Black Cat Weekly #268

It doesn’t exactly feel like mid October here in Maryland right now—we’re expecting a high temperature of 89 degrees today—but the presence of so many delightfully ghostly, ghoulish, and fantastical yard decorations up and down our block keeps us in the holiday mood. (We have not one, but two giant inflatable black cats in our yard, plus a scattering of pumpkin-themed Welsh corgi inflatables. Yes, corgi Halloween decorations are a real thing.)

To continue our holiday celebration, this issue we have more ghastly (in a good way!) stories mixed in among our usual crime, suspense, science fiction, fantasy, and adventure tales. It’s a true witch’s brew we’re sure you’ll enjoy.

And as a general reminder, there are only two more issues to go after this one before we hand off publication of Black Cat Weekly to Level Best Books. See the note from the new publisher at the end of this issue if you want to know more.

Here’s the complete lineup—

Cover Art: Larry Blamire

NOVELETTES

“Velda Among the Spirits,” by Ron Miller [Velda, P.I. series]

Can Velda expose a celebrated medium before her tricks turn deadly?

“Drowning in Monstrosity,” by A.L. Sirois

A thief follows a trail of water into an impossible family mystery.

“The PR Man,” by Charlie Kondek

A routine company history uncovers a death no one wants examined.

SOLVE-IT-YOURSELF MYSTERY

“There Goes the Neighborhood,” by Hal Charles

Can you solve the mystery before the detective? All the clues are there!

SHORT STORIES

“The Murder,” by Sharon Hunt

One murdered girl, one missing girl—and thirty-eight years of silence.

“This Little Piggy,” by Leslie Budewitz [Spice Shop series]

An old family grievance reaches all the way to Pike Place Market.

“Crowd-Horror,” by Robert E. Howard

Can a gifted boxer defeat the one opponent he can’t hit—the crowd?

“The Far Side of the Core,” by Wei Bo

An impossible signal leads to a secret buried deep beneath a mountain.

“The Governor Beyond the River,” by Gareth D. Jones

What can stop an enemy that turns a city’s own metal against its people?

“Cordelia’s Quest,” by Shari Held

When dark magic threatens her home, one fairy follows a prophecy…

“Dead End,” by Mack Reynolds

One scholar seeks eternal life. The last vampire has other ideas.