The Best American series has been the premier annual showcase for the country's finest short fiction and nonfiction since 1915. Each volume's serie...
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reviews
Jan 09, 2012
Steven
rated it: 
Quick points:
- Easy to see how each story reflects Oates' personal history, which seems to influence her own writing
- All worthwhile reads but here are the stories that stick with me: "The Identity Club" by Richard Burgin; "Delmonico" by Daniel Handler; "Jack Duggan's Law" by George V. Higgins; "The Shooting of John Roy Worth" by Stuart M. Kaminsky; "Until Gwen" by Dennis Lehane; "The Shoeshine Man's Regrets" by Laura Lippman; More...
- Easy to see how each story reflects Oates' personal history, which seems to influence her own writing
- All worthwhile reads but here are the stories that stick with me: "The Identity Club" by Richard Burgin; "Delmonico" by Daniel Handler; "Jack Duggan's Law" by George V. Higgins; "The Shooting of John Roy Worth" by Stuart M. Kaminsky; "Until Gwen" by Dennis Lehane; "The Shoeshine Man's Regrets" by Laura Lippman; More...
Oct 07, 2011
Lee
rated it: 
I seem to be in the minority in that I've never liked Joyce Carol Oates' work, finding it largely pretentious, uninspired, and often startlingly unoriginal. Thankfully, despite a couple of tales that echo these attributes, Oates' guest editorship of this series goes better than I had expected. A couple of stories-- Disaster Stamps of Pluto, by Louise Erdrich and Officers Weep, by Daniel Orozco, stand out as exceptional examples of any type of storytelling.
A solid anthology, with only a More...
A solid anthology, with only a More...
Aug 25, 2009
Kathy
rated it: 
I picked this off my shelf thinking I hadn't read it, but apparently I'd had so this is my re-read review. The stories are great and in true JCO fashion, oftentimes more psychological thrillers/mysteries than what you would traditionally call a mystery story. I haven't read any of the other Best American Mystery collections so I don't have anything to compare it, but I really enjoyed this one. My favorite story is "Disaster Stamps of Pluto" by Louise Erdich about a town that's fading a
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Jul 07, 2010
James
rated it: 
Hate to say it, but I did not get a lot out of these stories. I would read one, it would be somewhat interesting and then end flat, leaving me with the feeling of being cheated. Kinda like eating stone crackers with no water or salt. Tasteless. Bland. And sadly, I could not finish this thick book.
Rather, I picked up its companion, Best American Fantastic Tales, and this reads much better.
Rather, I picked up its companion, Best American Fantastic Tales, and this reads much better.
Jun 13, 2011
Jessica
rated it:
Usually I love these compilations of short stories, but this one was simply depressing. It seemed like the main character dies in almost all of them. So you build up this attachment to the characters and then they all die in horrible ways. Some of the stories weren't mysteries either. So I would skip this one!
Sep 16, 2010
Peter
rated it:
Not at all what I expected. A few mysteries in the classic mould, the rest seemed more like "True Crime". Well crafted, but that was about it. I think I'm getting out of date . . .
Jun 09, 2011
Jeremy
rated it:
This edition is packed with absolutely stellar stories. The Dennis LeHane story, "Until Gwen," is my favorite...
Aug 29, 2011
Mardell
rated it:
They are all different and all great stories. A well selected diversity of mysteries!
Sep 17, 2011
Vince
rated it:
Best stories:
Richard Burgin: "The Identity Club"
Daniel Handler: "Delmonico"
Tim McLoughlin: "When All This Was Bay Ridge"
Joseph Raiche: "One Mississippi" (amazing)
Scott Turow: "Loyalty"
Richard Burgin: "The Identity Club"
Daniel Handler: "Delmonico"
Tim McLoughlin: "When All This Was Bay Ridge"
Joseph Raiche: "One Mississippi" (amazing)
Scott Turow: "Loyalty"
Jan 04, 2008
Andre
rated it:
Come December, I head for Vrooman's and look for the latest installment in the series. Every year's collection is put together by publisher Otto Penzler and new guest editor (Joyce Carol Oates, in this case). Some years are better than others, but none are dogs. These are great books to bring along while traveling — because they're easier to put down.
Apr 06, 2008
Jessica
rated it:
I repeatedly had to stifle laughter while reading Daniel Orozco's "Officers Weep," which hilariously sends up that sole reason to subscribe to a small-town newspaper, the police blotter. The entries by Erdrich and Higgins are great as well.
Sep 06, 2007
Evan
rated it:
Read it for the Hannah Tinti story "Home Sweet Home," a flawless, macabre, and hilarious vignette of a murder in the suburbs. And for "Aardvark to Aztec" by Christopher Chambers, perfectly pitched, hilarious, and chilling.
Feb 06, 2012
Jan 25, 2012
Dec 15, 2011
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