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Brenda wants to discover something different, but is astounded by what she finds buried deep inside the earth, secret for thousands of years. She also finds something to keep within her heart.

Welcome to Black Cat Weekly #58. This issue kicks off our Halloween celebrations with a holiday-inspired tale. An incomplete draft of “Had a Wife...” was found in Janet Fox's papers following her death, and I completed it. I hope you enjoy it. Keeping up the fantasy theme, we have a powerful tale by Craig Laurance Gidney inspired by the music of Joni Mitchell (selected by our acquiring editor Cynthia Ward). Our other acquiring editors have been busy, too—Michael Bracken presents an original mystery by the talented Kaye George (in which an ancient cave painting holds a clue to a murder), and Barb Goffman presents a tale by Sherry Harris, in which Stew Davis finds himself walking a dusty road in Who Knows Where, Wyoming after his car is stolen.. On the mystery front, we have our ever-puzzle solve-it-yourself story from Hal Charles, plus a pair of historical novels—one by Frank C. Robertson (it's a mystery-western) and one by John T. McIntyre (set near the turn of the 20th century in New York City).. For our fantasy and science fiction readers, we have the first Darby O'Gill story (most famously filmed by Walt Disney), plus a pair of vintage pulp novellas by Fletcher Pratt and Murray Leinster. Fun stuff!. Here's the complete lineup:. Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure:“Discovery,” by Kaye George [Michael Bracken Presents short story]“Nothing to Sneeze At,” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery]“Last Chance Lost,” by Sherry Harris [Barb Goffman Presents short story]The Boss of the Double E, by Frank C. Robertson [novel]In the Dead of Night, by John T. McIntyre [novel]. Science Fiction & Fantasy: “Maeve's Quilt” by Craig Laurance Gidney [Cynthia Ward Presents short story]“Had a Wife…” by Janet Fox and John Gregory Betancourt [short story]“Darby O'Gill and the Good People,” by Herminie Templeton Kavanagh [short story]“Potemkin Village,” by Fletcher Pratt [short novel]“The Boomerang Circuit,” by Murray Leinster [short novel]

Spring has sprung in the charming tourist town of Fredericksburg, Texas, and one of the tastiest attractions is a trip to Tally's Old Tyme Sweets—until a bizarre burglary leaves a bitter aftertaste... Tally Holt is thrilled to see her new replicas of vintage sweets displayed in the window of Bella's Baskets, a gift basket shop owned by her friend, Yolanda Bella. There's just one problem—the creations appear to be melting. The ladies assume the culprit is the broiling heat of the Texas sun—until that night, the store window is smashed, and there's only one thing missing: the replicas. Tally is positively stumped. Clearly, the useless fake candies are more special than she bargained for—but why? When a rash of seemingly unrelated burglaries sweeps through the area, Tally is determined to sleuth out the answer—and stop a thief from killing more than the town's appetite...

In the picturesque tourist town of Fredericksburg, Texas, Tally Holt has opened a new candy store with a vintage twist...but there's no sugar-coating a nasty case of murder... Tally Holt has poured her heart, soul, and bank account into Tally's Olde Tyme Sweets, specializing in her grandmother's delicious recipes. Tally's homemade Mallomars, Twinkies, fudges, and taffy are a hit with visiting tourists—and with Yolanda Bella, the flamboyant owner of Bella's Baskets next door. But both shops encounter a sour surprise when local handyman Gene Faust is found dead in Tally's kitchen, stabbed with Yolanda's scissors. The mayor's adopted son, Gene was a handsome Casanova with a bad habit of borrowing money from the women he wooed. It's a sticky situation for Yolanda, who was one of his marks. There are plenty of other likely culprits among Fredericksburg's female population, and even among Gene's family. But unless Tally can figure out who finally had their fill of Gene's sweet-talking ways, Yolanda—and both their fledgling businesses—may be destined for a bitter end...

Vintage sweets, a deadly surprise, and a mischievous Maine Coon cat—Deadly Sweet Tooth is the delightful cozy mystery you've been waiting for! In a darling tourist town like Fredericksburg, Texas, a vintage sweet shop offering delicious old-fashioned favorites is a perfect fit—until someone decides to debut a recipe that's lusciously lethal… With Tally's Old Tyme Sweets finally—well, almost—turning a profit, Tally Holt is taking one busy Saturday off to host a grand party for her parents, traveling performers who spend most of their time on the road. Tally's counting on the publicity and free treats to attract new customers. And the event is a sweet success—at least until Fran Abraham, the town's foul-tempered theater director, drops dead after a bitter confrontation with Tally's mother. Murder was definitely not on Tally's menu, but it's clear that Fran's death wasn't natural. The list of possible culprits includes not just Tally's mom, but her protective dad too. Relying on Yolanda Bella, her best friend and the proprietor of Bella's Baskets next door, for help, Tally will need to unwrap the sticky pasts and unsavory presents of everyone from her own parents to her new hires before Fran's death sours everybody on her fledgling shop…. Recipe included! And this one promises not to kill…

Kaye George, an Agatha nominated short story writer, is the author of Choke: An Imogene Duckworthy Mystery (Mainly Murder Press), as well as A Patchwork of Stories, a collection of her previously published stories, and The Bavarian Krisp Caper, available at Untreed Reads. Fish Tales: The Guppy Anthology contains her story, “The Truck Contest”. She reviews for Suspense Magazine, and writes for several newsletters and blogs. This volume collects 3 of her Imogene Duckworthy mysteries:'Immy Goes to the Dogs''Snatched Potatoes''As the Screw Turns'

A recipe for disaster: take one total solar eclipse, add two dozen spine-chilling mysteries, and shake the reader until the world ends in Day of the Dark! INTRODUCTION, by Kaye George DARK SIDE OF THE LIGHT, by Carol L. Wright CHASING THE MOON, by Leslie Wheeler THE PATH OF TOTALITY, by Katherine Tomlinson BLOOD MOON, by Paul D. Marks TORGNYR THE BASTARD, by Suzanne Berube Rorhus AN ECLIPSE OF HEARTS, by Dee McKinney THE BAKER?S BOY, by Nupur Tustin BLACK MONDAY, by Ch?ri Vaus? I?LL BE A SUNBEAM, by M.K. Waller OCEAN?S FIFTY, by Laura Oles THE DEVIL?S STANDTABLE, by Melissa H. Blaine DATE NIGHT, by Cari Dubiel AWAITING THE HOUR, by Joseph S. Walker A GOLDEN ECLIPSE, by Debra H. Goldstein PICTURE PERFECT, by LD Masterson THE DARKEST HOUR, by Kaye George BABY KILLER, by Margaret S. Hamilton FLYING GIRL, by Toni Goodyear TO THE MOON AND BACK, by Kristin Kisska RAYS OF HOPE, by Harriette Sackler WOMEN?S WORK, by KB Inglee OPEN HOUSE, by Bridges DelPonte RELATIVELY ANNOYING, by John Clark ASCENSION INTO DARKNESS, by Christine Hammar