Vigilante killers and dismembered corpses are all in a day's work for Houston Detective Quetzel Cazares. But when she rescues a hungry kitten at a particularly gruesome crime scene, her caseload takes a turn for the bizarre. Five short detective stories, served with a side of supernatural, take readers on an expedition into the darker side of human nature.

Black Mare Books serves up some fun-sized treats from Artemis Greenleaf, Holly Dey, A.B. Richards, and Claire A. Murray.In this grab-bag of Halloween shorts, you’ll find an assortment of killers and creeps. You may want to log off your Zoom meeting to play with the nice birdies. Perhaps kick back with a premium pizza before you go for a long walk in the dark woods? Or maybe you’ve wanted to run away to join the circus? Sounds like more fun than keeping a date with Death.But...

Black Mare Books presents twelve twisted tales from Artemis Greenleaf, Holly Dey, and A.B. Richards.In this Santa’s sack of Christmas yarns, you’ll find an array of monsters of all stripes. You may want to keep a lookout for a possibly rabid coyote when you stop to play with a dolly. Perhaps enjoy a little shopping before you head into the woods to fell a Christmas tree? Or maybe you’ve wanted to go on a holiday cruise? And whatever you do, don’t look a gift bear in the mouth....

Introducing an animal-loving Gal Friday with a telepathic cat, a shapeshifting dog, and a ghost of a chance of solving supernatural crime…Meet Deirdre "Foxtrot" Lancaster. Trusted employee of eccentric zillionairess Zelda Zoransky, Foxtrot manages a mansion, a private zoo, and anything else that strikes her boss's fancy. Her job title is Administrative Assistant, but chaos handler would be more accurate. Especially after she glimpses a giant ghost-beast in ...

Urban Fantasy meets Future NoirOnce people have messed with a man's DNA, what can he do but become a private eye? And when a gorgeous thing like Elizabeth Savoy comes gliding into his office and blinks her big baby blues, what can PI Mike Heller do but say sure—even though he sees just what she is, and knows what a bad idea it could be? Not that Heller has a clue just how bad. But by the time he suspects that Lizzie's troubles might bring the end of life as he knows it, he's already...

Twenty of America's best mystery short stories from 2011, selected by a #1 New York Times–bestselling author.The Best American series is the premier annual showcase for the country's finest short fiction and nonfiction. Each volume's series editor selects notable works from hundreds of magazines, journals, and websites. A special guest editor, a leading writer in the field, then chooses the best twenty or so pieces to publish. This unique system has made th...

A unique collection of 24 fun campfire style stories. Unlike most ghost stories that end in a scary way, these stories are designed to have relief endings. Endings that have a fun or silly twist that relieves the suspenseful build so even the youngest will beg for more and still sleep soundly at night. These stories will bring a lot of fun and are perfect for any story telling session.

Matt Helm has got a good thing going with Elly. So a terrorist outfit really have picked the wrong woman when they kidnap her in order to leverage Matt into carrying out an assassination. Now, Helm finds himself in Costa Verde with one thing on his mind: revenge...

Destination: Mexico. The Global Protection Force has summoned Secret Agent Jack Stalwart to Mexico to hunt down a stolen map leading to hidden Aztec gold. Suddenly, he finds himself trapped in the hands of one of the most treacherous treasure hunters in the world. Can Jack stop Callous Carl and his band of thieves before they plunder again?

Everyone loves their grandma but these three are just a little...different. They have certain skills in war and strategy developed over forty years through military training and discipline. They are the definition of "never judge a book by its cover." They now work as contractors for the extra money. Follow the hapless Clem as he is hired to drive the three on their latest mission of destruction.

What are your neighbours really like once their front door slams shut? Are your children's teachers' sound-of-mind? Has your partner got an evil, sinister side? Is a member of your family a murderer? These questions, and more, are examined in a collection of nine disturbing short stories; tales about the darker side of human nature.Read about a wannabe serial killer who starts his reign of terror on the wrong footing. A Kindergarten teacher who has deep psychological problems that ...

Hitman with a heart of gold Michael Hendricks is back in this digital-exclusive short story.When a strip-club mogul puts out a hit on a dancer who won't give him off-the-clock attention, Hendricks takes a detour to Las Vegas to stop the job in its tracks. With tech genius Lester in his ear and a fake identity as cover, Hendricks has only one problem: he has no idea what the target looks like. Against the scorching heat of the city's desert outskirts, a case of mista...