Mystery Bestsellers for August 20, 2010

A list of the top 15 mystery hardcover bestsellers for the week ending August 20th, 2010 has been posted on the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books website.

Just some minor shuffling among the top 10 this week, with The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson once again at the top of the list. Two new titles debut this week.

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Coming in at number 14 is the 2nd mystery in the Hailey Dean series, Death on the D-List by Nancy Grace.

The brutal slayings of a string of her patients in New York and a horrific attempt on her own life leave Hailey Dean down, but not defeated. After a yearlong respite back home in the Southland, former violent crimes prosecutor Hailey Dean finally returns to her apartment in the sky overlooking Manhattan. Hailey's determined to rebuild a normal life and settle back into her growing practice as a therapist. But in a twist of fate, Hailey agrees to follow her heart and fight crime once again, this time in a new arena, in front of a camera! Under the hot lights of a TV studio, Hailey learns the TV industry's not so glamorous. In fact, it's downright deadly!

Waning celebrities, all stunning actresses, each one a shining star turned has-been now struggling to get off the D-List and back into the limelight, meet with a bloody stage exit ... murder! Hailey's archenemy, Lieutenant Ethan Kolker, the NYPD cop who hunted Hailey down for the murders of her own patients, now wants the past forgotten and reaches out for Hailey's help to solve the murders. In a race against the clock, Hailey has no idea that TV can be murder! 

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Debuting in 15th position is The Postcard Killers, a collaboration between James Patterson and Swedish bestsellilng author Liza Marklund.

NYPD detective Jacob Kanon is on a tour of Europe's most gorgeous cities. But the sights aren't what draw him -- he sees each museum, each cathedral, and each cafe through the eyes of his daughter's killer.

Kanon's daughter, Kimmy, and her boyfriend were murdered while on vacation in Rome. Since then, young couples in Paris, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, and Stockholm have been found dead. Little connects the murders, other than a postcard to the local newspaper that precedes each new victim.

Now Kanon teams up with the Swedish reporter, Dessie Larsson, who has just received a postcard in Stockholm -- and they think they know where the next victims will be.

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The top four mystery bestsellers this week are shown below:

Please visit the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books where we are committed to providing readers and collectors of mystery books with the best and most current information about their favorite authors, titles, and series.

Murder Most Civil by Karen Frisch (Book Review)

Murder Most Civil by Karen Frisch. Non-series. Mainly Murder Press Trade Paperback, June 2010.

Boston socialite Henrietta Newell Cobb's brother, Freddy, stands accused of murder when a prominent abolitionist is killed in his home -- Freddy standing over the body of Angus McLaren when it is found -- in Murder Most Civil, the first in a series of Victorian mysteries by Karen Frisch.

Read the full text of our review at Mysterious Reviews: Murder Most Civil by Karen Frisch.

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Mysterious Reviews is your source for the latest mystery, suspense, thriller, and crime novel reviews, edited by the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books.

Never Wave Goodbye by Doug Magee (Book Review)

Never Wave Goodbye by Doug Magee. Non-series. Touchstone Hardcover, June 2010.

The innocent act of a parent watching their excited child board a bus for summer camp, only to learn later that the bus is a decoy and the child has been kidnapped is the premise for the suspense thriller Never Wave Goodbye by Doug Magee.

Read the full text of our review at Mysterious Reviews: Never Wave Goodbye by Doug Magee.

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Mysterious Reviews is your source for the latest mystery, suspense, thriller, and crime novel reviews, edited by the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books.

Idris Elba Cast as Dr. Alex Cross in Film Adaptation of Cross by James Patterson

Deadline: New York is reporting that Idris Elba has been cast as Dr. Alex Cross in the film adaptation of the novel Cross, the 12th in the series of suspense thrillers by James Patterson. Production is expected to begin next year.

Morgan Freeman starred as the forensic psychologist in two previous film adaptations, Along Came a Spider and Kiss the Girls.

In the book, Cross's former partner, John Sampson, calls in a favor. He is tracking a serial rapist in Georgetown, one whose brutal modus operandi recalls a case Sampson and Cross worked together years earlier. When the case reveals a connection to his wife's death, Cross latches on for the most urgent and terrifying ride of his life.

A Bad Day's Work by Nora McFarland (Book Review)

A Bad Day's Work by Nora McFarland. A Lilly Hawkins Mystery. Touchstone Trade Paperback, August 2010.

After Bakersfield television "shooter" Lilly Hawkins gets a scoop and films a crime scene in which a local young man is found murdered, events begin to spiral out of control for her in A Bad Day's Work, the first mystery in this series by Nora McFarland.

Read the full text of our review at Mysterious Reviews: A Bad Day's Work by Nora McFarland.

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Mysterious Reviews is your source for the latest mystery, suspense, thriller, and crime novel reviews, edited by the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books.

Seith Mann to Write, Direct Film Adaptation of Graphic Noir Novel Miss: Better Living Through Crime

Last November, we wrote that the 2002 graphic noir novel Miss: Better Living Through Crime, written by Philippe Thirault and illustrated by Marc Riou and Mark Vigouroux, was being adapted for film. Today The Hollywood Reporter's Heat Vision blog is reporting that the Spike Lee executive produced film will now be written and directed by Seith Mann, whose credits include the television series The Wire and Fringe.

Set during the early 1900s in New York City, Miss tells the tale of two unlikely partners in crime, Enola, a poor white girl who has learned to survive by hook or by crook, and Slim, a black pimp with an uncertain past, trying to keep one foot out of the grave. When their paths cross, and their options run out, Enola and Slim forge a partnership as killers for hire.

“Watching Seith’s work, you see he really knows how to develop characters and show their humanity,” said producer Hicham Benkirane. “In addition to that, he really gets that universe, that particular time in American history and the noir world.”

eHarlequin Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense Titles for September 2010

eHarlequin.com has released the September 2010 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.)

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Legacy of Lies by Jill Elizabeth Nelson

Evidence from a decades-old murder is the last thing Nicole Keller-Mattson expected to find in her grandmother's backyard. The finger-pointing and accusations aimed at her family were easier to predict. Everyone in Ellendale is eager to blame the Kellers—but after an attack leaves Nicole's grandmother in a coma, only Nicole can clear the family name. With the assistance of police chief Rich Hendricks, she stands a chance of solving the mystery … if she's willing to accept Rich's help. Nicole lost her husband in the line of duty—trusting another cop is too painful. But not trusting Rich could be deadly.

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Formula for Danger by Camy Tang

Someone wants dermatologist Rachel Grant's latest research, and they'll do anything to get it. Including trashing the plants needed for her breakthrough scar-reducing cream—and trying to run Rachel down. Desperate for help, she turns to Edward Villa, the only man she trusts. But the greenhouse owner knows too much about Rachel's research, and now he's a target, too. Break-ins, muggings, murder … the would-be thief is getting desperate—and getting closer. Edward vows to protect Rachel at all costs. Yet with time ticking away, Edward knows they have to uncover the madman shadowing Rachel before their chance for a future is destroyed.

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Out on a Limb by Rachelle McCalla

When Elise McAlister's hang glider is shot down, she survives the fall to find her troubles have followed her to the ground. There's a gunman chasing her and, worst of all, he runs her right into Henry "Cutch" McCutcheon's arms. With the generations-old feud between their families, depending on any McCutcheon is difficult. And depending on Cutch, the man who loved her but left her, seems disastrous. But Cutch won't lose this chance to win Elise back—and keep her safe. Together, they take to the skies again to find the source of the deadly secret, little knowing someone's already setting them up for a fall …

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High-Stakes Inheritance by Susan Sleeman

Despite the threatening warning, Mia Blackburn won't let anyone scare her from the rustic resort she inherits from her beloved uncle. But when a fire traps her in a burning barn, she fears that she won't get out alive. Just in time her ex-boyfriend volunteer firefighter Ryan Morgan rescues her from the deadly blaze. He had once broken her heart, yet she still has feelings for him. With Ryan insisting on keeping a close eye on her, Mia feels safer—and closer to Ryan than ever before. Yet the threats haven't stopped, and soon Mia's high-stakes inheritance includes a murder—and Mia could be the next victim.

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If you enjoy the suspense books in 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.

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Short Lists for 2010 Ned Kelly Awards Announced

The short list for the 2010 Ned Kelly Awards have been announced by the Crime Writers Association of Australia. The awards recognize outstanding works in the field of crime fiction and non-fiction by Australian authors.

Best Novel
◊ The Black Russian by Lenny Bartulin
◊ Bleed for Me by Michael Robotham
◊ Wyatt by Garry Disher

Best First Novel
◊ Document Z by Andrew Croome
◊ King of the Cross by Mark Dapin
◊ Death and the Running Patterer by Robin Adair

Best Short Story
◊ "The Fountain of Justice" by Lucy Sussex
◊ "Leaving the Fountainhead" by Zane Lovitt
◊ "The Travertine Fountain" by Robert Goodman

Best True Crime
◊ Crooks Like Us by Peter Doyle
◊ Pitcairn: Paradise Lost by Kathy Marks
◊ Medical Murder by Robert M. Kaplan

The winners will be announced at a ceremony on September 3rd. A Lifetime Achievement Award will also be presented to Peter Doyle.

Rooney Mara Cast as Lisbeth Salander in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

The Hollywood Reporter Heat Vision blog is reporting that Sony has cast Rooney Mara in the role of Lisbeth Salander in the English-language film adaptation of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson. Mara will star opposite Daniel Craig, who will play Mikael Blomkvist.

Sony co-chairman Amy Pascal recently said that "Every actress in the world wants [the part]. It’s the greatest character for a girl since I-don’t-know-what."

David Fincher is directing the first in what is expected to be a trilogy of films based on the books.

Rooney Mara's previous roles have primarily been in television episodes, though she starred in the 2010 re-imagining of the horror film A Nightmare on Elm Street and will have a role in The Social Network, also directed by Fincher.

Death by Diamonds by Annette Blair (Book Review)

Death by Diamonds by Annette Blair. A Vintage Magic Mystery with Madeira Cutler. Berkley Prime Crime Mass Market Paperback, July 2010.

Vintage clothing shop owner Madeira "Maddie" Cutler travels to New York City after the death of Broadway star Dominique DeLong and is drawn into an investigation of how she died -- and who might have wanted her dead -- in Death by Diamonds, the third mystery in this series by Annette Blair.

Read the full text of our review at Mysterious Reviews: Death by Diamonds by Annette Blair.

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Mysterious Reviews is your source for the latest mystery, suspense, thriller, and crime novel reviews, edited by the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books.