This issue, in addition to great tales from Acquiring Editors Michael Bracken and Barb Goffman, we also have an original mystery from Kathleen Marple Kalb, a modern dark fantasy from John S. Glasby, and much, much more.

Here’s the complete lineup—

Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure:

“Mother’s Day Tea,” by Ashley-Ruth M. Bernier [Michael Bracken Presents short story]
At a seemingly innocent kindergarten Mother’s Day tea, Briana Carter arrives late and out of place, feeling the pressure of keeping up with the other polished moms. But behind her professional exterior, Briana has a darker motive.

“Who Stole Annie Oakley’s Golden Gun?” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery]
When a gold-plated Colt .45 once owned by Annie Oakley vanishes, Police Detective Kelly Stone is called in to solve the mystery. Can you solve it before Kelly does?

“Business As Usual,” by Wayne J. Gardiner [Barb Goffman Presents short story]
After a mob job in Kansas City, Lucille returns to New York with doubts creeping in—did she make a mistake by taking a little extra on the side? When a hitman tails her at LaGuardia, it’s clear the underboss who hired her isn’t done. But how long can she stay ahead?

“Mow Way Out,” by Kathleen Marple Kalb [short story]
When Christian Shaw, a history buff and single mom, finds her neighbor, Mr. Berducci, unresponsive in his tomato patch, it seems like a tragic accident. But her young son, Henry, notices something odd about the trowel near the body.

The House of Intrigue, by Arthur Stringer [novel]
When Baddie Pretlow gets caught up in a web of deception and crime, she finds herself at the center of a dangerous game involving stolen jewels, false identities, and ruthless criminals.

Science Fiction & Fantasy:“Snail Ghost,” by Will Murray [Darrell Schweitzer Presents short story]
Under a mysterious blue moon in Tibet, an otherworldly traveler encounters a snail-like entity with a plea for help. Drawn through a strange, dimensionless door, they uncover a timeless space filled with unsettling figures—mirror images of themselves!

“Nightmare on Ice,” by John S. Glasby [short story]
A polar base is under siege by an otherworldly force in the depths of an unrelenting Arctic winter.

“Where Are You, Mr. Biggs?” by Nelson S. Bond [short story, Lancelot Biggs series]
Lancelot Biggs, First Mate of the spaceship Saturn, invents a revolutionary “velocity intensifier” that propels the crew on a high-speed journey to Uranus. When a miscalculation puts them on a collision course with Jupiter, disaster seems unavoidable—unless Biggs can perform a miracle!

“The Nobles Are Coming,” by Gene Cross [short story]
Trapped in a Martian cave, archeologist Ross encounters a man named J.J. Abrogado, a prospector with a deep obsession over the mysterious, deadly creatures known as the Nobles. These regal beings are infamous for making humans disappear, leaving behind only husks of their former selves…

Cities in the Air, by Edmond Hamilton [novel]
In a future where massive floating cities dominate the skies, Captain Brant finds himself at the center of an epic aerial war between global superpowers.

Kathleen Marple Kalb

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