Long consoling himself for his wife's death by isolation and by metal-working, a North Dakota lawyer is drawn back into life through a battle of wits with a ruthless insurance executive.

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The Year's 25 Finest Crime and Mystery Stories: No. 7

Included in this selection of crime and myst ery short stories are pieces written by Marcia Muller, John Harvey and Bill Pronzini. The stories cover every kind of mo dern crime setting. '

Happy in his new life as a leading trainer on the harness-racing circuit, ex-lawyer Anthony Whiting finds his world turned upside down when the horses in his care start dying and a mysterious "accident" convinces him that his own life is in peril.

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Detective Barry Gilbert is put in charge of an investigation into the murder of a young girl who had been frozen to death, shot, and left on a pier, but since she is the daughter of a prominent political official, the case takes a number of unexpected turns that lead Gilbert down dangerous paths.

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A paroled explosives expert is staying at the same lake as Assistant District Attorney Patrick Dixon in order to carry out his plan for revenge, which is not only intended for Dixon but for his entire young family as well.

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