FIRST CULPRIT

'Ruth Rendell, with a new Wexford story, and Dick Francis, with a cunning racetrack heist, lead the field in this superb new collection from the Crime Writer's Association. International stars, old favorites, and new talents combine in a collection that is inventive, chilling, witty, and decidedly different.'Mystery News'

Contents:The mouse in the corner / Ruth Rendell
As my wimsey takes me / Terence Faherty
Programmed for murder / James Melville
The Christmas crimes at 'Cinderella'. A puzzle in four parts: Part one: Christmas Eve / Simon Brett
Faery tale / Celia Dale
Steady as she goes / Catherine Aird
Soldiers, from the wars returning / Robert Barnard
Goodbye Jenny / Penelope Wallace
The Christmas crimes at 'Cinderella'. Part two: Boxing day / Simon Brett
Boots / Antonia Fraser
A distant affray / Roger Ormerod
Trip trap / Ian Rankin
Freud at thirty paces / Sara Paretsky
Positive vetting / Stephen Murray
Afterwards / Alida Baxter
Danny pulls his weight / Michael Z. Lewin
Oh, who hath done this deed? / Susan Moody
The Christmas crimes at 'Cinderella'. Part three: 27 December / Simon Brett
Cuckoo in the wood / Lesley Grant-Anderson
Mrs Craggs hears the nightingale / HRF Keating
In those days / Liza Cody
Sister Brona and the pornographic diary / Alex Auswaks
Gifts from the bridegroom / Margaret Yorke
The Christmas crimes at 'Cinderella'. Part four: 28 December / Simon Brett
Stonestar / Reginald Hill
The last Sara / Susan Kelly
The rape of Kingdom Hill / Dick Francis