The Best American Mystery and
Suspense 2026, Editor Megan Abbott, Series
Editor Steph Cha, reprints twenty of their favorite short stories of the year.
There are also thirty more tales listed in the honorable mention section to
consider. This means you have a lot of good reading here. I won’t try to
mention them all. What follows below are the several that really struck a chord
with me for one reason or another.
“Smoke and Mirrors” by Charles John Harper
originally appeared in an unspecified issue of Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine. It features Private Investigator Darrow Nash,
in Los Angeles, and quite the historical mystery tale. If you like a whodunit
style read, this one is for you. I am not about to ruin it by saying more.
“Finding Jimmy Baldwin” by Cheryl A. Head
originally appeared in the anthology, Crime Ink: Iconic: An Anthology of
Crime Fiction Inspired by Queer Icons. It is June 1954 and Roy has
shown up at the diner on schedule. Jimmy is a no show. That isn’t good news.
The fact That Jimmy, full name James Arthur Baldwin, now has a missing person’s
report according to the officer, a Sergeant Peterson, is worse news. Especially
for Roy.
“The Corpse Collector” by David Morrell
also appeared in an unspecified issue of Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine. A dental hygienist needs a second job to make
ends meet. One of her patients, a funeral director, suggested that she could
collect the dead for him. Especially in the middle of the night. The pay would
be really good and she agreed to do it on weekends. That has led to a lot of
interesting pickups, and she will tell you about several of them, and then tell
you about the big one last weekend.
“Small Things” by Wanda M. Morris previously
appeared as an Amazon Original Story. Hannah Ferguson loves the shed out
back. She does her art in it and hides her creativity in the small space. Her marriage
is on a downhill slide. At least she still has her art and the freedom it can
bring her.
For Rosalie, With Love” by M. E. Proctor originally
appeared in the anthology, Myopic Duplicity: Do the Ends Ever Justify the
Means? The plan is, as it always has been since they first met. Do
anything and everything for Rosalie.
“Mama” by Rob D. Smith originally appeared
In Too Deep. Jimmy “Ton” Roy thought it was all clear to boost
the white Corvette. He’s behind the wheel when the beautiful driver comes back
for her purse. Jon’s plan to boost the cool car changes as does his future.
“Slow Ride” by Mark Thielman originally
appeared in Chop Shop. The young guy known as “Lil Meathead” swiped the Ford F-250
and got away with it. He did the work though the boss of the crew, Woody, fueled
by meth and ego, will take much of the credit. Huey, the overall boss and the
owner of the day time garage and night time chop shop did not really want
another pickup truck. Here in Dallas so the truck won’t bring top dollar. But,
there is a possibility of a really big payday. Lil Meathead knows of a 2022 Bently set up for American
driver. It has the steering wheel on the left, is purple, and has all the bells
and whistles. Huey is interested. That means soon Lil Meathead and Woody are dee in
conversation while headed up the Dallas North Tollway to swipe the car.
The seven stories highlighted here are my
personal favorites. No doubt your selections would probably be different. There
isn’t a bad one in the bunch. The Best American Mystery and Suspense 2026
will provide you a lot of good reading and is well worth your time.
Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/4spesnf
My digital ARC reading copy came from the
publisher, Mariner Books, by way of NetGalley with no expectation of a positive
review.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2026
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