HERE WE COME A-WASSAILING

New York: The Mysterious Bookshop, 2019. Original Paper Wraps. Fine. During the December holidays in 1993, Otto Penzler's The Mysterious Bookshop on Warren Street in NYC commissioned a short story from the late mystery writer Donald E. Westlake. The only conditions were that the story was set at Christmas time and that at least part of the story took place in the bookstore. In 2019, Thomas Perry, whose books include the Edgar Award-winning "The Butcher's Boy" and the comic thriller, "Metzger's Dog," added the 26th story to the tradition. Previous authors include George Baxt, Ed McBain, Jeremiah Healy, S.J. Rozan, Anne Perry, Jonathan Santilofer and Mary Higgins Clarkl. This is a first edition, first printing, a gift to the Bookshop's customers as long as the supply lasts. About 5 1/4 x 8 1/4 inches, 24 pages including brief author's bio and list of previous years' authors. Bound in white, light-card, stapled wrappers showing a graphic snowflake design atop a pile of books on the front cover and "A holiday gift with compliments of The Mysterious Bookshop" on the back cover. This copy is a very fine, unread copy without flaws or damage of any kind. Now avidly sought by collectors, these stories are an interesting and entertaining addition to anyone's mystery collection.