A Victorian murderess awaits the dawn of her execution—but is she really who the world believes she is? A picture-perfect Devon cottage burns to the ground while its glamorous owner watches, cigarette holder in hand. A drifter’s fate turns on a single night crossing. From the shadowed alleys of Dickensian London to the sun-bleached streets of Casablanca, from a Wild West mining camp to a modern British seaside village, these fifteen tales twist and turn with the cunning of a master storyteller at the height of her powers.

Collected here for the first time, this dazzling volume gathers stories originally published in Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, The Mammoth Book of Dickensian Mysteries, and other celebrated venues—including “Burning Desire,” selected by Lee Child for Best Mysteries of 2021. Each tale is a small, perfectly cut jewel of suspense: brimming with wit, wickedness, and characters whose secrets will keep you guessing until the final sentence.

Meet the governess who has planned her revenge for twenty years. The chanteuse whose past is going up in flames. The killer with an unshakeable alibi. The victim who isn’t quite what they seem. Whether spinning tales of historical intrigue or contemporary crime, Marilyn Todd delivers the kind of clever, character-driven mysteries that reward every reader who loves a story with a sting in its tail.

Elegantly plotted, sharply observed, and wickedly entertaining, this collection is a masterclass in short crime fiction. Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, Ruth Rendell, and P. D. James—readers who savor a mystery that lingers long after the last page is turned.

Fifteen stories. Fifteen surprises. One unforgettable collection.