We have two great novels this issue: William Le Queux’s The Rat Trap and Achmed Abdullah’s The Man on Horseback. Le Queux—often called the “Master of Mystery”—excels in this 1928 thriller. The story follows Frank Aylmer as he is drawn into a high-stakes web of international swindlers and murder—classic vintage espionage and suspense. And I cannot say enough great things about Achmed Abdullah, who is one of my favorite pul...

Sometimes, losing a bet isn't all that bad. This wasn't one of those times.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.

Every Tuesday when the bookmobile visits Quarryville, Texas, Graham Sugarman checks out five books. Five hefty books. When the librarian is murdered and the bookmobile stops visiting Quarryville, Mr. Sugarman’s well-ordered life is turned topsy-turvy.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.

With two goons on his trail, Gerald risks a stranger’s life to save his own. Then remorse sets in, and he has to decide what he’ll risk to make things right.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.

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...

Police detective Gilbert Souza is caught between the rock of his Portuguese grandmother, whom he’s loved all his life, and the hard place of Tiago D. Costa, the criminal boss who has intimidated him since seventh grade. Now, out of his jurisdiction and clearly out of his comfort zone, Gilbert needs to address the problem of some missing money.

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.

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...

When summer homes on a large New Hampshire lake are being robbed during the off-season, one homeowner decides to take matters into his own hands. But the would-be burglar, armed with a sharp knife, has his own plans. So, whose plan will emerge victorious?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.

“Two for One” is a return to Brad Parks’s storytelling roots: New Jersey, his place of birth and also where he spent ten years as a young reporter for the state’s largest newspaper, The Star-Ledger. Every character you’ll meet in this story is more than likely someone he bumped into during that time. Hope you enjoy this healthy serving of Garden State goodness.The Barb Goffman Presents series showcases modern masterpieces of mystery, crime, and suspense selected by acclaim...

In “The Importance of Being Urnest,” Lorrie George hauls her obnoxious peach-taffeta bridesmaid’s dress all the way to the Bahamas for a destination wedding, only to find out her groomsman date for the weekend didn’t exactly turn up as planned. With an overzealous wedding planner lurking in the background, chaos, romance, and humor ensue!