The Iron Angel and Other Tales of the Gypsy Sleuth

Ever since his first story was published in 1955, Edward D. Hoch has been the dominant force in the fairplay detective story. Like his predecessors of the Golden Age between the Wars, Ed Hoch challenges the reader to read all the clues correctly and come to the correct conclusion before the sleuth. But he does much more than that: his sleuths are cut out of various cloths – some are professional thieves, some investigate bizarre events, others are espionage agents, others specialize in locked rooms, and still others – like the Gypsy Michael Vlado – add a touch of exotic lore to their investigations. Long awaited by Hoch's fans, The Iron Angel is the first collection of Vlado's adventures, and it includes such cases as "The Gypsy's Paw" (in which the classic horror tale "The Monkey's Paw" seems repeated), "The Puzzle Garden" (in which murder is involved in a garden named after the apostles), "The Gypsy Wizard" (in which a wizard may, or may not, be able to fly), and other ingenious stories.

Hoch has received the Mystery Writers of America's highest honor, The Grand Master Award. He also has received Edgar and Anthony Awards and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Bouchercon.

The cover painting is by Carol Heyer, one of the finest of the mystery and science fiction artists.