A "gripping" collection of crime stories from the author of the acclaimed 87th Precinct novels (People). Ed McBain's 87th Precinct is "perhaps the finest police procedural series of all time" (Publishers Weekly). But before he turned to novels, McBain wrote short crime fiction under various names, for pulp magazines including Manhunt and Argosy. Collected in this anthology are twenty-five of these early stories, organized under headings such as "Women in Jeopardy," "Private Eyes," "Loose Cannons," and "Gangs." For fans of Ed McBain, the author's introduction to this anthology will be just as exciting as the stories themselves. There and in his introductory notes to each section, he offers valuable insight into his writing and his singular career.