Introduction : the mystery in 1996 / Jon L. Breen -- The dark snow / Brendan Du Bois -- The escape / Anne Perry -- Clothes / Ruth Rendell -- The cracks in the sidewalk / Marcia Muller -- Dead drunk / Lia Matera -- Running from legs / Ed McBain -- The cassoulet / Walter Satterthwait -- Toad crossing / John Lutz and David August -- Wild horses / Sam Pizzo -- The last word / Maude Miller -- My murder / David Corn -- The narrow house / Edward D. Hoch -- Married to a murderer / Alan Russell -- The perfect murder club / Reginald Hill -- Kiss the sky / James Grady -- Intent to kill / Monica Quill --The girl who talked to horses / Robert J. Randisi -- Stalking horse / Susan B. Kelly -- A good thing / Simon Brett -- Hoops / S. J. Rozan -- Real life / Sarah Shankman -- A rock and a hard place / Nancy Pickard -- The burglar and the whatsit / Donald E. Westlake -- Publicity stunts / Sara Paretsky -- The monster / Bill Pronzini.