The Boy Detective & The Summer of 74


Book Description

The first-ever book of stories by Art Taylor, one of the most highly acclaimed short story writers in the genre today




The Swamp Killers


Book Description

Here’s what we know is true. Timmy Milici, a low-level hitter with the infamous Atlanta-based Duplass crime family, ran off with Melody Duplass to Jacksonville, Florida. Olivia Duplass, her mother and head of the Duplass family, was incensed, and put a price on Timmy—a hundred thousand for his corpse, but with explicit instructions that her daughter not be harmed. We know that’s true. Or, at least, we think we do. Sixteen writers tell their versions of what happened those fateful days in this gripping novel-in-stories, brought to you from the team behind The Night of the Flood. Contributors: E.A. Aymar, Sarah M. Chen, Hilary Davidson, Alex Dolan, Rebecca Drake, Gwen Florio, Elizabeth Heiter, J.J. Hensley, Susi Holliday, Shannon Kirk, Tara Laskowski, Jenny Milchman, Alan Orloff, Tom Sweterlitsch, Art Taylor, and Wendy Tyson.




Edgar & Shamus Go Golden


Book Description

Edgar & Shamus welcomes mystery connoisseurs to the Golden Age of Mystery and Murder—Twelve original tales of mystery and suspense written exclusively by Edgar Allan Poe Award and Shamus Award-winning authors. As if picking up where Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Dame Agatha Christie, and Dorothy Sayers left off, the who-dun-it, why-dun-it, how-dun-it, and unshakable alibi are all afoot in Edgar & Shamus. Travel back in time with an all-star cast of some today’s leading experts in the art of crime fiction. Edgar winner Martin Edwards Shamus winner P. J. Parrish Shamus winner John Floyd Shamus winner Carolina Garcia-Aguilera Edgar winner Doug Allyn Shamus winner Kristen Lepionka Shamus winner Lia Matera Shamus winner Brendan DuBois Edgar winner Art Taylor Shamus winner Lori Armstrong Shamus winner O’Neil De Noux Edgar winner John McAleer Discovered more than 80 years after first penned (during the Golden Age of Mystery) Edgar winner John McAleer’s 1920s London-based private detective Henry Von Stray and his able collaborator in the detection of crime Professor John W. Dilpate, make their first appearance anywhere in Edgar & Shamus. Praise for Edgar & Shamus Go Golden: “Edgar & Shamus Go Golden is a 24-carat collection of stories by the best in the business, proving that we are in a new Golden Age ourselves, and lucky to be here.” —SJ Rozan, Edgar Award winner and best-selling author of Family Business “Edgar & Shamus Go Golden is a must-read. Editors Gay Toltl Kinman and Andrew McAleer assembled a collection of stories that fit together like the songs on a Beatles album, with one story setting up the next. Each piece captures the Golden Age glow the editors promised. I highly recommend it.” —Tom MacDonald, Shamus Award nominated author of the Dermot Sparhawk P.I. series “The Golden Age of Mystery will continue for as long as writers produce stories that challenge us to find solutions alongside the detectives. These stories in Edgar & Shamus Go Golden—some of the best of the best—offer definitive proof.” —Stephen D. Rogers, Derringer Award winning author of Shot to Death




A Close Shave


Book Description

Any barbershop worth its Burma Shave will give you not just a cut but a conversation too. In “A Close Shave,” that chat becomes more of a monologue—but pay attention to the quiet fellow under the bib, because he’s got an agenda of his own. Ready for a cut? Step on up—two chairs, no waiting!




On the Road with Del & Louise


Book Description

Six linked short stories tracing the adventures of Del, a small-time crook, and his victim-turned-lover-and-accomplice Louise.




Mystery Tribune / Issue No21


Book Description

Issue No21 features: A new "Lewis" novella by Nick Petrie A curated collection of short fiction including stories by Reed Farrel Coleman, Art Taylor, Alan Orloff, Sharon Hunt, Albert Kanach, and Jeff Markowitz. Essays, Interviews and Reviews by Heather Levy, Zakariah Johnson, and Dale Davis. Art and Photography by Arturo Arvizu, Kseniia Nikitina, and Bade Fuwa. This issue also features a preview of the new graphic novel "Where The Body Was" by award-winning duo Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips. NY Times Bestselling author Reed Farrel Coleman has called Mystery Tribune “a cut above” and mystery grand masters Lawrence Block and Max Allan Collins have praised it for its “solid fiction” and “the most elegant design”. An elegantly crafted quarterly issue, printed on uncoated paper and with a beautiful layout designed for optimal reading experience, our Issue No21 issue will make a perfect companion or gift for avid mystery readers and fans of literary crime fiction.




The Plea


Book Description

"The Plea starts with a terrible crime. On a moonlit night in 1889, the Iowa farmer John Elkins, and his young wife, Hattie, are brutally attacked and murdered in their bed. Eight days later, their son, eleven-year-old Wesley Elkins, is arrested and charged with the crime. The community is shocked by both the gruesome facts of the homicide and the age of the accused perpetrator, a small, quiet boy weighing just 75 pounds. The Plea tells the story of this crime and its aftermath. Despite his youth and evidence that he had been abused by his parents, Wesley is sentenced to spend the rest of his life in an adult prison. For more than a dozen years, the boy's fate is in the hands of others. His story captures the attention of a divided and transfixed public, raising questions about the criminal justice system and the rights of children. The focus of the narrative is on the legal and societal aspects of the case: Wesley's rehabilitation and remarkable transformation in prison, his plea that his case be reconsidered, the outpouring of support he received from prison wardens, politicians, newspaper editors, and educators. The story of the life of Wesley Elkins becomes an emotional and compelling story of redemption. This is a true story, based on years of meticulous research. All the scenes are based on primary sources: newspaper reports, legal documents, interviews, nonfiction works, memoirs, and personal letters. Bryan and Wolf quote from these materials throughout the book. The Plea is an accessible and fast-moving story that delivers a complete, complex, and nuanced narrative of this horrific crime, shedding light on the legal, social, and political environment of Iowa and the country in the late 1800s and early 1900s"--




How to Write a Mystery


Book Description

From 70 of the most successful mystery writers in the business, an invaluable guide to crafting mysteries—from character development and plot to procedurals and thrillers—“this is a writing guide that readers and writers will turn to again and again” (Booklist, starred review). Mystery Writers of America (MWA) is known for providing unparalleled resources on the craft, art, and business of storytelling, helping writers of all levels improve their skills for nearly a century. Now, this handbook helps authors navigate the ever-shifting publishing landscape—from pacing, plotting, the business side of publishing, to the current demand for diversity and inclusivity across all genres, and more. Featuring essays by a new generation of bestselling experts on various elements of the craft and shorter pieces of crowd-sourced wisdom from the MWA membership as a whole, the topics covered can be categorized as follows: —Before Writing (rules; genres; setting; character; research; etc.) —While Writing (outlining; the plot; dialogue; mood; etc.) —After Writing (agents; editors; self-pub; etc.) —Other than Novels (short stories; true crime; etc.) —Other Considerations (diverse characters; legal questions; criticism) Also included is a collection of essays from MWA published authors—including Jeffery Deaver, Tess Gerritsen, and Charlaine Harris—selected by bestselling authors Lee Child and Laurie King and arranged thematically answering, “What piece of writing advice do you wish you’d had at the beginning of your career?” “Everything you wanted to know about how to plan, draft, write, revise, publish, and market a mystery” (Kirkus Reviews), this inclusive manual provides practical, current, easily digestible advice for new and established authors alike.




Three Bags Full


Book Description

A witty philosophical murder mystery with a charming twist: the crack detectives are sheep determined to discover who killed their beloved shepherd. On a hillside near the cozy Irish village of Glennkill, a flock of sheep gathers around their shepherd, George, whose body lies pinned to the ground with a spade. George has cared devotedly for the flock, even reading them books every night. Led by Miss Maple, the smartest sheep in Glennkill (and possibly the world), they set out to find George’s killer. The A-team of investigators includes Othello, the “bad-boy” black ram; Mopple the Whale, a Merino who eats a lot and remembers everything; and Zora, a pensive black-faced ewe with a weakness for abysses. Joined by other members of the richly talented flock, they engage in nightlong discussions about the crime, wild metaphysical speculations, and embark on reconnaissance missions into the village, where they encounter some likely suspects. Along the way, the sheep confront their own all-too-human struggles with guilt, misdeeds, and unrequited love. Funny, fresh, and endearing, it introduces a wonderful new breed of detectives to Canadian readers.