Authors on Tour: Rosemary and Larry Mild Visit In Reference to Murder and Mystery Reader Discussion

Mystery Books News is pleased to be coordinating this week's online book tour for husband and wife authors Rosemary and Larry Mild for the third mystery in their Paco and Molly cozy mystery series, Boston Scream Pie.

Today, Tuesday July 7th, Rosemary and Larry will be visiting 2 blog sites:

• In Reference to Murder, where the authors are interviewed; and
• Mystery Reader Discussion, where Boston Scream Pie is reviewed.

We're also thrilled to announce that Rosemary and Larry are giving away a signed copy of their new book to one lucky tour visitor. Visit each tour site on the day indicated and pick up a unique PIN to be used to enter the giveaway on that day. The entry form can be found on Rosemary and Larry's tour page, which also has a complete schedule of their tour including a biography and more information about Boston Scream Pie.

We hope you have the opportunity to stop by each of the tour sites next week to learn more about Rosemary and Larry and their series characters Paco and Molly.

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Variety Reports George Clooney May Be Interested in Assuming the Role of Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan

Variety blogger Anne Thompson writes that George Clooney is interested in assuming the role of CIA analyst Jack Ryan, popularized in a series of thrillers by Tom Clancy.

Four films have been adapted from the novels featuring three different actors playing Ryan: The Hunt for Red October (Alec Baldwin, 1990), Patriot Games (Harrison Ford, 1992), Clear and Present Danger (Harrision Ford, 1994), and The Sum of All Fears (Ben Affleck, 2002).

Though the most recent, The Sum of All Fears, was a commercial success, Paramount (which has the rights to the franchise) has not moved forward with another film with Affleck in the role. In part, Thompson notes, because Affleck's prime supporter at the studio has left.

Still, with George Clooney in a production deal with Paramount, it seems like a natural part for the actor to play. And there's plenty of material to choose from: there are 8 novels in the series that have yet to be adapted (though not all prominently feature Jack Ryan in the plot).

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Margit Liesche's WWII Mysteries Feature the WASP, Recently Awarded the Congressional Gold Medal

Last week, President Obama signed into legislation a bill awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to the Women's Airforce Service Pilots (WASP). "The Women Airforce Service Pilots courageously answered their country's call in a time of need while blazing a trail for the brave women who have given and continue to give so much in service to this nation since," President Obama said. "Every American should be grateful for their service, and I am honored to sign this bill to finally give them some of the hard-earned recognition they deserve."

Mystery writer Margit Liesche captures the spirit of these intrepid women and sheds light on their courage and strength in her series featuring WASP Pucci Lewis. Her most recent mystery, Hollywood Buzz, was published in March 2009 by Poisoned Pen Press. It is Liesche's second WWII home front novel based on actual events and well-known figures including Jacqueline Cochran, the real-life leader of the WASP. "With this book, I set out to cast much deserved sunlight on this band of flying sisters," Liesche says. "I want to be there in person to see these inspiring women receive the top Congressional award they so richly deserve."

We've had the pleasure of reviewing Liesche's mysteries, calling her most recent "a delightfully entertaining mystery, especially for those readers who remember the great Hollywood stars of the 1940s." Read our full review here: Hollywood Buzz by Margit Liesche.

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Mystery Book Review: Dead Puzzling by Sue Birch

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

Dead Puzzling by Sue Birch
Non-series

YouWriteOn (Trade Paperback)
ISBN-10: 1-84923-891-X (184923891X)
ISBN-13: 978-1-84923-891-5 (9781849238915)
Publication Date: March 2009
List Price: $8.95

Review: Suspense, Death, Questions: these are three topics that show up in Dead Puzzling, a children's thriller written by Sue Birch. Three kids, Lizzie Pickles, her little brother Oliver, who has been diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome, and best friend Tom White, join together in an attempt to solve a murder in their town. Can they solve it though, with Oliver's unpredictable behavior?

One dark night the church cemetery keeper can't find his gardening shears only to find them stabbed into the back of an unknown visitor. He had been murdered! The next day Lizzie was talking with Oliver's teachers, he was in trouble again. He wouldn't do anything teachers had asked him. He would only do whatever he felt. Then news got over to the school about the murder, so to prevent a nervous breakdown, the whole school was let out early. With nothing to do Lizzie, Oliver and their friend Tom, decided to hang out and talk about this murder. Tom and Lizzie had always wanted to solve a mystery so the thought that they might as well try. Little did they know that this was the start of the greatest adventure they would ever have. Secrets are told and learned, nobody is who they seem, nobody can be trusted not even the police. Can they figure this out before, someone gets hurt, or will they die in the process?

The author says that the book is appropriate for children 8 to 13 years of age. I agree because there are parts of the book that are perfect for that specific age group. Also it doesn't go into detail about the condition of the body after they were killed so it won't frighten 8 year olds who get squirmy with dead bodies. The mystery part of it was excellent; it was almost a little like young Hercule Poirot and friends. The inquiries the kids made with their main suspects made it seem very professional. Also Oliver's antics would even make the most straight-faced person chuckle.

In the end I would give this book 4 stars, due to its heavy mystery content, and its comedic sense that lightened up what seemed to be a dark story.

Special thanks to Alex Nauert for contributing his review of Dead Puzzling and to Sue Birch for providing a copy of the book for this review.

Review Copyright © 2009 — Alex Nauert — All Rights Reserved — Reprinted with Permission

If you are interested in purchasing Dead Puzzling from Amazon.com, please click the button to the right. MBN note: Sue Birch, the author of Dead Puzzling, is donating half her royalties to the National Autistic Society, the UK's leading charity for people affected by autism.

Synopsis (from the publisher): A body in the churchyard turns Lizzie, Tom and Oliver into detectives as they try to find out "whodunit". With Oliver's "help" they are led deeper and deeper into danger and uncover some shocking surprises on the way.

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Authors on Tour This Week: Rosemary and Larry Mild, Boston Scream Pie

Mystery Books News is pleased to be coordinating this week's online book tour for husband and wife authors Rosemary and Larry Mild for the third mystery in their Paco and Molly cozy mystery series, Boston Scream Pie.

Rosemary and Larry will be visiting ten blog sites this week:

Tuesday, July 07, 2009
• In Reference to Murder: Author Interview
• Mystery Reader Discussion: Book Review 

Wednesday, July 08, 2009
• Cafe of Dreams: Book Review 
• Wendi's Book Corner: Author Guest Post

Thursday, July 09, 2009
• Allie's Musings: Author Interview
• Bookish Ruth: Author Guest Post

Friday, July 10, 2009
• The Friendly Book Nook: Book Review 
• Book Escape: Author Guest Post

Saturday, July 11, 2009
• Melissa's  Bookshelf: Author Interview
• Meritorious Mysteries: Book Review 

A complete schedule of Rosemary and Larry's tour including a biography and more information about Boston Scream Pie can be found at Authors on Tour: Rosemary and Larry Mild.

We're also thrilled to announce that Rosemary and Larry are giving away a signed copy of their new book to one lucky tour visitor. Visit each tour site on the day indicated and pick up a unique PIN to be used to enter the giveaway on that day. The entry form can be found on Rosemary and Larry's tour page.

We hope you have the opportunity to stop by each of the tour sites next week to learn more about Rosemary and Larry and their series characters Paco and Molly.

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Games of Mystery: Nancy Drew in the Secret of the Scarlet Hand, New at Big Fish 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 the availability of a new mystery game from Big Fish Games released today. You can find out more about these games by visiting our Mystery Games: Big Fish Download Games page or by clicking on the links provided below.

Help the classic heroine, Nancy Drew, solve the deep and dark secret behind a thief's scarlet handprint. Follow long-buried secrets, and piece together ancient clues to solve the mystery! Nancy Drew in the Secret of the Scarlet Hand is an exciting adventure game that will have you search through priceless Mayan relics and meet an intriguing cast of characters. Use your wits, along with your gut, to finish this exciting adventure!

Nancy Drew in the Secret of the Scarlet Hand may be downloaded and purchased for $6.99 with a Big Fish Game Club membership. Due to its large size, a demonstration version is not available. Also available: Nancy Drew: Secret of the Scarlet Hand Strategy Guide.

Watch a preview video below:

Other popular games on our download Big Fish Mystery Games page include several Agatha Christie and Nancy Drew games, games in the Mystery Case Files series and in particular the latest, Mystery Case Files: Return to Ravenhearst, Adventure Chronicles: The Search for Lost Treasure, Syberia and Syberia II, The Serpent of Isis, James Patterson's Women's Murder Club: A Darker Shade of Grey, and Nick Chase: A Detective Story.

Read our new game reviews by Ms. Terri: Nancy Drew Dossier: Lights, Camera, Curses! (Review), The Hardy Boys: The Perfect Crime (Review), Enlightenus (Review), and Nick Chase: A Detective Story (Review).

Big Fish Games: Bestsellers

Big Fish Games: New releases

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

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FT Books Reports on the Influence of Alexander McCall Smith

Adrian Turpin, featured in the Books section of the Financial Times, writes about the influence Alexander McCall Smith is having on mystery fiction and some of the imitators his work has spawned.

He notes that when The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency was published in 1998, it seemed to confound the laws of publishing, and in particular those of crime fiction. It was unfashionably whimsical and its heroine, Precious Ramotswe, spent as much time dispensing gentle wisdom as she did solving crime. Who, it was said at the time, was going to buy this eccentric mix of genres? A lot of readers, it turns out, with millions of copies sold, the original translated into 40 languages, and a television series that recently concluded its first season on HBO (see Mysteries on TV: The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency.)

Turpin writes that Smith's books, and similar ones recently published, share 5 characteristics: (1) They have relatively simple, linear plots; (2) are set in the developing world; (3) feature an investigator who isn't part of the local government bureaucracy; (4) involve crimes that are typically inconsequential or tangential to the main plot; and (5) are resolved in favor of the virtuous.

He also notes that "[i]t's tempting to attribute the popularity of these novels to a desire for escapism, the literary equivalent of a package tour to a strange country in the company of a familiar guide. But the latest crop of novels featuring crimes in foreign climes suggests readers are responding to something more subtle. Of wildly different merit, three new books all toy with the same question: what is lost when a society is forced to embrace change at breakneck speed?"

The three books to which he is referring are The Case of the Missing Servant by Tarquin Hall (introducing Vish Puri, head of Delhi's Most Private Investigators), Inspector Singh Investigates: A Most Peculiar Malaysian Murder by Shamini Flint (introducing an inspector based in Singapore who investigates crimes outside his jurisdiction), and Tale of the Blue Bird by Nii Ayikwei Parkes (introducing young forensic pathologist Kayo who solves crimes in Ghana; this book is not yet available in the US).

Another example is The Second Death of Goodluck Tinubu by Michael Stanley, the second mystery of this series set in Zimbabwe, which we'll be reviewing later this month.

Turpin concludes his article by writing, "[T]his profusion of these novels, simple in form, but grappling with urgent issues, is likely to continue. But perhaps, as we launch further into the 21st century and power inevitably shifts, crime novels will again move their focus. Can it be long before we see a developing world detective investigating a crime in Britain or America?"

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Mysteries on TV: Callan, Matlock, and Murder She Wrote, 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 three series that have season DVDs being released this week.

— ◊ —

Edward Woodward starred as Callan, a brooding, conscience-stricken assassin for a shadowy British intelligence service so secret it doesn’t have a name. The series aired on UK television for 4 seasons from 1967 through 1972. (Woodward later starred as a not dissimilar character in The Equalizer.)

With the Cold War grinding on, agents from the East and West engage in elaborate deceptions, both sides seeking temporary advantage in an endless struggle. No one plays this game better than Callan. His sharp eyes, steely will, and steady hand with a gun make him a valuable asset to his superior, called Hunter (William Squire). But Callan knows his usefulness could end at any moment--especially with the younger, ruthlessly ambitious agent Cross (Patrick Mower) eager to advance.

In a somewhat confusing manner, the Callan: Set One DVD set of 3 discs is actually the 3rd season of the series, featuring the 9 episodes that originally aired from April through June, 1970.

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Matlock ran for a total of 9 seasons on two networks from the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s. The series starred Andy Griffith starred as Atlanta defense attorney Ben Matlock, known for charging a $100,000 fee but also known for finding the real culprit of the crime. His defense team changed frequently during the series run.

The series was created by Dean Hargrove who was also associated with the revival of the Perry Mason series, Diagnosis: Murder (in an episode of which, during its 4th season, Matlock is pulled out of retirement to defend a colleague of Dr. Mark Sloan), Jake and the Fatman, the Father Dowling mysteries, and more.

The Matlock: Season Three DVD set of 5 discs contain the 17 episodes (several multi-part) that aired on NBC from November 1988 through May 1989.

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Angela Lansbury starred as mystery writer and amateur sleuth Jessica Fletcher for 12 seasons in Murder, She Wrote.

The 10th season has Jessica commuting between her teaching job in New York City and her home in Cabot Cove, Maine. This season also has her traveling the globe, finding murder wherever she goes. In the first episode she comes across "A Death in Hong Kong." Later she visits Ireland ("A Killing in Cork") and London ("Murder in White") and still has time for side trips to Canada ("Northern Explosion") and Texas ("Roadkill").

Guest stars this season include Mickey Rooney, Tippi Hedren, David Warner, George Segal and Morgan Fairchild.

The Murder, She Wrote: Season Ten DVD set of 5 discs contain all 21 entertaining episodes of the 10th season that aired on CBS from September 1993 through May 1994.

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

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Veronica Mars Unlikely to be Made into a Feature Film

In other TV series-to-film news, Entertainment Weekly is reporting that the chances of Veronica Mars being made into a film are essentially zero. According to Michael Ausiello, series star Kristen Bell said, "I don't think it will ever happen, and here's why: [Series creator] Rob Thomas and I had a powwow, and we were both 100 percent on board. We took our proposal to Warner Bros. and Joel Silver told us that there is no enthusiasm [there] to make a Veronica Mars movie, and that is unfortunately a roadblock we cannot compete with."

Veronica Mars aired for 3 seasons on The CW (formerly UPN). The series, set in the wealthy coastal community of Neptune, California, starred Kristen Bell as the title character, a smart, fearless 17-year-old apprentice private investigator dedicated to solving her town's toughest mysteries. All 3 seasons can be purchased individually on DVD; Veronica Mars: The Complete Series on DVD is also available.

Full episodes of the 2nd season can be watched online at TheWB.com through July 27, 2009, after which the 3rd season episodes will be available.

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T. J. Hooker, 1980s Crime Drama, to be Filmed as Action Comedy

Variety is reporting that the 1980s series T. J. Hooker is being adapted as an action comedy for the big screen. The series, which debuted as a mid-season replacement on ABC in 1982, aired a total of 5 seasons, the first 2 of which are currently available on DVD (T. J. Hooker, Seasons 1 and 2.)

The series starred William Shatner as the titular character, a homicide detective who returns to an officer beat after his partner is killed. He is assigned to fast-track recruits to get them patrolling the streets. These rookie cops include Vince Romano (Adrian Zmed), Jim Corrigan (James Darren), and Stacy Sheriden (Heather Locklear); the latter two joined the cast in the second season. Richard Herd played Hooker's captain, Dennis Sheriden. Series creator Rick Husky will produce the film.

According to the article, the story will focus on the relationship between Hooker and his father. No actors have been cast for the film.

Full episodes of the first half-season of T. J. Hooker are available (as of the date of this post) on Hulu.com. Watch the series pilot below:

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