Call it “Portrait of a hooker on her wedding day.” Diana seldom spent much time at the bathroom mirror. Her strong cheekbones, the slightly Asian cast of her eyes, and her dark blonde hair were the tools of her trade. A quick professional check usually satisfied her. But today she felt a need to study […]
Continue Reading-
Release: The Honorary Jersey Girl by Albert Tucher
About the Book Criminal defense attorney Agnes Rodrigues got her client Hank Alves acquitted of a murder in the rainforest of the Big Island, but the victim was a cop’s wife, and a case like this doesn’t end with “not guilty.” When someone takes a shot at her client, and that someone looks like a […]
Continue Reading -
The Rule of Three by Albert Tucher
Agnes Rodrigues turned her back on the tenth hole. It deserved the snub, and she didn’t care if if her putt kept rolling all the way to Kona. “Nice shot,” said Coutinho. Where had he come from? “Rule of three,” said Agnes. “The triple bogey is one. You’re two. What’s three?” “Shad Heaukulani,” said the […]
Continue Reading -
Dodging Bullets – August 3, 2018 – The Hollow Vessel
This week Shotgun Honey is proud to release The Hollow Vessel by Albert Tucher. It is part of the Errol Coutinho/Big Island of Hawaii series which includes last years The Place of Refuge. Synopsis The Hawaii County Police are used to Rotten Roger sleeping rough, but now the veteran tramp has a new tent. The bloodstains […]
Continue Reading -
The Caffeine Cure by Albert Tucher
“My brain cells aren’t working,” Tillotson said. Diana stepped back and held her front door open. She let him handle the screen. “I know what they need,” she said. She led the way past the living room to the kitchen of her rented Cape Cod. By now she didn’t have to tell him to take […]
Continue Reading -
Dodging Bullets: We’ve Got You Covered Blacky!
Welcome to the relaunch of Dodging Bullets where I will talk shop about all things Shotgun Honey related, plus a few odd and ends that I find interesting. What do I find interesting this week? Shotgun Honey turns 6 years old this month and we still churns out some of the best crime flash fiction […]
Continue Reading -
Excerpt: The Place of Refuge – Chapter 1 -3
CHAPTER ONE “Now that,” Coutinho said, “is not what the Chamber of Commerce wants to see.” As soon as said the words, he wanted them back. It wasn’t his style to get flippant over a body. He had seen death before. Even in paradise people had fatal accidents. Bar fights could end as badly in […]
Continue Reading -
Shotgun Honey Joins Down & Out Books
Today Shotgun Honey is thrilled to announce a new partnership with Eric Campbell and Down & Out Books (downandoutbooks.com), an independent publisher of literary and crime fiction. Shotgun Honey joins the Tampa, FL based company as a new imprint focused primarily on short length crime fiction: collected short stories, novellas and short length novels. Shotgun Honey has a […]
Continue Reading -
The First Rule by Albert Tucher
This was the part she didn’t like. Diana could usually convince herself that she had come to terms with her job. A hooker went where she had to go, and a certain number of bystanders would guess what she was doing. But this situation left no room for doubt. Diana walked across the shop floor, […]
Continue Reading -
Wrinkles by Albert Tucher
“That’s easy,” said Diana, “he was on top of me.”
“As alibis go, that’s as good as it gets,” said Tillotson.
“Thanks, I guess.”
“No wiggle room?”
“Not the way you mean.”
He gave her a look.
Continue Reading -
The Retching Bush by Albert Tucher
It would have made a great nightmare.
Standing in front of the dark gray-encrusted lava flow, Coutinho thought it looked like the head of a crocodile the size of an Airbus. But instead of just two baleful eyes, this beast had dozens of glowing orange windows into its pitiless soul.
A puddle of water hissed, as it turned to steam and vaulted into the air. Ferns and bushes sizzled as the monster fed on them. Heat and fumes spread like the vile breath of a carnivore.
In a dream Coutinho’s feet would have weighed a ton and kept him rooted in place for the lava to overwhelm him. He knew he was awake, because he could stroll back and forth while he watched the crime scene technicians at work. The flow had slowed overnight. It was moving only a few inches per hour, but that still left his team with a short deadline.
One of the Tyvek-suited figures looked up at him.
“I think we’ve got all we’re going to get. Should we pull?”
“Let’s do it,” Coutinho said, a little too fast. He was dreading the moment.
Continue Reading -
Cast Iron by Albert Tucher
“Got one for you,” said Mary Alice. “How many clients does it take to change a light bulb?” “Hooker jokes,” said Diana. “Okay, I’ll bite.” “Just one, but he has to tell you he’s never done this before.” Mary Alice seemed so proud of herself that Diana felt obligated to chuckle. “Why do they always […]
Continue Reading