No, Del and Louise aren’t in space, but they have returned to a new space—with the story “Rearview Mirror” getting a reprint in the new issue (Issue 184) of Black Cat Weekly. Thanks to Barb Goffman for selecting the story for this issue and for some sharp edits on the original manuscript, so this is actually the third version of the story in print.
For some background, “Rearview Mirror” originally appeared in Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine‘s March/April 2010 issue—introduce small-time crook Del and his girlfriend Louise to the world, as they embark on one last robbery before going straight. (Good luck with that, right?)
The characters returned in a second story in EQMM, and that was the beginning of a series of linked stories which ultimately became On the Road with Del & Louise: A Novel in Stories, published in 2015 and winning the Agatha Award for Best First Novel the following year. I revised the story a bit from the original publication in order to build on more of the linkages between stories—and to de-“just”-ify it, since Louise’s narration seemed to indulge that word a bit too much. And this version of the story was selected for the Best American Mystery Stories that year too.
That book is out of print now, unfortunately, but it’s good to see the story get another bit of life in Black Cat—and another take on de-“just”-ification and tightening, since Barb worked from the earlier manuscript.
Here’s more info on the issue too, courtesy Wildside Press:
Cover Art: Steve Hickman
NOVELS
The Crow’s Inn Tragedy, by Annie Haynes
When a solicitor is found strangled in his office, secrets and scandal unfold. A golden age mystery.
The Devil’s Agent, by Edmund Glasby
A Hollywood producer is dead, a bizarre cult lurks in the shadows, and an ex-FBI agent must face the unthinkable…
SOLVE-IT-YOURSELF MYSTERY
“The Birthday Riddle,” by Hal Charles
Can you solve the mystery before the detective? All the clues are there!
SHORT STORIES
“Deadly Dismissal,” by Gregory Meece [Michael Bracken Presents short story]
A principal’s rigid routine hides a deadly secret. Who had the motive—and the chance—to kill him?
“Rearview Mirror,” by Art Taylor [Barb Goffman Presents short story]
A road trip, a heist, and a love tested—how far will trust stretch before it snaps?
“The Research Project,” Marian McMahon Stanley
What did Edna Fuller uncover before she vanished?
“The Talking Dead,” by Tom Easton
Murder victims speak from beyond the grave—but can they name their killer?
“First Effort,” by E.C. Tubb
Lost in space, three men face the unthinkable—how long can they survive?
“Terror Out of the Past,” by Raymond Z. Gallun
Beneath ancient hills, a hidden structure emerges. What secrets does it hold—and who will claim them?
“G.I.G.O,” by Gregg Chamberlin
An old computer, a digital genie, and a wish gone wrong—fortune favors the careful!