Terrific Tales

Oct 2021 9

Halloween Cawse: Halloween Mystery Short Story

2021 Articles, Mysteryrat's Maze, Terrific Tales

by Joan Leotta

The toy crow I bought at the Halloween jumble sale at my middle school quickly became my favorite stuffed animal. Having just read Poe’s "Raven' poem, I almost named him “Nevermore.” But after I got an A on the essay I wrote on the poem, I thought of my crow, as a lucky charm that would both inspire my writing and lead me to success. So, his name became “Cawse,” a pun on the cry of a crow and on the stuffed animals as the Cause of my success.

Sep 2021 11

Dust to Dust: Mystery Short Story

2021 Articles, Mysteryrat's Maze, Terrific Tales

by V.S. Kemanis

Boots firmly planted, Lucy Pitts gazes east from the summit and declares to the newly risen sun, “There is no better place than this.” Below the hilltop of dry grass, her two-point-five acres abound with California natives: manzanita, thimbleberry, madrone, bay laurel, and live oak. Rooted like another wild native, the century-old redwood structure unashamedly shows off its mossy shingled roof.

Aug 2021 14

Blessed With Ignorance: Mystery Short Story

2021 Articles, Mysteryrat's Maze, Terrific Tales

by Jan Christensen

My first impression of Phillip was that he was blessed with ignorance. He knew nothing of world events, nothing of religion. And probably nothing much about sex. It was sort of refreshing—no angry tirades about the current goings on in the White House and Congress, and no heated discussions about religion. I figured he must be happy—ignorance is bliss, right? I wasn't so sure about being ignorant about sex, but he could learn, couldn't he?

May 2021 15

But They’re Not Really Dead: Mystery Short Story

2021 Articles, Mysteryrat's Maze, Terrific Tales

by Radine Trees Nehring

The constant “pock-pocka-pock” of the muskets wasn’t so bad. The boom of the cannons—from this distance at least—was endurable, especially for someone who had listened to rock drummers turned up loud. But the wind was sending black powder smoke straight toward them and, in this heat, that was awful. The whole idea was stupid. She was hot, sweaty, and she’d had enough.

Apr 2021 3

Twilight Easter Egg Hunt: An Easter Mystery Short Story

2021 Articles, Mysteryrat's Maze, Terrific Tales

by Margaret S. Hamilton

Lizzie climbed out of her van and called to Claire. “I’ve got a load of special Easter eggs.” Daylight was fading in the park. Clumps of vivid yellow daffodils dotted the wildflower meadow, paired with blooming forsythia.

Feb 2021 27

Mystery Short Story Body of Evidence

2021 Articles, Mysteryrat's Maze, Terrific Tales

by Guy Belleranti

Ross Clark took care to park near Alice Morton’s front door, out of sight of the bedroom window through which he had entered earlier.
Clark’s fiancée, Brittany, pressed the doorbell, but of course, no one came.

Feb 2021 6

Cooking Together: A Real Love Story for Valentine’s Day

2021 Articles, Food Fun, Margaret Mendel, Terrific Tales

by Margaret Mendel

Time has an interesting way of blending the present with a bit of lingering tastes from the past. Some days when I look back and remember falling in love with my husband, it doesn’t feel like it was all that long ago. But over four decades later my feelings for him are still strong, and though it would be hard to have realized back then, my love for him has only grown stronger.

Feb 2021 6

Love Abyss Springs: A Love Story for Valentine’s Day

2021 Articles, Terrific Tales

by Gary Hoffman

Megan stopped on the trail, set her backpack on a stump, and untied her poncho. It wasn’t raining yet, but the sound of thunder and the smell of rain were in the air.

Jan 2021 2

Stealth: A Mystery Short Story

2021 Articles, Mysteryrat's Maze, Terrific Tales

by Merrilee Robson

It was a small sound but enough to wake her. Enid listened, holding her body still, quietening her breath so she could hear.
What was that sound? The door, that was it, the soft snick of the latch. Someone had come in.

Dec 2020 30

Saul and Mordecai: A Short Story

2020 Articles, Terrific Tales

by Gary Hoffman

“What are you doing?”
Saul dropped the shirt he had folded into a suitcase on the bed. “Oy. What the hell does it look like I’m doing?”
“Well, maybe a better question would have been, why are you packing? You taking a trip you didn’t tell me about?” Mordecai asked.