Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Deadly Gamble by Connie Shelton is Today's Second Featured Free MystereBook

MystereBooks: Mystery, Suspense, and Thriller eBooks

MystereBooks is pleased to feature Deadly Gamble by Connie Shelton as today's second free mystery ebook. 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 we urge you to download it while it is still available for free.

— ◊ —

Deadly Gamble by Connie Shelton

Deadly Gamble by Connie Shelton
A Charlie Parker Mystery (1st in series)
Secret Staircase Books

This first in a series was originally published in hardcover by Intrigue Press in 1995. Since then, the author has written nine other books plus a Christmas novella featuring the character. Connie Shelton is also the author of another mystery series featuring pastry chef — and amateur sleuth — Samantha Sweet.

About Deadly Gamble (from the publisher): Charlie Parker, an accountant and partner in an Albuquerque private investigation firm, is visited by her old school friend, Stacy North. Stacy's Rolex watch is missing and she begs Charlie to help locate it before her husband finds out. Things are complicated by the fact that Stacy had been seeing another man, Gary Detweiller, and he's the one she suspects of having stolen the watch. With a little detective work, Charlie retrieves the missing watch and all should be well. But three days later, Detweiller is murdered. All eyes turn to Stacy as the prime suspect.

Once again, Stacy begs Charlie's help in proving her innocence. As she begins to ask questions, Charlie learns that Detweiller's life was not as simple as first perceived and that any number of people had grievances against him. And before she can pinpoint the killer, her own life is in danger as well.

Important Note: Prices can and do change without prior notice, so please confirm the price of the book before completing your purchase.

Download Link(s):

Apple Free iBook Apple Free iBook Download Link (via iTunes).

Smashwords Free eBook Smashwords Free Book Download Link.

For more free mystery ebooks, visit our Free MystereBooks page.

The Rap Sheet Celebrates the 40th Anniversary of the NBC Mystery Movie

NBC Mystery Movie

Our friends over at The Rap Sheet are celebrating the 40th anniversary of the NBC Mystery Movie by profiling over the next few weeks — our guess is it may take longer than that! — all of the shows that participated in the series.

First up is arguably the most popular — it was certainly the longest running — of these shows, Columbo, starring Peter Falk as the LAPD homicide detective. There's a fascinating history to the show presented, from its roots in 1960 to the whole concept of a "rotating wheel" of shows contributing to an "umbrella" series. (The other two shows part of the original series were McCloud and McMillan & Wife.)

Check out The Rap Sheet's post on Columbo, and follow along as they make their way through the 13 or so other shows that were part of the NBC Mystery Movie.

Dead Reckoning by Ronie Kendig is Today's Featured Free MystereBook

MystereBooks: Mystery, Suspense, and Thriller eBooks

MystereBooks is pleased to feature Dead Reckoning by Ronie Kendig as today's free mystery ebook. 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 we urge you to download it while it is still available for free.

— ◊ —

Dead Reckoning by Ronie Kendig

Dead Reckoning by Ronie Kendig
Non-Series
Abingdon Press

This stand-alone is the author's first novel. She has since written three books in her "Discarded Heroes" series, with a fourth coming out next year.

About Dead Reckoning (from the publisher): Underwater archeologist Shiloh Blake is consumed with passion for the water and inflamed at the injustices of life, blaming her secret agent father for her mother's death. When her first large-scale dig traps her in the middle of an international nuclear arms clash, she flees for her life. When she spots a man trailing her, the questions are, Who is he? and How is he always one step ahead?

Reece Jaxon is a former Navy SEAL and now serves his country as a spy. His life is entangled by the beguiling Shiloh Blake as he hunts down the sources to a nuclear dead drop in the Arabian Sea near Mumbai, India. The only way to end this nightmare and prevent a nuclear meltdown is to join forces with Reece. Will Shiloh violate her vow to never become a spy like her father?

Important Note: Prices can and do change without prior notice, so please confirm the price of the book before completing your purchase.

Download Link(s):

Amazon Free Kindle Book Amazon Free Kindle Edition Download Link.

Barnes&Noble Free Nook Book B&N Free Nook Book Download Link.

For more free mystery ebooks, visit our Free MystereBooks page.

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Second Season of Luther Premieres Wednesday, September 28th on BBC America

Luther (BBC America, 2011)

The second season of Luther premieres tomorrow, Wednesday September 28th, on BBC America.

Idris Elba stars as Detective Chief Inspector John Luther, a brilliant and emotionally impulsive detective tormented by the darker side of humanity.

Two new two-part episodes will be presented in this second season, which originally aired earlier this year on the BBC in the UK. In the opener, Luther returns to work still plagued by the death of his ex-wife to face a surreal and nightmarish case of a masked murderer determined to enter into folklore. As the body count rises, Luther must use all his skills to stop the killer, at the same time trying to rescue an old acquaintance's daughter from the dangerous world of prostitution.

Watch a preview for the season below.

Review: Full Black by Brad Thor

Full Black by Brad Thor

Full Black by Brad Thor. A Scot Harvath Thriller. Atria Hardcover, July 2011.

Though there's a comfortable familiarity with the way in which the storyline of this thriller progresses, it never seems stale or derivative, even if some of the secondary characters are not developed much behind generic stereotypes. Still, Scot Harvath is clearly the star here, and the primary reason why this book is as exciting as it is.

Read the full text of our review at Mysterious Reviews: Full Black by Brad Thor.

Lionsgate Options Film Rights to Dead Island Game

Dead Island (2011)

Earlier this month we announced the release of the zombie thriller adventure game Dead Island … a paradise to die for.

Today, Deep Silver, the game's developer, announced that Lionsgate Entertainment has optioned the film rights to develop a feature inspired by the game.

The game was introduced earlier this year via a trailer that tells the story of a family on vacation at a tropical resort, which is besieged by zombies. (The release trailer is embedded below.)

Like the trailer that will serve as its primary creative inspiration, the film will be an innovation of the zombie genre because of its focus on human emotion, family ties and non-linear storytelling. Said Lionsgate co-COO Joe Drake of the property's acquisition, "Like the hundreds of journalists and millions of fans who were so passionate and vocal about the Dead Island trailer, we too were awestruck." He continued, "This is exactly the type of property we're looking to adapt at Lionsgate — it's sophisticated, edgy, and a true elevation of a genre that we know and love. It also has built in brand recognition around the world, and franchise potential."

And in news we missed from about a week ago, the Dead Island novel based on the game's storyline was published.

Dead Island is available on Windows PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3.

(Source: Deep Silver.)

Recently Published Indie Mysteries (110927)

Indie Mysteries: Mystery, Suspense and Thriller Books by Independent Publishers

We're always on the lookout for new mystery, suspense and thriller books, and with this series of recurring posts, we're looking at Indie Mysteries, books published by small, independent publishers, or self-published, that recently caught our eye ... and may be of interest to you too. Most of these titles, selected primarily from the Smashwords website, are ebook only, though some may also be available in a print format.

Important Note: The prices indicated for these books are current as of the date of this post, but can and do change without notice. Please confirm the price of the book before completing your purchase.

— ◊ —

A Plot to Die For by C. A. Larmer

A Plot to Die For
by C. A. Larmer
A Roxy Parker, Ghostwriter Mystery (2nd in series)
Self Published (Ebook)
September 2011
Price as of the date of this post: $2.99

When ghostwriter Roxy Parker accepts a job at a tropical island resort, she expects little more than a good story and a touch of sunstroke. Instead she stumbles upon her hotelier client, dead and buried in a plot of sand, her head protruding ghoulishly for the crabs to devour. And around her, an ensemble cast of glamorous guests who all appear to be hiding something behind their Gucci sunglasses.

Shadow of Innocence by Ric Wasley

Shadow of Innocence
by Ric Wasley
A Michael Prescott and Bridget Connolly Mystery (1st in series)
Imajin Books (Ebook)
September 2011
Price as of the date of this post: $3.99

The Newport Folk Festival provides a groovy backdrop for this drug-and-sixties-music-soaked mystery, featuring partners in love and danger, Mick and Bridget, hopping on their motorcycles and into action. As the family of detectives quip, banter, and swing into action, posh Newport is threatened by a perverse, shadowy secret. Mick and Bridget's exuberance and optimism manage to glimmer through even the darkest of perils, as they delve into a seamy world of drugs and sex, and are forced to match wits with both the the mob and a shadowy psychopathic killer.

Devil's Harvest by Margery Scott

Devil's Harvest
by Margery Scott
Non-Series
Self Published (Ebook)
September 2011
Price as of the date of this post: $2.99

When surgical resident Taryn Hayes becomes the prime suspect in a renowned physician's murder, the only person who can help her is Luke Dawson, a private investigator searching for information about a friend's sudden death. Taryn, a believer in facts, and Luke, a man who trusts his gut instincts, clash as their investigation leads them to a link between the two cases. At the same time, they can't deny opposites attract. But will they survive long enough to catch a killer before he strikes again, and to find out if their chemistry is merely physical, or something more?

Also available in a Kindle edition.

— ◊ —

For more recently published Indie Mysteries, visit the Smashwords Mystery and Detective category page or the Thriller and Suspense category page.

The Mystery Bookshelf: Dangerous to Know by Tasha Alexander, a Lady Emily Ashton Mystery

The Mystery Bookshelf: New Mystery,  Suspense and Thriller Books

The Mystery Bookshelf, where you can discover a world of mystery and suspense, is pleased to feature a new crime novel we recently received from the publisher.

— ◊ —

Dangerous to Know by Tasha Alexander
A Lady Emily Ashton Mystery (5th in series)
Minotaur Books (Trade Paperback)
Publication Date: September 2011
ISBN-13: 978-0-312-38381-7

Dangerous to Know by Tasha Alexander

About Dangerous to Know (from the publisher): Returning from her honeymoon with Colin Hargreaves and a near brush with death in Constantinople, Lady Emily convalesces at her mother-in-law’s beautiful estate in Normandy. But the calm she so desperately seeks is shattered when, out riding a horse, she comes upon the body of a young woman who has been brutally murdered. The girl’s wounds are identical to those inflicted on the victims of Jack the Ripper, who has wreaked havoc across the channel in London. Emily feels a connection to the young woman and is determined to bring the killer to justice.

Pursuing a trail of clues and victims to the beautiful medieval city of Rouen and a crumbling château in the country, Emily begins to worry about her own sanity: She hears the cries of a little girl she cannot find and discovers blue ribbons left in the child’s wake. As Emily is forced to match wits with a brilliant and manipulative killer, only her courage, keen instincts, and formidable will to win can help her escape becoming his next victim.

— ◊ —

About the author: Tasha Alexander attended the University of Notre Dame, where she signed on as an English major (with a concentration in Medieval Studies) in order to have a legitimate excuse for spending all her time reading. She and her husband, novelist Andrew Grant, divide their time between Chicago and the UK. Visit her website at TashaAlexander.com.

Purchase Options for Dangerous to Know:

Amazon.com Print and/or Kindle EditionBarnes&Noble Print and/or Nook Book editionIndie Bound: Independent BooksellersThe Book Depository: Free Worldwide Shipping

OMN Welcomes Mystery Author Susan Tornga

Omnimystery News: Authors on Tour

Omnimystery News is pleased to welcome Susan Tornga, whose debut mystery is Seashells in the Desert (Treble Heart Books, July 2011 trade paperback and ebook editions).

Today Susan writes about incorporating factual information into historical fiction. And she's also giving one of our readers the opportunity to win a copy of her book! See entry details below.

— ◊ —

"There are no ladies west of Dodge and no women west of Albuquerque."

That was a popular saying in the 1880's on America's frontier. Men outnumbered women ten to one and it is easy to imagine pretty much what those women did. They were wives or they were …

Susan Tornga
Photo provided courtesy of
Susan Tornga

Then an Englishman named Fred Harvey changed all that. The first Harvey House appeared in Topeka, Kansas in 1876 at the Santa Fe Railroad depot. Fred Harvey quickly opened both dining establishments and lodging facilities along the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe lines from Chicago west to Los Angeles and San Francisco, and south to the Gulf of Mexico.

Before Harvey, train passengers could expect little more than slop at rest stops. Often, it actually was "slop." Passengers were given only fifteen to thirty minutes to eat and the cooks would purposefully delay meal service so that food was left on plates. That would be scraped back into the pot and served to the next unsuspecting group of travelers.

Fred had a vision of sophistication. He was an Englishman after all. Cuisine replaced slop. A typical meal might be fried chicken or baked halibut with lobster sauce, exotic salads and a piece of fresh peach pie that was an entire quarter of one pie. Ice cream was not unusual either. Not only were the hungry travelers treated to such delights, but meals were served with military precision on delicate china and glistening silver by attractive, smiling waitresses.

At first the employees were all male, as was customary to the time and place. Then, in 1883, Mr. Harvey fired all of his waiters at the Raton, New Mexico Harvey House and brought in women. And not just any women. He looked for and found young ladies, well-educated, neat and of good character.

Although it was not a condition of employment, these women turned out to be courageous as well. Many left their homes with only twenty-four hours notice after their hiring, knowing that they might never see their families again.

The West was a raw, wild country and the women might face Indian attacks, disease, and rough living conditions.

Often, especially in the early years, the townspeople looked on the women as little more than harlots in white aprons. Some of Fred's "Girls" couldn't take it and returned to whatever they'd left behind. Most stayed, however, and went on to become the wives of ranchers, or even ranchers themselves, as well as schoolteachers, nurses, politicians and lawmen, ahem, law-women.

These facts are slipped into Seashells in the Desert to create true-to-life scenes that not only entertain but educate the reader.

I dedicated my historical mystery, Seashells in the Desert, to "the brave women who sacrificed so much to open the West for others." In Seashells the reader meets Tessa Crane, attractive, hard working and independent, one of Fred's "Harvey Girls." The story is set in Winslow, Arizona in 1895 when only a dining establishment existed.

In Winslow today, the elegant La Posada Hotel still serves delicious cuisine to travelers, although few arrive by train. The Harvey Company built La Posada in 1929. As can be said of the United States, the hotel has weathered the many ups and downs of economic catastrophes and the even greater tragedies of war. And, like our country, it has endured.

Winslow women regularly don Harvey Girl costumes and conduct tours of La Posada, a nostalgic look at the heyday of American rail travel.

Fred Harvey has been called the founding father of the American service industry. His methods are still taught in graduate schools in the areas of hotel and restaurant management, personnel management, advertising and marketing. What a mark this English gentleman made on the American West.

What do I love most about Fred Harvey? He has provided me with an enchanting array of Harvey Houses, one of which might just be the setting of the next Tessa Crane mystery. As for characters to appear in those books? I need look no further than the American frontier in the late nineteenth century, the home of a never-ending supply of bad guys and good guys. Figuring out which is which, I leave to my readers.

— ◊ —

Susan was raised in Tucson, an upbringing that fueled her love for the Arizona desert. Her work has appeared in several Chicken Soup for the Soul® and Patchwork Path anthologies. She is a passionate traveler and is a frequent contributor to the online travel magazine InTheKnowTraveler.com. When not writing or traveling, she can usually be found on one of the many hiking trails in Arizona, including segments of the Arizona Trail. She resides near Tucson with her husband, Mark. Learn more about Susan and Seashells in the Desert on her website, SusanTornga.com.

— ◊ —

Seashells in the Desert by Susan Tornga

Amazon.com Print and/or Kindle Edition

Barnes&Noble Print Edition and/or Nook Book

About Seashells in the Desert:

Tessa Crane loves her life as a Harvey Girl. Attractive, hard working and independent, she personifies the best of Fred Harvey's waitresses. She welcomes the passengers of the Santa Fe Railway several times each day as they travel to and from booming California. What she doesn t welcome, however, is the trouble that disembarks one October day in 1895.

When a beautiful woman is found murdered, Tessa wonders why her close friend, Lupe Castillo, is so distraught. Her question is answered when Sheriff Jed Bowman leads a posse to find Lupe s brother, Joaquin. Lupe begs for Tessa's help in uncovering the real murderer, but what they learn leads both women to believe that Joaquin may be guilty.

This is the story of secrets long buried, like the Seashells in the Desert. What happened in the past is unveiled in events of the present. Tessa, Lupe and Joaquin each hold tight to their own secrets. If the truth is to be uncovered, those secrets must be disclosed. Innocent people may be hurt, but that may be the only way to bring a murderer to justice.

For a chance to win a copy of Seashells in the Desert, courtesy of the author, visit Mystery Book Contests, click on the "Susan Tornga: Seashells of the Desert" contest link, enter your name, e-mail address, and this code (5991) for a chance to win! (One entry per person; contest ends 10/06/2011.)

Monday, September 26, 2011

Review: Stealing Mona Lisa by Carson Morton

Stealing Mona Lisa by Carson Morton

Stealing Mona Lisa by Carson Morton. Non-series. Minotaur Books Hardcover, August 2011.

The planning and execution of the theft of the Mona Lisa (as promised by the title) is handled very well in this entertaining crime caper-style mystery. But after it takes place, the plot seems to lose its way, lacking much of the charm that was previously so much in abundance.

Read the full text of our review at Mysterious Reviews: Stealing Mona Lisa by Carson Morton.

Telemystery: Multiple CSIs, Kojak, Law & Order SVU and New Tricks, 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 listings of crime drama, amateur sleuth, private investigator, mystery and suspense television series, mini-series and made-for-television movies, now available on or coming soon to DVD or Blu-ray disc, is profiling six series being released this week.

— ◊ —

CSI: Season Eleven, a Mystery TV Series
CSI: Season Eleven on DVD CSI: Season Eleven on VOD (Video on Demand) CSI: Season Eleven on itunes

A team of forensic investigators trained to solve crimes by examining the evidence is the premise behind CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.

Set in Las Vegas, they are on the case 24/7, scouring the scene, collecting the irrefutable evidence and finding the missing pieces that will solve the mystery.

This marks the final season for Laurence Fishburne, who is replaced by Ted Danson in the new season of this series, which is currently airing on Wednesdays at 10 PM.

CSI: Season Eleven is available on DVD, Amazon Instant, and iTunes (click on the icons above, left for more details), and consists of 22 episodes that originally aired on CBS from September 2010 through May 2011.

— ◊ —

CSI: Miami: Season Nine, a Mystery TV Series
CSI: Miami: Season Nine on DVD CSI: Miami: Season Nine on VOD (Video on Demand) CSI: Miami: Season Nine on itunes

Join lead criminalist Horatio Caine (David Caruso) and his state-of-the-art forensics team as they investigate hot and steamy south Florida crimes using cold hard facts in CSI: Miami.

The evidence leads into seedy nightclubs, privileged suburbs and explosive family secrets. The stakes are higher than ever before … because this time it's personal.

The 10th season premiered last night, Sunday September 25th, at 10 PM.

CSI: Miami: Season Nine is available on DVD, Amazon Instant, and iTunes (click on the icons above, left for more details), and consists of 22 episodes that originally aired on CBS from October 2010 through May 2011.

— ◊ —

CSI: NY: Season Seven, a Mystery TV Series
CSI: NY: Season Seven on DVD CSI: NY: Season Seven on VOD (Video on Demand) CSI: NY: Season Seven on itunes

CSI: NY is a crime drama about forensic investigators who use high-tech science to follow the evidence and solve crimes in The Big Apple.

Joining Detective Mac Taylor (Gary Sinese) this season is Detective Josephine "Jo" Danville, played by Sela Ward.

CSI: NY: Season Seven is available on DVD, Amazon Instant, and iTunes (click on the icons above, left for more details), and consists of 22 episodes that originally aired on CBS from October 2010 through May 2011.

The 8th season of the series is currently airing on Fridays at 9 PM.

— ◊ —

Kojak: Season Two, a Mystery TV Series
Kojak: Season Two on DVD

"Who loves ya, baby?"

He's got style, street smarts and a penchant for lollipops, and he's hitting the gritty streets of New York City in pursuit of some of television's toughest criminals. He's Telly Savalas as Kojak.

Lieutenant Theo Kojak is laying down the law in homicide cases involving organized crime, terrorists, drug traffickers, a serial bomber and a killer multimillion-dollar thief in an investigation that sends Kojak undercover as a Greek millionaire. Whether he’s utilizing his irresistible charm or bending the rules to catch a murderer, you can always bet that Kojak will close the case.

Kojak: Season Two is available on DVD (click on the icon above, left for more details), and consists of 25 episodes that originally aired on CBS from September 1974 through March 1975.

— ◊ —

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Season Twelve, a Mystery TV Series
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Season Twelve on DVD Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Season Twelve on VOD (Video on Demand) Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Season Twelve on itunes

Christopher Meloni enters his last season as crime detective Elliot Stabler in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

He joins his long time partner Mariska Hargitay as detective Olivia Benson to take on sexual crimes of a more sinister and dynamic nature than ever before including those involving runaway children an American sex trade operation and serial rapists.

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Season Twelve is available on DVD, Amazon Instant, and iTunes (click on the icons above, left for more details), and consists of 24 episodes that originally aired on NBC from September 2010 through May 2011. The 13th season of the series is currently airing on Wednesdays at 10 PM.

— ◊ —

New Tricks: Season Five, a Mystery TV Series
New Tricks: Season Five on DVD

A motley crew of retired cops solves cold cases in the British series New Tricks.

Led by Detective Superintendent Sandra Pullman (Amanda Redman), the Metropolitan Police Service's Unsolved Crime and Open Case Squad (UCOS) is made up of retired police officers who have been recruited to reinvestigate unsolved crimes.

New Tricks: Season Five is available on DVD (click on the icon above, left for more details), and consists of 8 episodes that originally aired on BBC during the summer of 2008. It recently finished airing its 8th season — we're a bit behind here in the US — and the network has ordered an 9th and 10th seasons to air in 2012 and 2013.

— ◊ —

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

Mystery Godoku Puzzle for September 26, 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!).

— ◊ —

Mystery Godoku Puzzle for September 26, 2011

This week's letters and mystery clue:

A D E G I K N P Y

He is the author of the true crime-based novel Miscarriage of Justice (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!

Omnimystery Blog Archive

Total Pageviews (last 30 days)

Omnimystery News
Original Content Copyright © 2022 — Omnimystery, a Family of Mystery Websites — All Rights Reserved
Guest Post Content (if present) Copyright © 2022 — Contributing Author — All Rights Reserved