Black Cat Weekly #161

   As always, it’s an eclectic mix, from traditional mysteries to supernatural crimes, from space opera to a fantastic world of moving islands…and everything in between! I hope you enjoy them all.

   And special thanks to our art director, Ron Miller, who has found a terrific Steve Hickman cover for this issue (and continues to design amazing covers).

   Here’s the complete lineup—

Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure:

“Shanks’s Last Words,” by Robert Lopresti [Michael Bracken Presents short story]

    A shrewd mystery writer teams up with a rookie detective to try to solve a small-town accountant’s murder, unraveling cryptic clues.

“The Case of the Sabotaged Sloops,” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery]

    A small-town boat race faces sabotage threats. Can you solve the case before Detective Kelly Stone?

“Beware the Bunnyman,” by Shannon Taft [Barb Goffman Presents short story]

    A detective tries to unravel the truth behind a bizarre murder involving a giant rabbit costume and marital deception.

“The Jade Dragon of Dunhuang,” by Wayne Carey [short story]

    An expert in Chinese antiquities visits 1930s San Francisco, entangling himself in intrigue over a rare jade artifact.

The Sturgis Wager, by Edgar Morette [novel]

    A detective tackles a case of bank fraud and murder in 1890s New York, using keen observation and deductive reasoning.

Science Fiction & Fantasy:

“Dr. Darque and the Phantom Fear,” by Teel James Glenn [short story]

    A detective investigates mysterious deaths at Coney Island, uncovering a supernatural threat feeding on fear.

“How To Cross the Cavorting Sea’s Wandering Islands During the Fourth Dance of the Widdershins Elliptical Cycle,” by JM Cyrus [short story]

    A man’s journey across magical islands becomes a voyage of self-discovery and unexpected love in a whimsical world.

“The Return of Lancelot Biggs,” by Nelson S. Bond [short story]

    Quirky spaceship crew faces danger as efficiency expert’s mistakes pit them against the Sun’s deadly pull.

“Murderer’s Chain,” by Wenzell Brown [short story]

    A greedy son-in-law plots murder with an alien weapon, but his scheme unravels in an unexpected twist.

“Home Is the Hero,” by E.C. Tubb [short story]

    A space pioneer returns to Earth, grappling with physical challenges and the complexities of his heroic status.