Welcome!
Founded in 2003, Level Best Books is the publisher of The Best New England Crime Stories anthologies, which are released each November at the New England Crime Bake. Well-regarded by readers and reviewers, stories published by Level Best have won the Agatha, Anthony, Macavity, Derringer and Robert L. Fish (Award for Best First Short Story presented at the Edgar® banquet) Awards and have been recognized as “Distinguished Mystery Stories” by the editors of the Best American Mystery Stories series. Level Best also publishes the winning story from the Al Blanchard Award every year.
In addition to anthologies, Level Best Books also publishes select mystery, thriller, and crime fiction novels.
We are thrilled that five short stories published by Level Best Books were selected by Otto Penzler and Louise Penny to be included in
The Best American Mystery Stories 2018
Chosen as Best Stories:
“Smoked” by Michael Bracken from Noir at the Salad Bar: Culinary Tales With a Bite
“Rule Number One” by Alan Orloff in Snowbound: The Best New England Crime Stories 2017
Chosen as Other Distinguished Mystery Stories:
“Prey of New York” by Rona Bell in Where Crime Never Sleeps: Murder New York Style 4
“The Drive By” by Alison McMahan in Busted! Arresting Stories From the Beat
“Sensitivity Training” by Albert Tucher in Busted! Arresting Stories From the Beat
