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.