Earlier this week LitHub announced the winners of the O. Henry Prize for Short Fiction. They’ve been publishing some of the stories, and I’ve been reading ‘em. They also republished a few from the 2023 collection. I’m mixing and matching my recommendations below.

One that has stuck with me is The Import by Jai Chakrabarti. It’s about a young couple (an Indian immigrant and his white wife from Missouri) with a toddler who hire a nanny from India, after an offer they can’t refuse from the paternal grandmother. Things don’t go quite as planned.

This story is a masterclass in subtext and foreshadowing. Every reveal feels fully earned – the traits of the characters, the surprises in the plot, and the ending – each feel inevitable and almost expected.

Another strong entry is The Blackhills by Eamon McGuinness. A taxi driver runs a late night errand for his brother, who is in some mysterious trouble. It’s a very stressful read, with some shocking twists and reveals.

There are six in total, three from this year, and three from last year. They are all worth your time.