At the cutting edge of crime fiction, Mystery Magazine presents original short stories by the world's best-known and emerging mystery writers.

In "The Adventure Of The Five Sherlocks" by Ralph E. Vaughan, a meeting of actors who portrayed Sherlock Holmes are visited by Caesar's sister.

"Constable Cover-Up" by Bruce Harris is an essay delving into an unsolved mystery within "The Jefferson Hope Murder."

"The Adventure Of The Maundy Threepence" by Michael Mallory: how a modern coin could be lodged within a six-hundred-year-old skeleton discovered in the Tower of London is a puzzle that taxes even the wits of Sherlock Holmes!

"Death By Bandersnatch" by Ira Nayman: Imagine a world where everybody is a character in a story written by somebody in another universe, a story that was not widely read. A Mad Hatter hires Shlomo Schwartz, the Kosher Detective, to clear his friend, Alice, accused of murder.

In "The Adventure Of The Shared Dream" by Gerard J Waggett, Sherlock Holmes investigates a threat to a young Basil Rathbone and his family, a threat that traces back to their time in South Africa.

"The Spooktacular Sam's Stabbing Spree" by Sarah Cameron: When a plucky assistant manager discovers a dead body at her Halloween-themed discount store, she investigates her coworkers and patrons in a race to stop the body count from rising further.

In "Sherlock Holmes And The Jade Buddha" by Edward Lodi, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson must discover the whereabouts of a stolen jade Buddha in order to prove the innocence of a man falsely accused of its theft.

"All A Head Or Nothing" by Bryce Heckman: When a young man seeks revenge by playing the Headless Horseman in a small town's theatrical horse-riding tour, he stumbles upon a conspiracy more dangerous than his. Are superstitions to blame, or do the answers lie closer to home?

"The Cutthroat World Of Academia" by Jon Matthew Farber is a classic cozy dying message murder mystery. Our amateur detective will bring the suspects together, unravel the clues, and expose the killer.

In "An Understudy In Scarlet" by Mark S Bailen, an understudy is a hopeless failure at murder. Until ...
"Mustard, Knife-No Colonel, No Library" by Mara Buck: Two young fatherless brothers play mystery games in a deserted shack until one dies. The remaining boy continues his sleuthing by purchasing a hunting knife at auction with potential deadly consequences, until a huge dog appears to befriend him.

"Sherlock Holmes & The Cabinet Conundrum" by Greg Maughan: Sherlock Holmes, late in his life, is hired by Harry Houdini. Written imagining Conan Doyle writing with an axe to grind against Houdini!

"Murder In Mudville" by Robert Lopresti: The Chief Of Police in small-town America reluctantly investigates the tragic death of the pitcher who struck the town's hero out?

"The Bedding Caper" by James R. Riffel: Few things are more annoying than when your spouse pulls all the blankets off you during a cold night. A cross between Joe Friday and Jacques Clouseau, pompous Detective Percale investigates the brazen theft of bedding from a bumbling victim.

The first of a monthly series in the magazine, "The Adventure Of The Canny Cabby" by Martin Hill Ortiz: Being the next door neighbor to Sherlock Holmes has some difficulties: especially when you're a detective wanting to steal his clients.

"A Case For Sherlock Holmes," a You-Solve-It by Andrew Armstrong: Stolen: One meerschaum pipe, one deerstalker hat, five orange pips, an autographed photograph of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, a guide to the moors of England, and a small bust of Napoleon Bonaparte. Can you help find the culprit?

In "Stage Fright," a You-Solve-It by John M. Floyd, Lucy and Francis need your help tracking down a ghost, a vampire, and a werewolf.

★ Custom Cover art by Robin Grenville Evans.