Foreword / Otto Penzler --
Introduction / Lee Child --
30 and out / Doug Allyn --
Things that follow / Jim Allyn --
Blest be the tie that binds / Michael Bracken --
Harbor lights / James Lee Burke --
The locked cabin / Martin Edwards --
Biloxi bound / John Floyd --
That which is true / Jaqueline Freimor --
The gift / Alison Gaylin --
If you want something dne right... / Sue Grafton --
The sixth decoy / Paul Kemprecos --
The fifth step / Stephen King --
The client / Janice Law --
The truth about Lucy / Dennis McFadden --
The adventure of the home office, baby / David Marcum --
Requiem for a homecoming / David Morrell --
Parole hearing, California / Joyce Carol Oates --
Law & other crimes / Sare Paretsky --
Etta at the end of the world / Joseph S. Walker --
The path I took / Andrew Welsh-Higgins --
My favorite year / Ambrose Gwinnett Brice --
The best mystery stories 2021 honor roll.