This collection of short stories is aimed at adolescents, and consists of 18 stories originally published in the 1930s through the late 1960s. Included are works by well-known contributors as James Cain ("Dead Man"), H.H. Munro ("The Open Window"), Dorothy Sayers ("The Inspiration of Mr. Budd"), and Arthur Conan Doyle ("Silver Blaze"), as well as Thomas Hardy ("The Three Strangers") and a number of writers unlikely to be known to most readers. The title is a bit misleading, as few of the stories are suspenseful; however, all deal with elements of action and/ or mystery. A few stories stand out above the others ("The Open Window" and "The Three Strangers") and are readily available elsewhere. Overall,this is a fairly ordinary but serviceable collection of short stories, suitable for adolescents and adults. ( )