Jack Bates

Joseph S. Walker

Albert Tucher

Steve Liskow

Wendy Harrison

Shari Held

Linda Kay Hardie

Karen Keeley

Laura Hazan

Anna V. Nelson

Chandler Christie

PLEASE NOTE: This anthology contains scenes with graphic depictions of sexual acts between consenting and wildly enthusiastic adults. We advise readers to read a maximum of two stories at a time to reduce the risk of overheating. Sex can be the greatest pleasure or the deepest disappointment. It’s an expression of love, a few moments of fun, the way to scratch an itch, a lifetime commitment and all with two (or more) bodies tangled in the dark. The human form comes together in perfect harmony, like musical instruments coming together to create the ultimate composition or concert.. Twelve authors have penned tales of sex, crime, revenge, ego, espionage, and unexplainable events, each involving a musical instrument commonly found in an orchestra. Couples, threesomes, group sex, same-sex, multiple partners, a bit of bondage, and one mermaid—no matter who they are or what configuration they choose to satisfy their lust, all participants soon learn it’s not just about sex. Of course, with just one wrong note…it’s murder. Sex & Violins features stories of crime and intimacy by Jack Bates, Laura Hazan, Anna V. Nelson, Chandler Christie, Albert Tucher, Shari Held, Karen Keeley, Joseph S. Walker, Linda K. Hardie, Steve Liskow, Wendy Harrison and Sandra Murphy.

An Erotic Crime Anthology

Sex & Violins

Darkness creeps into the motor city... Detroit homicide detective Eleanor "Shoobie" Dube pursues a killer who leaves his victims in abandoned buildings throughout the city. When builders uncover a skeleton, Shoobie tentatively identifies the remains as Megan Traine's long vanished aunt. Meg turns to her long-time companion, Detroit PI Chris "Woody" Guthrie, for help. To help Meg, Guthrie puts the ugly divorce he's investigating on hold. Then the couple's daughter Shannon flees from her parent's warfare and meets a disturbed young man who knows every hiding place in the area. Now, Guthrie, Shoobie, and Megan race to find the girl before darkness claims yet another victim.

Dark Gonna Catch Me Here

Rising singer Sadie Hawk hires Detroit PI "Woody" Guthrie and his partner Eleanor "Shoobie" Dube to prove that a record produce raped her three years earlier. She gives them names of other singers who might confirm her story, but two of them die within days before Guthrie and Shoobie can question them. At the same time, Valerie Karr, their former receptionist and now a police cadet, faces constant harassment from her misogynistic partner.When Shoobie is beaten and assaulted and Valerie and her partner answer the call, it changes all the rules. Everyone has to figure out where the line is between justice and revenge--and what happens when you cross it.

Words of Love

Robert E. Howard

Murray Leinster

Johnston McCulley

Randall Garrett

B.M. Bower

Darrell Schwetizer

Andrew Welsh-Huggins

Hal Charles

In our 89th issue, Michael Bracken pulls double duty to bring a pair of original mysteires to readers: great tales by Steve Liskow and Welsh-Huggins. Plus we have a crime novel by Johnston McCulley (who also created Zorro—but he tried his hand at a bunch of other heroes and antiheroes, among them The Scarlet Scourge, The Avenging Twins, and a ton of others). There’s also a novel by Western author B.M. Bower. Plus a solve-it-yourself mystery by Hal Charles. On the science fiction & fantasy side, we have classic tales by Randall Garrett and Murray Leinster, two favorites. Robert E. Howard (much on my mind since returning from our trip to Robert E. Howard Days in Cross Plains, Texas) has a Solomon Kane adventure. And last (but far from least) we begin the serialization of Darrell Schweitzer’s amazing Sekenre: The Book of the Sorcerer, a series of linked short stories that come together to form a novel…though each tale also manages to stand on its own. The first 3 stories are in this issue. Here’s this issue’s complete lineup: Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “Nose for News,” by Steve Liskow [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “The Case of the Burgled Bushels,” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “Supply Chains,” by Andrew Welsh-Huggins [Michael Bracken Presents short story] The Voice at Johnnywater, by B.M. Bower [novel] The Scarlet Scourge, by Johnston McCulley [novel] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “Needler,” by Randall Garrett [novella] “Rattle of Bones,” by Robert E. Howard [short story] “Ribbon in the Sky,” by Murray Leinster [novella] Sekenre: The Book of the Sorcerer, by Darrell Schwetizer [serial book, part 1 of 4]

Black Cat Weekly #89

George R. R. Martin

Lester del Rey

Nalo Hopkinson

Richard Wilson

Day Keene

Larry Tritten

Cathy Wiley

This issue features a welcome return by acquiring editor Darrell Schweitzer. He contributes a rare interview with best-selling Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin. It originally appeared in Science Fiction Review in 1976—and as Darrell says, “this is somewhere between oral history and paleontology.” Martin discusses such things as the market for fantasy fiction (not much of one...at least in 1976!) and the way he works on stories. Fascinating stuff. For this issue’s mysteries, we have an original story by Steve Liskow, who is one of the best short-story writers currently working in the field, courtesy of editor Michael Bracken. Barb Goffman has selected “The Maine Attraction” (a New England murder mystery) by Cathy Wiley. And there are classics by Day Keene and Mildred Davis. Plus, of course, a solve-it-yourself tale by Hal Charles (the writing team of Hal Sweet and Charlie Blythe). For the fantastic tales, this issue features Nalo Hopkinson’s brilliant “Greedy Choke Puppy,” selected by Cynthia Ward. Simply terrific. Larry Tritten’s SF humor piece, “The Science Fiction Book of Lists” will earn more than a few chuckles. Plus there are classic SF tales by James E. Gunn and Lester del Rey. Plus a ghost story by Richard Wilson. And a story from Weird Tales by Day Keene (which also does double-duty as a mystery!) Here’s the complete lineup: Non-Fiction Speaking with George R.R. Martin, an interview by Darrell Schweitzer [interview] “The Science Fiction Book of Lists,” by Larry Tritten [non-fact article, humor] Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure “The Bridesmaid’s Tale” by Steve Liskow. [short story] “A Robber’s Craft” by Hal Charles [solve-it-yourself mystery] The Suicide Hours, by Mildred Davis [novel] “The Maine Attraction” by Cathy Wiley [short story] “Dead Man’s Shoes,” by Day Keene [short story] Science Fiction & Fantasy “The Science Fiction Book of Lists,” by Larry Tritten [non-fact article, humor] “Dead Man’s Shoes,” by Day Keene [short story] “Greedy Choke Puppy,” by Nalo Hopkinson [short story] “Stilled Patter,” by James E. Gunn [short story] “See Me Safely Home,” by Richard Wilson [short story] “Kindness,” by Lester del Rey [short story]

Black Cat Weekly #27

Hilary Davidson

Laura Scott

Nick Mamatas

Alex Segura

William Boyle

Paul D. Marks

Charles Salzberg

Dana Cameron

Gray Basnight

Josh Pachter

Brian Thornton

Matthew Martin

Kevin Burton Smith

From classics like “Werewolves of London,” “Excitable Boy,” and “Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner” to lesser-known gems across a career spanning nearly four decades, the songs of Warren Zevon are rich with crime and intrigue and suspense—guns and gunners, assassins and drug dealers, a supernatural serial killer, and a heap of hapless losers along the way too. In Lawyers, Guns, and Money, fifteen fantastic writers—avid fans of Zevon’s genius—offer fresh spins on his discography with tales that span the mystery genre: caper, espionage, noir, paranormal, private eye, and more. With new stories by Gray Basnight, William Boyle, Dana Cameron, Libby Cudmore, Hilary Davidson, Steve Liskow, Nick Mamatas, Paul D. Marks, matthew quinn martin, Josh Pachter, Charles Salzberg, Laura Ellen Scott, Alex Segura, Kevin Burton Smith, and Brian Thornton, Zevon’s wry lyrics and unforgettable characters serve as the inspiration for dark crimes and dirty deeds – just the way he liked them.

Crime Fiction Inspired by the Music of Warren Zevon

Lawyers, Guns, and Money

Bobbi A. Chukran

Herschel Cozine

Trey Dowell

Bert Paul

Lesley A. Diehl

Catina Williams

C.C. Guthrie

J.B. Toner

Steve Shrott

Kari Wainwright

Lisa Wagner

Everyone’s favorite Thanksgiving-themed mystery anthology is back for a sixth outing, celebrating not just the best in murder-most-fowl short stories (not a turkey among them) but also ten years of Untreed Reads Publishing! In addition to enjoying the holiday magic that is bumping off family members we don’t like, this year’s Killer also honors the dedication to the writing world by the late TKWC contributor Earl Staggs. Serving up a sixth season of stories are the following dinner guests: Bobbi A. Chukran, Bert Paul, C.C. Guthrie, Catina Williams, Herschel Cozine, J.B. Toner, Joseph S. Walker, Kari Wainwright, Lesley A. Diehl, Steve Liskow, Steve Shrott, and Trey Dowell. Lisa Wagner returns with all-new recipes, helping you to fill your stomach and tickle your funny bone at the same time. So have a seat, grab a plate of food (we wouldn’t try the stuffing if we were you) and get ready to laugh until you’re cranberry in the face!

The Killer Wore Cranberry: A Sixth Scandalous Serving

Steve Liskow

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