OMN Welcomes Elise Warner, Author of the Augusta Weidenmaier Mysteries

Omnimystery News is pleased to welcome Elise Warner, author of Scene Stealer (Carina Press, June 2010 eBook), the first mystery in the Augusta Weidenmaier series.

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Photo provided courtesy of
Elise Warner

I'm Elise Warner, the author of Scene Stealer and I'd like to introduce you to a few of my favorite people. The men and women who live in the pages of my cozy mystery have taken over but I'm still enormously fond of them.

First, I'd like you to meet Miss Augusta Weidenmaier, a retired schoolteacher—she taught English classes and tends to correct everyone's mistakes. An indomitable woman, she understands children and is determined to find Kevin Corcoran. Kevin is the kidnapped nine-year-old spokesperson for the Cowboy Bob's Big, Bad Burger commercials. Kevin's agent is Abner T. Bean—Abner is a sweet man, too sweet to be an agent.

Then, there's my villain. I've become rather fond of my villain. His name is Lawrence Dunn and he is a faded Shakespearean actor who believes he is America's answer to Laurence Olivier.

I mustn't forget Lieutenant Brown, the police officer in charge of this fast food caper who not only has to find Kevin and his kidnapper, he has to put up with Miss Weidenmaier's interference. The action takes place in New York City from Greenwich Village and off, off, very off Broadway to Lincoln Center and a concert by the Philharmonic. Central Park, where a motion picture is being filmed, to a television studio where a talk show host named Norman Bottoms will say anything to reach an audience that's bigger than Letterman's, Leno's or Oprah's.

I hope you'll enjoy reading Scene Stealer as much as I enjoyed writing it with the help of my associates—Miss Weidenmaier, Kevin Corcoran, Lieutenant Brown, Lawrence Dunn and their friends and adversaries.

Before becoming enthused about writing, I worked in the theatre. I began writing plays—one titled Small Time won the Guinny presented by Theatre Guinevere. Short stories and articles followed, second prize in an American Kennel Club competition (a short story based on my poodle Jackie) and now my cozy mystery—published as an eBook by Carina Press.

To learn more about Scene Stealer and me, please visit me online at EliseWarner.com, or find me on my blog, Facebook, or Twitter. A complimentary eBook copy of Scene Stealer will be given to the person who submits the most interesting comment.

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About Scene Stealer: "For a moment our eyes met; his were frightened, seeking help. Was it my imagination gone wild? No. After all those years of teaching elementary school, I knew this child was afraid."

After a chance encounter on the subway, Miss Augusta Weidenmaier, a retired schoolteacher living in New York's Greenwich Village, is determined to help the police in the search for missing nine-year-old child actor Kevin Corcoran. Never mind that she has no training in law enforcement—she spent decades teaching. She knows when someone is lying.

Once set upon a course of action, the indomitable Miss Weidenmaier cannot be swayed—or intimidated. Facing down megalomaniacal business executives, stuck-up celebrities, pushy stage mothers and a rabble-rousing talk show host, Miss Weidenmaier will stop at nothing—not even the disapproval of one Lieutenant Brown of the NYPD, who does not take kindly to amateur sleuthing—to bring young Kevin home.

Scene Stealer is available popular eBook formats from Amazon.com (Kindle edition), Barnes&Noble (Nook Book edition), Kobo.com, or directly from Carina Press.

Encore to Air Mini-Series Adaptation of The Take by Martina Cole

In news from about a week ago (hat tip to In Reference to Murder for alerting us to it), Encore will air the US premiere of the mini-series adaptation of Martina Cole's 2005 crime novel The Take this fall. (The book was never published in the US.)

Originally broadcast on Sky 1 in 2009, The Take is a gripping family drama set in the criminal underworld spanning 10 years from the height of Thatcherism to the birth of New Labour.

In the book (and mini-series), Freddie Jackson is just out of prison. He's done his time, made the right connections and now he's ready to use them. His wife Jackie dreams of having her husband home but she's forgotten the rows and the girls Freddie can't leave alone. His younger cousin, Jimmy, dreams of making a name for himself on Freddie's coattails.

At first Freddie gets everything he ever wanted and Jimmy is taken along for the ride: a growing crime empire that gives them all the respect and money they've hungered for. But behind it all sits Ozzy — the legendary criminal godfather who manipulates Freddie and Jimmy's fates from behind the bars of his prison cell.

Bitter, resentful and increasingly unstable, Jackie sees her life crumble while her little sister Maggie's star rises. In love with Freddie's cousin Jimmy, Maggie is determined not to end up like her sister.

Freddie and Jackie watch Jimmy and Maggie achieve all the dreams that they themselves failed to realise: love, family, stability and respect.

Jealous resentment and an inability to control himself force Freddie to put both the business and family at risk. Torn between being loyal to a cousin he loves and being true to his own destiny, Jimmy is forced to decide between protecting Freddie or the life he has built with Maggie.

For those who can't wait to watch it on Encore, The Take was released on DVD last year and is also available through Netflix.

(Source: Encore press release)

Review: Eyes Wide Open by Andrew Gross

Eyes Wide Open by Andrew Gross. Non-series. William Morrow Hardcover, June 2011.

This strongly written, deftly plotted novel of suspense about the lives of an extended family and the misfortune that brings them together has a personal connection to the author, who based some of the characters in part on members of his own family, in particular his nephew Alex, who, like the character from the book, died in a fall from a cliff in California.

Read the full text of our review at Mysterious Reviews: Eyes Wide Open by Andrew Gross.

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Mystery and Suspense Films, New This Week on DVD (110719)

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

Limitless (2011)

Aspiring author Eddie Morra (Bradley Cooper) is suffering from chronic writer's block, but his life changes instantly when an old friend introduces him to NZT, a revolutionary new pharmaceutical that allows him to tap his full potential. With every synapse crackling, Eddie can recall everything he has ever read, seen or heard, learn any language in a day, comprehend complex equations and beguile anyone he meets — as long as he keeps taking the untested drug. Soon Eddie takes Wall Street by storm, parlaying a small stake into millions.

His accomplishments catch the eye of mega-mogul Carl Van Loon (Robert De Niro), who invites him to help broker the largest merger in corporate history. But they also bring Eddie to the attention of people willing to do anything to get their hands on his stash of NZT. With his life in jeopardy and the drug's brutal side effects taking their toll, Eddie dodges mysterious stalkers, a vicious gangster and an intense police investigation as he attempts to hang on to his dwindling supply long enough to outwit his enemies. (PG-13; 105 minutes)

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House of the Rising Sun (2011)

Ray (Dave Bautista), an ex-cop, is starting a new life looking to stay out of trouble. One evening, on Ray's watch, the nightclub he works for is robbed and the owner's son is shot dead. As his criminal past is exposed, Ray hunts for the person responsible for this crime in an effort to clear his own name. Ray must get to the bottom of this as both the mob and cops start to close in on him as their target suspect. (R; 90 minutes)

Sherlock Holmes: The House of Silk Cover Released

Earlier this year Mulholland Books announced that it would be publishing the first Sherlock Holmes novel authorized by the estate of Arthur Conan Doyle, to be written by Anthony Horowitz.

Today, the publisher released the elegant book cover, the calligraphic title — The House of Silk — in matte gold on a rich blue silk background.

The plot is still a bit of a mystery, as it were, but is known to take place in 1890, a year after the death of Sherlock Holmes. Dr. Watson reveals that he waited so long to write the tale as "[i]t is no exaggeration to suggest it could tear apart the very fabric of society ..."

The book is scheduled to hit bookstores on November 1st.

(Source: Mulholland Books)

Mystery Godoku Puzzle for July 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 D E H M N O S W

This 2011 thriller by Christopher Golden and Tim Lebbon is the fourth in the Hidden Cities series (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!

Review: Trespasser by Paul Doiron

Trespasser by Paul Doiron. A Mike Bowditch Mystery. Minotaur Books Hardcover, June 2011.

The overall plot is nicely crafted, and the Maine setting during "mud season" adds an atmospheric backdrop to the narrative, but it is the strongly developed character of Mike Bowditch that lifts this crime novel into the top tier of murder mysteries published this summer.

Read the full text of our review at Mysterious Reviews: Trespasser by Paul Doiron.

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Recently Published Indie Mysteries (110717)

We're always on the lookout for new mystery, suspense and thriller books, and with this series of recurring posts, we're looking at Indie Mysteries, books published by small, independent publishers, or self-published, that recently caught our eye ... and may be of interest to you too. Most of these titles, selected primarily from the Smashwords website, are ebook only, though some may also be available in a print format.

Two of titles listed below are included in Smashwords' July Summer Sale. Visit the website to see more books available for up to 100% off (yes ... that means free!), including many in the "Mystery and Detective" and "Thriller and Suspense" categories.

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Dressed for a Kill
by Brian Bianco
Non-Series
Self Published (Ebook)
July 2011

To Chicago Trib reporter Miles Fischer, it was just another rape and murder trial, until the two convicted felons are found dead in the muddy parking lot of a rundown bar just days after their surprising acquittal. His curiosity turns to suspicion after searching the archives where he discovers two more cases similar to the one in Tweeksbury. Is it a coincidence? Miles doesn't think so.

In fact, he believes he knows who the killer is after a chance encounter. Miles draws the ire of the FBI and becomes tight-lipped when confronted to disclose what he knows after publishing an article connecting all three. He wants the story and the glory that goes with it, and believes he is the only one who can identify the killer. He sets his sights on Seattle and creates a game of cat-and-mouse with the FBI and an ex-cop turned private investigator, who is after the same thing but for different reasons. What he and the private investigator don't realize is just how deadly this game is about to become.

Dressed for a Kill was originally published in trade paperback in 2009 by BookSurge.

This title is included in Smashwords' July Summer Sale. Use coupon code SSW25 at checkout to receive 25% off the purchase price.

Also available in a Kindle edition.

Mind Switch
by Lorne L. Bentley
A Fred Harris Mystery
1st in series
The Fiction Works (Ebook)
July 2011

Fred Harris, a Southern Florida police lieutenant, is faced with two mass killings. Despite political pressures to seek an accelerated conviction, Fred believes the crime is more complex than it first appears. His investigation leads him to an ominous downtown organization staffed with extraordinary personnel, each possessing exceptional extra sensory abilities.

Also available in a Kindle edition.

The Affairs of Men
by Rick Nichols
A John Logan Thriller
2nd in series
Seven Realms Publishing (Ebook)
July 2011

Private Investigator John Logan has always been haunted by the tragic mission years before that took the lives of his black-ops team. But when he sees one of his former teammates alive in downtown Coral Bay, with a young woman by his side, and a horde of Russian hit men on his tail…Logan realizes that there was more to the ill-fated mission than he originally believed.

Driven by the need to search for his missing friend, his investigation is sidetracked when a beautiful architect asks him to look into her spouse’s suspicious activities. In spite of his rule against doing domestic cases, Logan agrees and uncovers far more than he could have ever suspected as both cases begin to intertwine. With the beautiful and tough Teri Johnson, and enigmatic Mason Killian by his side, Logan peels back the layers of a lethal plan that could have deadly consequences for the people of Coral Bay. As the danger rises, Logan will be forced to visit those places he had sworn off forever, dark shadows of his heart not seen since the death of his beloved Shikira.

Also available in a Kindle edition.

Murder in Maui
by R. Barri Flowers
A Leila Kahana Mystery
1st in series
Self Published (Ebook)
July 2011

Maui County homicide detective and composite sketch artist Leila Kahana is the protagonist. A Hawaiian native, Leila follows in the footsteps of her grandfather who was the County of Maui police chief. She is tough, smart, sexy, and outspoken.

Leila’s partner is Detective Sergeant Blake Seymour, separated from his wife and pushing to make lieutenant.

Leila and Seymour investigate the execution-style murder of two prominent doctors in an upscale condominium. Larry Nagasaka and Elizabeth Racine are found lying naked in bed in a pool of their own blood. It is learned that they are married, but not to each other, and that the doctors belong to a prestigious medical association.

Assisting the detectives in the case are fellow members of the homicide squad, Detectives Trent Ferguson and Rachel Lancaster, run by Lieutenant Paul Ortega who is contemplating retirement. As they interview suspects and collect evidence, more doctors belonging to the medical association are murdered, making it clear to all that they have a ruthless and determined serial killer on their hands.

Leila, attempting to step out of the shadow of her grandfather and prove her worth to a skeptical Polynesian mother, is determined to solve this case, made more difficult as all the victims have skeletons in their closets.

This title is included in Smashwords' July Summer Sale. Use coupon code SSW25 at checkout to receive 25% off the purchase price.

Also available in a Kindle edition.

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For more recently published Indie Mysteries, visit the Smashwords Mystery and Detective category page or the Thriller and Suspense category page.

Zen Premieres on Masterpiece Mystery Sunday, July 17th

Tomorrow, Sunday July 17th, the first of three weekly episodes of Zen air on PBS's Masterpiece Mystery! (Check your local listings for times.)

Based on a character created by crime novelist Michael Dibdin, Zen stars Rufus Sewell as Italian police detective Aurelio Zen. All three of the episodes to be aired are adapted from novels in the series.

Zen, the sometimes cool, sometimes bumbling, but always impeccably stylish murder squad detective is saddled with an "unfortunate" reputation for integrity, and it hasn't exactly helped his career. Nor is his personal life thriving. In spite of advances from female suspects as and colleagues alike, he is pushing 40 and living with his doting mother after a failed marriage.

In the opening episode, titled "Vendetta" (and based on the second book in the series), Zen is handed a chance to play politics and salvage his career when a debauched billionaire construction magnate is murdered in his heavily fortified mountain retreat. Zen is driven to find something it seems only he wants — the truth. Well, the truth and the murder squad's new secretary, Tania Moretti.

Meanwhile, a vengeful killer is making his way to Rome, brutally executing those who sent him away to prison for murder. The final target of his vendetta: Aurelio Zen.

Watch a preview for the series below.

Reviews of Mystery and Suspense Books for Kids, New This Week on Book Trends (110716)

Book Trends, a review site for young adult and children books, published several new book reviews this past week. We're presenting here a summary of those in the mystery/suspense/thriller category.

Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey. A stand-alone thriller, recommended for readers aged 13 and older. Lexile measure: HL590L. Reviewed by a 6th grade student, who writes, "What I liked about Jasper Jones is the diversity of the story. It switches between a mystery to the life of Charlie Bucktin and back. However, sometimes it drags on with too many descriptions, making Jasper Jones boring at times. But for the most part, it is packed with action, so Jasper Jones can never be too boring." (Read the entire review here.)

For more reviews of children and young adult books of all genres, visit Book Trends; their reviews will amaze you! You can also follow Book Trends on Twitter.