Mystery3, a Benefit for the Lifeline Theatre, to be held April 16, 2009

Mystery Books News has added a new listing to our calendar of mystery events.

The Lifeline Theatre in Chicago is holding a bloody fine benefit entitled Mystery3 on April 16, 2009 from 6:30 to 10:00 PM. Meet Chicago mystery mavens Sara Paretsky, Sean Chercover and Julie Hyzy as they reveal new endings to a classic Dorothy L. Sayers short story, performed live by the Lifeline ensemble. It's Lord Peter Wimsey, in three fascinating incarnations. Book signings, Chicago's favorite foods, free drinks, a very mysterious silent auction and more are on the docket. Don't miss this evening of killer fun ... and a chance to help Lifeline. Tickets are $100 in advance, $135 at the door. $200 tickets include a VIP champagne reception (limited to 40).

The Lifeline Theatre specializes in original literary adaptions. Its ensemble of artists uses imaginative, unconventional staging to portray sprawling stories in an intimate space.

If you have a mystery event you'd like added to our sidebar list, please let us know at info(@)omnimystery.com.

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Mystery Book Review: Stiffs and Swine by J. B. Stanley

Mysterious Reviews, mysteries reviewed by the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books, is publishing a new review of Stiffs and Swine by J. B. Stanley. For our blog readers, we are printing it first here in advance of its publication on our website.

Stiffs and Swine by J. B. Stanley
A Supper Club Mystery with James Henry

Midnight Ink (Trade Paperback)
ISBN-10: 0-7387-1267-1 (0738712671)
ISBN-13: 978-0-7387-1267-3 (9780738712673)
Publication Date: October 2008
List Price: $13.95

Review: One of the "flab five" supper club members is arrested for murder in Stiffs and Swine, the fourth mystery in this delightful series by J. B. Stanley.

Much to the group's delight, they are asked to judge the “Queen Sow Contest” in Hudsonville, Virginia. It would mean an overnight trip causing James Henry, head librarian for the Shenandoah Valley County Library, pause. Recently a large number of teenagers had been visiting the library on Friday nights, not reading or doing homework, just milling around waiting for something to happen. Since they didn't appear to be causing any trouble, James decided to wait until he returned from the contest to look into the matter.

At a charming bed-and-breakfast, the site of the contest, the group meets up with Jimmy Kane, a loud-mouthed flirt who seems to be offending everyone in sight, especially the women. When Kane wins first place for his BBQ brisket, Gillian, one of the supper club members, confronts him, screaming that he is the man who deliberately ran down her husband years ago, killing him. Gillian said that not one day had gone by that she had not wished him dead. The next morning, Kane is found dead in his motor home, Gillian sitting on the steps. The sheriff arrests Gillian for his murder, but the other four supper club members go into amateur sleuth mode. There is clearly no shortage of suspects. And there even seems to be a suspicious link between Kane and the teenagers occupying the library Friday nights.

One of the most enjoyable aspects of Stiffs and Swine (in light of the plot, a particularly clever title) is the harmony and camaraderie between the five members of the supper club. A spirit of "all for one and one for all" resonates between the chapters. This diverse group (an ex-professor librarian, sheriff's deputy, mail carrier, high school art teacher, and animal-loving hippie) might appear to be an eccentric and unlikely bunch but their fun-loving and amateur-sleuthing ways are a winsome combination. Add in an interesting and credible mystery plot (and scrumptious-sounding recipes) and the result is, to paraphrase the words of the Queen Sow Contest moderator, a winner.

Special thanks to guest reviewer Betty of The Betz Review for contributing her review of Stiffs and Swine and to Midnight Ink for providing a copy of the book for this review.

Review Copyright © 2009 — Hidden Staircase Mystery Books — All Rights Reserved.

If you are interested in purchasing Stiffs and Swine from Amazon.com, please click the button to the right.

Synopsis (from the publisher): When the supper club members are invited to be guest judges at a regional barbecue contest, they accept the invitation faster than you can say "hog heaven." But the barbecue festival's family-oriented, finger-licking fun turns sour when a contestant is found dead. Things go from bad to worse when one of the five friends is accused of the murder and lands in jail. The strained relationship between James and Lucy is still no picnic, but the supper club members must stick together to find the real killer.

Includes authentic barbecue-friendly recipes!

For more mystery book reviews visit Mysterious Reviews, a partner with the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books which is committed to providing readers and collectors of mystery books with the best and most current information about their favorite authors, titles, and series.

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Mystery Author Martin Edwards Joins Exclusive Detection Club

The Liverpool Daily Post is reporting that UK crime author Martin Edwards has been invited to join the exclusive Detection Club. The club, primarily a social one, dates back to 1928 when it was formed by (among others) Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, and Anthony Berkleley Cox.

Edwards is the author of the Lake District mysteries featuring Detective Chief Inspector Hannah Scarlett and historian Daniel Kind, and the Harry Devlin mystery series. He recently won a CWA Dagger Award for his short story The Bookbinder's Apprentice. His most recent book, Dancing for the Hangman, a departure from his series works, was published in the UK last November but is not (yet) available in the US.

The Detection Club has an interesting oath administered to all new members. Among the questions asked is one regarding the rules of fair play: "Do you promise that your detectives shall well and truly detect the crimes presented to them, using those wits which it may please you to bestow upon them and not placing reliance on nor making use of Divine Revelation, Feminine Intuition, Mumbo-Jumbo, Jiggery-Pokery, Coincidence or the Act of God?"

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Games of Mystery: Rescue at Raijini Island, New at Big Fish Games

Games of Mystery, your source for mystery-themed electronic and board games, parties for kids and adults, and mystery getaway vacations, is pleased to announce the availability of a new mystery game from Big Fish Games released today. You can find out more about these games by visiting our Mystery Games: Big Fish Download Games page or by clicking on the links provided below.

Embark on an epic adventure into the unknown as you search for Captain Walsh and his missing crew of adventurers, lost on an uncharted Island, in Rescue at Raijini Island. Explore ancient ruins and search for evidence of a lost civilization. Gather diary entries from the crew and un-scramble foreign symbols and engravings as you follow a path of clues -- but toward what answer? Find out for yourself in this addictive hidden object masterpiece!

Rescue at Raijini Island, a Big Fish Games exclusive, may be downloaded and purchased for as little as $6.99 with the Big Fish Game Club Jumbo Pack. A demonstration version (74.23 MB) may be downloaded and played for one hour for free. (Note: The game is also referred to as Rescue at Rajini Island.)

Watch a preview video below:

Other popular games on our download Big Fish Mystery Games page include several Agatha Christie and Nancy Drew games, games in the Mystery Case Files series and in particular the latest, Mystery Case Files: Return to Ravenhearst, Adventure Chronicles: The Search for Lost Treasure, the Carol Reed mystery Remedy, Mystery Legends: Sleepy Hollow, Mystery Chronicles: Murder Among Friends, and Lost Realms: Legacy of the Sun Princess.

Big Fish Games: Bestsellers

Big Fish Games: New releases

And don't forget to visit Games of Mystery for all kinds of mysterious fun!

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eHarlequin Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense Titles for February 2009

eHarlequin.com has released the February 2009 titles in their Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense series. Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense books combine suspense, romance, hope and faith to create a unique page-turning series that today’s readers love. To purchase any of the books below, click on the book title.

On a Killer's Trail by Susan Page Davis (book cover shown)

A sweet, elderly lady is killed on Christmas Day, and nothing else -- not a single wrapped gift around the tree -- is disturbed. Detective Neil Alexander can't figure out the motive. Rookie reporter Kate Richards wants the story, but Neil has little to share. Until there's another murder. Same M.O. Same ballistics. There has to be a connection. And Kate is determined to find it. Neil is impressed with her dedication, but he worries about where it will lead. They're on a killer's trail. And keeping Kate safe means keeping his heart off-limits.

Framed! by Robin Caroll

The prime suspect in her brother's murder: Max Pershing. He's the man Ava Renault has secretly loved since girlhood -- against her controlling mother's wishes. The wealthy Pershings have a longstanding feud with the even wealthier Renaults. Still, Ava believes that Max is innocent…believes it strongly enough to give him her heart. But if he's not the killer, then who set him up? Who's the real murderer?

Evidence of Murder by Jill Elizabeth Nelson (book cover shown)

The photographs Samantha Reid uncovers in her new store are shocking. Horrifying. And dangerous. This new evidence could reopen a decade-old multiple homicide case that someone wants desperately to keep closed. And when the evidence comes out, a reluctant Samantha is drawn straight into the spotlight. All the attention is wrecking her business -- and drawing the killer's eye straight to her.

Then she meets Ryan Davidson, the last surviving member of the murdered family. In spite of herself, she's drawn in by his need to find the truth. Together, they work to unravel the mystery, while the killer works to keep the secrets buried -- forever.

Deadly Reunion by Florence Case

Warren Detry killed his previous wife. Police officer Angie Delitano is convinced of it. She arrested the man herself, and testified against him in court. However, Angie's former fiancé, attorney Boone Walker, did too good a job with the defense. And now a murderer is free to marry Angie's sister. When Angie uncovers startling new evidence, she turns to the only person who can help before it's too late: Boone, the handsome, hardened man she once loved. But the deadly secrets they expose could lead Angie to her own early grave.

If you enjoy this series, you can get 2 free Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense books plus 2 free gifts just for giving the automatic program a try. Accepting your two free Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense books and mystery gifts places you under no obligation to buy anything. You may keep the books and gifts and return the shipping statement marked cancel. If you do not cancel, about two months later, and then every other month, eHarlequin will send you four additional Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense books.

Keep up to date by subscribing to eHarlequin.com's free newsletter that contains the latest information about their series of books as well as informing you about subscriber-only special offers and new products. Click on the banner below to subscribe for free:

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Ask your questions to Masterpiece's Executive Producer this week on PBS Engage

PBS project manager Amy R. Baroch wrote to tell us that PBS Engage is featuring Masterpiece’s award-winning Executive Producer Rebecca Eaton as part of the ongoing PBS Engage series called “Five Good Questions”.

The series features a PBS celebrity or insider and asks visitors to send in questions to be answered the following week. The blog series has been very successful and they are thrilled to have Ms. Eaton as their featured guest this week.

This is a chance for you to ask any questions you may have about Masterpiece Classic, Mystery!, and/or Contemporary, what it’s like for Ms. Eaton to produce film adaptations of some of the most beloved literature, and about how Masterpiece has changed over the years.

PBS asks that you please visit the link and post your comments and questions here: http://www.pbs.org/engage/blog/five-good-questions-masterpiece.

When we checked (just before uploading this post) there were about 12 very interesting questions for Ms. Eaton to answer. It's going to be hard to pick just 5! Check back next week for her answers.

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Mystery Book Review: The Lover's Knot by Clare O'Donohue

Mysterious Reviews, mysteries reviewed by the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books, is publishing a new review of The Lover's Knot by Clare O'Donohue. For our blog readers, we are printing it first here in advance of its publication on our website.

The Lover's Knot by Clare O'Donohue
A Nell Fitzgerald Mystery

Plume (Trade Paperback)
ISBN-10: 0-452-28979-3 (0452289793)
ISBN-13: 978-0-452-28979-6 (9780452289793)
Publication Date: October 2008
List Price: $13.00

Review: Clare O'Donohue introduces Nell Fitzgerald, a New York professional woman who flees the city after her fiancé calls off their wedding, retreating to a small town in upstate New York, the site of her grandmother's quilt shop in The Lover's Knot. But it's not the peaceful place she was expecting when a handyman is murdered and her ex-fiancé turns up as the prime suspect.

Nell thought her life was perfect. She had a terrific job, found New York City an exhilirating city in which to live, and best of all, she was about to be married to the man of her dreams. But all that came to a crashing halt when her fiancé, Ryan, tells her he's not ready for marriage. Nell abruptly takes a leave of absence from her job and departs the city for the comfort of her grandmother's home in Archer's Rest. Eleanor owns Someday Quilts, a quilt shop with an active group of dedicated quilters. Nell is just getting settled in when she meets Marc Reed, the handsome, flirtatious handyman repairing her grandmother's roof. When he's found dead, stabbed with a pair of quilting scissors, the list of suspects seems endless. But most surprising is that Ryan, who had arrived in Archer's Rest to try to talk Nell into returning to the city, is at the top of the list. The local sheriff thinks the murder is open and shut, a case of a jealous man killing a potential rival. Nell doesn't believe it, deciding to pursue her own investigation. But she's also troubled with a bigger question once she proves Ryan innocent: will she go back to the city with him?

The author cleverly uses quilting as a metaphor for life in The Lover's Knot. Just as the skilled quilter charts a quilt from beginning to end, selecting a design, deciding on colors, picking fabric, and so on, so does a person chart their life by choosing a occupation, their schooling and training, their life’s mate, and the like. Sometimes, however, after working on a quilt for a long period of time, it just doesn’t achieve the desired effect the quilter had wanted. So an important question must be answered: Is what has been done worth saving? That is, should they try to stick with what has already been achieved and settle for something less than desired, or should they put it aside and start anew. Sometimes people have to ask that same question. Often it's a very difficult but necessary step to take for one’s future happiness. The Lover's Knot presents this very personal dilemma in the form of a well-written mystery, answering the question for Nell but leaving the reader pondering what they might do in a similar situation. This a strong introduction to a series that promises to be one worth watching.

Special thanks to guest reviewer Betty of The Betz Review for contributing her review of The Lover's Knot and to Penguin Group for providing a copy of the book for this review.

Review Copyright © 2009 — Hidden Staircase Mystery Books — All Rights Reserved.

If you are interested in purchasing The Lover's Knot from Amazon.com, please click the button to the right. The Lover's Knot (Kindle edition) is also available. Learn more about the Kindle, Amazon's Wireless Reading Device.

Synopsis (from the publisher): Twenty-six-year-old Nell Fitzgerald is thrilled when she receives a gorgeous handmade quilt in a lover’s knot pattern as an engagement gift from her grandmother Eleanor Cassidy. However, her joy is short-lived as her fiancé announces that the wedding is off. Heartbroken, Nell flees New York City for her grandmother’s home in Archers Rest. In this small town Eleanor’s life revolves around her quilt shop, Someday Quilts, and the members of her shops’ quilting circle.

When a local handyman known for his flirting is found murdered in the shop, Nell finds herself drawn into the case -- and drawn to the shy police chief. As a pattern of clues begins to emerge, one of the prime suspects is Nell’s ex-fiancé, whose arrival in Archers Rest seems suspicious, especially to Nell.

With Eleanor and the quilting circle helping out, Nell sets out to solve two mysteries. One is the murder of the local handyman and the other is deciding what future, and what man, is right for her.

For more mystery book reviews visit Mysterious Reviews, a partner with the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books which is committed to providing readers and collectors of mystery books with the best and most current information about their favorite authors, titles, and series.

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First Clues, Mysteries for Kids: The Jonah Bixby Mysteries, Sam & Friends Mysteries, and a Sneak Peek at Skeleton Creek

First Clues: Mysteries for Kids, your source for information on over 100 mystery series for children and young adults where each series is conveniently listed under three different age categories (New Sleuth, ages 4 to 7; Future Sleuth, aged 7 to 10; and Sleuth in Training, ages 10 and older), is pleased to feature two more series of mysteries on our website.

The Jonah Bixby Mysteries feature 12-year-old sleuth Jonah Bixby. The two books in the series are written as 20 mini-mysteries for Jonah (and the reader) to solve.

The first book in the series Kids' Whodunits: Catch the Clues!, was published in 2007. The second book, Kids' Whodunits: Crack the Cases! has a scheduled publication date of early February 2009 but is already available to purchase.

Among the latest cases that test Jonah's deductive skills, an escaped convict has sent a cryptic message to his mother on a postcard; what do the strange words mean? Is a house really haunted -- or is someone just pretending to be a ghost? Which of Jonah’s relatives stole a precious ruby necklace from his aunt? Did Mrs. Glower really spot a murder in the house next door? And 16 more!

The Jonah Bixby Mysteries, written by Hy Conrad and illustrated by Sue Blanchard, are recommended for sleuths in training aged 10 and older.

The Sam & Friends Mysteries are a companion series to the Sam: Dog Detective mysteries by Mary Labatt.

In the first book of this graphic novel series, Dracula Madness, Jennie meets Samantha, the sheepdog belonging to her new next-door neighbors. No ordinary dog, Sam is a detective with a nose for sniffing out a mystery even in a small town as uneventful as Woodford. No ordinary girl, Jennie has a special connection with this dog -- Jennie can read Sam's thoughts. After Jennie and her friend Beth show Sam the creepiest house in town, the dog detective is on the case. The weird owner of the house, McIver, must be ... Dracula. Who else would never go outside and never turn the lights on? Why else would bats be flying around his yard? This McIver definitely has something to hide. But is he really a vampire? Fueled by odd combinations of junk food, Sam's boundless energy and fertile imagination sometimes lead everyone a little astray. But even if the mystery turns out to be something less than mysterious, when Sam and friends are on the case, adventure is never far behind.

The Sam & Friends Mysteries are recommended for future sleuths aged 7 to 10.

Finally, here's an interesting twist on a mystery book. In Skeleton Creek by Patrick Carman, the story is broken into two parts -- on character's text in the book, and another's videos on a special website, with links and passwords given throughout the book.

Strange things are happening in Skeleton Creek -- and Ryan and Sarah are trying to get to the heart of it. But after an eerie accident leaves Ryan housebound and forbidden to see Sarah, their investigation takes two tracks: Ryan records everything in his journal, while Sarah uses her videocam to search things out -- and then email the clips for Ryan to see.

We're not sure if this is the first of a series or not, but it is an intriguing concept for junior detectives aged 10 and older. The book is scheduled for publication on February 10, 2009, but is available for pre-order. More information about the book can be found at EnterSkeletonCreek.com. View the book trailer below:

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Mystery Godoku Puzzle for January 26, 2009

A new Mystery Godoku Puzzle has been created by the editors of the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books and is now available on our website.

Godoku is similar to Sudoku, but uses letters instead of numbers. To give you a headstart, we provide you a mystery clue to fill in a complete row or column (if you choose to use it!).

This week's letters and mystery clue:

A B C D E H L T U

This is the title of the 13th mystery in the Carol Ashton series by Claire McNab (9 letters).

We now have two weeks of our puzzles on one page in PDF format for easier printing. Print this week's puzzle here.

Previous puzzles are stored in the Mystery Godoku Archives.

Enjoy the weekly Mystery Godoku Puzzle from the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books, and Thanks for visiting our website!

   

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Mystery Book Review: The Tenth Case by Joseph Teller

Mysterious Reviews, mysteries reviewed by the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books, is publishing a new review of The Tenth Case by Joseph Teller. For our blog readers, we are printing it first here in advance of its publication on our website.

The Tenth Case by Joseph Teller
A Jaywalker Mystery

Mira Books (Mass Market Paperback)
ISBN-10: 0-7783-2605-5 (0778326055)
ISBN-13: 978-0-7783-2605-2 (9780778326052)
Publication Date: October 2008
List Price: $7.99

Review: Police procedurals abound -- good, bad and indifferent. Now, Joseph Teller’s stellar, The Tenth Case, sets the standard for defense attorney procedurals. Drawing on Teller’s thirty-five year career as a criminal defense attorney, the novel is the first in his projected series starring Harrison J. Walker, a hard-headed, soft-hearted criminal lawyer known in the courts and on the streets as “Jaywalker.” With his commitment to getting his clients a “not guilty” verdict, and a success rate of over ninety percent, he’s the kind of guy you want defending you, guilty or not.

Although he’s eminently successful in getting his clients acquitted, Jaywalker’s got a major problem. His reputation as “a renegade among renegades” has finally caught up with him, especially for an alleged sexual indiscretion, and he is being suspended from practicing law for the next three years. In the meantime, however, he can complete ten of the seventeen cases he listed as primary concerns. The first nine he cleans up in record time but the tenth, a murder case, becomes his make or break, both professionally and personally, and is the substance for the novel.

What distinguishes Teller’s novel is its focus on telling the story based on the procedures and protocols a defense attorney invokes to defend his client, in this case a stunningly beautiful, petite, twenty-six-year old former client of his, Samara Moss aka Samantha Musgrove, now accused of murdering her seventy-year-old ailing husband, allegedly for the proceeds of a multimillion dollar insurance policy. In defending her, Jaywalker, who is “closing in on fifty” has to overcome two obstacles. One is his attraction to her. The other is an apparently iron-clad case against her. And while he reluctantly resists the sexual temptations she tosses his way with his promises to wait until “after”, he meticulously builds a case for her defense, taking the readers through the details of the procedures for dealing with the police and prosecutors, selecting a jury of sympathetic citizens, citing relevant statutes, preparing his potty-mouthed client for her trial, and strategizing on how best to cast suspicion on others and raise reasonable doubt in the jurors’ minds about the bloody murder weapon wrapped in Moss’s blood-soaked blouse and hidden in her bathroom, to which only she had access.

Besides being a cracker-jack of a page-turning mystery with a surprising twist of an ending, Teller’s story provides an insightful background setting for a courtroom drama involving a master manipulator, a straight-up, competent prosecutor and a street-wise former prostitute adept at getting her way with older men. With The Tenth Case, “Jaywalker,” suspended from the bar or not, definitely gets the green light for more of the same in Teller’s projected series.

Special thanks to M. Wayne Cunningham (mw_cunningham@telus.net) for contributing his review of The Tenth Case and to Planned Television Arts for providing a copy of the book for the review.

Review Copyright © 2009 — M. Wayne Cunningham — All Rights Reserved — Reprinted with Permission

If you are interested in purchasing The Tenth Case from Amazon.com, please click the button to the right. The Tenth Case (Kindle edition) is also available. Learn more about the Kindle, Amazon's Wireless Reading Device.

Synopsis (from the publisher): Criminal defense attorney Harrison J. Walker, better known as Jaywalker, has just been suspended for using "creative" tactics and receiving "gratitude" in the courtroom stairwell from a client charged with prostitution. Convincing the judge that his other clients are counting on him, Jaywalker is allowed to complete ten cases. But it's the last case that truly tests his abilities -- and his acquittal record.

Samara Moss -- young, petite and sexy as hell -- stabbed her husband in the heart. Or so everyone believes. Having married the elderly billionaire when she was an eighteen-year-old former prostitute, Samara appears to be the clichéd gold digger. But Jaywalker knows all too well that appearances can be deceiving. Who else could have killed the billionaire? Has Samara been framed? Or is Jaywalker just driven by his need to win his clients' cases -- and this particular client's undying gratitude?

For more mystery book reviews visit Mysterious Reviews, a partner with the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books which is committed to providing readers and collectors of mystery books with the best and most current information about their favorite authors, titles, and series.

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