Short Story Wednesday Review: Mystery Magazine: April 2024

 

“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