CORA BUHLERT

Sinister shadows menace a familyStrange things keep happening in the quirky little seaside town of Hallowind Cove, earning it the nickname "Harbour of the Weird".When the Hutchinson family buy the beautiful Beauregard mansion on Gloomland Street, they believe theyve made the deal of a lifetime.But unfortunately, no one told them about the fog that envelops Hallowind Cove for three hundred and forty days a year. Or about the mysterious shadows that stand around Twilight Gardens, staring at random housesThis is a short story of 3300 words or approximately 14 pages in the Hallowind Cove series, but may be read as a standalone.

When the apocalypse has come and gone, life still goes on for the survivors struggling to adapt to the new normal.In a drowned world, the descendants of surface dwellers remember the cities that were lost, the inhabitants of ocean floor colonies cling to outmoded customs and scavengers search the flooded ruins for anything that might be of use. In a world ravaged by droughts, two college students come face to face with how the other half lives. A lone explorer traverses the icy wasteland that used to be Europe. A group of children travels across a zombie-infested America in search of shelter and safety. After a robot uprising, a police officer is assigned to clean-up duties and finds an unexpected miracle among the ruins. And in a world blasted by electromagnetic solar storms, a nineteenth century technology suddenly becomes the sole means of long distance communication.This collection contains eight stories of life after the apocalypse of 24500 words or approximately 85 print pages altogether.

En route from Spain to the New World, the ship carrying Dona Rosaria is attacked by English pirates under the command of Sir Nicholas Harcourt, the infamous Black Falcon. Rosaria fears the worst, when she is taken prisoner, but Sir Nicholas proves himself surprisingly courteous until he places a noose around Rosarias neck and threatens to hang her, should her wealthy uncle fail to pay a ransom in exchange for Rosarias life and virtue.Sir Nicholas Harcourt has a reputation of being the most merciless pirate to prowl the Spanish Main. But his beautiful prisoner Dona Rosaria both manages to touch his heart and stir the fire of passion in his chest. Nicholas is resolved to have her by any means. However, he has also sworn to hang her on the deck of his ship, should her notoriously stingy uncle refuse to pay the ransom.Can Rosaria resist her growing attraction to a man she knows is a pirate and a heretic? And would Sir Nicholas really hang the woman who has captured his heart?This is a novelette of 13000 words or approx. 40 print pages.Warning: This novelette contains some fairly hot sex and not overly graphic violence, so sensitive readers should tread carefully. What is more, this is part one of a two-part story, so dont expect an ending that ties up all loose threads.

When the elderly widow Maureen Pettigrew is found bludgeoned to death on the grave of her late husband, the case seems clear. Maureen is the latest victim of the cemetery mugger who has been terrorising Kensal Green cemetery for several weeks now. However, the only suspect a young man in jeans and a battered leather jacket is a phantom no one except the cemetery caretaker has ever seen. Can Detective Inspector Helen Shepherd and her team find the young man in the leather jacket? And does he even exist? This is a novelette of 7700 words or approx. 26 print pages in the Helen Shepherd Mysteries series, but may be read as a standalone.

London, 1751: Es ist Hinrichtungstag und neun verurteilte Verbrecher, sechs Manner und drei Frauen, sollen am beruchtigten dreistempligen Galgen von Tyburn sterben. Unter jenen, die gekommen sind, um die Gefangenen hangen zu sehen, ist auch Jack Blackstone, besser bekannt als Blackjack, der Straenrauber.Aber Jack ist an diesem Tag nicht nach Tyburn gekommen, um das Spektakel einer offentlichen Hinrichtung zu begaffen. Denn unter denen, die heute gehangt werden sollen, ist auch Jacks groe Liebe Eliza Colson, zum Tode verurteilt fur ein Verbrechen, das sie nicht begangen hat.Jack hat geschworen, Eliza vor dem Galgen zu retten oder bei dem Versuch zu sterben.Das ist eine historische Liebesgeschichte von 5700 Worten, was etwas 20 Buchseiten entspricht.Diese Geschichte ist auch auf English unter dem Titel "Hanging Day" erhaltlich.

1956. In the quiet suburb of Shady Groves, ten-year-old Kenny watches as both his parents are murdered, shot down by a mafia enforcer. And the mob is not inclined to leave any witnesses behind. However, an invasion from outer space may just prove to be one little boys salvation This is a short story of 3500 words or approx. 13 pages in the The Day the Saucers Came series, but may be read as a standalone.

Kurierdienst gehort nicht gerade zu den Top Ten Lieblingsmissionen der Superspionin Carrie Ragnarok. Ein Objekt von A nach B zu transportieren das ist ist stressig, aber nicht besonders aufregend. Dies gilt sogar wenn das besagte Objekt Form Nr. 8 ist, eine extrem hassliche und auerst wertvolle Skulptur des obskuren bulgarischen Kunstlers Wassily Bagdanorowsky, welche 2,8 Millionen Dollar wert ist. Aber ein unerwarteter Uberfall kann sogar den langweiligsten Kurierjob aufpeppenDies ist eine Kurzgeschichte von ca. 3300 Worten, was ca. 13 Buchseiten entspricht.

The Netherlands in the year of the Lord 1571: The young widow Ann lives alone with her little son Florentijn in a house at the edge of the woods. From childhood on, Ann has been told to never ever go alone into the woods. But when her little son runs away, Ann has no choice. She must venture into the forest to save Florentijn from the creatures that live in the woods surrounding the village of Doodenbos. This is a historical horror short story of 3000 words or approx. 12 pages.

Thirty years ago Jimmy Donnelly was sent to prison. Now hes free again and eager to finally avenge himself on Detective Charles Maryham, the man who put him behind bars. And then theres Maryhams beautiful wife Carla, the subject of many of Jimmys wet dreams back in prison.But thirty years is a long time. And sometimes, its too late for vengeance.This is a short story of 3700 words. This story is also available as part of the collection Murder in the Family.

During a holiday in Belgium, college students Evan and Matt decide to explore an uncharted cave in the Ardennes. Also along for the ride is Evans sister Kate, who has been tasked with looking out for her brother since early childhood. Deep inside the cave, Kate, Evan and Matt stumble upon a portal to another world. But does this portal represent the greatest adventure of their lives or a terrible danger? This is a science fictional tale of terror of 3800 words or approximately 15 print pages by Hugo finalist Cora Buhlert.

Cadet Anjali Patel had hoped for something more exciting than guard duty for her first mission with the legendary Shakyri Expeditionary Corps, the best fighters in the Empire of Worlds.However, this boring job quickly turns hot, when an enemy convoy comes up the mountain pass Anjali is supposed to guard.This is a prequel story of 4500 words or approx. 18 print pages to the "In Love and War" series, but may be read as a standalone.Nominated for the 2018 eFestival of Word Best of the Independent eBooks Award

Rebellion is brewing at Santas compound at the North Pole. The elves and the reindeer both are overworked, underpaid and angry, so they unite to take down Santa. However, theres still Santas most fearsome enforcer, the horned, clawed and fanged holiday monster known only as Krampus This is a short holiday horror story of 3900 words or approx. 14 print pages by Hugo finalist Cora Buhlert.

When cartoonist Charlie Ellis is stabbed to death in his studio, everybody suspects a political motive. For his controversial cartoons had placed Charlie Ellis in the crosshairs two years before. But Detective Inspector Helen Shepherd is sceptical. For why did Charlie Ellis not even try to defend himself and why did he open to door to his own killer? How did the killer manage to sneak past the police guard at the door in the first place? And what is the connection between Charlie Ellis and the other fourteen men in the Greater London area who happen to share his rather common name? With the help of Simon Westmoreland, a handsome chief inspector from the Counter Terrorism Command, Helen finally manages to shed some light on the murder of Charlie Ellis. This is a short mystery of 12200 words or approximately 42 print pages in the Helen Shepherd Mysteries series, but may be read as a standalone.

Two tales of love and loss and nuclear war.Thirteen MinutesCaught in a supermarket, when the alarm goes off, Luke and David admit some unspoken truths to each other before the bombs fall.Four Minute WarningTracy and Jimmy know you cant survive a nuclear war, even if civil defence leaflets and radio broadcasts claim otherwise. So they head for the seaside to wait for the end of the world.These are two short apocalyptic tales of 5700 words or approximately 20 print pages altogether.Warning: These stories are very dark and contain quite a bit of swearing.

Three tales of broken hearts and love gone wrongMatt was the great love of Lydias young life. But how can she possible survive, knowing that he loves another, that red-headed bitch Jeannie?They got their happy ending, the white wedding, the house, the suburban life together. But every morning when he leaves for work, she secretly hopes he wont come back.Three years ago, AJ and Diane were a couple. It didnt work out and Diane grew a hard shell around her wounded heart and adopted a new tough personality to survive. But when she runs into AJ at a wedding party, the past comes crashing back all at once.This is a collection of three short stories of 4700 words or approx. 18 print pages altogether.

New York City, 1936: Its a rare evening at home for Richard Blakemore, hardworking pulp writer by day and the masked vigilante only known as the Silencer by night. But even though crime never rests, next months Silencer novel doesnt write itself. And besides, Richard enjoys the chance to spend some time with his fiancee Constance Allen.Pulp fiction thrives on exaggeration and non-stop action. And as always, the question is how much of the Silencers adventures are fact and how much is fiction?This is a short story of 2700 words or approx. 10 print pages in the Silencer series, but may be read as a standalone.

When Eudora Pembroke, a self-styled witch, is found dead in her house after ingesting a poisonous plant, everybody suspects a tragic accident. After all, Eudora was elderly and might have mistaken the poisonous plant for a benign herb. But Detective Inspector Helen Shepherd is sceptical. Would a skilled herbalist like Eudora Pembroke really make such a beginners mistake? And who might have had a motive to poison her? This is a mystery novelette of 12500 words or approximately 45 print pages in the Helen Shepherd Mysteries series, but may be read as a standalone.

Once, Anjali Patel and Mikhail Grikov were soldiers on opposing sides of an intergalactic war. They met, fell in love and decided to go on the run together. Now Anjali and Mikhail are trying to eke out a living on the independent worlds of the galactic rim, while attempting to stay under the radar of those pursuing them. On their way back from a mission, Anjali and Mikhail are ambushed by a squad of bounty hunters. Wounded and hunted through a frozen landscape, they find shelter in a mountain lodge. But their pursuers are still out there, tracking them. And with Anjali too injured to fight, Mikhail must face down seven bounty hunters on his own This is a novella of 21000 words or approx. 75 print pages in the "In Love and War" series, but may be read as a standalone.

When supermarket employee Nelson Grant is found bludgeoned to death next to a half empty crate of bananas, the case seems a complete mystery. For Nelson Grant was well liked by his colleagues, so who could possibly want him dead? But then Detective Inspector Helen Shepherd and her team discover that the crate contained more than just bananas and the case suddenly acquires a whole new dimension. This is a mystery novelette of 12300 words or approximately 45 print pages in the Helen Shepherd Mysteries series, but may be read as a standalone.

The Premier Imperial Bank of Houshou is the financial institute of choice for the rich and the crooked of the Fifth Human Empire. The bank boosts a two thousand year history of excellent but discreet service and its vaults and computers are thought to be impenetrable.However, the Premier Imperial Bank of Houshou has not counted on Ethan Summerton and Holly di Marco, ex-aristocrat and ex-mercenary respectively, finding a way to breach its impenetrable security system and redirect the ill-gotten gains stored at the bank to the coffers of the Galactic Rebellion. On the other hand, Holly and Ethan, whose murdered family was among the select clientele of the bank, have not counted on the Premier Imperial Bank of Houshous rather eccentric idea of good customer service.This is a novella of 19500 words or approximately 62 print pages in the Shattered Empire universe, but may be read as a standalone.