Since my college days, I have eagerly watched for and avidly read Otto Penzler’s Mysterious Bookshop selections of the year’s best mystery stories. I cannot tell you how thrilled I am to announce that this year, one of my stories made the cut!

Though the Penzler series made a change in 2021 from The Best American Mystery Stories to The Best Mystery Stories of the Year, the basic concept remains the same.

In the Foreword to each volume, Mr. Penzler describes the selection process. It begins with his assistant, Michele Slung, reading through thousands of mystery short stories during the year and narrowing the field. Next, Penzler himself reads the harvested crop and passes along the best fifty to his guest editor, who selects the final twenty.

These guest editors have included Lee Child, James Patterson, Louise Penny, Jeffery Deaver, Donald Westlake, Sue Grafton, Elizabeth George, and many more notable and fabulous writers of suspense fiction.

This year’s guest editor is the New York Times best-selling author of A Gentleman in Moscow and The Lincoln Highway— Mr. Amor Towles!

Towles selected his top twenty stories, which will be published on September 19th in The Mysterious Bookshop Presents the Best Mystery Stories of the Year 2023.

And one of them is mine!

My cold case story

The story was originally published in Mystery, Crime, and Mayhem’s Cold Cases edition. It’s titled “Cold Hands, Warm Heart,” and features sheriff’s deputies, Steadman and Frost, favorites of many readers. The duo was introduced in the thriller novel, Steadman’s Blind, and have continued their partnership through several short stories.

Here’s the book description for the story:

Seventeen years ago, beside the Hood Canal, a hitchhiker found a human hand, chewed to the bone by coyotes.

Never identified, its owner never found.

Until now.

Chief Deputy Randall Steadman and his partner, Frost, untangle the clues in a heart-rending cold case that will stay with you beyond The End.

Chosen by Amor Towles as one of The Best Mystery Stories of the Year 2023, Cold Hands, Warm Heart will resonate with fans of Michael Connelly, Robert Dugoni, and David Baldacci.

Two ways you can read the story now!

If you just can’t wait to read the story (and I hope you can’t!) there are two options for you to get it now. You can read the story in Cold Cases  or grab the single release from your favorite bookseller.

But if you wait for the September release of The Best Mystery Stories of the Year 2023, you’ll get it along with nineteen more superb and suspenseful mystery stories. A real treat!

I know—tough choice. Penzler’s book is available for pre-order now.

However you choose to get the story, I hope you’ll read it, enjoy it, and celebrate with me. I am absolutely delighted to be a part of one of my favorite mystery traditions!

How about you? Are you a fan of Otto Penzler’s mystery anthologies? Tell us about it in the comments.