All Tastes..
Twenty five years of mystery, mayhem and unforgettable tales from The Strand Magazine are celebrated in this well produced tome of twenty nine short stories. Beautifully compiled, the short stories range from newly discovered lost works to the very contemporary and from bestselling authors and literary greats - with some fascinating introductory pieces too. A wonderful collection for any reader, there is sure to be a titbit for all tastes.

Collections of short stories are one of my most recommended books to family and friends. When asked for author recommendations, I always offer up the numerous collections in my personal library, as this is where I find so many wonderful authors that I would never have chosen. Short stories require an author to flex their writing skills, capturing readers in fewer pages than many chapters in a novel. They must immediately immerse readers into a story in progress and bring the characters to life so quickly, all the "meat" of the mystery is revealed in just a few pages. This collection includes the best of the best and will be appreciated by my reading circle as we choose new books to share.

"Twenty-five stories from twenty-five years of The Strand Magazine, featuring a star-studded line-up of internationally bestselling mystery authors.

The Strand Magazine is a quarterly publication which offers the best of both worlds: publishing previously unpublished works by literary masters such as Shirley Jackson, P.G. Wodehouse, Tennessee Williams, and H.G. Wells, as well as new works of fiction by today's bestselling authors including Ruth Ware, Alexander McCall Smith, Michael Connelly, and Jo Nesbø.

This anthology serves as a celebration of The Strand's rich legacy, bringing together a selection of its most unforgettable tales, including stories by Walter Mosley, Charles Todd, Joyce Carol Oates, R.L. Stine, James Lee Burke, Jeffery Deaver, and Ray Bradbury among others, with an introduction by bestselling author Alexander McCall Smith."

Speaking of Sherlock Holmes...

The Strand Magazine is iconic! It, after all, gave the world Sherlock Holmes, starting with “A Scandal in Bohemia” in the summer of 1891. The modern revival carries that same torch, and this anthology, Best of "The Strand Magazine": 25 Years of Twists, Turns, and Tales from the Modern Masters of Mystery and Fiction, gathers a quarter-century of its finest short fiction. How could I possibly resist?

Alexander McCall Smith, whose voice I’ve long admired, opens with a foreword that feels like a fireside chat—wry, affectionate, perfectly pitched. Then the stories begin: a generous sprawl of voices, some familiar, some new, moving between classic locked-room riddles and contemporary sleights of hand. Most are exquisitely crafted—lean, surprising, the sort that leave you nodding at the page with quiet satisfaction. It’s the ideal volume for an idle afternoon, one you can open at random and trust to deliver.

Not every piece struck the same chord. I’ve never warmed to the supernatural, and a few tales leaned heavily on spectral machinery; for me, they drifted off-key. Others may savor them. I also wished the contents had listed authors beside titles—knowing who’s waiting inside a book this size would have guided the hand more surely.

Those are small cavils. The collection’s breadth and depth more than compensate, mapping the mystery genre’s living tradition with grace and vigor. If you relish fiction that rewards attention in compact, brilliant doses, this belongs on your shelf. It’s a book you’ll return to, again and again, for the pleasure of a well-turned puzzle.

Five stars from me!

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Strand is a British mystery magazine known best for publishing the first Sherlock Holmes story well over a century ago. The Best of "The Strand Magazine" anthology collects 29 tales published within the last twenty-five years. Their authors are as diverse as Michael Connelly, Shirley Jackson and H.G. Wells. There is truly something for every mystery reader here. 5 stars and highly recommended to mystery fans!

Thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for providing me with an advanced review copy.