Mystery Bestsellers for October 26, 2007

A list of the top ten mystery hardcover bestsellers for the week ending October 26, 2007 has been posted on the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books website.

As predicted last week, the mystery bestseller list has several new titles this week.

Debuting in the second position is the 15th mystery in the Kay Scarpetta series by Patricia Cornwell, Book of the Dead, in which the forensic consultant is confronted with a string of baffling cases. A young man from a well-known family jumps off a water tower. A woman is found ritualistically murdered in her multimillion-dollar beach home. The body of an abused young boy is discovered dumped in a desolate marsh. Meanwhile, in distant New England, problems with a prominent patient at a Harvard-affiliated psychiatric hospital begin to hint at interconnections that are as hard to imagine as they are horrible.

Also new this week is the 35th case for Boston PI Spenser, Robert B. Parker's Now & Then. Spenser is in the middle of hornet's nest of trouble, and he's got to get out of it without getting stung. With Hawk watching his back, and gun-for-hire Vinnie Morris providing extra cover, Spenser delves into a complicated and far-reaching operation when a simple case turns into a treacherous and politically charged investigation. Publishers Weekly states, "This briskly paced cat-and-mouse game offers Spenser fans exactly what they've come to expect from the reliable Parker, no-nonsense action and plenty of romantic give-and-take between Susan and Spenser."

Two more mysteries make their way into the top 10: A Lick of Frost by Laurell K. Hamilton, the 6th entry in the fantasy series featuring Meredith Gentry; and Pandora's Daughter by Iris Johansen.

Please 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.

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Mysteries on TV: Hamish Macbeth, NCIS, and Veronica Mars

Mystery television series being released this week on DVD:

The delightful series featuring Lochdubh police constable Hamish Macbeth and his West Highland Terrier, Wee Jock, concludes its run with Hamish Macbeth, Series 3. Starring Robert Carlisle and filmed on the scenic northwestern coast of Scotland, the series is based on characters created by M. C. Beaton.

Hamish Macbeth originally aired in the UK in the spring of 1997. Series 3 includes 7 episodes on 2 disks, including the only 2-part episode, Destiny.

The complete collection of all 20 episodes in a boxed set is also available from our website.

The agents with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service return in NCIS, Season 4. The series, still in production, is a spin-off from a similar series, JAG (Judge Advocate General).

Mark Harmon stars as Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs, the lead investigator of an ensemble cast of specialists.

The fourth season aired on CBS during the 2006 / 2007 television season. This DVD set of 6 disks includes all 24 episodes.

Veronica Mars, Season 3 was the final season of this series, originally shown on The CW network. Kristen Bell played Veronica Mars, a smart, fearless 17-year-old apprentice private investigator dedicated to solving her town's toughest mysteries. The series was set in the fictional wealthy southern California coastal community of Neptune.

The third season aired from October 2006 through May 2007. This DVD set of 6 disks includes all 20 episodes (presented in widescreen format) from the final season.

Visit the Mysteries on TV website to discover more television mystery series currently available on DVD.

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Mystery Godoku: Weekly Puzzle for October 22, 2007

A new Mystery Godoku Puzzle 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!).

This week's letters and mystery clue: G H I K N O R T W. This is the first stand-alone thriller from Steve Hamilton, author of the Alex McKnight series (9 letters).

New! We now have our puzzles 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!

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News: San Diego Wildfires

Some of the weekly features that appear on our blog have been delayed this week due to the San Diego wildfires. We were one of the hundreds of thousands of families evacuated from our home early Monday morning but are one of the fortunate ones to have a home to return to.

Our thoughts are with those families who lost everything in the fires.

Please 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.

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Compendium of Mystery News 071021

Today's compendium of recently published mystery news articles:

• Roberta Alexander reviews new mysteries in her It's a Mystery monthly column on ContraCostaTimes.com.

• Are you following the Edmonton Journal Saturday Serial Thriller? Keep up to date by reading a new chapter each with, getting a profile on each week's chapter author, and more.

• The 3rd mystery in the Agatha Christie series of PC games, Evil Under the Sun, was released this week. It's available from Games of Mystery.

• Otto Penzler laments the dearth of readers in America in his column on NYSun.com.

• Is Exit Music the final Inspector Rebus mystery? Ian Rankin talks about the character, the book, the series and more in an interview with Patricia Treble on Macleans.ca.

Please 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.

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Mystery Book Review: The Reincarnationist by M. J. Rose

Mysterious Reviews, mysteries reviewed by the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books, has written a review of The Reincarnationist by M. J. Rose. For our blog readers, we are printing it first here in advance of its publication on our website.

The Reincarnationist by M. J. Rose
Non-series

Mira (Hardcover)
ISBN-10: 0-7783-2420-6 (0778324206)
ISBN-13: 978-0-7783-2420-1 (9780778324201)
Publication Date: September 2007
List Price: $24.95

Synopsis (from the publisher): A bomb in Rome, a flash of bluish-white light, and photojournalist Josh Ryder's world exploded. From that instant nothing would ever be the same.

As Josh recovers, his mind is increasingly invaded with thoughts that have the emotion, the intensity, the intimacy of memories. But they are not his memories. They are ancient . . . and violent. A battery of medical and psychological tests can't explain Josh's baffling symptoms. And the memories have an urgency he can't ignore—pulling him to save a woman named Sabina . . . and the treasures she is protecting.

But who is Sabina?

Desperate for answers, Josh turns to the world-renowned Phoenix Foundation—a research facility that scientifically documents cases of past life experiences. His findings there lead him to an archaeological dig and to Professor Gabriella Chase, who has discovered an ancient tomb—a tomb with a powerful secret that threatens to merge the past with the present. Here, the dead call out to the living, and murders of the past become murders of the present.

Review: From the first page to last, The Reincarnationist by M. J. Rose is one of those compelling mysteries with such an original concept that it is hard to put down.

Today’s madness, with a fear of terrorists and the deaths and injuries caused by suicide bombers, is an interesting parallel to an ancient time with madness of a different kind, when a mandate came down that every Roman must be a Christian. Anyone who does not obey will be killed. And so the slaughter by Roman soldiers begins. One man, Josh Ryder, a photographer for the Associated Press in Rome to photograph the Pope, experiences both. While waiting for the Pope, he is badly injured by a suicide bomber. Unconscious, his mind returns to a previous life in 391 AD as a Roman named Julius with a brother, Drago, and in love with a Vestal nun, Sabina, who is pregnant in defiance of the laws of Rome. As he and his brother run to avoid the Roman soldiers, Drago is stabbed. Josh awakens knowing he must help his brother, yet he is in a present day hospital.

Over the next few months, Josh repeatedly returns to the past but is unable to control how and when it happens. He lives in fear of his own mind, constantly disturbed by the thoughts of a troubled young man in ancient Rome and of a woman he knows he loved and knows she is waiting for him.

Josh works with the Phoenix Foundation, specialists in regression therapy, to help him understand what is taking place in his life. He meets an archaeologist who's working on an ancient tomb in which Josh ultimately comes to believe is the love of his life, Sabina. But someone else thinks the tomb contains a priceless treasure worth killing for.

The Reincarnationist is at its best a captivating and intriguing story of love and mystery. The fascinating characters, descriptive narrative, and unforgettable ending make for a truly remarkable book.

Special thanks to guest reviewer Betty of The Betz Review for contributing her review of The Reincarnationist and to Authors on the Web for providing a copy of the book for this review.

Review Copyright © 2007 — Hidden Staircase Mystery Books — All Rights Reserved.

For more mystery book reviews visit Mysterious Reviews, a partner with the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books which is committed to providing readers and collectors of mystery books with the best and most current information about their favorite authors, titles, and series.

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Mystery Bestsellers for October 19, 2007

A list of the top ten mystery hardcover bestsellers for the week ending October 19, 2007 has been posted on the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books website.

Very few changes in the list this week. Dark of the Moon by John Sandford retains the top position and just some minor shuffling of titles among the top 10.

Since it's such a quiet week, we thought we'd let you know about some mysteries soon to be released that are destined to become bestsellers. All are available for pre-order.

Scheduled for release on 10/23/2007 are three new books: Book of the Dead, the 15th mystery in the Kay Scarpetta series by Patricia Cornwell; A Lick of Frost, the 6th mystery in the fantasy thriller series featuring Meredith Gentry by Laurell K. Hamilton; and Now & Then, the 37th case for Boston private investigator Spenser by Robert B. Parker.

Scheduled for release on 11/13/2007: Double Cross, the 13th thriller in the Alex Cross series by James Patterson; Creation in Death, the 25th mystery in the futuristic "In Death" series featuring NYPSD detective Eve Dallas by Nora Roberts (writing as J. D. Robb).

Scheduled for release on 12/04/2007: T is for Trespass, the 20th mystery in the Kinsey Millhone series by Sue Grafton.

Also check out our new Mystery Bestseller widget along the right side of our main blog page. You're welcome to grab this widget for your site; the list of bestselling mysteries will be automatically updated every Friday.

Please 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.

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Mystery Book Review: Mahu Surfer by Neil S. Plakcy

Mysterious Reviews, mysteries reviewed by the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books, has written a review of Mahu Surfer by Neil S. Plakcy. For our blog readers, we are printing it first here in advance of its publication on our website.

Mahu Surfer by Neil S. Plakcy
A Kimo Kanapa'aka Mystery

Alyson Publications (Trade Paperback)
ISBN-10: 1-59350-007-6 (1593500076)
ISBN-13: 978-1-59350-007-8 (9781593500078)
Publication Date: August 2007
List Price: $14.95

Synopsis (from the publisher): Mahu is a generally negative Hawaiian term for homosexual, and for police detective Kimo Kanapa’aka, being gay doesn’t make for an easy life. Especially when you are publicly outed. Now, semi-retired, Kimo must go undercover and stop a brutal killer. Already three surfers have been shot dead, and Kimo must infiltrate the close-knit surfing community, knowing his only way back to active duty is to catch a killer he may know all too well.

Review: Neil S. Plakcy's second mystery to feature gay Honolulu police detective Kimo Kanapa'aka, Mahu Surfer, hits all the right notes as a mystery yet misses the mark as an overall novel.

Someone has killed three surfers on the north shore of Oahu (Hawaii) and Kimo, a surfer himself, is sent undercover to determine who is behind the murders and why. Kimo is asked to portray an ex-cop who has left the force because he was "outed" and who has retreated to the north shore to do a bit of surfing and soul searching. He quickly determines the three deaths are related and that there is no shortage of suspects. The motive behind the murders, however, eludes him until his probing puts his own life in danger.

Plakcy has crafted a fine murder mystery that is well thought out, with clues to its solution scattered throughout the story. Kimo conducts an intelligent investigation, and regularly summarizes (for the reader) what he knows and what conclusions he has drawn to that point. Yet in the end, the identity of the killer will likely come as a surprise. That, in and of itself, is sufficient to recommend this book. In this regard, it's really quite well done.

But there are a few minor problems with the rest of the book that are troubling nonetheless. The first third of Mahu Surfer reads like an early draft of a screenplay from the Keanu Reeves surfing mystery movie Point Break. It's not all that credible. And it's hard not to picture Keanu playing the role of Kimo. (In retrospect, that may actually not be a bad thing.) Plakcy also fails to convey a sense of what it's like to surf, or even to visit, the north shore of Oahu. Anyone who has done so, or who has watched the opening credits to Hawaii Five-O, will wonder if the story actually takes place there. And finally there are the sex scenes which are not an integral part of the plot or even contribute in any meaningful way to character development, but can at best be described as gratuitous. At one point Kimo says, "I was going to have to learn to keep my personal life separate from my job. I needed to practice some restraint; I needed to keep my pants zipped for a while. Not just for my job, but for my own sanity." Plakcy should have taken Kimo's advice and applied it to his writing.

Special thanks to Breakthrough Promotions for providing a copy of Mahu Surfer for this review.

Review Copyright © 2007 — Hidden Staircase Mystery Books — All Rights Reserved.

For more mystery book reviews visit Mysterious Reviews, a partner with the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books which is committed to providing readers and collectors of mystery books with the best and most current information about their favorite authors, titles, and series.

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Mysteries on TV: Jonathan Creek

Mystery television series being released this week on DVD:

Anyone who enjoys "impossible crimes" will be delighted that Jonathan Creek, Season 2 is finally available on DVD. Originally airing almost a decade ago, there hasn't been a series since that has been as inventive as this one. Alan Davies is perfectly cast as the title character who creates illusions for a professional magician. In each episode, however, he's accompanied by true crime journalist Maddy Magellan (played by Caroline Quentin) and together they (well, mostly Jonathan) determine the truth behind some very imaginative situations. Examples from the second season include a man who appears to be in two places at once, the disappearance of a painting from a locked room, a dead man who strangles a woman weeks after his death, and two more thrilling episodes. (Click on the DVD cover for more information or to purchase the first or second season of Jonathan Creek.)

Visit the Mysteries on TV website to discover more television mystery series currently available on DVD.

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Mystery Godoku: Weekly Puzzle for October 15, 2007

A new Mystery Godoku Puzzle 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!).

This week's letters and mystery clue: A C E F I K R U T. This “nutty” baked good is featured in a Bed-and-Breakfast title by Mary Daheim (9 letters).

New! We now have our puzzles 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!

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