Spiral Publishing's October Reads

Spiral Publishing authors Kari Kilgore and Jason A. Adams have put together an exclusive bundle of six fiction stories set in October and autumn, and available this October at a special price! Check out the stories below, and be sure to grab your bundle of Spiral Publishing's October Reads before it disappears at the end of the month!

Happy October, happy reading, and don't forget to check back next month for your brand-new batch of Spiral Publishing's Monthly Reads!

Vampire Tap by Jason A. Adams

Never Mess with IT

As an IT specialist for the world's biggest airline, Dan Freeman prefers the boring life.

As a data-mining analyst, Susan Blackmore wishes her life was more boring.

Crazy credit card purchases and a wrecked rental car make things far too exciting.

Will Dan find the truth that sets Susan free while capturing her heart?

An excerpt from Vampire Tap:

“Here, look at this and tell me what you think!” Suze snapped, shoving a plain white envelope at him.

The return address was a blue stamp of a breastplate, complete with snaky-haired head. Below the logo was the company name. Aegis Car Rental.

Dan opened the envelope, and took out the single sheet of paper inside. Short, sweet, and to the point, the half-page of text informed Ms. Susan Blackmore, 207 8th Ave., Decatur, GA that her rental had been recovered and the grand theft auto charges dropped. Also that the car had damage that left it totaled, and she now owed the agency the cost of replacement, $17,432.95.

“Holy shit,” Dan said.

 

The Hazards of the Hysterical Society by Kari Kilgore

Stacks of Suspicion

Lily Jane McKenzie adores her job at the Bountyfield Public Library. Even when her kid sister Mandy gets on her last nerve.

But Mandy’s worst efforts fall far short of the dreaded quarterly meetings of the Boun County Historical Society.

When they turn up one member short, no one suspects murder.

Will Lily Jane and Mandy discover the weapon before they fall victim to the same crime?  

Originally appeared as “The Dangers of Tinkering with History” in Mystery, Crime, and Mayhem: Library Cases

An excerpt from The Hazards of the Hysterical Society

A Gruesome Specimen in Special Collections


The table was piled with books, magazines, newspapers, and highlighters, as if a herd of high school kids were pushing hard on the deadline for a research paper. All that was missing was the computers or tablets.


A black leather appointment book, manila folders, sticky notes, a rectangular magnifying glass, two of the annoying click-top blue pens all the historical society members insisted on, and two packs of yellow legal notepads shifted the scenario toward an older demographic choosing to ignore the digital age.


The overhead lighting was buzzy old fluorescents, with a harsh glare that usually gave Lily Jane an instant headache.


Today, though, her more immediate concern was her pounding heart and the queasy roil in her stomach.


Because crumpled on the tan carpet, halfway under the table, was the unmoving body of Mr. Rodney Frizell. 

 

Angel of Mercy by Jason A. Adams

In a time of jazz and bootleg liquor, Death stalks New Orleans.

Captain Ted Mooney of the NOPD loves his city, and hates those who make trouble for its citizens.

In the alleys and flophouses, people keep dying in suspicious ways.

Will Ted root out the cause of these mysterious deaths before the killer strikes again?

An excerpt from Angel of Mercy:

Ted started to speak, but had to clear his throat a couple of times. He didn’t bother wiping the tears away as they coursed down his cheeks. Beside him, the two other policemen crossed themselves and muttered prayers in French patois.

“Lee,” he finally said. “I was too late. I don’t want to be too late again.”

 

The Last Death of Angfil by Kari Kilgore

A Particularly Wicked Ghost

Maude Morgan enjoys life in the tough mining town of Virginia City, Nevada. Surrounded by long loyal friends and allies.

But two desperate men on the run bring a fierce specter of Maude's past that threatens to destroy everything.

Can she manage to protect herself and all she holds dear?

Or will the past put an end to her future?

Part of Unexpected Histories, an Uncollected Anthology

An excerpt from The Last Death of Angfil:

A Most Unwelcome Reminder of Times Long Past

Maude folded the letter, tucked it into a pocket of her skirt, and picked up her cooled tea.


“May I ask how you became aware of the threat to your life, Mr. Evans?”


He stared down at his hands knotted in his lap, and Maude would have sworn a flush rose against his dark skin.


“I heard tell of the murder of friends of mine,” he said. “From before. Friends from the bad days, back in Georgia. Murdered in Richmond, and Philadelphia, and New York. Then Chicago, and St. Louis, and Denver. It was one of Jacob’s people that got word of what Mr. O’Day knew, after we got out here to Virginia City a week past.”


Mr. Fairfax—Jacob—gazed at Mr. Evans with a fondness Maude finally recognized and understood. These two weren’t simply friends or traveling companions. They meant far more to each other than that.


Mr. Fairfax confirmed her suspicions with his words and the heat of his tone. 


“The things William told me about his life…before, they aren’t fit for a lady to hear, ma’am. I’ll do anything in my power to make sure he’s safe from harm. That man that’s after him, Mr. Winters. He’s the very devil in the flesh.”

 

Harvest Bride by Jason A. Adams

Comes Now the Harvest Bride

Harvest Day. When the good people of Fecund County honor The Caretakers.

Jack Blevins swells with pride that this year, The Caretakers choose his own Emily.

Mother Hind and Father Stag collect the Harvest Bride, as on every Harvest Day.

As the sun nears Memorial Spire, the Sylvias watch and wait.

After all, old ways are best ways in the end.

An excerpt from Harvest Bride:

Jack saw a huge set of antlers bobbing their way through the crowd. Father Stag in all his glory.

“Brother Jack, thank you for coming,” said the Father. “Er, is that what you’ll be wearing for the ceremony?”

“Nawsir, I got my special clothes. Just got to run fetch ’em from my truck. I got time, ain’t I?”

He held out his arm, fitting three fingers between the sun and Memorial Spire. An hour, maybe. He’d have to scoot.

“Make sure to meet me at the Cornucopia Altar as soon as you can,” Father Stag said. “You do recall the ritual, yes? We want no mistakes before the Caretakers. Old ways are best ways, isn’t that so?”