What do a bullied girl, a Christmas Town elf, a sheriff, and the biblical Job have in common? They're a few of the characters who take center stage in these stories of revenge, comeuppance, and the search for justice. Author Barb Goffman has been shortlisted seven times for national mystery awards (the Anthony, the Macavity, and the Agatha). This collection of fifteen short stories gathers all of her nominated tales, plus five new ones. Be prepared for stories ranging from dark to humorous...

A neglectful boss. A replacement who's a hussy. And a single day left to teach some lessons. Will Myra prevail on her final day as a law firm secretary? Or will her plans leave her a legal loser? Find out in the Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity Award-nominated "Whose Wine Is It Anyway?"

Sometimes, crime occurs with the sound of a drip of poison, or the whispering whistle of a knife moving through the air. And, sometimes, it happens with a “flash and bang.”The Short Mystery Fiction Society was formed in 1996 to promote the reading, writing and publication of short-form mystery and crime. This includes the yearly presentation of the Derringer Awards, which celebrate excellence in the writing of stories of up to 20,000 words in length.With over 1,600 members worldwide, SMFS ...

Four tweens creep into an abandoned, supposedly haunted house in search of a million dollars in stolen bank money that's rumored to be hidden there. They don’t believe in ghosts when they go inside. But maybe they should...

What do you do when it appears you may be gaining a bimbo sister-in-law who stands to inherit a family heirloom? You take advantage of some of the worst gravy ever made to commit the perfect crime. This story appears in the Thanksgiving mystery anthology THE KILLER WORE CRANBERRY.

Searching for the perfect Beach Read? Then grab this fun, well-reviewed collection of eight beach-themed stories written by award-winning and bestselling cozy mystery authors.These light, often funny stories of mystery and intrigue, will transport you to a variety of shores, from the rocky coastlines of New England, to the white stretches of sand on the Atlantic, to the teal and emerald waters of the Gulf Coast, the surfing havens on the Pacific, and even beaches in between.

Whether you love spring, summer, fall, or winter in the mountains, you'll be elevated by nine new stories from award-winning and bestselling cozy mystery authors Gretchen Archer, Leslie Budewitz, Karen Cantwell, Barb Goffman, Eleanor Cawood Jones, Tina Kashian, Shari Randall, Shawn Reilly Simmons, and Cathy Wiley.With mountainous murders galore around the world, this anthology is full of peaks and valleys!Climb every mountain, search low and highFor clu...

This is a special issue—our 50th, as you may have noticed from our cover. To celebrate, all past and present editors were to contribute a story. (It helps that they are also amazingly talented writers.) So we have stories from Michael Bracken, Barb Goffman, Paul Di Filippo, Darrell Schweitzer, and Cynthia Ward in addition to our other fare.But wait! There’s more!This issue features four original tales—Elizabeth Zelvin has a fantasy/mystery stories, Phyllis...

The Malice Domestic anthology series returns with a new take on mysteries in the Agatha Christie tradition—original tales with a devilish bent! Included are:Rita Owen · IntroductionLeah Bailey · A Killer in the FamilyPaula Gail Benson · Reputation or SoulM. A. Blum · Little White LiesMichael Bracken · Locked MesaSusan Breen · The Demon ValentineMarco Carocari · All in the PlanningMary Dutta · Devil’s AdvocateChristine Eskilson...

The latest installment in the Chesapeake Crimes mystery series focuses on working stiffs--literally! Included in this collection are new tales by: Shari Randall, C. Ellett Logan, Karen Cantwell, E. B. Davis, Jill Breslau, David Autry, Harriette Sackler, Barb Goffman, Ellen Herbert, Smita Harish Jain, Leone Ciporin, Cathy Wiley, Donna Andrews, Art Taylor. Foreword by Elaine Viets.

Black Cat Mystery Magazine returns with an action-packed issue featuring 11 original tales of crime and mystery. Our classic reprint is "The Moffat Mystery" by Australian writer Mary Fortune. Here's the lineup:REAL COURAGE, by Barb GoffmanMEET ME AT THE CHURCH AND BRING ALL THE GUNS, by Bruce ArthursEL PASO HEAT, by Peter W.J. HayesTHE LEGEND OF YAG-GRYLLHOTH, by Andrew Welsh-HugginsRED ROSES FOR A BLUE LADY, by Josh PachterHEIRESS, by Li...

In “Autumn’s Crossing,” an infant is saved thanks to U.S. Border Patrol agent and single mom Peyton Cote’s shoot-out along the U.S.-Canada border. What follows is Peyton, star of D.A. Keeley’s three-book series set in Aroostook County, Maine, discovers problems within the adoption system and a baby-selling ring with ties to Europe.The Barb Goffman Presents series showcases the best in modern mystery and crime stories, personally selected by one of the most acclaimed short stories a...