With 2026 in full swing, the members of the Short Mystery Fiction Society are continuing to turn out the very finest short stories for fans of mystery and crime. Check out just a few recent highlights--and remember, SMFS is your hallmark of excellence!
- As always, the March/April 2026 issue of Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, the flagship publication of the genre, features fine work by members of SMFS. On hand for this issue are all-stars Ashley-Ruth M. Bernier, Robert Lopresti, Josh Pachter, John M. Floyd, and David Dean. A murderers' row of the best in the game today!
- Meanwhile, over at the March/April Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, SMFS is again well-represented by stalwarts such as Nick Guthrie, Gabriela Stiteler, Floyd Sullivan, Marcelle Dubẻ, Stephen Ross, Persia Walker, Kevin Egan and R. T. Lawton. Check it out for hours of reading enjoyment!
- As always, Black Cat Weekly provides readers with an incredible value, offering hundreds of pages of new and classic pulp stories each and every week. Highlights in recent issues include standout tales from Steve Liskow, Robert Lopresti, and not one but two appearances by the incredible John M. Floyd!
- Over at The People's Friend, always a tremendous source for thrilling online reads, you'll find a hard-hitting crime story from Veronica Leigh--and two from Liz Filleul!
- How short can a short story be? The talented Terena Bell has one answer--check it out over at The Journal of Compressed Creative Arts!
- Looking for some spies in your crime fiction? Tom Milani has you covered in "Someday You Will" at The Yard: Crime Blog!
- And at Yellow Mama, Shari Held shares the story of an unofficial female PI on "The Last Job"!
- Gregory Meece has an Olympics-related story to share with "Just Desserts" at Kings River Life!
- SMFS's own M. E. Proctor has been a triple threat over the last month or so! Check out "The Museum Girl" at DNDP Quarterly, "The Emporium" at Pistol Jim, and "Crawlies" at Mythic Picnic. Three stories, unlimited thrills!
- Not to be outdone, donalee Moulton offers up another dynamite three-fer with "Cardinal" at the Paranormal Canadiana Collection, "Wyatt McCord's Last Day on Earth" at Literary Garage, and "Moist" at Thriller Magazine.
- S. B. Watson has a stand-alone story of an impossible crime in "Laughing Matter." Solve it if you can!
- And finally, on the true-crime front, SMFS's Justin L. Murphy has the chilling tale of Ruth Snyder: The Real-Life Murderess Inspiring the Modern Femme Fatale.
Yet more evidence that we don't need no stinkin' AI--the human writer reigns supreme. Keep your eyes open for more exciting work from SMFS soon!