“Crime fiction has always been outsider fiction, and this anthology, too, is a safe harbor for misfits and outcasts,” writes guest editor Megan Abbott. Full of wacky, peculiar, and eccentric characters, The Best American Mystery and Suspense 2026 features an enterprising dental hygienist who makes some extra money by collecting corpses for a funeral home, a sixth-grade girl who uses her competitive jump-roping skills to protect herself from looming danger, and a broke young car thief who falls for a married woman who entices him into a criminal act. From traditional and masterfully crafted whodunits to experimental tales, these stories will have chills running down your spine and your heart knocking in your chest. THE BEST AMERICAN MYSTERY AND SUSPENSE 2026 INCLUDES: D.C. BENNY • CHRISTOPHER BOLLEN • SARA GRAN • CHERYL A. HEAD • DAVID MORRELL • WANDA M. MORRIS • M.E. PROCTOR • ROB D. SMITH • PAUL TREMBLAY • AND OTHERS
