The Big Book of Christmas Mysteries    edited by Otto Penzler Order:  USA  Can Vintage, 2013 (2013) Softcover, e-Book      Reviewed by Bob Walch Otto Penzler has assembled sixty of his all-time favorite yuletide crime stories in this remarkable collection. You'll find classic Victorian tales by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Robert Louis Stevenson and Thomas Hardy, plus a wide selection of more recent stories by Sara Paretsky, Ed McBain, Mary Higgins Clark, Robert Bernard and Pat Frank. These stories range from suspense and pure detection stories to police procedurals and private eye adventures. Penzler also has fun grouping his selections under headings such as A Funny Little Christmas, A Sherlockian Little Christmas, An Uncanny Little Christmas, and A Classic Little Christmas. 'Curmudgeons will like this book ... these unsympathetic souls will find solace in the fact that crime, violence, and even murder continue to flourish at what should be a time of peace, joy, and love,' writes Penzler in the book's introduction. Although you may be familiar with a few of these stories, the odds are this is the first time you have read most of them. So, stoke up the fireplace, pour yourself a cup of hot cocoa, some tea, or fill a glass with something with a bit more zip and enjoy these tales of Christmas mystery and mayhem! Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Mystery books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews