The short stories in the September/October 2020 issue of Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine kept me guessing.

Was it murder or suicide, in Mrs. White Hart by Elliot F. Sweeney. London PI Kasper was recommended, in a manner of speaking, for the investigation by a dead, dotty homeless woman. The PI goes deep undercover, disguising himself as a homeless alcoholic. This is not too much of a stretch for the deeply troubled man. Kasper endangers himself in the pursuit of the facts. This is a moody, bleak, vividly related tale.

Storage, by Dan Crawford, is by contrast light and humorous. The brief, amusing tale is set in a museum storage vault. There is a pleasant twist at the end.

When I began reading Fruiting Bodies, by Jane Pendjiky, mushrooms and a disgruntled wife figured prominently. I knew exactly where this was going. I was wrong. The story is beautifully written. And the unexpected ending was set up perfectly.

The cover story for this issue is Call It Sad, Call It Funny, by Christopher Latragna. When Henry’s lady friend and fellow gambler asks him to help her out of a tricky situation, he travels around Saint Louis in 1955 in a cab, seeking clues to a murder. I particularly enjoyed the cab driver character, Vincent, who becomes essential to unraveling the mystery.

Sharon Jarvis created a likeable female curmudgeon in Who Killed What’s Her Name? The retired lawyer with a bad memory for names is pulled in for questioning concerning a murder. Fortunately, Ms. Korbin stored all her old files. Will that be enough to save her from being accused of killing a former client’s wife?
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I’m only a third of the way through this entertaining issue. I look forward to reading more stories guaranteed to take my mind off real world issues. 

Today is International Talk Like a Pirate Day. You're welcome, matey.

Our world has been on fire. For those of us living in the American West, this is literally true. ​

I watched a documentary on the history of forest fires I highly recommend. The Big Burn demonstrates the complexity of this issue.

The fires in Colorado have calmed some, while the West Coast rages on. Not until you have stood on a mountaintop and seen the vast expanse of national forest can you comprehend the daunting task "managing" these areas present. 

Working on our "ranch" brings us a lot of satisfaction, and sore muscles. My husband and I both work desk jobs. We enjoy getting our hands dirty, making our little place in the mountains more comfortable. Plus, we get to see the beauty of nature, up close and personal.

I read the July/August Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine cover to cover. In these days of restricted travel, it was a pleasure to wander around the big wide world via fiction.

Mystic Dream by John F. Dobbyn takes place at a horse racing track. A legendary trainer fears he has lost his touch when his horses start losing every race. Charlie has staked his reputation and his life's savings on a dream filly. He might lose everything if his former jockey can't help him unravel the mystery.

If you go to The Library of Poisonville by Robert Lopresti, tucked away in mountain catacombs, you can check out references to classic mystery fiction by the dozens. An online friendship between two mystery fiction fans and first edition collectors goes live. Purist Richard Hanley's amazement at tech billionaire Emil Phoffner's collection turns to horror when Emil unveils his latest invention - a machine that generates books.

Second Sight, by David Edgerley Gates, straddles decades during the current day investigation of a body discovered when a concrete  garage floor is dug up for renovation. The story takes place in New Mexico, and is rich with the setting unique to that state.

The contrast with the setting in The Pledge, by Susan Oleksiw, is dramatic, taking the reader from the heat of the southwest to the frozen New Hampshire winter. This story spans time, too, although measured in months, not decades. A fraternity pledge is sent on a wintry hike by a member with an ax to grind.

Reckoning With Your Host, by R. T. Lawton, drops us in the middle of a battle between opium warlords. A family war rages between brothers, rivals for control of their father's domain. The narrator travels through a dense jungle in Southeast Asia, with lush descriptions that make you feel you're in the middle of the action. 

We travel to post-Civil War era Bentonville, Arkansas, in Nancy Pauline Simpson's story The Amputation Pit. The mystery involves the Civil War practice of tossing amputated limps into pits, so horrific and plentiful were the battle injuries. Old timers from that time period would rather forget their roles in a decades old murder.

Next we're in modern Chicago with Wayne J. Gardiner's story, Strictly Business.  A man happens upon a gangster's transfer of money in a publicly placed briefcase. Whether and how the man can extricate himself from a dangerous situation is the basis for the tale, set primarily in a tense exchange in the Four Seasons lounge.   

Plein Air by Elaine Menge follows rivalries between artists, as a student stalks his favorite teacher. It's not the location as much as the setting in the academic world of artists that takes us out of our own world.

A Beastly Trial by Mark Thielman is another historical mystery, where a medieval lawyer in France must find a way to please both sides of a tricky case involving murderous swine.

We travel to Hawaii for J. D. L. R., by Albert Tucher. A native Hawaiian police officer faces a honeymoon gone wrong at a popular tourist site - Akaka Falls.

In The Substitute Dealer, Jeff Soloway travels inside a mother's broken heart when her son is murdered. We slowly learn this woman is not your typical mom.

The final tale in this issue is the Black Orchard Novella Award winner The Red Taxi, by Ted Burge. The slightly futuristic premise of self-driving taxis takes place in San Francisco. A homeless private detective is hired to learn how a taxi turned murderous.

Lee Lofland's Case Files this issue is on the topic of the differences between police chiefs and sheriffs.

I enjoyed every story in this issue, as authors transported me to unique settings, historical periods, and situations. 

This time of year, thrifty gardeners begin canning the produce from their plots. Suddenly, gardens are bursting with an overabundance. Freezing or canning can ensure you enjoy a taste of summer well into the winter months.

My garden promises a lot of tomatoes this year. We'll see. One variety is designed for drying. All I have to do is cut them in half and put them in my food drying appliance, a simple device that blows warm air over trays of vegetables. I'll have dried tomatoes for a year.

​I definitely have an abundance of scenery. This winter, I want to remember all the green in this photo. I have heard that you remember better what you simply observe, rather than photograph. Maybe your brain decides it doesn't need to log that memory because you captured it digitally.

So a recent weekend, when I strolled around our "ranch" in the mountains, I tried to observe more than photograph. I want these memories for the middle of winter, when short days and cold weather get me down.

I couldn't resist this, though. It's the perfect combination of greens and blue sky, with wisps of clouds and the lovely pine cones adding interest.

I hope you're making memories this summer.

Exciting news! My newest novel, Silent Knife, based on the Secrets of the Castleton Manor Library world, is available in a three book gift set for the bargain price of $24.99. ​https://www.anniesfiction.com/products/mistletoe-mysteries

Is it really the middle of July? 

Summer is flying by. Almost every weekend, we're spending at our "ranch," a dry, rocky acreage in the Colorado mountains. 
This weekend, we hosted family for a picnic, flying kites, and riding ATVs. 

When the weather is hot and dry, remember to hydrate. Forgetting to drink water can deplete your energy and mental focus.

​Creativity can run dry, too. This isn't dependent upon weather factors. Your imagination may atrophy if you're dealing with a lot of stress. For other folks, stress sends creativity into hyperdrive. 

I heard many authors stopped writing during the height of COVID-19, round one. I'm part of the group that found social isolation and the world-on-fire liberating. I finished a new novel, and am planning to dive into my next project.

Whatever your creative outlet - writing, painting, sewing, playing a musical instrument, cooking - your energy needs to be recharged. Pay attention to your mental and emotional signals.
If you find yourself stuck, check out these ideas for recharging your creativity. 

I finished the AHMM May/June 2020 issue, and look forward to diving into July/August. A new feature in the magazine, Case Files, is written by former police detective Lee Lofland. The article covered the day-to-day life of police officers, describing uniforms in great detail. As an author, I appreciated these insider tips on the reality of police work. I am certain readers will find the information engaging, too. 

​Lofland describes his experience becoming published in AHMM here.

​For more reviews and links to author websites, check out the Trace Evidence blog here.