Our mystery selections kick off with āA Matter of Trust,ā N.M. CedeƱoās tale of a genetic genealogy detective trying to prove an illegitimate childās claim to a family trust. Thanks to Acquiring Editor Michael Bracken for this one. And Acquiring Editor Barb Goffman has a Halloween-appropriate tale in āGrimalkin,ā by Mark Thielman, in which a cat may be more than it seems. We also have fantasist Phyllis Ann Karrās first saleāwhich turns out to be a mystery!āand a novel by British master J.S. Fletcher. And, of course, no issue is complete without a solve-it-yourself puzzler from Hal Charles.
Continuing our seasonal celebration of all things Halloween, we have a pair of dark delightsātales by Adrian Cole and me. Have some ghoulish shivers on us!
For lovers of science fiction, we have a great tale by Norman Spinrad, plus classics by Charles V. De Vet and Lester del Rey. Great stuff.
Hereās the complete lineup:
Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure:
āA Matter of Trust,ā by N.M. CedeƱo [Michael Bracken Presents short story]
āThe Case of the Munificent Musketeer,ā by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery]
āGrimalkin,ā by Mark Thielman [Barb Goffman Presents short story]
āAn Economical Means of Murder,ā by Phyllis Ann Karr [short story]
The Herapath Property, by J.S. Fletcher [novel]
Science Fiction & Fantasy:
āIn the Court of the Pumpkin King,ā by Adrian Cole [short story, Nick Nightmare series]
āSand,ā by John Gregory Betancourt [short story, SCP series]
āQuarantine,ā by Norman Spinrad [short story]
āSurvival Factor,ā by Charles V. De Vet [short story]
āThe Band Played On,ā by Lester del Rey [novelet]