Mysteries on TV: Blood Ties, Bones, Murphy's Law, and Van der Valk Mysteries, 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 complete set DVDs and three series that have season DVDs or movies being released this week.

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The second (and final) season of Blood Ties picks up where the first one ended with private investigator Vicky Nelson (Christina Cox) and 480-year-old vampire Henry Fitzroy (Kyle Schmid) being drawn into baffling cases involving a terrifying pantheon of occult adversaries.

Blood Ties was based on characters depicted in the five "Blood" novels by Tanya Huff, and aired 22 episodes on Lifetime.

The Blood Ties: Season Two DVD set of 3 discs contain the 9 episodes that aired from October through December, 2007.

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Uncovering the truth behind gruesome homicides by examining rotting flesh is just another day at the office for a prosaic forensic anthropologist and her cocky FBI partner in Bones. Starring Emily Deschanel as the brilliant yet socially awkward Dr. Temperance "Bones" Brennan, and David Boreanaz as FBI Special Agent Seeley Booth, the series is powered by dark humor and sizzling chemistry. Forming an improbable bond, Booth and Bones conduct gruesome investigations into the disturbing realities of true crime aided by a group of unlikely colleagues, including an insect expert and conspiracy theorist, coroner and psychologist, among others.

Bones is based on characters created by mystery author Kathy Reichs.

The Bones: Season Four DVD set of 6 discs contain the 22 episodes that aired on Fox from September 2008 through May 2009.

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James Nesbitt starred as Tommy Murphy in Murphy's Law, a series that aired on BBC for 5 series (seasons) from 2003 through 2007.

Guilt-ridden over the death of his young daughter, who was slain by the IRA, he flees to London to work undercover for the Metropolitan Police. Hardheaded, hard-drinking, brash, and brooding, Murphy is down on his luck. But he still has more than a bit of the old Irish charm, flashing quick wit and a roguish grin.

Murphy's Law was based on characters created by novelist Colin Bateman.

The Murphy's Law: Series One DVD set of 3 discs contain the 4 episodes that originally aired during the spring of 2003.

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The Van der Valk Mysteries was an ITV series that starred Barry Foster as Dutch detective Simon van der Valk and was based on the character created by crime novelist Nicolas Freeling. The series was set in, and filmed on location in, Amsterdam.

Suave but cynical, the cultured Simon "Piet" Van der Valk has a taste for the finer things in life--symphony music, good wine, and the cooking of his beautiful French-born wife. But even long-suffering Arlette (Susan Travers) can tell that Piet is most at home when he’s at work. There, alongside easygoing Inspecteur Johnny Kroon (Michael Latimer), every new case is a personal challenge to this unorthodox cop on the streets of old Amsterdam.

The Van der Valk Mysteries: Set One DVD set of 2 discs contain the 6 episodes that originally aired during September and October, 1972.

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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 Book Review: The Assailant by James Patrick Hunt

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

The Assailant by James Patrick Hunt
A George Hastings Mystery

St. Martin's Minotaur (Hardcover)
ISBN-10: 0-312-54578-9 (0312545789)
ISBN-13: 978-0-312-54578-9 (9780312545789)
Publication Date: June 2009
List Price: $24.95

Review: The third challenge in the series James Patrick Hunt has created for mid-forty-year-old St. Louis PD detective, Lieutenant George Hastings, is to find a psychopath who Hunt reveals early on is driven to believe that it’s only strong men who “can return from a succession of murder and rape with contentment and joy in their hearts.” Hastings, a transplanted Nebraskan, eventually meets the test, but only after three women are brutally murdered, he gets help or hindrance from his colleagues and superiors, and readers get wide-ranging insights into the procedures of a modern-day police department, the malfunctioning mind of a madman and the lives of pleasure business employees, their often secretive clients, and stressed-out cops. With its minimalist style and its crackling, run-along dialogue, Hunt’s novel sweeps its readers from a horrific opening to a cathartic conclusion, and with a riveting story in between.

At thirty-three years of age, St. Mary’s Hospital ER physician, Dr. Raymond Sheffield, single, well-respected, and earning $400,000 annually, should be at the top of his game. Problem is his game has become murder, he’s morphed into Springheel Jim, and his pawns are three young women, two of whom are twenty-year-old high-dollar prostitutes street-named Ashley and Estelle, with Marla, the third victim, a forty-two-year old real estate agent and wife of a wealthy St. Louis businessman. Leading the investigation into the brutal killings, at least until the politics and media pressures boil over, is hard-charging Detective Hastings. As he toils he balances his duty against his emotions over his thirteen-year-old daughter, Amy, his estranged ex-wife, Eileen, with “her own selfish motives,” and his recently formed romantic alliance with criminal defence attorney, Carol McGuire, who knows Hastings “was the sort who could relax only on his own terms.” With chapters that read like short stories and fascinating cutaways that fill in the gaps, Hunt cranks up the tension as he dissects Sheffield’s warped brain and pits him against the rest of the world, looking down on his ER colleagues, maliciously plotting his murders, coldly executing his victims, and aggressively locking horns with his law enforcement bloodhounds. It is a masterfully chilling depiction of “evil is as evil does.” Just as well done, though, are the expert grillings that Hastings subjects various suspects to as he works clues, trails, motives and them to find the crazed killer. And when he finally overtakes Springheel Jim and bests him in a heart-racing psychological game of killer versus cop, it’s a relief to see good can still triumph over evil no matter how decadent nor where situated nor perpetrated by nor against whom.

Special thanks to M. Wayne Cunningham (mw_cunningham@telus.net) for contributing his review of The Assailant and to St. Martin's Minotaur for providing a copy of the book for this review.

Review Copyright © 2009 — M. Wayne Cunningham — All Rights Reserved — Reprinted with Permission

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

Synopsis (from the publisher): Co-Ed Slain.

That’s the call that brings St. Louis Police Lieutenant George Hastings to the downtown banks of the Mississippi River, where Reesa Woods has been strangled and dumped. The hard-charging Hastings is no stranger to murder, but he’s stuck without any leads until a second body—also strangled—turns up across town and he knows he’s chasing a monster.

A talented doctor with an otherwise ordinary and enviable life, Raymond Sheffield has some very dark needs. His first victims are targets of opportunity, but his ambitions go far beyond that. He’s formed a taste for killing, and his only interest is in getting better at it.

As the violence mounts, the line between upstanding citizens and their secret desires gets thinner and thinner in a thrilling game of catch-me-if-you-can.

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George Pelecanos Wins 2008 Hammett Prize

Sarah Weinman posted on Twitter that George Pelecanos has won the 2008 Hammett Prize for his novel The Turnaround. The Hammett Prize, which was announced last night at an awards banquet during the NAIBA Fall Conference, is given annually by the North American Branch of the International Association of Crime Writers for literary excellence in the field of crime writing. (Awards are given out for books published during the previous year.)

Our congratulations to Mr. Pelecanos! Visit Mystery Book Awards for more information on over 30 other awards recognizing outstanding mystery fiction.

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Games of Mystery: Becky Brogan in The Mystery of Meane Manor

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.

Download →

In the sleepy village of Old Haven, Becky Brogan's school assignment has led her to the mysterious Meane Manor on the outskirts of town. A foul mist wafts around the dilapidated house, an old fortune teller box sits abandoned in the foyer, and eerie journal pages from the past take Becky on a hidden object mystery hunt. Collect clues and pieces of the past as you help Becky get closer and closer to solving The Mystery of Meane Manor!

Becky Brogan: The Mystery of Meane Manor may be downloaded and purchased for $6.99 with a Big Fish Game Club membership. A demonstration version (102.06 MB) may be downloaded and played for free for one hour.

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, Enlightenus, Cate West: The Vanishing Files, Return to Mysterious Island 2: Mina's Fate, 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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Mystery Godoku Puzzle for October 05, 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 C D J L N O R S

This author’s short stories include Death of a Tattle-Monger and The Mule Head Bank Robbery. (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: An Eye for an Eye by Irene Hannon

Mysterious Reviews, mysteries reviewed by the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books, is publishing a new review of An Eye for an Eye by Irene Hannon. For our blog readers, we are printing it first here in advance of its publication on our website.

An Eye for an Eye by Irene Hannon
A Heroes of Quantico Mystery

Revell (Trade Paperback)
ISBN-10: 0-8007-3311-8 (0800733118)
ISBN-13: 978-0-8007-3311-7 (9780800733117)
Publication Date: September 2009
List Price: $12.99

Review: A team of FBI agents is on the hunt for a sniper in An Eye For An Eye, the second romantic suspense thriller in the Heroes of Quantico series by Irene Hannon.

The romance part of this suspense thriller is between agent Mark Sanders and clinical psychologist Emily Lawson. Mark is in St. Louis on assignment, jogging through a park, when he notices Emily, a woman he knew as a teenager 20 years earlier. "A guy didn't forget his first kiss," he recalls. They meet and agree to go off for coffee to catch up. But just as they're preparing to leave the park, a shot is fired ... that introduces the suspense part of this romantic thriller: which of the two was being targeted? Emily is hit and barely survives, leaving a very determined Mark to identify who was shooting at them and why.

The pacing of An Eye For An Eye is brisk to the point of being relentless. It is certainly possible to complete this book in a couple of hours, but it should be read more for the romance than the suspense. The sniper is initially anonymous, but when a new character is introduced well into the book, it's clear the anonymous sniper now has a name. And his target is also now obviously known. This does not necessarily represent a disappointing turn of events, but it does mean that the whodunit aspect of the story is rapidly converted into a police procedural, though a fairly weak one at that. Overlaying it all, however, is the relationship between Mark and Emily, initially one of old friends getting reacquainted, later one of deep, and at times touching, emotion.

An Eye For An Eye isn't a memorable or even exciting romantic suspense thriller, but is a pleasant way of spending a lazy afternoon.

Special thanks to Revell Books for providing a copy of An Eye for an Eye for this review.

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

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

Synopsis (from the publisher): After he accidentally shoots a teenager at a tense standoff, FBI Hostage Rescue Team member Mark Sanders is sent to St. Louis to work as a field agent and get his bearings while the bad press starts to settle. Just weeks away from returning to Quantico to resume his work on the HRT, Mark has a chance encounter with an old flame, Emily Lawson. But their reunion is cut short by a sniper.

Now Mark must find the shooter before he tries to strike again. But what is his motive--and who was his intended target? Can Mark put the pieces together, keep Emily safe, and rekindle a long-dead relationship at the same time?

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Mysteries on DVD Review: The Beiderbecke Tapes

We're still in the process of setting up a new website with reviews of mystery TV shows and movies which may (or may not) have a separate blog. In the meantime, we'll continue to post our television and film reviews here on Mystery Books News and advise you of when the new site is up.

Film: The Beiderbecke Tapes. Original release date: 12/13/1987; DVD release date: 09/15/2009.

Trevor Chaplin (James Bolam), Jill Swinburne (Barbara Flynn), John the Barman (David Battley), Sylvia (Beryl Reid), Mr. Carter (Dudley Sutton), Mr. Peterson (Malcolm Storry), Mr. Wheeler (Keith Smith). Screenplay adapted by Alan Plater from his novel The Beiderbecke Tapes.

The Beiderbecke Tapes is the second in what is collectively known as "The Beiderbecke Trilogy", a series that aired on ITV from 1984 through 1988.

This is the first of the trilogy I've watched, not having seen either The Beiderbecke Affair (which preceded it, and is available on DVD) or The Beiderbecke Connection (which followed, but is not yet available on DVD). But this episode (as it were, since it's divided into 2 parts) seems to stand alone, not obviously depending in any way on the previous one.

The story opens with Trevor Chaplin, a school-teacher at San Quentin High, being evicted from his home in Yorkshire. He's offered "temporary cohabitation" arrangements with another teacher from the same school, one Jill Swinburne, with whom he has a romantic relationship. About the only thing he salvages from his previous residence is a vast collection of jazz records and cassette tapes.

One evening at a local pub they meet John, the barman, a 1960s-era radical, who also expresses an interest in jazz and offers to send over to Trevor some audio tapes of American jazz great Bix Beiderbecke. The tapes arrive, but much to Trevor's surprise, one of them contains what seems to be a plot to illegally dispose of some toxic nuclear waste. Jill, who leans strongly towards liberal causes, decides to do something about it. What, though, she isn't quite sure. Trevor doesn't want to get involved until someone breaks into their home, apparently looking for the tape. Now it's personal, and he agrees with Jill that something must be done about it. What, though, they're not quite sure.

Soon thereafter, John the Barman is reported missing, then dead. Jill and Trevor conclude, not unreasonably, that his death is connected to the tape he sent to Trevor. What isn't clear is if John intended for Trevor to have the tape, or if it was accidentally included with the others. And if Trevor was meant to have it, what did John want him to do with it?

Meanwhile, San Quentin High is planning a school trip to Holland and then on to Greece, and the headmaster wants Jill and Trevor to go along as chaperones. They agree, thinking it's a good excuse to get out of town and presumably consider what they're going to do about the tape. But they're followed by a mysterious group of men to Holland, from whom they escape, not on to Greece as expected, but to Scotland.

Jill and Trevor eventually return home, only to be confronted by the authorities once again, at which time they learn of the origin of the tape and its true meaning.

The Beiderbecke Tapes is a comedy/mystery series that's not too comedic nor too mysterious. There are funny scenes to be sure, with the laughs coming from the witty dialog and the situations Jill and Trevor find themselves in. The mystery element is just convoluted enough to be credible, but is somewhat diluted by everything else that's going on.

For me, the secondary characters were far more interesting and entertaining than Trevor and Jill. Trevor, in particular, seems miscast, and his relationship with Jill is just a little too detached. Jill is clearly the strong, smart one here, but Trevor comes across as drab and a little too wimpish. They're presumably supposed to be in their 30s (though they look much older), but I wonder, given the storyline, if it might have worked better had they been in their 20s or 60s instead. Or if the story were set in the 1970s rather than the 1980s. Something's just a bit off in this regard.

The production values are fairly high, being filmed on location in Yorkshire, the Netherlands, and Scotland. The soundtrack is almost exclusively jazz-oriented, which adds an interesting flair but does get a bit repetitive, especially during the second part of the episode. Finally, it isn't clear if the scenes were intentionally filmed with a washed-out appearance or if the DVD was made from a poor master, but everything has a grayish tint to it.

Despite being over 20 years old, much of the plot remains relevant today. Yes, there are some dated references, and as it typical with British television, there is always something lost in the translation for American audiences, but The Beiderbecke Tapes is surprisingly topical. At well over 2 hours, though, it's far too long, with several scenes that have little to do with moving the story forward that could easily been shortened or deleted. Still, it's an enjoyable viewing experience, and one probably better suited for fans of comedy rather than those of mystery.

The Beiderbecke Tapes runs 154 minutes and is not rated (though is comparable to TV-PG D/L/S).

The DVD of The Beiderbecke Tapes is available to purchase. Also available: The Beiderbecke Affair. The episode is available to rent from Netflix: The Beiderbecke Tapes.

Reviewed on 10/04/2009 by Mr. E., television and movie critic for Mystery Books News.

Review Copyright © 2009 — Omnimystery — All Rights Reserved.

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Games of Mystery: Destination Treasure Island, 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.

Download →

Help Jim Hawkins find Long John Silver's hidden treasure! Avoid dangerous and deadly traps set by the legendary pirate as you race against other adventurers and discover unimaginable riches! Transport yourself to a tropical land full of mystery and excitement in Destination: Treasure Island. Can you follow Long John Silver's clues across the sea and find his incredible loot?

Also available: Destination: Treasure Island Game Walkthrough.

Destination: Treasure Island may be downloaded and purchased for $6.99 with a Big Fish Game Club membership. Due to its large size (1019.76 MB) a demonstration version is not available for this game.

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, Enlightenus, Cate West: The Vanishing Files, Return to Mysterious Island 2: Mina's Fate, 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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FX Networks Orders Second New Crime Drama for Next Season

FX Networks has announced the order of an additional crime drama for its next television season.

Terriers stars Donal Logue as Hank Dolworth, an ex-cop who partners with his best friend Britt Pollack (Michael Raymond-James) to launch an unlicensed private investigation business. The duo, both struggling with maturity issues, solve crimes while avoiding danger and responsibility. No air date was announced.

Terriers joins Lawman, a series we reported on in July, which stars Timothy Olyphant in the lead role of Deputy U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens, a 19th century-style lawman enforcing his own brand of justice in today's world, and based on the popular Elmore Leonard character most recently found in his short story "Fire in the Hole". Lawman premieres in March.

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The Mystery Bookshelf: Death at Solstice by Lucha Corpi, a Gloria Damasco Mystery

The Mystery Bookshelf, where you can discover a library of new mysteries, is pleased to feature a new mystery series title we recently received from the publisher.

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Death at Solstice by Lucha Corpi
A Gloria Damasco Mystery (4th in series)
Arte Publico Press (Trade Paperback)
Publication Date: October 2009
ISBN-13: 978-1-55885-547-2

About Death at Solstice (from the publisher): Chicana detective Gloria Damasco has a ''dark gift,'' an extrasensory prescience that underscores her investigations and compels her to solve numerous cases. This time, the recurring vision haunting her dreams contains two pairs of dark eyes watching her in the night, a phantom horse and rider, and the voice of a woman pleading for help. But most disquieting of all is Gloria's sensation of being trapped underwater, unable to free herself, unable to breathe.

When Gloria is asked to help the owners of the Oro Blanco winery in California's Shenandoah Valley, she finds herself on the road to the legendary Gold Country. And she can't help but wonder if the ever-more persistent visions might foreshadow this new case that involves the theft of a family heirloom, a pair of antique diamond and emerald earrings rumored to have belonged to Mexico's Empress Carlota.

Soon Gloria learns that there s more to the case than stolen jewelry. Mysterious accidents, threatening anonymous notes, the disappearance of a woman believed to be a saint, and a ghost horse thought to have belonged to notorious bandit Joaquin Murrieta are some of the pieces Gloria struggles to fit together. A woman's gruesome murder and the discovery of a group of young women from Mexico being held against their will in an abandoned house send Gloria on a fateful journey to a Witches' Sabbath to find the final pieces of the puzzle before someone else is killed.

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About Lucha Corpi: She holds a B.A. in Comparative Literature from UC-Berkley and an M.A. in World and Comparative Literature from San Francisco State University. A tenured teacher in the Oakland Public Schools Neighborhood Centers Program for 30 years, she retired in 2005.