The Best American series has been the premier annual showcase for the country's finest short fiction and nonfiction since 1915. Each volume's series editor selects notable works from hundreds of periodicals. A special guest editor, a leading writer in the field, then chooses the very best twenty or so pieces to publish. This unique system has made the Best American series the most respected--and most popular--of its kind.

The identity club / Richard Burgin --
Disaster stamps of Pluto / Louise Erdrich --
Delmonico / Daniel Handler --
Jack Duggan's law / George V. Higgins --
Old boys, old girls / Edward P. Jones --
The shooting of John Roy Worth / Stuart M. Kaminsky --
Until Gwen / Dennis Lehane --
The shoeshine man's regrets / Laura Lippman --
When all this was Bay Ridge / Tim McLoughlin --
Case closed / Lou Manfredo --
Sault Ste. Marie / David Means --
Public trouble / Kent Nelson --
Officers weep / Daniel Orozco --
The last man I killed / David Rachel --
One Mississippi / Joseph Raiche --
Cruisers / John Sayles --
Reconstruction / Sam Shaw --
The love of a strong man / Oz Spies --
Loyalty / Scott Turow --
Barracuda / Scott Wolven --
Contributors' notes --
Other distinguished mystery stories of 2004