Presents 20 mystery stories originally published in American or Canadian periodicals or books in 1999, selected for inclusion by guest editor Donald Westlake, with contributors' notes, and a list of one hundred additional distinguished stories of the year.

Miracles! Happen! / Doug Allyn -- Ghosts / David Beaty -- Spring rite / Tom Berdine -- Annie's dream / Bentley Dadmun -- Motel 66 / Barbara D'Amato -- Jumping with Jim / Geary Danihy -- Triangle / Jeffrey Deaver -- The instruments of peace / Edward Falco -- Grit / Tom Franklin -- Compass Rose / David Edgerley Gates -- The defenestration of Aba Sid / Robert Girardi -- The island in the river / Chad Holley -- ICU / Edward Lee -- Running out of dog / Dennis Lehane -- Sheep / Thomas H. McNeely -- Dead rock singer / Martha Moffett -- Wrong numbers / Josh Pryor -- The guilty party / Shel Silverstein -- Forgetting the girl / Peter Moore Smith -- Water dog god / Brad Watson.