Jack Ritchie's stories appeared in 117 issues of Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine and in 57 Alfred Hitchcock anthologies. Three television episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents/Hour were based on his stories and five episodes of Tales of the Unexpected, as well one episode of the Canadian television show The Unforeseen. His story "The Green Heart," which appeared in AHMM, was filmed as A New Leaf, an Elaine May film starring Walter Matthau.
Jack Ritchie was nominated for three Edgar Awards, winning for his Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine story "The Absence of Emily." His stories were selected in Best Detective Stories of Year anthologies 21 times over a period of 21 years, beginning in 1961 with his story "Shatter Proof" for Manhunt until his death in 1983.
This collection of thirty-eight stories represents Ritchie's earliest appearances in AHMM, sixteen of which have never been reprinted since their original publication.
"Throughout his career he wrote hard-boiled thrillers, romance stories, detective comedies, suspense tales and locked-room mysteries. Ritchie loved exploring every angle of a mystery and was a master at coming up with unusual variations on a plot theme."-Richard Simms, Jack Ritchie An Appreciation