Barb Goffman
Mystery Writer

My published stories in chronological order


"Murder at Sleuthfest" appeared in Chesapeake Crimes II (originally published by Quiet Storm Publishing in 2005, later republished by Tidewater Press). This story was nominated for the Agatha Award. ISBN 978-0870335822


  • "Murder at Sleuthfest" was republished in Don't Get Mad, Get Even  (published by Wildside Press in 2013).


"Compulsive Bubba" appeared in Chesapeake Crimes 3  (published by Wildside Press in 2008). ISBN 978-1434402349


  • "Compulsive Bubba"  was republished in Don't Get Mad, Get Even (published by Wildside Press in 2013).


"The Worst Noel" appeared in The Gift of Murder (published by Wolfmont Press in 2009). This story was nominated for the  Agatha Award. ISBN 978-1603640107


  • "The Worst Noel" was republished in The Mystery Megapack: 25 Modern and Classic Tales by Masters (published by Wildside Press in 2011).
  • "The Worst Noel"  was republished in Don't Get Mad, Get Even  (published by Wildside Press in 2013).


"Volunteer of the Year" appeared in Chesapeake Crimes: They Had It Comin'  (published by Wildside Press in 2010). This story was nominated for the Agatha Award. ISBN 978-1434403995


  • A slightly different version of "Volunteer of the Year" appeared in Magnolia Blossoms and Afternoon Tales  (published by Gulf Coast Writers Association in 2010).
  • The original version of "Volunteer of the Year" was republished in Don't Get Mad, Get Even  (published by Wildside Press in 2013).


"The Contest" appeared in the 2010 Deadly Ink Short Story Collection (published by Deadly Ink Press in 2010). ISBN 978-0982653746


  • "The Contest" was republished in Don't Get Mad, Get Even  (published by Wildside Press in 2013).


"An Officer and a Gentleman's Agreement" appeared in Murder to Mil-Spec  (published by Wolfmont Press in 2010). ISBN 978-1603640282

  • "An Officer and a Gentleman's Agreement" was republished in Don't Get Mad, Get Even  (published by Wildside Press in 2013).


"Biscuits, Carats, and Gravy" appeared in The Killer Wore Cranberry  (published by Untreed Reads Publishing in 2010). ISBN 978-1611870138 

  • The story can also be purchased individually. ISBN 978-1611870145
  • "Biscuits, Carats, and Gravy" was republished in Don't Get Mad, Get Even  (published by Wildside Press in 2013).


"Truth and Consequences" appeared in Mystery Times Ten  (published by Buddhapuss Ink in 2011). This story was nominated for the Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity awards. ISBN 978-0984203536


  • "Truth and Consequences" was republished in Don't Get Mad, Get Even  (published by Wildside Press in 2013).


"The Lord Is My Shamus" appeared in Chesapeake Crimes: This Job is Murder  (published by Wildside Press in May 2012). This story won the Macavity Award. It also was nominated for the Agatha and Anthony awards. ISBN 978-1434440600


  • "The Lord Is My Shamus" was republished in Don't Get Mad, Get Even  (published by Wildside Press in 2013).


"Murder a la Mode" appeared in The Killer Wore Cranberry: A Second Helping  (published by Untreed Reads Publishing in October 2012). ISBN 978-1611874822

"Bon Appetit" appeared in Nightfalls: Notes from the End of the World  (published by Dark Valentine Press in December 2012). My publisher nominated this story for a Pushcart Prize. ISBN 978-0983684190

  • "Bon Appetit" was republished in Don't Get Mad, Get Even  (published by Wildside Press in 2013).


"Ulterior Motives" appeared in Ride 2  (published by Typeflow, Inc. in December 2012). ISBN 978-0983551560

Don't Get Mad, Get Even short story collection (published by Wildside Press in April 2013). Two stories in this collection, "Evil Little Girl" and "Nightmare" were nominated for the Agatha Award. This book won the Silver Falchion Award for best single-author mystery-short-story collection of 2013. ISBN 978-1434441928

This fifteen-story collection includes the following new stories:

"Nightmare" - This story was nominated for the Agatha Award.
"Have Gun - Won't Travel"
"Evil Little Girl" - This story was nominated for the Agatha Award.

  • "Evil Little Girl" was republished in Killing It Softly 2  (published by Digital Horror Fiction in 2017). ISBN 978-1988863337

"Christmas Surprise"
"Suffer the Little Children"

The collection also includes reprints of the following stories:

"Murder at Sleuthfest"
"Compulsive Bubba"
"The Worst Noel"
"Volunteer of the Year"
"The Contest"
"An Officer and a Gentleman's Agreement"
"Biscuits, Carats, and Gravy"
"Truth and Consequences"
"The Lord is My Shamus"
"Bon Appetit"

"Dead and Buried Treasure" appeared in All Hallows' Evil  (published by Mystery and Horror, LLC in September 2013). ISBN 978-0989007627

"Operation Knock Her Down a Peg" appeared in The Killer Wore Cranberry: Room For Thirds  (published by Untreed Reads Publishing in October 2013). ISBN 978-1611876246

"The Shadow Knows" appeared in Chesapeake Crimes: Homicidal Holidays  (published by Wildside Press in October 2014). This story was nominated for the Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity awards. ISBN 978-1479403097

"It's A Trap!" appeared in The Killer Wore Cranberry: A Fourth Meal of Mayhem  (published by Untreed Reads Publishing in October 2014). ISBN 978-1611877403

"A Year Without Santa Claus?" appeared in the January/February 2015 issue of Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine.  This story won the Agatha Award and was nominated for the Macavity Award.

"The Wrong Girl" appeared in Flash and Bang: A Short Mystery Fiction Society Anthology  (published by Untreed Reads Publishing in October 2015). This story was nominated for the Derringer Award in the flash category. ISBN 978-1611878295

"Stepmonster" appeared in Chesapeake Crimes: Storm Warning  (published by Wildside Press in April 2016). ISBN 978-1479420513

"The Best-Laid Plans" appeared in Malice Domestic 11: Murder Most Conventional  (published by Wildside Press in April 2016). This story was nominated for the Agatha Award. ISBN 978-1479420360

"Whose Wine Is It Anyway?" appeared in 50 Shades of Cabernet  (published by Koehler Books in March 2017). This story was nominated for the Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity awards. ISBN 978-1633933576 (trade paperback) and 978-1633933590 (hardcover)​

  • "Whose Wine Is It Anyway?" was republished in Black Cat Weekly issue  14 (published by Wildside Press in December 2021).
  • "Whose Wine Is It Anyway?" was republished as a stand-alone ebook short story by Wildside Press (December 2021). ISBN 978-1479465552


"Crazy Cat Lady" appeared in Black Cat Mystery Magazine issue 1 (published by Wildside Press in September 2017). ISBN 978-1479427659 (trade paperback)


"Till Murder Do Us Part" appeared in Chesapeake Crimes: Fur, Feathers, and Felonies  (published by Wildside Press in March 2018). This story was nominated for the Derringer Award in the Long Story category.  ISBN 978-1479435999 (trade paperback)


"The Case of the Missing Pot Roast" appeared in Florida Happens, the 2018 Bouchercon anthology (published by Three Rooms Press in September 2018). This story was nominated for the Derringer Award in the Long Story category.  ISBN 978-1941110744 (trade paperback)


"Bug Appétit" appeared in the November/December 2018 issue of Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine. This story was nominated for the Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity awards, and it tied for eighth place in the 2018 EQMM Readers Award.


"Punching Bag" appeared in the Winter 2019 issue of Flash Bang Mysteries, an online e-zine. The story is available here: https://www.flashbangmysteries.com/issue-archives/no-14-winter-jan-2019/


"The Power Behind the Throne" appeared in Deadly Southern Charm: A Lethal Ladies Mystery Anthology  (published by Wildside Press in April 2019). ISBN 978-1479448395 (trade paperback)


"Alex's Choice" appeared in Crime Travel  (published by Wildside Press in December 2019). This story was nominated for the Agatha and Macavity awards. Crime Travel  was nominated for the Anthony Award for Best Anthology or Collection published in 2019. ISBN 978-1479448388 (trade paperback); 978-1479448241 (hardcover)


"Man to Man" appeared in The Beat of Black Wings: Crime Fiction Inspired by the Songs of Joni Mitchell  (published by Untreed Reads Publishing in April 2020). ISBN 978-1949135626 (hardcover); 978-1949135619 (trade paperback)


"Dear Emily Etiquette" appeared in the September/October 2020 issue of Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine. This story won the Agatha Award as well as the 2020 Readers Award given by Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine. It also was a finalist for the Anthony and Macavity awards.


  • "Dear Emily Etiquette" was republished in Twisted Voices: Stories from Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine  (published by Level Short in July, 2024). ISBN 978-1685126902 (trade paperback)


"Eat, Drink, and Be Murdered" appeared in the November/December 2020 issue of Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine.


"Second Chance" appeared in volume one of Mickey Finn: 21st Century Noir  (published by Down & Out Books in December 2020). ISBN 978-1643961583 (trade paperback)


"A Family Matter" appeared in the January/February 2021 issue of Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine. This story was nominated for the Agatha Award.


"That Poor Woman" appeared in the January/February 2021 issue of Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine.


"An Inconvenient Sleuth" appeared in issue eight of Black Cat Mystery Magazine  (Wildside Press, January 2021). ISBN 978-1479457113


"James" appeared in Only the Good Die Young: Crime Fiction Inspired by the Songs of Billy Joel  (Untreed Reads Publishing, April 2021). ISBN 978-1949135428 (trade paperback)


"A Tale of Two Sisters" appeared in Murder on the Beach  (Destination Murders, May 2021). This story was nominated for the Agatha Award and the Derringer Award. It was included on the Other Distinguished Mystery and Suspense list in the 2022 volume of The Best American Mystery and Suspense.  ISBN 979-8201298180 (trade paperback)


"Ice Ice Baby" appeared in the September/October 2021 issue of Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine.


  • "Ice Ice Baby" was republished in issue 50 of Black Cat Weekly  (Wildside Press, August 2022).


"Humor Risk" appeared in Monkey Business: Crime Fiction Inspired by the Films of the Marx Brothers  (Untreed Reads Publishing, September 2021). ISBN 978-1953601667 (trade paperback)


"Wishful Thinking" appeared in issue six of Black Cat Weekly  (Wildside Press, October 2021).


  • "Wishful Thinking" also was published individually in October 2021 by Wildside Press.  ISBN 978-1479465422


"Out of a Fog" appeared in issue 10 of Black Cat Mystery Magazine  (Wildside Press, November 2021).  ISBN 978-1479469178


"Five Days to Fitness" appeared in Murder in the Mountains  (Destination Murders, February 2022). ISBN ‎ 979-8407069645 (trade paperback)


"Beauty and the Beyotch" appeared in issue 29 of Sherlock Holmes Mystery Magazine  (Wildside Press, February 2022). This story won the Agatha Award, the Anthony Award, and the Macavity Award. ISBN 978-1479471829


"Go Big or Go Home" appeared in Malice Domestic 16: Mystery Most Diabolical  (Wildside Press, April 2022). ISBN 978-1479471713 (trade paperback)


"For Bailey" appeared in Low Down Dirty Vote Volume 3: The Color of My Vote  (Berry Content Corporation, May 2022). ISBN 978-1732225862 (trade paperback)


"The Gift"  appeared in Land of 10,000 Thrills, the 2022 Bouchercon anthology (Down & Out Books, September 2022). This story was nominated for the Thriller Award. It also was included on the Other Distinguished Mystery and Suspense list in the 2023 volume of The Best American Mystery and Suspense. ISBN 978-1-64396-290-0 (trade paperback)


"The Joys of Owning a Dog" appeared in issue 13 of Black Cat Mystery Magazine  (Wildside Press, February 2023). ISBN ‎ 978-1434459947


"Real Courage" appeared in issue 14 of Black Cat Mystery Magazine  (Wildside Press, October 2023). This story has been nominated for the Agatha Award, the Anthony Award, and the Macavity Award. ISBN 978-1479475315


"Teenage Dirtbag" appeared in (I Just) Died In Your Arms: Crime Fiction Inspired by One-Hit Wonders, Volume 1 (Misti Media, January 2024).  ISBN 978-1963479027 (trade paperback)

"Never Have I Ever" appeared in Murder, Neat  (Level Best Books, February 2024). ISBN 978-1685125660 (trade paperback)


"A Matter of Trust" appeared in Three Strikes--You're Dead!  (Wildside Press, April 2024). ISBN 978-1479468775 (trade paperback)


"Gone to Pot" appeared in Crimes Against Nature: New Stories of Environmental Villainy  (Down & Out Books, October 2024). ISBN 978-1643963808 (trade paperback)


"The Postman Always Flirts Twice" to appear in Agatha & Derringer Get Cozy (coming from Down & Out Books, November 2024).