“Palomino
Coal” by Doug Crandell opens the Mystery Magazine: April 2024 issue.
Dani and her cousin, Kimmy, at the coal mine at Snow Hill awaiting their
grandfather to come out of the mine. Coal mine located in Vigo County, Indiana.
When the shift ends, their grandfather does not come out, and the hunt for him
is on.
He
went to the speakeasy to see a dame in “On The Pad” by R.T. Lawton. The cop was
setup and now he has to go have a meet with a local crime boss. Not only did
Detective Everett Maitland get played by the woman, she has put him in a real
bind. The kind that could easily get him killed.
Larry
Alan Ruse is next with “Dance with the Dolly.” Jennifer Seymour is visiting
with her friend, Matilda Gray, who has a great home in the suburbs outside New
Haven Connecticut. The retired Yale University librarian is quite the mystery
fan. She has an extensive mystery collection as well as textbooks on forensic
science. She has an extensive mystery collection as well as textbooks on
forensic science. That means she knows a thing or three. That will come in
handy as this package is going to be far more complicated than she expected
when she did the gift order for her granddaughter’s birthday.
It
is back to a historical setting in the next tale that focuses on the legendary
lawman, Gus Hachette. In “First Arrest” by Jim Doherty, the backstory on how Gus
Hachette became a lawman, instead of a preacher, is explained. Hachette was
lucky to survive.
It
is just a few years after the depression has ended in “Cover Of The Moon” by
Robert Mitchell and our narrator is a man that rides the rails with no set
place. He’s back in Hogg Bend, Kentucky, because he heard his Pa has died. Lots
of things have changed. Some for the better. Others for considerably worse. One
of those worst deals is the fact that a bully from school back in the day is
now the deputy sheriff. The man is best avoided. Easier said than done.
It
is back to contemporary times in “Flight Control” by Jacob Aaron Reingold.
Elenna is on the plane with her children, Daniil, 14, and Zarya, 7, and headed
back to their home in the Middle East. She is less than thrilled to be going
back to the Sheikdom. She doesn’t have much of a choice as she is on the plane
headed there from Paris. It will fly over her homeland, Balgor, which she has
not been in since the war. Her options are very limited and one man on her
flight seems intent on making things worse.
“In-Laws
And Out-laws by John Floyd is the “You-Solve-It” this month. Retired Valentine
is looking for her daughter, the sheriff. She finds her at a house where
Sheriff Lucy Valentine is annoyed that her barbecue grill has vanished from her
back patio. Good thing mom came to help investigate. The solution appears in
the May issue.
This
issue closes with the solution to the March “You-Solve-It” story, “The Wisdom of
Solomon” by Eric B. Ruark.
The
seven tales presented in the Mystery Magazine: April 2024 issue
are all good ones. Diversity, as always, is the concept with this publication.
It is again present here as the tales involved showcase a wide range of storytelling
styles and themes. Those who like historical tales will find much to enjoy here
as most of the stories presented in the issue fit that designation.
The
result is another solidly good issue.
Amazon
Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/4btE5tf
For quite some time now I have been gifted a subscription by the publisher with no expectation at all of a review.
Kevin
R. Tipple ©2024
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2 comments:
As usual, your reviews for the short stories are excellent. I really need to get a copy of one of the issues of this magazine.
Thank you, TracyK. Much appreciated.
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