Review: The Boy in the Snow by M. J. McGrath

A Mysterious Review of …

The Boy in the Snow by M. J. McGrath. An Edie Kiglatuk Mystery.

Review summary: This murder mystery alternates two storylines that, when they inevitably — and predictably — come together, merge in a manner more convenient than credible. Still, the Alaska setting with its myriad cultures and people provides an impressive and striking backdrop for a cast of creatively drawn characters. (Click here for text of full review.)

Our rating:

The Boy in the Snow
M. J. McGrath
An Edie Kiglatuk Mystery
Viking (November 2012)

Publisher synopsis: Half-Inuit Edie Kiglatuk finds herself in Alaska with Sergeant Derek Palliser, helping her ex-husband Sammy in his bid to win the famous Iditarod dog sled race. The race takes a grim turn when Edie stumbles upon the body of a baby left out in the forest. The state troopers are keen to pin the death on the Dark Believers — a sinister offshoot of a Russian Orthodox sect — but Edie's instincts tell her otherwise. Her investigations take her into a world of corrupt politics, religious intolerance, greed, and sex trafficking. But just as she begins to get some answers, Edie finds herself confronted by a painful secret from her past.

      

MystereBooks: Dangerous Admissions by Jane O'Connor, Now at a Special Price

MystereBooks is pleased to feature Dangerous Admissions by Jane O'Connor, now available at a special price, courtesy of the publisher, HarperCollins.

The ebook format of this title was priced at $1.99 from the listed vendors (below) as of the date and time of this post (03/02/2013 at 3:00 PM ET). 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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Dangerous Admissions by Jane O'Connor
Secrets of a Closet Sleuth
Publisher: HarperCollins

Jane O'Connor is the author of many children's books, including the Fancy Nancy series of chapter mysteries. This is her first adult title.

Miranda "Rannie" Bookman — 43, divorced mother of two, with a recent love life consisting of a long string of embarrassingly brief encounters — is beginning to feel like a dangling participle: connected to nothing. Her career as a copy-editor is down the toilet (she makes one little slip — a missing "l" from the last word in the title of the Nancy Drew classic The Secret of the Old Clock — and suddenly she's Publishing Enemy #1!), so she's been forced to take any gig she can get. And that means giving tours at the Chapel School, the ultra-exclusive, ultra-expensive, private academy that her children attend. Certainly not the most interesting of employments … at least until someone stumbles across the dead body of the Director of College Admissions.

Investigating a murder was never in her job description, but with her soon-to-be-college-bound boy Nate a prime suspect, Rannie has little choice. Besides, who better to dot all the "i"s and cross all the "t"s than a self-proclaimed "language cop"? Her diligence might even lead her to a brand-new love. Or to a killer. Or to another corpse — hopefully not her own.

      

Important Note: This book was listed at the above mentioned price 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.

MystereBooks: Night Blind by Michael W. Sherer, Available this Month at a Special Price

Every month Amazon releases a new selection of Kindle books priced $3.99 or less.

Today's featured title from the Mystery & Thrillers category is Night Blind by Michael W. Sherer. This Kindle book was listed at $0.99 as of the date and time of this post, Saturday, March 02, 2013 at 1:30 PM ET, and should be available at this price through the end of the month.

More information about the book is below; if other vendors have priced-matched this title, links to their sites are also shown.

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Night Blind by Michael W. Sherer
A Blake Sanders Mystery (1st)
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer

Read our review of Night Blind by Michael W. Sherer

In the space of a few months, Blake Sanders has lost his job, his only son to suicide, and his marriage. A year later, it's gotten so bad that he can only face the world at night, working menial jobs washing dishes and delivering newspapers, lost in depression and grief.

Blake's world is turned upside down again on a cold November night, when an elderly woman on his newspaper route is brutally stabbed to death and Blake is charged with her murder. Faced with life in prison, his only hope is to find the real killer.

In a desperate attempt to unravel the mystery, Blake learns that his friend had stumbled onto secrets that have been buried beneath Capitol Hill for 150 years. Secrets that are now being disturbed by the construction of the new light rail tunnel. Secrets that will shake the government of Seattle. Secrets that foreign agents will kill for.

On the run from the police and murderers, Blake finds a chance to heal his grief and reclaim his life — if he can stay alive long enough to unearth the truth.

  

Click on the Amazon button to see also the special Whispersync offer associated with this title.

Important Note: 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.

MystereBooks: This Week's Update of Kindle Crime Fiction Priced $2.99 or Less (130302)

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.

And just a reminder … as we add new titles, older ones are removed from the list. These books aren't likely to be repeated, so we encourage you to check in frequently!

A quick note: With yesterday being the first of the month, Amazon has updated its list of titles … and we believe there is no duplication or overlap between this new list and ours.

Below are listed the new $2.99 or less titles we added either today or mentioned in separate posts earlier this week; click on the cover or title for more information or to purchase the Kindle edition.

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.

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Primitive Secrets by Deborah Turrell Atkinson. A Storm Kayama Mystery (1st).

The Green Room by Deborah Turrell Atkinson. A Storm Kayama Mystery (2nd).

The Walking Dead: Rise of the Governor by Robert Kirkman and Jay Bonansinga. The Walking Dead (1st).

The Minotaur by Stephen Coonts.

Whiskey Rebellion by Liliana Hart. An Addison Holmes Mystery (1st).

March Violets by Philip Kerr. A Bernie Gunther Mystery (1st).

Liar, Liar by K. J. Larsen. A Cat DeLuca Mystery (1st).

Roman Games by Bruce Macbain. A Plinius Secundus Mystery (1st).

Island Blues by Wendy Howell Mills. A Sabrina Dunsweeney, Island Mystery (2nd).

Silver Lies by Ann Parker. An Inez Stannert, Silver Rush Mystery (1st).

Iron Ties by Ann Parker. An Inez Stannert, Silver Rush Mystery (2nd).

Caught Dead in Philadelphia by Gillian Roberts. An Amanda Pepper Mystery (1st).

Sidney Chambers and The Shadow of Death by James Runcie.

Save Me by Lisa Scottoline.

The Deep Zone by James M. Tabor. A Hallie Leland Thriller (1st).

An Impartial Witness by Charles Todd. A Bess Crawford Mystery (2nd).

The Dangerous Edge of Things by Tina Whittle. A Tai Randolph Mystery (1st).

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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.

Love Lies Bleeding by Geraldine Evans is Today's Third Featured Free MystereBook

MystereBooks is pleased to feature Love Lies Bleeding by Geraldine Evans as today's third free mystery ebook (A Rafferty and Llewellyn Mystery; Kindle format only).

This title was listed for free as of the date and time of this post, March 02, 2013 at 7:30 AM ET. 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.

For a summary of all of today's featured titles, plus any that may have appeared before and are repeat freebies, visit our Free MystereBooks page. This page is updated daily, typically by 8 AM ET.

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Love Lies Bleeding
Geraldine Evans
A Rafferty and Llewellyn Mystery
Publisher: Geraldine Evans

This 8th mystery in the series was first published by Severn House in 2005.

A most unlikely murderer, was DI Joe Rafferty's immediate thought when the slender and bloodied Felicity Raine stumbled into the police station reception and confessed to killing her husband.

He thought her even more unlikely a murderer when he met her in-laws and caught them out in several deceits. There was something peculiar going on, he was convinced. Because although Felicity wasn't down to receive any financial benefit from her husband's death, others in the Raine family were. Was one of them attempting to set Felicity up to take the rap?

Unfortunately, Rafferty's championing of the lovely Felicity seems to have stirred some jealousy on the home front. Has he blotted his copybook once too often? He wonders, when Abra, his live-in girlfriend, takes herself off to Wales citing the cover-all of "family problems" as her reason. Perhaps, he thinks, he should look beneath the surface with Abra, as he has been advised to do in his murder investigation.

He can only hope that what he discovers in his personal life isn't as unpleasant as what has been laid bare in his latest case.

  

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.

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

Thy Kingdom Come by Don Helin is Today's Second Featured Free MystereBook

MystereBooks is pleased to feature Thy Kingdom Come by Don Helin as today's second free mystery ebook (A Sam Thorpe Thriller; Kindle and iTunes formats).

This title was listed for free as of the date and time of this post, March 02, 2013 at 7:20 AM ET. 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.

For a summary of all of today's featured titles, plus any that may have appeared before and are repeat freebies, visit our Free MystereBooks page. This page is updated daily, typically by 8 AM ET.

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Thy Kingdom Come
Don Helin
A Sam Thorpe Thriller
Publisher: Medallion Press

Colonel Sam Thorpe, a member of the anti-terrorist task force, must go undercover and train the Patriots, a homegrown militia in central Pennsylvania. His job: get close to self-appointed general Quentin Oliver and uncover the core of evil. Oliver, a disgruntled ex-Marine colonel, plans to steal cesium-137 from a local university and construct seven dirty bombs. During training sessions, Sam also uncovers a link between Oliver and the French Separatist Movement in Quebec.

The world is in trouble, and Sam is isolated with only one person in his corner: FBI covert agent Alex Prescott, a kick-ass woman with spiked blond hair and a personality to match. Will she be enough? Or is the world about to realize its worst nightmare?

    

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.

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

The Blood in Snowflake Garden by D. Alan Lewis is Today's Featured Free MystereBook

MystereBooks is pleased to feature The Blood in Snowflake Garden by D. Alan Lewis as today's free mystery ebook (A Christmas Noir Murder Mystery; Kindle format only).

This title was listed for free as of the date and time of this post, March 02, 2013 at 7:10 AM ET. 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.

For a summary of all of today's featured titles, plus any that may have appeared before and are repeat freebies, visit our Free MystereBooks page. This page is updated daily, typically by 8 AM ET.

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The Blood in Snowflake Garden
D. Alan Lewis
A Christmas Noir Murder Mystery
Publisher: Dark Oak Press

Can murder happen in the jolliest city on Earth? During the early months of 1965, Vladimir Volsky, the Premier of Santa's city at the North Pole is shot and killed in a city where firearms are forbidden.

Max Sneed, a retired Police chief finds himself reluctantly drawn back into service to investigate the murder. For Max, exploring the dark seedy side of the jolliest city on Earth is nothing compared to facing the demons of his own past. He is joined by a young British journalist, Robert Watson. Rob finds himself disillusioned by the short comings of the North Pole as well as how the turbulent events of the 1960s are echoed in Santa's city.

The men soon learn that this is far more than just a simple killing. As the list of suspects grows, the murder becomes intertwined with cold war politics, corporate espionage, labor disputes and a growing civil rights movement that threatens to destroy everything that Santa has built.

  

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.

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

Deck Z — The Titanic — Unsinkable. Undead. by Chris Pauls and Matt Solomon is Today's Kindle Paranormal Thriller Daily Deal

MystereBooks is pleased to feature Deck Z — The Titanic — Unsinkable. Undead. by Chris Pauls and Matt Solomon as today's Amazon Kindle Paranormal Thriller Daily Deal.

The deal price of $1.99 is valid only for today, Saturday, March 02, 2013.

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Deck Z — The Titanic — Unsinkable. Undead.
Chris Pauls and Matt Solomon
Chronicle Books

Imagine being trapped aboard the doomed Titanic on an icy Atlantic … with the walking dead …

Captain Edward Smith and his inner circle desperately try to contain a weaponized zombie virus smuggled on board with the 2,200 passengers sailing to New York. Faced with an exploding population of lumbering, flesh-hungry undead, Smith's team is forced into bloody hand-to-hand combat down the narrow halls of the huge steamer. In its few short days at sea, the majestic Titanic turns into a Victorian bloodbath, steaming at top speed toward a cold, blue iceberg.

Important Note: This book was listed at the price mentioned above 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.

Today's Mystery and Suspense Update from Big Fish Games (130302)

Here is today's mystery and suspense update from Big Fish Games …

• The Daily Deal is Brink of Consciousness: Dorian Gray Syndrome, just $2.99 today only!.

• The current Catch of the Week is Shadow Wolf Mysteries: Bane of the Family, just $2.99 through Sunday, March 03, 2013 only.

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Today's Daily Deal is Brink of Consciousness: Dorian Gray Syndrome

Help Sam Wilde rescue his love Anna in this incredible Hidden Object Puzzle Adventure game! Sam's every move is being tracked so he has to be extra careful. Putting his journalistic talents to the test, Sam must find the maniac who has kidnapped Anna, and stop him before its too late. Begin your discrete investigation by exploring gorgeous locations and solving tricky puzzles to stop an evil maniac.

A sample version is available to download and play for free for one hour. You can purchase this game today only — Saturday, March 02, 2013 — for $2.99.

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The current Catch of the Week is Shadow Wolf Mysteries: Bane of the Family

Return to the De la Fer estate to help the count unravel the curse that has been passed down through his family! Tackle this challenging Hidden Object Puzzle Adventure game and track down an all new werewolf that is wreaking havoc on the town. Can you break the curse and save the family?

A sample version is available to download and play for free for one hour. You can purchase this game at the special price of $2.99 through Sunday, March 03, 2013.

Telemystery: BBC Commissions Second Season of Father Brown

BBC One Daytime, in collaboration with BBC Worldwide, has commissioned a second season of Father Brown.

Set in the early 1950s and based on a character created by crime novelist GK Chesterston, Mark Williams stars at the eponymous Roman Catholic priest, who solves mysteries in his Cotswolds parish.

"The series features popular stories set in the Cotswold's country houses which look sensational on screen," said executive producer Will Trotter, "and it's great to attract actors of the calibre of Mark Williams and Sorcha Cusack [who plays parish secretary Mrs. McCarthy] back for a second series."

Ten 45-minute episodes have been ordered. Production is expected to begin on location in May, 2013.

The ten episodes of the first season aired last month in the UK. There's been no word (to our knowledge) of the series airing here in the US, but with a second season now ordered, we expect it will be.

Kenneth More played the character in the 1974 series Father Brown, which aired for a single season.