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Uncollected Crimes
Presents mystery and suspense stories by authors including James M. Cain, John D. MacDonald, Ed McBain, and John Jakes
203 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 1987
14 people want to read
About the author
Bill Pronzini
629 books236 followersMystery Writers of America Awards "Grand Master" 2008
Shamus Awards Best Novel winner (1999) for Boobytrap
Edgar Awards Best Novel nominee (1998) for A Wasteland of Strangers
Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee (1997) for Sentinels
Shamus Awards "The Eye" (Lifetime achievment award) 1987
Shamus Awards Best Novel winner (1982) for Hoodwink
Married to author Marcia Muller.
Pseudonyms:
Robert Hart Davis (collaboration with Jeffrey M. Wallmann)
Jack Foxx
William Jeffrey (collaboration with Jeffrey M. Wallmann)
Alex Saxon
Shamus Awards Best Novel winner (1999) for Boobytrap
Edgar Awards Best Novel nominee (1998) for A Wasteland of Strangers
Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee (1997) for Sentinels
Shamus Awards "The Eye" (Lifetime achievment award) 1987
Shamus Awards Best Novel winner (1982) for Hoodwink
Married to author Marcia Muller.
Pseudonyms:
Robert Hart Davis (collaboration with Jeffrey M. Wallmann)
Jack Foxx
William Jeffrey (collaboration with Jeffrey M. Wallmann)
Alex Saxon
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 26, 2026
Plot
Presents mystery and suspense stories by authors including James M. Cain, John D. MacDonald, Ed McBain, and John Jakes.
My Analysis
I’ve purchased many anthologies throughout the years. I used to force myself to finish them because, well, I felt obligated. I spent the money, so I should read every story. Years ago, I decided that if I didn’t like the story, I wouldn’t read it. This put me off a lot of anthologies because each has good stories and each has mediocre stories and each may contain a real dud or two.
So, I was wary when I started this anthology. I had the same attitude. I’d read until the quality started going downhill, then I’d stop and move on. To my surprise, I found only a couple mediocre stories. The rest were very good. These are all short stories and have been featured in other magazines like Ellery Queen, Alfred Hitchcock, and other mystery story magazines that have come and gone.
I recognized most of the authors and read many. The stories hearken back to the pulp fiction novel days and the stories have that type of flavor.
These are stories of revenge, cons, and murder. There’s drama, lust, and greed. There is conflict and resolution, even if that resolution comes in the future.
I’d read another collection like this. This is worth the buy.
My rank:
Purple Belt
Presents mystery and suspense stories by authors including James M. Cain, John D. MacDonald, Ed McBain, and John Jakes.
My Analysis
I’ve purchased many anthologies throughout the years. I used to force myself to finish them because, well, I felt obligated. I spent the money, so I should read every story. Years ago, I decided that if I didn’t like the story, I wouldn’t read it. This put me off a lot of anthologies because each has good stories and each has mediocre stories and each may contain a real dud or two.
So, I was wary when I started this anthology. I had the same attitude. I’d read until the quality started going downhill, then I’d stop and move on. To my surprise, I found only a couple mediocre stories. The rest were very good. These are all short stories and have been featured in other magazines like Ellery Queen, Alfred Hitchcock, and other mystery story magazines that have come and gone.
I recognized most of the authors and read many. The stories hearken back to the pulp fiction novel days and the stories have that type of flavor.
These are stories of revenge, cons, and murder. There’s drama, lust, and greed. There is conflict and resolution, even if that resolution comes in the future.
I’d read another collection like this. This is worth the buy.
My rank:
Purple Belt
February 29, 2024
Uncollected Crimes, Bill Pronzini and Martin H. Greenberg (eds.) [Berkley, 1987].
A collection of previously unanthologized mystery and crime fiction from publications such as Manhunt, The Saint, and Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine.
Highlights include:
“The $5000 Getaway,” Jack Ritchie. A prison guard and a warden make a wager about whether an inmate could escape from their Alcatraz-style prison island.
“Squealer,” John D. Macdonald. After an assault on a young couple having a tryst at a local lovers’s lane, witnesses are reluctant to come forth.
“I Still See Sally,” John Jakes. Jakes, who would achieve commercial fame as a historical novelist, offers a story about an ad man haunted by his deceased wife whose accidental death he blames himself for.
“Bank Job,” Bill Pronzini. A bank robbery caper with unexpected twists.
“Discount Fare,” John Lutz. From the author of Single White Female: a semi-comic story of a plane hijacker.
A collection of previously unanthologized mystery and crime fiction from publications such as Manhunt, The Saint, and Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine.
Highlights include:
“The $5000 Getaway,” Jack Ritchie. A prison guard and a warden make a wager about whether an inmate could escape from their Alcatraz-style prison island.
“Squealer,” John D. Macdonald. After an assault on a young couple having a tryst at a local lovers’s lane, witnesses are reluctant to come forth.
“I Still See Sally,” John Jakes. Jakes, who would achieve commercial fame as a historical novelist, offers a story about an ad man haunted by his deceased wife whose accidental death he blames himself for.
“Bank Job,” Bill Pronzini. A bank robbery caper with unexpected twists.
“Discount Fare,” John Lutz. From the author of Single White Female: a semi-comic story of a plane hijacker.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews