Monday, February 28, 2011

Mystery and Suspense Films, New This Week on DVD (110301)

Mystery, Suspense, and Thriller Films on DVD and/or Blu-ray Disc

Checking through our list of films currently scheduled for release this week on DVD and/or Blu-ray disc, shown below are those that fall into the mystery, suspense, and thriller categories.

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If Tomorrow Comes
Purchase/Rental Options
Available on DVD

If Tomorrow Comes (1986)

From bestselling author Sidney Sheldon comes this exciting thriller of adrenaline-charged intrigue, secret passion and international adventure.

Before she is framed for a theft she didn’t commit, sparks sizzle between spunky working girl Tracy Whitney (Madolyn Smith) and sexy con man Jeff Stevens (Tom Berenger). Determined to get back at the crime lords who put her in prison, Tracy teams with an elegant older man to learn the ropes of sophisticated living and soon is traveling the world pulling off high-priced heists. She outsmarts everybody, including a French Interpol inspector (Liam Neeson) and a psychotic American insurance investigator (David Keith). Can Tracy trust Jeff enough to accept his help and admit her true feelings? (Not rated; 313 minutes)

For more information about this mini-series adaptation, visit Cinemystery: If Tomorrow Comes.

The Omega Theory by Mark Alpert (Mystery Book Review)

The Omega Theory by Mark Alpert
More information about the book

The Omega Theory by Mark Alpert. A David Swift and Monique Reynolds Mystery. Touchstone Hardcover, February 2011.

This action-dominated, international thriller, a blend (sometimes blur) of science fact with science fiction, takes readers on a wild ride. The characters are somewhat thinly developed, more superficial than substantive, but the novel delivers on its premise, providing nonstop thrills from start to finish.

Read the full text of our review at Mysterious Reviews: The Omega Theory by Mark Alpert.

Purchase Options: Amazon.com Print Edition | Amazon.com Kindle Edition | Barnes&Noble NookBook | Kobo eBook

Read the first chapter(s) of The Omega Theory below. Use the Aa settings button to adjust text size, line spacing, and word density.

Telemystery: Murder Investigation Team, New This Week on DVD

Telemystery, the most complete selection of detective, amateur sleuth, private investigator, and suspense television mystery series now available or coming soon to DVD

Telemystery, your source for one of the most comprehensive selections of detective, amateur sleuth, private investigator, and suspense television mystery series, mini-series and made-for-television movies, now available on or coming soon to DVD or Blu-ray disc, is profiling one British series being released this week.

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Murder Investigation Team: Season One, a Mystery TV Series
Information on Murder Investigation Team: Season One

An ensemble cast that includes brusque Detective Inspector Vivien Friend (Samantha Spiro) and intuitive Detective Constable Rosie MacManus (Lindsey Coulson) make up an elite Murder Investigation Team for London's Metropolitan Police in this ITV crime drama that brims with twists and turns, false leads, and surprising resolutions.

The series, which is set at the fictional Sun Hill station in east London, is a spin-off of the long-running The Bill, a crime drama that aired for 26 years (being canceled only last year). In the first episode, the Murder Investigation Team investigates the shooting of one of The Bill's characters, Sergeant Matt Boyden.

The Murder Investigation Team: Season One DVD set of three discs contain the 8 episodes that originally aired on ITV during May and June, 2003.

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Visit the Telemystery website to discover more television mystery series currently available on and coming soon to DVD and Blu-ray disc.

Mystery Godoku Puzzle for February 28, 2011

A new 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!).

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Mystery Godoku Puzzle for February 28, 2011

This week's letters and mystery clue:

A B C D E F I L N

This is the title of Raymond Benson’s noir thriller involving prosopagnosia (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!

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Mr. E. Reviews Sleuth (2007)

Sleuth (2007) (DVD Cover)
Available on
Available on DVDAvailable on Blu-ray DiscAvailable on Amazon Instant VideoAvailable on iTunesAvailable on Netflix

This 2007 reinterpretation of the 1970 stage play and 1972 film both takes away from and adds to the brilliantly conceived original storyline. But what's taken away lessens much of the suspense, and what's added detracts from the enjoyment of the film.

Read the full text of our review at Mr. E. Reviews Sleuth (2007).

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Mr. E. Reviews is your source for mystery, suspense, thriller, and crime drama reviews of television and film.

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Naming the Bones by Louise Welsh (Mystery Book Review)

Naming the Bones by Louise Welsh
More information about the book

Naming the Bones by Louise Welsh. Non-series. Felony & Mayhem Trade Paperback, February 2011.

From the simplicity of its premise to the complexity of its carefully crafted resolution, this remarkable novel of suspense is far more of a thoughtful, intellectual mystery than an action-oriented one. The atmospheric second half, set on an isolated Scottish island, is particularly noteworthy.

Read the full text of our review at Mysterious Reviews: Naming the Bones by Louise Welsh.

Purchase Options: Amazon.com Print Edition | Amazon.com Kindle Edition | Barnes&Noble NookBook

Read the first chapter(s) of Naming the Bones below. Use the Aa settings button to adjust text size, line spacing, and word density.

FX Orders Series Pilot Adapted from Powers Comics

Powers by Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Avon Oeming
More information about the book

The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that FX Networks has ordered a television series pilot adapted from the popular "Powers" series of comics by Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Avon Oeming. Last month, Powers: The Definitive Collection (Volume 4), which collects Powers 8: Legends, Powers 9: Psychotic, and Powers 10: Cosmic, was published by Marvel in hardcover.

The comic book series, which began in 2000, follows Christian Walker and Deena Pilgrim, homicide detectives assigned to investigating and solving cases that involve "powers" (people with superpowers).

New Games of Mystery and Suspense, New This Week from AVG (110226)

Games of Mystery

Games of Mystery is pleased to announce recently published mystery and suspense casual and adventure games now 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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Information about Dream Mysteries
Download and Buy Dream Mysteries

Dream Mysteries

Dr. Corey Foster is a skilled psychiatrist with the unique ability to enter others' dream states and change them. Because of her extraordinary talent, she's been invited to oversee a surge of psychiatric illnesses at the Dream Seekers research clinic. A normal sunny day finds her tending to patient's therapy when it turns baffling, as similar haunting visions inhabit all of her subjects. What exactly is going on and why is Dr. Foster now having those similar visions as well?

Join Dr. Foster and help her uncover the mysterious cause of these strange conditions. Travel between reality and dream worlds, healing patient's nightmares and searching for answers via surreal hidden object scenes. Play smart mini-games, locate useful items, and solve demanding puzzles. Can you unmask the true purpose of these unwanted images?

ESRB Rating: Not Specified.

Windows Vista/XP (323 MB download).

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Information about Black Mirror II
Download and Buy Black Mirror II

Black Mirror II

When solitary Darren Michaels befriends the beautiful Angelina, he has no idea what the fates hold in store for him. The alluring Angelina has also attracted the eye of several others; and when she suddenly disappears, Darren finds himself questioning what has happened to her while he is haunted by a series of torturous and everintensifying nightmares. Darren's search for his missing friend and his own sanity take him on a chilling expedition from his small New England town to Willow Creek, England — and the reigning evil of Black Mirror Castle.

Darren's journey will immerse him in the dark secrets and turbulent history of the castle's ill-fated Gordon Family. Legend has it that the Gordon’s were haunted by an ancient curse that ultimately led to their demise more than a decade earlier. Will Darren be able overcome these demons and find Angelina? Or will he become the curse's next victim?

Will Darren's search lead him to redemption or the hell of insanity?

The answers can only be found in the Black Mirror — for once you gaze into it, you won't be able to look away.

ESRB Rating: Teen.

Windows Vista/XP (2000 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!

Find a Legendary Tomb in The Serpent of Isis: Your Journey Continues, New from BFG

Games of Mystery

Games of Mystery is pleased to announce the availability of a new mystery casual game from Big Fish Games released today and available to BFG Club members. 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.

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The Serpent of Isis: Your Journey Continues
The Serpent of Isis: Your Journey Continues

Your objective is to locate the Tomb of Isis and finish the search that Robert’s grandfather started! Travel the globe and find clues that will help on your search! After Professor Thomas Penroy is kidnapped, it’s up to you to take over the hunt for the legendary Tomb of Isis. Unravel ancient mysteries and solve incredible riddles in this perplexing hidden object adventure game.

See also the previous game in this series, The Serpent of Isis.

The Serpent of Isis: Your Journey Continues may be downloaded and purchased for $6.99 with a Big Fish Game Club membership. A demonstration version (453.05 MB) may be downloaded and played for free for one hour.

Watch a preview video below:

Get any standard game for $6.99 with a Big Fish Game Club membership. Other benefits include the $2.99 Daily Deal, Tomorrow's Game Today, and special member rewards. And if you purchase any 6 games within a single month, you earn a free game with the Big Fish Game Club Monthly Punch Card! (Collector's Editions earn 3 punches each, half-way towards your free game!)

Read Ms. Terri's reviews of the adventure and casual mystery games featured on this site, including Midnight Mysteries: The Edgar Allan Poe Conspiracy, Nancy Drew Dossier: Lights, Camera, Curses!, Enlightenus, and many more!

Big Fish Games: Bestsellers

Big Fish Games: New releases

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

Friday, February 25, 2011

Mr. E. Reviews New Tricks Season 3

New Tricks Season 3 (DVD Cover)
Available on
Available on DVDAvailable on Netflix

Though I was intrigued by the premise — retired cops using their years of experience to solve cold cases — I was disappointed in this series (or at least this season of it). What troubled me most was how terribly simplistic the plotlines were. None of these cases were all that difficult to solve — the clues were there ready to be followed like breadcrumbs — which had me wondering, why they weren't solved in the first place.

Read the full text of our review at Mr. E. Reviews New Tricks Season 3.

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Mr. E. Reviews is your source for mystery, suspense, thriller, and crime drama reviews of television and film.

Innocents Lost, the 7th Jesse Stone Film, to Air on CBS May 22nd

Tom Selleck as Jesse Stone

CBS has scheduled the seventh Jesse Stone film, Innocents Lost, for Sunday May 22nd, 2011, at 9 PM (ET/PT).

Based on a character created by the late Robert B. Parker, Innocents Lost is not adapted from any of Parker's novels, but is an original screenplay co-written by Tom Selleck, who plays Jesse Stone.

The plotline finds Jesse, once again on overload, looking into the death of a teenaged girl and unofficially involved in the case of a convicted murderer who he thinks may be innocent. He's also battling his familiar demons, alcohol and his ex-wife.

Kathy Baker and Kohl Sudduth reprise their roles as the Paradise Police Force. Also returning are William Devane, Stephen McHattie, Saul Rubinek and William Sadler.

Innocents Lost was filmed in Nova Scotia in late 2009. Selleck, who is now starring in the CBS crime drama Blue Bloods, has said he is eager to make an 8th movie, which he hopes to film this summer.

Mystery Bestsellers for February 25, 2011

Mystery Bestsellers

A list of the top 15 mystery hardcover bestsellers for the week ending February 25th, 2011 has been posted on the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books website.

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson remains atop the list for something like nine months now, but otherwise there was significant movement, with three new titles debuting.

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Treachery in Death by J. D. Robb
More information about the book

Coming in at number 8 is Treachery in Death, the (we've lost count) entry in the long-running near-future series by J. D. Robb.

Detective Eve Dallas and her partner, Peabody, are following up on a senseless crime -- an elderly grocery owner killed by three stoned punks for nothing more than kicks and snacks. This is Peabody's first case as primary detective -- good thing she learned from the master.

But Peabody soon stumbles upon a trickier situation. After a hard workout, she's all alone in the locker room when the gym door clatters open; and-while hiding inside a shower stall trying not to make a sound, she overhears two fellow officers, Garnet and Oberman, arguing. It doesn't take long to realize they're both crooked -- guilty not just of corruption but of murder. Now Peabody, Eve, and Eve's husband, Roarke, are trying to get the hard evidence they need to bring the dirty cops down-knowing all the while that the two are willing to kill to keep their secret.

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Devil's Food Cake Murder by Joanne Fluke
More information about the book

Two spots lower at number 10 is the 14th mystery in the Hannah Swensen series, Devil's Food Cake Murder by Joanne Fluke.

These days, everyone in Lake Eden, Minnesota, is buzzing with activity, and Hannah Swensen is no exception. But no matter how busy she may be, Hannah can always find time to help a friend in need -- especially when there's a murder to investigate.

A new minister is in town to cover for Reverend Bob Knudson, who's honeymooning with Hannah's good friend Claire. But when the replacement is found face down in a plate of devil's food cake with a bullet in his head, Hannah starts asking questions. She soon discovers that the good Reverend wasn't quite the saintly fellow he appeared to be. It will take some more digging to find the culprit, but Hannah is sure of one thing: even the most half-baked murder plot can be oh so deadly ...

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Gideon's Sword by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
More information about the book

And at number 13 is the first in a new series, Gideon's Sword by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child.

At twelve, Gideon Crew witnessed his father, a world-class mathematician, accused of treason and gunned down.

At twenty-four, summoned to his dying mother's bedside, Gideon learned the truth: His father was framed and deliberately slaughtered. With her last breath, she begged her son to avenge him.

Now, with a new purpose in his life, Gideon crafts a one-time mission of vengeance, aimed at the perpetrator of his father's destruction. His plan is meticulous, spectacular, and successful.

But from the shadows, someone is watching. A very powerful someone, who is impressed by Gideon's special skills. Someone who has need of just such a renegade.

For Gideon, this operation may be only the beginning ...

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The top four mystery bestsellers this week are shown below:

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg LarssonA Discovery of Witches by Deborah HarknessTick Tock by James PattersonThe Sentry by Robert Crais

Please visit the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books where we are 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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