Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Mysteries on TV: The Original Perry Mason

Mysteries on TVMystery television series being released this week on DVD:

Perry Mason, Season 2, Volume 1Perry Mason, Season 2, Volume 1 starred Raymond Burr as the famous Los Angeles defense attorney. The series also featured Barbara Hale as secretary Della Street and William Hopper at private investigator Paul Drake. The series was based on the novels by Erle Stanley Gardner.

Perry Mason aired on CBS from September 1957 through May 1966 and included 271 episodes over 9 seasons.

This DVD set includes the first 15 episodes from the 2nd season on 4 disks.

Visit the Mysteries on TV website to discover more currently available on DVD.

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Monday, June 18, 2007

Mystery Godoku: Weekly Puzzle for June 18, 2007

Mystery GodokuMystery Godoku Puzzle for June 18, 2007A new has been created by the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books and is 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: B D E F I N O R Y. What was the title character that was killed in this debut mystery by (9 letters).

New! We now have our puzzles 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!

Sunday, June 17, 2007

Mystery Book Review: Play Dead by David Rosenfelt

Mysterious ReviewsMysterious Reviews, mysteries reviewed by the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books, has written a review of Play Dead by David Rosenfelt. For our blog readers, we are printing it first here in advance of its publication on our website.Play Dead by David Rosenfelt

Play Dead by
An Andy Carpenter Mystery

Grand Central (Hardcover)
ISBN-10: 0-446-58241-7 (0446582417)
ISBN-13: 978-0-446-58241-4 (9780446582414)
Publication Date: May 2007
List Price: $24.99

Synopsis (from the publisher): Few can rival attorney Andy Carpenter's affection for golden retrievers, especially his own beloved Tara. After he astonishes a courtroom by successfully appealing another golden's death sentence, Andy discovers that this gentle dog is a key witness to a murder that took place five years before. Andy pushes the boundaries of the law even further as he struggles to free an innocent man by convincing an incredulous jury to take canine testimony seriously. It will take all the tricks Andy's fertile mind can conceive to get to the bottom of a remarkable chain of impersonations and murder, and save a dog's life--and his own--in the process.

Review: “Golden retrievers do not belong in cages – ever – no exceptions.” This statement opens the sixth legal thriller by David Rosenfelt featuring attorney Andy Carpenter, Play Dead. Andy is a dog lover, especially golden retrievers, and a partner on the Tara Foundation, a dog rescue operation. When Andy visits the foundation to check to see how things were going, he spots a seven year old golden retriever in a cage. The dog looks at Andy and his eyes tell him, “I do not belong here.” Andy, of course, agrees. The dog was sentenced to be “put down” in less than ten days for biting his owner. Andy goes to court to appeal the dog’s death sentence - and he wins. This is just the beginning of this absorbing and entertaining mystery.

Five years ago, Richard Evans was accused and convicted of the murder of his fiancée, Stacy. They had been enjoying his boat when a sudden storm came up. The evidence showed Richard had killed Stacy, wrapped her up and threw her in the Atlantic Ocean. There was also evidence that Richard had been hit over the head and drugged, but this was presented as a suicide attempt. Also, Richard’s beloved dog was missing. Did Richard throw Reggie overboard, too, in the black waters of the Atlantic, four miles from shore? Now, five years later, new and astounding evidence unearthed by Karen, Richard’s loyal sister, that could overturn the verdict of the murder and free Richard from life imprisonment. Karen takes the evidence she has acquired, which is not much according to the law, to Andy and pleads with him to to defend Richard should a new trial be granted. The new trial brings about the facts that this is not just about the murder of a young woman. The evidence takes on some intriguing plots, schemes and secrets. These charades involve the New Jersey Port Authority (where Richard worked before he was arrested), U. S. soldiers who were a team in Afghanistan with Richard, members of the mob, and certain departments of the U. S. Government. Andy and Karen are both targets for a gunman, and both have been shot at. But no one knows who is trying to kill them or why.

David Rosenfelt is a very clever and witty writer. He begins by saying he doesn’t particularly like acknowledgment pages, but feels that maybe he should acknowledge a few who have helped to inspire him along the way. Here's a sample: Michael Jordan, Joe Montana, the whole state of Montana, ... these are just a few of the seventy-five that Rosenfelt acknowledges. Reading something like this gives the reader a feeling of ease and a promise that the story will be interesting, entertaining and likable. Andy and his circle of co-workers and friends are very believable. With the multiple and intersecting storylines, the plot gets a little confusing at times but all it comes together in the end. It is a fast-paced and very readable book.

Andy Carpenter is a lawyer who is unpretentious, eager to help those in need, willing to face the longest odds, and a dog lover. Play Dead is not only a terrific legal thriller, it is one of the best books of the year.

Special thanks to guest reviewer Betty of for contributing her review of Play Dead and to Hachette Book Group for providing a copy of the book for this review.

Review Copyright © 2007 — Hidden Staircase Mystery Books — All Rights Reserved.

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News: Brooklyn DA Publishes First Novel

Here's another story on a new mystery author and his road to the publication of his debut crime novel. Thomas Tracy of the Bay Ridge Courier asks the rhetorical question, What's harder than prosecuting a triple homicide? Writing a novel about one. The aptly titled , published this month by St. Martin's Press, is written by longtime Brooklyn District Attorney Charles J. Hynes.

Born out of real stories of corruption and centered around two men who ultimately dare to challenge the fabled “blue wall” of silence, the novel works toward a majestic courtroom on Long Island, where NYPD Sergeant Steven Holt is about to stand trial for triple homicide and where, as he comes to know his past, he’ll learn that nothing he’s known has ever been as it seemed.

Tracy writes that it took about three years for Hynes to write the book. And then came the hard part: getting it published. “It took me ten years to get a publisher,” Hynes recalled. “The reality is that publishing houses no longer take manuscripts like they used to. When he first started out, John Grisham’s wife sent fifty copies of his book directly to fifty publishing houses. But now you have to get an agent first.” Getting an agent was by far the most difficult part of the process, he said.

But it was worth it, with Triple Homicide earning positive reviews. Library Journal writes, "His experience as a DA lends instant credibility and an insider voice that few authors are able to attain. Hopefully a second novel isn’t far behind."

As for a second novel, “I don’t think [Grisham and other courtroom drama scribes] have anything to worry about,” said Hynes, who is currently fulfilling his fifth term of office as District Attorney. “It took me sixteen years to get the book out. While I’m working on a sequel, I don’t know if I can get it done in this lifetime."

Please visit the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books where we are committed to providing readers and collectors of with the best and most current information about their favorite authors, titles, and series.

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News: Mystery Author's Self-Published Success

Gary Bills-Geddes of the Ledbury Reporter writes that a local author's mystery was signed by a publisher after her self-published version started to sell for up to £400 on the internet. , by Suzette A. Hill, has received rave reviews from Dame Beryl Bainbridge who calls the book "tremendous–flowing and amusing".

Originally titled A Load of Old Bones: The Curious Exploits of the Reverend Francis Oughterard as Recounted by Himself with Interspersions from His Cat Maurice and His Dog Bouncer, the book (with a shortened title) will be published by Constable and Robinson in the UK next month. It's already available here, published by Carroll & Graf. A sequel is on its way, tentatively titled Bones in the Belfry, with a third book being written to complete the trilogy.

Set in a wonderful parody of 1950s Surrey, A Load of Old Bones delights in turning the detective fiction genre on its head. The characters are unlikably lovable, the plot hilariously improbable, and the prose crafted to perfection.

It's always wonderful to read how self-published authors, particularly those of mysteries, can succeed in this highly competitive business. Our partner website, , is dedicated to providing new mystery writers with information on writing and self-publishing mystery books.

Please visit the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books where we are committed to providing readers and collectors of with the best and most current information about their favorite authors, titles, and series.

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Friday, June 15, 2007

Mystery Book Review: The Castro Gene by Todd Buchholz

Mysterious ReviewsMysterious Reviews, mysteries reviewed by the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books, has written a review of The Castro Gene by Todd Buchholz. For our blog readers, we are printing it first here in advance of its publication on our website.The Castro Gene by Todd Buchholz

The Castro Gene by
Non-series

Oceanview Publishing (Hardcover)
ISBN-10: 1-933515-06-6 (1933515066)
ISBN-13: 978-1-933515-06-9 (9781933515069)
Publication Date: May 2007
List Price: $24.95

Synopsis (from the publisher): After killing a man in the ring, Luke Braden quits boxing. While toiling as a security guard and yearning to reinvent himself, Luke is swept up into the high-flying domain of Paul Tremont. Tremont, the hottest hedge fund hand around, has a penchant for the dramatic and a disquieting need to control. Being Tremont’s protégé has its perks – Luke trades in his ratty basement apartment for a penthouse view, his gym clothes for designer suits. But there are strings attached, and Tremont is pulling those strings.

Why does Tremont need a washed-up boxer? The answer lies not in what Luke is, but who he is. Luke Braden is the only man who can execute Tremont’s diabolical scheme.

Fidel Castro risks one last trip to the U.S., and one man will be forced to stand in his way. Luke Braden is in for the fight of his life – or the fight for his life.

Review: Former White House director of economic policy Todd Buchholz tries his hand at mainstream fiction in The Castro Gene, a financial thriller that, despite the fantastic and at times familiar plot, succeeds in being highly entertaining.

Luke Braden is an ex-boxer who is tapped by billionaire Paul Tremont to help him achieve some undefined objective. Lured by a huge salary, a lavish apartment, and limitless expense account, Luke agrees and is put through a number of "tests" to confirm not only his financial acumen but his willingness to do whatever Tremont wants, no matter how odd the request may be. That Luke passes these tests is never in doubt; Tremont needs Luke and there's no alternate candidate for the job. After Tremont accidentally kills a woman and tries to cover it up, Luke realizes he's in over his head and uses his own connections to get back at the man who's been manipulating his life.

Buchholz borrows heavily from any number of books and movies in constructing The Castro Gene. The familiarity of these storylines to the reader actually works to the author's advantage: just when the plot seems to be moving in a certain direction, it abruptly changes. This isn't a suspense novel in that what Tremont sees in Luke is, for all practical purposes, given by the book's title. And early on Tremont reveals what his ultimate goal is. But how Tremont intends to use that information and act on it is a bit of a mystery, even after it's revealed. It's not unlike the university professor who fills a blackboard with formulas and then, to bring it all together, writes "and then a miracle occurs". If Tremont can leverage his capital 20 to 1 or even 100 to 1, the entire GNP of Cuba would be a rounding error in his financial empire. Why would he care? Is it all about getting even?

Tremont is a grand, richly drawn character, and Buchholz gives him some wonderful lines. Consider this statement from Tremont to Luke: "God is a mover and shaker, right? But he's omniscient too. Can you imagine his P&L if he were speculating in the commodity markets?" Buchholz is less successful with Luke, who's never quite believable as a boxer who kills, albeit unintentionally, an opponent in the ring. Given the way he's portrayed, having him be a baseball player who accidentally lines a drive killing the opposing pitcher would have been much better choice.

The Castro Gene is a terrific book to while away that lazy afternoon. And there's an unexpected bonus: yet another theory, as credible as any other, on who really assassinated John F. Kennedy.

Special thanks to Maryglenn McCombs Book Publicity for providing an ARC of The Castro Gene for this review.

Review Copyright © 2007 — Hidden Staircase Mystery Books — All Rights Reserved.

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

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Mystery Bestsellers for June 15, 2007

Mystery BestsellersA list of the top ten for the week ending June 15, 2007 has been posted on the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books website.

Double Take by Catherine CoulterNew at the top of the list at Barnes&Noble.com: by , the 11th thriller in the FBI suspense series. Agents Dillon Savich and Lacey Sherlock are in to help unlock the mystery behind a woman who bears a striking resemblance to the missing wife of Sheriff Dixon Noble. Meanwhile, agent Cheney Stone's interrupts the attempted murder of the widow of a renowned psychic. As their investigations cross, Sheriff Noble and Agent Stone push deep into a complex world of psychics and poseurs, and as the stakes and the body count rise, Savich, Sherlock, Dix, and Cheney fight for answers-and their lives.

Stalin's Ghost by Martin Cruz SmithAlso new this week: , the 6th mystery featuring investigator Arkady Renko by Martin Cruz Smith. Renko has been assigned the thankless job of investigating a new phenomenon: late-night subway riders report seeing the ghost of Joseph Stalin on the platform of the Chistye Prudy Metro station. The illusion seems part political hocus-pocus and also part wishful thinking, for among many Russians Stalin is again popular; the bloody dictator can boast a two-to-one approval rating. His investigation becomes personal when it leads to the fields of Tver outside of Moscow where once a million soldiers fought, and Renko must confront the ghost of his own father, a favorite general of Stalin's. Publishers Weekly states, "This masterful suspense novel casts a searing light on contemporary Russia."

We've upgraded our website to allow you to easily purchase any bestselling mystery book featured on our site over the past 8 months. Let us know what you think!

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Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Mystery Book Review: The Screaming Room by Thomas O'Callaghan

Mysterious ReviewsMysterious Reviews, mysteries reviewed by the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books, has written a review of The Screaming Room by Thomas O'Callaghan. For our blog readers, we are printing it first here in advance of its publication on our website.The Screaming Room by Thomas O'Callaghan

The Screaming Room by
A John Driscoll Mystery

Pinnacle (Mass Market Paperback)
ISBN-10: 0-7860-1812-7 (0786018127)
ISBN-13: 978-0-7860-1812-3 (9780786018123)
Publication Date: May 2007
List Price: $6.99

Synopsis (from the publisher): John Driscoll has laid the ghosts of his past to rest. He's ready to start over—both personally and as a New York City homicide detective. But it seems that a serial killer has other plans for Driscoll.

The victims' bodies are found, brutally mutilated and carefully arranged. Someone has displayed the corpses for the world to see-on a Ferris wheel, in a dinosaur dinorama, on a bridge-grotesque visions to all except for the depraved killer, who considers them masterpieces. These blood rituals spell out a message to Driscoll. And they are just the beginning ...

Driscoll's investigation will lead him down the darkest of journeys, toward an evil beyond his worst nightmares. In a hellish landscape conceived by the all-too-clever mind of a twisted schemer, Driscoll must play a killer's deadly game. It's up to him to save his city-or die trying.

Review: The Screaming Room is Thomas O'Callaghan's second mystery to feature NYPD homicide detective John Driscoll.

A serial killer seems to be indiscriminately murdering men and women, scalping them, and artfully arranging the bodies in and around New York City. The victims' only connection to each other seems to be they were all tourists, visitors to the city. NYPD homicide detective John Driscoll, assigned to the case, doggedly pursues what few clues they have but gets drawn into a political battle when one of the victims turns out to be the daughter of a powerful west coast family who not only want justice but revenge.

The Screaming Room is, for the most part, a police procedural since the killer (actually, killers, a pair of rare genetically identical male and female twins) is identified in the opening chapters of the book. Driscoll employs his resources effectively, quickly determining that there are two killers, twins in their mid-teens, who are independently but in concert killing people in and around the city that they met over the internet. Following him track them down is, in and of itself, rather interesting.

The primary problem here is that though the pacing of the narrative is rapid, the writing is uninspired, failing to generate any genuine suspense. There are more than a few instances where the plot strains credulity. In addition, the novelty of the twins' situation and how they relate to each other quickly wears thin. While the twins' motivation for the murders is predictable and their choice of who to kill is somewhat surprising, there is ultimately no sympathy for either the twins or their victims (other than the obvious fact that they were murdered). The subplot involving the wealthy father of one of the victims, no doubt intended to add an element of conflict and apprehension, completely falls flat.

Driscoll and his team, especially the resourceful Cedric Thomlinson and the enigmatic Margaret Aligante, make for a compelling investigative unit; they deserve a better story than the one in The Screaming Room.

Special thanks to FSB Associates for providing a copy of The Screaming Room for this review.

Review Copyright © 2007 — Hidden Staircase Mystery Books — All Rights Reserved.

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

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Press Release: Latest Nancy Drew PC Game Now Available

Games of MysteryBELLEVUE, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The summer renaissance of Nancy Drew begins in earnest this month with the launch of the latest PC game in Her Interactive’s award-winning series, .

In the 16th installment of the award-winning adventure series, Nancy is sent to uncover a mystery in the Canadian Rockies where strange incidents that could have international repercussions have occurred. Chantal, the owner of the Icicle Creek lodge, requests Nancy’s super sleuth abilities to help uncover the reasons behind a series of strange incidents as well as the significance of a mysterious lone wolf that appears at each incident. Nancy finds herself in the midst of her most intriguing adventure yet in Nancy Drew: The White Wolf of Icicle Creek.

Players assume the role of Nancy and go undercover as the housekeeper and cook, to solve the mystery surrounding the lodge and peculiar wolf. While undercover, the player is faced with deciphering clues, snooping in rooms for hints about the guests, exploring the outdoors and avoiding avalanches. Nancy must also conquer a variety of outdoor activities that highlight the game’s winter environments, including ice fishing, snowmobiling, and snowshoeing. Ultimately, players need to unravel the mystery and stop the sabotage before someone gets hurt.

Read the complete press release here.

Please visit the Games of Mystery website for information on of all kinds as well as , , and more!

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News: Opening Day for International Mystery Writers Festival

Today is the opening day of the International Mystery Writer's Festival in Owensboro (Kentucky). Organizers say that this is the only new play festival specializing in "Discovering New Mysteries" and staging them live for the general public, media and entertainment industry officials.

Six plays will be performed during the festival, selected by a group of celebrated judges consisting of award winning writers, directors, performers and publishers:

Final Curtain by Ed McBain. This funny and frightening mystery involves intriguing characters where everyone is a suspect for a dark-and-stormy night murder. Twists and turns of plot will leave the audience guessing who to trust and what motive each character might have for not only one, but two mysterious murders.

Death by Darkness by Elizabeth Orndorff. Set in Kentucky's Mammoth Cave, a cast of captivating characters are led on a mysterious journey into the depths of the earth and the depths of existence, where they are confronted with murder, revenge and a world unlike anyone has ever seen. Orndorff wrote the play specifically as an entrant to the festival.

Columbo Takes the Rap by William Link. The original co-creator of the Emmy Award-winning and mystery television series has written a first-time stage version for the comedic detective character. Cigar-toting Columbo brings his wit and wisdom to the scene of a modern crime where he confronts a powerful music producer and uncovers clues to a great murder mystery involving two rap stars.

Panic by Joseph Goodrich. Capturing a decadent lifestyle of Paris in the 1960s, this deceitful drama unravels a scheme of blackmail, betrayal and murder. Goodrich is a writer and actor from Minnesota.

Widdershins by Don Nigro. Set in Wales in 1902, a family or four has disappeared. In comes the odd but usually effective Inspector Ruffing to solve the mystery. There is one clue: the word “Widdershins” is written on a piece of paper in the missing man’s desk. Nigro has won awards including the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and a playwriting fellowship grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.

If/Then by David Foley. A fast-paced thriller with twists and turns that will keep you guessing through to the very last deceitful moment. Author David Foley pits a sharp-witted diamond diva against a sexy, sinister one-night-stand boyfriend and the sparks that fly are frightening.

Audience members will choose the winning play, which will receive a $10,000 award at the gala on the final night of the festival. The general public also will be able to attend free classes, book signings and meet several authors.

For more information, visit the festival's website here.

Please visit the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books where we are committed to providing readers and collectors of with the best and most current information about their favorite authors, titles, and series.

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Monday, June 11, 2007

Mystery Book Review: Trial and Error by Paul Levine

Mysterious ReviewsMysterious Reviews, mysteries reviewed by the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books, has written a review of Trial & Error by Paul Levine. For our blog readers, we are printing it first here in advance of its publication on our website.Trial & Error by Paul Levine

Trial & Error by
A Solomon vs. Lord Mystery

Bantam Books (Mass Market Paperback)
ISBN-10: 0-440-24276-2 (0440242762)
ISBN-13: 978-0-440-24276-5 (9780440242765)
Publication Date: May 2007
List Price: $6.99

Synopsis (from the publisher): When Steve Solomon is awakened from a sound sleep beside his lover and law partner, Victoria Lord, the last thing he expects is to find himself in a high-speed chase against dolphin-kidnapping ecoterrorists on Jet Skis. But that is what you get when your nephew hangs out at water parks and speaks cetacean–a.k.a. dolphin. By morning, a person is dead and Steve has a new client: none other than one of the animal liberators. There’s just one loophole: Victoria is on the case too—on the opposite side.

Review: Trial & Error is the fourth, and, according to author Paul Levine, last mystery in this entertaining series featuring law partners and lovers Steve Solomon and Victoria Lord.

Steve's nephew Bobby Solomon, who lives with Steve and Victoria, is a precocious thirteen-year-old who loves dolphins and baseball, and who sneaks out at night to talk with his favorite dolphins, Misty and Spunky, at Cetacean Park in . One night the dolphins are being stolen from the park so Bobby calls Steve to try to rescue them. Steve arrives in time to capture one of the thieves and witness another being shot to death. The others had a large boat to load the dolphins and take them out to sea. Steve was too late to help them. Soon the law partner lovers are on the opposite sides of the legal system. Steve is the defense council for a not so bright animal rights activist who he captured on the night of the theft, and Victoria has been named the prosecutor by the order of the State’s Attorney. Both think they have a slam dunk case. But do they?

Though basically a courtroom drama between Steve and Victoria, Trial & Error has its share of light moments. The characters are frequently being funny and irreverent, throwing barbs at each other and at the judge. There is also a comedic scene with Steve trying to make Bobby a great pitcher for his team. It's all very fast-paced and humorous.

A light, breezy read, Trial & Error is entertaining and witty with lots of laughs, but no surprises as to the mystery behind the stolen dolphins.

Special thanks to guest reviewer Betty of for contributing her review of Trial & Error and to Authors on the Web for providing a copy of the book for this review.

Review Copyright © 2007 — Hidden Staircase Mystery Books — All Rights Reserved.

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

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Mysteries on TV: Diagnosis Murder, Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew

Mysteries on TVMystery television series being released this week on DVD:

Diagnosis: Murder Season 2Diagnosis: Murder, Season 2 starred Dick Van Dyke as Dr. Mark Sloan, dedicated doctor and amateur sleuth. Barry Van Dyke (the star's son) plays Steve Sloan (the doctor's son), a Los Angeles police detective. Dick Van Dyke's character originally appeared in a 1991 episode of Jake and the Fat Man when Dr. Sloan was accused of murdering a hospital administrator.

The series ran for 8 seasons on CBS from October 1993 through May 2001.

This DVD set includes the 22 episodes from the 2nd season on 6 disks.

The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew Mysteries Season 2The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew Mysteries, Season 2 starred Parker Stevenson and Shaun Cassidy as Frank and Joe Hardy and Pamela Sue Anderson as Nancy Drew. Initially written as separate shows shown on alternate weeks, by middle of this second season they had been combined into a single series. In protest for losing her show, Pamela Sue Martin left the series and was replaced by Janet Louise Johnson for the last few episodes of this season.

The series ran for 3 seasons on ABC from January 1977 through January 1979.

This DVD set includes 19 episodes (including 3 2-part episodes) from the 2nd season on 5 disks.

Visit the Mysteries on TV website to discover more currently available on DVD.

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Mystery Godoku: Weekly Puzzle for June 11, 2007

Mystery GodokuMystery Godoku Puzzle for June 11, 2007A new has been created by the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books and is 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 H K P R T U. This week's mystery clue: This New York City Assistant District Attorney is featured in mysteries by (9 letters).

New! We now have our puzzles 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!

Sunday, June 10, 2007

Mystery Book Review: Justice of the Damned by Priscilla Royal

Mysterious ReviewsMysterious Reviews, mysteries reviewed by the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books, has written a review of Justice for the Damned by Priscilla Royal. For our blog readers, we are printing it first here in advance of its publication on our website.Justice for the Damned by Priscilla Royal

Justice for the Damned by
A Prioress Eleanor of Tyndal Mystery

Poisoned Pen Press (Hardcover)
ISBN-10: 1-59058-330-2 (1590583302)
ISBN-13: 978-1-59058-330-2 (9781590583302)
Publication Date: June 2007
List Price: $24.95

Synopsis (from the publisher): It is May of 1272, and Prioress Eleanor, recovering from a near-fatal winter fever, returns to Amesbury Priory to visit her aunt in time for the Feast of Saint Melor. Although Eleanor hopes to regain her strength in the midst of pleasant childhood memories, Death reveals a most troublesome fondness for her company, thwarting her desire for peace.

Review: Justice for the Damned is the fourth medieval mystery by Priscilla Royal to feature Prioress Eleanor of Tyndal which takes place in England in the spring of 1272.

Following a long winter's illness, Eleanor returns to her home where she can recuperate under the love and care of her aunt, Sister Beatrice, Novice Mistress of Amesbury Priory. She is traveling with Brother Thomas who has been instructed by his Prior to prevent the rumored theft of a very valuable manuscript, a Psalter from the library of the priory. Soon after arriving, Eleanor is asked to investigate another rumor, that of a ghost haunting Amesbury. While Eleanor and Thomas pursue their individual assignments, murder intrudes, and the two are drawn together to solve a mystery involving a very real killer.

In addition to Eleanor and Thomas, Justice of the Damned is populated with a large cast of characters that participate in interesting, intertwining subplots. The author takes the time to develop these characters with their stories of God and the Devil, Heaven and Hell, love and hate, lust and evil, sin and purity, and ghosts and demons. Furthermore, her narrative includes a vivid depiction of medieval life in Amesbury. Though the 13th century language contributes to the authenticity of the book, it also tends to make the book more difficult to read. The result, however, is a fascinating, if at times hard to follow, historical adventure.

Special thanks to guest reviewer Betty of for contributing her review of Justice of the Damned and to Poisoned Pen Press for providing an ARC of the book for this review.

Review Copyright © 2007 — Hidden Staircase Mystery Books — All Rights Reserved.

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

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Saturday, June 09, 2007

Mystery Book Review: Cactus Heart by Jon Talton

Mysterious ReviewsMysterious Reviews, mysteries reviewed by the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books, has written a review of Cactus Heart by Jon Talton. For our blog readers, we are printing it first here in advance of its publication on our website.Cactus Heart by Jon Talton

Cactus Heart by
A David Mapstone Mystery

Poisoned Pen Press (Hardcover)
ISBN-10: 1-59058-352-3 (1590583523)
ISBN-13: 978-1-59058-352-4 (9781590593524)
Publication Date: May 2007
List Price: $24.95

Synopsis (from the publisher): This “prequel” to the David Mapstone mysteries takes place in 1999, when everything dot-com was making money, the Y2K bug was the greatest danger facing the world, and the good times seemed as if they would never end.

It was a time before David and Lindsey were together, before Mike Peralta was sherriff, and before David had rid himself of the sexy and mysterious Gretchen.

In , it’s the sweet season and Christmas and the new millennium are only weeks away. But history professor David Mapstone, just hired by the Sheriff’s Office, still finds trouble, chasing a robber into an abandoned warehouse and discovering a gruesome crime from six decades ago.

Mapstone begins an investigation into a Depression-era kidnapping that transfixed Arizona and the nation: the disappearance of a cattle baron’s grandsons, their bodies never found. And although the kidnapper was caught and executed, Mapstone uncovers evidence that justice was far from done. But this is no history lesson. The cattle baron’s heirs now run a Fortune 500 company and wield far more clout than a former-professor-turned-deputy. When one of the heirs turns up dead, Mapstone knows his life may even be at risk.

Review: Jon Talton returns to the last months of 1999 as the setting for the fifth mystery in the David Mapstone series, Cactus Heart.

Mapstone has an interesting profession: a historian, working on a commission basis, for the Maricopa County Sheriff's Department. He also has the rank of Deputy Sheriff with all the privileges and responsibilities that come with the title. When the bodies of two children are discovered sealed behind the wall of an abandoned warehouse in downtown Phoenix, Mapstone is drawn into a crime from 1941 in which the twin grandsons of a prominent Arizona businessman were kidnapped, their bodies never found ... until now. Though the kidnapper had been caught, tried, and executed, Mapstone orders some tests on the skeletal remains, the results of which lead him to believe the case is far from closed.

Cold case crimes are fascinating in many ways, and the one presented in Cactus Heart is at times riveting. Mapstone uses modern technology, from computerized databases to DNA testing, and combines it with handwritten police and medical records from decades earlier to piece together how those two boys came to be entombed in the warehouse. He also deftly negotiates overlapping jurisdictions in investigating the crime and skillfully handles the politically sensitive task of taking on a still powerful Arizona family.

Talton manages to integrate Mapstone's personal life, his strengths and weaknesses, his doubts and fears, into Cactus Heart without detracting from the overall story. (The title actually refers to Mapstone himself, not some aspect of the crime.) This not only creates a strong, complex protagonist that contrasts well with other characters but also enhances key elements of the plot.

The plot itself gets a little convoluted on occasion and there are a few too many convenient coincidences that allow Mapstone to wrap things up neatly in the end, but these minor faults don't lessen the appeal of this very good mystery.

Special thanks to Poisoned Pen Press for providing an ARC of Cactus Heart for this review.

Review Copyright © 2007 — Hidden Staircase Mystery Books — All Rights Reserved.

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