Hailed as one of the best crime fiction writers in America today, New York Times bestselling author Laura Lippman now reveals another level of her mastery. Each of these ingenious tales is a gem—including the Edgar and Anthony awards-nominated story, Scratch a Woman, in which Lippman takes us deep into the private world of a high-priced call girl/madam and devoted soccer mom, exploring the mystery of what may, in fact, be written in the blood. Sometimes poignant, sometimes humorous, always filled with delightfully unanticipated twists and reversals, here are enthralling excursions to the dark side from "one of today's most pleasing storytellers" (San Diego Union-Tribune).