How far would a child go to rid himself of a despised parent? Or a man of the cloth to be elected pope? From murderous ministers and conniving cardinals to the dark imagination of a schoolboy and the suspicions of an ageing Mr Mozart, this unique collection of Robert Barnard’s highly acclaimed short stories takes the reader on a journey of murder, mystery and intrigue with some of his finest  – and darkest – literary creations.

Including the CWA Short Story Award winner Sins of Scarlet, a story of sudden death in the Vatican, this compelling collection proves that whether re-imagining the life of cultural icons or spying an opportunity for morbid crimes amidst events grand and domestic, Robert Barnard is the master of the short mystery story.