New York Times bestselling author Laura Lippman has been hailed as one of the best crime fiction writers in America today, winning virtually every major award in the genre. The author of the enormously popular series featuring Baltimore P.I. Tess Monaghan as well as three critically lauded stand-alone novels, Lippman now turns her attention to short stories-and reveals another level of mastery. Lippman sets many of the stories in this sterling anthology,...

Internationally best-selling author Martin Walker delights audiences with his holiday-themed mystery, "Bruno and the Carol Singers." It's Christmastime in the tiny French village of St. Denis and police chief Bruno CourrEges is busy playing PEre Noel for the children. But when money raised for charity goes missing, Bruno trades in his bag of toys for his badge and sets out to find the thief.

Young Pete Simmons just wanted to have some fun and explore when he stumbled onto the old abandoned rest stop at Mile 81 on the Maine turnpike. Instead, he discovers a scene of bloodshed and carnage. A car has pulled into the boarded-up service station, a run-down, muddy station wagon without any plates; and without a driver. As the car claims the lives of one would-be good Samaritan after another, Pete decides that it's up to him to stop the evil...

"Actors" follows Matt Sorley--a New York character actor nearing age 60. Matt is at the end of his career--tired of auditioning, yet even more tired of getting recognized for a TV procedural drama that gave him only one line. Matt reluctantly takes a role in a play. And then the play accidentally becomes a success.

"An Englishman in Los Angeles chains his feminist lover to the bed--at her request--and refuses to release her until the arranged time has elapsed. Then, reengaged in the rhythms of their everyday lives, the characters follow a path toward the Englishman's farewell party. There, tolerance for dissenting opinions is strained to the breaking point--and events take a shocking turn." -- container.

Paul is saddened by the inability of his Irish Catholic family to accept the fact that he is gay.

Insurance investigator Joe Canavan pays a visit to Robin, a failed rock goddess suspected of setting her own house on fire. When Joe arrives, he's taken aback by the flirtatious widow--and her offer to share martinis and a bit of pot during the interview--but before long Canavan turns the tables with a move of his own.

Nkem has moved from Nigeria to Philadelphia to raise her children, while her husband Obiora remains in their homeland. But when she learns Obiora keeps a girlfriend in Africa, Nkem faces a difficult decision.