In this issue

I’m not a fan of surprise endings, yet I like to be surprised by a story. This isn’t a paradox if you compare a story's plot to an unfamiliar back road. The sights and sounds are novel, the twists and turns break up the sense of inevitability, anything can lurk just around each turn.
In this issue, two brothers pass the time by challenging each other with movie trivia until they stop for gas in John M. Floyd’s “Mayhem at the Mini-Mart.” Wiki Coffin, Joan Druett’s 19th century sailor, is stranded by an earthquake and tidal wave that trigger a series of seemingly unrelated tragedies in “Stagger, Stagger.” P.I. Kasper tracks a wayward wife in “Sugar and Spice,” by Elliot F. Sweeney. Ecuadoran Police Captain Guillén may be a bull in a china shop, but he’s the preferred detective for a sensitive case in “Pobre Maria” by Tom Larsen.
In Parker Littlewood’s latest, fast-talking Wiley and his horse Buck have an unpleasant encounter in “Buck and Wiley Tangle with Rustlers.” New to our pages, J. R. Parsons offers a tale of murder on the rodeo circuit in “Bama Carter Gets Rode.” An abusive boyfriend and two parrots make for an explosive mix in Roger Johns’s “Birdbrains.”
Cassandra Chan returns to AHMM after a long hiatus with a historical whodunit set on tony Long Island in “A Murder in Oyster Bay.” Seasonal stories bookmark our issue: “HazMat Holiday” by Catherine Dilts and “Do Not Open Till Christmas” by Steve Hockensmith.
A popular author returns to his family vacation home and confronts his past in Charles John Harper’s “Backstory.” A reckoning arrives in the night in Michael Nethercott’s “All Our Crimes.” A glimpse of the future in the midst of a pandemic doesn’t help in Dave Zeltserman’s “Uncle Woody’s Thingmajig.”
The end of the year reminds us that our own future is also an unknown path. A path we hope is shared with family and friends—old and new—that leads to good health and new and interesting possibilities. Here’s to a Happy New Year to all our readers and writers.

Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine Description:

Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine is a captivating publication that embraces the suspenseful and enigmatic world of mystery fiction. Named after the legendary filmmaker and master of suspense himself, Alfred Hitchcock, this magazine continues to be a staple for mystery enthusiasts seeking thrilling and thought-provoking stories.

Since its inception in 1956, Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine has been a platform for both established and emerging authors to showcase their talent in the realm of mystery writing. Each issue is filled with a diverse collection of short stories and novellas that encompass a wide range of subgenres, including traditional whodunits, psychological thrillers, and intricate puzzles. From cleverly crafted plots to unforgettable characters, the magazine delivers an immersive reading experience that keeps readers eagerly turning the pages.

Over the years, Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine has remained a beloved publication among fans of mystery fiction, providing a platform for renowned authors like Agatha Christie, Arthur Conan Doyle, and Raymond Chandler, while also introducing fresh voices and emerging talent.

Don't miss out on the opportunity to explore the captivating world of mystery fiction through the pages of Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, where every issue promises to immerse you in a labyrinth of suspense and keep you guessing until the very end.