Derringer Delights

The Short Mystery Fiction Society announced the winners of this year Derringer Awards. Since 1998, the SMFS has awarded the annual Derringers—after the popular pocket pistol—to outstanding published stories. The awards recognize outstanding stories published during 2023. Congratulations to this year's winners and finalists!

 

FLASH:  “The Referee” by C. W. Blackwell (Shotgun Honey, October 12, 2023)

Other finalists:

• “Sleep Rough” by Brandon Barrows (Shotgun Honey, September 19, 2023)
• “To Whom It May Concern by Serena Jayne” (Shotgun Honey, January 9, 2023)
• “Teddy’s Favorite Thing” by Paul Ryan O’Connor (Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, Sept/Oct 2023)
• “Supply Chains” by Andrew Welsh-Huggins (Black Cat Weekly #89)

 

SHORT STORY: “Last Day At The Jackrabbit” by John Floyd (The Strand, May 2023)

Other finalists:

• “Denim Mining” by Michael Bracken (Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, May/June 2023)
• “Dogs Of War” by Michael Bracken & Stacy Woodson (Mickey Finn: 21^st Century Noir Volume Four, Down & Out Books)
• “I Don’t Like Mondays” by Josh Pachter (Mystery Magazine, July 2023)
• “Judge Not” by Twist Phelan (Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, May/June 2023)
• “A Tail Of Justice” by Shannon Taft (Black Cat Weekly #114)

 

LONG STORY:  “Good Deed For The Day” by Bonnar Spring (Wolfsbane: Best New England Crime Stories, Crime Spell Books)

Other finalists:

• “Hard Rain On Beach Street” by C. W. Blackwell (Killin’ Time in San Diego, Down & Out Books)
• “Reversion” by Marcelle Dubé (Mystery Magazine, April 2023)
• “Back To Hell House” by Nick Kolakowski (Vautrin, Fall 2023)
• “Troubled Water” by Donalee Moulton (Black Cat Weekly #75)
• “It’s Not Even Past” by Anna Scotti (Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, Sept/Oct 2023)
• “Ignatius Rum-And-Cola” by Andrew Welsh-Huggins (Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, Jan/Feb 2023)

 

NOVELETTE:  “Mrs. Hyde” by David Dean (Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, March/April 2023)

Other finalists:

• “Vengeance Weapon” by James R. Benn (The Refusal Camp: Stories by James R. Benn, Soho Press)
• “The Case Of The Bogus Cinderellas” by Jacqueline Freimor (Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, July/Aug 2023)
• “Madam Tomahawk” by Nick Kolakowski (A Grifter’s Song, Down & Out Books, 2023)
• “Catherine The Great” by Kristine Kathryn Rusch (WMG 2023 Holiday Spectacular Calendar of Stories)