The thrill of the chase, the steely-eyed detective (either gentle or hardboiled), the dark alleys and the double-cross, the unsolvable crime by a masterful criminal mind: this new title in our Gothic Fantasy Short Stories series features chills and double twists, unexpected turns and private investigators with an eye for the unusual, and contains a cunning mix of classic and brand new writing. Great detective thriller writers such as Arthur Conan Doyle, John Buchan, G.K. Chesterton, Arthur Morrison and the Mother of Detective fiction herself, Anna Katharine Green, join rarely seen tales by modern authors, and completely new stories, published here for the first time by, amongst others, T.Y. Euliano, Tracy Fahey, Tom Mead Marie Vibbert. As always our submission windows are packed with great reads so the successful stories are always a joy to publish.

If you enjoy Jim Butcher's Dresden Files; Terry Brooks' Running with Demons (Word and the Void) and Armageddon's Children (Genesis of Shannara Trilogy); Demon Moon in The Guardian Series by, Meljean Brook, Larry Correia's Monster Hunter International, or Patricia Briggs When Demons Walk you will love the Crimson Pact series.
In this book you will find the highly-acclaimed origin story of the Crimson Pact mythology, "The Failed Crusade," and the epic finale to the entire series, "Sealed with Fire," powerful novellas by Patrick M. Tracy. Read a story from New York Times' bestselling author Larry Correia and Hugo Award-nominated Steven Diamond. Enjoy short fiction from: Bram Stoker Award-nominated Lawrence C. Connolly; Writers of the Future Award Winners Bradley P. Beaulieu and Brad R. Torgersen; I-CON Innovative Game Design Award Winner George Strayton; and fiction from the Hugo and Campbell Award-nominated Dan Wells, author of the highly regarded I Am Not A Serial Killer and co-host of the Writing Excuses Podcast.
Original stories also by fan favorites Donald J. Bingle, Kelly Swails, Usman T. Malik, Craig Nybo, Justin Swapp, Danielle DeLisle, Michaele Jordan, Zachary Hill, Chante McCoy, Stephanie Loree, Donald Darling, Brett Peterson, and Karen Bovenmyer.
Praise for The Crimson Pact Series
"Almost 30 years later The Crimson Pact supplants Clive Barker's Books of Blood series as the modern compendium of fantasy horror short stories. Though The Crimson Pact lacks the consistent voice the Books of Blood offer, there is something to be said for the variety of styles. Like the viewers of the classic Twilight Zone and Outer Limits television series, each reader is bound to have their own favorites. Whether you buy these for yourself or someone else, any horror, suspense, or dark fiction fan should enjoy the collection." Lance Roth at Blog Critics.org about Volumes 1-4
"The demons are not your typical straight-from-Hell, pitchfork-tailed monstrosities, or (perhaps) even in any realistic sense of the term 'native' to Earth. No, the demons you will encounter in The Crimson Pact are rather more like H. P. Lovecraft's Great Old Ones-unknowable creatures from beyond the Void, waiting only their opportunity to invade helpless earths and rule them with devastation and despair." Author Michael Collings on Hell Notes.com about Volumes 1-4, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
"I applaud those who brainstormed this, and I can hardly wait to read the Crimson Pact, Volume 2. If you haven't partaken of this little jewel, I encourage you to do so, but beware, what lies beneath a mortal's skin could be something marvelously demonic." MK Horror.com
"If you like demons and dark fantasy, if you love the constant struggle of good against evil (or at least human vs. something clawed and taloned), an endless eternal war between humanity and hellborn, then this is definitely the anthology for you." Pippa Jay of Fantasy Book Review.co.uk "If you like Dark Fantasy, you'll love this book." Author Daniel Coleman, about The Crimson Pact Volume 1

Magic fills the Blue Kingdoms. Its tendrils reach through the islands, ensnaring the denizens of the World-Sea with effects both sublime and monstrous. Magic . . . Pulses with the pull of the oars on a zombie slave ship. Flows from a dying wizard into an unsuspecting princess. Plagues a half-ogress blessed with uncanny strength. Manifests as a seductive and deadly guardian. Reveals itself too late to a shipwrecked mage. Fuels the alchemical battle for the Philosopher's Stone. Appears in many forms . . . always when least expected. Delve into these pages and let our authors surprise and ensorcell you Stephen D. Sullivan - Jean Rabe Donald J. Bingle - Kelly Swails - Steven Saus Ramsey & Margaret Lundock - Annette Leggett Brandie Tarvin - Robert Farnsworth - Steve Rouse Marc Tassin - Kathleen Watness