Murder Most Merry

32 CHRISTMAS CRIME STORIES FROM THE WORLD’S BEST MYSTERY WRITERS

Edited by Abigail Browning

GRAMERCY BOOKS

New York

The Acknowledgments on page vi constitute an extension of the copyright page.

Copyright © 2002 by Dell Magazines.

All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

INTRODUCTION

A WINTER’S TALE – Ann Cleeves

GRIST FOR THE MILLS OF CHRISTMAS – James Powell

AS DARK AS CHRISTMAS GETS – Lawrence Block

RUMPOLE AND THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS – John Mortimer

DEAD ON CHRISTMAS STREET – John D. MacDonald

MISS CRINDLE AND FATHER CHRISTMAS – Malcolm Gray

MYSTERY FOR CHRISTMAS – Anthony Boucher

THE CASE IS ALTERED – Margery Allingham

CHRISTMAS COP – Thomas Larry Adcock

THE THEFT OF THE CHRISTMAS STOCKING – Edward D. Hoch

THE CHRISTMAS BEAR – Herbert Resnicow

THE SHAPE OF THE NIGHTMARE – Francis M. Nevins, Jr.

CHRISTMAS GIFT – Robert Turner

SANTA’S WAY – James Powell

I SAW MOMMY KILLING SANTA CLAUS – George Baxt

SUPPER WITH MISS SHIVERS – Peter Lovesey

APPALACHIAN BLACKMAIL – Jacqueline Vivelo

ON CHRISTMAS DAY IN THE MORNING – Margery Allingham

SANTA CLAUS BEAT – Rex Stout

WHITE LIKE THE SNOW – Dan Stumpf

RUMPOLE AND THE CHAMBERS PARTY – John Mortimer

THE SPY AND THE CHRISTMAS CIPHER – Edward D. Hoch

INSPECTOR TIERCE AND THE CHRISTMAS VISITS – Jeffry Scott

CHRISTMAS PARTY – Martin Werner

THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

THE EMBEZZLER’S CHRISTMAS PRESENT – Ennis Duling

BELIEVING IN SANTA – Ron Goulart

PASS THE PARCEL – Peter Lovesey

THE THEFT OF SANTA’S BEARD – Edward D. Hoch

A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH – Georges Simenon

MURDER UNDER THE MISTLETOE – Margery Allingham

WHO KILLED FATHER CHRISTMAS? – Patricia Moyes