Thursday Treats: 9/24/2026

Some reading opportunities of interest this week.

 

Coming at the end of the month in time for Bouchercon is the new publication, Short Mystery Fiction Society Mystery Magazine: Volume 1 Number 1 - October 2026. Published by Murderous Ink Press, this first issue of the new venture includes short stories by SMFS list members, such as myself, and other features. You can pre-order it on Amazon.

 

I’d never heard of this publication until several SMFS list members announced they had been published in the new third issue. Trifles : a Quarterly for Devotees of Sherlock Holmes Volume I Issue 3 was released last week. It includes short stories by SMFS list members John Aquino (Sherlock Holmes Tussles with Reel Life), Thomas Gorham (The Old Digs), and Edward Lodi (The Yorkshire Vicar). Published by Foolscap & Quill, you can pick it up at Amazon or other vendors.

 

SMFS list member Brandon Barrows announced that he had published his own flash story at Guilty Crime Story Magazine Flash. His story, Trust Me, can be read, for free, here. While there, you could also read my published tale from early August, Consequences, here as well.

Mr. Barrows also announced the publication of his short story, The Note, at Shotgun Honey. You can read the tale, for free, at their website.

 

SMFS list member Tim Wright announced that his short story, Low Tide, was published in the MacGuffin 41.3. Published by School Craft Books, you can pick up a copy at their bookstore.

 

SMFS list member and occasional guest poster here on the blog, Tom Milani, announced on Facebook that his novel, Places That Are Gone, was now back in print. The new publisher, Open Road Media Mystery & Thriller, has released in digital and print versions. You can pick it up at Amazon and other vendors.

 

I mentioned last week that this short story collection was coming. Big time thank you to fellow SMFS list member Nikita Costiuc who brought a number of our fellow members and their short stories to my attention. So, now with even more names and their titles listed, I remind you that DEATH CAMAS: Best New England Crime Stories 2026 is scheduled to be released in early October from Crime Spell Books. Some of the SMFS list members in the read are:  Bruce Robert Coffin (Pump Number 2), C. Dan Castro (The Mass Murderer and a Little Disorder), Zakariah Johnson (Dangerous Tastes in Literature) Nikki Knight (Milk. Bread. Homicide.), Avram Lavinsky (The Daughter of the King), Steve Liskow (A Deed without a Name), Edith Maxwell (Cough Lasagnas and Salty Memories), Ruth McCarty (I Hereby Bequeath), Ang Pompano (The Angel of Sachem Creek), Susan Oleksiw (All’s Well That Ends . . .), Eugenia Parrish (Stopping by the Woods), Stephen D. Rogers (A Scene of Salt and Sea), Bonnar Spring (Safe?), and Leslie Wheeler (The Wound Clinic). It can be preordered now at Amazon and elsewhere.

 

Also coming in October is the latest book by Dallas area author Harry Hunsicker. I have long been a fan over the decades and now doubt will enjoy the thriller, Mother May I. You can learn more about the book, and where to preorder it, at Mr. Hunsicker’s website. If you are not already reading him, you should be and there is a lot of really good stuff to read.

 

 

Black Cat Weekly #264 is out and includes short stories by SMFS list members. John M. Floyd has the cover story, Sweet Loretta Morgan. The issue also contains Shari Held’s short story, The Secret of Echo Village. You can pick up the latest issue here.

 

 

I mentioned back in August that prolific author, D. V. Berkom, had the first two books in a new series out. The third book in the series, Final Dawn: Mackenzie Reynolds Thriller Book 3, is about to come out. Published by Duct Tape Press, it is up for preorder at Amazon.

 

Coming in early October is the anthology, The Speculative Detective Agency: Case Files of the Supernatural and Fantastic. Published by Diversion Books, the read is available to preorder at Amazon and other vendors.

 

 

The third installment of the ongoing FAFO—A Punk Noir series is up. You can read the new series of four stories here. This is free to read, as is the second group here and the first group here.

 

 

You are reminded again that SMFS list member, and editor, Michelle Kubitz announced that Shotgun Honey Books will be releasing the new anthology, Daydream Believer: Crime Stories Inspired by the Songs of the Monkees!. The book includes a short story by fellow SMFS list member Alan S. Orloff as well as tales by numerus other folks. Proceeds go to American Library Association. You can preorder the book now at the publisher or at Amazon. September 29^th is the planned release date.

 

Until next time…. 

 

 

Kevin R. Tipple ©2026