Mysteries on TV: Criminal Minds and The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, 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 two series that have season DVDs being released this week.

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An elite team of FBI profilers who analyze the country's most twisted criminal minds, anticipating their next moves before they strike again, is the premise behind the crime drama Criminal Minds.

The Behavioral Analysis Unit's most prominent agent is David Rossi (Joe Mantegna), a founding member of the BAU, who returns to help the team solve new cases, while pursuing some unfinished business of his own. Each member brings his or her own area of expertise to the table as they pinpoint predators' motivations and identify their emotional triggers in the attempt to stop them.

The Criminal Minds: Season Four DVD set of 7 discs contain the 24 episodes that aired on CBS from September 2008 through May 2009. The fifth season of Criminal Minds will premiere on Wednesday September 23rd at 9 PM (ET/PT).

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Based on the best-selling novels by Alexander McCall Smith, The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency chronicles the adventures of Precious Ramotswe (Jill Scott), the cheerful, eminently sensible proprietor of Botswana's first and only female-owned detective agency.

Aided by her highly efficient yet rather peculiar secretary Grace Makutsi (Anika Noni Rose), Mma Ramotswe investigates a variety of cases, helping townspeople solve mysteries in their lives, and begins a special friendship with a respectable garage owner (Lucian Msamati) along the way. Though only nominally a crime drama, like the books on which it is based, the series is more character driven than plot driven.

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: Season One DVD set of 3 discs contain the 7 episodes, including the series pilot, that aired from March through May 2009 on HBO. Despite critical acclaim for the series, there has been no announcement yet on whether a second season will be produced.

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

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Mystery Godoku Puzzle for September 07, 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 1996 anthology of the murderous mind was edited by Ruth Rendell (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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Edgar Allan Poe Exhibition to Open September 8th at University of Texas

If you're in Austin (TX) this fall, be sure to stop by the Harry Ransom Center, a humanities research library and museum at the University of Texas. From September 8th, 2009, through January 3rd, 2010, the exhibition "From Out That Shadow: The Life and Legacy of Edgar Allan Poe" will be on display.

"From Out That Shadow" features manuscripts, books, art and personal effects, many of them displayed for the first time, documenting Poe's career as a writer, his romantic relationships and mysterious death, the decline and rehabilitation of his literary reputation and his profound influence on mystery and detective fiction and other genres.

Exhibition highlights include Poe's writing desk, letters by and about the author, records of his student days at the University of Virginia, a brooch containing his hair, manuscripts of landmark works such as "The Raven" and the original art for Arthur Rackham's illustrated edition of "Tales of Mystery & Imagination." The exhibition will also contain an interactive digital facsimile of the scroll manuscript of the "Domain of Arnheim."

The exhibition is organized into 12 sections: "The Early Years," which covers Poe's family and his student days at the University Virginia; "Working Writer," about Poe's daily activities earning money and engaging with other writers; "Poe in Love," which documents the many women in Poe's life; "Death and Infamy," devoted to the circumstances of Poe's death and the immediate downturn of his reputation; "Poe the Poet"; "The Raven," which is dedicated to the most famous of Poe's poems; "Poe the Critic"; "Detection," which surveys Poe's stories and his influence upon later writers of mysteries; "Poe and Science," which explores Poe's engagement in topics ranging from shells to astronomy; "The Haunted Mind," which uses portraits and illustrations to investigate the psychological aspects of Poe's work and Poe the man; and "Poe in France" and "Perspectives on Poe," which look at the important influence of Poe upon later writers.

The Ransom Center Galleries are open Tuesdays through Fridays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with extended Thursday hours until 7 p.m. On Saturdays and Sundays the galleries are open from noon to 5 p.m. The galleries are closed on Mondays.

For more information see the original press release, which announced the exhibition last December.

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CBS Schedules Busytown Mysteries as part of Rebranded Children's Programming Cookie Jar TV

CBS announced in a press release Thursday the Saturday morning schedule for its rebranded block of children's programming, Cookie Jar TV.

New this season is Busytown Mysteries, based on the best-selling books by Richard Scarry. Busytown Mysteries brings the popular adventures of Busytown to preschoolers with an educational, problem-solving twist. Children can follow classic characters such as Huckle, Sally, Lowly, Hilda, Pig Will and Pig Won't while they scour around Busytown on fun-filled adventures looking for answers to life's puzzles. They are always up for a new adventure and with everyone driving their own unique vehicle, such as the iconic Apple Car and Pickle Car, getting there is half the fun.

Beginning Saturday, September 19th, Cookie Jar TV, which airs from 7 AM to noon on CBS, will have three episodes of Busytown Mysteries, at 7 AM, 8 AM, and 11 AM (ET/PT).

Busytown Mysteries is also available on DVD as part of the Hurray for Huckle series: Zooming Around Busytown, The Very Best Busytown Friends Ever, and The Spooky Secrets of Busytown.

For online fun, visit BusytownMysteries.com, where kids can explore different neighborhoods of Busytown, play games, and interact with the Busytown characters.

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New Trailer for The Mystery of Whiterock Castle

Oh no! The princess has vanished!

The young squire has come to pick up the little princess from her royal chambers for a stroll in the park, but he is confronted with an empty room, and no trace of his favorite playmate. Luckily, he stumbles upon an important clue. So our dauntless squire sets out to rescue the princess. Will he be able to trace her in the many dangerous corners of the castle, and bring back the King's beloved daughter?

The Mystery of Whiterock Castle offers quick and easy accessibility that is deliberately simple and easy to learn, especially for young gamers. To find and collect the numerous hidden objects concealed in the ten different settings, players can play either in cooperative mode, competing against other players or in a single player game. With randomly generated objects scattered around the levels, secret nooks and crannies and a variety of multiplayer modes and highscore lists, The Mystery of Whiterock Castle makes for an entertaining adventure that the whole family can enjoy.

The Mystery of Whiterock Castle will be available for the Nintendo Wii and X-box 360. No release date for the US has been announced. A new trailer for the game was unveiled yesterday, and can be seen below:

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Mystery Book Review: The Knight by Steven James

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

The Knight by Steven James
A Patrick Bowers Mystery

Baker Publishing (Hardcover)
ISBN-10: 0-8007-1898-4 (0800718984)
ISBN-13: 978-0-8007-1898-5 (9780800718985)
Publication Date: August 2009
List Price: $19.99

Review: FBI Special Agent Patrick Bowers plays a cat-and-mouse game with a cunning killer in The Knight, the third thriller in this series by Steven James.

Bowers has been called from his home in Colorado to Chicago to testify in a retrial of Richard Devin Basque, a serial killer caught by Bowers and convicted 13 years ago. New evidence has been uncovered, which may lead to Basque's release. This comes at an awkward time for Bowers as he's been asked by his friend, Lt. Kurt Mason of the Denver Police Department, to assist in the investigation of a crime that appears to be linked to a double homicide that took place the day before. What they discover shocks them: at the scene of the first murders, a tiny tape recording is found in the woman's mouth which, when played, tells Bowers that the killer will see him in Chicago. How could he know that Bowers was scheduled to testify and be at this particular crime scene? Subsequent murders occur, and at each scene is evidence that indicates the killer knew Bowers would be there. There seemed to be only one conclusion here, he thinks: "Maybe you are no the one closing in on him; maybe he's the one closing in on you."

As thrilling as the investigation is in The Knight also shows a softer side to Bowers. Bowers, a widower, has had to balance a demanding career with caring for his teenaged step-daughter Tessa. This is especially true now as Tessa recently discovered a diary written by her mother in which she admits she had thoughts of aborting her unborn child. Tessa now decides she has to find her biological father. Bowers wants -- needs -- to be there for Tessa, and uses his considerable resources to help her.

There's a nice balance to The Knight, from the intrigue of the cleverly devised plot to the thrill of the investigation, and from the tense courtroom drama to the loving relationship Bowers has with his step-daughter. It's a smart, thoughtful, and satisfying novel.

Special thanks to guest reviewer Betty of The Betz Review for contributing her review of The Knight and to Baker Publishing Group 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 The Knight from Amazon.com, please click the button to the right. The Knight (Kindle edition) is also available. Learn more about the Kindle, Amazon's Wireless Reading Device.

Synopsis (from the publisher): The stakes have never been higher.

FBI Agent Patrick Bowers is used to tracking the country's most dangerous killers, but now it looks like a killer is tracking him. When he realizes the murderer is using clues from a medieval manuscript as a blueprint for his crimes, Bowers faces a race against time to decipher who the next victim will be and to stop the final shocking murder--which he's beginning to believe might be his own.

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Second Season Premiere of Castle to Include Cameos by Michael Connelly and Stephen J. Cannell

According to the press release issued yesterday by ABC, the season premiere of Castle will feature cameos by two mystery authors: Michael Connelly (previously announced) and Stephen J. Cannell, who also appeared on the series premiere episode earlier this year.

The episode is titled "Deep in Death", and airs Monday, September 21st at 10 PM (ET/PT). Castle (Nathan Fillion) is wrestling with how to repair his relationship with Beckett (Stana Katic), while struggling to finish his soon-to-be-published bestseller, Heat Wave. But circumstances force the pair back together to investigate the mysterious murder of a man found dead, tangled in the limbs of a tree.

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Mystery Book Review: Blood Lines by Kathryn Casey

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

Blood Lines by Kathryn Casey
A Sarah Armstrong Mystery

St. Martin's Minotaur (Hardcover)
ISBN-10: 0-312-37951-X (031237951X)
ISBN-13: 978-0-312-37951-3 (9780312379513)
Publication Date: July 2009
List Price: $24.99

Review: Kathryn Casey interweaves what are essentially three stand-alone novellas, each of which could assume the book's title, into one volume, Blood Lines, the second in her series featuring Texas Ranger Sarah Armstrong.

Two of the storylines are mysteries in the sense they involve Sarah professionally. The more interesting of these is the suicide of a Houston oil company executive, Elizabeth "Billie" Cox. Sarah visits the scene of the woman's death, and is immediately suspicious: it looks staged, too perfect. But there is no obvious evidence to support her suspicions. Her investigation into Billie's death leads to a complex business deal that she was involved with, and information that she had been having an affair, though with whom is unknown. Then there's Billie's sister, Faith, who insists her sister's spirit is communicating with her. The forensic evidence that is uncovered, together with Sarah's insightful questioning of the suspects, and even the "ghostly" happenings in Billie's office, all make for an enjoyable, credible and satisfying procedural investigation.

The second mystery involves a pop singer, Cassidy Collins, who is being targeted by an obsessive fan, one capable of intercepting live audio feeds, replacing the singer's headphone music with words along the lines of "I'm here, and I've come for you." Cassidy's tour is bringing her to Dallas and Houston, and her manager wants assurances that Cassidy can be protected while in the state. Furthermore, a prime suspect is a student at Rice University in Houston. Sarah is assigned the task of doing background checks, and securing the venues prior to Cassidy's arrival. While this storyline has potential, there's really little suspense, the relationship that develops between Sarah and Cassidy is not believable, and the outcome is just a little too pat.

Finally, there's the non-mystery storyline involving Sarah, her mother and daughter, and the difficult birth of a foal on Sarah's ranch. Most mysteries have a personal backstory for the lead characters, but here it is written almost as a stand-alone narrative. It's touching, poignant, and quite rewarding in and of itself.

Taken together, Blood Lines reads like three days in the life of a multi-processing Sarah Armstrong. It's certainly not the typical approach to a mystery novel, and while it generally works, in the end it's also slightly disappointing that there was nothing to link the stories together ... other than the book's title.

Special thanks to St. Martin's Minotaur for providing a copy of Blood Lines for this review.

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

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

Synopsis (from the publisher): Sarah Armstrong has her hands full with two cases at once: A persistent and potentially lethal stalker pursues pop mega-star Cassidy Collins, and a high-energy Houston businesswoman is found dead in her house.

Though the businesswoman’s death is being called a suicide, when Sarah is shown photographs of the scene, something seems off. It looks too perfect, almost staged, and Billie Cox apparently had every reason to live. The victim’s sister is convinced Billie was murdered and urges Sarah to take a closer look. During her investigation, Sarah uncovers a multimillion-dollar scam and traces a trail of greed to Billie’s murderer.

Meanwhile, teenage idol Cassidy receives threatening e-mails and text messages and hears creepy whispers over her headset at performances. Cassie’s next performance is at a Houston rodeo, for which her handlers request extra security. Sarah once again teams up with FBI agent David Garrity, and together they plot to outwit and capture the stalker, but at the concert the unthinkable happens.

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BBC Announces Idris Elba Will Star in a New Drama from Crime Novelist Neil Cross

In a press release this morning, the BBC announced that Idris Elba, who starred in The Wire, will play the character of John Luther, a near-genius murder detective whose brilliant mind can't always save him from the dangerous violence of his passions, in a new 6-part series commissioned by the network from crime novelist Neil Cross titled Luther.

Each episode of Luther is described as an exciting and fast-moving story, with the murderer's identity is known from the start – focussing the drama on the psychic duel between hunter and quarry, who sometimes have more in common than either would like to think.

"I'm delighted that BBC One is bringing Luther to life," creator Cross says, who was also a writer on the series Spooks (released in the US as MI-5). "It's an intense psychological thriller which examines not only human depravity but the complex nature of love and how it's often this – our finest attribute – that leads us into darkness."

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Mystery Book Review: Gold of Kings by Davis Bunn

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

Gold of Kings by Davis Bunn
A Storm Syrell and Harry Bennett Mystery

Howard Books (Hardcover)
ISBN-10: 1-4165-5631-1 (1416556311)
ISBN-13: 978-1-4165-5631-2 (9781416556312)
Publication Date: May 2009
List Price: $24.00

Review: Davis Bunn takes the reader on an extraordinary adventure mystery with Gold of Kings, introducing three memorable characters on a quest, seeking a cache of sacred artifacts.

It was the dream of Sean Syrrell, a wealthy dealer in arts and antiques, to find a treasure that would be the discovery of his life. When he realizes he's been marked for death, he arranges the meeting of three people he believes can complete his life mission. He contacts Emma Webb, an attorney as well as an agent with the Treasury Department, and instructs her to give an envelope containing a key to his granddaughter, Storm. The key is to his bank vault, in which are stored important papers as well as instructions to follow upon his death. He then asks his good friend Harry Bennett, an old dog treasure hunter, to protect Storm, who may be in as much danger as Syrrell. When Syrrell dies and the three meet, they know they are looking for a treasure, but what is it? Their only answer they're given is, that they'll know it when they find it.

The author does a wonderful job introducing conflict and uncertainty within the trio. Harry is certain they will be successful, though isn't sure exactly what that will ultimately mean. Storm is confident of her own abilities as dealer of antiquities, but has lived in the shadow of her great uncle. Will she be able to live up to his expectations? And though Emma is an outsider here, she really wants to participate in the journey. Her job as a Federal agent, though, gives the others pause; is she committed to working with them, or is she secretly participating on behalf of the US -- or some other -- government?

There is much more here to recommend. The settings, from Florida to London and Paris to Cyprus, are beautifully depicted. The plot, combining ancient history in a modern fictional story, compares favorably with the best thrillers. Gold of Kings is a remarkable novel, and is highly recommended.

Special thanks to guest reviewer Betty of The Betz Review for contributing her review of Gold of Kings and to Simon & Schuster 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 Gold of Kings from Amazon.com, please click the button to the right. Gold of Kings (Kindle edition) is also available. Learn more about the Kindle, Amazon's Wireless Reading Device.

Synopsis (from the publisher): A dealer in art and antiquities, Storm Syrrell arranges her life as she does her work -- into neat, orderly categories. But when her grandfather is murdered, all certainties are crushingly replaced by suspicions. She struggles to understand his death -- and decipher the frayed leather journal she finds hidden in his vault. Storm soon realizes that, far from being simply a discreet art broker, Sean Syrrell was a trusted go-between in the highest ranks of business and government in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.

But not all of Sean's associates were quite so lofty. Enter Harry Bennett, a scruffy professional treasure hunter just released from a Caribbean jail, followed by Emma Webb, a US government lawyer with links to Interpol. Storm pushes her doubts aside, locks the door to her Palm Beach art gallery, and opens herself to the quest begun by her grandfather.

Their trail leads them ever farther afield -- London, France, Istanbul, Cyprus -- and ever deeper into danger. The thrill of the search is haunted by Storm's determination to bring Sean's murderers to justice. Storm and Harry in turn are targeted by an unknown assassin and saved from death only by Harry's split-second reactions.

Their quest homes in on the Copper Scroll of Qumran and controversial claims made by the Jewish historian Josephus. Hidden beneath the dust and mysteries of two thousand years lies the reason behind Sean Syrrell's murder and the find of a lifetime: a fortune in gold of great historical significance. Storm begins to grasp the potential magnitude such artifacts will have on contemporary religion and politics -- especially the competing historical claims to Jerusalem. Some seek to claim the gold for the treasure it represents; others are determined to destroy it. With the tangled motives of greed and power now in focus, old allies become new enemies. Through this, something unexpected tugs at Storm. The sacred relics represent a formidable metaphor to an ancient faith; will her search include a renewal of her own faith?

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