A couple of weeks ago we learned that CBS had cast Jonny Lee Miller as Sherlock Holmes in the pilot of Elementary, its contemporary adaptation of the stories by Arthur Conan Doyle set in New York City.
Now we're learning that the Watson character will be played by Lucy Liu … though presumably under a different name! (Dr. Joan Watson … or so we believe.)
CBS is clearly going out of its way to differentiate this potential series from Sherlock, the BBC version, which recently completed its second season in the UK — we'll see it here in the US this May — and has been renewed for a third season.
(Related article: TV|Line.com.)
Monday, February 27, 2012
Telemystery: CBS Casts Lucy Liu as Watson in Elementary
Second Trailer for Season Two of Game of Thrones
HBO has released a second trailer for the second season of Game of Thrones; we've embedded it below. The trailer's tagline: "Power and grace."
Adapted from the series of "A Song of Ice and Fire" epic fantasy novels by George R. R. Martin — we believe this second season will generally follow the storyline of A Clash of Kings, the second book in the series — Game of Thrones returns on April 1st, 2012.
Telemystery: Law & Order, Midsomer Murders, and Mission: Impossible, New This Week on DVD
Telemystery, your source for one of the most comprehensive listings of crime drama, amateur sleuth, private investigator, mystery and suspense television series, mini-series and made-for-television movies, now available on or coming soon to DVD or Blu-ray disc, is profiling three series being released this week.
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The long-running original Law & Order reaches the half-way point in its series run with this season.
Steven Hill stars as District Attorney Adam Schiff in his final season with the series. Joining him are series regulars Jerry Orbach, Jesse L. Martin, S. Epatha Merkerson, Sam Waterston and Angie Harmon as the men and women striving to bring justice to the streets of New York. This season's roster of cases include a murderous rampage in Central Park, a sinister insurance scam involving Holocaust victims and an academically successful college student who is leading a double life.
Law & Order: Season Ten is available on DVD and consists of episodes that originally aired on NBC during the 1999/2000 television season.
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The cozy villages of Midsomer County reveal their most sinister secrets in Midsomer Murders, a drama based on characters created by crime novelist Caroline Graham.
The series stars John Nettles as the unflappable Detective Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby, with Jason Hughes as his earnest, efficient protégé, Detective Sergeant Ben Jones.
Midsomer Murders: Set Nineteen is available on DVD and Blu-ray disc and consists of four episodes that originally aired on ITV as part of its 13th season during 2010. "The Sword of Guillaume", included on this set, introduces Barnaby's cousin, DCI John Barnaby (played by Neil Dudgeon), who takes over as the series lead at the beginning of the 14th season.
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Peter Graves reprised his role as Jim Phelps, the brilliant and charismatic leader of the covert Impossible Missions Force, inMission: Impossible ('89), a high-tech update of the original CBS series.
The IMF regulars include Thaao Penghlis Nicholas Black, Phil Morris as Grant Collier, Tony Hamilton as Max Harte, and Jane Badler as Shannon Reed. Notable this season is guest star Greg Morris, who returns as Barney Collier. (In an interesting casting twist, Morris's son Phil plays Collier's son Grant in the series.)
Mission: Impossible ('89): Season Two — its final season — is available on DVD and consists of episodes that originally aired on ABC from September 1989 through February 1990.
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Visit the Telemystery website to discover more television mystery series currently available on and coming soon to DVD, Blu-ray disc, or video on demand.
OMN Welcomes Suspense Novelist Mary Burton
Omnimystery News is pleased to welcome suspense novelist Mary Burton, whose latest thriller is Before She Dies (Zebra Books, February 2012 Mass Market Paperback and ebook editions).
Today Mary tells us about one of her favorite characters: setting.
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Way back in the day before I'd sold my first book, I didn't put much thought into setting. A book could be anywhere, by my way of thinking. Then I got a nibble on my third unpublished manuscript. The agent said she liked everything but the setting. Thrilled for any kind of feedback, I decided I had nothing to loose by changing the setting. I mean, how hard could it be?
Photo provided courtesy of
Mary Burton
Turns out the setting changed the entire book. Not only did moving the book's setting from the eastern U.S. to the west change the character back stories, but it changed weather conditions, travel times and housing. In a word it changed everything.
That valuable rewrite taught me a powerful lesson about Setting.
With that old but never forgotten lesson in mind, I sat down to write Before She Dies, Senseless and Merciless. I put a great deal of thought into where I staged the books. Did I want my next romantic suspense to be set in a big city? What about the country? A coastal town? The mountains? I considered all these questions. I ended up choosing Alexandria, Virginia.
I had lived in Alexandria for several years. I knew the streets, the general layout and the overall energy of the place. Alexandria has a great and rich history. Modern buildings sit side by side with structures built in the eighteenth century. It is close to Washington, D.C. Though urban, it is less than an hour from the country. By my way of thinking it had all the best elements for my books.
And it did not disappoint.
On an historic tour of the city last year, our guide took us down cobblestone streets and along the shores of the Potomac. She explained the history behind the colonial style buildings, many of which are now home to trendy shops and restaurants. We visited the Torpedo Factory Art Center, which at one time had been a munitions factory. Even showed us an abandoned building set for demolition. It was that abandoned building that really caught my attention. It became the first crime scene detailed in Before She Dies.
As you read Before She Dies, know that I've walked the streets that the characters walked. I hope you enjoy reading about Alexandria as much as I enjoyed visiting and reading about it.
Thanks for letting me visit!
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A Virginia native whose family's Richmond roots run as deep as the nation's, Mary was born, raised in, and raised her own family there. She graduated from Hollins University and began a career in marketing before writing her first novel, a historical romance, published in 2000. Eleven more novels and three novellas for Harlequin followed. In total, she has written nineteen novels and four novellas.
When not killing people — the total is upwards of a dozen now — or researching, Mary can be found pursuing her second love, baking, practicing Astanga yoga, enjoying her family, playing with her miniature dachshunds Buddy and Bella, or pursuing her Baking & Pastry Arts Certificate at the University of Richmond.
For more information about Mary and her books, visit her website at MaryBurton.com.
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About Before She Dies:
In death, they are purified. Holding his victims under water, he washes away their sins as they struggle for their last breath. Then he stakes their bodies to the ground, exposing them for what they really are. Witches, sent to tempt and to corrupt …
No one knows about defense attorney Charlotte Wellington's murdered sister, or about her childhood spent with the carnival that's just arrived in town. For Charlotte, what's past is past. But others don't agree. And as a madman's body count rises, she and Detective Daniel Rokov are drawn into a mission that's become terrifyingly personal …
At last, she is within his reach. All his victims deserve their fate, but her guilt is greatest. And with every scream, he will make her see what it means to suffer and repent–before she dies …
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Read an excerpt from Before She Dies below, an example of Mary's detailed attention to setting, in this case the crime scene:
"Identification?" Sinclair knelt by the body and stared into the woman's face half cloaked by her hair.
"No ID. No jewelry. And there are red marks on the side of her neck. Looks like he got her with a stun gun several times." Paulie knelt down and examined the hair draping her forehead. He snapped more pictures and then gently moved the hair back. "Have a look at this."
Sinclair squatted and glanced down. "She's been tattooed with the word Witch." The bold letters covered most of the delicate forehead skin, still puckered red and raw from the tattoo needle. "Shit."
Rokov's half-baked theory had been correct, but it gave him no pleasure. "She have any other tats or markings?"
"Not on the exposed areas. But there could be other body art under the clothes."
"I can't imagine anyone willingly doing this to themselves," Sinclair said. "But we've seen all kinds of oddities."
Rokov glanced around the room. The flowered wallpaper was peeling off in frayed strips, and the ceiling was soiled with a dozen watermarks. All the furniture had been stripped out, and a shadow imprint on the back wall suggested there'd been a bar at one point. A thick coating of dust covered the room. "Footprints?"
"Two distinct sets," Paulie said. "The first I identified as Barrows. He was kind enough not to trample all over the floor, which left me with clear impressions of the second set." Paulie pointed to the window. "The best impression is over by the window, and I've marked it with a cone. I've got an electrostatic dust print collector. It will pull an impression."
"Rokov moved toward the footprints carefully to mirror Barrow's path. "It looks like a size eleven or twelve." He studied the grooved pattern. "Sneakers?"
"That's my guess, but it will take time to narrow the brand."
"The impressions are clear and defined. He walked carefully and with precision."
Paulie shrugged. "You know I don't make impulsive calls."
"I'm not holding you to it," Rokov said.
"That's what they all say. I'll have a report by tomorrow."
Rokov studied the impression. "Inside back right heel looks worn. He's favoring the foot."
Paulie snapped more pictures. "Could be an injury or he could have had a wart at one time, and it changed the way he walks. Doesn't mean he noticeably favors the foot now."
"So he moved her here," Rokov says. "Positions her, stakes her, and then moves to the window to stare at what?"
"The river. The full moon. It was a clear night last night. He stops to enjoy the full moon. Maybe he heard a sound."
"If he's got a thing about witches, the moon makes sense," Rokov said. "The full moon has a lot of power in some circles. Stands to reason he'd be drawn to the moon."
Sinclair rose. "We need to figure out who she is. I'll head downstairs and put a call into Missing Persons and see what they have."
"Good." Rokov turned to Paulie. "Does she have defensive wounds? Did she fight for her life?"
"I'm going to bag her hands. Hopefully, the medical examiner will find something under her nails."
Rokov knelt by the victim's right hand and studied the crude stake that had pierced the flesh of her palm. It would have taken tremendous force to drive the wood through the flesh. He wondered if she'd known her attacker. Most murdered women knew their killers. Lovers. Husbands. Boyfriends. Love could turn vicious instantly.
"I wanted you to see her before I pulled the stakes. If I can pull them out now, I can roll her over."
"Need a hand?" Rokov said.
"I got it." Paulie slid on workman's gloves over his surgical gloves and grabbed a hold of the stake. "The floor boards are rotted." He pulled hard, and the stake wriggled free of the floor and the victim's palm. Carefully, he moved to the other side and repeated. Then it was on to the feet. The last stake proved stubborn and it took assistance from Rokov to free it.
Paulie laid the stakes out and photographed them. Then very carefully, he turned the body on its side. The victim's jacket was embossed with the word Magic.
(Excerpt © Mary Burton.)
Simple Simon by Ryne Douglas Pearson is Today's Featured Free MystereBook
MystereBooks is pleased to feature Simple Simon by Ryne Douglas Pearson as today's free mystery ebook.
This title was listed as free as of the date and time of this post. Prices are subject to change without notice. The price displayed on the vendor website at the time of purchase will be the price paid for the book. Please confirm the price of the book before completing your transaction.
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Simple Simon by Ryne Douglas Pearson
An Art Jefferson Mystery
Publisher: Schmuck & Underwood
This fourth (and presumably final) book in this series of mysteries was adapted into the 1998 suspense thriller Mercury Rising.
About Simple Simon (from the publisher): In Chicago's quiet suburbs, sixteen-year-old Simon Lynch is about to become the focus of a global struggle of covert forces. When Simon, an autistic and a savant possessed with mathematical genius, unknowingly cracks the newest, most secure code developed by the National Security Agency, he becomes the innocent target of a deadly plan.
Simon's life depends on an unlikely ally, Special Agent Art Jefferson, the number two man at the FBI's field office in the Windy City. To save Simon, Special Agent Jefferson must face his greatest challenge — Keiko Kimura, a terrorist as beautiful as she is lethal. But Jefferson soon discovers that he is also being hunted in cyberspace by unknown forces within the intelligence community, forces perhaps closer than he'd like to think. The bond between Art and Simon turns out to be as crucial to their survival as Art's decades of experience in the FBI. Simon lives within his own world of numbers, letters, and words, and to reach him, Art must risk everything or gain nothing. And Simon, too, must learn to look outside himself and trust his new friend.
Important Note: This book was listed for free on the date and time of this post. Prices can and do change without prior notice. Please confirm the price of the book before completing your purchase.
Download Link(s):
For more free mystery ebooks, visit our Free MystereBooks page.
A Noble Cause by J. Gregory Smith is Today's Amazon Kindle Daily Deal
MystereBooks is pleased to feature A Noble Cause by J. Gregory Smith as today's Amazon Kindle Daily Deal. The deal price of $0.99 is valid only for today, Monday, February 27, 2012.
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A Noble Cause by J. Gregory Smith
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
This stand-alone thriller — the first of a new series? — is by the author of the Paul Chang mysteries.
About A Noble Cause (from the publisher): Mark Noble plans a surprise proposal to his beautiful girlfriend during a romantic Caribbean vacation. But before he can pop the question, his girlfriend disappears, and his father — a world famous celebrity doctor who seems to have perfected mind-control — is killed in a mysterious fire back home in Pennsylvania.
When Mark investigates both his girlfriend’s disappearance and his father’s death, he realizes that the two events are connected. He attempts to unravel the mystery with the help of his eccentric grandmother and the courageous crew — one a former Navy SEAL — of her luxury yacht, putting all of their lives in danger as Mark faces a rich and powerful foe determined to pry from Mark a secret he doesn’t even know he possesses.
Important Note: Amazon.com updates its Kindle book deal every day at approximately midnight PT. The title referenced above is available at a discounted price for Monday, February 27, 2012 only.
Download Link(s):
Mystery Godoku Puzzle for February 27, 2012
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 H L O N S T U
This is the title of the third mystery in the Alison Kerby series by E. J. Copperman (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!
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Mr. E. Reviews Anonymous
Purchase/Rental Option(s)
This is an enjoyable, if utterly confusing, film. Historical accuracy or inaccuracy aside — and clearly there is an argument to be made on both sides here — this is an interesting, well-made film with an intriguing premise and one worth seeing.
Read the full text of our review at Mr. E. Reviews Anonymous.
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Mr. E. Reviews is your source for mystery, suspense, thriller, and crime drama reviews of television and film.
The Southern Seahawk by Randall Peffer is Today's Second Featured Free MystereBook
MystereBooks is pleased to feature Southern Seahawk by Randall Peffer as today's second free mystery ebook.
This title was listed as free as of the date and time of this post. Prices are subject to change without notice. The price displayed on the vendor website at the time of purchase will be the price paid for the book. Please confirm the price of the book before completing your transaction.
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Southern Seahawk by Randall Peffer
The Seahawk Trilogy
Publisher: Tyrus Books
About Southern Seahawk (from the publisher): Southern Seahawk, the first novel in the Seahawk Trilogy, grows from the true story of Commander Raphael Semmes’ rise to infamy, becoming the Union’s "Public Enemy Number One." In June, 1861, Semmes’ Confederate cruiser Sumter makes a daring escape through the Federal Blockade of the Mississippi. So begins the commander’s career as the Southern Seahawk. With a hand-picked crew of Southern officers and mercenary seamen, Semmes seizes eight enemy ships in four days, a record never surpassed by any other captain of a warship.
By the time the cruises of the Sumter and her successor Alabama end, Semmes will have taken and burned more than eighty prizes, making him the most successful maritime predator in history. For two and a half years Semmes eludes a pack of pursuers and almost single-handedly drives marine insurance rates so high in the North, that many Yankee ships refuse to sail until he is caught.
Back in Washington, Semmes’ predations fuel feuds within the Lincoln cabinet and incite the spy games of historical figures like courtesans Rose Greenhow, Betty Duval, detective Allan Pinkerton and the commander’s mistress.
Important Note: This book was listed for free on the date and time of this post. Prices can and do change without prior notice. Please confirm the price of the book before completing your purchase.
Download Link(s):
For more free mystery ebooks, visit our Free MystereBooks page.
Retirement Can Be Murder by Phil Edwards is Today's Featured Free MystereBook
MystereBooks is pleased to feature Retirement Can Be Murder by Phil Edwards as today's free mystery ebook.
This title was listed as free as of the date and time of this post. Prices are subject to change without notice. The price displayed on the vendor website at the time of purchase will be the price paid for the book. Please confirm the price of the book before completing your transaction.
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Retirement Can Be Murder by Phil Edwards
A Jake Russo Mystery
Publisher: CreateSpace
This first (of four to date) in a series of light comic mysteries features roving reporter Jake Russo.
About Retirement Can Be Murder (from the publisher): When Jake Russo is transferred from a New York City beat to sunny Sarasota, his reporting life slows down. Instead of covering life in the big city, he's stuck writing puff pieces about bridge games and shuffleboard. His biggest challenge? Sticking to his diet.
That all changes when an older resident mysteriously dies on the beach. Jake has to figure out why and how she died. With the help of his bumbling octogenarian cameraman, Jake will have to overcome his lack of confidence and find the truth. He'll discover love, conspiracy, and surprising secrets in Florida's retirement communities.
Important Note: This book was listed for free on the date and time of this post. Prices can and do change without prior notice. Please confirm the price of the book before completing your purchase.
Download Link(s):
For more free mystery ebooks, visit our Free MystereBooks page.
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