Feast on this delectable collection of "whodunits" from some of the mystery world's most diabolical chefs. Whet your appetite with Sara Paretsky's "Skin Deep," in which fan-favorite Chicago private investigator, V.I. "Vic" Warshawski, takes on a chi-chi salon after one of its clients turns up dead. For your next course, try Wendy Hornsby's award-winning "Nine Sons," a country schoolteacher's recollection of a gifted student whose farm life was more troubled than it seemed. Then treat yourself to Elizabeth Peters' "The Runaway," which tells of two sisters who flee from home—and head straight into the arms of terror. Other menu choices include chilling delights from Loren D. Estleman, Joan Hess, Sharyn McCrumb, Marcia Muller, Barbara Paul, Nancy Pickard, and Bill Pronzini.

Here are the murderous main courses:

• "Skin Deep" by Sara Paretsky, read by Paula Prentiss
• "Nine Sons" by Wendy Hornsby, read by Barbara Bain
• "The Man Who Loved Noir" by Loren D. Estleman, read by Henry Polic II
• "Death of a Roman Writer" by Joan Hess, read by Henry Polic II
• "A Wee Doch and Doris" by Sharyn McCrumb, read by Barbara Bain
• "The Sanchez Sacrements" by Marcia Muller, read by Diane Baker
• "Appetites" by Barbara Paul, read by Ed McMahon
• "A Killing in Xanadu" by Bill Pronzini, read by Ed McMahon
• "Lazy Susan" by Nancy Pickard, read by Paula Prentiss
• "The Runaway" by Elizabeth Peters, read by Diane Baker