Sunday, October 03, 2010

Ms. Terri Reviews Women's Murder Club: Little Black Lies

Games of Mystery

Review of Women's Murder Club: Little Black Lies by Ms. Terri, game reviewer for the Omnimystery Family of Mystery Websites.

Women's Murder Club: Little Black Lies is the fourth adventure/hidden object game based on characters created by James Patterson, which are featured in his Women's Murder Club series of mysteries. Here, SFPD homicide detective Lindsay Boxer, medical examiner Claire Washburn, and reporter Cindy Thomas investigate the murder of bestselling author Regina Blacklock, who was using a cold case crime as the basis for her next book.

Murder mystery fans will be pleased to know that, while the whodunit plot is a little flimsy, it is well executed and, in no small way, helps propel the game forward and keep the player involved. The game's strengths far outweigh its few weaknesses, and will provide hours of entertainment for any amateur sleuth.

Read her complete review on Games of Mystery.

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is your source for mystery-themed video, electronic and board games, parties for kids and adults, murder mystery weekends and mystery getaway vacations, and more mysterious fun!

The Milo & Jazz Mysteries for Kids Series to be Adapted for Television

The Milo & Jazz Mysteries: The Case of the July 4th Jinx
More information about the book

In a press release, Creating4Kids announced it had secured the television production rights to The Milo & Jazz Mysteries, a series of books for children. Mystery author Rick Copp will adapt the series into 26 half-hour episodes.

"We had been searching for a mystery franchise to develop for the screen and this fits the bill perfectly," said Creating4Kids' president Christopher Keenan, adding that the books "possess a wonderful blend of mystery and comedy and showcase the adventures of two contemporary, likeable and wholly relatable protagonists."

The Milo & Jazz mysteries, written by Mara Rockliff under the pen name of Lewis B. Montgomery, feature two suburban kids who solve crimes in their neighbohood, using techniques they learn from studying the world-famous private eye and master detective Dash Marlowe. We've had the pleasure of reviewing all five books in the series to date, saying of the most recent, The Case of the July 4th Jinx, "There's a lot of humor coupled with a fair amount of misdirection here and the identity of the culprit may even come as a surprise to parents, who choose to read the book with their children." (All our reviews are linked from the First Clues: Milo & Jazz Mysteries page.)

The Double Cross by Clare O'Donohue (Book Review)

Mysterious Reviews: Mystery, Suspense, Thriller and Crime Novel Reviews, edited by the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books

The Double Cross by Clare O'Donohue. A Nell Fitzgerald Mystery. Plume Trade Paperback, September 2010.

When one of the ladies of her Someday Quilts club is accused of murder, Nell Fitzgerald jumps in to search for clues to the identity of the real killer in The Double Cross, the third mystery in this series by Clare O'Donohue.

Read the full text of our review at Mysterious Reviews: The Double Cross by Clare O'Donohue.

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Mysterious Reviews is your source for the latest mystery, suspense, thriller, and crime novel reviews, edited by the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books.

Vampire Moon: Mystery of the Hidden Sun, New for Nintendo DS

Vampire Moon: Mystery of the Hidden Sun (Nintendo DS)
Vampire Moon: Mystery of the Hidden Sun (Nintendo DS)

On Tuesday, October 5th, the mysterious hidden object puzzle game Vampire Moon: Mystery of the Hidden Sun is released for the Nintendo DS.

Enter the dark mysteries of Transylvania as you take on the role of Emily Davis, a news reporter trying to find out what caused a sudden and inexplicable, long-lasting solar eclipse and the equally mysterious disappearance of the scientist researching it.

Find hundreds of ingeniously hidden clues that bring you closer to unraveling the mystery, amongst them, a compendium of lore about vampires and Count Dracula. Brace yourself for many hours of intriguing, secret-filled game play with an intense story and beautiful, atmospheric graphics.

Watch a trailer for the game below:

Saturday, October 02, 2010

Wallander in Faceless Killers, Sunday October 3rd on PBS

Masterpiece Mystery! Wallander

Tomorrow, Sunday October 3rd, the first of three new episodes of Series II of Wallander airs on PBS (check your local listings for air times).

In "Faceless Killers", adapted from the first novel in the Wallander series of crime thrillers by Henning Mankell, an elderly couple is brutally assaulted in their rural farmhouse. As Swedish Inspector Wallander (Kenneth Branagh) arrives at the horrific scene, he holds the old woman as she dies, shouting to her one final, urgent question — "Who did this?" She sounds out something that could be "farmer" or maybe "foreigner." But is Wallander reading into it? Is he swayed by his struggle to relate to his daughter's new boyfriend of Syrian descent? The press takes hold of the foreigner angle, inciting swift and deadly retribution against local migrant workers. But there is more to the case — a potential mistress, a lost son and a large sum of money. Wallander's inquiry takes him deep into his own damaged psyche, forcing him to examine and question his own motives before he can even begin to understand those of a killer.

The first series of Wallander is available on DVD from Telemystery: Wallander. This second series will be released on DVD and Blu-ray disc on October 19th, and may be pre-ordered.

Today's Featured Free Kindle Mystery: Elvis and the Dearly Departed by Peggy Webb

Kindle Mysteries: Mystery Books Available on the Amazon Kindle

Kindle Mysteries is pleased to feature a mystery title that is currently available in Kindle eBook format for free from Amazon.com. We don't know how long it will be offered at this special price (typically only until a certain number of downloads have been completed), so download it today!

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Elvis and the Dearly Departed by Peggy Webb
More Information About Elvis and the Dearly Departed by Peggy Webb

Elvis and the Dearly Departed by Peggy Webb
A Southern Cousins Mystery (1st in series)
Kensington (Kindle eBook)
Download Link

About Elvis and the Dearly Departed (from the publisher): They say you can't get to Heaven without passing through the Eternal Rest Funeral Home. And no one gets into Eternal Rest without passing muster with Elvis -- the basset hound who's convinced he's the reincarnation of the King of Rock 'n' Roll. Brewing up a big ol' pitcher of Mississippi mystery, Peggy Webb's delightful new series is as intoxicating as the Delta breeze.

Normally, Callie Valentine Jones spends her days fixing up the hairdos of the dead, but when the corpse of local, prominent physician Dr. Leonard Laton goes missing, it's bad for business. So Callie and her cousin Lovie (Eternal Rest's resident wake caterer) have no choice but to go in hot pursuit of the recently embalmed, last seen bound for Vegas by way of downtown Tupelo.

In Vegas, Callie and Lovie hit the jackpot when they find the dearly departed inside a freezer owned by his showgirl mistress, Bubble Malone. But their luck runs out when Bubble decides to join her man in the afterlife. With the poisonous Laton family tree providing plenty of rotten suspects, Callie, along with some help from her basset hound, Elvis, is determined to crack this case -- and have a killer singing "Jailhouse Rock" in time for her next haircutting appointment ...

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Peggy Webb's third mystery in this series, Elvis and the Memphis Mambo Murders, was just published this month in hardcover.

Cambridge Blue by Alison Bruce, a Gary Goodhew Mystery

The Mystery Bookshelf: Discover a Library of New Mysteries

The Mystery Bookshelf, where you can discover a library of new mysteries, is pleased to feature a new mystery series title we recently received from the publisher.

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Cambridge Blue by Alison Bruce
A Gary Goodhew Mystery (1st in series)
Soho Constable (Trade Paperback)
Publication Date: October 2010
ISBN-13: 978-1-56947-877-6

Cambridge Blue by Alison Bruce
More Information About Cambridge Blue by Alison Bruce

About Cambridge Blue (from the publisher): Gary Goodhew is intelligent, intuitive, and the youngest detective at Cambridge's Parkside Station. When Gary discovers the first body in a series of murders involving an eccentric Cambridge family, he gets his chance to work on a homicide investigation. He must use his own initiative to flush out the killer, even though it means risking his job and discovering the truth about the one person he hopes is innocent.

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About Alison Bruce: Born in Surrey, she now lives -- and sets her mysteries -- in Cambridge. She is the author of two previous nonfiction books.

Mysterious Reviews: Mysteries Reviewed by the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books Mysteries by Alison Bruce reviewed by Mysterious Reviews: Cambridge Blue (2009).

Reviews of Mystery and Suspense Books for Kids, New This Week on Book Trends (101002)

Book Trends: Reviews of Young Adult and Children Books

Book Trends, a review site for young adult and children books, published several new book reviews this past week. We're presenting here a summary of those in the mystery/suspense/thriller category.

Shark Bait by Justin D'Ath. The third thriller in the Extreme Adventures series recommended for readers aged 10 to 12. Lexile measure: 730L. Reviewed by a 6th grade student, who writes, "Shark Bait is very entertaining and exciting. There are multiple obstacles and each one of them has an impact on what will happen next. ... The mystery is surprising and unexpected [and] creates suspense."

Scorpion Sting by Justin D'Ath. The fourth thriller in the Extreme Adventures series recommended for readers aged 10 to 12. Lexile measure: 700L. Reviewed by a 6th grade student, who writes, "In the middle of the book my excitement level went through the roof. There are so many mysteries like what his location is and what time it is. It just makes more mysteries. Read the book and find out about all the wonders of Scorpion Sting."

For more reviews of children and young adult books of all genres, visit Book Trends; their reviews will amaze you! You can also follow Book Trends on Twitter.

Two New Games in the Mysteries and Hidden Objects Series, Now at AVG

Games of Mystery

Games of Mystery is pleased to announce this week's new mystery and suspense casual and adventure games available for immediate download from Amazon Video Games.

A complete list of downloadable mystery games is available on our Games of Mystery: Amazon Video Games Download page.

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Jack the Ripper: Letters from Hell
Jack the Ripper: Letters from Hell

Jack the Ripper: Letters from Hell

It is London during the summer of 1888. On the hunt for spicy stories, the reporter Bert goes on the trail of Jack the Ripper, the famous serial killer that is terrorising the White Chapel district. He goes as far as falsifying letters from Jack the Ripper and sends them to the police. But his involvement in this affair soon makes him the ideal suspect for the police at Scotland Yard.

Help Bert prove his innocence and conduct his own investigation in order to clear up the mystery of the White Chapel killer!

ESRB Rating: Everyone.

Windows Vista/XP (50 MB download).

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Profiler: The Hopscotch Killer
Profiler: The Hopscotch Killer

Profiler: The Hopscotch Killer

Miss Black will soon be replacing Deckard, a police officer who is retiring. He will still be here a few days, to show her the ropes. And they won't be resting: several cases are waiting for them. Obviously, it is more about murders than accidents or suicides ... The murderer seems to be following a precise pattern ... Miss Black and Deckard will have to investigate to discover who the serial killer is and prevent him from killing someone else.

Help them investigating and observe carefully the crime scenes: time is against you!

ESRB Rating: Everyone.

Windows Vista/XP (56 MB download).

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Games of Mystery is your source for mystery-themed video, electronic and board games, parties for kids and adults, murder mystery weekends and mystery getaway vacations, and more mysterious fun!

Cast Your Vote for the The People's Detective Dagger Award

Crime Thriller Awards

The Crime Thriller Awards will be presented next Friday, October 8th, with the televised ceremony airing on ITV3 a few days later, on October 12th.

The winners of the CWA Gold Dagger, Ian Fleming Steel Dagger, and John Creasey New Blood Dagger will be announced during the ceremony. (We have the shortlists on our Mystery Awards: CWA page.)

The Rap Sheet has a run-down on the nominees in the film and television categories, but there's also a category in which readers can vote for their favorite: The People's Detective Dagger. Voting is open until 9 AM on October 8th, and twelve fictional detectives that have appeared in a television series are listed. Our personal choice: DCI Christopher Foyle.

Friday, October 01, 2010

More Books in the Harry Potter Series?

Harry Potter

File this under "Hmm ... not so sure about this ..."

As reported by People, J. K. Rowling hints that there could be more Harry Potter books.

"I could definitely write an eighth, ninth, tenth," she tells Oprah Winfrey, in an interview scheduled to air today. "I'm not going to say I won't. I don't think I will … I feel I am done, but you never know."

She says she plans on writing more books, but also that she's entered a new phase in her life. Whether that phase includes Harry Potter remains to be seen.

BFG Game Promotions Ending October 6th, 2010

Big Fish Games

Earlier today, we posted information about Drawn: Dark Flight, a new adventure game of mystery and intrigue, available from Big Fish Games.

Drawn: Dark Flight is the sequel to Drawn: The Painted Tower ... and now we're thrilled to provide you with a coupon code that will allow you to purchase the first game, Drawn: The Painted Tower, for just $3.49! Simply use the code DRAWN49 during checkout. But hurry! This offer is only good through October 06, 2010.

(Psst! Here's another offer for you. Save 30% off the retail price of any standard game with coupon code BIGFISHGAMES30. This offer, too, is only good through October 06, 2010.)

Mystery Author Stephen J. Cannell Dies

Stephen J. Cannell

Mystery author and television series creator and screenwriter Stephen J. Cannell has died. He was 69.

On the splash page of his website, this note appears: "With profound sadness, we have to announce that our dear friend and colleague, Stephen Cannell, has lost a brave fight against cancer. He passed away at his home last night. He will be missed beyond measure by the Cannell Team and all of us who had the privilege and the plain good luck to know and work with him. Through the legacy of his body of work, with which he was able to entertain and enrich the lives of millions of viewers and thousands of readers, he will always be with us, living on in our hearts and minds, with fond memories forever."

Though probably best known for his role in creating, writing, and producing popular television series (The Rockford Files, The A-Team, 21 Jump Street, Hunter, The Commish, and many more), he recently focused primarily on writing. The 10th mystery in his series featuring LAPD Detective Shane Scully, The Prostitute's Ball, is published this month.

Edited to add: The Hollywood Reporter has an extensive list of Stephen J. Cannell's accomplishments. We wanted to make sure our readers had an opportunity to see them.

The Taken by Inger Ash Wolfe (Book Review)

Mysterious Reviews: Mystery, Suspense, Thriller and Crime Novel Reviews, edited by the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books

The Taken by Inger Ash Wolfe. A Hazel Micallef Mystery. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Hardcover, July 2010.

When a submerged mannequin -- initially mistaken as a dead body -- is discovered at a popular fishing location, Detective Inspector Hazel Micallef doesn't think a crime has been committed ... until she learns its existence is tied to a crime playing out in slow motion on the internet in The Taken, the second mystery in this series by Inger Ash Wolfe.

Read the full text of our review at Mysterious Reviews: The Taken by Inger Ash Wolfe.

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Mysterious Reviews is your source for the latest mystery, suspense, thriller, and crime novel reviews, edited by the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books.

Harlequin Worldwide Mystery Titles for October 2010

Harlequin Mysteries

eHarlequin.com has announced the October 2010 titles for their Worldwide imprint, your partner in crime. Amateur sleuths, traditional cozies, police procedurals and private-eye fiction, written by award-winning authors. For more information or to purchase any of the books below, click on the book title or book cover. (Previous months titles can be found on the backlist page.)

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Assumed Dead by Eleanor Sullivan
Buy the Book!

Assumed Dead by Eleanor Sullivan
A Monika Everhardt Mystery (3rd in series)

Two gravely injured head trauma patients—and two mysteries—arrive in nurse Monika Everhardt's ICU on the same day. The first is a John Doe whose car crashed during a high-speed police chase. The second is a woman who was bludgeoned in a bank parking lot. Police suspect the victim's husband. But Monika knows genuine grief when she sees it and she's got her eye on someone else: the husband's ex-wife.

Things get interesting when Monika's friend believes the John Doe may be her long lost brother, presumed dead for several years. But if he is, what was he doing with a stolen car from Texas and the ID of a dead man from New York? As Monika uncovers pieces of the shocking truth about why these patients ended up in her care, the hectic daily routine of life and death … becomes murder.

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Death and Honesty by Cynthia Riggs
Buy the Book!

Death and Honesty by Cynthia Riggs
A Victoria Trumbull Mystery (8th in series)

April arrives in Martha's Vineyard, bringing two of life's inescapable certainties—death and taxes.

When the body of a local resident is found inside the home of one of the town's three tax assessors—along with some incriminating evidence of an embezzlement scheme—ninety-two-year-old sleuth Victoria Trumbull is on the case. Also falling under Victoria's eagle eye is the arrival of the glamorous, estranged wife of a popular televangelist. She's eager to buy some island property. But someone knows something about the woman's sordid past and isn't above blackmail to keep silent.

It's just the beginning of a trail of bodies, illicit doings and secrets that collide in the brisk ocean air on Victoria's doorstep. And when her search for a missing tax assessor leads to a dangerous truth, it takes the insight and experience of a thirteenth-generation islander to fit the puzzle pieces together—and outwit a ruthless foe.

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Yellow as Legal Pads by Fran Stewart
Buy the Book!

Yellow as Legal Pads by Fran Stewart
A Biscuit McKee Mystery (2nd in series)

The honeymoon is over far too soon for Martinsville, Georgia, librarian and newlywed Biscuit McKee—cut short by untimely murder. The victim had been out taking an evening jog. His killer had a deadly agenda and a vial full of poison. Biscuit's new husband, Bob, attempted to revive the stricken man, only to absorb a near fatal dose of the toxin, himself. Now, Biscuit's lonely vigil outside the ICU revolves around the big questions: how could this happen and why?

With her clever feline companion Marmalade offering unsolicited insights, Biscuit unwittingly finds herself unraveling a decades-old mystery of ruthlessness, betrayal and mistaken identity. While Bob lingers in a coma, dark deeds of the past resurface and Biscuit discovers life is getting complicated on many fronts … and infinitely more dangerous.

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At Risk of Being a Fool by Jeanette Cottrell
Buy the Book!

At Risk of Being a Fool by Jeanette Cottrell
Non-series

With her husband confined to a nursing home, retired teacher Jeanie McCoy works part-time in an at-risk youth program, helping six troubled students prepare for the GED exam. Her students have police records and most are repeat offenders. So when a pipe bomb explodes at a Delancey Brothers construction site and injures a man, the police target one of Jeanie's students employed there.

Jeanie is very protective of her "kids"; she sees the vulnerable, softer side each one hides behind a tough veneer. But she knows they've got their secrets, and decides the only way to help is to tackle the mystery herself. As more pipe bombs go off and the stakes are raised to murder, suspicion on Jeanie's class mounts. Her grit and determination not to let these kids down lure her into a deadly game against an opponent with a dangerous mind.

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If you enjoy the books in this series, you can join Worldwide Mystery and get 2 free books plus 2 free gifts just for giving the automatic program a try. Accepting your two free Worldwide Mystery 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 three additional Worldwide Mystery 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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