Stettin Station by David Downing, A John Russell Mystery (3rd in series)

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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Stettin Station by David Downing
A John Russell Mystery (3rd in series)
Soho Crime (Trade Paperback)
Publication Date: April 2011
ISBN-13: 978-1-56947-919-3

About Stettin Station (from the publisher): In the fall of 1941, Anglo-American journalist John Russell is still living in Berlin, tied to the increasingly alien city by his love for two Berliners: his fourteen-year-old son, Paul, and his longtime girlfriend, Effi. Forced to work for both German and American Intelligence, he's searching for a way out of Germany. Can he escape and take Effi with him?

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About David Downing: A native of suburban London, he is the author of numerous works of fiction and nonfiction for both adults and children, including four novels featuring Anglo-American journalist John Russell and the nonfiction work Sealing Their Fate: The Twenty-Two Days That Decided World War II. He lives with his wife, an American acupuncturist, in Guildford, England.

 Mysteries by David Downing reviewed by Mysterious Reviews: Zoo Station (2007), Silesian Station (2008) and Stettin Station (2010).

The Ice Princess by Camilla Läckberg, A Fjällbacka Mystery (1st in series)

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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The Ice Princess by Camilla Läckberg
A Fjällbacka Mystery (1st in series)
Free Press (Trade Paperback)
Publication Date: April 2011
ISBN-13: 978-1-4516-2174-7

About The Ice Princess (from the publisher): Erica Falck returns to her tiny, remote hometown of Fjällbacka, a seaside village in Sweden, after her parents’ deaths only to encounter another tragedy: the suicide of her childhood best friend, Alex. It’s Erica herself who finds Alex’s body—suspended in a bathtub of frozen water, her wrists slashed. Erica is bewildered: Why would a beautiful woman who had it all take her own life? Teaming up with police detective Patrik Hedström, Erica begins to uncover shocking events from Alex’s childhood. As one horrifying fact after another comes to light, Erica and Patrik’s curiosity gives way to obsession—and their flirtation grows into uncontrollable attraction. But it’s not long before one thing becomes very clear: a deadly secret is at stake, and there’s someone out there who will do anything—even commit murder—to protect it.

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About Camilla Läckberg: Working as an economist in Stockholm until a course in creative writing triggered a career change, her first six novels have all become #1 bestsellers in Sweden. She lives in Stockholm with her family. Visit her website at CamillaLackberg.com.

The Price of Candy by Rod Hoisington (Mystery Book Review)

The Price of Candy by Rod Hoisington. A Sandy Reid Mystery. EnteraBooks Trade Paperback, January 2011.

The breezy, fast-paced narrative is suggestive of a cozy-style murder mystery -- but that is not the case here. It is, rather, an edgy, not altogether believeable and overly complicated -- and unnecessarily so -- amateur sleuth investigation with multiple plot threads that don't always mesh well.

Read the full text of our review at Mysterious Reviews: The Price of Candy by Rod Hoisington.

Purchase Options:  |  |  | 

Read the first chapter(s) of The Price of Candy below. Use the Aa settings button to adjust text size, line spacing, and word density.

Getting Away is Deadly by Sara Rosett is Today's Featured Free Kindle Mystery

MystereBooks is pleased to feature a mystery title that is currently available in Kindle eBook format for free from Amazon.com. We don't know how long it will be offered at this special price (typically only until a certain number of downloads have been completed), so download it today!

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Getting Away is Deadly by Sara Rosett
An Ellie Avery "Mom Zone" Mystery (3rd in series)
Kensington (Kindle eBook)
Download Link

About Getting Away is Deadly (from the publisher): With swollen feet and swelling belly, pregnant Ellie bravely joins the nation's tourists in seeing the sights in Washington D.C. Husband Mitch has to attend military training, but as Ellie visits monuments and museums, she has other Air Force wives for company, including her best friend Abby. She also plans to catch-up with Mitch's scatter-brained sister Summer, who is finishing college while working as a nanny for a Washington media star, and do a personal favor for her favorite cousin. Factor in some serious shopping, and this sounds like a fun trip. But before she can take care of her cousin's request, the man she is supposed to meet breaks their date ... because someone tried to kill him on his way to see her. Is it a random mugging? Ellie almost buys that explanation. Then a fatal incident at the Metro station, Summer's furtive behavior, and too many people telling lies, as well as keeping secrets, convince Ellie that something is rotten in the nation's capital. Should she do the safe thing and pack her bags? Not likely when Ellie Avery is just the right woman to clean up the most mysterious cases of murder.

Read the first chapter(s) of Getting Away is Deadly below. Use the Aa button to adjust the display settings (font size, line spacing, word density).

Andy Mulligan's Young Adult Thriller Trash to be Adapted for Film

Andy Mulligan's young adult thriller Trash is being adapted for film. Stephen Daldry (The Hours, Billy Elliot) will direct a script by Richard Curtis (The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency).

The story is set in an unnamed Third World country in the not-so-distant future, and features three "dumpsite boys", who make a living picking through the mountains of garbage on the outskirts of a large city.

One unlucky-lucky day, one of the boys finds something very special and very mysterious. So mysterious that he decides to keep it, even when the city police offer a handsome reward for its return. That decision brings with it terrifying consequences, and soon the dumpsite boys must use all of their cunning and courage to stay ahead of their pursuers. It's up to Raphael, Gardo, and Rat — boys who have no education, no parents, no homes, and no money — to solve the mystery and right a terrible wrong.

For a middle-school student perspective on the book, read a review of Trash on Book Trends.

(Source: Variety.)

You can read the first chapter(s) of Trash below. Use the Aa settings button to adjust text size, line spacing, and word density.

Miranda Lambert Developing Crime Drama for ABC Family

Just days after winning four trophies at the Academy of Country Music Awards on Sunday night, we're learning that Miranda Lambert will develop a mystery drama series for ABC Family.

The untitled project will be based on the country singer's childhood in Texas, and involve a family whose parents are private investigators, with the children helping to solve crimes. Lambert will co-produce a script written by Memphis Beat's Scott Kaufer.

(Source: The Hollywood Reporter.)

AMC's The Killing 2-Hour Premiere Available Online

If you missed the premiere of the excellent murder mystery The Killing last Sunday on AMC, the cable network has made the two hour opener available online. (It actually comprises the first two episodes and runs just over 94 minutes.)

The Killing ties together three distinct stories around a single murder including the detectives assigned to the case, the victim's grieving family, and the suspects. Set in Seattle, the story also explores local politics as it follows politicians connected to the case. As the series unfolds, it becomes clear that there are no accidents; everyone has a secret, and while the characters think they've moved on, their past isn't done with them.

The next episode airs in its regular time slot, Sundays at 10 PM (ET/PT). Watch a preview below.

Take the Case of the Crime of the Century in Art of Murder: Deadly Secrets, New from BFG

Games of Mystery is pleased to announce the availability of a new mystery casual game from Big Fish Games released today and available to BFG Club members. 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.

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New York City has been hit with a series of murders and the body count is piling up. For FBI Agent Nicole Bonnet, finding a lead is becoming impossible, as it seems the victims are all antiquarians and collectors and have no connection with one another. However, when a retired subway worker is killed, the investigation takes an interesting turn.

It seems these murders are somehow linked to what is now known as the Crime of the Century -- a bank robbery where the loot was never recovered. Time is short and Agent Bonnet must make the connection before another person falls victim.

Warning: This game contains graphic content.

See also the other games in this series: Art of Murder: FBI Confidential, Art of Murder: Hunt for the Puppeteer, and Art of Murder: Cards of Destiny.

Art of Murder: Deadly Secrets may be downloaded and purchased for $6.99 with a Big Fish Game Club membership. A demonstration version (155.55 MB) may be downloaded and played for free for one hour.

Watch a preview video below:

Get any standard game for $6.99 with a Big Fish Game Club membership. Other benefits include the $2.99 Daily Deal, Tomorrow's Game Today, and special member rewards. And if you purchase any 6 games within a single month, you earn a free game with the Big Fish Game Club Monthly Punch Card! (Collector's Editions earn 3 punches each, half-way towards your free game!)

Read Ms. Terri's reviews of the adventure and casual mystery games featured on this site, including Midnight Mysteries: The Edgar Allan Poe Conspiracy, Nancy Drew Dossier: Lights, Camera, Curses!, Enlightenus, and many more!

Big Fish Games: Bestsellers

Big Fish Games: New releases

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Games of Mystery is your source for mystery-themed video, electronic, and board games, parties for kids and adults, and murder mystery weekends and mystery getaway vacations!

Male Leads Cast in Film Adaptation of The Hunger Games

Lionsgate Films announced in a press release today that the pivotal roles of Peeta Mellark and Gale Hawthorne have been cast in its film adaptation of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. We have previously reported that Jennifer Lawrence landed the role of Katniss Everdeen.

Peeta, who accompanies Katniss into the 74th annual Hunger Games, will be played by Josh Hutcherson (The Kids Are Alright), while Gale, Katniss's best friend and hunting partner, will be played by Liam Hemsworth (The Last Song).

The Hunger Games chronicles a dystopic Capitol which requires its twelve subjugated districts to pay tribute in the form of a teenage boy and girl, forced to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight-to-the-death live televised event. Katniss Everdeen's little sister is chosen in the lottery to participate and Katniss volunteers to take her place. Although persevering through hardship is commonplace for Katniss, she must start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love in order to win the games and return home.

The Hunger Games is scheduled to be in theaters March 23rd, 2012.

Mystery and Suspense Films, New This Week on DVD (110405)

Checking through our list of films currently scheduled for release this week on DVD and/or Blu-ray disc, shown below are those that fall into the mystery, suspense, thriller and adventure categories.

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Purchase/Rental Options

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2010)

With their dour, bookish cousin Eustace (Will Poulter) in tow, the youngest Pevensie offspring -- Lucy (Georgie Henley) and Edmund (Skandar Keynes) -- take an unexpected trip back to Narnia and join noble King Caspian (Ben Barnes) for an epic high-seas adventure in this third film adapted from the fantasy adventure series by C. S. Lewis. Setting sail aboard the Dawn Treader, the young heroes head for the end of the world, determined to rescue seven once-powerful lords banished by Caspian's evil uncle. (PG; 113 minutes)