Mystery Magazine: February 2024

by Mystery Weekly Magazine, Kerry Carter (Editor), Robert Lopresti

At the cutting edge of crime fiction, Mystery Magazine presents original short stories by the world’s best-known and emerging mystery writers.

The stories we feature in our monthly issues span every imaginable subgenre, including cozy, police procedural, noir, whodunit, supernatural, hardboiled, humor, and historical mysteries. Evocative writing and a compelling story are the only certainty.

Get ready to be surprised, challenged, and entertained--whether you enjoy the style of the Golden Age of mystery (e.g., Agatha Christie, Arthur Conan Doyle), the glorious pulp digests of the early twentieth century (e.g., Dashiell Hammett, Raymond Chandler), or contemporary masters of mystery.

★ In this issue ★

✓ In our cover feature, “Slow News Day” by Robert Lopresti, a SWAT team in Maryland prepares to deliver a load of marijuana and capture the recipients. What could possibly go wrong? More than you can imagine.

✓ “Better Than A Dating App” by V.S. Benny needs a new girlfriend, and she can’t be just anyone. At an opportune time, in a moment of recognition, he meets his match in a test of gamesmanship and skill.

✓ “The Three Thieves” by Dan Eleanor and Felix board the Canadian Flyer, a special Christmas-in-July Literary Rail Journey and find themselves in the middle of a book theft farce.

✓ “You Get What You Get” by Jillian Grant An old man, a dog, and a fatal accident on a steep and winding trail may not be quite what you get.

✓ In “Michael O'Shay And The Missing Wife” by William J. Demorascki, a beloved policeman in an Irish hamlet gives chase to a jealous, and armed, husband, on the hunt for the alleged paramour who made off with his wife.

✓ “A Chicken-Fried Mistake” by John H. The best laid plans of mice or men often go awry. Can a couple of determined young women do any better?

✓ In “Mexican Radio” by Pete Barnstrom, a regular business dispute over a border radio station turns out to be a love triangle, with private eye Marteens on the fourth corner.

✓ In “The Waiting Room” by Kathleen Ford, just about everyone in the country knew that aside from Lizzie Borden, Bridget Sullivan was the most important witness in the case. How can Bridget use this to her advantage?

✓ “A New Leaf” A You-Solve-It by John M. Can you help Fran and Lucy Valentine solve the mysterious attack at the fishing pond.

Custom Cover Art By Robin Grenville Evans

115 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 1, 2024

About the author

note: In 2022 the magazine changed its name from "Mystery Weekly Magazine" to simply "Mystery Magazine".

At the cutting edge of crime fiction, Mystery Magazine presents original short stories by the world’s best-known and emerging mystery writers. The stories we feature in our monthly issues span every imaginable subgenre, including cozy, police procedural, noir, whodunit, supernatural, hardboiled, humor, and historical mysteries. Evocative writing and a compelling story are the only certainty.

Print editions of Mystery Magazine are available on Amazon. You can also ask your local library to carry us on Flipster.

ABOUT US
Chuck Carter Publisher
A graduate of Western University, Chuck has over 20 years experience in Internet software development. He is an award-winning amateur photographer and occasional writer, with his first mystery novel published in 2015 by Cozy Cat Press. He handles our web development, magazine production, marketing, and strategic development.

Kerry Carter Editor
Kerry holds a BA from The University of Manitoba and certificates from Western and Waterloo universities. She is an avid reader of mystery fiction, and is never far from her manual of style. Her responsibilities include copyediting, reading submissions, preparing contracts and paying writers. She also maintains our social media accounts.

Reviews

[Kevintipple · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mystery Magazine: February 2024 begins with the cover story “Slow News Day” by Robert Lopresti. The DEA supplied the lead, but the execution of the raid in Maryland was done by the Vanaca County Sheriff’s Department. Specifically, their SWAT unit. Things did not go as planned. The tale was inspired, per the author, on a real life incident.

He came home to find himself locked out and his suitcase on the porch. That was just the nudge to leave in “Better Than A Dating App” by V.S. Kemanis. The plan is to take his skills to New York where the money will come to him. The location is different, but the game still exists. It is all about the execution.

Felix and Elenor are on a train and Eleanor is wondering why the handsome young man they met yesterday has not been seen today. Once Eleanor has something in her mind, she isn’t the type to let it go. In “The Three Thieves: A Canadian Flyer Mystery” by Dan Crosby, a missing man, a legendary book, and history all combine to create a very enjoyable locked room style mystery on wheels.

Frank is enjoying his retirement in “You Get What You Get” by Jullien Grant Shoichet. Other folks are not enjoying his retirement as much. This is one those tales, the less said by the reviewer, the better for the reader.

Charlotte Boru has gone missing from the small village of Tiperon. It is the 50s, Ireland, and policemen Michael O’ Shay, will have his hands full finding her. In “Michael O’Shay And the Missing Wife” by William J. Demorascki, Constable O’Shay is a good man and the sole police representative in the village. The hunt is on and the husband is irate.

Magnolia Culpepper is going through life faking being a southern Belle. Her inner side, “Maggie” as it were, is independent and does not give a whit what society expects in “A Chicken-Fried Mistake” by John H. Dromey. She wants to get out of town. She knows she needs money. She also has a friend, Amanda, who is also looking to get out of town. She has access to a car. Now they just need a good plan.

Herb Campuss has a voice for radio and his own syndicated show that is heard in this country and northern Mexico. Marteens is a private investigator and can speak Spanish. Campuss wants him to go across the border at El Paso and find a certain woman. Whether taking the job was a good idea or not becomes clear in “Mexican Radio” by Pete Barnstrom.

Mrs. Mallory is on a mission in “The Writing Room” by Kathleen Ford. She wants what she wants and is not going to go away quietly. Folks are going to understand her position.

John M. Floyd offers the “You-Solve-It” story titled, “A New Leaf.” Fran Valentine’s daughter, Lucy, is the County Sheriff. She needs some advice from her retired school teacher mom. Not just advice, as wants her to come look at a possible crime scene.

The issue closes with the solution to the January story, “Orange Cones and Alibis” by Kate Fellowes.

As one expects from this publication, the latest issue is an entertaining mix of mystery stories. Some are historical, some are contemporary, and all of them are good ones. The latest issue is another good one and well worth your time.


For quite some time now I have been gifted a subscription by the publisher with no expectation at all of a review.



Kevin R. Tipple ©2024