think my favorite story from the bunch was "Home Game" by Craig Faustus Buck. I appreciate stories inspired by law enforcement ties and this story had a fun twist to it.

Overall, a solid collection of stories that can be enjoyed by fans of other genres not just us mystery fiends :).