'A revelation ...his research and breadth of spirit have discovered a satisfying trove of the unexpected' The Times 'Murder remains one of the fine arts, at least in print ...Michael Dibdin makes the point in his addicts' appetite-whetting anthology ...His approach is thematic, his judgements acute and his list of contributors -- from Chekhov to Barbara Vine -- is impressive ...The central point, that at its best crime writing is a class act, is well made' Guardian 'Ample, eclectic anthology ...imaginatively varied (Zola, Chandler, Hammett, Symons, Roy Fuller, Barbara Vine) ...Dibdin demonstrates that there is a richness, diversity and risk taking in crime writing which gives it a vigour sadly lacking in much straight fiction' Literary Review