Library Cases

Leah R Cutter, Cate Martin, Diana Deverell, Joslyn Chase, Annie Reed, Guest Author, Robert Jeschonek, Chris Chan

Stories can take place not only between the covers of books, but also in the places where books are kept.

Like in libraries.

The fifteenth issue of MCM is a collection of cozy stories by the syndicate, stories that will make you giggle, shake your head, or at the very least, think about.

So Criminal, It's Good.

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Published:

About the Authors

Leah R Cutter

Leah Cutter writes page-turning, wildly imaginative fiction set in exotic locations, such as a magical New Orleans, the ancient Orient, rural Kentucky, Seattle, Minneapolis, and many others.

She writes fantasy, science fiction, mystery, literary, and horror fiction. Her short fiction has been published in magazines like "Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine" and "Talebones", anthologies like Fiction River, and on the web. Her long fiction has been published both by New York publishers as well as small presses.

Read more books by Leah Cutter at www.KnottedRoadPress.com.

Follow her blog at www.LeahCutter.com.

Cate Martin

Cate Martin is mainly known for cozy witch mysteries set in her home state of Minnesota, including her recently completed series The Witches Three Cozy Mysteries and her new series The Viking Witch Cozy Mysteries.

She also writes science fiction and fantasy under the name Kate MacLeod and has had short fiction published in Analog, Strange Horizons, and Beneath Ceaseless Skies among other places. Under Kate MacLeod she is midway through the YA sci-fi series The Ritchie and Fitz Sci-Fi Murder Mysteries. You can learn more about Cate Martin at her website www.CateMartin.com.

Diana Deverell

A Derringer and Macavity Award finalist acclaimed for “sharp storytelling” (Publishers Weekly), Diana Deverell’s short fiction has appeared in Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, Fiction River, Switchblade, Mystery Weekly Magazine, and other publications.

Before moving to rural Denmark to write fulltime, Diana earned her living as a long-haul trucker, beef farmer, youth worker, and hot/cold war diplomat. Those adventures took place in 48 states, two Canadian provinces, El Salvador, and Poland.

In addition to short stories, she writes legal, political, and international thrillers drawing on  her colorful background and featuring women with humor and heart.

Sign up for her newsletter at www.dianadeverell.com

Joslyn Chase

Joslyn Chase is a prize-winning author of mysteries and thrillers. Any day she can send readers to the edge of their seats, chewing their fingernails to the nub and prickling with suspense, is a good day in her book.
Joslyn's story, "Cold Hands, Warm Heart," was chosen by Amor Towles as one of the Best Mystery Stories of the Year 2023 and "A Band of Scheming Women" was a finalist for the Derringer Award in 2025.
Her short stories have appeared in Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, Malice Domestic's Mystery Most Devious, Thrill Ride Magazine, Fiction River, Mystery, Crime, and Mayhem, Mystery Magazine, and Pulphouse Fiction, among others.
Known for her fast-paced suspense fiction, Joslyn's books are full of surprising twists and delectable turns. You will find her riveting novels most anywhere books are sold.
Her love for travel has led Joslyn to ride camels through the Nubian desert, fend off monkeys on the Rock of Gibraltar, and hike the Bavarian Alps. But she still believes that sometimes the best adventures come in getting the words on the page and in the thrill of reading a great story.
Join the growing group of readers who've discovered the thrill of Chase! Sign up for Joslyn's readers' group and get VIP access to great bonuses—like your free copy of No Rest: 14 Tales of Chilling Suspense—as well as updates and first crack at new releases.

Annie Reed

Award-winning author Annie Reed describes herself as a desert rat who longs to live by the ocean. Since she hasn’t yet convinced her family to relocate to a nice chunk of beachfront property, she’s done the next best thing—written a series of stories set in a contemporary Pacific Northwest city where magic and reality go hand in hand.

Private investigators Diz and Dee populate Annie’s more lighthearted stories, while denizens of a much rougher neighborhood lurk in her Tales From the Shadows.

A talented and versatile writer whose fantasy, science fiction, and mystery stories have sold to a wide variety of publications, including five of the first seven volumes of Fiction River’s inaugural year.

Guest Author

From time to time, MCM will invite guest authors! Check out the individual issues to read more about that issue's guest.

Robert Jeschonek

Robert Jeschonek is an envelope-pushing, USA Today-bestselling author whose fiction, comics, and non-fiction have been published around the world. His stories have appeared in Mystery Magazine, Yellow Mama, Pulphouse Fiction Magazine, Black Cat Mystery Magazine, and other publications. His crime tale, "The Messiah Business," was named an honorable mention in Year's Best Crime and Mystery Stories. His novels have won the International Book Award, the Forward National Literature Award, and the Scribe Award.

Chris Chan

Chris Chan is a writer, educator and historian. He works as a researcher and “International Goodwill Ambassador” for Agatha Christie Ltd. His true crime articles, reviews, and short fiction have appeared in The Strand, The Wisconsin Magazine of History, Mystery Weekly,Gilbert!, Nerd HQ, Akashic Books’ Mondays are Murder webseries, The Baker Street Journal, The MX Book of New Sherlock Holmes Stories, Masthead: The Best New England Crime Stories, Sherlock Holmes Mystery Magazine, and multiple Belanger Books anthologies. He is the creator of the Funderburke and Kaiming mysteries, a series featuring private investigators who work for a school and help students during times of crisis.  The Funderburke short story “The Six-Year- Old Serial Killer” was nominated for a Derringer Award. His first book, Sherlock & Irene: The Secret Truth Behind “A Scandal in Bohemia,” was published in 2020 by MX Publishing, and he is also the author of the comedic novels Sherlock’s Secretary and its sequel Nessie’s Nemesis.  His book Murder Most Grotesque: The Comedic Crime Fiction of Joyce Porter (Level Best Books) was nominated for the 2022 Agatha Award for Best Non-Fiction. Murder Most Grotesque, Sherlock’s Secretary, and his anthology Of Course He Pushed Him & Other Sherlock Holmes Stories: The Complete Collection were all nominated for Silver Falchion Awards.