Compendium of Mystery News 080105

After a brief break for the holidays, we resume our compendium of recently published mystery news articles (for the period 12/15/2007 to 12/31/2007):

• James Patterson has teamed up with Oberon Media to create a series of casual games based on the Women's Murder Club franchise and release them via its extensive network of multi-platform distribution partnerships worldwide.

• NBC is planning on airing episodes of Monk and Psych on Sundays beginning this March. The new seasons for these series begin this month on USA (which is owned by NBC). NBC had already announced it was bringing back Law & Order: Criminal Intent which has been airing new episodes on USA.

• Scholastic (US publisher of the Harry Potter books) has announced it is introducing a new series of 10 books called The 39 Clues, mystery novels aimed at readers 8 to 12. The series is about the Cahills, a century-year-old family who are supposed to be the world's most powerful clan. The first book in the series, The Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan, is scheduled for publication in September 2008.

• Otto Penzler (on NYSun.com) chooses his favorite mystery of 2007: The Tin Roof Blowdown by James Lee Burke. In another column, he lists 10 mysteries that should be required reading for aficionados of the genre.

• MacGameStore.com announced the release of Venice Mystery in which players must solve an ancient mystery before Venice sinks into the water.

• The intellectual inspiration for Patricia Cornwell's novels featuring Kay Scarpetta, Dr. Marcella Fierro, is stepping down from her position as Virginia's Chief Medical Examiner.

• Janet Evanovich answers the three questions she most often receives during a book signing in Oline H. Cogdill's column (on South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com)

• The 5-minute interview with mystery writer Anne Perry (on The Independent).

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