Don't go into this book expecting a single, continuous plot. Think of it as the ultimate sampler platter for mystery fans. Library of the World's Best Mystery and Detective Stories is exactly what the title promises: a huge collection of short stories from the 19th and early 20th centuries, curated by editor Julian Hawthorne. It features giants like Poe, Dickens, and Wilkie Collins alongside fascinating, lesser-known writers from across Europe and America.

The Story

There is no single story. Instead, you journey through the early evolution of the mystery genre. You'll meet C. Auguste Dupin, Poe's detective who inspired Sherlock Holmes, solving a brutal double murder in a locked apartment. You'll follow police inspectors through foggy London streets, encounter seemingly supernatural events with logical explanations, and watch as brilliant amateurs outthink both criminals and the official police. Each story is a self-contained puzzle, showcasing different styles—from gothic horror to legal drama to pure deduction.

Why You Should Read It

Reading this collection feels like having a direct line to the creative spark that started it all. It's incredible to see how many modern tropes—the eccentric detective, the 'impossible' crime, the sidekick narrator—were fully formed over a century ago. The prose can be dense at times (these are Victorian stories, after all), but the core mechanics of a good mystery are timeless. The thrill isn't just in 'whodunit,' but in watching the very idea of detective work being invented on the page.

Final Verdict

This book is perfect for curious mystery lovers and history of fiction buffs. If you've ever finished a modern thriller and thought, 'I wonder where this all began?'—start here. It's not a breezy beach read; it's a deep-dive into a library. But for anyone who considers themselves a true fan of the genre, it's an essential and rewarding pilgrimage to the source.