Official Website of Crime Fiction Writer
PLAces that are gone
To be reissued October 13, 2026
About Tom
Tom Milani’s short fiction has appeared in several anthologies and online. His stories have been shortlisted twice for a Derringer, and “Barstow,” which originally appeared in Mickey Finn: 21st Century Noir vol. 5, was an honorable mention for The Best American Mystery and Suspense 2025. “Mill Mountain,” which originally appeared in Black Cat Weekly, was selected for The Best Mystery Stories of the Year 2026. “A Sign of the Times,” which initially appeared in Sleuths Just Wanna Have Fun, was selected for The Best Private Eye Stories of the Year 2026. Places That Are Gone, his debut novel, which came out in 2025, is being republished by Open Road Integrated Media this fall. He lives in Alexandria, Virginia, with his wife, glass sculptor Alison Sigethy.
Short Fiction
Out Now
Night of the Laundry Cart
“Night of the Laundry Cart” appears in Black Cat Weekly #78. The story draws some of its inspiration from Arthurian Romances by Chrétien de Troyes
A Hard Night IN Hamburg
“A Hard Night in Hamburg,” noir with a dose of rock and roll, appears in Groovy Gumshoes, an anthology of PI fiction set in the 1960s, edited by Michael Bracken.
LAWYER LIPS
“Lawyer Lips,” a story about a woman with a bike and an abusive boyfriend, was published in the BOULD (Bizarre, Outrageous, Unfettered, Limitless, Daring) anthology. It is available for purchase here,
My story “A Head Start” is about a drug deal gone bad and the hard decisions a couple face. It appeared in Illicit Motions.
“Ballad of a Dead Man,” a short story about friendship and betrayal, appears online from Urban Pigs Press.
In my story “Jesus Is on the Main Line," two women must deal with the actions of a jealous ex and confront a character from the past, before they were born. Janie's Got a Gun is available now.
In “A Sign of the Times,” featuring PI Steve Kahler, a case of missing campaign signs turns out to be more than simple vandalism. It appeared in Sleuths Just Wanna Have Fun: Private Eyes in the Materialistic Eighties and will appear in The Best Private Eye Stories of the Year 2026.
In “The Hardest Thing,” Del, who is on the run from the mob, takes solace in Rita and baseball. You can read it here: https://mrbullbull.com/newbull/fiction/the-hardest-thing-2/.
"So Cold It Burns" is a story about a female PI with mixed motivations. You can read it here: https://urbanpigspress.co.uk/2025/10/29/so-cold-it-burns/.
Billy Wright’s first loves were Veronica Valdez and his 1965 Plymouth Barracuda. Forty-five years after he thought he’d lost them both for good, he has a plan to win them back. All he needs to make it work is a whole lot of luck—and maybe a miracle. Barracuda Backfire was shortlisted for a Derringer.
“Barstow” appeared in Mickey Finn: 21st Century Noir vol 5. When Spencer is laid off from his job a year into the pandemic, he heads west, forced to stop in Barstow after his car breaks down. Hoping his hookup with a waitress will lead to something more, he is instead confronted by her jealous boyfriend, who has very different ideas about Spencer’s future with Emily.
In “Misunderstanding,” Vic's reunion with his high school girlfriend rekindles old lusts and resentments. The story appeared in the anthology In Too Deep: Crime Fiction Inspired by the Songs of Genesis.
In “Mill Mountain” (Black Cat Weekly #204 https://blackcatweekly.com/b/Vol5Y), Spencer Mason is on the run from cops in three states, hoping to survive another day. “Mill Mountain” will appear in The Best Mystery Stories of the Year 2026.
In "Amanda Ross,” a chance meeting at a bar leads to a dangerous plan for justice. You can read it here: https://blackcatweekly.com/b/g5pmF.
"Someday You Will" is a story about living in the shadows. You can read it here: https://theyardcrimeblog.com/2026/02/09/someday-you-will-spy-fiction/.
Riley Walker vanished in plain sight, leaving every one chasing the wrong trail. You can read about her here: https://blackcatweekly.com/b/2PK5G
Based on the Br'er Rabbit folktales, "The Briar Patch" features Rabbit and Fox and some illicit property hidden in a salvage yard. You can find it here: https://bookshop.org/p/books/wish-upon-a-crime-michael-bracken/d46d17dc592f1793?ean=9798898202842&next=t
