On a rainy afternoon in an out-of-the-way bar, the lives of three men—a small-time hustler, a bartender, and a mafia killer—come together in a way none of them could’ve expected. And one won’t live through the hour.The Barb Goffman Presents series showcases the best in modern mystery and crime stories, personally selected by one of the most acclaimed short stories authors and editors in the mystery field.

No matter how hard he tries, Tom regularly screws things up. But today, returning late to the bank after lunch might actually work in his favor. Just as Tom approaches the building, a robber is leaving. Finally, Tom could be a hero—if, of course, he doesn't screw things up.

Twelve-year-old Kevin Parker is new in town and bored, until a friendly old man in a backyard swing shares a chilling tale about the Dark Woods - a forbidden place where an unseen evil entity known as "the haint" lurks. The old man's story about a mysterious encounter there decades ago seems like just another tall tale, until Kevin discovers a shocking truth about his new friend that turns his world upside down. What started as an ordinary summer afternoon becomes a haunting reminder that ...

On Thanksgiving night, Button McKenna prepares to head off to work at her mini-mart. Saying goodbye to her love, Ray, isn't fun any day, but tonight it's really tough because there's a serial killer targeting convenience store clerks on the holidays—and Button fears Ray is the killer.

Police chief Scott Landon is stunned to see a cherished but deceased girlfriend stroll into a downtown cafe. Turns out she’s not a ghost—but the truth is even more shocking.

A Christmas Eve robbery puts small town Sheriff Lucy Valentine on the case, assisted as always by her savvy mother Fran and deputy Ed Malone. When an anonymous clue leads to connections with the holiday classic "It's a Wonderful Life," Lucy realizes the thief might be closer to home than expected.With no scraps of evidence but many twists and turns ahead, can Lucy and her mother crack the case by Christmas morning?

The little cabin in the valley was familiar to the lone rider—but not because he'd been there before. He'd seen it in a movie theater, a hundred years later. Eddie Johnson lived in two different worlds…

Whether it’s vintage Hollywood, the Florida everglades, the Atlantic City boardwalk, or a farmhouse in Western Canada, the twenty authors represented in this collection of mystery and suspense interpret the overarching theme of “moonlight and misadventure” in their own inimitable style where only one thing is assured: Waxing, waning, gibbous, or full, the moon is always there, illuminating things better left in the dark.Featuring stories by K.L. Abrahamson, Sharon Hart Addy, C.W. B...

Secrets hide behind those peacefully shuttered windows...Deception awaits around the next curve in the road. Rumors spread over garden hedges, fishing ponds, and knitting circles. Neighborhood cats discover a boneyard.And when Death strolls through the tranquil countryside or checks into the quaint village inn for the weekend, it's the intrepid - and often accidental - investigators who must find and decipher clues, unravel mysteries, and bring the killer to justice.

The eighth issue of Sherlock Holmes Mystery Magazine features the usual assortment of stories and non-fiction, including:"Sun Ching Foo's Last Trick," by Adam Beau McFarlane"Do You Love Me?" by Marc Bilgrey"The Somerset Wonder," by Ron Goulart"The Hounds of Basketballville," by Hal Charles"Hit One Out of the Park," by Jeff Baker"Travelling Light," by John M. Floyd"Date Night," by S. A. Stolinsky"Anaconda, Montana," by Bruce Kilstein

Best of “The Strand Magazine”: 25 Years of Twists, Turns, and Tales from the Modern Masters of Mystery and Fiction“The Strand Magazine was always a giant voice in our corner of the literary world—and it still is today. This collection proves why—these unearthed gems and exciting new pieces shouldn’t be missed.” —Lee Child, bestselling author of the Jack Reacher seriesThis star-studded anniversary collection features over t...

This issue is tons of fun (we weighed it), and we’re delighted to have both Acquiring Editors Barb Goffman and Michael Bracken back with new stories (from short story masters John M. Floyd and Mark Thielman). Plus, we have originals from Ron Miller (a new Velda story!), Tim Wright, Stephanie Bedwell-Grime, Peter Darbyshire, and Stephen W. Chappell. Even better, we have rare tales by fantasy & science fiction greats Harry Harrison, Madeleine L’Engle, and Howard Fast. And, of course, we have...