The Scarlatti Skip, by Richard Helms

"The Scarlatti Skip," by Richard Helms, in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, January/February 2025.

 This is the twelfth story by Helms to reach this blog.

Private eye Eamon Gold does a lot of skip tracing for bail bonders but this assignment is more preventative: Keep an eye on the Fiddle Killer and make sure she doesn't run. So why is Veronica Scarlatti called the Fiddle Killer? 

"'Darren Wojohowski was learning to play,' Doogie said.  'According to the police reports, his progress was slow. His girlfriend Veronica became irritated and emptied her revolver into the violin. Tragically it was tucked under Darren's chin at the time.'"

Some of us may be inclined to sympathize.  But Veronica, an attractive young woman, knows she is looking at "twenty years in a box."  She swears she just wants to spend the last few days in unsupervised peace, but Eamon is being paid to keep her under supervision. 

You will not be surprised to know she makes a run for it.  Things get complicated.  Then they get worse.  A very enjoyable story.

 

Fifteen Minutes From Fame, by Mark Thielman

 

"Fifteen Minutes From Fame," by Mark Thielman, in Black Cat Weekly, #183, 2025.

This is the eleventh appearance in this column by fellow SleuthSayer Mark Thielman.

What we have here is a very silly story.  If you read my reviews you know I don't consider that a bad thing.

Johnny is a man with a mission.  He recently discovered that he had been arrested for misdemeanors in almost every state in the union. He figures if he can score all fifty social media fame and fortune must surely follow.

Alas, his plans keep getting foiled by cooperative victims, changing laws, and disinterested employees.

The clerk shook his head.  "I've given my notice. I'm out of this place.  Steal everything in here; I don't care."

But a man with real determination to do the wrong thing has to succeed. Doesn't he?

Very funny stuff.