Black Cat Weekly #160

MYSTERIES / SUSPENSE / ADVENTURE Promised Land by Andrew Welsh-Huggins [Michael Bracken Presents short story] Security specialist Erie Hollar uncovers a sinister conspiracy on the moon s Shackleton City. After discovering a body and surviving a brutal attack, Erie races against time to unravel the truth, dodging dangerous enemies and bureaucratic traps in a tense, moonlit sci-fi mystery. The Great Diet Duplicity, by Hal Charles [Solve It Yourself Mystery] Detective Kelly Stone investigates the theft of a cash prize at a dieting club s annual weigh-in. Amid fire alarms and diet debates, can you solve the case before she does? Murder of a Slumlord, by Marc Egnal [Short Story] Detective Darryn Clark investigates the high-profile murder of a notorious slumlord in North Philadelphia. Amid a complex web of corruption and hidden motives, Darryn uncovers shocking secrets behind the crime. Velda and the Three Happy Housewives, by Ron Miller [Short Story] Private eye Velda s latest case starts too close to home just two floors down. What begins as a routine domestic disturbance quickly spirals into a tangled web of deceit, murder, and unlikely allies.A Mediterranean Mystery, by Fred E. Wynne [novel] A respectable English vicar finds himself embroiled in international intrigue and smuggling when he joins his wayward brother on a Mediterranean voyage. A thrilling tale of adventure, morality, and redemption.SCIENCE FICTION / FANTASY Materialist, by Janet Fox [short story] Barbara married for wealth, but after her grasping, elderly husband finally dies, a series of mysterious disasters unfolds. With a growing sense of dread, Barbara realizes the dead may hold more power than she ever imagined. The Elevator Operator, by Donald M. Munro[Barb Goffman Presents short story] Hugo Sanz, a long-time elevator operator, now a sentient hologram, faces more than difficult passengers in The Elevator Operator. As technology threatens his existence, dark secrets from his past resurface, leading to an eerie showdown. The Tour Guide s Tale, by Anna Tambour [short story] A quirky tour guide shares a bizarre and darkly humorous tale of a colleague s strange encounter with eccentric travelers. The story spirals into unexpected absurdity, blending wit, mystery, and a little menace. Little Jimmy, by Lester Del Rey [short story] A man returns to his childhood home, where he encounters something far more unsettling than nostalgia an inexplicable presence tied to his past. Little Jimmy, a mysterious figure, challenges everything he thought he understood about life, death, and ghosts. Mr. Biggs Goes to Town, by Nelson S. Bond [short story, Lancelot Biggs series] A space freighter crew faces unexpected challenges when they are reassigned to a critical mission involving pirates on the planetoid Iris. With Lancelot Biggs quirky genius leading the way, they must uncover a new resource to save the mission and thwart the criminals.