A party at the home of a wealthy couple to celebrate the recent acquisition of a valuable painting results in the painting's theft from a locked room that's been under constant observation, and the subsequent murder of one of the guests. Is the culprit a legendary master thief out for revenge? A no-nonsense private detective and a college professor turned bartender team up to investigate in this whodunit/howdunit.

Also included is the article "Writing 'The Play of Light and Shadow.'"

Mystery fans who enjoy the "impossible crime" stories of writers including John Dickson Carr, Paul Halter, and Edward D. Hoch should find this one appealing.

I was excited when I read in the synopsis for "The Play of Light and Shadow" that not only is there the "impossible" theft of a painting from a locked room that is under constant observation, but that a murder follows. The locked room aspect is compelling, but what makes any story work are interesting characters, realistic dialog, and a great plot--and "The Play of Light and Shadow" has all three. --J. Michael Orenduff, award-winning author of the Pot Thief mystery series.

"The Play of Light and Shadow" by Barry Ergang is one of the best short mysteries I have ever read. Intriguing characters, a solid, believable setup, excellent pacing and an in-many-ways unexpected, waaay satisfying conclusion! What effective mystery-writing is all about! --Thomas B. Sawyer ? Showrunner/Head Writer for "Murder, She Wrote" and bestselling novelist

"Highly readable and enjoyable."--Dave Zeltserman, multi-award-winning author

Former Managing Editor of Futures Mystery Anthology Magazine (www.fmam.biz) and First Senior Editor of Mysterical-E (www.mystericale.com/), Barry Ergang's fiction, poetry and non-fiction have appeared in numerous publications, print and electronic. He is a winner of a Derringer Award from the Short Mystery Fiction Society for the best flash fiction story of 2006.