One of the writers for the highly acclaimed television show Monk presents a series of 14 unique solve-it-yourself mini-mysteries, all with a historical setting. At the end of each intriguing tale, armchair sleuths begin their own detective work with the aid of key questions and some crucial clues--including an interview with a witness, lab analysis of the evidence, or an examination of the crime scene. The historical settings range from ancient Rome to 1940s Hollywood, and the subjects include Jamaican pirates; death in Venice amid a masked ball; Jack the Ripper copycats.