This is our third Halloween issue of the month, with ghoulishly fun (and seasonally appropriate) tales from John Shepphird (thanks to Acquiring Editor Barb Goffman), father-and-daughter writing team Harding McFadden & Eleanor Hawkins, and British master John S. Glasby.

We also feature mysteries by N.M. Cedeño (thanks to Acquiring Editor Michael Bracken) and Ed Teja, plus a vintage 1908 Holmes short-short by Wex Jones that I recently turned up in my pulp research. Our novel is a classic corporate espionage tale from Francis Lynde. And, of course, we have a solve-it-yourself puzzler from Hal Charles.

On the science fiction front, we have classic tales from Nelson S. Bond, E.C. Tubb, and Philip E. High. Great stuff!

Here's the lineup:

SOLVE-IT-YOURSELF MYSTERY

“An Historic Heist,” Hal Charles
When a priceless George Washington letter goes missing from Caleb Becton’s curio shop, Detective Dani Harlowe must unravel a web of jealousy and secrets to find the thief. Can you solve it before the detective?

NOVEL

Scientific Sprague, by Francis Lynde
An electrical engineer is thrust into a world of industrial espionage and danger. As mysterious threats close in, he must outsmart enemies—and uncover hidden conspiracies—to protect groundbreaking inventions.

STORIES

“Galápagos People Watching,” N.M. Cedeño [Michael Bracken Presents short story]
On a Galápagos tour, César and his cousin try to make sense of the strange behavior of two fellow passengers…

“The Recrudescence of Sherlock Holmes,” by Wex Jones [Sherlock Holmes series]
First published in a U.S. newspaper in 1908, this sketch pokes good-natured fun at Holmes and Watson…

“Ghost Negligence,” by John Shepphird [Barb Goffman Presents short story]
A P.I. investigates a lawsuit in which a woman claims a ghost injured her in a haunted hotel.

“Under Hard Rock,” by Ed Teja
A P.I. arrives in a remote Colorado mining town hunting a missing man, only to learn he died in a suspicious accident. Hidden secrets could rewrite the town’s past—and future.

“Hollow,” by Harding McFadden and Eleanor Hawkins
Boys trick-or-treating on Halloween hear the legend of the gluttonous Hollow Fats. As they venture into the woods, what starts as a prank takes a chilling turn.

“Dust,” by John Glasby
A retired scholar and his uncle investigate a haunted house linked to strange disappearances in a remote village.

“Horsesense Hank Does His Bit,” by Nelson S. Bond [Horsesense Hank series] Hank volunteers to help a defense plant during the war and quickly proves his value when Nazis show up.

“Life Sentence,” by Philip E. High
A ruthless gangster steals the identity of a man selected for a coveted longevity treatment. But a 5,000-year lifespan has unexpected consequences—and punishments.

“Way Out,” by E.C. Tubb
In robot church, a robot confesses to a terrible sin—envying humans…

Black Cat Weekly #164