The Resurrection Man; the Corn Maiden; Hostages

New York Times bestsellers Sharyn McCrumb, Joyce Carol Oates, and Anne Perry each provided a brand-new, never-before-published tale for this unique collection of stories edited by New York Times bestselling author and mystery legend Ed McBain.

"The Resurrection Man" by Sharyn McCrumb: During America's first century, doctors used any means necessary to advance their craft―including dissecting corpses. Sharyn McCrumb brings the South of the 1850s to life in this story of a man who is assigned to dig up bodies to help those that are still alive.

"The Corn Maiden" by Joyce Carol Oates: When a twelve-year-old girl is abducted in a small New York town, the crime starts a spiral of destruction and despair as only this master of psychological suspense could write it.

"Hostages" by Anne Perry: The bestselling historical mystery author has written a tale of beautiful yet still savage Ireland today. In their eternal struggle for freedom, there is about to be a changing of the guard in the Irish Republican Army. Yet for some, old habits―and honor―still die hard, even at gunpoint.

Sharyn McCrumb is the New York Times bestselling author of numerous novels depicting life in Appalachia, including The Rosewood Casket, She Walks These Hills, and St. Dale.

Joyce Carol Oates is a recipient of the National Book Award and the PEN/Malamud Award for Excellence in Short Fiction. Her bestselling novels include We Were the Mulvaneys and Blonde.

Anne Perry is the New York Times bestselling author of numerous historical fiction novels, including Dark Assassin.

Ed McBain was also known as Evan Hunter. His writing career has spanned nearly five decades, from his first novel, The Blackboard Jungle, in 1954 to the screenplay for Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds to Candyland, written in tandem with his alter ego, Ed McBain, to his novel, The Moment She Was Gone. He is the first American ever to receive the Diamond Dagger, the British Crime Writers Association's highest award. He also holds the Mystery Writers of America's prestigious Grand Master Award. His last 87th Precinct novel was Fiddlers. Evan Hunter / Ed McBain passed away in Fall 2005.