The Strand

This is "The Strand Magazine" rebooted, published out of Michigan four times a year. You may have heard of the original "The Strand" – published in England from 1891 – 1950. It's the magazine in which the Sherlock Holmes stories were first serialized.I'm a long-time fan and subscriber to the new American Strand, first published in 1998. There used to be many magazines in America dedicated to publishing short stories, a good proportion of them specializing in mysteries & thrillers (and pulp). Now we're down to a handful.And I like "The Strand". It's over sized, almost 11 ½" x 8 ½". The pages are glossy. Each issue arrives in a plastic wrapper, so the pages aren't bent around in the mail. Every style of mystery/thriller writing is covered, whether it's in the short stories themselves, the interviews, the reviews or the ads. And occasionally they offer a story that is not really a mystery, but has merit.I have in front of me the last two issues, Oct2015/Jan2016 and Feb/May2016. I'll give you a little synopsis of what's in these two issues. Not every story is a home-run for me, but I do read each issue from cover to cover, usually 80 oversized pages. The links I've provided are to a publication by each author currently available on amazon. I included these links in case you are unfamiliar with the authors; you can check out the type of writing you may expect.Often, the interviews are just as interesting as the stories. The interviews are all conducted by Managing Editor Andrew Gulli. You can tell he enjoys his job.Each issue has 12-13 reviews by various mystery & thriller lovers. They are in-depth and cover, as you'd expect, mostly adult books. But they also review new publications of young adult mysteries, recorded books and DVD issues.Last of all, I love going through all the ads in each issue, too. I always find at least three new books to order for that quarter, books I might not have otherwise come to my attention. This is good for my reading enjoyment but bad for my pocketbook.Oct2015/Jan2016AUTHORS OF FICTION STORIES PRESENTED1. William Faulkner, a previously un-published one-act play2. Andrea Camilleri  Montalbano's First Case and Other Stories (Inspector Montalbano Series) 3. John M. Floyd  Fifty Mysteries 4. Lyndsay Faye  The Gods of Gotham (A Timothy Wilde Novel)  (I've read this one - 5 stars!)5. Alexander McCall Smith  The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (Book 1)  I have the whole series.INTERVIEWSA. Dean Koontz. Great quote: "I tend to write several books from a similar approach and then move on to something I find more challenging.... I have been told at least twenty times that one book or another was so different it would blow up my career; I should have long ago been reduced to fine-grain debris, but I've hung in all this time. Which is a good thing, because I have no other talents or skills. I would have had to turn to a life of crime. And I expect my criminal aptitude would make Donald Westlake's [John]] Dortmunder look like a modern-day Moriarty."B. A.E. Hotchner. He has had an amazing career, starting with meeting Hemingway to do an interview for "Cosmopolitan". He's published biographies, memoirs and written plays. Last but not least, he co-founded, with the late Paul Newman, both Newman's Own and Hole in the Wall Gang.Feb/May2016AUTHORS OF FICTION STORIES PRESENTED1. James Thurber, a previously unpublished short story2. Jefferey Deaver, part 1 of a 2-parter   Dortmunder look like a modern-day Moriarty."B. A.E. Hotchner. He has had an amazing career, starting with meeting Hemingway to do an interview for "Cosmopolitan". He's published biographies, memoirs and written plays. Last but not least, he co-founded, with the late Paul Newman, both Newman's Own and Hole in the Wall Gang.Feb/May2016AUTHORS OF FICTION STORIES PRESENTED1. James Thurber, a previously unpublished short story2. Jefferey Deaver, part 1 of a 2-parter  The Bone Collector: The First Lincoln Rhyme Novel  Very well written, but not for the faint-hearted.3. Max Colliins & Mickey Spillane  The Big Showdown (A Caleb York Western) 4. O'Neil De Nouox  The Long Cold (LaStanza Series Book 8) 5. Renee Knight  Disclaimer: A Novel INTERVIEWSA. Mark Gatiss. He is one of the co-creators and writers of the "Sherlock" British TV show starring Benedict Cumberbatch.B. Heather Graham. A prolific writer with a couple mystery series, though she's best known for romances.That should be enough to whet your appetite! If there is anything I'd improve with "The Strand" it is the story illustrations. They tend to be uninteresting. BUT – that is a quibble which does not wobble my enjoyment of this magazine.Happy Reader

I was very disappointed with my first issue of "The Strand." Very few stories, a couple of interviews and the rest was book reviews. For the price of the magazine and the fact that is a quarterly, it is a very sparse magazine. Although beautiful to look at and easy to read, there just isn't enough substance between the front and back covers.My biggest disappointment was not with the magazine itself, but with the customer service at Magazine Express. I placed my order for the magazine in November, and knowing it was published quarterly, I didn't expect my first issue until well after the first of the year. However, when I had not received it my March, I began to wonder. I contacted customer service via email (took two times to get a response) and then I was told that I would begin receiving my magazine in November of 2008 and my subscription would run through February 2008. (HUH??)I replied to that email asking for clarification on the timing and expressing my displeasure at having to wait for a year for my subscription to start. I never received a response to that.So, with my first issue having arrived,(in April 2008) I feel a great let down after reading it. I don't quite feel a great anticipation toward receiving my second issue--whenever that might be

As someone who enjoys mysteries--including many of those broadcast on satellite radio--I looked forward to receiving my first copy of The Strand (the 72-page, February-June 2007 issue (Issue XXI)). The Table of Contents of this attractive issue lists five fiction works, two interviews and three "Articles" (one of the "Articles" consisting of reviews of books and audiobooks). (In addition, in this 72-page issue, my count of pages on which the entire page consists of an announcement or presentation (my terms), e.g., by a publishing or other concern of a book or books, a dvd or dvds or audiobook or audiobooks, came to approximately 25; my count of other pages on which some portion of the page includes, e.g., an announcement or presentation similar to one of the above or of a publication or one that's directed by a publishing concern to authors seeking submissions, came to approximately 15.) I found the fiction works in Issue XXI to be of high quality and announcements or presentations etc., relating to books, dvds, publications, etc., are fine and will certainly be of interest to many readers, especially those interested in newly-issued works. However, I find myself interested in seeing more fiction works in issues published more frequently even if the subscription price would be substantially greater.

The stories, the interviews, the product information., is not only entertaining but surprise authors stories make it most interesting. Like I said .. the best mystery magazine on the market.I say this having gotten this magazine for about 20 years… don’t miss it .

Published 4 times a year. Filled with great articles but above all it gives me a great guide to the latest mystery and suspense books that are out there. I have discovered several great authors through this magazine. Perfect for any mystery lover like myself.

The Strand Magazine took the name from the 19th century publication that originally published Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories. The magazine combines comtemporary fiction writing with occasional newly found writings from people like Dashiell Hammett and Mickey Spillane. In addition, the magazine always includes interviews with mystery writers and reviews of just published mystery novels. The Strand is a good resource for the mystery writing afficianado.

Amazon thinks my subscription has begun. I don’t think it has because I bought the newest Strand at Barnes and Noble. There’s a great Christmas story by Agatha Christie. I recommend it.