Title: Blood on the Bayou: Case Closed
Editor: Don Bruns
Bruns is a musician, song writer, advertising guru, painter, cook, stand-up comic and novelist who has no idea what he wants to be when he grows up.
We are delighted to congratulate and extend our heartfelt thanks to the authors whose stories have been selected for inclusion in the Bouchercon New Orleans 2025 Anthology, Blood on the Bayou: Case Closed. Your creativity, dedication, and passion have brought these mysteries to life, and we are honored to showcase your work.
Each year, we receive an extraordinary range of submissions, and this time was no exception. With 142 entries vying for a place in the anthology, our judges and editors faced the challenging task of choosing the very best. Though we wish we could include every remarkable story, practical limits on space and editorial balance require us to make difficult decisions. Please know that every submission was read, every author’s effort was admired, and every contribution is valued.
To our judges and editorial team, we offer our deepest gratitude. Your thoughtful, meticulous reading and insightful deliberations have shaped this collection into a cohesive and compelling anthology. Thank you for your time, your expertise, and your unwavering commitment to excellence.
Congratulations again to our selected authors—and thanks to everyone who submitted, judged, and edited. Blood on the Bayou: Case Closed would not exist without each of you.
Ali Karim – Forward
Jeff Ayers and Jon Land
Eric Beckstrom
Jayne Belmont
Don Bruns
Reed Farrel Coleman
Larry S. Evans II
Michael Ferreter
Barry Fulton
John Gilstrap
Heather Graham
Kerry Hammond
Smita Harish Jain
Robert Lopresti
D. P. Lyle
Jonathan Maberry
Tim Maleeny
J. M. Redmann
Liese Sherwood-Fabre
Clay Stafford
Kelli Stanley
Charles Todd
Gabriel Valjan
Joseph S. Walker
All funds raised from the sale of Blood on the Bayou: Case Closed will be donated to the New Orleans Public Library. A link to Down and Out Books for purchasing will be provided very soon—please check back for pre-sale details. All registered anthology authors are invited to join us at the National WWII Museum on Thursday night, September 4th, to sign books and celebrate together.
For more information, and for inquiries about the anthology, its authors, editor, and the signing, please contact Anthology2025@bouchercon.com.