Short Stories That Stand Tall

On Friday, America’s Short Mystery Fiction Society (SMFS) revealed the winners of its 2026 Derringer Awards, in half a dozen categories.

Best Flash Story (up to 1,000 words): “The Man Under the Bridge,” by Bern Sy Moss (Spillwords, 6/1/2025)

Also nominated: “Bradycardia,” by Elizabeth Dearborn (Punk Noir, 2/4/2025); “Check Rear Seat,” by Carl Tait (Exquisite Death, 5/1/2025); “It All Comes Out in the Wash,” by James Patrick Focarile (Gumshoe Review, 10/31/2025); and “Just Like Old Times,” by Shari Held (Yellow Mama, 2/15/2025)

Best Short Story (1,001 to 4,000 words): “Blind Pig,” by Michael Bracken (Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, September/October 2025)

Also nominated: “Chains,” by Frank Vatel (All Due Respect, 9/1/25); “Hollywood Prometheus,” by Christa Faust (from Crime Ink: Iconic: An Anthology of Crime Fiction Inspired by Queer Icons, edited by by John Copenhaver and Salem West; Bywater); “The Artist,” by Linda Ann Bennett (from Midnight Schemers & Daydream Believers: 22 Stories of Mystery & Suspense, edited by by Judy Penz Sheluk; Superior Shores Press); and “Wax On, Wax Off,” by Nina Mansfield (from Donna Andrews Presents Malice Domestic: Mystery Most Humorous, edited by John Betancourt, Michael Bracken, and Carla Coupe; Wildside Press)

Best Long Story (4,001 to 8,000 words): “Whatever Kills the Pain,” by C.W. Blackwell (from Whatever Kills the Pain, by C.W. Blackwell; Rock and a Hard Place Press)

Also nominated: “A Sign of the Times,” by Tom Milani (from Sleuths Just Wanna Have Fun: Private Eyes in the Materialistic Eighties, edited by Michael Bracken; Down & Out); “Masterpiece,” by Mark Thielman (Black Cat Mystery Magazine, September 2025); “Six-Armed Robbery,” by Ashley-Ruth M. Bernier (from Donna Andrews Presents Malice Domestic: Mystery Most Humorous); and “Zebra Finch,” by donalee Moulton (from The Most Dangerous Games, edited by Deborah Lacy; Level Short)

Best Novelette (8,001 to 20,000 words): “The Temporary Murder of Thomas Monroe,” by Tia Tashiro (Clarkesworld, January 2025;
audio version)

Also nominated: “Aswarby Hall,” by David Dean (Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, March/April 2025); “Loose Change from a Mini Cooper,” by Frank Zafiro (Chop Shop Episode 10, Down & Out); “Saint Bullethead,” by Nick Kolakowski (from Fighting Words: Bruisers, Brawlers, & Bad Intentions, edited by Scott Blackburn; Leonardo Audio); and “The High Priest of Low Men,” by C.W. Blackwell (Myopic Duplicity: Do the Ends Ever Justify the Means?, edited by Jeff Circle; Leonardo Audio)

Best Anthology: Tie — Hollywood Kills: An Anthology, edited by Adam Meyer and Alan Orloff (Level Short); and On Fire and Under Water: A Climate Change Crime Fiction Anthology, edited by Curtis Ippolito (Rock and a Hard Place Press)

Also nominated: Crimeucopia—The Not So Frail Detective Agency, edited by John Connor (Murderous Ink Press); Gone Fishin’: Crime Takes a Holiday, edited by James M. Jackson (Wolf's Echo Press); Midnight Schemers & Daydream Believers: 22 Stories of Mystery & Suspense, edited by Judy Penz Sheluk (Superior Shores Press); and SoWest: Danger Awaits! edited by Claire A. Murray, Eva Eldridge, Suzanne E. Flaig, Denise Ganley, and Sarah Smith (DS)

In addition, this year’s Edward D. Hoch Memorial Golden Derringer was presented to retired Chief of Police and author David Dean.

(Photo of Derringer Award medals by Art Taylor.)