In just a couple of weeks, the television networks will be announcing their Fall 2012 schedule, together with the new series that will premiere.
We've gone over our notes and checked with a few entertainment websites, and present below a summary of prime time crime pilots ordered by the networks that have been mentioned as potential series for the new season. Titles, where one exists, are subject to change; a logline or premise is included.
As the networks announce their schedules, we'll keep you posted on what has been confirmed as a go and what has been back-burnered or shelved.
ABC …
• 666 Park Ave.: Based on a storyline in Gabriella Pierce's supernatural novel of the same title, this drama features a young couple, who accepts an offer to manage one of the most historic apartment buildings in New York City. They soon begin to experience strange occurrences, which complicate and endanger the lives of everyone in the building.
• Gotham: After pursuing a seemingly unsolvable case, a female cop discovers a magical world that exists within New York City, a world that goes unseen by normal humans, and takes all of the familiar NYC landmarks and reinvents them in a magical otherworldly manner.
• Last Resort: This international action-thriller-soap follows the story of establishing a new society in a world held hostage by the crew of a ballistic missile submarine, who have captured a remote NATO outpost and declared themselves a nuclear nation.
• Penoza: Based on the Dutch television series of the same title, this crime drama centers on the widow of an assassinated criminal, who is forced to adopt her husband's role in an organized-crime syndicate in order to protect her family.
CBS …
• Applebaum: Based on a character created by mystery author Ayelet Waldman, this "Mommy Track" mystery series features a former public defender, who becomes a private investigator to keep from being bored to death as a stay-at-home mom.
• Elementary: There are two twists in this contemporary reimagining of the famous consulting detective: Sherlock Holmes lives in New York City and Watson is a woman.
• Golden Boy: This drama tracks one cop's meteoric rise from officer to detective to police commissioner.
• Trooper: This drama is centered on a common-sense mother turns New York state trooper.
• Untitled: The story of Ralph Lamb, a rodeo cowboy who became the sheriff of Clark County (which includes Las Vegas) in the 1960s.
• Widow Detective: After losing three partners in the line of duty, a decorated police detective becomes surrogate husband, lover, and father to their families in this drama.
Fox …
• Guilty: This legal thriller is centered on a brilliant, morally questionable defense attorney, who uses his unusual methods to solve cases after he's been falsely convicted of fraud and stripped of his license. A subplot involves his search for the man who set him up.
• The Asset: A spy thriller centered on a New York City-based female CIA agent with a very specialized and controversial area of expertise.
• Untitled: An orphaned 17-year-old daughter of a CIA operative encounters a mysterious rogue agent-assassin, who serves as both her surrogate father and professional mentor in the spy world in this drama.
• Untitled: The complex relationship between a diabolical serial killer and the damaged FBI agent who took him down is the focus of this thriller. After the killer escapes, the agent is reactivated and discovers that he is no longer just hunting one man, but a massive cult of serial killers created and manipulated during his time in prison.
NBC …
• Hannibal: Based on a character created by Thomas Harris and more specifically adapted from the novel Red Dragon, this thriller features FBI agent Will Graham and his mentor Dr. Hannibal Lecter, who are re-introduced at the beginning of their budding relationship.
• Infamous: Previously titled Notorious, this thriller features a female detective, who returns undercover to the wealthy family she grew up in — as the maid's daughter — to solve the murder of the notorious heiress who was once her closest friend.
• Midnight Sun: Based on the Israeli crime thriller Timrot Asham (Pillars of Smoke), this drama is centered on a female FBI cult specialist, who starts an investigation following the mysterious disappearance of a commune in Alaska only to uncover a larger conspiracy.
The CW …
• Cult: After a rash of disappearances and a likely murder, an inquisitive, young female production assistant on a wildly popular television show called Cult joins a journalist-blogger in investigating the rabid fans of the series who might be re-creating crimes seen on the program in real life.
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Telemystery: Prime Time Crime Network Pilot Update
MystereBooks: This Week's Update of Kindle Books Priced $2.99 or Less (120428)
Every month Amazon publishes a list of 100 Kindle books priced $3.99 or less. We thought we'd take that idea and improve on it, publishing a list of 100 Kindle mystery books priced $2.99 or less and updating it every week!
Here is our general criteria for selecting titles to include: books from major or specialty publishers of crime fiction and those written by authors familiar to us. There are far more than 100 to choose from, so we use our best judgment to narrow it down.
Shown below are some of the new titles we added today.
And … as a reminder, these are the last few days for Poisoned Pen Press's April selection of 99 cent mystery ebooks.
Also … check out this selection of titles from Oceanview Publishing, several of which are free. (The free titles seem to change frequently so this link includes all titles priced up to $2.99, sorted by price.)
Important Note: Prices can and do change without prior notice! We strongly urge you to confirm the price of the book before completing your purchase. The price displayed on the vendor website at the time of purchase is the price of the book.
Beast of Burden by Ray Banks.
A Cal Innes Mystery (4th).
Blood Sugar by Jim DeFilippi.
A Joe LaLuna Mystery (1st).
Souvenirs of Murder by Margaret Duffy.
A Patrick Gillard and Ingrid Langley Mystery (13th).
Scoop by Kit Frazier.
A Cauley MacKinnon Mystery (1st).
Dead Copy by Kit Frazier.
A Cauley MacKinnon Mystery (2nd).
Cocaineros Duel by John J. Gilmore.
A Skeleton in the Closet by Judith K. Ivie.
A Kate Lawrence Mystery (3rd).
Line of Sight by Jack Kelly.
Random Violence by Jassy Mackenzie.
A Jade de Jong Mystery (1st).
Current Affairs by Lane Stone.
A Tiara Investigations Mystery (1st).
Book of Nathan by Curt Weeden and Richard Marek.
Reviews of Mystery and Suspense Books for Kids, New This Week on Book Trends (120428)
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.
A King's Ransom by Jude Watson. The 39 Clues: Cahills vs. Vespers (Book Two). Lexile measure: 570L. Reviewed by a 7th grade student, who writes, "The author described everything with exceptional detail so I had a clear image in my mind at all times. The book was very well paced, not too slow or too fast the entire time, but varied in speed appropriately throughout the book. … Overall, the book was fantastic." (Read the full review here.)
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.
Take a Number by Janet Dawson is Today's Third Featured Free MystereBook
MystereBooks is pleased to feature Take a Number by Janet Dawson as today's third free mystery ebook.
This title was listed as free as of the date and time of this post. Prices are subject to change without notice. The price displayed on the vendor website at the time of purchase will be the price paid for the book. Please confirm the price of the book before completing your transaction.
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Take a Number by Janet Dawson
A Jeri Howard Mystery
Publisher: Fawcett/Janet Dawson
This is the second mystery (of ten to date) in this series featuring the Oakland (CA) private investigator.
About Take a Number (from the publisher): In Alameda County, east of San Francisco, the all-American pastimes of adultery, divorce, and mindless violence prosper — and Petty Officer First Class Sam Raynor, USN, fits right in. PI Jeri Howard is working for Raynor's battered wife, who wants not only a divorce but half of everything Raynor's got. It turns out Raynor's hidden some big bucks from Uncle Sam.
And that's not all he's hidden. Barely concealed behind his blond and muscled good looks is a vicious psychopath, whose wife-battering episodes are only the tip of an ugly iceberg. It seems Petty Officer Raynor's been getting away with murder … or close to it. And now that Jeri is on his trail, can murder be far behind?
Important Note: This book was listed for free on the date and time of this post. Prices can and do change without prior notice. Please confirm the price of the book before completing your purchase.
Download Link(s):
For more free mystery ebooks, visit our Free MystereBooks page.
Cross Current by Christine Kling is Today's Second Featured Free MystereBook
MystereBooks is pleased to feature Cross Current by Christine Kling as today's second free mystery ebook.
This title was listed as free as of the date and time of this post. Prices are subject to change without notice. The price displayed on the vendor website at the time of purchase will be the price paid for the book. Please confirm the price of the book before completing your transaction.
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Cross Current by Christine Kling
A Seychelle Sulllivan Mystery
Publisher: Ballantine
About Cross Current (from the publisher): Seychelle is proud to follow in her father’s footsteps and work the waters on a tugboat. She remembers Florida before it fractured between rich and poor, white and black, Cuban and Haitian. For Seychelle, life is all about making a living, making love, and keeping her eye on the beauty that still remains in an ever-changing community. Then her life takes a turn when her tug intercepts with a swamped fishing boat in the Gulf Stream. Inside the boat are a murdered woman and a little girl in a white dress.
When Seychelle returns to shore with a traumatized Haitian girl named Solange in her cabin, she is faced with the border patrol, the police, and an unraveling love affair. Determined to protect Solange, and somehow keep her from being sent back to Haiti, Seychelle becomes obsessed with the forces that nearly killed the girl — and left her speechless with terror. All Seychelle knows for sure is that Solange’s father was an American … and that somehow she slipped through a murderer’s hands.
Exploring the hidden world of Florida’s Haitian community, Seychelle realizes that Solange is still in great danger — and that one killer has claimed dozens of lives. With a murderer stalking the child, Seychelle is racing to unravel dangerous truths. But to get the answers she needs, she must return to where it all started: in the waters of the Gulf Stream, where people died for a hope and prayer– and a man with a machete did the work of the devil himself.
Important Note: This book was listed for free on the date and time of this post. Prices can and do change without prior notice. Please confirm the price of the book before completing your purchase.
Download Link(s):
For more free mystery ebooks, visit our Free MystereBooks page.
A Grave Breach by James Macomber is Today's Featured Free MystereBook
MystereBooks is pleased to feature A Grave Breach by James Macomber as today's free mystery ebook.
This title was listed as free as of the date and time of this post. Prices are subject to change without notice. The price displayed on the vendor website at the time of purchase will be the price paid for the book. Please confirm the price of the book before completing your transaction.
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A Grave Breach by James Macomber
A John Cann Mystery
Publisher: Oceanview Publishing
We called this third book (and most recent) in the series a "first-rate thriller".
About A Grave Breach (from the publisher): International lawyer John Cann would never defend a war criminal - particularly the Serb accused of horrific acts during the Bosnian War of the 1990s. But when his friend, mentor and Senior Partner Arthur Matsen needs his help, John has to make a tough decision.
Struggling with legal issues and ethical dilemmas in Europe, John's past is close behind. Never far from his mind is Janie Reston, the young college student viciously abused and left for dead by terrorists.
As John uncovers what lies deep in Matsen's past, Janie is in increasing peril. Will past, present and future intersect or will time run out?
Read our review of A Grave Breach by James Macomber.
Important Note: This book was listed for free on the date and time of this post. Prices can and do change without prior notice. Please confirm the price of the book before completing your purchase.
Download Link(s):
For more free mystery ebooks, visit our Free MystereBooks page.
Friday, April 27, 2012
Disney Options Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book
Disney has optioned the film rights to Neil Gaiman's middle-grade novel The Graveyard Book, the winner in 2009 of the prestigious children's literary award, the Newbery Medal.
The book's premise: It takes a graveyard to raise a child.
Nobody Owens — known as Bod — is a normal boy. He would be completely normal if he didn't live in a graveyard, being raised by ghosts, werewolves, and other cemetery denizens, with a guardian who belongs to neither the world of the living nor the dead. There are adventures in the graveyard for a boy — an ancient Indigo Man, a gateway to the abandoned city of ghouls, the strange and terrible Sleer. But if Bod leaves the graveyard, he will be in danger from the man Jack — who has already killed Bod's family.
(Related article: The Hollywood Reporter.)
Watch a Dark Shadows Vampire History Featurette
"The legend of the vampire has been told for centuries, capturing the dark shadows of our imagination and inspiring filmmakers and actors to breathe new life into the undead."
So begins a new featurette by the producers of Dark Shadows, starring Johnny Depp as Barnabas Collins, and based on the Gothic television soap opera of the late 1960s. We've embedded the video below.
Directed by Tim Burton from an original screenplay by Seth Grahame-Smith, Dark Shadows opens in theaters May 11th, 2012.
Snow White & the Huntsman: Poster and Song
Snow White & the Huntsman is one of the few movies we're looking forward to seeing this year … and somehow we missed this poster when it was first released by the studio (right; click for larger version).
We also have a song from the soundtrack to the film, "Breath of Life" by Florence and the Machine, which was published by the studio today (embedded below). You can purchase the single via iTunes. The full film soundtrack will be available on May 29th, 2012.
Snow White & the Huntsman, starring Kristen Stewart as Snow White, Chris Hemsworth at the huntsman, and Charlize Theron as the evil queen Ravenna, will open in theaters on June 1st, 2012.
Hammer Films Options Story Behind the Winchester Mystery House
Exclusive Media, parent company of Hammer Films, announced today that the production company has optioned the rights to the story behind the Winchester Mystery House, the "house built by the spirits" and constructed, remodeled, and otherwise altered over the course of nearly 38 years, from 1884 until the death of its owner in 1922.
According to legend, Sarah Winchester — heiress to the Winchester Rifle fortune — enacted a nightly séance to help with her building plans and for protection from "bad" spirits. With her financial freedom, she was content to honor whatever whims came from her imagination and from the spirits she believed were guiding her. It is estimated that 500 to 600 rooms were built in the house, but because so many were redone, only 160 remain.
Hammer Films most recently released the horror film The Woman in Black, adapted from the novel of the same title by Susan Hill.
(Source: Exclusive Media.)
The Glades to Return, Longmire to Premiere, on June 3rd on A&E
A&E announced today that June 3rd, 2012 will mark the return The Glades for its third season (at 9 PM ET/PT) and the premiere of Longmire (at 10 PM ET/PT).
The Glades stars Matt Passmore as Jim Longworth, a detective with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. During the season, Jim's relationship with Callie (Kiele Sanchez) is put to the test when she considers relocating out of Palm Glade to find work. Meanwhile, the FDLE sends Jennifer Starke (Taylor Cole) to evaluate Palm Glade's successful track record in closing cases, only to discover that it is Longworth's unorthodox style that may be key. In the season opener, Jim and Carlos (Carlos Gomez) investigate the death of a millionaire, who bequeathed all his wealth to an organization of UFO enthusiasts.
Longmire is based on a character created by crime novelist Craig Johnson, and stars Robert Taylor as Walt Longmire, the sheriff of Absoroka County, Wyoming. In the series premiere, Longmire decides to run for re-election when an ambitious young deputy decides to oppose him. Longmire feels betrayed, but remains steadfast in his dedication to the community.
(Source: Press release.)
Review: Fifteen Digits by Nick Santora
We've just published our Review of Fifteen Digits by Nick Santora. Mulholland Books Hardcover, April 2012.
Our rating:
Available to purchase from …
More Prime Time Crime for Sweden's TV4
Sweden's TV4 is planning a new slate of prime time crime.
Six episodes of Annika Bengtzon, based on a character created by crime novelist Liza Marklund, are being produced. (It isn't clear if these are based on any of the author's novels or not.) In the books, Annika Bengtzon is an investigative journalist in Stockholm.
Another crime novelist, Dagmar Lange, is having her books adapted in a series titled Maria Lang, which is the pen name she used. Quite honestly, we know little about this author, who died in 1991, and don't even know if her mysteries include a series character. Six episodes have been ordered.
Two of romantic suspense author Viveca Sten's books are being adapted for two 3-part episodes of The Sandhamn Murders, Sandhamn being a resort community on island of Sandön off Sweden's east coast. We don't believe any of this author's books have been translated into English — from her website, we can see that four have been published between 2008 and 2011 — and can't determine which of them are being adapted for this series.
Finally, TV4 has commissioned six new episodes of Wallander, which will begin filming this summer. Based on a character created by Henning Mankell, the series stars Krister Henriksson as police Inspector Kurt Wallander. This will be the last season for the series. (These episodes are not to be confused with from those produced in the UK for BBC, which star Kenneth Branagh in the title role.)
Today's Bestselling Free Kindle MystereBooks (120427)
Here is today's list of the top bestselling free Kindle mysteries, suspense novels and thrillers.
We're using a script to embed an RSS feed from Amazon.com, which is updated hourly, but if you cannot see the box below — or have scripts blocked — you can use this link to see the relevant page on Amazon.com.
BBC Commissions Mayday, a 5-Part Crime Thriller
BBC has commissioned a new 5-part crime thriller titled Mayday.
When a young girl goes missing on her way to the Mayday parade, the small community in which she lives looks to one another for answers.
But beneath the picture-postcard idyll lies a sinister other world and the dark woods teem with myth.
As the community reels from Hattie's disappearance, the drama follows the mass hysteria and ensuing search from the point of view of the central characters, each of whom fears that someone they know is responsible. As they keep silent, their suspicions intensify over the course of the five episodes.
Sophie Okonedo plays Fiona, a young mum determined to protect her family, who spies on a neighbor. Peter Firth plays Malcolm, a community leader married to Gail, played by Lesley Manville.
Aidan Gillen plays Everett, a single father to the sensitive Linus (Max Fowler) who has fallen in love with Hattie's twin sister Caitlin (Leila Mimmack) — who can feel it in her bones that her sister is dead.
Mayday also stars Sam Spruell as Steve, brother to Seth (Tom Fisher), an outcast who hides in the woods.
"A highly authored serial from Ben Court and Caroline Ip, which has attracted a brilliant cast and takes an original look at a familiar story," said Jane Featherstone, Chief Executive of Kudos Film and Television, which is producing Mayday. "There are no police incident rooms, autopsies or crime scene investigations, instead this is about a town facing the reality that the killer is among them, one of them."
(Source: Press release.)
