The Best American Mystery and Suspense 2025

By: Don Winslow, Steph Cha

Narrated by: Anna Caputo, Adam Grupper, Nan McNamara, Kirby Heyborne, Chanté McCormick

“While a single sentence can turn a novel, a single word can turn a short story,” writes guest editor Don Winslow. The pieces featured in this collection hinge on those small, exacting moments that shock, spook, delight, and change a story entirely. A disgraced ex-cop approaches a crossroads with his ex-wife and new neighbor, pistol in hand; an ill-advised acid trip reveals the dark side of a twisted friendship; a hardened hit man struggles with his latest target. Full of dramatic twists, subtle clues, and chilling reveals, The Best American Mystery and Suspense 2025 will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last shoe drops.

THE BEST AMERICAN MYSTERY AND SUSPENSE 2025 INCLUDES: TOM ANDES • ANN APTAKER • JACQUELINE FREIMOR • TOD GOLDBERG • JAMES D. F. HANNAH • CAROLINE KEPNES • IVY POCHODA • TWIST PHELAN • MEAGAN LUCAS • AND OTHERS

Worst, NOT best

Pointless, stupid stories. I am kicking myself for suffering through all of the stories in hopes that one of them would be better and justify the money I wasted on this book.

Could not get through it.

Waste of a credit not even a little worth it. Terrible. From the pointless political comments to the just as pointless stories.

Not Mysteries

Most of these stories are not actually mysteries. They are for the most part depressing and morbid short stories that are not very interesting.