THE YEAR'S BEST MYSTERY AND SUSPENSE STORIES 1991
By
Long-time anthologist Hoch this time includes all five Edgar-nominated stories in his ""Best"" compilation, and Lynne Barrett's ""EMs Lives,"" the ultimate Edgar winner--a dark, garish look at the Presley-impersonator industry--is reason enough to own the book. Clever but more predictable are Lawrence Block's twist on the sentimental assassin; Sue Grafton's mother-daughter love-hate case for Kinsey Millhone; Ed Gorman's flame-up of a family fiend; and Clark Howard's drowning by surfboard confrontation. Also on hand: a funny, I'm-not-a-crook Dortmunder tale from Westlake; an emotional haunting from Joyce Harrington; a child-in-need from Ruth Rendell; and a ruthless pair of discontented wives from Julian Symons. More prosaic are Pronzini's ""Nameless"" street stakeout; Stanley Cohen's what'll-we-do-with-the-body caper; and Hoch's own overlooked clue to an unhappy marriage. Includes awards' lists; necrology; short-story bibliography.