In Reference To Murder: Mystery Melange 6/20/2024

 In Reference To Murder: Mystery Melange  6/20/2024

Short Story Wednesday Review: Thuglit: Issue 21 Editors Todd Robinson, Allison Glassgow, and Julie Mccarron

As this review came up in my Facebook feed yesterday, it seemed to be a good time to remind you of this review from five years ago.

 

Thuglit: Issue 21 continues the anthology tradition of hard hitting noir stories. Eight new stories that tell tales of folks living on the edges doing what needs to be done due to compulsion or to survive. Of course, since these are short stories, it is not possible to say much as to do otherwise would create spoilers. It can be said that, as always, these tales will make you consider your own circumstances and the realization that things could be far worse.

 

It was a street kid and his dog near an on ramp in Sacramento that caused Alan to stop in “The Long Drive Home” by William R. Soldan. Hopper and his dog, Maggie, are headed to Chicago to see family. Maggie is a far better traveling companion.

 

If you have kids you are probably well aware of the issue of life threatening nut allergy as no doubt at least one kid in the school your child attends has this life threatening problem. “Nut Lobby” by Preston Lang takes a different tack on the idea by focusing on the lobbyists of both sides who make presentations before school boards and the like. For Lydia Todd of the national peanut council it is a life and death battle as well.

 

At least this time when he wakes up Fred does not find a dead hooker in the bed with him. Still, he knows Connor did something really bad. He is about to find out what that was in “Being Fred” by Travis Richardson opens thanks to a phone call from Vladmir Dvoynev. A wakeup call from him, or any other time, can’t be a good thing.

 

Back in Oct. 2012, the gigantic statue known as “Big Tex” burned down to its metal frame at the Texas State Fair. It was not terrorists, as first reported by local television stations, but a simple electrical short. A fictionalized version of that fire is just part of the deal in “The Night They Burned Ol’ Big Tex Down” by Christopher Fulbright. All Darla-May and Ray have to do is get rid of Toby when the moment is right. Fair Park in Dallas is a long way from Afghanistan, but a bullet does the same damage/death thing everywhere.

 

Jamie insists on being a virgin and plans to remain so. They have known each other since the first grade as Jamie lives down just down the street. It isn’t surprising that sometimes the narrator goes to the woods behind the house to check out the bedroom view in “Virgin Sacrifice” by David Rachels. Graduation is coming and there are plans.

 

Cici has been gone for a few years, but is back in Maui. In “Paradise” by Rena Robinett, Trelani is missing and Cici is on the hunt as a mother does what she has to do. 

Bad enough to come home and find your place ransacked. Your daughter’s toys were one of the few things not messed with while you and your family were at the movies. Especially annoying to find out that your two AR-15s are gone. In “A Nice Pair Of guns” by Nick Kolakowski the hunt is on for the guns and these responsible.

 

His father Hal told him to only trust his eyes and ears and ignore what was on television and in the paper. He apparently never said a word about watching out for stuff falling on your head by the way of a crane on the hard docks of Oakland. He certainly isn’t going to say anything at all how thanks to the blow caused by six tons of Malaysian tin hitting his head. Jimmy is still coping with the aftermath of that is so many ways in “Mercy” by Dale Sandlin.

 

The bios of eight authors involved and the editors Todd Robinson, Allison Glassgow and Julie Mccarron bring the latest issue to a close.

 

If you have read Thuglit before you know what you are in for as this issue meets high standards. If you have not, this series is not about unicorns and rainbows. If any are present, they are because of your imagination is in whacked out over drive as you have been chasing meth and alcohol the last 36 hours in a desperate attempt to get some money together in a cock eyed plan to rip somebody off. Or, somebody hit you over the head and you had strange dreams while lying unconscious as god knows what went on around you and to you. Thuglit: Issue 21 is another dark read and another good one. 

 

  

Material was purchased to read and review back in late January by way of funds in my Amazon Associate account.

  

Kevin R. Tipple ©2016, 2021

Market Closed: Thuglit

Editor Todd Robinson has announced on the Facebook page for Thuglit that the market has closed. The final issue to come out, hopefully, by the end of May will be a larger than normal edition of stories as he winds things down.

Review: "Thuglit: Issue 21" Editors Todd Robinson, Allison Glassgow, and Julie Mccarron

Thuglit: Issue 21 continues the anthology tradition of hard hitting noir stories. Eight new stories that tell tales of folks living on the edges doing what needs to be done due to compulsion or  to survive. Of course, since these are short stories, it is not possible to say much as to do otherwise would create spoilers. It can be said that as always these tales will make you consider your own circumstances and the realization that things could be far worse.

It was a street kid and his dog near an on ramp in Sacramento that caused Alan to stop in “The Long Drive Home” by William R. Soldan. Hopper and his dog, Maggie, are headed to Chicago to see family. Maggie is a far better traveling companion.

If you have kids you are probably well aware of the issue of life threatening nut allergy as no doubt at least one kid in the school your child attends has this life threatening problem. “Nut Lobby” by Preston Lang takes a different tack on the idea by focusing on the lobbyists of both sides who make presentations before school boards and the like. For Lydia Todd of the national peanut council it is a life and death battle as well.

At least this time when he wakes up Fred does not find a dead hooker in the bed with him. Still, he knows Connor did something really bad. He is about to find out what that was in “Being Fred” by Travis Richardson opens thanks to a phone call from Vladmir Dvoynev. A wakeup call from him, or any other time, can’t be a good thing.

Back in Oct. 2012, the gigantic statue known as “Big Tex” burned down to its metal frame at the Texas State Fair. It was not terrorists, as first reported by local television stations, but a simple electrical short. A fictionalized version of that fire is just part of the deal in “The Night They Burned Ol’ Big Tex Down” by Christopher Fulbright. All Darla-May and Ray have to do is get rid of Toby when the moment is right. Fair Park in Dallas is a long way from Afghanistan, but a bullet does the same damage/death thing everywhere.

Jamie insists on being a virgin and plans to remain so. They have known each other since the first grade as Jamie lives down just down the street. It isn’t surprising that sometimes the narrator goes to the woods behind the house to check out the bedroom view in “Virgin Sacrifice” by David Rachels. Graduation is coming and there are plans.

Cici has been gone for a few years, but is back in Maui. In “Paradise” by Rena Robinett, Trelani is missing and Cici is on the hunt as a mother does what she has to do.

Bad enough to come home and find your place ransacked. Your daughter’s toys were one of the few things not messed with while you and your family were at the movies. Especially annoying to find out that your two AR-15s are gone. In “A Nice Pair Of guns” by Nick Kolakowski the hunt is on for the guns and these responsible.

His father Hal told him to only trust his eyes and ears and ignore what was on television and in the paper. He apparently never said a word about watching out for stuff falling on your head by the way of a crane on the hard docks of Oakland. He certainly isn’t going to say anything at all how thanks to the blow caused by six tons of Malaysian tin hitting his head. Jimmy is still coping with the aftermath of that is so many ways in “Mercy” by Dale Sandlin.

The bios of eight authors involved and the editors Todd Robinson, Allison Glassgow and Julie Mccarron bring the latest issue to a close.

If you have read Thuglit before you know what you are in for as this issue meets high standards. If you have not, this series is not about unicorns and rainbows. If any are present, they are because of your imagination is in whacked out over drive as you have been chasing meth and alcohol the last 36 hours in a desperate attempt to get some money together in a cock eyed plan to rip somebody off. Or, somebody hit you over the head and you had strange dreams while lying unconscious as god knows what went on around you and to you. Thuglit: Issue 21 is another dark read and another good one.

Material was purchased to read and review back in late January by way of funds in my Amazon Associate account.

Kevin R. Tipple ©2016

SleuthSayers: Five Red Herrings, Numero 7.

SleuthSayers: Five Red Herrings, Numero 7.: by Robert Lopresti 1.  Thuglit .   You like mysteries?  You like short stories?  So, have you read Thuglit yet?  It is a good magazine, ...

SleuthSayers: Nothin' But The Best

SleuthSayers: Nothin' But The Best: by Robert Lopresti As part of my tireless effort to make the world a better place I am once again listing all the best short mysteries ...

The Story Behind The Story: “Murder Boy,” by Bryon Quertermous

The Story Behind The Story:
“Murder Boy,” by Bryon Quertermous

Interesting Reading Elsewhere--- Storyville: Editor Interviews—Needle, Thuglit, and The Big Click

Well worth reading here as what works and what doesn't for these publications among other topics are covered. Get educated and get writing.

Review: "Thuglit: Issue 7" Edited by Todd Robinson

Reviewing collections and anthologies can be tricky due to the nature of the short stories involved. One does not want to say too much and ruin the reads. Such is the case here with Thuglit: Issue 7 where the reading is once again very good.

Kim wasn’t really obtainable in “Mouthbreather” by Joe Gifford.  The man known as “Slim” has always been at her beck and call since they grew up together in different trailers in “Copperhead Canyon. A bond that even his wife Rene doesn’t understand will cause him late one night to once again come to her aid.

Poke had a plan and true to form like everything Poke did, the plan was crazy bad. “Pegleg” by Ed Kurtz points out in detail just how crazy bad an idea it was.

Corporate theft and espionage are just a couple of things at work in “The Last Job” by Justin Ordonez.  It takes skill to steal from major corporations and this particular thief is good at it.  But, skill isn’t everything.

Chad wanted out of the drugs and more in “Two Sides of the Same Coin” by Christopher E. Long. While he wants out, his girlfriend Jen wants totally into his life. A trip to Vegas and their very lives is at stake.

Mitch has got his gun and his club and is going to chase down Ruby Jean. Nobody is ever going to come into his house and hurt his brother.  She and others will learn hard lessons in “Cinders” by Marie S. Crosswell.

Sid Hartsell can really throw it and the other boys in Harrison County can’t handle his pitches. In “Quiet Dell, 1914” by Benjamin Welton at the beginning there isn’t much known about Sid.  Reporter Thaddeus O’Connor knows the real story, most of it anyway, and is glad to tell you what happened that horrendously hot summer of 1914.

Considering the nature of his wife’s behavior, he has to be careful when he talks to the new young neighbor. She has two dogs and that might be a conversation starter in “The Neighbor’s Dog” by Edward Hagelstein. Mira seems worth getting to know for a variety of reasons, but, he should be thinking how much in common he has with the dog.

He just wants to go catch a shark in “Chum” by Michael Sears. It has been a bad day and he just wants a shark if the guy in the bar will just accept his money and cooperate.

As in previous issues in this series, the eight stories here are about dark deeds. Crime stories full of people often at the edge doing desperate things because of fate and/or personal stupidity.  Each tale pulls you in and slaps you around awhile before you are drop kicked from behind into the arms of the next author. Simply good stuff that will remind you again that humanity is about as bad as you think it is most days.

Thuglit: Issue 7

Edited by Todd Robinson

Thuglit Publishing

http://www.thuglit.com

August 2013

ASIN: B00EWS12L2

E-book (also available in print)

144 Pages

$0.99

Material obtained by purchase using funds in my Amazon Associates account for an objective review.

Kevin R. Tipple ©2013

Thuglit 8--Now Out

Thuglit 8 is now out and you can get it here.