What do you think?
Rate this book
Murderers' Row
A Little League benchwarmer who saw more time in the dugout than in the game suddenly dies of a rattlesnake bite. His team was getting ready for the game that would decide who would go to Williamsport for the Little League World Series. His coaches and managers were fiercely competetive. What happened?
A midget is hired by Bill Beeck as a pinch-hitter for his team. His presence in Major League Baseball becomes a source of confusion eventually leading to his banishment. Then he ends up dead. Who did it? And, why?
The perfect baseball dad ends up in a scrap with an abusive parent. Unfortunately he is in the government witness protection program, and about to testify against a huge mobster. He is warned to keep his nose clean or he will live the life of a pig farmer in Nebraska. Does he? His ruse - pay or take your chances at the plate. Everyone pays. Except one young batter. What happens to him?
A starving sports agent has the chance of a lifetime to sign a big contract for two of his players. Unfortunately, the wife of one player is having an affair with the other. And the betrayed player is no gentleman! The sports agent is desperate! If this affair blows up in everyone's faces, he's out of the money. Then the wife disappears. Where did she go?
The storeis in Murderers' Row are filled with paradoxes, twists and turns. They will keep you riveted to each and every play, and each and every page.
1 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
2 people are currently reading
53 people want to read
About the author
Otto Penzler
370 books539 followersOtto Penzler is an editor of mystery fiction in the United States, and proprietor of The Mysterious Bookshop in New York City, where he lives.
Otto Penzler founded The Mysteriour Press in 1975 and was the publisher of The Armchair Detective, the Edgar-winning quarterly journal devoted to the study of mystery and suspense fiction, for seventeen years.
Penzler has won two Edgar Awards, for The Encyclopedia of Mystery and Detection in 1977, and The Lineup in 2010. The Mystery Writers of America awarded him the prestigious Ellery Queen Award in 1994, and the Raven--the group's highest non-writing award--in 2003.
Otto Penzler founded The Mysteriour Press in 1975 and was the publisher of The Armchair Detective, the Edgar-winning quarterly journal devoted to the study of mystery and suspense fiction, for seventeen years.
Penzler has won two Edgar Awards, for The Encyclopedia of Mystery and Detection in 1977, and The Lineup in 2010. The Mystery Writers of America awarded him the prestigious Ellery Queen Award in 1994, and the Raven--the group's highest non-writing award--in 2003.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 27, 2020
Love baseball.
Love murder mysteries.
Did not love this book. A collection of short stories where too many were just "heh". There are some nuggets, and if you like reading short stories this one is easy to work your way through but it's not a keeper for the library.
Love murder mysteries.
Did not love this book. A collection of short stories where too many were just "heh". There are some nuggets, and if you like reading short stories this one is easy to work your way through but it's not a keeper for the library.
June 5, 2015
Review title: Baseball mysteries blow by like a high inside fastball
Here are fourteen baseball-themed short stories commissioned especially for this anthology, and so not seen anywhere else previously. The list of authors is impressive (Block, Collins, Parker, Leonard among the better known) but a few of the stories seem a bit forced, like a student writing a paper to an assigned topic that isn't their greatest strength or interest. And quite frankly, I have to call out the Max Allan Collins (whom I have generally found an entertaining if not great writer in his mysteries on historical themes like the Hindenburg and the Lindbergh case) contribution as by far the weakest, with seemingly little research and thin and thoughtless writing.
The rest are uniformly good, and read quickly.
A couple of publication notes:
--While the authors are given equal billing by being listed alphabetically in the table of contents, the more well known authors like those I listed above are given a larger font size on the front cover alphabetical list. An interesting way to provide both equal billing and star recognition in the collection.
--The foreword by Jim Bouton is very funny. Don't skip it. In fact, if you aren't interesting in buying the book, at least pick it up in the bookstore and spend a few minutes reading the foreword before you put it back down! I was reminded of how sharply funny the author of the ground breaking and now classic "Ball Four" (which I read many years ago) can be, and wondered why he had been so absent from notice for so long (a question that is at least partly answered in the foreword).
--A bibliography is included that lists further recommended reading in novel-length mysteries that have baseball as a theme, setting, or component of the story.
Here are fourteen baseball-themed short stories commissioned especially for this anthology, and so not seen anywhere else previously. The list of authors is impressive (Block, Collins, Parker, Leonard among the better known) but a few of the stories seem a bit forced, like a student writing a paper to an assigned topic that isn't their greatest strength or interest. And quite frankly, I have to call out the Max Allan Collins (whom I have generally found an entertaining if not great writer in his mysteries on historical themes like the Hindenburg and the Lindbergh case) contribution as by far the weakest, with seemingly little research and thin and thoughtless writing.
The rest are uniformly good, and read quickly.
A couple of publication notes:
--While the authors are given equal billing by being listed alphabetically in the table of contents, the more well known authors like those I listed above are given a larger font size on the front cover alphabetical list. An interesting way to provide both equal billing and star recognition in the collection.
--The foreword by Jim Bouton is very funny. Don't skip it. In fact, if you aren't interesting in buying the book, at least pick it up in the bookstore and spend a few minutes reading the foreword before you put it back down! I was reminded of how sharply funny the author of the ground breaking and now classic "Ball Four" (which I read many years ago) can be, and wondered why he had been so absent from notice for so long (a question that is at least partly answered in the foreword).
--A bibliography is included that lists further recommended reading in novel-length mysteries that have baseball as a theme, setting, or component of the story.
December 30, 2017
http://tinyurl.com/y7krqa76
There is very definitely one best story in this book, and you should save it for last (even if it's not the last story in book).
First, though, you must love baseball to read this book. There are at least two jokes regarding how difficult it is to remember the infield fly rule (don't ask me how the rule works, I still haven't got it down). Plus any number of complete descriptions of plays, sides, and innings, and liberal seeding of statistics. To be clear, you can love baseball without understanding every rule (case in point right here), but you probably love baseball in some part because of those rules. So, you'll know if this book is right for you.
Since this is a collection of mystery short stories, none of the stories are particularly involved regarding the mysteries themselves. The writers have worked at compacting the plots they've chosen, which works to the advantage of everyone: editor, writers, readers. I was also surprised at how many different styles were employed, and how often the conclusion was at least partially surprising.
That best story to save for last? The Robert B. Parker story, of course.
(Full disclosure: I only read half of the stories, those chosen by hubby as the best.)
There is very definitely one best story in this book, and you should save it for last (even if it's not the last story in book).
First, though, you must love baseball to read this book. There are at least two jokes regarding how difficult it is to remember the infield fly rule (don't ask me how the rule works, I still haven't got it down). Plus any number of complete descriptions of plays, sides, and innings, and liberal seeding of statistics. To be clear, you can love baseball without understanding every rule (case in point right here), but you probably love baseball in some part because of those rules. So, you'll know if this book is right for you.
Since this is a collection of mystery short stories, none of the stories are particularly involved regarding the mysteries themselves. The writers have worked at compacting the plots they've chosen, which works to the advantage of everyone: editor, writers, readers. I was also surprised at how many different styles were employed, and how often the conclusion was at least partially surprising.
That best story to save for last? The Robert B. Parker story, of course.
(Full disclosure: I only read half of the stories, those chosen by hubby as the best.)
April 20, 2021
Interesting collection of short stories. Fun and fast.
July 8, 2023
Very enjoyable collection of baseball mysteries with excellent bibliography
January 27, 2013
The premise got me to pick up this book and take it home: assemble short story mysteries from leading writers, and have them use baseball as a major part of their stories. Two of my favorite things in reading: baseball and mysteries. What could be better?
What could be better? Volumes 2, 3, 4, etc. (Where are they, Otto?)
I enjoyed not only the stories themselves and the trips to the ballpark from various perspectives, but the varying approaches to the topic, and the great variety of products. From Eddie Gaedel to 1912 Texas League baseball to Ted Williams to modern day little league, the subject matter spans time, place and level.
It's also nice that it can be started, stopped, and picked up again later.
I heartily suggest buying this book, so Otto has reason to provide Volume 2.
What could be better? Volumes 2, 3, 4, etc. (Where are they, Otto?)
I enjoyed not only the stories themselves and the trips to the ballpark from various perspectives, but the varying approaches to the topic, and the great variety of products. From Eddie Gaedel to 1912 Texas League baseball to Ted Williams to modern day little league, the subject matter spans time, place and level.
It's also nice that it can be started, stopped, and picked up again later.
I heartily suggest buying this book, so Otto has reason to provide Volume 2.
November 16, 2013
Nice selection of writers who provide quite a few twists within the confines of the genre. You don't have to be a baseball fan, but it does help. From Leonard, to Block to to Lupica and KC Constantine, some very good writers slide into the nuances of the game that symbolizes the good, and the bad of our culture and the human heart.
January 23, 2011
Pretty decent selection of short stories. Some better than others, but more than half with endings you probably didn't see coming.
April 23, 2015
A great collection of springtime baseball stories. Perfect for fans and non-fans alike.
March 12, 2009
It was okay. Some of the stories were a little slow.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews