Short Stories

“Nasty”

Shattering Glass
edited by Heather Graham
June 2020
A “black sheep” reconnects with her dying father, but her sister isn’t so welcoming.

“Rage Warehouse—Ire Proof”

Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine
May/June 2020
A pair of sisters search their late mother’s storage facility and find more than memories.

“Now Hiring Nasty Girlz”

Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine
January/February 2020
J.Z. Wilson’s latest “recruiting session” doesn’t go according to plan.

“The Adventure of the Six Sherlocks”

For the Sake of the Game: Stories Inspired by the Sherlock Holmes Canon
edited by Laurie R. King and Leslie S. Klinger
December 2018
Reprinted in The Adventure of the Six Sherlocks, November 2020
Tilda Harper (protagonist of the Where Are They Now? series) attends a Sherlock Holmes convention and finds a murder that’s all too real.

“Bell, Book, and Candlepin”

Games Creatures Play
edited by Charlaine Harris and Toni L.P. Kelner
April 2014
Elspeth usually enjoys her job at the local bowling alley, especially when sharing duties with friendly werewolf Jake, but when the place gets cursed, it’s not fun and games anymore.

“Pirate Dave and the Captain’s Ghost”

An Apple for the Creature
edited by Charlaine Harris and Toni L.P. Kelner
September 2012
Nominated for Derringer Award. Joyce tries to bond with other werewolves, but instead ends up haunted by a crotchety ghost who hates vampires, especially her beau Pirate Dave.

“For a Good Time, Call…”

The Wild Side: Urban Fantasy with an Erotic Edge
edited by Mark L. Van Name
August 2011
Maura is a bad witch—not evil, just not good at her job. Then a man asks her to find out how his niece died, and she learns a whole new meaning for phone sex.

“In Brightest Day”

Home Improvement: Undead Edition
edited by Charlaine Harris and Toni L.P. Kelner
August 2011
Nominated for Derringer Award. Joyce tries to bond with other werewolves, but instead ends up haunted by a crotchety ghost who hates vampires, especially her beau Pirate Dave.

“Kids Today”

Damn Near Dead 2: Live Noir or Die Trying
edited by Bill Crider
November 2010
Old man Anthony is willing to go a long way to protect his table at his favorite breakfast spot.

“Pirate Dave’s Haunted Amusement Park”

Death’s Excellent Vacation
edited by Charlaine Harris and Toni L.P. Kelner
August 2010
Newly bitten werewolf Joyce visits an old haunt only to find that it’s actually haunted.

“A Man Feeling Bad”

Delta Blues
edited by Carolyn Haines
May 2010
A missing sister has an inexperienced PI singing the blues.

“Taking the Long View”

Crimes by Moonlight
edited by Charlaine Harris
April 2010
Newbie vampire Mark finds himself at odds with a houseful of his fanged brethren, including his lover Stella.

“The Pirate’s Debt”

Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine
August 2009
Nominated for Derringer Award. Lawyer William Ward once again encounters pirates with legal difficulties, and has to get himself out of deep water.

“Keeping Watch Over His Flock”

Wolfsbane and Mistletoe
edited by Charlaine Harris and Toni L.P. Kelner
October 2008
Nominated for Macavity Award. Young werewolf Jake learns what Christmas means to his pack.

“Kangaroo Court”

Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine
May 2008
High school is a trial at the best of times, and never more so than when Garnet gets stuck presiding over the school’s kangaroo court.

“Skull and Cross-Examinations”

Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine
February 2008
Nominated for Anthony Award and Agatha Award. When a reluctant lawyer meets a pirate accused of murder, it’s hard to tell which one is more ruthless.

“How Stella Got Her Grave Back”

Many Bloody Returns
edited by Charlaine Harris and Toni L.P. Kelner
September 2007
Nominated for Anthony Award. Vampires Stella and Mark take a birthday visit to Stella’s grave, and aren’t happy to find somebody else in it.

“Sleeping With the Plush”

Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine
May 2006
Agatha Award Winner. Nominated for Anthony Award.
All real carnies have nicknames, but not many have to catch a killer to earn one.

“Security Blanket”

Riptide: Crime Stories by New England Writers
edited by Skye Alexander, Kate Flora, and Susan Oleksiw
Fall 2004
Reprinted in The Mystery Megapack: 25 Modern and Classic Mystery Stories
April 2011
Regina is always amazed by how much can happen at a weekend science fiction convention: romance, rivalry, friendship, even murder.

“Lying-in-the-Road Death”

Undertow: Crime Stories by New England Writers
edited by Skye Alexander, Kate Flora, and Susan Oleksiw
May 2006
Reprinted in As Crooked as a Dog’s Hind Leg,
You’d have to be pretty drunk to lie down in the road where a truck is due to drive by. Unless you had help…

“Blame it on the Brownies”

Criminal Appetites
edited by Jeffrey Marks
June 2004
Getting old friends together is always tough, but sometimes it’s murder.

“Old Dog Days”

A Hot and Sultry Night for Crime
edited by Jeffery Deaver
January 2003
Reprinted in As Crooked as a Dog’s Hind Leg, September 2015
Former police chief Andy Norton volunteers to help out with a murder case, but gets stuck with a dognapping instead.

“Bible Belt”

Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine
June 2002
Reprinted in As Crooked as a Dog’s Hind Leg, September 2015
Nominated for Anthony and Macavity Awards. When another beating from her abusive husband lands Wynette in the hospital, all she wants is one little miracle to make him stop.

“An Unmentionable Crime”

Magnolias and Mayhem
edited by Jeffrey Marks
January 2000
Reprinted in As Crooked as a Dog’s Hind Leg, September 2015
Mrs. Lamar is known for getting her panties in a bunch, but when those panties are stolen, it’s up to Sue to figure out who’s given them the slip.

“Not in My Family”

Murderous Intent Mystery Magazine
Summer 1999
The Callocacks gets together for fried chicken, iced tea, and killing Mama.

“Where Does a Herd of Elephants Go?”

Midnight Louie’s Pet Detectives
edited by Carole Nelson Douglas
January 1998
Where does a herd of elephants go? Wherever the elephants want to go. The question is, did a particular elephant want to trample May’s father to death, or was the placid pachyderm framed?

“Murchison Tells a Secret”

Murderous Intent Mystery Magazine
Summer/Fall 1998
Abram Murchison knows he’s no doctor or lawyer, but still there are secrets he keeps. Until now, when two women try to find out which one’s husband is cheating.

“Murchison Passes a Test”

Murderous Intent Mystery Magazine
Fall 1997
reprinted in Tar Heel Dead
edited by Sarah R. Shaber
April 2005
Abram Murchison shows his son the college student that he can pass a test, too.

“Murchison Catches a Thief”

Murderous Intent Mystery Magazine
Fall 1996
Abram Murchison catches a thief and helps along a romance at the same time.

“The Death of Erik the Redneck”

Malice Domestic 5
Presented by Phyllis A. Whitney
May 1996
Reprinted in As Crooked as a Dog’s Hind Leg, September 2015
Nominated for an Agatha Award. Byerly police chief Junior Norton thinks Erik Husey must be the stupidest man on earth for accidentally burning himself and his dog to death. But she finds out that it wasn’t stupidity that killed Erik—it was an awfully smart killer.

“Murchison Solves a Mystery”

Murderous Intent Mystery Magazine
Spring 1995
Abram Murchison, even though he’s not like detectives on TV, solves a real-life mystery without commercials interrupting.

“Marley’s Ghost”

Murder Most Merry
November 1994
Reprinted in As Crooked as a Dog’s Hind Leg, September 2015
A twenty-year-old murder becomes a haunting puzzle for Laura Fleming.

“Gift of the Murderer”

Murder Under the Tree
November 1993
Reprinted in As Crooked as a Dog’s Hind Leg, September 2015
Laura Fleming gets the holiday blues and a bloody clue that comes gift-wrapped.