After the ambulance carries away a stricken guest, a husband and wife linger on a Gulf beach amid the wreckage of their cookout. Beer cans, paper plates, charred skewers, and a dying fire surround them as their conversation slips from sympathy to something far more chilling. The husband, fortified by warm scotch, begins to gloat—and to explain.What unfolds beside the embers is a confession dressed up as cleverness, a perfect murder built from a magazine article on common backyard p...

This issue, we have an original mystery by dbschlosser (courtesy of Acquiring Editor Michael Bracken), a recent tale by Bruce Robert Coffin (courtesy of Acquiring Editor Barb Goffman), and a slightly older tale by James Holding. Our mystery novel is As a Thief in the Night, by R. Austin Freeman—part of his Dr. Thorndyke series. And, of course, a solve-it-yourself puzzler from Hal Charles.On the science fiction side, we have an original story by Larry Tritten, plus classics...

This issue, we have an extended lineup, celebrating our 200th issue—2 novels, 1 novella, and 9 short stories…6 of which are originals! We’re also reducing the price to 99 cents (or the local equivalent) to help share the reading joy.It’s been a fun journey, and it’s all due to the help of our terrific editorial and production team: Acquiring Editors Barb Goffman, Michael Bracken, Paul Di Filippo, Darrell Schweitzer, and Cynthia M. Ward brought in some amazing authors over the years...

This time, we have an original mystery from Jack Roney (thanks to Acquiring Editor Michael Bracken) and modern mysteries from Merrilee Robson (thanks to Acquiring Editor Barb Goffman) and James Holding. Our mystery novel is from Golden Age author John Esteven. And, of course, Hal Charles returns with another solve-it-yourself puzzler.On the science fiction and fantasy side, we have a terrific tale from Anna Tambour, plus classics by Nelson S. Bond, Edmond Hamilton, Roger Dee, and F...

Jim, the owner of a small diner, detects some suspicious activity when two strange men come into his shop alongside an undertaker friend of his.

This issue features a pair of original tales: a mystery from Kaye George (thanks to acquiring editor Michael Bracken) and a fantasy from Adrian Cole (written especially for this Halloween issue).On the mystery front, we have a pair of great modern tales by William Dylan Powell (thanks to acquiring editor Barb Goffman) and James Holding, plus a classic novel by British master A.E.W. Mason, who is best known for his tale of courage and cowardice in wartime, The Four Feathers...

Our 93rd issue has a ton (we weighed it!) of great fiction, starting with an original crime story from John M. Floyd. John remains one of our most popular authors, and this one comes courtesy of Acquiring Editor Michael Bracken. We also have a great mystery tale by Joseph S. Walker, thanks to Acquiring Editor Barb Goffman. Plus a Jack the Ripper tale from Adrian Cole. And mystery classics from James Holding and Dick Donovan—in Donovan’s case, a complete short story collection. Of course, w...

Charles Deschamps, the Paris couturier, was going to bring down necklines in his next collection and one man knew about it six months ahead of time. Foreknowledge of a fact like that is all a good consultant needs to make him dream dreams and see visions: dreams of idleness and sybaritic luxury, and visions tinted uniformly green, like the folding money which alone can make such dreams come true. Even if it's not exactly ethical. Or legal.

When a mysterious visitor arrives in the small town of Havenwood, the locals are wary. Rumors spread about the stranger's unusual abilities and unclear motives. But young Elena sees beyond the gossip and forms an unlikely friendship that will be put to the test when dangerous secrets come to light. To protect her new friend, Elena must find the courage to stand up to fear and prejudice before it's too late.

Our 103rd issue is just one shy of our second anniversary issue, but we still have a whale of an issue for you. Regular readers will notice a new category (“Adventure”) below, which will appear occasionally to fit stories I like that aren’t necessarily mysteries, science fiction, or fantasy. (Well…this one may be fantasy, depending on how you feel about fish!) It’s from a pulp magazine called Mammoth Adventure, a companion to Amazing Stories and Fantastic

At 7:10 Martin came clattering up the stairs from the butcher shop three at a time. His knock on M. Beauregard's door had none of its usual apologetic politeness. He thundered on the panel with both hands. At the same time, he called in a loud voice through the door. "M. Beauregard! Awake! Instantly! Come quickly to the shop! There is a dead man in our display case, lying on the cold cuts!"

Lenny reached with gloved hands for the stamp album on the top shelf. He had not only found one of those rare twelve-cent 1861 stamps, but he was about to obtain it, cost-free and tax-free, thanks to his skills as a thief and burglar. With the stamp's rightful owner in the hospital and the house deserted, what could possible go wrong?