Each week, a new Shadow mini-mystery for you to solve!
Takes about two minutes to read. But how long to solve?

Sorry to say, the Two-Minute Shadow Mysteries has closed its five-year run. There will be no more. I have decided to bring it to an end. During its five years, you have been given a new mini-mystery every Friday without fail; never a rerun or repeat. That's a total of 262 solve-it-yourself mysteries featuring The Shadow.

And now, it's over. Thank you for your faithful patronedge. I appreciate the loyal readership of the many web-site visitors who came here every week to read more of The Shadow and match their wits with his. I'll miss you.

I want to extend some special thanks. To Joe Koomen, whose wonderful graphics have graced the top of this page for all five years. And to the following people who wrote mini-mysteries for the site. They are (in alphabetical order):

Brandon Aldinger
Jonathan Blade
Tiffany M. Braford
Jarret W. Buse
Walter B. Gibson
J. Christopher Greulich
Monte Herridge
Ron Highman
Aaron C. Hollis
Charles W. Johnson
Kelly Johnson
Joe Koomen
Elanor Matheson
Jim Mennella
Jeff O'Bryant
Julio Angel Ortiz
Donn Peppler
John Rallios
K. Robeson
Matthew L. Schoonover
Darrell Simon
James A. Stewart
Theodore Tinsley
David Toy
Fred Trickett
Andy Wayman
S.E. Wilson
Anne Wingate
Adam Younce

and your host John Olsen

Let me attempt to answer some of the obvious questions.

Q. Were you forced to close down this site?

A. No. It was strictly my own decision. Conde Nast is the rights owner for The Shadow. They probably could have cracked down on me for copyright violation of a trademarked character, but they didn't. I've never received any communication of any sort from Conde Nast or its representatives. I didn't receive pressure from any source to stop. It was my decision, alone.

Q. Then, why close?

A. I've always said, "It's a hobby. When it stops being fun, I'll stop doing it." And it did. There's a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes, in addition to the actual writing of the mysteries. It's work that is necessary to keep up the quality of the writing and maintain the original vision and direction of the site. Luckily I had the assistance of many helpful and talented writers, who volunteered to write mini-mysteries. And to them, I give much thanks.

Q. Will you start up again in the future?

A. I won't say never. (Never say never.) But it's very doubtful. As of March 2008, I have no plans to do more Two-Minute Shadow Mysteries. But the future is always in flux, so anything is possible.

Q. Is there an archive of the old Two-Minute Shadow Mysteries?

A. No. Sorry to say, there is no archive. And there will be no archive in the future, either. Conde Nast, who owns the character of The Shadow, turned a blind eye to my web site for five years as I posted these stories. I'm guessing they didn't see a single short piece of fan fiction as being too threatening. But an archive of hundreds of such stories would be a clear copyright violation that they might not be so willing to ignore. I don't plan to chance it. So, there will be no archive.

Q. Will you be creating new solve-it-yourself mysteries based on other characters?

A. No. The Shadow was a natural for this type of fiction. Other well-known pulp heroes would be less so. I can't see creating these types of mini-mysteries for Doc Savage or Captain Future or whomever. It's just not a good match. And as for creating an all-new fictional character, that wouldn't work either. A new character would lack the rich background necessary for very short fiction. It can't be properly developed in such 500-word fiction; it should appropriately come from familiar sources.

Q. What are your plans, now?

A. I'll continue enjoying reading The Shadow and other pulps. And will continue with life in general.

Q. How can I contact you?

A. I can't promise to respond to emails, but I'll try. You can open a blank email to me by clicking on the button below.