Black Cat Weekly #159

“Mother’s Day Tea,” by Ashley-Ruth M. Bernier [Michael Bracken Presents short story]

At a seemingly innocent kindergarten Mother’s Day tea, Briana Carter arrives late and out of place, feeling the pressure of keeping up with the other polished moms. But behind her professional exterior, Briana has a darker motive.

“Who Stole Annie Oakley’s Golden Gun?” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery]

When Fanny Fister’s prized possession—a gold-plated Colt .45 once owned by Annie Oakley—vanishes from her gun safe, State Police Detective Kelly Stone is called in to solve the locked-room mystery. Can you solve it before Kelly does?

“Business As Usual,” by Wayne J. Gardiner [Barb Goffman Presents short story]

Lucille is a cold-blooded specialist for hire, used to handling “business” for the Chicago Outfit. After a risky job in Kansas City, she returns to New York with doubts creeping in—did she make a mistake by taking a little extra on the side? When a hitman in a brown suit tails her at LaGuardia, it’s clear Walter, the polished underboss who hired her, isn’t done. Lucille must think fast and act faster. But how long can she stay ahead?

“Mow Way Out,” by Kathleen Marple Kalb [short story]

When Christian Shaw, a history buff and single mom, finds her neighbor, Mr. Berducci, unresponsive in his tomato patch, it seems like a tragic accident. But her young son, He

When Baddie Pretlow gets caught up in a web of deception and crime, she finds herself at the center of a dangerous game involving stolen jewels, false identities, and ruthless criminals. As she navigates a world of con artists and crooks, Baddie must decide who she can trust—especially when it comes to the enigmatic Wendy Washburn, who may be her salvation…or her downfall.

Science Fiction & Fantasy:

“Snail Ghost,” by Will Murray [Darrell Schweitzer Presents short story]

Under a mysterious blue moon in Tibet, an otherworldly traveler encounters a snail-like entity with a plea for help. Drawn through a strange, dimensionless door, they uncover a timeless space filled with unsettling figures—mirror images of themselves!

“Nightmare on Ice,” by John S. Glasby [short story]

The polar base is under siege by an otherworldly force in the depths of an unrelenting Arctic winter. When a scientist, Spender, dies mysteriously and leaves behind strange tracks in the snow, the remaining men of the expedition face an escalating series of supernatural terrors.

“Where Are You, Mr. Biggs?” by Nelson S. Bond [short story, Lancelot Biggs series]

Lancelot Biggs, the brilliant but eccentric First Mate of the spaceship Saturn, invents a revolutionary “velocity intensifier” that propels the crew on a high-speed journey to Uranus. When a miscalculation puts them on a collision course with Jupiter, disaster seems unavoidable—unless Biggs can perform a miracle!

“The Nobles Are Coming,” by Gene Cross [short story]

Trapped in a Martian cave, archeologist Ross encounters the unnerving presence of a man named J.J. Abrogado, a prospector with a deep obsession over the mysterious, deadly creatures known as the Nobles. These towering, regal beings are infamous for making humans disappear, leaving behind only husks of their former selves…

Cities in the Air, by Edmond Hamilton [novel]

In a future where massive floating cities dominate the skies, Captain Martin Brant finds himself at the center of an epic aerial war between global superpowers. As enemy forces close in with devastating new weapons, Brant and his crew must pull off a daring mission to infiltrate and hijack the enemy’s flagship city in a desperate bid to turn the tide!