'When we asked this amazing line-up of authors to write their heart out on the twin subjects of sex and crime, they jumped at the idea, and they're at the top of their games.'

A strong, aggravated man fingers the knife in his pocket while considering a pretty woman at the bar. But what becomes of his prey when they move to the bedroom? Elsewhere, a man discovers he visits the same hair salon as the victim of a gruesome murder. And a modern-day Don Juan has a hobby of marrying vulnerable women, getting access to their bank accounts, and then robbing them blind.

A glittering line-up of our best writers (including Lee Child, Michael Connelly, Val McDermid, Edmund White and Patrick McCabe) weave fresh and memorable stories from a pair of classic themes: sex and crime. This tantalising collection abounds in dark-haired vixens and crimes of passion. Some stories are brooding, others twisted; some offer righteous satisfaction while others linger long in the mind. This innovative, exciting and intriguing book is a rare treat for fans of great fiction, whether it's high literature, good old-fashioned suspense, or anything in between.

Jonathan Santlofer is the author of five novels and a highly respected artist whose work has been written about and reviewed in the New York Times, Art in America, Artforum, and Arts, and appears in many public, private, and corporate collections. He serves on the board of Yaddo, one of the oldest artist communities in the country. Santlofer lives and works in New York City.