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







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!




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.




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.




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.




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




The Boy Detectives


Book Description

Much has been written about the girl sleuth in fiction, a feminist figure embodying all the potential wit and drive of girlhood. Her male counterpart, however, has received much less critical attention despite his popularity in the wider culture. This collection of 11 essays examines the boy detective and his genre from a number of critical perspectives, addressing the issues of these young characters, heirs to the patriarchy yet still concerned with first crushes and soda shop romances. Series explored include the Hardy Boys, Tow Swift, the Three Investigators, Christopher Cool and Tim Murphy, as well as works by Astrid Lindgren, Mark Haddon and Joe Meno.




Black Cat Weekly #39


Book Description

Welcome to Black Cat Weekly #39. It’s hard to believe BCW is 39! As with every magazine, our goals include not just entertaining our readers, but making every issue better than the last. I finally feel like we’re on top of production methods, and the contents keep offering a selection of great stories for every reader’s taste. (If you can’t find something you love here, I’d be very surprised.) From classic pulp fiction to modern SF and mysteries (not to mention our ventures into adventure fiction and westerns), we cover all the bases. Here's the lineup: Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “Last Seen Heading East” by Joseph S. Walker [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “A Little Boy Is Missing,” by Saul Golubcow [short story] “A Secret Admirer,” by Hal Charles [solve-it-yourself mystery] “A Close Shave,” by Art Taylor [Barb Goffman Presents short story] The Case of Angus Blair, by Hulbert Footner [novel] The Affair in Death Valley, by Clifford Knight [novel] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “The Last Ride of German Freddie,” by Walter Jon Williams [Cynthia Ward Presents short story] “The Rat Aloft,” by John Gregory Betancourt [short story] “A Question of Salvage,” by Malcolm Jameson [novella] “The Secret of Kralitz,” by Henry Kuttner [short story] “The Monster-God of Mamurth,” by Edmond Hamilton [short story]




Lawyers, Guns, and Money


Book Description

From classics like “Werewolves of London,” “Excitable Boy,” and “Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner” to lesser-known gems across a career spanning nearly four decades, the songs of Warren Zevon are rich with crime and intrigue and suspense—guns and gunners, assassins and drug dealers, a supernatural serial killer, and a heap of hapless losers along the way too. In Lawyers, Guns, and Money, fifteen fantastic writers—avid fans of Zevon’s genius—offer fresh spins on his discography with tales that span the mystery genre: caper, espionage, noir, paranormal, private eye, and more. With new stories by Gray Basnight, William Boyle, Dana Cameron, Libby Cudmore, Hilary Davidson, Steve Liskow, Nick Mamatas, Paul D. Marks, matthew quinn martin, Josh Pachter, Charles Salzberg, Laura Ellen Scott, Alex Segura, Kevin Burton Smith, and Brian Thornton, Zevon’s wry lyrics and unforgettable characters serve as the inspiration for dark crimes and dirty deeds – just the way he liked them.