Mystery Writers of America Presents: The Rich and the Dead

Rich people can be both criminals and victims, as shown by the 20 stories in this solid anthology, whose contributors range from bestselling veterans to newcomers. Standouts include Michael Connelly's "Blood Washes Off," in which detective Harry Bosch makes a welcome appearance in the interview room; Harley Jane Kozak's "Lamborghini Mommy," which plays a nice variation on look-alikes; and Roberta Isleib's "The Itinerary," in which widowed Connecticut detective Jack Meigs vacations in Key West, but can't keep his cop instincts from sniffing out crime instead of tourist attractions. Carolyn Mullen's first published fiction, "Poetic Justice," is a wonderfully sly, clever story with literary underpinnings. In Frank Cook's "The Gift," two partners separate and take very different paths to success, but can't separate their fates. Using everything from Ponzi schemes to trophy wives to inherited wealth, these MWA authors prove that money isn't always the right answer. (May)