Little Big Crimes: Three Billy Goats Gruff, by Michael Bracken

Little Big Crimes: Three Billy Goats Gruff, by Michael Bracken:  "Three Billy Goats Gruff," by Michael Bracken, in Wish Upon a Crime: Crime Fiction Inspired by Fairy Tales , edited by Michael Br...

The First Two Pages: “Musicians of Bremen” by Debra H. Goldstein

 The First Two Pages: “Musicians of Bremen” by Debra H. Goldstein

The First Two Pages: “The Briar Patch” by Tom Milani

 The First Two Pages: “The Briar Patch” by Tom Milani

SleuthSayers: Goldie Locke and the Three Barretts

SleuthSayers: Goldie Locke and the Three Barretts: There are several reasons for my post today. One was the release of a new crime anthology this past Tuesday; the second was a  SleuthSayers ...

The First Two Pages: “Jack and the Beanstalk” by Andrew Welsh-Huggins

 The First Two Pages: “Jack and the Beanstalk” by Andrew Welsh-Huggins

Short Story Wednesday Review: Scattered, Smothered, Covered & Chunked: Crime Fiction Inspired by Waffle House Editors Michael Bracken and Stacy Woodson

When the publisher Down & Out Books went under, it took down a lot of good crime fiction reading. Slowly, those books are coming back with new publishers. Such is the case here as Editor Michael Bracken recently announced on Facebook that the eBook version was now up at Amazon and elsewhere for preorders. So, I thought I would remind you of this great read that is now being published by Audecyn Books. I would also warn you that, at the time of this writing, to ignore the book description at Amazon and elsewhere as it pertains to a totally different anthology.

 

 

Edited by Michael Bracken and Stacy Woodson, Scattered, Smothered, Covered & Chunked: Crime Fiction Inspired by Waffle House is a fun crime fiction read. Some of the tales are noirish in style while others are more middle of the road crime fiction reads. There is humor, plenty of food references, and a number of folks who really should have known better than to do what they did.

 

There are sixteen short stories in the read. Every one of them is a good one. The short stories referenced here with my brief comments are those that really resonated with me. Your choices, no doubt, would vary.

 

It should also be noted that I am one of those people who just reads an anthology straight through from front to back. I don’t poke around reading people I know first or anything like that. So, the listing below is in the order that I came across them as I read and not any implied ranking of my favorites.

 

Alan Orloff’s “Well Done” features a place in a bad way, a need for money, and an arsonist that is willing to work cheap. Of course, the arsonist’s name is “Scorch.” It had to be his name and there is also one heck of a fire.

 

Win’s Waffles, owned and operated by Winfred Perkins III, is also having a hard time of things. The long running family business is going under in “The Price of Blood” by Nils Gilbertson. He knows the legacy is almost dead. He also knows that Duncan Dudley is an idiot who is constantly involved in failed money-making schemes. But, his latest venture is just crazy enough that it could work.

 

Editor Michael Bracken’s “Windfall” takes three characters and, on one hand, drops them in the exact right place at the right time. Another way of looking at it is that the three are in the wrong place at the absolute worst time. An armored car robbery and human nature is at work in this tale.

 

Lucie Heinz has always tried to keep her brother safe, not that he has listened very well over the years. Her brother, Carson, has made it very hard in “The Ham & Egger” by J. D. Allen.  They have been hiding, for good reason, and big sister thought that she could indulge her brother’s desire to get out after being house bound for days. She thought they could safely go out to the Silver Saddle Saloon for a couple of hours. What had seemed like a good idea, clearly wasn’t. Hindsight won’t help them now.

 

“The Heart of Darkness” by Tammy Euliano also features a sibling who was expected to do everything to protect the younger brother. When he left, Dad took it hard, and told him to never come back home. Mom is dead so he is back for the funeral and trying to figure out what happened during her last days.

 

Like when Jim Cantore of the Weather Channel shows up in your town, when the Waffle House closes, you know things are really bad. That has happened in Donna Andrew’s “When Even Waffle House Closes.” The winter storm is causing havoc and she is in trouble as the storm could kill her. So could the robbers who are as deadly as the southern snowstorm.

 

The sixteen short stories that are present here are all entertaining reads. The detailed bios at the end of the book help readers in their quest to read more by these authors.

 

Scattered, Smothered, Covered & Chunked: Crime Fiction Inspired by Waffle House is an interesting and highly entertaining crime fiction read. It incorporates a premise that could easily be used again and again for additional volumes in a potential series. This reader hopes that happens as Scattered, Smothered, Covered & Chunked: Crime Fiction Inspired by Waffle House, edited by Michael Bracken and Stacy Woodson is a mighty good read. It also might make you hungry

 

 

Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/4tOt12p

  

 

Published by Down & Out Books, my reading copy was a digital edition and purchased by yours truly using funds in my Amazon Associate Account.

  

Kevin R. Tipple ©2025, 2026

Little Big Crimes: Wax On, Wax Off, by Nina Mansfield

Little Big Crimes: Wax On, Wax Off, by Nina Mansfield:   "Wax On, Wax Off," by Nina Mansfield, in    Malice Domestic: Mystery Most Humorous , edited by John Betancourt, Michael Bracken,...

Little Big Crimes: Ash Tuesday, by M.S. Greene

Little Big Crimes: Ash Tuesday, by M.S. Greene:   "Ash Tuesday," by M.S. Greene , in  Malice Domestic: Mystery Most Humorous , edited by John Betancourt, Michael Bracken, and Car...

Little Big Crimes: Dirty Deeds, by Donna Andrews

Little Big Crimes: Dirty Deeds, by Donna Andrews: "Dirty Deeds," by Donna Andrews, in Malice Domestic: Mystery Most Humorous , edited by John Betancourt, Miochael Bracken, and Carl...

Little Big Crimes: The Right Size of Favor, by Joseph S. Walker

Little Big Crimes: The Right Size of Favor, by Joseph S. Walker:   "The Right Size of Favor," by Joseph S. Walker, in Sleuths Just Wanna Have Fun, edited by Michael Bracken, Down and Out Books, ...

Short Story Wednesday Review: Scattered, Smothered, Covered & Chunked: Crime Fiction Inspired by Waffle House Editors Michael Bracken and Stacy Woodson

 

Edited by Michael Bracken and Stacy Woodson, Scattered, Smothered, Covered & Chunked: Crime Fiction Inspired by Waffle House is a fun crime fiction read. Some of the tales are noirish in style while others are more middle of the road crime fiction reads. There is humor, plenty of food references, and a number of folks who really should have known better than to do what they did.

 

There are sixteen short stories in the read. Every one of them is a good one. The short stories referenced here with my brief comments are those that really resonated with me. Your choices, no doubt, would vary.

 

It should also be noted that I am one of those people who just reads an anthology straight through from front to back. I don’t poke around reading people I know first or anything like that. So, the listing below is in the order that I came across them as I read and not any implied ranking of my favorites.

 

Alan Orloff’s “Well Done” features a place in a bad way, a need for money, and an arsonist that is willing to work cheap. Of course, the arsonist’s name is “Scorch.” It had to be his name and there is also one heck of a fire.

 

Win’s Waffles, owned and operated by Winfred Perkins III, is also having a hard time of things. The long running family business is going under in “The Price of Blood” by Nils Gilbertson. He knows the legacy is almost dead. He also knows that Duncan Dudley is an idiot who is constantly involved in failed money-making schemes. But, his latest venture is just crazy enough that it could work.

 

Editor Michael Bracken’s “Windfall” takes three characters and, on one hand, drops them in the exact right place at the right time. Another way of looking at it is that the three are in the wrong place at the absolute worst time. An armored car robbery and human nature is at work in this tale.

 

Lucie Heinz has always tried to keep her brother safe, not that he has listened very well over the years. Her brother, Carson, has made it very hard in “The Ham & Egger” by J. D. Allen.  They have been hiding, for good reason, and big sister thought that she could indulge her brother’s desire to get out after being house bound for days. She thought they could safely go out to the Silver Saddle Saloon for a couple of hours. What had seemed like a good idea, clearly wasn’t. Hindsight won’t help them now.

 

“The Heart of Darkness” by Tammy Euliano also features a sibling who was expected to do everything to protect the younger brother. When he left, Dad took it hard, and told him to never come back home. Mom is dead so he is back for the funeral and trying to figure out what happened during her last days.

 

Like when Jim Cantore of the Weather Channel shows up in your town, when the Waffle House closes, you know things are really bad. That has happened in Donna Andrew’s “When Even Waffle House Closes.” The winter storm is causing havoc and she is in trouble as the storm could kill her. So could the robbers who are as deadly as the southern snowstorm.

 

The sixteen short stories that are present here are all entertaining reads. The detailed bios at the end of the book help readers in their quest to read more by these authors.

 

Scattered, Smothered, Covered & Chunked: Crime Fiction Inspired by Waffle House is an interesting and highly entertaining crime fiction read. It incorporates a premise that could easily be used again and again for additional volumes in a potential series. This reader hopes that happens as Scattered, Smothered, Covered & Chunked: Crime Fiction Inspired by Waffle House, edited by Michael Bracken and Stacy Woodson is a mighty good read. It also might make you hungry.

 

Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/4jcSGMV

 

Published by Down & Out Books, my reading copy was a digital edition and purchased by yours truly using funds in my Amazon Associate Account.

 

Kevin R. Tipple ©2025

Little Big Crimes: You Know What You Did, by Karen Harrington

Little Big Crimes: You Know What You Did, by Karen Harrington: "You Know What You Did," by Karen Harrington, in Trouble in Texas, edited by Michael Bracken, North Dallas Chapter of Sisters in ...

Guest Post: Writing “A Sign of the Times” by Tom Milani

 

Please welcome back author Tom Milani to the bog today…

 

Writing “A Sign of the Times”

by Tom Milani

Michael Bracken’s invitation to contribute to Sleuths Just Wanna Have Fun: Private Eyes in the Materialistic Eighties, set the tone for the anthology: “Stories can be funny or humorous or just light-hearted. The cases probably won’t be earth-shattering.” When he asked which historical event I wanted to include in my story, I said the 1984 presidential election. Like a lot of people, I like to root for underdogs, and there were few underdogs bigger than Walter Mondale that election. For the case itself, I decided that the crime would be stolen campaign signs.

My setup was classic: Melody Murphy, a pretty young woman, walks into Steve Kahler’s office, asking for the PI’s help. At the same time, I wanted to play with the tropes. Rather than being a femme fatale, Melody is an earnest volunteer, still trying to decide when to take a stand. Rather than being a cynical PI with a bottle in the desk drawer, Kahler has been on the job barely a year, his office rent subsidized by Nunzio Vitale, his best friend and mentor.

Once I’d established the characters and the circumstances, I knew that the mystery contained two questions: Who was stealing the signs? Why were they being stolen? For Kahler, finding out who was stealing the signs was relatively straightforward. Answering the question of why required some research on my part. I read articles on the campaign and on the issues of the day.

Reagan’s reelection campaign was marked by the president’s optimism—“Morning in America” was the theme of one of his campaign ads. In contrast, Mondale promised to raise taxes. That was something to draw from, but it wasn’t enough. So, I turned to controversy, specifically the Reagan administration’s response to the HIV/AIDS crisis. In this case, the personal turned out to be political.

I hope you enjoy the story, and thanks again to Michael Bracken for the opportunity to be part of this amazing anthology.

 

Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/4i10lgL

 

Tom Milani ©2025 

Tom Milani (www.tommilani.com) has published short fiction in Groovy Gumshoes: Private Eyes in the Psychedelic Sixties, Illicit Motions, Janie’s Got a Gun: Crime Fiction Inspired by the Songs of Aerosmith, and Mickey Finn: 21st Century Noir vol. 5, among other places. “Barracuda Backfire” was published in 2024 as Book 4 of Michael Bracken’s Chop Shop series of novellas. His first novel, Places That Are Gone, will be published on May 13, 2025, by Unnerving. 

Short Story Wednesday Review: Black Cat Mystery Magazine #15

 

It has been quite some time since I have been able to pick up an issue of Black Cat Mystery Magazine as the recent issues have been print only. But, the most recent issue, Black Cat MysteryMagazine #15, is available in print and digital formats so I was able to get the eBook version. Not only is that better for my shrinking finances as I pick up things via my Amazon Associate account, but I can adjust the typeface so that I can actually read it.

 

As always, Editor Michael Bracken leads things off with his piece, “From The Cat’s Perch.” The theme for this issue is praise for the Short Mystery Fiction Society. Like this reviewer, Mr. Bracken previously served terms as Vice President and President of the SMFS. A number of the authors featured in this issue are current SMFS list members as well.

 

Stacy Woodson’s short story, “Armadillo By Morning,” leads things off where Roy is looking forward to retirement. He has enjoyed being an Animal Control Officer for many decades, but his hip is telling him that enough is enough. So too is Millie Wendell who has constant complaints from her place just inside their rural jurisdiction. This time she is mad about an armadillo that keeps coming back and tearing up her garden.

 

The guy is dead in “After Their Convictions, Six Murders Reflect On How Killing Mr. Boddy Changed Their Lives” by Tara Laskowski and Art Taylor. The husband and wife, who each individually, have quite an authorship record, collaborate here with a complicated and amusing tale based of the legendary boardgame, CLUE. I’m certainly not going to ruin this short story by telling you more.

 

Author, and in this case, translator, Josh Pachter is up next with his translation of “Promises To Keep” by Gert-Jan van den Bemd. In a gut-wrenching story that hit way too close to home for this reader, Mrs. van Tilt is at the door wanting to make a certain purchase. The item in question that she wishes to buy from the elderly couple will change everything for all involved.

 

Prolific author John M. Floyd is up next with “A Cold Day In Helena.” The brothers, Ray and Will Hardy, are up against it. Their only option seems to be to rob the local bank. The First National Bank is a relatively easy target as far as banks go and they have a good plan. They just need the nerve to execute the job.

 

The large barrels arrive on the occasional truck at the isolated and derelict station in Arizona. The cartel has stuff that needs disposing of in those barrels and that is why he has the job. At least job he has the for now in “Human Waste” by Davin Ireland. The always taciturn Jorge is back with his truck on this Sunday and he is not happy. His presence, and his attitude, is not good news in many ways.

 

Life on the island was a bit limited and routine. Then, a week before his Peace Corps gig was supposed to be over, Janine’s body was found in a ravine nearby. In “Hiva-Oa” by J. W. Wood, Michael is naturally a suspect in the death of the married woman. Especially after several and very public events that led to rumors and gossip by nearly everyone on the island.

 

R. T. Lawton is next and takes readers to NYC in his tale titled, “Most Important Meal Of The Day.” Our narrator very much likes his free breakfast that Sarah, the cashier, gives him each day. Times are tough, he is unemployed, and winter is coming. Breakfast is important and often his only meal. He needs the free food and does not want to lose it. Leonard and Jules are probably going to ruin things.

 

She knows he is watching her in the bar. He thinks he is going to get lucky. He most definitely is, but not the way he thought in “Luxury Goods” by R. M. Lowery.

 

Talia Houghton barely survived the murders of her family. Our narrator, the public defender that had to defend the accused, Danny Houghton, remains haunted by her eyes and the horror of her case in “The Child” by Elizabeth Elwood. All these years later though there have been court actions, a prison sentence, and more, the case is not over. 

 

Marcelle Dubé’s short story, “Getting Back Into Heaven” comes next and takes readers to the Yukon. Growing up, Jonas’ mom always told him he was a special boy and that God had a special place for him right by his side waiting for him. He knew that space, and heaven itself, would never happen after he served in Afghanistan. These days, Jonas Bellechasse, is working with a group of geologists. His job is to keep them safe and the main threat has been wild bears. Jonas likes his job and finds the rugged forest peaceful and pleasant. A wildfire threatens everyone involved in this increasingly tense tale.

 

She was having fun playing at being a spy in ‘An Imp In Spy’s Clothing” by Robert Jeschonek. Then things got very serious. Now she is wearing what seems to be a suicide vest and she may not live long enough to enjoy her beloved Lisbon, Portugal, again.

 

Evelyn Wheatley and James Vaughn don’t agree on much of anything in “Let’s Settle This” by Jack Ritchie. At least, that is what they publicly say. Jimmy’s dad, owner of the law firm, thinks they should get married. The fact that her current guy, Eddie Conley, a classmate of Jimmy’s from law school and an adversary in the current legal case, makes things far more complicated in this story that ends the issue.

 

As always, this publication showcases a variety of mysteries in the spectrum with a variety of writing styles, locations, and more. Black Cat Mystery Magazine #15, not to be confused with the also very good Black Cat Weekly, is another solidly good edition and well worth your time.

 

 

Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/4j8rIXl

 

My reading copy came by way of an Amazon Associate purchase using funds in my account.

 

Kevin R. Tipple ©2025

SleuthSayers: Worried at Noon

SleuthSayers: Worried at Noon: On New Year's Day, my first short story of the year, "Slow Ride," published. What a great way to start a year. On that day, I ...

Little Big Crimes: Hole in my Soul, by John M. Floyd

Little Big Crimes: Hole in my Soul, by John M. Floyd:   "Hole in my Soul," by John M. Floyd, in Janie's Got a Gun: Crime Fiction Inspired by the Music of Aerosmith, edited by Mich...

Short Story Wednesday Review: Mickey Finn Vol. 1: 21st Century Noir Editor Michael Bracken

With the 5^th volume in the series releasing earlier this week, it seemed to be a good time to dip into the massive archive and remind you of the read that started it all.

 

Mickey Finn Vol. 1: 21st Century Noir, edited by Michael Bracken, is a dark read as one would expect. After all, as the title makes abundantly clear, this is an anthology of noir style short stories so one does not expect sweetness and light with sunshine and flowers with flying unicorns and rainbow kisses. That being said, some of these stories are very dark and disturbing. The kind of tales where you finish the story and you need to take a break for awhile before getting back to the read.

 

After a very short introduction by Editor Michael Bracken, Ben Vincent opens things up with “Reflections of the Past.” Greg is out of jail and back in his childhood home. The house is paid for and it makes sense for Greg to live there with his mom spending her last days in a nursing home. Being back in the house is a testimony to his failures as well as a chance for a fresh start. It also made it easy for Monica Hicks to find him. It also makes it easy for the local cops.

 

Next up is “Getting Violated” by David Haggerty where Rolls Royce has yet to make it out of his cell and that has caused issues. The assembly line system to feed the inmates is going to need to find a new cog as Ritchie, aka Rolls Royce, is very much dead in his cell. Not only is there a mess to clean up, his fellow trustee, Andrew Viggoth, is an easy fall guy for the murder.

 

He's on the hunt for a scumbag that is known as “Little Johnny.” It is professional as well as deeply personal. The hunt has led him to a really bad motel in a very bad place. More than one horror lurks in the shadows outside and as well as inside the building in “Motel at the End of the World: 3 a.m.” by Trey A. Barker.

 

The job had some question marks, but Mathew was desperate. So, the ex-con took the gig in “One Way or the Other” by J. L. Abramo. Simon and Amanda had a fairly decent plan and the pay was decent. Not that those who are about to be homeless, which would result in an automatic return to prison, have very many options.

 

Somewhere a little north of Martinsville, he knew for sure they had a tail in “The Mailman” by Andrew Welsh-Huggins. The woman and her child were supposed to bring nothing personal with them. He already, knew they had blown that when the daughter brought a stuffed animal. He had checked her purse, but apparently Mom brought her cell phone. Now they have a tail and that creates multiple problems.

 

“Red Nocturne” by Anna Aptaker features a man facing a hard choice. Do his job as a cop and arrest her for murder or run away with her. He is head over heels in love with a killer.

 

Fleeing to the ledge on the outside of the building was not the brightest decision he ever made in “Better Not Look Down” by Josh Pachter. He panicked and now he is five floors above the street on a narrow ledge with cops closing in from the left and the right. How he got to this predicament is told by way of multiple flash backs.

 

Editor Michael Bracken is up next with his tale, “Final Reunion.” It has been quite a few years, but Mertz, Texas, looks pretty much the same to Gavin Wilcox as he rolls into town. Mom is less than thrilled to see him, but will feed him and let him sleep at the old house. He is in town to do a job and then he can be gone again. Mon is not the only one that wants him to go away.

 

When Connie loses it, as she has every so often since she was eight, the outcome for others is never good. In “Riptish Reds” by Joseph S. Walker, she is an adult, on parole, and doing her best not to unleash her rage on others when provoked. Some folks seem oblivious to her struggle and seem determined to flip her switch.

 

He knows how to shake money loose from folks in Lincoln City, Oregon. He can find you a high stakes companion for a fun time. He can hook you up with a serious card game for high stakes if you are interested. If you want the combo of the female companion and the card game, that is even better in “Sneaker Wave” by David H. Hendrickson.

 

Paula is drunk. That is a frequent occurrence and one of several frustrations for Davis. In 'Rough Justice” by Steve Rasnic Tem, Davis needs a break. Good thing his drug dealer is on the way as they have business to conduct.

 

A visit to the Texas State Penitentiary at Huntsville is never fun. It certainly is not in July 2018 in “Hard Luck Case” by James. A. Hearne. Seeing Robert Earl Stone, aka “Bobby,” on his birthday is always very hard. He made a promise to Alex Stone and he knows he failed his friend or his friend’s son would not be in prison.

 

Eddie has tracked down, Ray, his brother, as “Second Chance” by Barb Goffman begins. Separated in the foster care system many years ago, Eddie had a far better situation. Now he wants to make things better for Ray.

 

It has been a long time since Bobby Lyon was a Hollywood star. The former action hero is seen as a joke by many. He is seen as a target to rip off by others. That includes the two home invaders in “Clickbait” by Mark. R. Kehl.

 

Mick does not know the latest arrival at the club. But, he is sure the guy is trouble in “Kicks” by Steve Liskow. He isn't the only one concerned about the guy. The stranger also seems to have an unhealthy interest in the female dancer everyone knows as Baby Blue.

 

The sushi is always good and he likes the place in “Killer Sushi” by Stacy Woodson. He can vent and enjoy the food at the same time as can his military buddies. It is not like they have a lot of options in Fayetteville, North Caroline and the beer is good.

 

Being in a psychiatric place is not good in “Blood Brothers” by Mikal Trimm. Dr. Kerchoff is sort of like somebody’s Mom, but does not really understand where he is coming from on anything. At least Shane, his best friend, comes by on a fairly regular schedule. So too does one of the orderlies, but that late night visit is not one anyone wants.

 

Hope Hall is a crummy place, but it is a free place to live in “Rent Due” by Alan Orloff. The landlady, Lana Coreen, lets him live there rent free in exchange for doing an occasional odd job. Arno Woodley has a less than stellar background so Lana is sure he can do the job no problem.

He did the job and now Mr. Berry wants him to hide out at a certain place. He does so in “Last Exit Before Toll” by Hugh Lessig. Hiding out works great if no one knows where you are. Mr. Berry knows and he isn't the only one.

 

The family is on the run and the little girl is growing up too fast in “We Live Here” by Jarrett Kaufman. They are on the run for a very good reason. Now they have been found. This story has an ending I never saw coming and packs a powerful punch. It also the final story in this well-done anthology.

 

Author bios and then short previews of Rattlesnake Rodeo by Nick Kolakowski, Don't Shoot the Drummer by Jonathan Brown, and Below the Line by Steve Jankowski complete the eBook.

 

A dark and occasionally disturbing read, Mickey Finn Vol. 1: 21st Century Noir, edited by Michael Bracken, is not for all readers. These tales are very dark ones, as expected, and feature characters that are living on the edge in many different ways. A good read that showcases a number of talented crime fiction writers, it leaves the reader shaken and stirred.

 

 

Amazon Associates Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/41AL81J

 

I picked this up back in December 2020 using funds in my Amazon Associate account. Since then, I have also done that for Volumes 2, 3,4, and 5 in the series. They, and many other books, are hanging out in my TBR and seriously eyeballing each other as I am way behind in my reading. 

 

Kevin R. Tipple © 2021, 2024

Little Big Crimes: Retro Rhapsody by Hugh Lessig

Little Big Crimes: Retro Rhapsody by Hugh Lessig:   "Retro Rhapsody," by Hugh Lessig,   in  S cattered, Smothered, Covered & Chunked: Crime Fiction Inspired by Waffle House,  e...

Guest Post: Writing “Barstow” by Tom Milani

Please welcome SMFS list member Tom Milani to the blog today as he explains the background of his short story in the new anthology, Mickey Finn Vol. 5: 21st Century Noir. Published by Down & Out Books, the book is edited by SMFS list member Michael Bracken.

  

Writing “Barstow”

For me, the germ of a story often comes from small things. A crying waitress, an encounter with a cop. Events that in the retelling strike the listener as odd but not necessarily interesting. On a cross-country road trip with a friend, we stayed overnight in Barstow. That night, we had dinner at the hotel bar, and the next morning, we ate breakfast in the adjoining restaurant. Our waitress was having a hard time communicating with a table of customers wearing matching shirts and speaking Spanish. It wasn’t clear from where we sat what had upset her, but before long she was in tears.

Over the years, I’ve been served by a lot of waitresses, but I’d never seen one come close to crying. That memory stuck with me, so much so that when Michael Bracken issued a call for stories for volume 5 of Mickey Finn: 21st Century Noir, I decided to infuse mine with details from that road trip.

The waitress is there, of course, but this time, her tears are the result of a fight with her boyfriend. In my story, recently laid-off Spencer heads west from Virginia, his trip cut short when his car breaks down in Barstow. While he waits for it to be repaired, he hooks up with Emily, the crying waitress, and begins to contemplate a future with her, not realizing that her motivation for being with him is more complicated than he thinks.

There’s more. Remember the encounter with the cop I alluded to earlier? That happened to me in Indiana, and it becomes part of Spencer’s story as well. But to read about that, you’ll have to wait till next year, when volume 6 is released. 

Tom Milani ©2024

Tom Milani’s short fiction has appeared in Groovy Gumshoes: Private Eyes in the Psychedelic Sixties, Illicit Motions, and Janie’s Got a Gun: Crime Fiction Inspired by the Songs of Aerosmith, among other places. “Barracuda Backfire” was published earlier this year as Book 4 of Michael Bracken’s Chop Shop series of novellas. His novel Places That Are Gone will be published next year by Unnerving. 

Little Big Crimes: Windfall, by Michael Bracken

Little Big Crimes: Windfall, by Michael Bracken:   "Windfall," by Michael Bracken, in  S cattered, Smothered, Covered & Chunked: Crime Fiction Inspired by Waffle House, edite...