Black Cat Weekly #236

Ron Miller · Andrew Welsh-Huggins · Bobby Mathews · Hal Charles · John Gregory Betancourt · D.J. Tyrer · Seabury Quinn · Olaf Stapledon · Carolyn Keene · L.T. Meade

Jan 2026 · Wildside Press LLC

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This issue, we seem to have developed an Occult Detective theme. In my browsing, I stumbled upon a three-story series by L.T. Meade & Robert Eustace from 1902 that I had never read before. Inspired by this tale of a palmist-detective and her brother, I sat down and wrote a 10,000-word followup and decided to run it here first, along with the story that launched their adventures, “The Dead Hand.” I’m sure you’ll enjoy the classic first story in the series, and I hope you’ll enjoy my sequel. I’ve done my best to match the style, tone, and early 20th century British language. Accompanying these two, we have another occult detective tale by Seabury Quinn starring Jules de Grandin (first published in Weird Tales) plus a story with a definite occult vibe by Ron Miller, as P.I. Velda meets a fortune-teller in “Velda Goes on a Date.” Lots of fun!

We also have original tales by Andrew Welsh-Huggins (thanks to Acquiring Editor Michael Bracken), Bobby Mathews, and D.J. Tyrer, as well as a new solve-it-yourself mystery from Hal Charles. Classic science fiction from Frank Belknap Long and Olaf Stapledon, along with the fourth Nancy Drew mystery novel.

Here’s the complete lineup—

Cover Art by: Steve Hickman

NOVELS

The Mystery at Lilac Inn, by Carolyn Keene [Nancy Drew series]
Nancy Drew’s fourth outing concludes our reprints of the series.

Last and First Men, by Olaf Stapledon
The seminal science fiction novel that inspired a generation of readers.

NOVELETS

“Velda Goes on a Date,” by Ron Miller [Velda P.I. series]
Velda’s big date turns deadly after a visit to a fortune teller.

“Spirit Tips,” by John Gregory Betancourt [Diana Marburg, Occult Detective series]
Miss Marburg and her brother investigate a phantom telegraph.

SOLVE-IT-YOURSELF MYSTERY

“Death Crashes the Party,” by Hal Charles
Can you solve the mystery before the detective? All the clues are there!

SHORT STORIES

“Shopping That Way,” by Andrew Welsh-Huggins [Michael Bracken Presents short story]
A desperate errand leads a mother into something unthinkable.

“Bookend,” by Bobby Mathews
A detective finds heartbreak and fraud behind a park murder.

“The Dead Hand,” by L.T. Meade & Robert Eustace [Diana Marburg, Occult Detective series]
A palmist’s warning opens the door to a chilling murder case.

“Restless Souls,” by Seabury Quinn [Jules de Grandin series]
On a stormy Halloween, a chance meeting leads straight toward the grave!

“Sic,” by D.J. Tyrer
In a city of laws, one robot discovers a deadly freedom.

“Preview,” by Frank Belknap Long
A strange film preview becomes something no audience can explain.

This issue, we seem to have developed an Occult Detective theme. In my browsing, I stumbled upon a three-story series by L.T. Meade & Robert Eustace from 1902 that I had never read before. Inspired by this tale of a palmist-detective and her brother, I sat down and wrote a 10,000-word followup an...

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