Spies and Thieves, Cops and Killers, Etc. (Five Star First Edition Mystery Series)

Rating:
Summary: Fantastic stories!
Review: The title only hints at the wide range of fascinating stories in this collection. I read some of his work a few years ago and was hooked. Now with this book I was able to enjoy his very early stories. I didn't realize he'd been writing for so many years and that Ross Macdonald and Sue Grafton both recommended his novels and stories. They're right. Anyway, my favorite story is PART OF HISTORY, the final one in the book, because it shows how the real world of war and espionage works. My second favorite is OCCUPATIONAL HAZARD. It has an utterly surprising twist at the end that I'm still thinking about. And finally, FREEDOM FIGHTER is haunting. It was named one of "Best American Short Stories" when it was first published in 1964. I highly recommend this collection. It's a gourmet feast from a master of crime fiction.