Byrne Returns in Havok

Havok Magazine

28 January 2026 — Brian A. Dixon’s expert arson investigator Dick Byrne will return in a new short story to kick off the new year. The detective's latest case has been sold to Havok Publishing and will feature as part of their Mystery Monday lineup.

In “The Electric Chain,” Dick Byrne and his protégé, retired paramedic Justine Buchowski, arrive on the scene of an active structure fire to find they have only seconds to connect a series of startling clues and solve a murder. This new story marks Byrne’s first foray into flash fiction, condensing all of the action and intrigue that readers have come to expect from these compelling mysteries into a tense, tightly-plotted tale that delivers a maximum impact in minimal words. The format is a perfect match for Byrne’s explosive style, and this latest investigation is his most pulse-pounding to date.

Brian A. Dixon’s short fiction has appeared in the pages of publications such as Connecticut Review, Zahir, Honeyguide, and Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine. His imaginative stories span genres, representing historical fiction, alternate history, speculative fiction, magical realism, literary fiction, and mystery.

Havok Publishing delivers daily flash fiction across five distinct genres: mystery, science fiction, comedy, thriller, and fantasy. Each weekday brings a new story to readers, with Mystery Monday showcasing the best in compact crime tales. Havok's mission is to publish stories that hit fast and strike hard, cutting through the day's distractions to grip readers.

Watch for Dick Byrne’s return in "The Electric Chain," available only on Havok’s Mystery Monday.

Release date and additional details to be announced.