The Best Mystery Stories of the Year 2023 – Part 1

Bev Herzog and Sandy Camargo

In-person

10:30 am – 12:00 pm

11/7, 11/14, 11/21, 12/5, 12/12, 12/19

NO CLASS 11/28

This semester we will read the first eleven stories in The Best Mystery Stories of the Year

2023 edited by Amor Towles, with series editor Otto Penzler. The volume contains stories by Doug Allyn, Andrew Child, Jeffery Deaver, and Brendan DuBois, who have appeared in previous “Best Mystery Stories” volumes, as well as several less know authors. Publishers Weekly described the volume as “Across a dizzying number of subgenres, this collection delights by prizing quality over name recognition. There’s something here for every mystery fan.” No prerequisites or special knowledge is needed except the ability to research an author and start a discussion of the work.

Group members will be expected read and be ready to discuss one or two stories each week. Group members will also be asked to volunteer to lead discussions of a story or two, including researching the authors of the stories and developing study questions.

Reading materials: The Best Mystery Stories of the Year 2023, edited by Amor Towles, with series editor Otto Penzler (2023).

Facilitators: Bev is a retired research geologist and an avid reader of mysteries. She has co-led an OLLI mystery short stories study group since 2011. Sandy has been a member of this group for several years. She is a retired Senior Lecturer in English and Adjunct Professor of Cinema Studies at the U of I.