"A riveting collection of five of the most famous crime novels of the 1920s, presenting anew some of the most admired authors of the era... Each of the five novels included is presented in its original published form, with extensive historical and cultural annotations and illustrations..." -- From jacket.

"Annotated"--Book jacket.

Introduction /by Otto Penzler -- Foreword / by Leslie S. Klinger -- A note on the texts -- The house without a key / by Earl Derr Biggers (1925) -- Appendix: The house without a key on film -- The Benson murder case / by S.S. Van Dine (1926) -- Appendix: S.S. Van Dine sets down twenty rules for detective stories -- The Roman hat mystery / by Ellery Queen (1929) -- Red harvest / by Dashiell Hammett (1929) -- Little Caesar / by W.R. Burnett -- Appendix: Introduction by W.R. Burnett -- Bibliography.