Barb Goffman

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About Barb Goffman

Barb Goffman is well known for her crime short stories. She's won the Agatha, Macavity, and Silver Falchion Awards, as well as the Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine Readers Award. She's been a finalist for major crime-writing awards 36 times, including the Agatha, Anthony, Derringer, Macavity, and Silver Falchion. Her book Don't Get Mad, Get Even won the Silver Falchion Award for best crime short-story collection published in 2013. She earns her living as a freelance crime-fiction editor, specializing in cozy and traditional mysteries. You can sample her work by listening to her story "Dear Emily Etiquette," which won the 2020 EQMM Readers Award: https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/eqmm/episodes/2020-10-01T11_56_38-07_00. Enjoy!

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Murder on the Beach: A Destination Murders Short Story Collection May 28, 2021

by Karen Cantwell, Ritter Ames, Lucy Carol, Barb Goffman, Eleanor Cawood Jones, Shari Randall, Shawn Reilly Simmons, Cathy Wiley

( 70 )

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Searching for the perfect Beach Read? Then grab this fun, well-reviewed collection of eight beach-themed stories written by award winning and best-selling cozy mystery authors.

These light, often funny stories of mystery and intrigue, will transport you to a variety of shores, from the rocky coastlines of New England, to the white stretches of sand on the Atlantic, to the teal and emerald waters of the Gulf Coast, the surfing havens on the Pacific, and even beaches in between.

Praise for Murder on the Beach, A Destination Murders Book 1
"Each story features great characters and a story that kept me engaged the entire way through. All these stories can be read as stand-alones whether they are part of a series or not. That's a good thing since I was only familiar with the characters in one of the stories before I picked up this book. And the two authors I hadn't read before? I definitely need to check them out in the future.
This is the first in a series of Destination Mysteries short story collections. Based on this book, I'm already packing my bags for the next vacation."--Carstairs Considers

"All of these stories, no matter where they are set, dead body or no, provide two wonderful things: a great location, and an array of characters who would be great friends or who may remind you (and cause you to appreciate more) friends and family you already have. That's certainly the gift to readers on the part of the cozy mystery. Do yourself a favor and spend your lunch break at the beach."--Aunt Agatha's Mysteries

"I'm not a short story or anthology reader, but I did enjoy MURDER ON THE BEACH...This light and fresh, fast-paced cozy whodunit kept me entertained from the first story to the last. Bravo authors."--Dru's Book Musing

"Entertaining short stories about vacation mishaps, murder and mayhem. Perfect for a summer beach read. Very enjoyable collection of stories."--Christine Gentes, Book Reviewer and Mystery Critic

A TALE OF TWO SISTERS, Barb Goffman. When Robin's sister gets married at Lake Michigan, Robin will do whatever it takes to protect Emma's special day. Nominated for Agatha award, 2021, for Best Short Story.
FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND, Shari Randall, a new short story in the Lobster Shack series. A jewelry theft and attempted murder upset the tranquility of Allie's quaint New England town.
COAST BUSTERS, Karen Cantwell, another short story in the Barbara Marr series. Barb and her friends figure Florida and a quirky chic resort would be the perfect Mom vacation...until it's not.
BEACH PARTY BODY, Lucy Carol, a new story from the world of Madison Cruz Mysteries. A photo shoot on the beach should be fun, but when someone's wild behavior turns deadly, the party's over!
FROG DAYS OF SUMMER, Cathy Wiley. Former celebrity chef Jackie Norwood's attempt to revive her career goes badly when murder interrupts a food festival on the Gulf Coast of Louisiana.
FRUGAL LISSA NEEDS A BREAK, Ritter Ames, the newest short story in the Frugal Lissa series. Lissa and her friend, Abby, head to Galveston for a girls' weekend. All is perfect until Lissa's dog, Honey, digs up a dead body.
CABO SAN LOCO, Eleanor Cawood Jones. Lorrie George wants to enjoy a celebratory trip with her friends to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. But the all-expenses-paid, exclusive trip keeps getting ruined by attempts on her friends' lives.

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Florida Happens: Tales of Mystery, Mayhem, and Suspense from the Sunshine State Sep 4, 2018

by Greg Herren, Lawrence Block, Reed Farrel Coleman, Brendan DuBois, Susanna Calkins, John D. MacDonald

( 18 )

$8.69

When it comes to Florida, no crime is too unusual and no criminal too peculiar to be impossible. Florida is the one state where fiction has to catch up to the headlines, and the contributors to FLORIDA HAPPENS: Tales of Murder, Mayhem, and Suspense from The Sunshine State do not hold back!

Edited by award-winning author/editor Greg Herren, with an introduction by New York Times bestselling author Tim Dorsey, FLORIDA HAPPENS is a riveting anthology featuring some of the brightest stars of mystery writing. Published in conjunction with Bouchercon, the world's biggest mystery convention, this new anthology offers stories of pristine white sands and palm trees, snowbirds and theme parks, mangroves and manatees, pirates and policemen—from the redneck Riviera to the southernmost point of the United States.

Jam-packed with stories from top authors, FLORIDA HAPPENS promises to surprise and thrill lovers of mystery and suspense. Included are classic tales from the legendary John D. MacDonald and Lawrence Block, plus fresh new fiction from bestselling mystery authors Susanna Calkins, Alex Segura, Brendan DuBois, Hilary Davidson, Reed Farrel Coleman, and Craig Pittman. The collection also includes thrilling new stories by top mystery writers Holly West,  Paul D. Marks , Greg Herren, Debra Lattanzi Shutika,  Jack Bates, Barb Goffman, Angel Luis Colon,  J. D. Allan, Eleanor Cawood Jones,  Neil Plakcy, Michael Wiley,  John M. Floyd, and Patricia Abbott.

A portion of the proceeds from the anthology will go to support Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, a program that provides free books to children from birth to school age regardless of family income. A personal mission of Dolly Parton’s, the Imagination Library fosters literacy, a love of reading, and is meant to inspire children to succeed.

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Malice In Dallas: Metroplex Mysteries Volume I Jan 2, 2022

by Sisters in Crime North Dallas, Barb Goffman

( 16 )

$3.99

“I've belonged to Sisters in Crime for many, many years, so I was delighted to write the introduction for this anthology… I hope you enjoy this anthology as much as I did.” CHARLAINE HARRIS

A Perfect Mystery Anthology Gift For Book Lovers!

Welcome to the inaugural anthology by the chapter members of Sisters In Crime North Dallas. The city of Dallas and surrounding area offer great inspiration for mystery writers—and mystery lovers. Several lakes, lavish high-dollar hotels to low-income neighborhoods, and historic sites such as the Book Depository--plus multi-generational residents or Dallas transplants--all bring to life the stories included in Malice In Dallas: Metroplex Mysteries Volume I.

BARB GOFFMAN, who edited this anthology, is a writer and freelance crime-fiction editor. She’s won the Agatha Award twice for her short stories. She’s also won the Macavity Award, Silver Falchion Award, and Readers Award given by Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine. She’s been nominated for major crime-writing awards thirty-three times for her stories, including fourteen Agatha Award nominations (a category record), and multiple nominations for the Anthony, Derringer, and Macavity awards. Novels and stories she’s edited have won the Agatha, Derringer, and EQMM Readers Award and were nominated for the Agatha, Anthony, Derringer, Macavity, and Shamus awards. In 2020, Crime Travel, a time-travel mystery anthology Barb edited, was nominated for the Anthony.

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Mickey Finn Vol. 1: 21st Century Noir Dec 14, 2020

by Michael Bracken

( 17 )

$3.99

Mickey Finn: 21st Century Noir is a crime-fiction cocktail that will knock readers into a literary stupor.

Contributors push hard against the boundaries of crime fiction, driving their work into places short crime fiction doesn’t often go, into a world where the mean streets seem gentrified by comparison and happy endings are the exception rather than the rule. And they do all this in contemporary settings, bringing noir into the 21st century.

Like any good cocktail, Mickey Finn is a heady mix of ingredients that packs a punch, and when you’ve finished reading every story, you’ll know that you’ve been “slipped a Mickey.”

The twenty contributors, some of today’s most respected short-story writers and new writers making their mark on the genre, include J.L. Abramo, Ann Aptaker, Trey R. Barker, Michael Bracken, Barb Goffman, David Hagerty, James A. Hearn, David H. Hendrickson, Jarrett Kaufman, Mark R. Kehl, Hugh Lessig, Steve Liskow, Alan Orloff, Josh Pachter, Steve Rasnic Tem, Mikal Trimm, Bev Vincent, Joseph S. Walker, Andrew Welsh-Huggins, and Stacy Woodson.

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Only the Good Die Young: Crime Fiction Inspired by the Songs of Billy Joel Apr 27, 2021

by Josh Pachter, Michael Bracken, Barb Goffman, David Dean, Jeff Cohen, John M. Floyd, Terrie Farley Moran, Jenny Milchman, Robert Lopresti

( 16 )

$5.99

From Cold Spring Harbor in 1971 to River of Dreams in 1993, Billy Joel released a dozen studio albums that remade the face of American pop music, produced twenty-six Top 10 singles (on Billboard’s Top 100 and Adult Contemporary charts), and earned the Piano Man six Grammys. Although he hasn’t released a recording of new songs in almost thirty years, Joel’s live performances continue to electrify audiences around the globe—and until COVID-19 put things on hold he had sold out New York’s Madison Square Garden for a record-shattering seventy-four consecutive monthly shows!

In this collection, twelve award-winning writers of short crime fiction tackle the Joel catalog, and the result—edited by Josh Pachter, whose The Beat of Black Wings: Crime Fiction Inspired by the Songs of Joni Mitchell earned rave reviews in 2020—is a journey down life’s mean streets with a soundtrack by one of the great singer-songwriters of our time, and contributors Michael Bracken, Jeff Cohen, David Dean, John M. Floyd, Barb Goffman, James D.F. Hannah, Richard Helms, Robert Lopresti, Jenny Milchman, Terrie Farley Moran, Richie Narvaez, and Pachter himself are donating a third of their royalties to support the work of the Joel Foundation.

In the Gospel According to Billy, only the good die young. Within these pages, though, Death is an equal-opportunity exterminator, and the stories you’ll find here don’t just hit the charts: they go all the way to Number One … with a bullet!

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Murder in the Mountains: A Destination Murders Short Story Collection Feb 1, 2022

by Karen Cantwell, Gretchen Archer, Leslie Budewitz, Barb Goffman, Eleanor Cawood Jones, Tina Kashian, Shari Randall, Shawn Reilly Simmons, Cathy Wiley

( 40 )

$3.99

Whether you love spring, summer, fall, or winter in the mountains, you’ll be elevated by nine new stories from award-winning and bestselling cozy mystery authors Gretchen Archer, Leslie Budewitz, Karen Cantwell, Barb Goffman, Eleanor Cawood Jones, Tina Kashian, Shari Randall, Shawn Reilly Simmons, and Cathy Wiley.

With mountainous murders galore around the world, this anthology is full of peaks and valleys!

Climb every mountain, search low and high
For clues to a murder, and try not to die

Second in the DESTINATION MURDERS series, Murder in the Mountains follows the well-reviewed Murder at the Beach.
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Four seasons of Murder:
Spring
DOUBLE BLUFF by Gretchen Archer. A new short story in the Davis Way series. Two trophy wives and one dead body equals a trip to Lookout Mountain, Tennessee for Davis Way and her co-worker.
FIVE DAYS TO FITNESS by Barb Goffman. A visit to a fitness camp in the Virginia Blue Ridge Mountains was supposed to be a new beginning for Bree Winterbourne. Instead, it’s a final ending for one of the attendees.
Summer
THE SOUND OF MUZAK by Karen Cantwell. Another short story in the Barbara Marr series. When Barb and friends take a trip to the Berkshire Mountains in Massachusetts, they are asked to help uncover the owner’s dark past—one that may involve murder.
THE PICTURE OF GUILT by Leslie Budewitz. A new short story in the Food Lovers’ Village series. Erin Murphy loves her town of Jewel Bay, Montana, which attracts artists, foodies, and other tourists. But one artist’s visit turns deadly.
Fall
THE LYIN’ WITCH IN THE WARDROBE by Eleanor Cawood Jones. Lorrie George and friends visit the Land of Oz theme park on Beech Mountain, North Carolina, filled with celebrities and jealousy and murder, oh my!
A KILLER POCONO HIKE by Tina Kashian. A short story in the Kebab Kitchen series. Lucy Berberian is desperate for a break from the stress of wedding planning, and the Poconos should have fit the bill. But finding a body in a sinkhole leaves Lucy with a sinking feeling.
Winter
A PERFECT CLIMB by Shawn Reilly Simmons. A skiing trip in the Australian Alps was supposed to be the perfect start for Caroline Cabot’s perfect marriage. Unfortunately, everything quickly goes downhill, as sore muscles, fighting couples, and a murder ruin the perfection.
THE EDELWEISS EXPRESS by Shari Randall. A new short story in the Lobster Shack series. Allie Larkin was looking forward to her trip to Austria: the snow, skiing, and a Sound of Music Tour. But she wasn’t expecting that the hills would be alive with the sound of…murder?
ONE FLEW OVER THE COCOA’S NEST by Cathy Wiley. A new short story in the Food Festival Fatalities series. Former celebrity chef Jackie Norwood was invited to judge a Hot Cocoa festival at a Utah ski resort. Instead, thanks to a blizzard and a murder, she ends up judging the guilt of her fellow guests.

Other Formats: Paperback

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Sherlock Holmes Mystery Magazine #29 Feb 1, 2022

by Barb Goffman, Rafe McGregor, Janice Law, Peter DiChellis, Hal Charles, J.P. Seewald, V.P. Kava, Mike McHone, Rebecca K. Jones, Keith Brooke

( 9 )

$3.99

After a brief hiatus, Sherlock Holmes Mystery Magazine is back with a new issue and a new editor. Here are tales in mystery and detection in the classic manner, with a fine selection of new stories, features, and a classic Holmes reprint. Here are:

BEAUTY AND THE BEYOTCH, by Barb Goffman
THE CASE OF THE COLONEL’S SUICIDE, by Rafe McGregor
THE HOLMES IMPERSONATOR AND THE BAKER STREET IRREGULARS, by Janice Law
THE BODY IN THE BACKYARD, by Peter DiChellis
The Adventure of the Geek Interpreter, by Hal Charles
CEREAL KILLING, by J.P. Seewald
LAST WISH AND TESTAMENT, by V.P. Kava
FROM GREEN TO RED, by Mike McHone
FAILURE TO OBEY, by Rebecca K. Jones
TRACE EVIDENCE, by Keith Brooke
THE ADVENTURE OF THE SECOND STAIN, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Features by Darrell Schweitzer, Kim Newman, and Martha Hudson. Edited by Carla Kaessinger Coupe.

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Katherine Hall Page Presents Malice Domestic 11: Murder Most Conventional Apr 25, 2016

by Verena Rose, Katherine Hall Page

( 17 )

$5.99

The Malice Domestic cozy anthology series returns with a new take on cozy mysteries in the Agatha Christie tradition. Here are 22 original stories (and one modern classic reprint) set at conventions, conferences, and gatherings of all kinds! Included are:

Conventional Wisdom, by Marcia Talley

Djinn And Tonic, by Neil Plakcy

The Vanishing Wife, by Victoria Thompson

The Right to Bare Arms, by John Gregory Betancourt

Message in a Bottle, by Su Kopil

Anonymous, by Kate Flora

What Goes Around, by B.K. Stevens

The Hair of the Dog, by Charles Todd

The Best-Laid Plans, by Barb Goffman

A Dark and Stormy Light, by Gigi Pandian

The Clue in the Blue Booth, by Hank Phillippi Ryan

Wicked Writers, by Frances McNamara

Coverture, by KB Inglee

Dark Secrets, by Kathryn Leigh Scott

Tarnished Hope, by KM Rockwood

Not Forgotten, by L.C. Tyler

Boston Bouillabaisse, by Nancy Brewka-Clark

Killing Kippers, by Eleanor Cawood Jones

Elemental Chaos, by M Evonne Dobsonv
Outside the Box, by Ruth Moose

The Perfect Pitch, by Marie Hannan-Mandel

Two Birds with One Stone, by Rhys Bowen

A Gathering of Great Detectives, by Shawn Reilly Simmon

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The First Mystery MEGAPACK ®: 25 Modern and Classic Mystery Stories Apr 4, 2011

by Marcia Talley, Nora Charles, Elaine Viets, Darrell Schweitzer, Johnston McCulley, Barb Goffman, C. Ellett Logan, Toni L.P. Kelner, Art Taylor

( 88 )

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Hours of great reading await, with mystery and crime tales from some of the 20th most renowned authors, including Johnston McCulley (creator of Zorro), Sax Rohmer (creator of Fu Manchu), G.K. Chesterton (famous for Father Brown) — and a handpicked selection of modern stories by contemporary masters, including Nora Charles, Marcia Talley, Elaine Viets, and many more!

Included in this volume:

A SENIOR DISCOUNT ON DEATH, by Nora Charles
MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS, by Art Taylor
THE STOLEN VENUS, by Darrell Schweitzer
REAR VIEW MURDER, by Carla Coupe
THUBWAY THAM’S INTHULT, by Johnston McCulley
THE IDES OF MARCH, by E.W. Hornung
PINPRICK, by Skadi meic Beorh
THE RED HERRING, by William Hope Hodgson
DRAGON BONES, by Jacqueline Seewald
THE GOLDEN SLIPPER, by Anna Katherine Green
KALI, by Eric Taylor
DRIVEN TO DISTRACTION, by Marcia Talley
THE BLUE CROSS, by G.K. Chesterton
THE WORST NOEL, by Barb Goffman
MR. CLACKWORTHY’S POT OF GOLD, by Christopher B. Booth
THE MONKEY GOD, by Seabury Quinn
WEDDING KNIFE, by Elaine Viets
THE MAD DETECTIVE, by John D. Swain
THE ADVENTURE OF THE DIAMOND NECKLACE, by G. F. Forrest
SECURITY BLANKET, by Toni L.P. Kelner
A CROOK WITHOUT HONOR, by Johnston McCulley
THE DAUGHTER OF HUANG CHOW, by Sax Rohmer
ANCHORS AWAY, by C. Ellett Logan
WAYS OF DARKNESS, by E.S. Pladwell
THUBWAY THAM’S INTHANE MOMENT, by Johnston McCulley

Chesapeake Crimes: This Job Is Murder! Jun 10, 2012

by C. Ellett Logan, Art Taylor, Donna Andrews, Shari Randall, Ellen Herbert, Harriette Sackler, Karen Cantwell, David Autry, Barb Goffman, Elaine Viets, Shari Randall, C. Ellett Logan, Karen Cantwell, E. B. Davis, Jill Breslau, David Autry, Harriette Sackler, Ellen Herbert, Smita Harish Jain, Leone Ciporin, Cathy Wiley

( 9 )

$4.99

The latest installment in the Chesapeake Crimes mystery series focuses on working stiffs—literally! Included in this collection are new tales by: Shari Randall, C. Ellett Logan, Karen Cantwell, E. B. Davis, Jill Breslau, David Autry, Harriette Sackler, Barb Goffman, Ellen Herbert, Smita Harish Jain, Leone Ciporin, Cathy Wiley, Donna Andrews, Art Taylor. Foreword by Elaine Viets.

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Homicidal Holidays: Fourteen Tales of Murder and Merriment Sep 24, 2014

by Donna Andrews, Barb Goffman, Marcia Talley

( 22 )

$4.99

The sixth volume in the Agatha, Anthony, Derringer, and Macavity award-winning "Chesapeake Crimes" series includes stories by: Barb Goffman, Rosemary and Larry Mild, E. B. Davis, Shaun Taylor Bevins, Cathy Wiley, Art Taylor, Shari Randall, Meg Opperman, Carla Coupe, Timothy Bentler-Jungr, Linda Lombardi, Debbi Mack, Clyde Linsley, and Donna Andrews.

"One thing I’ve learned during a long career as a writer is that a good short story is one of the hardest things to write. To capture mood, character, tension, and a satisfying climax in a few pages requires more skill than having the luxury of a novel to get things right. That’s why I’m so impressed that the writers of Chesapeake Crimes seem to deliver quality work in anthology after anthology. This one is especially fun as the theme is holidays. And who hasn’t wanted to commit a murder at a family holiday celebration?" -- Rhys Bowen

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Flash and Bang: A Short Mystery Fiction Group Anthology Oct 8, 2015

by Barb Goffman, Herschel Cozine, Walter Soethoudt, Suzanne Berube Rorhus, P.A. DeVoe, Earl Staggs, Bobbi A. Chukran, BV Lawson, J. Alan Hartman, Jan Christensen

( 3 )

$4.99

Sometimes, crime occurs with the sound of a drip of poison, or the whispering whistle of a knife moving through the air. And, sometimes, it happens with a “flash and bang.”

The Short Mystery Fiction Society was formed in 1996 to promote the reading, writing and publication of short-form mystery and crime. This includes the yearly presentation of the Derringer Awards, which celebrate excellence in the writing of stories of up to 20,000 words in length.

With over 1,600 members worldwide, SMFS represents a unique pool of authors. Now, the Short Mystery Fiction Society is pleased to present all-new stories for its first-ever anthology of stories in the short form—Flash and Bang.

From Vikings to ancient Chinese judges, diners to pawn shops, and a variety of gumshoes and amateur sleuths, Flash and Bang not only represents a wide variety of tales, but also serves as a showcase for a sampling of the incredible talent in the SMFS ranks.

Within these pages are contributions from Herschel Cozine, Bobbi A. Chukran, Su Kopil, P.A. De Voe, Laurie Stevens, Tim Wohlforth, Suzanne Berube Rorhus, Sandra Murphy, Julie Tollefson, O’Neil De Noux, John M. Floyd, JoAnne Lucas, Andrew MacRae, Judy Penz Sheluk, Albert Tucher, Earl Staggs, Barb Goffman, BV Lawson and Walter Soethoudt.

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