Recent reading: Alfred Hitchcock and Ellery Queen Mystery Magazines

Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine and Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine continue to run late under the new publisher, but that's okay because I'm behind on reading. Word is they have a new printer and will catch up over the next few issues.

 

Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine

January/February 2026

 

Some favorites from this historical themed issue: 

• "Glass Beach" by Michael Bracken: A fun, twisty tale about what happens when a teen and his stepfather discover the spoils of a years old payroll theft and decide to keep it, learning about money laundering and local corruption in the process. 

• "Paradise Stolen" by Mark Thielman: Philip Hawksley, the vestry clerk at St. Giles-without-Cripplegate Church, is charged with recovering purloined body parts taken from famous poet John Milton, whose casket was uncovered in the church during repairs. Some local pubsters under the influence went from wanting a peek to making off with pieces of Milton's shroud, some swatches of hair, a few teeth and most alarmingly, a rib. In spite of the gruesome topic, Hawksley is a fun, entertaining character and watching him pull off his investigation was a treat. Would love to see more of Hawksley in the future. 

• "Illegal in All States" by John H. Dirckx: Sergeant Dollinger has to get creative to solve the mysterious death of a cameraman who died on the set of a crime-recreation show. 

• "Left Hand, Third Finger" by Jim Fusilli: A great, but brutal story. After her rich fiance breaks their engagement, Emily Michaelangelo has no intention of returning the extremely valuable engagement ring. When a mysterious stranger takes it with horrific force her retired cop grandfather is on the case, with an assist from Emily, who has inherited his toughness.  

• "When the First Body Drops" by Steve Liskow: A highly entertaining story of a woman who gets carried away with a plan for revenge when she discovers proof of her husband's infidelity by setting him up for his bimbo's would-be murder. However, things go awry and they both become suspects in her disappearance. 

 

Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine

January/February 2026 

 

Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine dedicates the January/February issue each year to Sherlock Holmes, so there were several Holmes pastiches in this issue. 

• "The Final Problem" by Terence Faherty: According to the intro, this is "The final story in Terence Faherty's current series of Holmes parodies that have appeared in EQMM." This story suggests that Holmes didn't die in a confrontation with Professor Moriarty, but that the story was a cover for him simply walking away from detecting, having found love and embarking on a new life. Great voice for Watson and full of fun twists and suspense. Bonus points: Even though I haven't read the others stories in the series, this story works just fine as a standalone. 

• "Where's Pete?" by Nick Guthrie: The lead singer of punk band The Guttersnipes mysteriously vanishes just before a gig that could result in a record deal. If you want to flashback to the early days of 1970's punk, this story is for you. 

• "The Adventure of the Belgravian Banshee" by Michael Mallory: Another great Holmes story, in which a carriage driver asks for the great detective's help protecting his ailing employer, Lord Atherton, from what he describes as the curse of a banshee. With Holmes otherwise occupied, he sends Watson in his place to check on the victim's condition. This is presented by Watson as a case that Holmes had asked him not to write about because even though he solves the mystery, he was not able to prevent the death of Lord Atherton and didn't want this failure publicized, so Watson had waited until two years after Holmes's death at the hands of Professor Moriarty. 

• "Coins in the Box" by Kate Hohl: Another Holmes pastiche, going back to when Holmes and Watson first take rooms at 221 Baker Street, run by a landlady with a dark secret to protect and deductive skills of her own.