My fantasy mystery novelette “The Skull in the Tree” released today as part of Fantastic Detectives, an anthology from Worlds Enough and Tannhauser Press!
Here’s a blurb for my story:
A skull glares at the cottage from its perch in an old oak tree. A skull whose terrible carvings promise ruin for an innocent family.
Knight-Mother Arlise Dun knows the power of curses bound in blood. Even better, she knows how to break them. But how can she hunt down the hexer responsible for so much misery without endangering her own infant daughter?
I’m proud to say “The Skull in the Tree” enjoys the distinction of being the very first story in the anthology. It’s always an honor when an editor believes in your work so much they’re willing to let it shape first impressions of their anthology or magazine.
About Fantastic Detectives:
Magic & Murder
From worlds like our own, except for a touch of magic or the supernatural, to completely unique fantasy realms, there will always be those who use their powers for murder and mayhem.
Come meet the stubborn detectives who simply won’t let those crimes go unsolved…
• A Duelist-at-Law intervenes in the matter of a deadly affair of honor.
• A private detective who takes on ghosts for clients…provided their estate can pay him.
• A poet attempts to avert a man’s unjust execution…using strategically applied haiku.
• A rabbi wizard has a Hell of a hard time tracking down an undead murderer.
• An albino nun investigates a murder that could only have been committed by an angel.
• A knight-mage atones for her past sins by tracking down the source of an evil blood curse.
• After wizards battle…someone has to clean up the mess.
Plus even more stories from some of the finest crime and fantasy writers in the field!
Link: https://www.amazon.com/Fantastic-Detectives-David-Keener-ebook/dp/B0BRL5RGC9
Fantastic Detectives is currently available to borrow as part of Kindle Unlimited or buy in ebook and paperback, with a hardcover edition coming sometime in April. Let me know what you think of the book!