Mysteries & Thrillers

“Good morning, ma’am,” the constable says.  His loud, brisk voice pins me to the spot despite my instinct to bolt. He takes off his hat with formal courtesy. His hair is dark brown, almost black. He closes the door, and…Read more

I met Josh at a Wong Kar-Wai retrospective—at a screening of In the Mood for Love—and at the time I thought it was one heck of a meet-cute. Just imagine: finding the love of your life at the most romantic…Read more

Fred let out an exaggerated sigh. “Mrs. Perkins’s insurance company must have paid up, so she’s now the proud owner of a new television and VCR. But what she doesn’t know is that a burglar often returns to the scene…Read more

  My partner, Inspector Richard Conklin, was running out of time, and he needed my help.  He said desperately, “Would be nice if she’d tell you what she wants.”  “Where would the fun be in that?” I said, grinning. “You…Read more

Chapter 1:  “Help, Cinnamon!” I shouted. “I can’t stop.”  Cinnamon Pritchett skated in front of me, grabbed me by the shoulders, and jammed her toe stops into the ground. “Breathe, Jenna. Toe stops. Remember? Toe stops.”  “Yes,” I said, teeth…Read more

Skinny people are easier to kidnap.  Stay safe.  Eat cake.  —SIGN AT THE SUGAR SHACK  After a ten-minute pep talk in which Sun convinced herself Mayor Lomas would find nothing, no matter how razor-sharp the machete she wielded, the shiny…Read more

Her Family  Debra Sue closed her eyes and listened with all her might. The TV was off, their modest living room was dark, and Ed was sprawled on the couch. Her husband was dead to the world, but his snores…Read more

It’s the first Tuesday in October. Autumn came late, but today the sky above the city is a low ceiling of dark gray clouds, and it’s pouring with rain as Naia Thulin dashes out of the car and through the…Read more

Megan drove back toward the farm. Instead of fading, the sirens screamed more loudly. She hoped it wasn’t a forest fire in the state park. It had been dry as of late, and with the fallen leaves and a summer’s…Read more