Mystery Magazine May 2022

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 story, "Lupita" by Michael McGuire, a young woman, apparently on a voyage of self-discovery, discovers the guilty party. "The Story Of Andre Venge" by Alan Orloff is full of Sugar Mamas, Black Widows, and dishes best served cold. "Hypnagogia" by Robert Lopresti: Kevin tells his dinner party guests about hypnogogia, a form of hallucination. One guest may be a little too interested ... 'Family Ties' by Veronica Leigh: Sheriff Claire Williams is attending a funeral and is shocked when the coffin is accidentally dropped and pops open. There is a second body in with the deceased! She believes a crime was committed-possibly a murder-and sets out to prove it. "Master Touch" by Brandon Barrows: The murder of an artist is serious, but not calamitous-unless a relative of the new Doge is a suspect. "Raising Money" by R.T. Lawton: Danny and Jackson are trying out a new con scheme called Raising Money, which involves raising the denominations on existing currency. Ones turn into tens and tens turn into hundreds. All they need is a believer with extra cash. "The Conservatory" by Linda Watkins: What do revenge, murder, and horticulture all have in common? Former NIA agent, Simon Biggs, is about to find out when he enters The Conservatory. "No Nickel-And-Dime Theft," a You-Solve-It by Bruce Harris: Can you help figure out the guilty party in this mystery of rare coins and twin suspects. Cover Art By Robin Grenville Evans