Short But Sweet

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The Short Mystery Fiction Society announced this year's finalists for the Derringer Awards. Since 1998, the SMFS has awarded the annual Derringers—after the popular pocket pistol—to outstanding published stories. The awards recognize outstanding stories published during 2023. Results of membership voting are scheduled to be posted on May 1, 2024. Congratulations to this year's finalists!

 

FLASH

“Sleep Rough” by Brandon Barrows (Shotgun Honey, September 19, 2023)
“The Referee” by C. W. Blackwell (Shotgun Honey, October 12, 2023)
“To Whom It May Concern by Serena Jayne” (Shotgun Honey, January 9, 2023)
“Teddy’s Favorite Thing” by Paul Ryan O’Connor (Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, Sept/Oct 2023)
“Supply Chains” by Andrew Welsh-Huggins (Black Cat Weekly #89)

 SHORT STORY 

“Denim Mining” by Michael Bracken (Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, May/June 2023)
“Dogs Of War” by Michael Bracken & Stacy Woodson (Mickey Finn: 21st Century Noir Volume Four, Down & Out Books)
“Last Day At The Jackrabbit” by John Floyd (The Strand, May 2023)
“I Don’t Like Mondays” by Josh Pachter (Mystery Magazine, July 2023)
“Judge Not” by Twist Phelan (Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, May/June 2023)
“A Tail Of Justice” by Shannon Taft (Black Cat Weekly #114)

LONG STORY

“Hard Rain On Beach Street” by C. W. Blackwell (Killin’ Time in San Diego, Down & Out Books)
“Reversion” by Marcelle Dubé (Mystery Magazine, April 2023)
“Back To Hell House” by Nick Kolakowski (Vautrin, Fall 2023)
“Troubled Water” by Donalee Moulton (Black Cat Weekly #75)
“It’s Not Even Past” by Anna Scotti (Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, Sept/Oct 2023)
“Good Deed For The Day” by Bonnar Spring (Wolfsbane: Best New England Crime Stories, Crime Spell Books)
“Ignatius Rum-And-Cola” by Andrew Welsh-Huggins (Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, Jan/Feb 2023)

 NOVELETTE

“Vengeance Weapon” by James R. Benn (The Refusal Camp: Stories by James R. Benn, Soho Press)
“Mrs. Hyde” by David Dean (Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, March/April 2023)
“The Case Of The Bogus Cinderellas” by Jacqueline Freimor (Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, July/Aug 2023)
“Madam Tomahawk” by Nick Kolakowski (A Grifter’s Song, Down & Out Books, 2023)
“Catherine The Great” by Kristine Kathryn Rusch (WMG 2023 Holiday Spectacular Calendar of Stories)