Thursday, October 22, 2026
Jerry's House of Everything: DUFFY'S TAVERN: ARCHIE PROPOSES TO MARIE "THE BODY" McDONALD (APRIL 6, 1945)
Jerry's House of Everything: DUFFY'S TAVERN: ARCHIE PROPOSES TO MARIE "THE BODY...: Duffy's Tavern , where the elite meet to eat, ran from March 1, 1941 to December 28, 1951 on several radio networks (CBS, 1941-41; NBC B...
Thursday Treats: 10/22/2026
Some reading opportunities of interest this week.
Personal Note: My understanding is that
when it becomes Black Cat Mysteries next month and relaunches as a monthly release, a subscription will
be $60 bucks a year. As folks are well aware, as I have made no secret of it,
things are very bad here so I will not be a subscriber. I hope the new venture
works, but this reader has been priced out. And that should not be taken as a
criticism of what they are doing. If anything, it is yet another indictment of
my failure in life.
Author Maryann Miller announced on Twitter
that her new book, Second Chances And Other Stories, is now available
for preorder. Published by MCM Enterprises, the read is about characters experiencing
life in many different ways. Scheduled to be published on November 24rth, when
it will also be available on KindleUnlimited, the read can be purchased now on Amazon.
Released last week is the new anthology, Songs
to Woody. Published by Cowboy Jamboree
Press,
the read includes short stories by SMFS list members Zakariah Johnson (Oklahoma
Hills) and Stephen M. Pierce (This Machine Kills Itself). You can pick it up at
Amazon.
.jpg)
Speaking of SMFS, The Short Mystery
Fiction Society, I remind you of other reads by our members as recently compiled
and posted by SMFS President Joseph S. Walker. In his October 7th
post titled, A Plethora of Pulse-Pounding Pages as the Short Mystery Fiction
Society Enters a New Age!, Mr. Walker details numerous reads and includes the
launch of the first issue of the new SMFS Mystery Magazine. All the
details are in his post
on the SMFS blog.
Coming in November from Murderous Ink Press is the anthology,
Crimeucopia - Objection! Overruled!! SMFS list members in the
read are John M. Floyd (Nothing but the Truth), and Wil A. Emerson (Three
Strikes—You’re Out). The read is available for preorder at Amazon and other
vendors.
A reminder that Tollund Man: Stories
by SMFS list member Jeff Esterholm is now out. Published
by Cornerstone Press, you can get it at Amazon.
Finally, at the end of the month, A
Fatal Affair: The Murder of Helen Grier by Amanda Capper and Judy Penz Sheluk will be released
by Superior Shores
Press.
This is a true crime read on the case of the death of Helen Grier. Was it
murder or something else? You can get it in eBook and print formats at Amazon and other
vendors.
Until next time….
Kevin R.
Tipple ©2026
Picture taken earlier this week. Vote. It matters.
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
SleuthSayers: Advice for Writers Events
SleuthSayers: Advice for Writers Events: Recently our own Joseph Walker posed an interesting question on the Short Mystery Fiction Society list: In a few weeks I'm going to hav...
Beneath the Stains of Time: First Contact: Q.E.D. iff vol. 5-6 by Motohiro Katou
Beneath the Stains of Time: First Contact: Q.E.D. iff vol. 5-6 by Motohiro Katou: The simply titled story "Even" opens Motohiro Katou 's Q.E.D. iff vol. 5 and begins when Ashikaga Ren, a second-year universi...
Jerry's House of Everything: A SHORT STORY WEDNESDAY TWOFER, PART 2: THE HOAXTERS
Jerry's House of Everything: A SHORT STORY WEDNESDAY TWOFER, PART 2: THE HOAXTERS: "The Hoaxters" by Richard Wilson (from Galaxy Science Fiction , June 1952; reprinted in the collection Those Idiots from Earth , 1...
Jerry's House of Everything: A SHORT STORY WEDNESDAY TWOFER, PART 1 : THE SERPENT
Jerry's House of Everything: A SHORT STORY WEDNESDAY TWOFER, PART 1 : THE SERPENT: THE SERPENT THE SERPENT Three boys were playing together in a field; and as they played, one passing by called to them: "Beware! ...
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
In Reference to Murder: Media Murder for Monday
In Reference to Murder: Media Murder for Monday: It's the start of a new week and that means it's time for a brand-new roundup of crime drama news: THE BIG SCREEN/MOVIES Universal r...
Little Big Crimes: Dead Man's Chest, by Marcia Talley
Little Big Crimes: Dead Man's Chest, by Marcia Talley: "Dead Man's Chest," by Marcia Talley, in Hooked on Urban Legends... and Murder !, edited by Donna Andrews, Barb Goffman, and ...
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Seasonal Favorites: Hill, Jackson, Bradbury, McMahon, Ludwigsen
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Seasonal Favorites: Hill, Jackson, Bradbury, McMah...: When the days get shorter and there’s a shiver in the air, many people turn to spooky stories. I always say I don’t really like horror, ...
Jerry's House of Everything: OVERLOOKED FILM: THE STRANGE CASE Of DR. Rx (1942)
Jerry's House of Everything: OVERLOOKED FILM: THE STRANGE CASE Of DR. Rx (1942): From IMDb: "A mysterious vigilante known as 'Dr. X' strikes again. Assigned to the case is private detective Jerry Church but...
Bitter Tea and Mystery: Books Read in August 2026
Bitter Tea and Mystery: Books Read in August 2026: I only read 5 books this month. Don't get me wrong. Five books in a month is fine. But I have a minimum of 15 books I want to read bef...
Publication Day Review: The Best American Mystery and Suspense 2026, Editor Megan Abbott, Series Editor Steph Cha
The Best American Mystery and
Suspense 2026, Editor Megan Abbott, Series
Editor Steph Cha, reprints twenty of their favorite short stories of the year.
There are also thirty more tales listed in the honorable mention section to
consider. This means you have a lot of good reading here. I won’t try to
mention them all. What follows below are the several that really struck a chord
with me for one reason or another.
“Smoke and Mirrors” by Charles John Harper
originally appeared in an unspecified issue of Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine. It features Private Investigator Darrow Nash,
in Los Angeles, and quite the historical mystery tale. If you like a whodunit
style read, this one is for you. I am not about to ruin it by saying more.
“Finding Jimmy Baldwin” by Cheryl A. Head
originally appeared in the anthology, Crime Ink: Iconic: An Anthology of
Crime Fiction Inspired by Queer Icons. It is June 1954 and Roy has
shown up at the diner on schedule. Jimmy is a no show. That isn’t good news.
The fact That Jimmy, full name James Arthur Baldwin, now has a missing person’s
report according to the officer, a Sergeant Peterson, is worse news. Especially
for Roy.
“The Corpse Collector” by David Morrell
also appeared in an unspecified issue of Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine. A dental hygienist needs a second job to make
ends meet. One of her patients, a funeral director, suggested that she could
collect the dead for him. Especially in the middle of the night. The pay would
be really good and she agreed to do it on weekends. That has led to a lot of
interesting pickups, and she will tell you about several of them, and then tell
you about the big one last weekend.
“Small Things” by Wanda M. Morris previously
appeared as an Amazon Original Story. Hannah Ferguson loves the shed out
back. She does her art in it and hides her creativity in the small space. Her marriage
is on a downhill slide. At least she still has her art and the freedom it can
bring her.
For Rosalie, With Love” by M. E. Proctor originally appeared in the anthology, Myopic Duplicity: Do the Ends Ever Justify the Means? The plan is, as it always has been since they first met. Do anything and everything for Rosalie.
“Mama” by Rob D. Smith originally appeared
In Too Deep. Jimmy “Ton” Roy thought it was all clear to boost
the white Corvette. He’s behind the wheel when the beautiful driver comes back
for her purse. Jon’s plan to boost the cool car changes as does his future.
“Slow Ride” by Mark Thielman originally
appeared in Chop Shop. The young guy known as “Lil Meathead” swiped the Ford F-250
and got away with it. He did the work though the boss of the crew, Woody, fueled
by meth and ego, will take much of the credit. Huey, the overall boss and the
owner of the day time garage and night time chop shop did not really want
another pickup truck. Here in Dallas so the truck won’t bring top dollar. But,
there is a possibility of a really big payday. Lil Meathead knows of a 2022 Bently set up for American
driver. It has the steering wheel on the left, is purple, and has all the bells
and whistles. Huey is interested. That means soon Lil Meathead and Woody are dee in
conversation while headed up the Dallas North Tollway to swipe the car.
The seven stories highlighted here are my
personal favorites. No doubt your selections would probably be different. There
isn’t a bad one in the bunch. The Best American Mystery and Suspense 2026
will provide you a lot of good reading and is well worth your time.
Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/4spesnf
My digital ARC reading copy came from the
publisher, Mariner Books, by way of NetGalley with no expectation of a positive
review.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2026
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
