Like Bernard Malamud and Shirley Jackson, Avram Davidson brought a unique brand of charm, wit, and intrigue to the short-story form. His widow, author Grania Davis, and his longtime friend and admirer, noted mystery author Richard A. Lupoff, have compiled and introduced this loving tribute. Collected here for the first time are Davidson's remarkable mystery tales, including: The 1840s murder investigations of New York's chief constable, Jacob Hays A sinister lesson in New England thrift A bride who disappears on her wedding day A slavetrader and a deal gone terribly wrong Treachery in a nursing home A greedy antiquarian repents his ways Expatriates who will kill for a little peace and quiet And much ado about an exiled earl, Albanian Trotskyites, the Mafia, New Amsterdam river pirates, and the aspiring hooligans known as the Nafia (who "control all the gumball and India nut machines south of Vesey Street") Davidson's unparalleled crime stories will thrill you like no other. This book is your invitation to explore the imagination of a rare talent.