After being mugged, Miss Prim decides to leave New York City and purchase a home in the country, where she will be safe from dangerous criminals. A devoted reader of crime fiction, Miss Prim believes that her reading of detective novels has given her all the skills she needs to become an amateur sleuth in her new home base of Greenfield, Connecticut. Miss Prim gets the chance to prove her mettle when she finds a corpse in her basement. As she investigates (with her trusty Boxer, Bruno, at her side), Miss Prim begins to suspect that someone in Greenfield is watching her every move, waiting for the right moment to strike. Will Miss Prim, with her insights into human behavior and her steadfast refusal to rely on forensic techniques (which she considers the crutches of lazy investigators), be able to choose between two devoted suitors, save herself, and bring everything to a satisfactory resolution?Filled with lovable characters and wry humor, The Outsmarting of Criminals is not only a delightful mystery novel but also a celebration of books and an affectionate tribute to the mystery genre.