The Artist, by Linda Bennett

 "The Artist," by Linda Bennett, in Midnight Schemers & Daydream Believers, edited by Judy Penz Sheluk,, Superior Shores Press, 2025.

The publisher sent me a copy of this book.

Nick and his boys are a team of pickpockets and they are about to test  their newest recruit.  Frankie is so good he claims to be an artist of the profession  Michael, our protagonist ,is not so sure about Frankie, and he has good instincts.  I can't say much more without spoiling things so let's just say the story is cleverly plotted and satisfactory.   

Tarzan Must Die!, by Loren D. Estleman

 "Tarzan Must Die!," by Loren D. Estleman, in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, May/June 2025.

I am astonished that this is only the third time Estleman has made my Best of the Week list.  He writes so many great short story series: Amos Walker, the Four Horsemen, Claudius Lyon... and in today's adventure, Valentino.

Valentino works for the film school at UCLA and his job is searching for missing movies.  This suits him since he a cinema fanatic.  In today's story he meets his match, Darrien Bix, a former child star, now appearing in a dreadful cheapo Tarzan movie.  Turns out Bix is obsessed with the Lord of the Jungle and has a bit of film history Valentino would love to get his hands on. 

But this being a mystery Bix dies - and in a bizarre manner.  Clever puzzle, sharp writing, interesting characters.