Black Cat Weekly #124 — Robert Lopresti

This issue, we are happy to reprint Earl Derr Biggers’ third entry in the classic Charlie Chan detective series, Behind That Curtain. But the highlights don’t stop there! We have an original mystery by Travis Richardson (thanks to acquiring editor Michael Bracken), a great modern mystery by Ashley-Ruth M. Bernier (thanks to acquiring editor Barb Goffman), an original science fiction story from Robert Lopresti (best known as a mystery writer), and Diana Deverell’s “Payback is a Bitch,” which was named a Distinguished Mystery Story of 2018 by Otto Penzler. And, of course, we have our usual assortment of classic science fiction, as well as a solve-it-yourself puzzler from Hal Charles. Good stuff! Here’s the complete lineup: Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “Last Stop, Cozyville!” by Travis Richardson [Michael Bracken Presents short story]“The Poker Chips Clue” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery]“Rise” by Ashley-Ruth M. Bernier [Barb Goffman Presents short story]“Payback Is a Bitch” by Diana Deverell [short story]Behind That Curtain, by Earl Derr Biggers [novel, Charlie Chan series] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “When the Aliens Left,” by Robert Lopresti [short story]“Nightmare Tower,” by Sam Merwin [short story]“Travelogue,” by Roger Dee [short story]“Requiem,” by Edmond Hamilton [short story]Mating Center, by Frank Belknap Long [novel]