More than 50 years ago Peter Lovesey published a short story in an anthology. That short story caught the eye of the great Ruth Rendell whose praise ignited Lovesey's life-long passion for short form crime fiction. More than 100 stories later Peter Lovesey has assembled this devilishly clever collection 15 yarns of mystery melancholy and mischief inhabiting such deadly settings as a theatre a monastery and the book publishing industry. The collection includes that first story that launched his story-writing career as well as three new stories exclusive to this volume. In addition Lovesey fans will delight in a personal essay by the author about the historical inspirations for his creation - and in an appearance by the irascible Bath detective Peter Diamond who has in the author's words 'bulldozed his way' into this collection.