We’ve assembled an amazing selection of stories for readers who love variety. First up, five mystery stories: an original set in the glamorous world of film by Elizabeth Elwood (thanks to Acquiring Editor Michael Bracken), a gripping pulp thriller by Richard Deming, a moonshine-drenched tale from David Heska Wanbli Weiden (thanks to Acquiring Editor Barb Goffman), and a dark crime story by Donald A. Ranard. And, of course, no issue would be complete without a new solve-it-yourself puzzler ...

COVER ARTSteve HickmanNOVELSThe Purple Sickle Murders, by Freeman Wills CroftsInspector French investigates a deadly scheme—and a girl too scared to stay silent.The Daughter of the Dawn, by William Reginald HodderA lost race. A cursed secret. Who dares awaken the mysteries of Hinauri?SOLVE-IT-YOURSELF MYSTER...

When Megan decided to go on a camping trip with her two college roommates, she had no idea that she would find herself involved in an alien plot to conquer Earth.And she certainly had no idea that a handsome extraterrestrial would find her "enchanting."Can a girl with low self-esteem and no experience with romance save her world and navigate the pitfalls of love with a dashing, but enigmatic alien whose true motivations are impossible to know?

Each issue of The Society of Misfit Stories Presents… is a celebration of long-form fiction. These novelettes and novellas will entertain and surprise fans of the form. In this issue: William Suboski, Sarina Dorie, Daniel Foy, Anne Sherman, Gary Battershell, and David Gilman Frederick.A sampling of the stories in this issue:A ghost seeks to convince a scientist to believe in the existence of ghosts in Psychology for the Living Impaired.

American author Anna Katharine Green helped to originate the classic detective story, publishing her first works a full ten years before Arthur Conan Doyle's first Sherlock Holmes tales hit the shelves in England. This collection brings together a diverse array of Green's mystery and detective stories.

To keep the peace in the coal mines, the Pinkerton agency goes to warThe Civil War is over, and the Union is rebuilding using the power of coal—black rock dug from deep beneath the Pennsylvania earth by men from all over the globe who are seeking their fortune in America. In the 1870s, the miners are unionizing to fight for better working conditions, but within their ranks lurks a secret society whose aim is not so pure. It calls itself the Mollie Maguires, and its ...

The Bobbsey Twins is the first book in the beloved children's series that follows the adventures of two sets of fraternal twins, Bert and Nan, and Flossie and Freddie Bobbsey. Living in a lively and loving household, the twins explore their world with curiosity, courage, and a sense of fun, often finding themselves in amusing or mysterious situations. Filled with heartwarming family moments, playful mischief, and valuable lessons about friendship, honesty, and teamwork, the story captures ...

This classic collection by Bret Harte captures the rugged spirit, humor, and unexpected humanity of life in California’s Gold Rush-era mining camps. The titular story, The Luck of Roaring Camp , tells the poignant tale of a group of rough miners who find purpose and redemption through the care of an orphaned infant. Other stories blend sentiment, irony, and adventure, portraying gamblers, outcasts, and dreamers navigating love, loss, and fortune-seeking in the untamed West. Harte’s vivid c...

During the Second World War, a military lawyer is embroiled in the toughest case of his career when he must defend a fellow murderous officerIn the midst of World War II, Captain Barney Adams's superiors call on him with a very unusual request. A troubled US army lieutenant has confessed to murdering a British officer, and Captain Adams has been assigned as his defense attorney. Military court officials want the cleanest possible trial for the lieutenant, and they ...

First in the series blending alternate history, time travel, and detective thriller, from a Nebula and Hugo Award nominee.There are a million different Earths across an infinite number of timelines—and every one of them is in peril.Mark Strang became a bodyguard and private investigator when terrorists killed his family; now he spends his days protecting Pittsburgh's helpless and abused. But while on a mission to save the life of a ten-year-old girl,...

Hard-nosed beat cop Jill Smith combs Berkeley for a Buddhist guru-killing cultistIn Berkeley, California, Telegraph Avenue is the headquarters for the city’s strangest inhabitants. Cultists, drug addicts, and hippie burnouts wander its streets, looking to raise their consciousness or, if that fails, to just get high. And Jill Smith walks with them, a beat cop with her finger on the pulse of one of the most unique neighborhoods in America.With time on her ha...

The cracking debut of A. J. Raffles, proper English gentleman and jewel thief extraordinaireSometimes the greatest of partnerships are born in the direst of moments. For Bunny Manders and A. J. Raffles, such a moment comes when a bad night at the baccarat tables threatens to end in suicide. Hundreds of pounds in the red, Bunny grows so desperate that he asks Raffles, a former classmate who captained their public school's cricket team, for help. When Raffles hesitate...