Showing posts with label mysterical-e. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mysterical-e. Show all posts
Monday, September 11, 2017
The Short Mystery Fiction Society Blog: SMFS Members Published in Mysterical-E: Summer 201...
The Short Mystery Fiction Society Blog: SMFS Members Published in Mysterical-E: Summer 201...: The latest edition of Mysterical-E is now online and features work by three SMFS members. In fiction, Bern Sy Moss has a tale titled The Per...
Thursday, December 08, 2016
Tuesday, July 19, 2016
Earl Staggs Reviews: Criminalities: Three Short Crime Stories and an Essay by Barry Ergang
Criminalities:
Three Short Crime Stories and an Essay by
Barry Ergang
FREE ebook at https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/643316
The first story is”Jewel of Denial,” a
gem originally published in the June 2005 issue of Mysterical-e. Lainie
Truscott is dismayed when guests at her bed and breakfast are robbed of cash
and jewelry during the night. Lainie follows a hunch and takes a short trip to
see if she's right. When she arrives at her destination, one surprising twist
after another will leave you grinning, nodding your head, and thinking, “Well
done, Mr. Ergang.”
Next up is “Vigilante,” which received
a Derringer Award in 2007 for Best Story of the Year. Weissman is alone in a
dark alley with a militant, tattooed skinhead. Their vast difference of opinion
about the Holocaust is settled in the only appropriate manner.
The third story, “Brianna’s Way,” was
an Editor’s Choice when it appeared in Flash Bang Mysteries Magazine. When his
ex-wife's lawyer wants to talk to him, Rutledge agrees to the meeting out of
curiosity. Brianna is accused of killing her second husband, the man she dumped
him for. What does the woman who ruined his life want from him?
In the essay “Impossible Pleasures,” Mr.
Ergang tells how in his youth, he became an “unregenerate, unapologetic fan of
the mystery genre,” and discusses classic writers and stories. He was drawn in
particular to the “locked door” or impossible crime” tales. These are the
stories in which a crime is committed in a space such as a locked room with no
way for the criminal to get in or out without being seen. If you're a fan of
this type of story, you'll learn which authors, past and present, to look for.
For an excellent example of a locked
room mystery, I recommend reading “The Play of Light and Shadow,” one of many
published stories by Barry Ergang. You'll find it at:
Earl Staggs ©2016
Texas author Earl Staggs earned all
Five Star reviews for his novels MEMORY OF A MURDER and JUSTIFIED ACTION and has twice received a
Derringer Award for Best Short Story of the Year. He served as Managing Editor of Futures
Mystery Magazine, as President of the Short Mystery Fiction Society, and is a frequent speaker at conferences and seminars.
He invites any comments via
email at earlstaggs@sbcglobal.net
He also invites you to
visit his blog site at http://earlwstaggs.wordpress.com to learn more about his novels and stories.
Wednesday, July 06, 2016
Review: "Criminalities: Three Short Crime Stories and an Essay" by Barry Ergang
Criminalities: Three Short Crime Stories
and an Essay begins with “Jewel of Denial.” The
owners of the Forest Grove Inn, Lainie Truscott and Frank Truscott, were
thrilled when the wealthy widow, Ramona Braithwaite came to stay with them.
Mrs. Braithwaite was also quite pleased with her accommodations. That is until
the Tuesday after Memorial Day when her diamond-and-ruby bracelet was discovered
to be missing. She wasn’t the only one to suffer a loss of valuable belongings.
The local police were called in and
could only conclude a thief came in the night. They had no idea who might have
been the culprit and had no clues to pursue. Lainie Truscott has a suspect in mind. If she
is right, fixing the problem could be a bit tricky in this tale originally
published in the June 2005 issue of Mysterical-E.
The 2007 Derringer award winning
best flash story, “The Vigilante,” published in the summer 2006 issue comes
next. Weissman isn’t impressed with the young skinhead’s theatrics. It is time
to permanently educate the young punk.
Last fall, “Brianna’s Way” was
published in the first issue of Flash Bang Mysteries and was one of two stories
selected as the “Editor’s Choice.” The
tale appears again here in this read. Mr. Rutledge’s ex-wife, Brianna, stands
accused of murdering her second husband, Caleb Gillis. For her first husband,
now a former detective, neither Brianna nor her lawyer, Hampton Conrad, are
people he wants to deal with at all. But, as a matter of curiosity, he agrees
to meet with Mr. Conrad just to see what the woman who destroyed his life might
want now.
The author’s essay “Impossible
Pleasures” brings the short read to a close. First published in Mysterical-E
back in 2004 the revised and expanded version that appears here also ran in the
May 4, 2013 issue of Kings River Life Magazine. The essay recounts how the
author became a fan of the mystery genre especially in regards to “impossible
crime” stories.
Those reading influences can be seen
in the three short tales in this free book by way of Smashwords. Not only does
the book give readers an idea regarding the book the author’s background, the
read provides a small sample of the author’s award winning and otherwise work.
Plenty of mystery and character development is at work in these tales. Criminalities:
Three Short Crime Stories and an Essay is a highly entertaining fast
read.
Criminalities: Three Short Crime Stories
and an Essay
Barry Ergang
Smashwords
ISBN:
9781311229854
June
2016
eBook
22
Pages
FREE
Material was picked up by me to read and review.
Kevin
R. Tipple ©2016
Thursday, May 26, 2016
The Short Mystery Fiction Society Blog: Short Story Month: "Burning Questions" by Kevin R. Tipple
The Short Mystery Fiction Society Blog: Short Story Month: "Burning Questions" by Kevin R....: In 2013, StoryADay.org proclaimed May International Short Story Month . The SMFS spin on festivities is to highlight one or more members&#...
Friday, May 13, 2016
The Short Mystery Fiction Society Blog: Short Story Month: Cynthia St-Pierre, Nina Mansfie...
The Short Mystery Fiction Society Blog: Short Story Month: Cynthia St-Pierre, Nina Mansfie...: In 2013, StoryADay.org proclaimed May International Short Story Month . The SMFS spin on festivities is to highlight one or more members&#...
Wednesday, May 11, 2016
The Short Mystery Fiction Society Blog: Short Story Month: J.R. Lindermuth, Kathy Waller
The Short Mystery Fiction Society Blog: Short Story Month: J.R. Lindermuth, Kathy Waller: In 2013, StoryADay.org proclaimed May International Short Story Month . The SMFS spin on festivities is to highlight one or more members&#...
Monday, May 09, 2016
The Short Mystery Fiction Society Blog: Short Story Month: Anita Page, Kaye George
The Short Mystery Fiction Society Blog: Short Story Month: Anita Page, Kaye George: In 2013, StoryADay.org proclaimed May International Short Story Month . The SMFS spin on festivities is to highlight one or more members&#...
Sunday, November 29, 2015
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
New Issue---Mysterical-E
The fall issue of Mysterical-E is now live. Very nice to see the mention about our favorite reviewer, Barry, on the editor page over there. More info at
http://www.mystericale.com/index.php?issue=current_issue&body=toc
and click on the editor column.
http://www.mystericale.com/index.php?issue=current_issue&body=toc
and click on the editor column.
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