DIVDIVA double-barreled collection—two of Edward D. Hoch’s most ingenious creations/divDIV In the headquarters of Britain’s Foreign Office, a secretary spies a television actor making a copy of a top-secret key. In an island republic, an intelligence operative is murdered just minutes before exposing a Communist mole. And in a bustling eastern city, the Cold War reaches a turning point over a piece of film the size of a pinhead. These are cases for C. Jeffery Rand, the fixer inside Britain’s secret service. He is bright, ruthless, and smart enough never to be surprised by the depths to which an enemy spy might sink./divDIV Where Jeffery Rand is hard-nosed, Nick Velvet has a supple touch. A master thief, Velvet has a particular skill for stealing unusual items. Where ordinary thieves might be content with jewels or bank notes, Velvet pilfers rare tigers, water from swimming pools, and the letters on a company sign./divDIV In this collection, you will find seven stories of Rand and seven of Velvet—two brilliant men, one on either side of the law, each with a knack for doing the impossible./divDIV/div/div

The most vital secrets of Great Britain are being stolen and sold to hostile foreign agencies. The perpetrator is an ingenious and ruthless high-ranking British official, code name The Thief. The identity of the traitor is unknown, but it is established he is one of five suspects. Brilliant strategist and former MI6 spy Ben Sign is discretely commissioned to investigate the security breach and neutralise The Thief. In trying to solve the mystery, Sign realises he is facing the most formidable opponent he has ever encountered. "Great talent, great imagination, and a real been-there-done-that authenticity. Highly recommended." - LEE CHILD. Author of the Jack Reacher series.

Volume 2 Number 6 of The Mystery Fancier, November-December 1978, contains: "Behind the Scenes at Bouchercon 9: or, It Was Murder at the Bismark!" by Mary Ann Grochowski, "Miss Marple She Isn't," by David H. Doerrer, "Agatha Christie Is Still Alive and Well," by Amnon Kabatchnik, "When Is This Stiff Dead? Detective Stories and Definitions of Death," by Thompson and Banks, "The Weevil in the Beancurd: Or, The Cop Abroad," by George N. Dove, and "The Nero Wolfe Saga: Part X," by Guy M. Townsend.

Serena Allen has taken refuge at her uncle's country house ever since a scandalous seduction left her reputation in tatters. But her aunt has never given up hope of making a match for her and is delighted when the handsome, aristocratic Julien Clermont arrives at Boulton Park expressing an interest in the earl's famous butterfly collection-and interest of a different kind in Serena. Serena herself views the guest with misgivings. Can a man be too charming? And can it be coincidence that important foreign documents entrusted to the earl have begun to disappear and reappear in odd places? Julien is indeed on a top-secret-and personal-mission, one that prevents him from disclosing his real identity to Serena. But the truth will out, and with it comes a devilish choice-betray the lovely, quick-witted woman who has won his heart, or risk forfeiting his own life. . .

Frederic Dannay (1905-1982) was--with his partner Manfred Lee--the creator of the Ellery Queen detective novels and short stories. Dannay was also a literary historian and critic, and the editor of the renowned Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine. Queen--both a pen name and the fictional protagonist of the stories--was also a vital force behind the continuing popularity of crime fiction in the early to mid-20th century, after the deaths of Arthur Conan Doyle, G.K. Chesterton, Melville Davisson Post, and other Old Masters of the genre. This book presents the first critical study of Ellery Queen's role in the preservation of the detective short story. Many of the writers, characters and stories EQMM championed are covered, including such celebrated authors as Allingham, Ambler, Ellin, Innes, Vickers, and even William Butler Yeats.

In today's business world, information is everything: and no one gathers it more effectively than spies. The Spy's Guide: Office Espionage brings real spying techniques into the workplace, with the same appeal as The Action Hero's Handbook. Step-by-step instructions disclose the secret methods used by the CIA, KGB and Fortune 500 companies to steal computer passwords and spy on competitors.