Copyright © 2016 by Loren D. Estleman.
All rights reserved.
This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher; exceptions are made for brief excerpts used in published reviews.
Published by
TYRUS BOOKS
an imprint of F+W Media, Inc.
10151 Carver Road, Suite 200
Blue Ash, OH 45242. U.S.A.
Hardcover ISBN 10: 1-4405-9620-4
Hardcover ISBN 13: 978-1-4405-9620-9
Paperback ISBN 10: 1-4405-9623-9
Paperback ISBN 13: 978-1-4405-9623-0
eISBN 10: 1-4405-9621-2
eISBN 13: 978-1-4405-9621-6
“The Black Spot” previously published in Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, March/April 2015. “The Tree on Execution Hill” previously published in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, August 1977. “Sincerely, Mr. Hyde” previously published in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, July/August 2014. “You Owe Me” previously published in Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, September/October 2015. “A Web of Books” previously published in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, February 1983. “State of Grace” previously published in An Eye for Justice edited by Robert Randisi, copyright © 1988 by Mysterious Press, ISBN 10: 0892962585, ISBN 13: 9780892962587. “The Used” previously published in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, June 1982. “Bad Blood” previously published in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, July 1986. “Cabana” previously published in The Armchair Detective, Spring 1990. “Lock, Stock, and Casket” previously published in Pulpsmith, Summer 1982. “Diminished Capacity” previously published in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, December 1982. “Saturday Night at the Mikado Massage” previously published in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, November 1996. “How’s My Driving?” previously published in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, January/February 2008. “The Pioneer Strain” previously published in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, October 1977. “Flash” previously published in Murder on the Ropes edited by Otto Penzler, copyright © 2001 by New Millennium Entertainment, ISBN 10: 1893224333, ISBN 13: 9781893224339. “Evil Grows” previously published in Mystery: The Best of 2001 edited by Jon L. Breen, copyright © 2002 by I Books, ISBN 10: 0743445015, ISBN 13: 9780743445016. “The Bog” previously published in Wild Crimes: Stories of Mystery in the Wild edited by Dana Stabenow, copyright © 2004 by Signet, ISBN 10: 045121286X, ISBN 13: 9780451212863. “Now We Are Seven” previously published in Ghost Towns edited by Martin H. Greenberg and Russell Davis, copyright © 2010 by Pinnacle, ISBN 10: 0786019565, ISBN 13: 9780786019564.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, corporations, institutions, organizations, events, or locales in this novel are either the product of the author’s imagination or, if real, used fictitiously. The resemblance of any character to actual persons (living or dead) is entirely coincidental.
Many of the designations used by manufacturers and sellers to distinguish their products are claimed as trademarks. Where those designations appear in this book and F+W Media, Inc. was aware of a trademark claim, the designations have been printed with initial capital letters.
Cover design by Frank Rivera.
Cover image © Andrey Bayda/123RF.