Short Mystery Collection

In the third installment of his acclaimed anthology series, master of crime fiction Lawrence Block has gathered together the best talent from popular fiction to produce an anthology of short stories based on masterpieces of American art. Among the star-studded lineup of writers you'll find Jerome Charyn, Jane Hamilton, Christa Faust, John Sandford, Sara Paretsky, Walter Mosley, Charles Ardai, Barry Malzberg, and Janice Eidus.

In the spirit of the demolition derby, where drivers take heedless risks with reckless abandon, welcome to the first convocation of The Secret Society of Demolition Writers. Here is a one-of-a-kind collection by famous authors writing anonymously and dangerously. With the usual concerns about reputations and renown cast aside, these 12 daredevils have each contributed an extreme, no-holds-barred, unsigned story, each shining as brightly and urgently as hazard lights.

Tex Larimee is a grizzled Arizona sheriff who’s leaving the deserts of Cactus County behind, blazing a trail east to mix it up with The Slickers in the canyons of Manhattan. Tex’s welcome to New York is a rude one. Robbed of his cash, gun and badge, he’s locked in a room in back of a run-down bar. Breaking out of the bar, he goes looking for his best friend...only to find him dead, his throat cut. And the cops accuse Tex of committing the murder.

This anthology brings together a selection of thrilling and thought-provoking short stories by Richard Connell, renowned for his mastery in suspense and adventure. Highlighted by The Most Dangerous Game, a gripping tale of a man hunted for sport, the collection also features lesser-known but equally powerful works such as The Sin of Monsieur Pettipon, The Cage Man, Terrible Epps, and The $25,000 Jaw. Each story showcases Connell's unique ability to explore human nature under extreme conditions, blending action with psychological depth.

Seven strange stand-alone tales involving unusual people caught in disturbing circumstances are presented in this collection.

A collection of 15 crime fiction short stories in print., some of them award-winners, by author Libby Fischer Hellmann. The collection is divided into two parts: The Ellie Foreman/Georgia Davis stories and Chicago Then and Now; Other Places, Other Times.

A World War One fighter pilot tortured by guilt, a New York mobster desperately counting the hours until his execution, an elderly man losing his mind in a decrepit nursing home…. All must face their regrets and the notion that we build our own Hell, brick by brick.

Get ready for seven electrifying short stories that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page. In "Family Meeting," a college student calls her parents in a desperate bid for help—only it’s a matter of life and death. "New Year, New Me... Now What?" follows a woman willing to go to any lengths to reinvent herself for the man she’s obsessed with, but at what cost? "If You're Reading This Letter" tells the heart-wrenching story of a young man who must convince a stranger—and himself—that he deserves to die before he can take his own life.

In this gothic, virtuoso debut collection, Mike McCormack dispenses nightmares both stylish and macabre. "A Is for Ax" offers alphabetized look at the killing of a parent, while the title story tracks a chilling sibling rivalry. Other works here offer multiple-quiz on the road to Calvary, a door-to-door saleswoman trafficking in strange and menacing feats, and a self-mutilating artist pushing himself to the limit. These sly and dangerous stories show us a young writer who was already a master of wicked formal play, and whose sly takes on life and death remain profoundly unsettling.

From young women to elderly matrons, from the savvy sophisticates to the socially inept, the characters in these stories depict life's defining moments, where one calculated move cements the unalterable fate of another and the inescapable consequences of karma and conscience.

A drug rip turns terribly wrong for four hapless men. A bored housewife plays a dangerous game of cat and mouse with her retired neighbor. A father learns the realities of street life while searching for his daughter. A cop breaks the law to find a missing child. These are just a few citizens embracing mayhem as a part of their lives. Many more wait in the shadows, around the corner, or down the next alley. It’s time to see the 509 in a way you never expected.

Each story in this collection is a rollercoaster ride of mystery, suspense, and horror. "The Lost Collection Short Stories" is a must-listen for anyone who loves spine-tingling tales of the unknown.

In this collection of 19 short stories, Craig Nybo invites you to visit the lives of mostly unfortunate souls as they face the most terrifying moments of their existences. With everything from vampire hunting to zombie bashing, from steampunk death devices to shifty soul brokers, Nybo brings his own sense of perspective and, of course, his sense of humor to this collection of departures from reality. Terrifying Lies contains Nybo's acclaimed story, "The Mechanic", along with 18 other tales of the macabre.

Few characters have the loyal readership of Bill Pronzini's "Nameless Detective." The 14 stories in this collection span his entire 35-year life on the printed page. They include "It's a Lousy World," where Nameless proves that a friend did not commit the crime he was accused of; "Dead Man's Slough" and "The Ghosts of Ragged-Ass Gulch," which take him out of San Francisco into the hinterlands; and "Souls Burning," where he tries to help an old friend make one last try at setting things right.

I - "Boy": A young boy with special abilities to see a world beyond the veil, a realm teeming with shadow formed beasts, undergoes an emotional roller-coaster ride in this coming-of-age short story tale. Will Tommy forever remain haunted by these demons from beyond, or will he somehow find a way to best them?

Scare Street is proud to present 13 tales of supernatural horror in one volume, guaranteed to make your skin crawl. This bone-chilling collection awaits, luring listeners of the macabre deeper into the shadows.

A young man’s attempts at breaking parole end in a night of horror. A child realizes that his Christmas gift might be a lot more sinister than he originally thought. An editor unveils his client’s sinister plan to cleanse the world of all evil. And a woman’s walk home is accompanied by a strange presence that promises a gruesome end. Scare Street’s authors Ron Ripley, David Longhorn, Sara Clancy, and A. I. Nasser come together to bring you some of the most horrifying short stories in a single collection.

A collection of short stories from some of your favorite authors. You think you know darkness? Think again. Bloodhound Books presents Dark Minds - a collection of stories by authors who have come together to produce an anthology that will lure, tantalize, and shock listeners.

No matter how you spin it - from a self-driving car that abducts its passengers, to a newly released ex-con who is being hunted by father/daughter hoods for the 300 grand he owes them, to a suburban couple startled awake in the middle of the night after two Antifa hoods break into their home intent on doing some real damage - these stories are relentless. Gear up for an adrenaline-fueled ride to the dark side and back, where the bad guy isn't always bad and the good guys will stab you in the back.

A collection of short mystery stories by award-winning author Bill Pronzini. In "The Man Who Collected the Shadows", a mild-mannered file clerk with a passion for pulpy detective stories learns that he has supernatural powers. In "Shade Work", a con man picks the wrong marks. Fans of mysteries and detective novels will enjoy listening to these 14 entertaining stories.