First Clues, Mysteries for Kids: Four New American Girl Mysteries

First Clues: Mysteries for Kids, your source for information on over 100 mystery series for children and young adults where each series is conveniently listed under three different age categories (New Sleuth, ages 4 to 7; Future Sleuth, aged 7 to 10; and Sleuth in Training, ages 10 and older), is pleased to announce four new American Girl mysteries featuring Felicity, Julie, Molly, and Samantha.

Lady Margaret's Ghost: A Felicity Mystery by Elizabeth McDavid Jones. Felicity Merriman has just said good-bye to her mother, who's going on a trip and leaving Felicity in charge of the house. Mother's carriage has barely left before a surprise package arrives, holding silver heirlooms that have been passed down in the Merriman family for a hundred years. Felicity doesn't believe in ghosts ... but what else can explain the odd and eerie things that begin to happen once the heirlooms arrive? Includes an illustrated "Looking Back" essay that provides facts about Felicity's time. Available in both hardcover and paperback editions.

The Tangled Web: A Julie Mystery by Katherine Reiss. Julie really likes the new girl in her class, Carla Warner. Still, there’s something odd about her. The things Carla says don’t quite add up, and she avoids answering questions about her family. At first Julie is sure there’s a sensible explanation, but soon she starts to wonder what’s really going on. A disturbing discovery leads her to realize that her new friend may be in real danger! An illustrated "Looking Back" essay provides facts about America in the 1970s. Available in both hardcover and paperback editions.

Clues in the Shadows: A Molly Mystery by Kathleen Ernst. Molly still does her patriotic duty to help America win World War Two, but in the spring of 1945 she's weary and troubled. Dad is home safe... but he seems different now. Her archrival at school is driving her crazy. And someone is sneaking into the backyard shed and messing with the scrap she's collecting for a wartime drive. Is the intruder her classmate, her own brother—or a prowler in the night? An illustrated "Looking Back" discusses the challenges that faced veterans' families. Available in both hardcover and paperback editions.

The Cry of the Loon: A Samantha Mystery by Barbara Steiner. Samantha can't wait to take Nellie to Piney Point, Grandmary's summer home in the mountains. But the girls arrive to find the lodge plagued with accidents—and Grandmary begins to think about selling. Samantha and Nellie must figure out what's going on before they lose Piney Point forever! Includes an illustrated "Looking Back" essay about the Adirondacks' grand lodges at the turn of the last century. Available in both hardcover and paperback editions.

All thirteen books in the series, available on our website First Clues: American Girl Mysteries, are recommended for readers aged 10 to 12.

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The Lost Symbol, Dan Brown's Third Robert Langdon Thriller Announced

The Associated Press is reporting that Knopf Doubleday has announced the publication date of the third novel by Dan Brown featuring Harvard symbolist Robert Langdon, The Lost Symbol. Few details are available about the plot, but it is reportedly set over a 12-hour period. The Lost Symbol is scheduled to be released September 15, 2009, with a 5 million copy first printing, and is available for pre-order from Amazon.com.

A movie adaptation of the first book in the series, Angels & Demons, starring Tom Hanks as Robert Langdon, is set to open May 15, 2009. Hanks previously starred in The Da Vinci Code, the film version of the second book.

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Mysteries on TV: Hawaii Five-O, New This Week on DVD

Mysteries on TV, your source for the most complete selection of detective, amateur sleuth, private investigator, and suspense television mystery series now available or coming soon to DVD, is profiling one series that has a season DVD being released this week.

Hawaii Five-O was one of the most successful crime dramas to air on television, running 12 seasons on CBS. In fact, it was the longest running crime series until Law & Order began its 13th season in 2003. The series starred Jack Lord as Steve McGarrett, head of an elite (and fictional) state police force based in Honolulu. Aside from a handful of episodes, it was filmed entirely on location in Hawaii.

Last August it was widely reported that an updated version of the series was in the works for CBS, with the son of Steve McGarrett as the new head of Hawaii Five-O. Little information has been posted since then, with no mention of the series on CBS's ordered pilots for the 2009/2010 season. IMDB, however, still has a 2010 release date on its website.

The Hawaii Five-O: Season Six DVD set of 6 discs contains the 24 episodes that aired on CBS from September 1973 through February 1974.

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

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Games of Mystery: Jessica, Secret of the Caribbean, New at PlayFirst Games

Games of Mystery, your source for mystery-themed electronic and board games, parties for kids and adults, and mystery getaway vacations, is pleased to announce a new mystery game available from PlayFirst Games. You can find out more about these games from our Mystery Games: PlayFirst Download Games page or by clicking on the links provided below.

After a series of mystical adventures and finding an ancient artifact (see Jessica: Mysterious Journey, the first game in this series), Jessica and Tony fall in love, get married and set up for a quiet honeymoon to the Caribbean. Things don't go according to plan when they get involved in a whole new hidden object adventure! Help Jessica rescue her kidnapped husband by finding the riches of Jessica's forefather, the famous pirate, Noel! Search intricately detailed scenes for hidden objects, solve perplexing puzzles, and discover a lost treasure tucked away in a secret location!

Jessica: Secret of the Caribbean is available to purchase for $9.95 with the PlayPass program. A trial version is available to download for a 60 minutes of play (Windows PC, 58.6 MB).

Other popular games on our download PlayFirst Mystery Games page include the Mystery PI series of casual games, Mystery P.I.: The Vegas Heist and Mystery P.I.: The Lottery Ticket, James Patterson's Women's Murder Club: Death in Scarlet, and Private Eye.

And don't forget to visit Games of Mystery for all kinds of mysterious fun!

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Mystery Godoku Puzzle for April 20, 2009

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 E H N O R S W Y

This Jack Dwyer story by Ed Gorman appeared in the anthology Criminal Elements (with "The", 9 letters).

We now have two weeks of our puzzles on one page 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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Mystery Book Review: Deep Night by Caroline Petit

Mysterious Reviews, mysteries reviewed by the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books, is publishing a new review of Deep Night by Caroline Petit. For our blog readers, we are printing it first here in advance of its publication on our website.

Deep Night by Caroline Petit
 A Leah Kolbe Mystery

Soho Press (Hardcover)
ISBN-10: 1-56947-530-X (156947530X)
ISBN-13: 978-1-56947-530-0 (9781569475300)
Publication Date: December 2008
List Price: $24.00

Review: Set during the middle of the Second Sino-Japanese War in the late 1930s, antiques dealer Leah Kolbe flees her home in Hong Kong for the relative safety of Macau and becomes embroiled in espionage in Deep Night, the second book in this series by Caroline Petit.

Arriving in Macau penniless, Leah seeks assistance from the British consulate. She's given a secretarial position, but her past quickly catches up with her. Though Macau is formally neutral territory, it is teeming with Japanese and Chinese officials seeking an advantage in their war with each other. A former antique trade contact from China coerces Leah into acting as a conduit of information and cash between Britain and China all the while she's acting as an informal spy for her own government. To complicate matters, she's taken on a Japanese lover though she's engaged to be married to a British officer who's being held in a detention camp by the Japanese. The war seems endless and Leah doesn't see any relief from the complex situations in which she is involved.

The overview of Deep Night suggests it might be a suspense novel, or a novel of international intrigue, but it is neither nor is it a mystery in any way. To be fair, it's not listed as such; still, potential readers may be led to believe it to be. Setting aside its genre classification, it is not all that compelling of a novel. One might think the reader would sympathize with Leah who lost everything when she fled Hong Kong. Yet she is a distinctly unlikeable character, petulant and self-centered. Her only redeeming feature is that everyone around her is comparatively worse.

The author takes great care in describing Macau during this turbulent time and in retrospect Deep Night seems to be more of a fictional study of this period and place than a plot-driven novel. It's well written and historically interesting in its own way, but the somewhat aimless storyline involving Leah, spies and counterspies, set over a 7 year or so time frame, is disappointing. On a positive note, the book ends in such a way that the next in the series will give Leah a fresh start following the end of World War II.

Special thanks to Soho Press for providing an ARC of Deep Night for this review.

Review Copyright © 2009 — Hidden Staircase Mystery Books — All Rights Reserved

If you are interested in purchasing Deep Night from Amazon.com, please click the button to the right. Deep Night (Kindle edition) is also available. Learn more about the Kindle, Amazon's Wireless Reading Device.

Synopsis (from the publisher): Leah Kolbe escapes to Macao as the Japanese occupy Hong Kong. Her fiancé is interned in a prisoner of war camp. She becomes a spy for the British and takes a Japanese lover. When she returns with provisions to her beloved Hong Kong on the first boat, she finds the surviving English, including her fiancé, totally altered. He cannot bear to stay in Hong Kong; she chooses to remain and rebuild.

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Mystery Book Review: Run a Crooked Mile by Janet LaPierre

Mysterious Reviews, mysteries reviewed by the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books, is publishing a new review of Run a Crooked Mile by Janet LaPierre. For our blog readers, we are printing it first here in advance of its publication on our website.

Run a Crooked Mile by Janet LaPierre
A Rosemary Mendes Mystery

Perseverance Press (Trade Paperback)
ISBN-10: 1-880284-88-X (188028488X)
ISBN-13: 978-1-880284-88-9 (9781880284889)
Publication Date: April 2009
List Price: $14.95

Review: Janet LaPierre introduces Rosemary Mendes, a woman looking to start a new life in the wooded hills of northern California following the death of her husband, in Run a Crooked Mile.

Two women have actually come to the area to find refuge from their past. Rosemary feels the need to retreat from her overbearing, greedy in-laws who insist they are entited to a part of their deceased son's / brother's estate. The other, Michelle "Mike" Morgan, though, is enigma to the community. She, together with her Labrador retriever Tank, lived in a small cabin surrounded by abundant acreage in the woods that she had inherited from an elderly gentleman for whom she had taken care since her arrival. Though hunting was not permitted on her property, she is shot by a hunter presumably mistaking her for a deer. Some of the townsfolk thought she got what she deserved as they believed she had cheated the old man in his dying days. Others questioned the accident theory and believed someone had wanted her dead. Although Rosemary and Mike were strangers to one another, Rosemary is given "custody" of Tank at the request of the local veterinarian. Rosemary, intrigued by the mysterious circumstances surrounding Mike's death and feeling in no small part an obligation to Tank, starts to investigate. She convinces the police to reopen the case and goes along to help find clues that may have been missed. But someone is out there watching -- and waiting -- for an opportunity to silence Rosemary.

Run a Crooked Mile is not only a carefully plotted and suspenseful mystery, it is also a beautifully told account of two passionate women and their struggle to find peace after personal misfortune. Though they never met, both women are able to share the love and companionship of the delightful dog Tank. Every page of this wonderful book is a page well read.

Special thanks to guest reviewer Betty of The Betz Review for contributing her review of Run a Crooked Mile and to Perseverance Press for providing a copy of the book for this review.

Review Copyright © 2009 — Hidden Staircase Mystery Books — All Rights Reserved

If you are interested in purchasing Run a Crooked Mile from Amazon.com, please click the button to the right.

Synopsis (from the publisher): After her husband's death, Rosemary Mendes flees her home on the California north coast and fetches up, more or less by accident, near the small town of Weaverville in Trinity County. There she buys and remodels a small house, becomes a volunteer at the local senior center, makes a few friends. And is keeping herself and her background quietly and peacefully to herself when she finds that her grasping former in-laws have tracked her down.

She's still trying to decide what to do about this unpleasant development when her young neighbor informs her that another solitary incomer had just been found dead in the surrounding forest, apparently shot by a deer hunter. "Anyway, the interesting thing... nobody knows who to tell, who her relatives are, like that. She's—she was—a mystery woman." Just like Rosemary, was clearly Kim's inference.

The image of that woman, Michelle called Mike, haunts Rosemary's thoughts for the rest of the day. When her veterinarian friend Graham Campbell arrives that evening for their usual Friday-night dinner, he brings not only wine, but a big yellow Labrador retriever named Tank. Tank, he explains to Rosemary, was with his owner, Mike Morgan, when she was shot, and was grazed himself. And now he's depressed and homeless. "Gray, I do not want a dog," says Rosemary firmly.

But not firmly enough. Tank stays, and Rosemary becomes known as the person who has Mike Morgan's dog. Tales of the dead woman come to her from nearly everyone she encounters, and she finds herself pursuing them: who was Mike Morgan and why was she here? It's a pursuit that becomes more and more engrossing—and more and more dangerous.

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eHarlequin Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense Titles for May 2009

eHarlequin.com has released the May 2009 titles in their Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense series. Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense books combine suspense, romance, hope and faith to create a unique page-turning series that today’s readers love. To purchase any of the books below, click on the book title. (Previous months titles can be found on the backlist page.)

Deadly Competition by Roxanne Rustand (book cover shown)

The single mother hasn't been found. And all her daughter, Sarah, has is her uncle. Clueless at parenting, Clint Herald seeks a loving, responsible nanny. What he finds instead is a stranger as mysterious as his sister's disappearance.

Mandy Erick is secretive and seems scared, yet she's so good with Sarah that Clint can't help but trust her. In fact, he even enters Mandy in the town's Mother of the Year contest. But attention is the last thing Mandy wants. Her time in the public eye may prove just as dangerous as she fears.

The Defender's Duty by Shirlee McCoy

All that New York City cop Jude Sinclair wants is to get back on his feet, fighting crime. And as long as he's stuck recuperating in Virginia, he's going to make everyone as miserable as he is. But health aide Lacey Carmichael refuses to run away. Sweet, optimistic and beautiful, she's everything Jude won't allow himself to need. Because danger has followed Jude all the way from New York. And with everyone around him at risk, it'll take everything Jude's got to do his duty, and to keep Lacey safe.

The Taking of Carly Bradford by Ramona Richards (book cover shown)

A blue sundress and white sandals. That's what seven-year-old Carly Bradford was wearing … right before she disappeared. Three months later, Dee Kelley spots the sandals in the woods and knows she's uncovered evidence. Dee lost her husband and child—she won't let another mother suffer as she did. She will help police chief Tyler Madison find Carly, whether he wants her assistance or not. But Tyler isn't the only one determined to keep Dee off the case. And evidence isn't all that she'll find waiting for her in the woods.

Protecting Her Child by Debby Giusti

Wealthy heiress Eve Townsend is close to death. But before she dies, she has to know: what happened to the daughter she gave up for adoption twenty-four years before? Did she inherit her mother's life-threatening disease?

Medical researcher Pete Worth is ready to find answers by tracking her down. And when he finally locates Meredith Lassiter, he finds her widowed, pregnant and on the run. The smugglers who killed her husband want her dead … and Pete is the only one standing in their way.

If you enjoy this series, you can get 2 free Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense books plus 2 free gifts just for giving the automatic program a try. Accepting your two free Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense books and mystery gifts places you under no obligation to buy anything. You may keep the books and gifts and return the shipping statement marked cancel. If you do not cancel, about two months later, and then every other month, eHarlequin will send you four additional Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense books.

Keep up to date by subscribing to eHarlequin.com's free newsletter that contains the latest information about their series of books as well as informing you about subscriber-only special offers and new products. Click on the banner below to subscribe for free:

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Harlequin Intrigue Titles for May 2009

eHarlequin.com has released the May 2009 titles in their Intrigue, breathtaking romantic suspense series. Get these edge-of-your-seat reads today with characters who conquer everything from kidnappings to murder mysteries, only to find themselves irresistibly drawn to one another! To purchase any of the books below, click on the book title. (Previous months titles can be found on the backlist page.)

Saved by the Monarch by Dana Marton (book cover shown)

For Prince Miklos, a royal wedding was a royal duty, one more step toward saving his beloved, beleaguered country. Unfortunately, his chosen bride-to-be—beautiful, brainy Judi Marezzi—didn't realize that her vacation included an arranged marriage. In fact, from the moment they met, nothing went as planned.

A dangerous conspiracy threw him and his princess together and dragged the ill-matched pair off to an Alpine prison. With his military training, Miklos took charge and made plans to bring them to safety. Danger surrounded them, but so did a shared passion—for his kingdom, for the honor of a free land and for a love that had been foretold since birth.

Interrogating the Bride by Carla Cassidy

Former navy SEAL Micah Stone could spot danger a mile away. And the alluring bride who'd stowed away on the plane he'd been sent to repossess set off every red flag in the book. Caylee Warren claimed she had nothing to do with her "fiancé's" murder. When it began to look as if Caylee was the intended victim, Micah had no choice but to take her into hiding. But for a man who never let anyone get close, protecting Caylee was more than he could handle. Could he let her break down the walls he'd erected around his heart…even if it meant distracting him from the mission at hand?

Kissing the Key Witness by Jenna Ryan (book cover shown)

A dying man's last words threatened to reveal the identity of a powerful crime boss, and after hearing them, Dr. Maya Santiago knew her life was in danger.

As a killer stalked her, only one man could help …

Homicide lieutenant Stephen Talbot had always wanted Maya. Even though he didn't feel worthy of the compassionate doctor, he was determined to protect her at all costs—especially from himself.

But as he and Maya grew closer…and the killer drew nearer…could she convince him to put his heart on the line as well?

Priceless Newborn Prince by Ann Voss Peterson

After being forced into hiding and presumed dead when his kingdom was attacked, Prince Viktor Romanov would stop at nothing to find his way back to Kat Edwards and the unborn heir she was carrying. But learning Viktor was still alive only seemed to make the beautiful Texan angry…and shock her into labor. Now, with a newborn baby to protect and Kat both demanding answers and begging to be held, Viktor vowed to make everything right once his little family was safe. Until then, he'd have to also prepare her for the worst and do his best not to break her vulnerable heart.

Hunting Down the Horseman by B. J. Daniels (book cover shown)

Brave, courageous and single, Jud Corbett loves the life he leads outside his hometown of Whitehorse—so it'll be up to his brothers to meet the nice Montana cowgirls their mother hoped they'd marry. Then he met Faith Bailey …

Faith is a local woman with an adventurous streak, and Jud can't help but be attracted to the beautiful blonde. When dangerous, life-threatening accidents begin to befall her every step, Jud can't walk away. But when he's through being a hero, will he still be a bachelor?

Collecting Evidence by Rita Herron

The first thing FBI Agent Dylan Acevedo remembered when he saw Aspen Meadows again was their steamy week in a hotel room. Unfortunately, Aspen had no memory of him, the murder she'd witnessed, or that he could be the father of her infant son. So, as much as he wanted to hold her and demand answers, her safety came first. Collecting evidence and hunting down clues always kept him working long into the night. But now, reunited with one unforgettable woman and excited by the prospect of fatherhood, Dylan found he had a lot more reasons to come home. And a lot more to lose.

If you enjoy this series, you can get 2 free Harlequin Intrigue books plus 2 free gifts just for giving the automatic program a try. Accepting your two free Intrigue books and mystery gifts places you under no obligation to buy anything. You may keep the books and gifts and return the shipping statement marked cancel. If you do not cancel, about two months later, and then every other month, eHarlequin will send you four additional Intrigue books.

Keep up to date by subscribing to eHarlequin.com's free newsletter that contains the latest information about their series of books as well as informing you about subscriber-only special offers and new products. Click on the banner below to subscribe for free:

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eHarlequin Silhouette Romantic Suspense Titles for May 2009

Sparked by danger, fueled by passion, eHarlequin.com has released the May 2009 titles in their Silhouette Romantic Suspense series. Let yourself be swept away with characters who fall in love under larger-than-life circumstances. In Silhouette Romantic Suspense, suspense, emotion and glamour combine to create these highly charged books! To purchase any of the books below, click on the book title. (Previous months titles can be found on the backlist page.)

Night Rescuer by Cindy Dees (book cover shown)

One last mission: deliver Melina Montez to a drug lord in the Peruvian rain forest. Immediately after: deliver himself unto eternity. Commando John Hollister's last op had gone bad. His men were dead. He'd failed. It was time to check out.

Certain death awaited Melina. Her life in exchange for the lives of her family. Still, the stunning doctor was desperate to find a way out. Desperate to change John's mind, she's given him a reason to live, but will it be enough? Too many dangers lurk in the jungle. But the biggest threat may be the passion threatening to consume them both.

High-Stakes Homecoming by Suzanne McMinn

Willa North couldn't forget her first love—or what really happened to tear them apart. All she wants now is to hold on to her home, provide for her daughter and not get hurt again.

Now Penn Ramsey's back in town, and a sudden storm throws them together in the isolated farmhouse that they both claim to have inherited. While the storm rages, more danger lurks outside in a series of suspicious—and deadly—accidents. They're forced to band together to keep themselves and Willa's daughter alive. But how can they fight the mysterious threat—and reignite the heat that blazes between them—if they can't let go of the pain of the past?

Lady Killer by Kathleen Creighton (book cover shown)

Brooke Grant, a recovering divorcée, had good reason to lie about her past. But when she's falsely arrested for the murder of her ex, it seems everyone in her life has motive to lie to her—the vengeful local cops, a mysterious private investigator, even her adoring ten-year-old son. In fact, Brooke has good reason to trust no man.

Until photojournalist Tony Whitehall arrives, storming onto her Texas ranch with irresistible charm and his own agenda of deceit. Half Apache and all macho, Tony never imagined his camera would bring him so close to Brooke…or that a shocking conspiracy would give him a shot at love.

His 7-Day Fiancée by Gail Barrett

After being falsely accused of murder, mega-billionaire Luke Montgomery couldn't afford more scandal. Especially if he wanted to clinch his plan to crush rival magnate Harold Rothchild. However, when the handsome high roller spotted a skittish single mom under siege in his Vegas casino, he figured the odds were finally in his favor.

Before Amanda Patterson could catch her breath, Luke brokered a deal to spirit mother and child off to his mansion to protect them from a predator. His asking price? Pose as his fiancée. But Luke was blindsided by his smoldering desire for Amanda. Would this notorious playboy relinquish control and gamble on love?

Keep up to date by subscribing to eHarlequin.com's free newsletter that contains the latest information about their series of books as well as informing you about subscriber-only special offers and new products. Click on the banner below to subscribe for free:

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