The Short Mystery Fiction Society Blog

Tuesday, July 5, 2022

SMFS Member Publishing News: Late for His Own Funeral: Angela Richman, Death Investigator Mystery by Elaine Viets

Today is publication day for Late for His Own Funeral: Angela Richman, Death Investigator Mystery by Elaine Viets. This is the sixth novel in the series that began with Brain Storm. Published by Severn House, the read is available in print and digital formats, and is available from the publisher, Amazon, and other vendors.

Publisher Synopsis:

Death Investigator Angela Richman suspects foul play when a disgraced resident of Chouteau Forest survives one car crash only to then be involved in another.

Until his Porsche careened off the road killing him instantly and not leaving much of him behind, Sterling Chaney was an influential member of Chouteau Forest - home of the one percenters. As the eulogies at his funeral commence, an unexpected guest interrupts . . . Sterling.

The story attracts widespread media coverage. Sterling's the man who showed up late for his own funeral. He revels in the spotlight, until it's revealed he earned his fortune via sordid means and exploiting the women who worked for him. It leaves him vilified and shunned by Chouteau society. Then there's another fatal crash.

This time, Death Investigator Angela Richman is tasked with confirming that Sterling has perished. But her investigation reveals more questions than answers. Were both crashes merely accidents, or was someone doubly determined to kill Sterling?

Monday, July 4, 2022

SMFS Member Publishing News: The Wonderworker by Mary Dutta

SMFS list member Mary Dutta’s short story, The Wonderworker, appears in the just released Black Cat Weekly #44. Published by Wildside Press, the issue is available here in digital format.

Publisher Synopsis:

Welcome to Black Cat Weekly #44. This is an amazing issue, with quite the all-star lineup.

First off, private detective Frank Wolf and his grandson Joel return to our pages with a new short novel by Saul Golubcow, The Dorm Murder (published simultaneously with Golubcow’s collection, The Cost of Living and Other Mysteries). This is one of my favorite series in recent years, and I highly recommend you start with The Dorm Murder. You won’t be disappointed.

Black Cat’s acquiring editors have been busy, too—Michael Bracken, Barb Goffman, Cynthia Ward, and Darrell Schweitzer all have contributions this issue. Michael and Barb found great mysteries by Mary Dutta and Brendan Dubois, Cindy has a neo-classic science fiction tale by David Marusek, and Darrell has unearned a “paleo-interview” from 1988 with fantasist Nancy Springer. It’s fascinating.

And we have classics by Fritz Leiber, Robert Silverberg, George O. Smith, Henry Kuttner, and a Nick Carter mystery novel. Plus, of course, a solve-it-yourself mystery from Hal Charles (the writing team of Hal Blythe and Charlie Sweet).

Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure:

The Dorm Murder, by Saul Golubcow [short novel]

“The Wonderworker” by Mary Dutta [Michael Bracken Presents short story]

“An Eggcellent Equation” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery]

“The Lake Tenant” by Brendan DuBois [Barb Goffman Presents short story]

The Blue Veil, by Nicholas Carter [novel]

Non-Fiction:

“Speaking with Nancy Springer” [Interview with Darrell Schweitzer]

Science Fiction & Fantasy:

“Getting To Know You” by David Marusek [Cynthia Ward Presents short story]

“Friends and Enemies," by Fritz Leiber [short story]

“Lair of the Dragonbird," by Robert Silverberg [short story]

“Meddler’s Moon,” by George O. Smith [short story]

Avengers of Space, by Henry Kuttner [short novel]

John A. Hoda Podcast: Edith Maxwell | My Favorite Detective Stories Episode 167

SMFS Member Publishing News: Golgotha Unreliable by Teel James Glenn

SMFS list member Teel James Glenn’s mystery novelette, Golgotha Unreliable, has been published by Lucky Comics. The read is available as a PDF at DriveThruComics.

Synopsis:

Golgotha - Unreliable

Golgotha, Wisconsin. A tough city with an even tougher history.

In this Novelette: Illusionist and magician Chant McKenna unravels a murder mystery or has he?

A Pulp Noire Mystery novelette by Teel James Glenn.

Cover Art by Joshua 1:9 Holley

Pages:16

Format: Prose

SMFS Members Published in Mystery Magazine: July 2022

Several SMFS members are published in the recently released Mystery Magazine: July 2022. The read is available in print and digital formats from Amazon. The members in the issue are:

Marcelle Dubé with “Road Trip.”

Edward Lodi with “The Sweet Couple Next Door.”

Jackie Sherbow with Bystander Intervention.”

Mark Thielman with “My Dead-End Job.”

Synopsis:

At the cutting edge of crime fiction, Mystery Magazine presents original short stories by the world’s best-known and emerging mystery writers.

The stories we feature in our monthly issues span every imaginable subgenre, including cozy, police procedural, noir, whodunit, supernatural, hardboiled, humor, and historical mysteries. Evocative writing and a compelling story are the only certainty.

Get ready to be surprised, challenged, and entertained--whether you enjoy the style of the Golden Age of mystery (e.g., Agatha Christie, Arthur Conan Doyle), the glorious pulp digests of the early twentieth century (e.g., Dashiell Hammett, Raymond Chandler), or contemporary masters of mystery.

★ In this issue ★

✓ In our cover story, “Gone To Weave By Steam” by Kelsey Hutton, Lady Winthrope is hosting the latest society dinner, and her beleaguered cook, Alice, has to feed surprise guests and still find time to sneak away to see her son—until the Home Secretary keels over dead before the marzipan tower is even served.

✓“Bystander Intervention” by Jackie Sherbow is a somewhat-satirical story critiquing contemporary organizing/activism spaces, about a young woman seeking strange revenge and perhaps self worth after being harassed.

✓ In “Concrete” by George Guthridge a cuckold concrete contractor dumps concrete onto his neighbor's model railroad—a criminal act that uncovers two serial killers.

✓ “Tough Nuts” by Melodie Desmond: When two out-of-town Toronto cops stop for dinner in an Italian bistro, they don't count on being witness to murder! Hijinks ensue when it turns out reluctant mob Goddaughter Gina Gallo and her kooky cousin Nico are at the next table.

✓“Road Trip” by Marcelle Dubé: Driving a cold northern highway in an effort to reach her daughter who is in labor, Cass comes across a young woman running from her abusive boyfriend.

✓In “My Dead-End Job” by Mark Thielman the proof-reader at a headstone company investigates the death of a client.

✓ In “Murder For Sale” by Hunter Liguore a couple attempt to buy a house amid a crime scene.

✓ “The Sweet Couple Next Door” by Edward Lodi: Peg and Joe Donavon—such a sweet couple—moved in next door to Sarah Fernandes and proceeded to wreck her life by performing unsolicited favors. And as all the world knows, no good deed goes unpunished.

✓ “The Green Burglar,” a You-Solve-It By John H. Dromey: Hopping on the bandwagon while it’s moving can be tricky. What will happen if a ne’er-do-well crook is inspired by the zeitgeist to change his modus operandi?

Custom Cover Art By Robin Grenville Evans

SMFS Members Published in Pulphouse Fiction Magazine: Issue 18

Several SMFS members are published in the recently released Pulphouse Fiction Magazine: Issue 18. Published by WMG Publishing, the read is available in print and digital formats from Amazon, the publisher, and other vendors. The members in the issue are:

Dayle A. Dermatis with “The Devil Went Down to the Sunset Strip.”

David H. Hendrickson with “The Short Life and Horny Times of a Teenage Mantis.”

O’Neil De Noux with "He Who Howls.”

Robert Jeschonek with “Voyage of the Dog-Propelled Starship.”

Annie Reed with “The Last Julian."

J. Steven York with "The Problematic Navigation of the Vessel Clayton Booker.”

From the publisher:

The Cutting Edge of Modern Short Fiction

A three-time Hugo Award nominated magazine, this issue of Pulphouse Fiction Magazine offers up twenty-one fantastic stories by some of the best writers working in modern short fiction.

No genre limitations, no topic limitations, just great stories. Attitude, feel, and high-quality fiction equals Pulphouse.

“This is definitely a strong start. All the stories have a lot of life to them, and are worthwhile reading.” —Tangent Online on Pulphouse Fiction Magazine, Issue #1

Includes:

“The Problematic Navigation of the Vessel Clayton Booker” by J. Steven York

“The Forgiving Execution” by Rob Vagle

“How Fred the Opossum Mobilized the Microbes and Saved the Universe” by Mary Jo Rabe

“Cards on the Table” by Adam-Troy Castro

“Big Green Man” by Don Webb

“The Wall” by Lisa Silverthorne

“He Who Howls” by O’Neil De Noux

“The Train in the Ladies’ Room” by Kent Patterson

“The Secret of Catnip” by Stefon Mears

“Ashes to Ashes” by Jerry Oltion

“The Short Life and Horny Times of a Teenage Mantis” by David H. Hendrickson

“The Pillow of Disappointment and What Was Found Beneath It” by Scott Edelman

“Love the Way She Saw It” by C.H. Hung

“Erwin or Ralph” by Ray Vukcevich

“Gossamer Ghosts” by Robert J. McCarter

“Far From Home” by R.W. Wallace

“The Devil Went Down to the Sunset Strip” by Dayle A. Dermatis

“Like a Hole in the Head” by Jason A. Adams

“Shadows on the Moon” by Kristine Kathryn Rusch

“The Last Julian” by Annie Reed

“Voyage of the Dog-Propelled Starship” by Robert Jeschonek