Groovy Gumshoes
Groovy Gumshoes

Author: Jack Bates

Publisher: Down & Out Books

Published: 2022-04-11

Total Pages: 196

ISBN-13:

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The Sixties were a time of great cultural upheaval, when long-established social norms were challenged and everything changed: from music to fashion to social mores. And the Leave It to Beaver households in Middle America didn’t know what to make of it all. In the midst of this, private eyes tried to understand and bridge the generational divide while providing their clients with legal and extra-legal detecting services. From old-school private eyes with their flat-tops, off-the-rack suits, and well-worn brogues to the new breed of private eyes with their shoulder-length hair, bell-bottoms, and hemp sandals, the shamuses in Groovy Gumshoes take readers on a rollicking romp through the Sixties. With stories by Jack Bates, C.W. Blackwell, Michael Bracken, N.M. Cedeño, Hugh Lessig, Steve Liskow, Adam Meyer, Tom Milani, Neil S. Plakcy, Stephen D. Rogers, Mark Thielman, Grant Tracey, Mark Troy, Andrew Welsh-Huggins, and Robb White.

More Groovy Gumshoes
More Groovy Gumshoes

Author: Michael Bracken

Publisher: Down & Out Books

Published: 2023-04-10

Total Pages: 186

ISBN-13:

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The Sixties were a time of great cultural upheaval, when long-established social norms were challenged and everything changed: from music to fashion to social mores. And the Leave It to Beaver households in Middle America didn’t know what to make of it all. In the midst of this, private eyes tried to understand and bridge the generational divide while providing their clients with legal and extra-legal detecting services. From old-school private eyes with their flat-tops, off-the-rack suits, and well-worn brogues to the new breed of private eyes with their shoulder-length hair, bell-bottoms, and hemp sandals, the shamuses in More Groovy Gumshoes—a follow-up to the far-out original Groovy Gumshoes—take readers on another rollicking romp through the Sixties. Contributors include: Michael Chandos, Wil A. Emerson, Jeff Esterholm, John M. Floyd, Nils Gilbertson, Wendy Harrison, Dave H. Hendrickson, gay toltl kinman, Lynn Maples, Jarrett Mazza, John McFetridge, Robert Petyo, Graham Powell, Bev Vincent, Joseph S. Walker, and Stacy Woodson.

Prohibition Peepers
Prohibition Peepers

Author: Michael Bracken

Publisher: Down & Out Books

Published: 2023-09-08

Total Pages: 257

ISBN-13:

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The 18th Amendment created prohibition—a “noble experiment” that banned the manufacture, transportation, and sale of intoxicating liquors—and gave rise to criminal activity associated with bootlegging, gang violence, and more. During the 1920s and early 1930s, the police had their hands full, and private investigators were there working both sides of the law. Prohibition Peepers stories are set during and immediately after the end of Prohibition, with private eyes serving clients of all social statuses. These hardboiled and fast-paced tales written by some of today’s hottest crime fiction short story writers will have you reaching for your own mason jar of moonshine or highball glass of bathtub gin. Edited by Michael Bracken with stories by Michael Bracken, Susanna Calkins, David Dean, Jim Doherty, John M. Floyd, Nils Gilbertson, Richard Helms, Hugh Lessig, Steve Liskow, Leigh Lundin, Adam Meyer, Penny Mickelbury, Joseph S. Walker, and Stacy Woodson.

Private Dicks and Disco Balls
Private Dicks and Disco Balls

Author: Michael Bracken

Publisher: Down & Out Books

Published: 2024-05-06

Total Pages: 236

ISBN-13:

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The Sixties were a time of great cultural upheaval, and that upheaval continued into the 1970s. In the midst of all this, private eyes worked with clients across the generations, from those still clinging to the social mores of Nixon’s “silent majority” to those who embraced the rapid societal changes that began in the 1960s. From old-school private eyes to the Baby Boomers coming of age and entering the trade, these private eyes will take readers on a funky frolic through the Dyn-O-Mite Seventies. Contributors include Ann Aptaker, N.M. Cedeño, Bill Fitzhugh, James A. Hearn, Laura Oles, Alan Orloff, Gary Phillips, Neil S. Plakcy, William Dylan Powell, Stephen D. Rogers, Mark Thielman, Bev Vincent, and Andrew Welsh-Huggins.

Mickey Finn Vol. 4
Mickey Finn Vol. 4

Author: Michael Bracken

Publisher: Down & Out Books

Published: 2023-12-11

Total Pages: 263

ISBN-13:

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Mickey Finn: 21st Century Noir, Volume 4, the fourth entry of the hard-hitting anthology series, is another crime-fiction cocktail that will again knock readers into a literary stupor. Contributors push hard against the boundaries of crime fiction, driving their work into places short crime fiction doesn’t often go, into a world where the mean streets seem gentrified by comparison and happy endings are the exception rather than the rule. And they do all this in contemporary settings, bringing noir into the 21st century. Like any good cocktail, Mickey Finn is a heady mix of ingredients that packs a punch, and when you’ve finished reading every story, you’ll know that you’ve been “slipped a Mickey.” The nineteen contributors, including some of today’s most respected short-story writers and new writers making their mark on the genre, include: Ann Aptaker, Trey R. Barker, Michael Bracken, John M. Floyd, Nils Gilbertson, David Hagerty, James A. Hearn, Hugh Lessig, Sean McCluskey, Adam Meyer, Gabe Morran, Alan Orloff, Josh Pachter, Stephen D. Rogers, Bev Vincent, Joseph S. Walker, Andrew Welsh-Huggins, Sam Wiebe, and Stacy Woodson.

Mickey Finn Vol. 3
Mickey Finn Vol. 3

Author: Michael Bracken

Publisher: Down & Out Books

Published: 2022-12-12

Total Pages: 194

ISBN-13:

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Mickey Finn: 21st Century Noir, Volume 3, the third entry of the hard-hitting anthology series, is another crime-fiction cocktail that will again knock readers into a literary stupor. Contributors push hard against the boundaries of crime fiction, driving their work into places short crime fiction doesn’t often go, into a world where the mean streets seem gentrified by comparison and happy endings are the exception rather than the rule. And they do all this in contemporary settings, bringing noir into the 21st century. Like any good cocktail, Mickey Finn is a heady mix of ingredients that packs a punch, and when you’ve finished reading every story, you’ll know that you’ve been “slipped a Mickey.” The nineteen contributors, including some of today’s most respected short-story writers and new writers making their mark on the genre, include: Ann Aptaker, Trey R. Barker, C.W. Blackwell, John Bosworth, John M. Floyd, Nils Gilbertson, James A. Hearn, Janice Law, Steve Liskow, Sean McCluskey, Adam Meyer, Alan Orloff, Jon Penfold, C. Matthew Smith, Joseph S. Walker, Michael Wegener, Andrew Welsh-Huggins, Sam Wiebe, and Stacy Woodson.

Black Cat Weekly #98
Black Cat Weekly #98

Author: Adam Meyer

Publisher: Black Cat Weekly

Published: 2023-07-16

Total Pages: 402

ISBN-13:

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Black Cat Weekly #98 features 10 short stories and a novel. This time, we have five mysteries (including a terrific original by Adam Meyer, courtesy of Acquiring Editor Michael Bracken), modern tales by Dharma Kelleher (courtesy of Acquiring Editor Barb Goffman) and Jack Halliday, plus a classic by Frank Gruber, who was a prolific pulp writer and novelist. Gruber’s story of a dance-hall clip-joint provides a window into a long-gone era. And of course, no issue is complete without a solve-it-yourself mystery. On the more science fiction and fantasy side, we have a sword-and-sorcery tale by Phyllis Ann Karr (set in her Frosterflower and Thorn universe), a dark fantasy by horror master Joseph Payne Brennan, a time-travel tale by Robert Abernathy, and classic science fiction by Philip Jose Farmer (“Daughter” is a followup to his classic tale, “Mother”) and John W. Campbell (the tale of grim survival on the moon, The Moon Is Hell.) And for Western fans, we have a classic tale by Alan Le May. Great stuff! Here’s the complete lineup: Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “Stacy’s Mom,” by Adam Meyer [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “The Games Gang Rides Again,” Hal Charlies [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “Kissing Asphalt,” by Dharma Kelleher [Barb Goffman Presents short story] “Great Caesar’s Ghost!” by Jack Halliday [short story] “Clip-Joint Adventures,” by Frank Gruber [short story] “The Bells of San Juan,” by Alan Le May [short story] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “Sorcery and Sacrilege,” by Phyllis Ann Karr [short story] “The Midnight Bus,” by Joseph Payne Brennan [short story] “Daughter,” by Philip Jose Farmer [short story] “Stopwatch on the World,” by Robert Abernathy [novelet] The Moon Is Hell, by John W. Campbell [novel]

Two Shrimp Tacos and a .22 Ruger
Two Shrimp Tacos and a .22 Ruger

Author: Adam Meyer

Publisher: Down & Out Books

Published: 2022-10-01

Total Pages: 43

ISBN-13:

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If someone attacked the love of your life, how far would you go for payback? Private investigator Coleman Perkins is the kind of man who tries to do the right thing. His years of committing petty crimes and being locked up in juvenile prison are over. These days, he does his best to help people like Burt Glaser, the ex-cop who took him under his wing and helped him get on the straight and narrow. All Cole really wants is to do his job, find a good woman and start a family. It’s a life he might’ve had--except for Max Delaney. Years ago, Delaney attacked Cole’s pregnant ex-girlfriend. After that, Cole lost the woman he loved. And he’s been dreaming of revenge ever since. Now Delaney’s out of prison. Burning with rage, Cole makes a late-night visit to a very special taco truck, where he gets a .22 Ruger. That’s not a lot of firepower, but it should be more than enough to do what Cole has in mind--take down Delaney once and for all. First, however, he’s got to find him. When Cole ties the ex-con to a robbery at a high-end department store, he’s got two choices: go back to his law-abiding life and forget about Max Delaney. Or make him pay for what he’s done. Cole won’t walk away. He can’t, not after he starts looking into this new crime and meets the prime witness, a store clerk named Julia. She’s as beautiful as she is vulnerable, and for the first time in years, Cole finds some part of himself coming alive. Maybe it’s just desire. Or maybe it’s hope. As Cole connects with Julia, he quickly finds himself falling for her, and dreaming of the life they could have together. All he has to do is take care of Max Delaney. But as Cole soon discovers, he may not be the only one looking for payback.

Black Cat Weekly #64
Black Cat Weekly #64

Author: John M. Floyd

Publisher: Wildside Press LLC

Published: 2022-11-20

Total Pages: 609

ISBN-13: 1667660594

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Our 64th issue is a bit of a celebration—our American holiday, Thanksgiving, is nearly upon us, so we have a couple of other seasonally appropriate stories which I hope you will enjoy. (I trust our international readers will enjoy them as much as we do here.) Our acquiring editors have been busy. Michael Bracken has an original tale by Andrew Welsh-Huggins, and Barb Goffman has a turkey tale from modern master John M. Floyd. Cynthia Ward is off again this week, but she will have more for us shortly. Not enough? Well, we have gone back to the pulps for stories by Alfred Bester, George O. Smith, and Arthur J. Burks. Plus a novel by mystery superstar Mary Roberts Rinehart. Plus a long-lost fantasy by British author Sydney J. Bounds, which appears here for the first time. And another long-unseen story by the late and much-missed Larry Tritten. Here’s this issue’s lineup: Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “Dumbass Is Dumbass,” by Andrew Welsh-Huggins [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “The Loser Takes All,” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “Button’s and Bo’s,” by John M. Floyd [short story] “Thubway Tham’s Thanksgiving Dinner,” by Johnston McCulley [short story] “The Adventure of the Coffee-Pot,” by Hal Meredeth [short story] The Red Lamp, by Mary Roberts Rinehart [novel] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “In Video Veritas,” by Larry Tritten [short story] “The Grey Mage,” by Sydney J. Bounds [short story] “The Unseen Blushers,” by Alfred Bester [short story] “The Death Crystal,” by George O. Smith [novelet] “The Vanishers,” by Arthur J. Burks [novelet]

Death of a Bad Neighbour - Revenge is Criminal
Death of a Bad Neighbour - Revenge is Criminal

Author: Hilary Davidson

Publisher: The Logic of Dreams

Published: 2022-04-01

Total Pages:

ISBN-13: 1739688716

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15 all-new stories "Great Title!" - Mariella Frostrup live on Times Radio (May 2022) on hearing the title in passing From both new and established, award-winning and best-selling authors - Why is Kathy next door being stalked? - Why must Nigel sneak out of his own home? - What happened to the woman who cried cat? - Who killed the rock star caveman? - What is Sir Fergus Allison's bench for? Tales of intrigue and mystery, crime and revenge. What will the neighbors do about, or to, the bane of their lives? "I've really enjoyed these short stories! Made me laugh, surprised me, and shocked me! An excellent anthology." - Richard Walters, UK (reader via Facebook, April 2022) Visit a world where the intolerable few, who create hell for the rest, get their comeuppance. Stories from Hilary Davidson, Steve Hockensmith, L. C. Tyler, Marilyn Todd, Dave Zeltserman, Warren Moore, Robert Lopresti, Nick Manzolillo, Kevin Quigley, Eve Elliot, Eve Morton, Kay Hanifen, Wendy Harrison, Shiny Nyquist, and F. D. Trenton. "Jack Calverley has done a really good job of the ordering of the stories, you know, so each story is a bit different from the one before, and that's a knack I think to editing a short story collection, is getting that right and I think he's definitely got that right... but, yeah, a very entertaining collection." - CriminOlly BookTube reviewer (Olly Clarke on YouTube, April 9th 2022) You love crime & mystery? - This anthology was created for you! (or, as the cover bird says: "Buy it for my cover portrait alone!") Whatever else you do, check out the free preview...