Edward D. Hoch Books

Northmont, Connecticut, seemed to be haunted by ghosts, ghouls, and impossibilities, until Dr. Sam Hawthorne explained the seemingly impossible. All But Impossible contains fifteen of Dr. Sam's most extraordinary cases solved between 1936 and 1940, including A newly murdered corpse in a sealed tomb in a cemetery A body in a scarecrow A jug that turns water into wine -- poisoned wine A disappearance from a swimming pool A baby who becomes a child's doll on the way to being baptized An unfound door A room that appears and vanishes And eight other ingenious problems for Dr. Sam

"Edward D. Hoch was the most ingenious of modern mystery writers. His stories off fair play cluing, convincing settings, and elaborate (sometimes bizarre) plots. [...] Hoch's ladies were often faced with seemingly impossible crimes -- throat cutting in a locked room, shooting of giant cacti, murder in a giant hot air balloon, stabbing in a shower with no one present, poisoning of Chinese food as a last meal of a murderer, and more ingenious methods that will keep the reader guessing."--Page 4 of cover.

Set against the backdrop of the Revolutionary War, the collection features thirteen stories of Alexander Swift, who interacts with iconic figures like George Washington and Benedict Arnold while serving the Continental Army. Complementing this historical narrative are five intriguing tales of Gideon Parrot, a flamboyant detective from the Golden Age, renowned for his clever problem-solving skills. Together, these characters offer a blend of historical intrigue and detective mystery.

Set in New England during the 1920s and 1930s, this collection centers on country doctor Sam Hawthorne, who tackles locked room mysteries and other impossible crimes. Among the twelve intriguing stories is a classic involving a horse and buggy that mysteriously disappears after entering a covered bridge. The book includes an introduction by the author, along with a chronology and bibliography of Sam Hawthorne by Marvin Lachman, enhancing the reader's understanding of this captivating character and his adventures.

The new anthology from the Crime Writers Association brings together 17 of the finest crime writers working today, celebrating the 'who' in the whodunnit, the psyche in the psychological profile, the id behind the ID. Featuring exclusive stories from Dagger winners, Robert Barnard and Peter Lovesey, and a Grand Master of Crime winner, Edward D Hoch, an exclusive translation from French legend Tonino Benacquista, and much more.'Sins of Scarlet' by Robert Barnard won the CWA Award for Best Short Story of 2006 and 'Les's Story' by Stuart Pawson was short-listed for the same award.

The collection features 14 stories centered on Nick Velvet, a selective thief who targets seemingly worthless items, such as a bald man's comb and an overdue library book. To execute his heists, Nick often finds himself solving crimes, including those linked to the enigmatic Sandra Paris, known as The White Queen, who boasts of performing impossible feats. The Velvet Touch not only chronicles Nick's adventures with the White Queen but also includes an introduction by the author and a comprehensive checklist of Nick Velvet's escapades.

Renowned for his mastery of the mystery short story, Edward D. Hoch's prolific output includes nearly 1,000 tales. He is celebrated for his fair-play and impossible crime narratives, particularly those featuring Dr. Sam Hawthorne, a small-town physician in 1920s New England who solves perplexing mysteries. Hoch also created memorable characters like British Intelligence codebreaker Jeffrey Rand and the thief-for-hire Nick Velvet, showcasing his versatility and creativity in the genre.

The Ripper of Storyville is the first collection about one of Hoch's most imaginative creations, Ben Snow, the 19th-century gunman who is often confused with Billy the Kid. The book contains 14 stories, including 7 rare adventures published more than 30 years ago in The Saint Mystery Magazine. Introduction by the author; Ben Snow chronology and bibliography by Marvin Lachman.