Here is an example of what is contained in each story provided by each of the authors to help you decide which story to read first.
The Darkness to Come, by Cash Anthony – In 1859, an ad hoc Pinkerton agent races to warn of danger in Virginia when a slave auction is scheduled on the day candidate Abraham Lincoln is coming to give a speech.
Serena Franklin, by Cash Anthony – An intrepid woman struggles against the effects of isolation but finds it’s easy to be caught in a fantasy. Can she escape to the real world?
The Treasure Hunt, by Cash Anthony – Jessie Carr, biker chick/P.I., helps an old friend look for a long-lost artifact hidden by her deceased nephew. They don’t anticipate that a group of Russians will go to any lengths to recover it, even when the world’s best archaeologists believe it to be a forgery.
Urban Death Project, by Dr. Gail Clifford, MD – An innovative method for dealing with the bodies of the deceased turns into a factory for zombies. Can its inventor help his expectant wife find a way to reverse the process—after he’s zombified himself?
Blunted Nails, by Adam Cole – Social Worker Ms. Dawes believes she has finally cured an anxious little girl of her belief in demons.
Mr. Matsumoto’s Labor, by Adam Cole -- Mr. Matsumoto, an executive who specializes in rescuing failing hotels, was used to firing people. But he never expected it would be this much work to fire someone who doesn’t seem to work there at all.
Joe Brown’s Bargain, by Adam Cole – Noah Cotton is in a bind. The only way he can save his reputation and career is to enter into a gruesome bargain with the amoral Joe Brown. But what happens when someone who works for God reaches their breaking point?
The Battle of the Sexes, by James R. Davis – In a dark alley behind a swanky L.A. restaurant/lounge, a staunch feminist challenges a well-known womanizer to defend the excuse he makes for a male tennis star defeated by an upcoming female player.
No Body Known, by Laura Elvebak – When her client doesn’t show up to testify against her shady husband, on trial for embezzlement, P.I. Lillian Wallace suspects the man still holds a grudge against his wife for turning him in. Lillian engages two friends to help find her before her husband makes good his death threats—if he hasn’t already.
Deep Closet, by Ron Hull – J. Edgar Hoover sends two new FBI agents on an undercover mission designed to bring down Mafia operations. But when they encounter a killer with ties to another federal agency, their efforts to bring him to justice are stymied—and any gay law enforcement officer may become his next target.
Damn Black Cat, by Ron Hull – Can a night-time encounter with a black cat be responsible for Harvey’s run of bad luck? Or is it a consequence of driving home from a party after drinking too much?
Night Terrors, by Regina Olson – A waitress suffers from night terrors that make her waking life almost unbearable. Her new, wannabe friend is determined to help her discover the reason she wakes up battered and bruised each morning… but maybe that help is the last thing she needs.
Dinner is Served, by Regina Olson – A handsome gigolo makes his living preying on wealthy women. Never has he imagined that one night a beautiful seductress would turn the tables.
Genesis of Madness, by Jack Strandburg –Interpol agents pursue an escaped criminal scientist to prevent him from using his expertise in genetics to create serial killers for his evil ambition.
Last Dance, by C.J. Sweet – At a high school class reunion, two classmates rekindle the attraction they never acted on when young. But one of them is hiding a dark secret.