This week’s links to what’s fresh, what’s famous, and what’s fiendish in short mystery and crime fiction.

Short sample

Four men were clustered around the form on the stainless-steel autopsy table: two in dark blue uniforms, a homicide detective in a plain dark suit, and the medical examiner in a knee-length white lab coat. From “Things That Follow” by Jim Allyn. (In Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, September/October 2020, ed. Janet Hutchings, Dell Magazines.)

Point of view

Review: What Dread Hand? is a collection of murder and horror stories by the “criminally underrated” and “very talented” author Christianna Brand.

New releases, old releases

Tampa Bay Noir, Addis Ababa Noir (both August 2020), and Alabama Noir (April 2020) are the latest releases in the long-running Akashic Books Noir series.

Ten Year Stretch: Celebrating a Decade of Crime Fiction at Crimefest, is a commemoration anthology that includes stories by Ann Cleeves, Lee Child, Jeffrey Deaver, Martin Edwards, Kate Ellis, Ian Rankin, and many other outstanding authors. For three reviews, see the Point of View section in Short walk #15.

Tricks of the trade

Developing unique character voices.

Free reads

The latest free-to-read stories from Britain’s Crime Writers Association, posted on their Crime Readers Association website.

Check my shorts, please

My humorous private eye yarn “The Belle Hope” appeared in the anthology Malice Domestic 13: Mystery Most Geographical and was a Finalist in the 2019 Derringer Awards.

Thanks for visiting

Peter DiChellis

PS: Excited to announce I am now a Full (published author) Member of Britain’s Crime Writers Association.

This week’s links to what’s fresh, what’s famous, and what’s fiendish in short mystery and crime fiction.

Short sample

Moe knew every crook in the game, never forgot a face or a gem and was the smoothest double-crosser in the business. From “Come and Get It” by Erle Stanley Gardner (in The Black Lizard Big Book of Black Mask Stories, ed. Otto Penzler. Vintage Crime/Black Lizard. Compiled in 2010). For a review see the Point of View section in Short walk #28.

Point of view

Review: Killer, Come Back To Me: The Crime Stories of Ray Bradbury is a collection that demonstrates the “imagination and creativity Bradbury brought to crime fiction.”

New releases, old releases

New issues of AHMM and EQMM (September/October 2020).

Fire in the Hole: Stories (collected in 2012) is a collection of Elmore Leonard stories, including tales featuring Marshalls Raylan Givens and Karen Sisco.

Tricks of the trade

EQMM editor Janet Hutchings discusses pandemic reading, writing, and story acceptances.

Free reads

All the latest free-to-read stories from Mystery Tribune.

Check my shorts, please

The Literary Hatchet reprinted my crime-horror story “Dead Ringer” (originally appeared in Kzine in 2018).

Thanks for visiting

Peter DiChellis

 

This week’s links to what’s fresh, what’s famous, and what’s fiendish in short mystery and crime fiction.

Short sample

I couldn’t see the full reflection of my face; my features were obscured by the vapors of death on the mirror, resembling the death in the city, and resembling the scent of yesterday’s passersby. From “Scent of a Woman, Scent of a City” by Alawiya Sobh (in Beirut Noir, ed. Iman Humaydan, Akashic Books, 2015).

Point of view

Review: Bloody Scotland is a crime anthology of stories featuring iconic Scottish sites and structures in historical and current settings, all written by well-known Scottish authors.

New releases, old releases

Vintage Crime (complied in August 2020) is an anthology from Britain’s Crime Writers’ Association, celebrating CWA members’ work over the years.

Ellery Queen’s Japanese Golden Dozen: The Detective Story World in Japan is an anthology of stories selected and edited by Frederic Dannay (aka “Ellery Queen”) that was first compiled in 1978. For a review see the Point of View section of Short walk #61.

Tricks of the trade

A devotee of “rejectomancy” (the arcane practice of divining hidden meaning from rejection letters) analyzes whether a series of rejections from the same market indicate your writing style isn’t right for that market. Check the comments for an insightful observation from short fiction guru Michael Bracken.

Free reads

“The Gangster’s Game” by Steven Berry at All Due Respect.

The Hula Hula Boys in “Headless Ticket to Hawai’i” by Thomas Pluck at Beat to a Pulp.

Check my shorts, please

My crime-suspense story “Murderous Lies” is a free-to-listen podcast from King’s River Life Magazine. The story was originally published in Suspense Magazine in 2013.

Thanks for visiting

Peter DiChellis

 

This week’s links to what’s fresh, what’s famous, and what’s fiendish in short mystery and crime fiction.

Short sample

Bosch knew that any active burglar with a parole tail would keep a separate and secret place—a safe house—for his tools and swag. From “Christmas Even” by Michael Connelly (in Angle of Investigation: Three Harry Bosch Stories. By Michael Connelly, collected in 2011. Little, Brown and Company.)

Point of view

Reviews of Agatha Christie shorts here and here.

For more reviews of Christie shorts, see the Point of View sections of Short walk #17and #105.

New releases, old releases

Killer, Come Back To Me: The Crime Stories of Ray Bradbury (collected in 2020) is scheduled for release on August 18 and is available for pre-order.

Kinsey and Me: Stories (Sue Grafton, collected in 2013) is divided into two parts: nine Kinsey Millhone stories and additional stories that provide a glimpse into Grafton’s early life in the guise of the character Kit Blue.

Tricks of the Trade

Submission calls: Hoosier Noir is open for Indiana-related crime stories (setting or characters). Submissions close September 13, but the publisher will then open for marijuana-related crime stories on September 15.

Free reads (repeated from previous posts, in case you missed them the first time)

“Fat Burglar Blues” By Tom Piccirilli

“Possibilities” by Bill Pronzini

“Falconer” by S.J. Rozan

Check my shorts, please

My impossible-crime private eye tale “Callingdon Mountain” appeared in the anthology The Best Laid Plans: 21 Stories of Mystery & Suspense. **

Thanks for visiting

Peter DiChellis

** I just learned this excellent anthology (ed. Judy Penz Sheluk) is on the ballot for the Killer Nashville Readers’ Choice Award. Voting for this award is open to all readers. You can see all nominated books & vote at this link. The ballot is alphabetical by author or editor last name.

 

This week’s links to what’s fresh, what’s famous, and what’s fiendish in short mystery and crime fiction.

Short sample

When I drove over to the nightclub, Leonard was sitting on the curb, holding a bloody rag to his head. From “Hyenas” by Joe R. Lansdale (in Hap and Leonard. Stories by Joe R. Lansdale, collected in 2016. Tachyon Publications.)

Point of view

The Measure of Malice is an anthology of classic mysteries focused on detection via rational thinking and technical know-how (ed. Martin Edwards). Two reviews, here and here.

New releases, old releases

The latest monthly issue of Mystery Weekly Magazine (August 2020).

And on the Mystery Weekly website you can read free samples of new and old stories by clicking the links to Recent Published Stories. You can also sign up to have free stories emailed to you

Tricks of the Trade

Tips for creating memorable protagonists, antagonists, and secondary characters.

Free reads

Four free-to read-stories in the new (Summer) issue of Flash Bang Mysteries.

Check my shorts, please

My humorous crime romp “Rolling Lucky” is free to read at The Norwegian American newspaper website.

Thanks for visiting

Peter DiChellis

 

This week’s links to what’s fresh, what’s famous, and what’s fiendish in short mystery and crime fiction.

Short sample

Pender wrenched himself back to his book with a determination to concentrate upon the problem of the minister murdered in the library. From “The Man Who Knew How” by Dorothy L. Sayers (in A New Omnibus of Crime, eds. Hillerman and Herbert, contributing eds. Grafton and Deaver. Oxford University Press, 2005).

Point of view

Two reviews of Dashiell Hammett’s Continental Op story “The House on Turk Street” here and here.

For reviews of eight other Dashiell Hammett Continental Op stories see The Point of View section of Short walk #108.

For three free-to-read Continental Op stories see the Free Reads section of Short walk #73.

New releases, old releases

The Book of Extraordinary Impossible Crimes and Puzzling Deaths: The Best New Original Stories of the Genre (June 2020) is an anthology of never-before-seen stories of impossible murders and puzzling plot twists.

The 50 Greatest Mysteries of All Time (1998; 2007 paperback) includes stories by Edgar Allen Poe, Wilkie Collins, Aldous Huxley, Ring Lardner, Stephen King, James Ellroy, Patricia Highsmith, Sara Paretsky, Lawrence Block, Elmore Leonard and many others; ed. Otto Penzler.

Tricks of the Trade

Hank Phillip Ryan asks a Zoom-meeting expert to reveal the secrets of successful virtual events for authors.

Free Reads

Five free-to-read stories from the new (July issue) of The Dark City Crime & Mystery Magazine. (Click here then scroll down at site.)

Check my shorts, please

My crime story “Eternal Love” appeared in Switchblade: Issue 4.

Thanks for visiting

Peter DiChellis

 

This week’s links to what’s fresh, what’s famous, and what’s fiendish in short mystery and crime fiction.

Short sample

You cannot hide in a boxing ring and all your weaknesses are eventually exposed. From “The Last Round” by C.J Sullivan (in Manhattan Noir, ed. Lawrence Block, Akashic Books, 2006).

Point of view

Review: Hoch’s Ladies collects all the stories with Edward D. Hoch’s three women detective characters, Libby Knowles, Susan Holt, and Annie Sears.

For over 50 short, sweet reviews of Edward D. Hoch impossible crime stories see the Point of View section in Short walk #30.

New releases, old releases

Love & Other Crimes: Stories (June 2020) is a collection by Sara Paretsky that includes stories featuring Paretsky’s detective character V.I. Warshawski.

A Long Time Dead: A Mike Hammer Casebook (collected in 2016) collection of stories by Mickey Spillane and Max Allan Collins that feature Spillane’s legendary detective character.

Tricks of the Trade

The scoop on four free (or free trial) software programs for writers: Jarte, LibreOffice, Scapple, and Scrivener.

Free Reads

All five Anthony Award Finalists for Best Short Story are free to read on the Bouchercon 2020 site. (Click here then scroll down for story links.)

Check my shorts, please

My humorous private eye yarn “The Belle Hope” appeared in the anthology Malice Domestic 13: Mystery Most Geographical.

Thanks for visiting

Peter DiChellis

 

This week’s links to what’s fresh, what’s famous, and what’s fiendish in short mystery and crime fiction.

Short sample

Miles of Mother Road stretched ahead, hot pavement shimmering and sashaying like a crazy asphalt goblin on crack. From “Little Egypt” by Georgia Jefferies (in LAst Resort, eds. Coyle, Marks, Smiley. In & Out Books. 2017, Sisters in Crime Los Angeles.)

Point of view

Review: Fighters of Fear: Occult Detective Stories (2020) is an anthology that mixes detective tales with weird or supernatural fiction.

New releases, old releases

The Comfortable Coffin: A Mystery Writers of America Classic Anthology (July 2020) is an anthology of “laugh until you die” crime and mystery stories ranging from slapstick to parody to black humor.

Killer in the Rain is a collection of Raymond Chandler pulp stories that Chandler later “cannibalized” to create Philip Marlowe novels.

Tricks of the Trade

A range of practical, visual, aural, and kinesthetic approaches to help jumpstart your writing.

Free Reads

Two free stories from crime ‘zine All Due Respect:

“What’s One More?” By Jay Butkowski and “The Woman From Florence” by Preston Lang

Check my shorts, please

My crime-suspense story “Hidden” is free to read at Bethlehem Writers Roundtable.

Thanks for visiting

Peter DiChellis

 

This week’s links to what’s fresh, what’s famous, and what’s fiendish in short mystery and crime fiction.

Short sample:

Jail gives me the heebie-jeebies. (From “So Long Johnnie Scumbag” by Todd Robinson. In Dirty Words. By Todd Robinson, collected in 2012. Thuglit Publishing.)

Point of view:

Reviews: Talmage Powell wrote over 500 shorts published in pulps and digests. Here are reviews of a few of them, along with Wildside Press Kindle collections for 46c and 99c.

Review: The Speciality of the House is a Stanley Ellin collection about the wickedness that makes human nature “so deplorably fascinating.” The title story (changed to The Specialty . . . etc.) became a classic Alfred Hitchcock Presents TV episode.

New releases, old releases:

Occult Detective Magazine (#7, May 2020) explores the strange worlds of the occult detective, the psychic investigator, and the doomed meddler.

The latest monthly issue of Mystery Weekly Magazine (July 2020).

And on the Mystery Weekly website you can read free samples of new and old stories by clicking the links to Recent Published Stories. You can also sign up to have free stories emailed to you.

Tricks of the Trade:

Submission call: Flash Bang Mysteries is open for submissions until July 31. Check out the details here.

Free Reads:

“Chompers” by Joe R. Lansdale is tasty crime-horror mash-up, free-to-read at The Horror ‘Zine.

Check my shorts, please:

My mystery-suspense story “Ten-Spot Robber” appeared in the anthology Hardboiled.

Thanks for visiting.

Peter DiChellis

 

This week’s links to what’s fresh, what’s famous, and what’s fiendish in short mystery and crime fiction.

Short sample:

With the third murder, three weeks later, I go into alarm mode. From “On Pacific Beach” by Patti Abbott (In I Bring Sorrow: And Other Stories of Transgression. By Patricia Abbott. Collected in 2018. Polis Books.)

Point of view:

Robert Lopresti reviews the best mystery story he reads each week. Like this one. And this one and this one. And this one too.

New releases, old releases:

The latest issue of The Strand Magazine (June 2020) includes a previously unpublished Louisa May Alcott story.

Switchblade (Issue Twelve, June 2020) features hard luck tales of the human condition, before and after Covid-19.

Thriller Magazine (Volume 3 Issue 1, June 2020) showcases a wide range of tales, from psychological thrillers, to brutal tales of murder, to political thrillers (includes one of my stories, see below).

Tricks of the Trade:

To create stakes for a character in your story, look beyond the plot and brainstorm different ways the stakes might affect the character.

Free Reads:

“Ghost Town” by Lydia Lunch (from Akashic Book’s The Heroin Chronicles).

Check my shorts, please:

The new issue of Thriller Magazine includes my crime-suspense story “They Die in Eight Minutes” (originally published in Shotgun Honey in 2014).

Thanks for visiting.

Peter DiChellis