Final IN THE TRILOGY
tHE miner’s myth
After ridding Southern West Virginia of her mother, Mamie’s, hillbilly crime syndicate, Mary Beth has created a power vacuum that’s filled by a better-financed and much more ruthless drug operation headquartered out of Detroit. The Motor-City mobsters are led by Leonard Velino, a vicious killer with a long history of intimidating or eliminating all who oppose him. Witnesses. Jurors. Even cops. Velino is a man the legal system simply isn’t equipped to handle.
SEQUEL IN THE TRILOGY
tHE mOUNTAIN mYSTIC
Dive in to the case that haunts Mary Beth most is one that went cold before she was even on the force: the long-ago disappearance of a family friend, named Maria Ruiz. So when a country psychic’s vision leads to the discovery of Maria’s body, Mary Beth isn’t willing to chalk it up as genuine clairvoyance and goes all in on an investigation that cuts close to home.
Debut Novel
Moonshine Messiah
The Moonshine Messiah, Johnson’s debut novel, has been acquired by Shotgun Honey, the coolest indie crime publisher on the planet. Released May 26, 2023.
Mystery tribune
True crime
“True Crime,” a story about a historic honor killing in the West Virginia coalfields, won the Pearl S. Buck award and appears in Issue 19 of Mystery Tribune.
Flash Fiction at Shotgun Honey
Shooter’s Remorse
Shooter’s Remorse, a flash fiction story about a junkie bank robber trying for a new life, was published by Shotgun Honey.
Punk Noir
The Four-One-One
“The Four-One-One,” about Russell’s legal anti-hero, Lester “the Truth” Williams, was published by Punk Noir, available online.
Econo Clash
Rough Justice
“Rough Justice,” another Sheirff Mary Beth Cain adventure, appeared in Issue 7 of Econo Clash Review.
Black Cat Mystery& Science Fiction
Chung Ling Soo’s Greatest Trick
Russell’s award-winning story “Chung Ling Soo’s Greatest Trick,” was re-printed by Black Cat Mystery and Science Fiction.
Black-Hearted Woman
Rock and a Hard Place
“Black-Hearted Woman” was published in Issue 4 of Rock and a Hardplace.
Frequent Flyers
VIRTUAL NOIR AT THE BAR
Russell read his short story “Frequent Flyers” at Yonder’s Virtual Noir at the Bar on September 17, 2020.
CHIMERA IN A HARD PLACE
A Franken story
Chimera From A Hard Place, is a “Franken story” composed by nine different authors and published by Rock and a Hard Place Magazine.
Don’t Let the Law Hit Ya Where the Good Lord Split Ya
BROADSWORDS AND BLASTERS
Russell’s story “Don’t Let the Law Hit Ya Where the Good Lord Split Ya,” appears in Broadswords and Blasters available on Amazon.
The Stash House
ROCK AND A HARD PLACE
“The Stash House,” a story about a drug mule for the Hillbilly Mafia appears in Issue 1 of Rock and a Hard Place Magazine available on Amazon.
Reading & Drinking
Noir at the BaR
Russell was honored to read one of his stories at Noir at the Bar, held at Eryk Pruitt’s bar, Yonder, in Hillsborough, NC.
In the Morning Hour She Calls Me
TOUGH Magazine
Sheriff Mary Beth Cain rides again in Russell’s short story, In the Morning Hour She Calls Me, published in TOUGH Magazine.
The Strong Arm of the Law
Flash fiction offensive
“The Strong Arm of the Law,” a flash fiction story staring Sheriff Mary Beth Cain, the protagonist of Russell’s novel in progress, THE MAYBERRY MESSIAH, appears in Out of the Gutter Online’s Flash Fiction Offensive
Hot Weather Hooch
Jelly Bucket
Issue seven of Jelly Bucket, the award winning literary journal by The Bluegrass Writers Studio, contains “Hot Weather Hooch,” a story about a reporter in the 1970’s who stumbles upon the scoop of a lifetime. The issue was published in July 2017.
watch yo teeth
OUt of the gutter
“Watch Yo Teef,” a flash fiction story by Russell W. Johnson, was published in Out Of The Gutter Online, February 2016. Read the full story here.
The Tasmanian Solution
Universal Enigma Anthology
“The Tasmanian Solution,” a story about a nurse battling a deadly disease and a deadlier government reaction appears in Universal Enigma Anthology by Blueberry Lane Books. The May 2017 publication is available for purchase on Amazon.
Frequent Flyers
Deep south magazine
A tale about a desperate father at the end of his rope, “Frequent Flyers,” was published in Deep South Magazine, May 2016. Read the short story here.
Chung Ling Soo’s Greatest Trick
Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine
Russell’s debut story, “Chung Ling Soo’s Greatest Trick” was published in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine‘s Department of First Stories.