Fox Names Director for Film Adaptation of The Passage by Justin Cronin

Fox 2000 is moving forward with its film adaptation of The Passage, the first book in an expected trilogy of thrillers by Justin Cronin, with the naming of Matt Reeves as director. The studio acquired the rights to the book prior to its publication in 2010.

The Passage is the story of Amy — abandoned by her mother at the age of six, pursued and then imprisoned by the shadowy figures behind a government experiment of apocalyptic proportions. But Special Agent Wolgast, the lawman sent to track her down, is disarmed by the curiously quiet girl — and risks everything to save her. As the experiment goes nightmarishly wrong, Wolgast secures her escape — but he can't stop society's collapse. And as Amy walks alone, across miles and decades, into a future dark with violence and despair, she is filled with the mysterious and terrifying knowledge that only she has the power to save the ruined world.

(Source: Deadline|New York)

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

Review: The Priest by Gerard O'Donovan

The Priest by Gerard O'Donovan. A Mike Mulcahy Mystery. Scribner Hardcover, March 2011.

Novels about serial killers are a dime a dozen, but Gerard O’Donovan has a different take, giving readers two realistic characters in DI Mike Mulcahy and journalist Siobhan Fallon and a serial attacker who is thoroughly and disturbingly believable.

Read the full text of our review at Mysterious Reviews: The Priest by Gerard O'Donovan.

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Telemystery: A Mind to Kill, New This Week on DVD

Telemystery, your source for one of the most comprehensive selections of detective, amateur sleuth, private investigator, and suspense television mystery series, mini-series and made-for-television movies, now available on or coming soon to DVD or Blu-ray disc, is profiling one series being released this week.

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Philip Madoc stars as Detective Chief Inspector Noel Bain in the Welsh crime drama A Mind to Kill.

Back on the job after a leave of absence, Bain finds that everything has changed. His team has been disbanded, and he feels like an anachronism in the penny-pinching new department. Even worse, his daughter, Hannah, has decided to join the force. But she also inspires him to get back on track, solving horrific crimes with instinct, intelligence, and a passion for defending the innocent.

The A Mind to Kill: Series Three DVD set of 4 discs contain the final eight episodes of the series, which aired on an irregular schedule from 1998 through 2002.

Our TV and film reviewer, Mr. E., has reviewed the previous two DVD sets of this series, calling the episodes "sophisticated and solidly plotted". A review of this third set will be published later this week.

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Visit the Telemystery website to discover more television mystery series currently available on and coming soon to DVD and Blu-ray disc.

Mystery Godoku Puzzle for April 18, 2011

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!).

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This week's letters and mystery clue:

A E H N O P R T U

R. Scott Bakker’s 2009 psychological thriller has this title (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!

Review: Blotto, Twinks, and the Ex-King's Daughter by Simon Brett

Blotto, Twinks, and the Ex-King's Daughter by Simon Brett. A Blotto and Twinks Mystery. Felony & Mayhem Trade Paperback, February 2011.

This first in a series is a delightfully entertaining spin on the traditional English manor house murder mystery. Nearly every aspect of the book, from the character names and their mannerisms to the slap-stick scenes, is over-the-top yet done so in an affectionate way.

Read the full text of our review at Mysterious Reviews: Blotto, Twinks, and the Ex-King's Daughter by Simon Brett.

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Read the first chapter(s) of Blotto, Twinks, and the Ex-King's Daughter below. Use the Aa settings button to adjust text size, line spacing, and word density.

HBO's Game of Thrones Premieres Sunday April 17th

HBO's fantasy/adventure/suspense series Game of Thrones premieres tomorrow, Sunday April 17th.

Adapted from the novel A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin, the 10-episode series, set in Westeros, a land where "summers span decades and winters can last a lifetime," chronicles the violent dynastic struggles among noble families of the seven kingdoms for control of the Iron Throne.

HBO wants to make sure you have plenty of opportunities to see the premiere episode. It will air initially at 9 PM (ET/PT), repeating at 11:15 PM (ET/PT). On Monday, April 17th, it will air across all six HBO channels and be available via HBO On Demand. Additional showings are scheduled for later in the week. (You can see the entire schedule on the HBO: Game of Thrones website.)

We've previously posted an extended (13 minute) preview of the opening episode, though it, and many more previews and behind-the-scenes videos, are available on the series website.

Games of Mystery: BFG Spring Fever Sale!

This weekend only, Big Fish Games is having a Spring Fever Sale!

All standard games can be purchased for $4.99. (Collector's editions are excluded.)

Simply use coupon code springfever at checkout. And there is no limit to the number of games you can purchase at this price.

For a list of mystery- and suspense-themed games available, see our BFG Adventure and BFG Hidden Object game lists on Games of Mystery.

The Big Fish Games Spring Fever Sale ends Sunday, April 17th, 2011.

Mystery Bestsellers for April 15, 2011

A list of the top 15 mystery hardcover bestsellers for the week ending April 15th, 2011 has been posted by the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books.

The 12th No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency mystery, The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party by Alexander McCall Smith, retains the top spot. One new title, which debuted lower on the list last week, moves into the top 15 this week.

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The 16th culinary mystery featuring Colorado caterer Goldy Shulz, Crunch Time by Diane Mott Davidson, moves up to number 11.

Goldy cooks up big trouble as she tries to help her longtime friend and fellow chef Yolanda Garcia. When the rental house shared by Yolanda and her irrepressible aunt Ferdinanda is destroyed by arson, the pair move in with cop-turned-PI Ernest McLeod. But then Ernest is shot dead and his house is set on fire, nearly killing Goldy, Yolanda, Ferdinanda, and nine beagle puppies that Ernest had recently rescued from a puppy mill.

Concerned for her friends, Goldy invites them to stay with her while the sheriff's department investigates. Yet even Goldy's house isn't safe, and after a failed break-in by an unknown intruder a cop is sent to keep an eye on things. Then a second body is found.

Swapping her chef's hat for a sleuthing cap, the intrepid Goldy steps up the investigation. But she's got to move fast. It's crunch time to close in on a killer, before he can close in on her.

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For more mystery books news, 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.

New Trailer for Cowboys & Aliens

Universal Studios has released a new trailer for its sci-fi/western action thriller Cowboys & Aliens, based on the graphic novel by Fred Van Lente, Andrew Foley, and Luciano Lima from an idea by Scott Mitchell Rosenberg.

The film is set in 1873 in the Arizona Territory. A stranger (Daniel Craig) with no memory of his past stumbles into the hard desert town of Absolution. The only hint to his history is a mysterious shackle that encircles one wrist. What he discovers is that the people of Absolution don’t welcome strangers, and nobody makes a move on its streets unless ordered to do so by the iron-fisted Colonel Dolarhyde (Harrison Ford). It’s a town that lives in fear.

But Absolution is about to experience fear it can scarcely comprehend as the desolate city is attacked by marauders from the sky. Screaming down with breathtaking velocity and blinding lights to abduct the helpless one by one, these monsters challenge everything the residents have ever known.

Now, the stranger they rejected is their only hope for salvation. As this gunslinger slowly starts to remember who he is and where he’s been, he realizes he holds a secret that could give the town a fighting chance against the alien force. With the help of the elusive traveler Ella (Olivia Wilde), he pulls together a posse comprised of former opponents –- townsfolk, Dolarhyde and his boys, outlaws and Apache warriors –- all in danger of annihilation. United against a common enemy, they will prepare for an epic showdown for survival.

Cowboys & Aliens opens in theaters July 29th, 2011. Watch the new trailer for the film below.

Review: Vienna Twilight by Frank Tallis

Vienna Twilight by Frank Tallis. A Max Liebermann Mystery. Random House Trade Paperback, April 2011.

This period mystery immerses the reader in early 20th century Vienna, following two very different characters, who not only bring their own style to the investigation of a serial killer, but also creatively apply their respective knowledge of psychology and the criminal element to bear on the case.

Read the full text of our review at Mysterious Reviews: Vienna Twilight by Frank Tallis.

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