The NYC Mysterious Bookshop owner Otto Penzler writes in the introduction that every year his store gives out a holiday short story with a purchase. This year, they collected 10 stories together. 

The first two seemed based in adultery and I didn’t know if I wanted to finish, but the rest of the collection wasn’t like them. I was glad I read through them. Several were just delightful. 

I think my favorite was Here We Go A-Wassailing by Thomas Perry. It was such a clever story that kept me smiling, about a woman who brings an expensive bottle of cognac that becomes quite the gift.

I love that each of them mentions or takes place in the Mysterious Bookshop and many mention Otto. What a delight for mystery and book lovers!