· 2025
A harrowing array of scary stories that all have one thing in common: each either begins or ends with a scream! R.L. Stine--the godfather of Goosebumps--and some of the most popular authors today bring an unrivaled mastery of all things fearsome, frightening, and fantabulous to this terrifying anthology of all-new scary short stories. Scream and Scream Again! is full of twists and turns, dark corners, and devilish revenge. Collected in conjunction with the Mystery Writers of America, this set includes works from New York Times bestselling authors telling tales of wicked ice-cream trucks, time-travelling heroes, witches and warlocks, and of course, haunted houses. Read it if you dare! With twenty never-before-published scary stories from some of the most popular authors today--including Chris Grabenstein, Wendy Corsi Staub, Heather Graham, Peter Lerangis, R.L. Stine, Bruce Hale, Emmy Laybourne, Steve Hockensmith, Lisa Morton, Ray Daniel, Beth Fantaskey, Phil Mathews, Carter Wilson, Doug Levin, Jeff Soloway, Joseph S. Walker, Alison McMahan, Daniel Palmer, Tonya Hurley, and Stephen Ross--it's sure to leave readers screaming for more.
· 2024
Hitting the charts only once isn't just unfortunate...it's a crime. Over the decades, tons of musical artists and groups have had a hit song that has lived on long after the tune topped the charts and is often looked upon fondly for decades to come. For some musicians, this may be the only the song they're ever known for and they fade into obscurity soon thereafter. These are affectionately known as "one-hit wonders," and are much celebrated by fans and music publications, particularly on September 25th each year on One-Hit Wonder Day. 12 of today's best short story authors have taken their favorite one-hit wonders and reimagined them as the influence for some pretty heinous crimes. (I Just) Died in Your Arms features a decades-spanning collection of immediately recognizable hit songs turned into stories from the amazing talents of Vinnie Hansen, Jeanne DuBois, Josh Pachter, J.M. Taylor, Christine Verstraete, Sandra Murphy, Joseph S. Walker, Wendy Harrison, Bev Vincent, Leone Ciporin, Adam Gorgoni and Barb Goffman.
· 2023
Issue No19 features: A curated collection of short fiction including stories by Laird Barron, Lawrence Block, Joseph S. Walker, Ahreeda Ryter, Thomas Belton, S.E Bailey, Edward Musto, Russell W. Johnson, Karen Harrington, and Matt Burgess. Essays, Interviews and Reviews by J.B. Stevens, Mark Westmoreland, and Nev March. Art and Photography by Szymon Jędrzejewski and Dimitri Bourriau. This issue also features a preview of the new graphic novel Wynd by James Tynion IV. NY Times Bestselling author Reed Farrel Coleman has called Mystery Tribune “a cut above” and mystery grand masters Lawrence Block and Max Allan Collins have praised it for its “solid fiction” and “the most elegant design”. An elegantly crafted quarterly issue, printed on uncoated paper and with a beautiful layout designed for optimal reading experience, our Issue No19 issue will make a perfect companion or gift for avid mystery readers and fans of literary crime fiction.
· 2024
This issue, we begin the second volume of Ed Glasby’s monumental fantasy trilogy with The Dark Pilgrimage, plus we have a complete science fiction novel by Nelson S. Bond and a complete classic mystery novel by Mary Roberts Rinehart and Avery Hopwood, adapted from their play by acclaimed author Stephen Vincent Benét. On the mystery short story end of things, Acquiring Editor Michael Bracken has an original from Tom Larsen, and Acquiring Editor Barb Goffman has a Thanksgiving tale by Joseph S. Walker that’s perfect for the holiday. We also have a great original tale by Vy Kava. For the fantasy & science fiction readers, we have an original fairy tale-inspired story by Maureen Bowden, plus a dark fantasy classic by John S. Glasby, plus a science fiction survival-in-space classic by E.C. Tubb. Here’s the complete lineup— NOVELS The Bat, by Mary Roberts Rinehart, Avery Hopwood, and Stephen Vincent Benét A killer stalks a mansion, cloaked in darkness. Can a sharp-witted woman unmask The Bat? When Freemen Shall Stand, by Nelson S. Bond A Nazi spy disrupts a war-ending chemical experiment. Centuries later, the survivors awaken…. SERIAL NOVEL The Dark Pilgrimage, by Edmund Glasby (part 1 of 2) Beginning the second volume in The Apocalypses of Brother Santiago. SOLVE-IT-YOURSELF MYSTERY “The Campground Caper,” by Hal Charles An aging teen idol is assaulted backstage during intermission. Can you solve the case before the detective? SHORT STORIES “The Other Brother,” by Tom Larsen [Michael Bracken Presents] A botched smuggling operation. A missing brother who knows too much. Can Wilson Salinas uncover the truth before the shadows close in for good? “Dinner with the King,” by Joseph S. Walker [Barb Goffman Presents] A cunning pickpocket, a tough-as-nails detective chasing counterfeiters, and Thanksgiving dinner! “The Badge and the Interpreter,” by Vy Kava An interpreter faces murder, secrets, and impossible choices. Can she survive the truth? “Edna Lowry’s Legacy,” by Maureen Bowden Earth is dying, and humanity’s time is running out. Sean Lowry’s family carries a legacy that may be their only chance to survive. “Something About Gargoyles,” by John S. Glasby A man is dying without any medical explanation. Can the secret to his illness be found in the shadowy feud with a local stonemason? “Emergency Call,” by E.C. Tubb A spaceship loses critical oxygen mid-journey. Survival demands impossible choices...
· 2023
When ne'er-do-well Marty marries into the Irish mob, he knows he has to prove his worth to the family. So when his brothers-in-law tap him for a Christmas jewel heist disguised as Santa Claus, he sees his chance. But things spiral out of control at the office party as Marty loses track of his partners-in-crime and scrambles to escape the cops. An absurd case of mistaken identity and holiday hijinks ensues as this loser tries desperately not to end up on the naughty list.
· 2021
Years ago, Sheriff William Finch crossed the line and killed a man many would say richly deserved it. Now a cop himself, William's son Wade is haunted by what his father did—and by the question of what he'll do himself when faced with the same choice.
A cunning pickpocket, a tough-as-nails detective chasing counterfeiters, and Thanksgiving -- who could ask for more in a mystery?
· 2023
Our 93rd issue has a ton (we weighed it!) of great fiction, starting with an original crime story from John M. Floyd. John remains one of our most popular authors, and this one comes courtesy of Acquiring Editor Michael Bracken. We also have a great mystery tale by Joseph S. Walker, thanks to Acquiring Editor Barb Goffman. Plus a Jack the Ripper tale from Adrian Cole. And mystery classics from James Holding and Dick Donovan—in Donovan’s case, a complete short story collection. Of course, we also have a solve-it-yourself mystery from Hal Charles. On the more fantastic side of things, you will also find Adrian Cole’s Jack the Ripper story. Plus a pair of classic novels from Jack Williamson (future war against the robots) and George O. Smith (a time travel classic), plus a scientific zombie (using the old term, “jumbee”) tale from Wallace West. Quite a varied selection this time! Here’s the complete lineup: Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “High Noon in the Big Country,” by John M. Floyd [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “The Case of the Patriotic Pilferage,” by Hal Charles “Mercy,” by Joseph S. Walker [Barb Goffman Presents short story] “The Consultant,” by James Holding [short story] Riddles Read, by Dick Donovan [short story collection] “In the Wake of the Autumn Storm,” by Adrian Cole [short story] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “In the Wake of the Autumn Storm,” by Adrian Cole [short story] “The Belt,” by Wallace West [short story] The World-Mover, by George O. Smith [novel] After World’s End, by Jack Williamson [novel]
· 2023
Black Cat Weekly #102 has quite an eclectic lineup. We have modern mystery tales by Joseph S. Walker and Marc Lecard (thanks to Acquiring Editors Michael Bracken and Barb Goffman. A parody of Harlan Ellison’s work from Larry Tritten. Noir from Bruno Fischer. A story featuring traditional British detective Sexton Blake from Hal Meredith. Classic sci-fi by Lester del Rey. And let’s not forget our solve-it-yourself puzzler from Hal Charles. We also have more than a few stories by famous authors that appeared outside of the genre for which they are most famous. This time it’s mystery writer Evan Hunter, plus horror writers Joseph Payne Brennan and H.P. Lovecraft, all with science fiction stories. Lovecraft’s first appeared as a 3-part serial in Astounding Stories. How did Lovecraft’s work manage to appear in Astounding? For a brief time, he had an agent—who made the sale for him to a market that paid significantly more than Weird Tales. Surely Lovecraft never would have submitted to Astounding on his own. And never mind that it really is a science fiction story, though there are cosmic horrors as well. Literary quality sold it. And so Lovecraft became a science fiction pulp writer! Evan Hunter—slumming in the science fiction field—sold his story to Science Fiction Quarterly—a respectable market, if not in the top tier. Brennan’s tale appeared as an original in his 1963 collection, Scream at Midnight. Here’s the complete lineup: Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: "Making the Bad Guys Nervous," by Joseph S. Walker [Michael Bracken Presents short story] "Things That Go Bump," by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] "Teardown," by Marc Lecard [Barb Goffman Presents short story] "Py Ponk," by Hal Meredith [Sexton Blake series, short story] "Stop Him!," by Bruno Fischer Science Fiction & Fantasy: "Painbird, Painbird, Fly Away Home," by Larry Tritten "Operation Distress," by Lester Del Rey "The Dump," by by Joseph Payne Brennan "Reaching for the Moon," by Evan Hunter At the Mountains of Madness, by H. P. Lovecraft [novel]
Travis and Andre are on the run from an armored car heist gone wrong. They still have a chance to get away with the cash—but they’re about to pick the worst place in the world to stop for gas.