Firsts on the 1st: New Series Characters Being Introduced in November 2013 Mysteries

The Hidden Staircase Mystery Books recently updated its list of November 2013 hardcover mysteries as well as shelved new November paperbacks on The Mystery Bookshelf.

In this series of monthly posts, which we call Firsts on the 1st, we're introducing readers to new series characters who will make their mysterious American debut in print during November.

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Title: A Potion to Die For
Author: Heather Blake
Series Character: Carly Bell Hartwell, Magic Potion
Formats: Mass Market Paperback and ebook

What we know about the character: Carly Bell Hartwell owns Little Shop of Potions, a magic potion shop specializing in love potions.

Her first case: As the owner of Little Shop of Potions, Carly finds her product more in demand than ever. A local soothsayer has predicted that a couple in town will soon divorce — and now it seems every married person in Hitching Post, Alabama, wants a little extra matrimonial magic to make sure they stay hitched.

But when Carly finds a dead man in her shop, clutching one of her potion bottles, she goes from most popular potion person to public enemy number one. In no time the murder investigation becomes a witch hunt — literally! Now Carly is going to need to brew up some serious sleuthing skills to clear her name and find the real killer — before the whole town becomes convinced her potions really are to die for!

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Title: Cutie Pie Must Die
Author: R. W. Clinger
Series Characters: Troy Murdock and Zane Ward
Formats: Trade Paperback and ebook

What we know about the characters: Troy Murdoch owns a hair salon in Quill Village, New York. His ex-boyfriend, Zane Ward, is a police detective.

Their first case: Welcome to Quill Village, New York, where queer men think with their big knobs, share steamy sex scenes in bathhouses, and hang out at The Diva Club. Things aren't so cute lately in the village, though. When the body of Ben Pieney, the hunky all-star quarterback for the Violators, shows up murdered outside the door of Troy Murdock's hair salon, all hell breaks loose. Of course, Troy is blamed for slicing the jock's throat open and tying his wrists in barbed wire.

Enter Troy's clumsy and alluring ex-boyfriend, Detective Zane Ward, who blackmails Troy to work with him on the Cutie Pie Killer case or go to jail for first-degree murder.

As a slew of queer suspects with rock-hard abs begin to pile up, two more victims are discovered in the city. What follows is a queer murder mystery with much sass, helpful clues, shirtless jocks, and a heated romance between Troy and Zane, who realize they just might make a perfectly cute couple together.

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Title: All Fudged Up
Author: Nancy Coco
Series Character: Allie McMurphy, Candy-Coated
Formats: Mass Market Paperback and ebook

What we know about the character: Allie McMurphy's family has owned the Historic McMurphy Hotel and Fudge Shop on Mackinaw Island for generations.

Her first case: Allie McMurphy is up to her neck in renovations at the grand old hotel. With its quaint Victorian charm — and world-famous fudge shop — the place is one of Mackinac Island's most beloved landmarks. Sure, every family has a skeleton or two in the closet.

But Allie didn't expect to find an actual corpse inside hers, especially one Joe Jessup, who had a long-running feud with her dear departed grandfather. Which makes Allie the number-one suspect. Can she sniff out the culprit before another victim checks in?

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Title: The Green Line
Author: E. C. Diskin
Series Character: Abby Donovan
Formats: Trade Paperback and ebook

What we know about the character: Abby Donovan is a Chicago-based attorney.

Her first case: Abby Donovan's decade-long dream of partnership at her prestigious Chicago law firm is just months from fruition. But after a late-night train mishap drops her into a world of drugs, gangs, murder, and corruption, everything changes. Abby is haunted by what and who she's seen, and the mysterious death of a kind stranger. Though her work suffers, deadlines are missed, and her promotion hangs in the balance, she's compelled to investigate with the help of an unlikely new friend.

But Abby's investigation jeopardizes more than her career. Someone is watching and he's not going to let a nosy lawyer expose his scam.

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Title: Game, Set and Murder
Author: Elizabeth Flynn
Series Character: Angela Costello
Formats: Trade Paperback and ebook

What we know about the character: Angela Costello is a Detective Inspector in London.

Her first case: It's early summer, and the first day of the tennis tournament at Wimbledon. And a dead body is lying on court nineteen.

Newly promoted DI Angela Costello recognizes the dead man as the Croatian champion-turned-coach, Petar Belic. Double grand-slam winner, Petar was one of the bestknown and best-loved players of the modern era.

Petar had a complicated life: an ex-wife who wanted him back; a girlfriend who didn't want to let him go; a business partner with secrets. Then there was the leading Brit, Stewart Bickerstaff, not universally popular with his fellow players, whom Petar had been coaching.

Despite awkward colleagues who are obviously rankled over her promotion, D.I. Costello leads the way through the trail of clues. Unfortunately, she has no way of proving her suspicions.

But a prime suspect has overlooked a vital detail.

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Title: Really Dead
Author: J. E. Forman
Series Character: Ria Butler
Formats: Trade Paperback and ebook

What we know about the character: Ria Butler is a travel writer.

Her first case: Ria is supposed to be looking at blue-footed boobies in the Galapagos. Instead, she circumnavigates her unsettled relationship with investigative reporter Glenn Cooper and flies to the set of the TV show that her brother is producing in the British Virgin Islands. On location, she learns a production assistant has gone missing — only her tattooed foot has been found.

While Ria tries to outwit a killer, Glenn tries to outlast Ria's commitment detour, and a producer tries to outplay the police. When the reality series goes to air, it really does have the most dramatic finale ever — and someone is Really Dead.

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Title: Deadly Catch
Author: E. Michael Helms
Series Character: Mac McClellan
Formats: Trade Paperback and ebook

What we know about the character: Mac McClellan is a recently retired U.S. Marine.

His first case: After twenty-four years in the U.S. Marines, Mac McClellan is happy to be a civilian again. He is enjoying a leisurely fishing vacation in the Florida panhandle when he hooks a badly decomposed body.

Then, when a bag of rare marijuana is discovered stashed aboard his rental boat, he realizes someone is setting him up to take the fall for murder and drug smuggling. Mac's plans for a more laid-back life must be put on hold while he works to clear his name as the number one suspect.

Mac launches an investigation with the help of Kate Bell, a feisty saleslady at the local marina with whom he has struck up a promising relationship. Along the way he must butt heads and match wits with local law enforcement officials, shady politicians, and strong-armed thugs from the Eastern Seaboard to sniff out and bring the real smuggler and killer to justice.

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Title: Death Comes to the Village
Author: Catherine Lloyd
Series Character: Lucy Harrington, Kurland St. Mary
Formats: Trade Paperback and ebook

What we know about the character: Lucy Harrington is the daugher of the Rector of Kurland St. Mary.

Her first case: Major Robert Kurland has returned to the quiet vistas of his village home to recuperate from the horrors of Waterloo. However injured his body may be, his mind is as active as ever. Too active, perhaps. When he glimpses a shadowy figure from his bedroom window struggling with a heavy load, the tranquil facade of the village begins to loom sinister.

Unable to forget the incident, Robert confides in his childhood friend, Miss Lucy Harrington. As the dutiful daughter of the widowed rector, following up on the major's suspicions offers a welcome diversion — but soon presents real danger. Someone is intent on stopping their investigation. And in a place where no one locks their doors, a series of thefts and the disappearance of two young serving girls demands explanation.

As Robert grapples with his difficult recovery, he and Lucy try to unearth the dark truth lurking within the village shadows, and stop a killer waiting to strike again …

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Title: Crime Wave
Author: Rose Pressey
Series Character: Maggie Thomas
Formats: Trade Paperback and ebook

What we know about the character: Maggie Thomas doesn't know the first thing about being a private eye when she quickly discovers that running her uncle's faltering Miami Beach P.I. agency is nothing like watching detective show reruns. Even the private eye app on her iPhone can't help.

Her first case: Maggie's first case is surprisingly easy … or so she thinks until she stumbles upon a dead body. With whizzing bullets, car chases, and spandex-clad bodybuilders, Maggie wonders if she's in over her head. Jake Jackson, the dangerously charming cop, thinks Maggie needs to stick to snapping pictures of cheating husbands and leave the detective work to the professionals.

The danger escalates when another homicide victim washes up on the shore and now someone wants to stop Maggie from solving the murders. With the help of her knitting needle-wielding, orthopedic shoe-wearing assistant Dorothy Raye, Maggie must solve the case before she's the next victim of this crime wave.

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Title: Missing
Author: C. T. Jorgensen
Series Character: Casey Jansen
Formats: Hardcover and ebook

What we know about the character: Casey Jansen is a police detective.

His first case: For five years, Karin Preston kept her daughter a secret. Not even the father knew she existed. Then, for one night, Karin leaves her child with a sitter. The next morning, no one answers the door. Desperate, Karin breaks in. The house is empty and dusty. Detective Casey Jansen says the house has been vacant for years. He sees no evidence of a child, only a hysterical young woman possibly imagining one.

But Karin knows once the police discover who she really is, she will be held for endless questioning and her child will be lost forever. Just as the kidnappers planned.

To save her child, Karin must elude the persistent Detective Jansen and untangle the truth behind a terrible crime.

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Title: Dazzled
Author: Maxine Nunes
Series Character: Nikki Easton
Formats: Hardcover and ebook

What we know about the character: A teenage runaway, Nikki Easton struggles to build a life in Los Angeles and a career in acting.

Her first case: During a brutal L.A. heatwave, four people are murdered in the Hollywood Hills and Nikki Easton's best friend Darla Ward has disappeared. The police think she might be one of the victims.

No stranger to life's rough side, Nikki survived the streets as a teenage runaway and now brings that edge to her acting roles. But she has never seen anything like the battered girl on the gurney. Could this really be Darla, her beautiful face so damaged it looks barely human, her path to stardom ended in the county coroner's morgue.

In her relentless search for the truth, Nikki discovers the hidden side of her friend's life, laying bare secrets buried before Darla was born, and uncovering widening layers of corruption that reach far beyond Hollywood to the highest levels of government.

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For a list of more hardcover mysteries scheduled for publication during November, please visit our New Mysteries home page. If you're interested in new paperbacks, visit The Mystery Bookshelf, where you can discover a library of new mysteries, also updated with November 2013 releases. See also our regularly updated eBook site for new mysteries, suspense novels and thrillers, MysterEbooks.com.

Please also 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.

MystereBooks: Booked To Die by John Dunning, 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 Booked To Die by John Dunning. This Kindle book was listed at $1.99 as of the date and time of this post, Friday, November 01, 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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Booked To Die by John Dunning
A Cliff Janeway Mystery
Publisher: Scribner

Winner of the 1993 Nero Award. Winner of the 1993 Dilys Award.

Denver homicide detective Cliff Janeway may not always play by the book, but he is an avid collector of rare and first editions. After a local bookscout is killed on his turf, Janeway would like nothing better than to rearrange the suspect's spine. But the suspect, local lowlife Jackie Newton, is a master at eluding the law, and Janeway's wrathful brand of off-duty justice costs him his badge.

Turning to his lifelong passion, Janeway opens a small bookshop — all the while searching for evidence to put Newton away. But when prized volumes in a highly sought-after collection begin to appear, so do dead bodies. Now, Janeway's life is about to start a precarious new chapter as he attempts to find out who's dealing death along with vintage Chandlers and Twains.

  

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.

Five Stephanie Plum Mysteries by Janet Evanovich, Now at a Special Price

MystereBooks is pleased to feature five Stephanie Plum mysteries by Janet Evanovich, now available at a special price, courtesy of the publisher, St. Martin's Press.

The ebook format of these titles was priced at $1.26 from the listed vendors (below) as of the date and time of this post (11/01/2013 at 1:00 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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Eleven on Top by Janet Evanovich
A Stephanie Plum Mystery (11th in series)
Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Stephanie Plum is thinking her career as a fugitive apprehension agent has run its course. She's been shot at, spat at, cussed at, fire-bombed, mooned, and attacked by dogs. Time for a change, Stephanie thinks. Time to find the kind of job her mother can tell her friends about without making the sign of the cross.

So Stephanie Plum quits. Resigns. No looking back. No changing her mind. She wants something safe and normal.

As it turns out, jobs that are safe and normal for most people aren't necessarily safe and normal for Stephanie Plum. Trouble follows her, and the kind of trouble she had at the bail bonds office can't compare to the kind of trouble she finds herself facing now.

Her past has come back to haunt her. She's stalked by a maniac returned from the grave for the sole purpose of putting her into a burial plot of her own. He's killed before, and he'll kill again if given the chance.

Caught between staying far away from the bounty hunter business and staying alive, Stephanie reexamines her life and the possibility that being a bounty hunter is the solution rather than the problem. After disturbingly brief careers at the button factory, Kan Klean Dry Cleaners, and Cluck-in-a-Bucket, Stephanie takes an office position in security, working for Ranger, the sexiest, baddest bounty hunter and businessman on two continents. It might not be the job she'll keep for the rest of her life, but for now it gives her the technical access she needs to find her stalker.

Tempers and temperatures rise as competition ratchets up between the two men in her life — her on-again, off-again boyfriend, tough Trenton cop Joe Morelli, and her bad-ass boss, Ranger. Can Stephanie Plum take the heat?

  

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Twelve Sharp by Janet Evanovich
A Stephanie Plum Mystery (12th in series)
Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Purchase Options …
Amazon.com

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Lean Mean Thirteen by Janet Evanovich
A Stephanie Plum Mystery (13th in series)
Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Purchase Options …
Amazon.com

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Fearless Fourteen by Janet Evanovich
A Stephanie Plum Mystery (14th in series)
Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Purchase Options …
Amazon.com

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Finger Lickin' Fifteen by Janet Evanovich
A Stephanie Plum Mystery (15th in series)
Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Purchase Options …
Amazon.com

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Important Note: These books were 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.

A New MystereBook: Crime Czar by Tony Dunbar

Here is a mystery, suspense, or thriller ebook that we recently found by sleuthing (as it were) through new or recently reissued titles from independent publishers during October 2013 priced $3.99 or less …

Crime Czar by Tony Dunbar is the fifth book in this offbeat series of legal thrillers.

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Crime Czar by Tony Dunbar
A Tubby Dubonnet Mystery
Publisher: booksBnimble
Publication Date: October 30, 2013

A New Orleans lawyer who'd rather eat, drink, and swap stories than get caught in court, Tubby Dubonnet can't forget the last words that escaped an old friend's lips, and he can't get out of the way of a political campaign that's turning rough.

Obsessed with the idea that a shadowy crime boss may be pulling the strings that have cost good people their lives, Tubby is entering into a test of courage with the most violent men in New Orleans.

And if that weren't dangerous enough, he’s just picked up the worst ally he could ever find: a beautiful prostitute gunning for revenge.

  

Telemystery: NBC To Adapt One Kick by Chelsea Cain for Crime Drama

NBC is developing a crime drama based on a new character created by Chelsea Cain.

Titled One Kick — which is also the title of the first book in the series, which will be published by Simon & Schuster in August 2014 — the storyline is centered on an adult, who was kidnapped as a child and held captive for five years. Here's how the author describes the series:

"Kick Lannigan was abducted at age six and rescued when she was 11. Now she is 21, and she has spent years honing a very special skill set (target shooting, martial arts, archery, lock picking, etc.). If she's ever kidnapped again, it won't be for long.

Kick has an understandable, if somewhat obsessive, interest in missing kids, and she is following the most recent Amber Alert in the news when an enigmatic man named Evans approaches her with a proposition. Evans made a fortune as a weapons dealer and now wants to make good by using his resources to rescue abducted children. With his money and government contacts and Kick's particular brand of expertise, they could make quite a team, he says.

Kick reluctantly agrees, and the two quickly become entangled in a missing kid case in Seattle. But Kick can't quite shake the feeling that Evans isn't who he says he is. SPOILER ALERT: She's right."

Cain wants to reassure fans of her other series — Archie Sheridan and his hunt for serial killer Gretchen Lowell — that it will continue. Once the second book in the "Kick" series is written, she'll alternate between the two.

A Conversation with Mystery Author Stephen Kaminski

with Stephen Kaminski

We are delighted to welcome mystery author Stephen Kaminski to Omnimystery News today.

Stephen's second mystery to feature the dabbling detective Damon Lassard is Don't Cry Over Killed Milk (Cozy Cat Press; August 2013 trade paperback and ebook formats).

We recently had the opportunity to catch up with Stephen to talk about his books.

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Omnimystery News: Introduce us to your cast of characters.

Photo provided courtesy of
Stephen Kaminski

Stephen Kaminski: I have a host of recurring characters in my mysteries — the amateur detective protagonist, his twice-widowed mother, two love interests, and several neighbors. I develop these characters and their relationships with one another over time. For example, Damon Lassard — my protagonist — pursues the local weather girl while his best friend Rebecca pursues him. And Damon's neighbor battles alcoholism and depression despite Damon's best efforts to assist. Meanwhile, some characters stay largely the same, such as Mrs. Chenworth (the local gossip) and Damon's mother (who continually injects her wicked sense of humor).

OMN: Don't Cry over Killed Milk is published by Cozy Cat Press. Should we assume it is a cozy mystery?

SK: Yes — the sleuth is an amateur, there's a lot of snappy dialogue, and I avoid overt sex and violence. An advantage to using a label is that I've been welcomed with open arms by numerous Internet forum moderators and bloggers who specialize in this sub-genre.

OMN: Have you included any of your own personal or professional experience into your books?

SK: The first book in my Damon Lassard Dabbling Detective series (It Takes Two to Strangle) involves the murder of a traveling carnival owner. As a teenager, I worked at several carnival stops in small towns and learned quite a bit about what happens behind the scenes — I was able to incorporate a fair amount of that knowledge into the backdrop of the story.

In the second installment of the series (Don't Cry over Killed Milk), the victim (Jeremiah Milk) suffers from a congenital condition known as amniotic band syndrome, which deforms his fingers. I was born with this condition so I have a unique perspective into it. Once the motive behind the murder begins to unravel, you'll see that I chose not to make Jeremiah a saint. Because I'm affected by the same condition, I didn't feel obliged to be as politically correct as most treat someone who has a physical malformation (i.e., I didn't feel the need to treat him as a "good guy").

OMN: Complete this sentence for us: "I am a mystery author and thus I am also …".

SK: I am a mystery author and thus I am also a person who is fulfilling a lifelong passion. I've always been an avid reader and longed to write. With a demanding full time job and a family, it was difficult to realize that I could find the time to write mysteries if I set my mind to it. The creative writing process now serves as my daily "down" time and it's truly invigorating.

OMN: What kind of research do you do while developing your story?

SK: I certainly fact-check my books by using a combination of Internet research, first-hand experience, and consultation with those who work in the relevant roles in their everyday lives. The most exciting part of research is to discover something largely unknown to the lay public that will fit well into your story.

OMN: What kind of feedback have you received from your readers?

SK: My favorite questions from readers revolve around (a) how I designed my intricate plots and red herrings, and (b) what will happen next for Damon — in terms of his love life and career path. I also welcome all constructive criticism — knowing what readers don't like helps make my writing better.

OMN: What kinds of books did you read when you were young?

SK: As a teenager, I was devoted to British thrillers — Ken Follett and Jeffrey Archer were my favorite authors. Over time, I transitioned to reading mysteries — those by P. D. James and Ruth Rendell (two more British authors) as well as books by Jonathan and Faye Kellerman and John Sandford. But the authors that most heavily influenced my writing are Agatha Christie (for her detailed and complex plotting), M. C. Beaton (the quintessential British cozy writer), and Lawrence Block (for his subtle wit).

OMN: Do you have any favorite literary characters?

SK: Bernie Rhodenbarr (Lawrence Block burglar series); Hamish Macbeth (M. C. Beaton highlands mysteries); and Special Agent Dale Cooper (from Twin Peaks).

OMN: What's next for you?

SK: I'm plotting the third book in the Damon Lassard series — to take place on the high seas! I hope to have it completed for release in September 2014.

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Stephen Kaminski has practiced law for over a decade and currently serves as General Counsel to a national non-profit organization. He is a lifelong lover of all types of mysteries and lives with his wife and daughter in Arlington, Virginia. For more information about the author and his work, please visit his website at DamonLassard.com or find him on Facebook.

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Don't Cry Over Killed Milk
Stephen Kaminski
A Damon Lassard, Dabbling Detective Mystery

Jeremiah Milk lived a life filled with emotional extremes. Amniotic band syndrome — a congenital condition — left his fingers and toes malformed. Ridiculed as a child, he became an adolescent hermit. As an adult, Jeremiah's wounds healed when he landed a position as a park ranger and married a woman who loved him despite his physical appearance. But fate ripped his life to shreds when his wife and infant son died on the same night in separate calamities. Shortly thereafter, the tides turned once more as an act of Jeremiah's ostensible benevolence translates into a financial boon. The book on Jeremiah's life closes without mercy when he's found murdered at Tripping Falls State Park.

Damon Lassard — Hollaydale's loveable civic leader, amateur sleuth, and Jeremiah's neighbor — springs into action. He's obstructed by a prickly lieutenant, but wriggles information unknown to the police from a colorful bevy of suspects. Aided by his best friend Rebecca and his reluctant ally Detective Gerry Sloman, Damon engineers a deep dive into Jeremiah's past to solve the crime. Along the way, Damon strengthens his relationship with the breathtaking Bethany Krims, cracks a local horticultural mystery, and tries to tame his wickedly sarcastic mother.

  

No Wake Zone by Linda Lovely is Today's Fifth Featured Free MystereBook

MystereBooks is pleased to feature No Wake Zone by Linda Lovely as today's fifth free mystery ebook (A Marley Clark Mystery; Kindle format only).

This title was listed for free as of the date and time of this post, November 01, 2013 at 7:50 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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No Wake Zone
Linda Lovely
A Marley Clark Mystery
Publisher: Linda Lovely

A murderer taps exotic biotech know-how to kill a billionaire and a passel of his heirs. Does greed fuel the killing spree or is it something more sinister?

Visiting her crusty 79-year-old aunt in northern Iowa, Marley Clark tries to save a billionaire when he tumbles from an excursion boat captained by Marley's cousin. But the victim — founder of a biotech empire — is dead before his body hits the water. Soon Marley is consoling the widow, an old college friend and prime murder suspect.

As Marley becomes embroiled in the investigation, members of the tycoon's family perish faster than overripe fruit, and the arrogant head of a security firm renews a vendetta. Once the murder spree is linked to biological weapons, Marley's former Pentagon boss joins the probe. To unmask the villains and protect her kin, Marley taps homegrown resources and debates the wisdom of trusting a handsome attorney with a suspicious past and a killer smile.

  

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.

A Perfect Setup by Douglas Wickard is Today's Fourth Featured Free MystereBook

MystereBooks is pleased to feature A Perfect Setup by Douglas Wickard as today's fourth free mystery ebook (A Sami Saxton Mystery; Kindle format only).

This title was listed for free as of the date and time of this post, November 01, 2013 at 7:40 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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A Perfect Setup
Douglas Wickard
A Sami Saxton Mystery
Publisher: Douglas Wickard

The New York Times, Daily News and New York Post all hailed her a hero! Samantha Saxton "owned the night" they reported. She was the victor, the quiet champion, the anti-heroine single-handedly destroying the career of a lethal serial killer stalking the tri-state area of New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania for six unremitting years. The disappearance of six teenage girls and the horrific details of their deaths received national, frenzied attention and Sami Saxton became the unlikely poster woman in all the coverage.

Sami's attempt to find a quieter, less hectic life by moving to a cabin her deceased father built years ago in the remote urban township of Montague, New Jersey didn't turn out quite the way she'd planned.

Returning to the City, Sami purchases a spacious, fifth floor, open-airy, glass-walled condominium on the Upper West Side overlooking the Hudson River … another new start!

But, that night continues to haunt her … in her dreams and in her life. The nightmares persist, vivid, ongoing and relentless. Posttraumatic stress syndrome paralyzes her, keeping her a prisoner in her newly renovated home. The anxiety attacks intensify and not even prescription painkillers can relieve the anguish.

Then, the unthinkable occurs. A young, female model is found brutally murdered in a midtown hotel. And, Jerry Saxton, Sami's ex-husband, is taken into custody for the heinous crime.

  

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.

Running Stupid by Morris Fenris and Ezra White is Today's Third Featured Free MystereBook

MystereBooks is pleased to feature Running Stupid by Morris Fenris and Ezra White as today's third free mystery ebook (A Comic Suspense Thriller; Kindle format only).

This title was listed for free as of the date and time of this post, November 01, 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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Running Stupid
Morris Fenris and Ezra White
A Comic Suspense Thriller
Publisher: Changing Culture Publications

Matthew Jester is a lucky man. He has cruised through life on a tide of fortune, succeeding in every aspect of his existence. Now he wants to test his good fortune, to push it to the extreme, and his luck is about to run out — his world is about to unravel.

He becomes the chief suspect in a high profile murder case and discovers that he is public enemy number one. The country hates him, they want him dead, and no matter how far he runs, no matter which direction he takes, he keeps finding himself in the clutches of the darkest and most depraved elements of society.

He thinks his luck has finally run out, that his life has hit rock bottom, but what he doesn't know is that things are a lot worse than they seem.

  

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.

Sold Out by Stan R. Mitchell is Today's Second Featured Free MystereBook

MystereBooks is pleased to feature Sold Out by Stan R. Mitchell as today's second free mystery ebook (A Suspense Thriller; Kindle format only).

This title was listed for free as of the date and time of this post, November 01, 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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Sold Out
Stan R. Mitchell
A Suspense Thriller
Publisher: Stan R. Mitchell

Nick Woods used to be one of our country's greatest snipers. A Marine who completed a bloody, top-secret mission behind enemy lines years ago, he now just wants to live in peace with his wife.

But Nick is about to get caught in a grand conspiracy between a senior investigative reporter and a shadowy, CIA group.

After said reporter, Allen Green, breaks the details of Nick's story — blowing the top off America's national security — both Nick and Allen find themselves in the sights of a CIA hunter-killer group.

This CIA group breaks the law and kills at will, and they'll stop at nothing to take down Nick Woods and the reporter who published the earth-shattering story he'd been chasing for years.

  

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.

Lethal Confessions by V. K. Sykes is Today's Featured Free MystereBook

MystereBooks is pleased to feature Lethal Confessions by V. K. Sykes as today's free mystery ebook (A Novel of Romantic Suspense; Kindle format only).

This title was listed for free as of the date and time of this post, November 01, 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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Lethal Confessions
V. K. Sykes
A Novel of Romantic Suspense
Publisher: V. K. Sykes

The brutal murder of her twin sister drove Amy Robitaille into a career as a homicide detective for Palm Beach County. When a serial killer targets the wives of local baseball players, Amy has more than just a professional interest at stake — her only surviving sister fits the profile of the other victims. Amy's hell-bent on catching the killer, not only to protect her sister but to destroy the demons haunting her since the death of her twin.

Baseball star and former soldier Luke Beckett has just retired from the game and is looking to move on with his life. When he's asked to consult on the serial killer case for the local police, he finds the challenge he needs — despite the objections of lead detective Amy Robitaille. But Luke has no intention of backing away from the job and every intention of getting to know the intriguing detective.

Amy has no time to babysit a celebrity consultant while trying to catch a serial killer. But Luke is not the man she assumed him to be and he threatens to become a powerful distraction. That's the last thing she needs, especially when the killer starts closing in on her family. But without Luke's help, Amy stands to lose everything.

  

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.

Relentless by Winter Austin is Today's Kindle Romantic Suspense Daily Deal

MystereBooks is pleased to feature Relentless by Winter Austin as today's Amazon Kindle Romantic Suspense Daily Deal.

The deal price of $0.99 is valid only for today, Friday, November 01, 2013.

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Relentless
Winter Austin
A Novel of Romantic Suspense
Crimson Romance

Dallas homicide detective Remy LeBeau trusts no one. He hides from a past that could kill him and anyone involved with him. What he's not prepared for is the return of an elusive serial killer … and an unwanted desire to protect a witness at all costs.

Professional barrel racer Cody Lewis's dream of being top in the nation is within reach until she discovers a murdered woman in her horse trailer. The event pulls her into the sickening world of the Rodeo Sweethearts serial killer — a madman who terrorized Dallas's rodeo circuit five years prior and is now back for more. But what's worse is that Cody fits the profile of the Rodeo Sweetheart victims.

As Remy dives into the investigation, he uncovers secrets of a botched investigation and a tight-lipped boss, while attracting unwanted attention from the killer. Battling his partner, his attraction to Cody, and the demons of his past, catching the killer could cost Remy everything. Even Cody's life.

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.

This Is Life by Seth Harwood is Today's Kindle Daily Deal

MystereBooks is pleased to feature This Is Life by Seth Harwood as today's Amazon Kindle Daily Deal.

The deal price of $1.99 is valid only for today, Friday, November 01, 2013.

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This Is Life
Seth Harwood
A Jack Palms Mystery
Thomas & Mercer

Jack Palms is more interested in tuning up his vintage Mustang than starring in action films these days. Along with his failed marriage and plenty of bad habits, Jack abandoned his acting career three years ago and life's just the way Jack wants it: boring.

But Jack now finds himself in the middle of a whodunit in the seedy red-light district of San Francisco's North Beach. Young girls, shipped as merchandise from Balkan countries and sold to city heavyweights, are turning up dead and no one knows why. And closer to home, a crooked cop steps out of Jack's past and into his backyard, taking potshots from the bushes at midnight. Sergeant Mills Hopkins, SFPD, thinks someone big is responsible for the bodies and the bullet holes. And if Jack is going to find out who's pulling the triggers, he'll have to forget about the quiet life and act more like an action hero.

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.

Mystery Bestsellers for the Week Ending November 01, 2013

A list of the top 15 Mystery Hardcover Bestsellers for the week ending November 1st, 2013 has been posted by the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books.

Last week's new title, John Grisham's new legal thriller Sycarmore Road, just edged its way into the top spot this week.

One new title, another legal thriller, debuts this week (rank in [brackets]).

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[13]: Accused
Lisa Scottoline
— Rosato and Associates (12th)

Mary Dinuzio has just been promoted to partner and is about to take on her most unusual case yet, brought to the firm by a thirteen-year-old genius with a penchant for beekeeping. Allegra Gardner's sister Fiona was murdered six years ago, and it seemed like an open-and-shut case: the accused, Lonnie Stall, was seen fleeing the scene; his blood was on Fiona and her blood was on him; most damningly, Lonnie Stall pleaded guilty.

But Allegra believes Lonnie is innocent and has been wrongly imprisoned. The Gardner family is one of the most powerful in the country and Allegra's parents don't believe in reopening the case, so taking it on is risky. But the Rosato & Associates firm can never resist an underdog. Was justice really served all those years ago? It will take a team of unstoppable female lawyers, plus one thirteen-year-old genius, to find out.

Purchase Options

          

Today's Mystery and Suspense Update from Big Fish Games (131101)

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

• The New Release is Queen's Tales: The Beast and the Nightingale (Collector's Edition).

• The current Catch of the Week is Grim Tales: The Wishes, just $2.99 through Sunday, November 03, 2013 only.

Visit the Omnimystery Entertainment Network for more games of mystery and suspense!

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Today's New Release is Queen's Tales: The Beast and the Nightingale (Collector's Edition)

Prepare for an amazing adventure! When your father returns from a long journey, he brings you a very special gift — a magical golden nightingale. But the little bird comes with some big strings attached … it belonged to a horrible beast who demands your father's servitude as payment for his stolen property. You bravely decide to take his place and begin the journey to the beast's castle. But you quickly discover that someone will do anything to stop you from reaching your goal. Now time is running out, and your father's life is on the line! Overcome strange and ominous obstacles in this thrilling Hidden Object Adventure game!

This is a special Collector's Edition release full of exclusive extras you won't find in the standard version, including: Thwart an evil plan in the bonus story; Replay mini-games and hidden-object puzzles; Beautiful wallpapers and screensavers; and An available Strategy Guide.

A sample version is available to download and play for free for one hour.

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The current Catch of the Week is Grim Tales: The Wishes

Be careful what you wish for! When her young son begins to wither and age before her eyes, your sister desperately requests your help. You arrive to discover that a deadly bargain has been made. You must set things right before your nephew pays the terrible price!

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, November 03, 2013.