Harlequin and Big Fish Games Announce Partnership

In a press release issued this morning, Harlequin and Big Fish Games announced a joint licensing partnership.

Under the terms of the agreement, in the summer of 2009, Big Fish Games will begin publishing interactive games inspired by Harlequin Presents, the most popular romance-novel series in the world, which regularly tops eRetailer and retail bookstore bestseller lists. These games will be sold on line exclusively at BigFishGames.com and at all major retail stores.

In the second quarter of 2010, Harlequin will begin publishing a branded series of books inspired by Mystery Case Files, Big Fish Games' award-winning franchise with over 3 million units sold. These novels will be written by Harlequin's bestselling authors. Harlequin will be the first to publish women's mystery fiction for Big Fish Games.

You can discover all mystery-themed games available from Big Fish Games by visiting Games of Mystery: Big Fish Games. A separate page on the site provides information on the Mystery Case Files series.

Visit eHarlequin.com for more information about their series of books, including their Worldwide Mysteries and Suspense Book Club. You can also get subscriber-only offers by signing up for free email newsletters from eHarlequin.com.

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AgathaChristie.com Launches New American Site

The estate of Agatha Christie has just relaunched the author's website, AgathaChristie.com, for the American audience with new features and an emphasis on engaging the visitor into the world of the famous writer.

First time visitors will appreciate the wealth of information available, from background information on Christie's characters (and even a couple of sidekicks) to brief synopses of all the books and stories.

We found the suggested reading order for Christie to be particularly informative. The guidelines suggest it is possible to read, for example, Poirot in any order but note the following points: Read Curtain last, Lord Edgware Dies should be read before After the Funeral, Five Little Pigs should be read before Elephants Can Remember, Cat Among the Pigeons should be read before Hallowe’en Party, Mrs McGinty’s Dead should be read before Hallowe’en Party and Elephants Can Remember, and Murder on the Orient Express should be read before Murder in Mesopotamia. The guidelines for Miss Marple aren't nearly so complicated but they do recommend reading the books out of publication order for maximum enjoyment.

The site has a shop but we'd like to recommend you take a look at some of our own pages for Agatha Christie movies, games, and books.
Agatha Christie DVDs are available at Mysteries on TV in the following categories: Agatha Christie's Poirot, Agatha Christie Marple, and Agatha Christie's Tommy & Tuppence, Partners in Crime.

Agatha Christie games for the PC, Wii, and download are available at Games of Mystery: Agatha Christie.

Agatha Christie books may be searched at Amazon.com using this link: Agatha Christie books.

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Mystery Bestsellers for January 23, 2009

A list of the top 15 mystery hardcover bestsellers for the week ending January 23, 2009 has been posted on the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books website.

The third between-the-numbers mystery featuring New Jersey bounty hunter Stephanie Plum, Plum Spooky by Janet Evanovich retains the top spot this week with some shuffling in the order among last week's top six.

New this week at number 7 is Josh Bazell's debut mystery, Beat the Reaper. Meet Peter Brown, a young Manhattan emergency room doctor with an unusual past that is just about to catch up with him. His morning begins with the quick disarming of a would-be mugger, followed by a steamy elevator encounter with a sexy young pharmaceutical rep, topped off by a visit with a new patient -- and from there Peter's day is going to get a whole lot worse and a whole lot weirder. Because that patient knows Peter from his other life, when he had a different name and a very different job. The only reason he's a doctor now is thanks to the Witness Protection Program -- and even they can't protect him from the long reach of the New Jersey mob. Now he's got to do whatever it takes to keep his patient alive so he can buy some time ... and beat the reaper. Publishers Weekly calls Beat the Reaper "[a] breezy and darkly comic suspense novel" and adds "The hero's wry narrative voice, coupled with Bazells artful use of flashbacks to sustain tension and fill in Pietro's past, are a winning combination."

New in the top 15 this week, but actually debuting on the list last week, is the latest topical thriller from Richard North Patterson, Eclipse. Damon Pierce’s life has just reached a defining moment: a gifted California lawyer, he’s being divorced by his wife and his work often seems soulless. Then he receives a frantic e-mail from Marissa Brand Okari -- a woman he loved years ago -- and decides to risk everything to respond to her plea for help. Marissa’s husband, Bobby Okari, is the charismatic leader of a freedom movement in the volatile west African nation of Luandia, which is being torn apart by the world’s craving for its vast supply of oil. Bobby’s outspoken opposition to the exploitation of his homeland by PetroGlobal -- a giant American oil company with close ties to Luandia’s brutal government -- has enraged General Savior Karama, the country’s autocratic ruler. After Bobby leads a protest rally during a full eclipse of the sun, everyone in his home village is massacred by government troops. And now Bobby has been arrested and charged with the murder of three PetroGlobal workers. Still drawn to Marissa, Pierce agrees to defend Bobby, hoping to save both Bobby and Marissa from almost certain death. But the lethal politics of Luandia may cost Pierce his life instead. Getting a starred review from Publishers Weekly which said "This stellar legal thriller ... both informs and entertains", adding "Patterson has exerted all his considerable skill in creating a nightmare atmosphere that will cling to readers long after the last page is turned."

Finally, in 15th position is Mounting Fears, the 7th Will Lee political thriller by Stuart Woods. President Lee is having a rough week. As he prepares for the upcoming election, the usually cool and collected President has several crises going on at once, from loose nukes to a close political ally with skeletons in his closet. And as if that weren’t enough, Kate Rule Lee, his first lady and CIA director, is contending with another threat: the return of a dangerous and unusually cunning fugitive Teddy Fay. There’s plenty of the usual trouble to be found in Washington, from double-crossing political appointees to an impending sex scandal. But with the threat from abroad looming, the President puts every resource he has -- including Lance Cabot and Holly Barker -- into damage control as the clock ticks down to election night. From the seedy world of muckraking journalism to the murderous hotspots of Central America, there’s enough intrigue to keep even the sharpest and most daring of intelligence agents on edge.

On our bestseller page, we've added an icon next to every title that is available for immediate download onto the Amazon Kindle. To learn about this wireless reading device, visit the Amazon Kindle page for more information.

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.

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Jesse Stone: Thin Ice Scheduled to Air on CBS March 1st

CBS has finally set a date for Jesse Stone: Thin Ice: Sunday, March 1st, from 9 to 11 PM (ET). Tom Selleck returns as the Paradise (MA) chief of police.

The series is based on the character created by mystery author Robert B. Parker. Jesse Stone: Thin Ice is the first of the made-for-television movies not to be based on one of the Parker novels.

In Jesse Stone: Thin Ice, Jesse Stone finds himself in trouble with the Town Council when he inadvertently becomes involved in a shoot-out on a Boston street. His friend, State Homicide Commander Healy, is seriously wounded and Jesse comes under investigation by the Boston Police Department's Internal Affairs Division, which causes him to be away from Paradise for extended periods of time.

Jesse further alienates the Council by firing the Paradise Police Department's most prodigious ticket writer, resulting in a considerable loss of revenue for the town. His issues with the Council are further exacerbated when a celebrated out-of-towner shows up in Paradise in search of her missing child, and Jesse agrees to take her case. His continued defiance of the Council's wishes now begins to jeopardize his very job.

Kathy Baker and Kohl Sudduth reprise their roles as the only police officers in Paradise.

The previous four movies are available on DVD from Mysteries on TV: Jesse Stone.

A sixth movie, Jesse Stone: No Remorse, has already been ordered by CBS and wrapped up production last November.

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Games of Mystery: Natalie Brooks, The Treasure of the Lost Kingdom, New at Big Fish Games

Games of Mystery, your source for mystery-themed electronic and board games, parties for kids and adults, and mystery getaway vacations, is pleased to announce the availability of a new mystery game from Big Fish Games released today. 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.

Famous teenage detective Natalie Brooks is back in an all-new adventure that will thrill players of the original and win new fans! In Treasures of the Lost Kingdom, Natalie faces the seemingly impossible task of saving her grandfather, a renowned archaeologist, from kidnappers holding him ransom for an ancient treasure map. She has just 24 hours to find the map, solve the mystery of a terrible curse and unmask the truth behind a legendary ghost train! With 7 full chapters of gameplay, her quest is nearly twice as long and includes several exhilarating mini-games.

Natalie Brooks: Treasures of the Lost Kingdom may be downloaded and purchased for as little as $6.99 with the Big Fish Game Club Jumbo Pack. A demonstration version (87.29 MB) may be downloaded and played for one hour for free.

Watch a preview video below:

Other popular games on our download Big Fish Mystery Games page include several Agatha Christie and Nancy Drew games, games in the Mystery Case Files series and in particular the latest, Mystery Case Files: Return to Ravenhearst, Adventure Chronicles: The Search for Lost Treasure, the Carol Reed mystery Remedy, Mystery Legends: Sleepy Hollow, Mystery Chronicles: Murder Among Friends, and Lost Realms: Legacy of the Sun Princess.

Big Fish Games: Bestsellers

Big Fish Games: New releases

And don't forget to visit Games of Mystery for all kinds of mysterious fun!

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First Clues, Mysteries for Kids: The Milo & Jazz Mysteries

First Clues: Mysteries for Kids, your source for information on over 100 mystery series for children and young adults where each series is conveniently listed under three different age categories (New Sleuth, ages 4 to 7; Future Sleuth, aged 7 to 10; and Sleuth in Training, ages 10 and older), is pleased to feature another series of mysteries on our website.

The Milo & Jazz Mysteries feature two friends who, with the help of master detective Dash Marlowe, track down clues, stake out suspects, and learn all the skills they need to become top-notch detectives.

The first two books in the series are scheduled for publication early next month. In The Case of the Stinky Socks, the Wildcats’ star pitcher is missing his lucky socks, and his pitching is going to pieces! Can detective duo Milo and Jazz find the thief -- before the big game? And in The Case of the Poisoned Pig Milo and Jazz have to find out the identity of a mysterious pig poisoner. There’s no time to lose! Two additional books (The Case of the Haunted Haunted House and The Case of the Amazing Zelda) are scheduled for publication later this year.

These early chapter mysteries, written by Lewis B. Montgomery and illustrated by Ann Wummer, are recommended for future sleuths aged 7 to 10.

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Mystery Book Review: Ruins of Grandeur by Donald G. Geddes, III

Mysterious Reviews, mysteries reviewed by the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books, is publishing a new review of Ruins of Grandeur by Donald G. Geddes, III. For our blog readers, we are printing it first here in advance of its publication on our website.

Ruins of Grandeur by Donald G. Geddes, III
A Peter Grant Mystery

Morgana Press (Hardcover)
ISBN-10: 0-9773514-9-1 (0977351491)
ISBN-13: 978-0-9773514-9-7 (9780977351497)
Publication Date: October 2008
List Price: $17.95

Review: Donald G. Geddes, III, introduces Peter Grant on the trail of a stolen masterpiece in Venice in Ruins of Grandeur, the first of a trilogy of mysteries featuring the international art sleuth.

Peter is hired by Lloyd's of London to recover a missing Bellini, a masterpiece presumably stolen from a Duke's residence in Venice. Peter's ex-wife happens to live in Venice, but upon arrival he's disappointed to learn she's vacationing elsewhere on the Continent. He quickly discovers that the missing painting is just one of a large number of religious artifacts that have recently disappeared, including one taken from a monk who was killed in Venice while returning to Rome from Murano. The police have no suspects until Peter is presented as one when the police convince him to pose as a thief and then a dead woman turns up in his apartment. Pursued by the police and by the real criminals who believe he knows too much, Peter must save himself before he's a victim himself.

Ruins of Grandeur tries to be light, romantic comedy as well as serious suspense fiction coupled with international action intrigue but never quite strikes the right balance between any of them. Peter Grant is clearly patterned after the ever-suave Cary Grant (the similarity in their names almost certainly not a coincidence) and the plot seems written more as the basis for a screenplay than as a novel. The Venice setting is spendidly descriptive and most of the characters are creatively drawn if a bit shallow and stereotypical. But the story lacks substance and after adopting a decidedly leisurely pace for much of the narrative, the ending is overly rushed which may be an attempt disguise the fact that the resolution to the various crimes is quite illogical. On balance, though, Ruins of Grandeur is a pleasantly entertaining if undemanding mystery.

Special thanks to Morgana Press for providing a copy of Ruins of Grandeur for this review.

Review Copyright © 2009 — Hidden Staircase Mystery Books — All Rights Reserved.

If you are interested in purchasing Ruins of Grandeur from Amazon.com, please click the button to the right.

Synopsis (from the publisher): New York art sleuth Peter Grant is summoned to Venice by Lloyd's of London to recover a priceless Giovanni Bellini original masterpiece stolen from an Austrian Archduke's seventeenth-century palazzo.
Under the charm, elegance and decadence of the winged lion's dark-edged renaissance city, Peter pursues reconciliation with his beautiful estranged wife, Claire. Meanwhile what seems a case of simple art theft spirals into a depraved conspiracy and Peter finds himself swept into the deep, troubled waters of holiness, debauchery, theft and murder.

For more mystery book reviews visit Mysterious Reviews, a partner with the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books which is committed to providing readers and collectors of mystery books with the best and most current information about their favorite authors, titles, and series.

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Games of Mystery: Natalie Brooks in The Treasure of the Lost Kingdom, New at PlayFirst Games

Games of Mystery, your source for mystery-themed electronic and board games, parties for kids and adults, and mystery getaway vacations, is pleased to announce a special price for a mystery game available from PlayFirst Games. You can find out more about these games from our Mystery Games: PlayFirst Download Games page or by clicking on the links provided below.

Famous teenage detective Natalie Brooks is back in an all-new hidden object adventure in Natalie Brooks: The Treasure of the Lost Kingdom. Natalie faces a seemingly impossible task: save her grandfather, a renowned archaeologist, from kidnappers holding him ransom for an ancient treasure map. She has just 24 hours to find the map, solve the mystery of a terrible curse, and unmask the truth behind a legendary ghost train! With seven chapters of gameplay, a thrilling plot, 3-D animated locations and characters, and numerous mini-games, you'll be using all your sleuthing skills to help Natalie in her quest.

Natalie Brooks: The Treasure of the Lost Kingdom is available to purchase for $9.95 with the PlayPass program. A trial version is available to download for a 60 minutes of play (Windows PC, 86.0 MB).

Other popular games on our download PlayFirst Mystery Games page include both Mystery PI games, Mystery P.I.: The Vegas Heist and Mystery P.I.: The Lottery Ticket, James Patterson's Women's Murder Club: Death in Scarlet, and Private Eye.

And don't forget to visit Games of Mystery for all kinds of mysterious fun!

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Mystery Book Review: Blood Wedding by P. J. Brooke

Mysterious Reviews, mysteries reviewed by the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books, is publishing a new review of Blood Wedding by P. J. Brooke. For our blog readers, we are printing it first here in advance of its publication on our website.

Blood Wedding by P. J. Brooke
A Max Romero Mystery

Soho Constable (Hardcover)
ISBN-10: 1-56947-529-6 (1569475296)
ISBN-13: 978-1-56947-529-4 (9781569475294)
Publication Date: December 2008
List Price: $25.00

Review: Sub-Inspector Max Romero of the Granada police force investigates the potentially politically motivated murder of a young Muslim woman in Blood Wedding, the first mystery in this series by P. J. Brooke.

Leila, a graduate student from Edinburgh, had been in Granada interviewing 83-year-old Paula Romero, Max’s grandmother, who had lived during the Spanish civil war and had many stories to tell that were not in history books. Leila was only 23 and led a somewhat wilder life than her father would have liked. She dated Hussan, a man who was thought to be a member of a Muslim terrorist group, but also kept company with a few married men. At the time, there was much turmoil in Spain as the country had recently joined forces with England and the United States to support the war in Iraq. The opposition was considerable and vocal. There was also competition and resentment among the various religious groups in and around Granada, between Muslims and Palestinians, the Palestinians and the Christians, the Christians and the Muslims. The police are on constant vigil to uncover terrorist cells and shut them down.

When Leila’s body is found, Hussan becomes the first, obvious, and only suspect by the police. She had been seen having a passionate argument near the time and the site of her death. Plus, he was a Muslim whose name was on a list as a possible terrorist. Max, however, wants more proof. In custody, Hussan is tortured and ultimately commits suicide, closing the murder case in the eyes of the authorities. Against orders, however, Max continues his quest, seeking out the married men Leila had been seen with. He is shocked and appalled to find one of the men is his cousin and best friend from childhood, Juan. Leila had insisted that he leave his wife and family for her. He had refused. She threatened to tell all. Did Juan kill Leila? Max can't be sure. He continues his pursuit for the truth, risking not only his job, but his life.

There is a considerable amount of backstory involving the Spanish civil war and the reign of the Spanish dictator Francisco Franco. While certainly of interest, especially when considered in comparison to the current unrest in Spain, it makes the main plot and its various threads seem overly complicated. Still, at its core, Blood Wedding is not only an intriguing murder mystery but also a beautifully written book with a powerful message, the story of a man who, against all odds, believes in the truth and the basic good of humanity, and a family whose love surmounts all evils.

Special thanks to guest reviewer Betty of The Betz Review for contributing her review of Blood Wedding and to Soho Press for providing a copy of the book for this review.

Review Copyright © 2009 — Hidden Staircase Mystery Books — All Rights Reserved.

If you are interested in purchasing Blood Wedding from Amazon.com, please click the button to the right.

Synopsis (from the publisher): Sub-inspector Max Romero investigates the death of a Muslim girl. The prime suspect has supposed terrorist links, but insensitive handling of the case leads to his suicide. As a result, Max is co-opted into a dangerous anti-terrorist operation.

For more mystery book reviews visit Mysterious Reviews, a partner with the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books which is committed to providing readers and collectors of mystery books with the best and most current information about their favorite authors, titles, and series.

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Mystery Savings: An eHarlequin Newsletter Exclusive Offer

Mystery Savings periodically provides our readers with current promotions that offer discounts or other incentives for purchasing mystery-themed products and services products through our partner websites. Below is a list of offers recently received that we're pleased to pass on at this time.

eHarlequin.com has a newsletter subscriber-only deal that we're sure you're going to enjoy.

Celebrate the New Year with a Great Deal! From now through January 31, 2009, get featured books for only $2.09 on eHarlequin.com! Enjoy stories by some of your favorite authors at a very special price. You must enter coupon code 209WN when checking out. (There are some restrictions: for example, eBooks are not eligible and there is a 30 book limit.)

When we visited we found the featured books included mysteries and thrillers under the Mira imprint, Harlequin Intrigue and Love Inspired Suspense titles, and many more in other categories.

You won't find this offer mentioned on the eHarlequin website. To keep up to date on all the sales and other promotions offered by eHarlequin.com, especially those for newsletter subscribers only, register to receive their free newsletter by clicking on the banner below:

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Games of Mystery: Nightshift Legacy, The Jaguar's Eye, New at Big Fish Games

Games of Mystery, your source for mystery-themed electronic and board games, parties for kids and adults, and mystery getaway vacations, is pleased to announce the availability of a new mystery game from Big Fish Games released today. 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.

Mike was a night-security guard at a metropolitan museum. Isabel was cat burglar hunting for ancient treasure. But on the night they met, the only thing she ended up stealing was his heart. Now they are on the trail of an ancient Aztec Codex known as the Jaguar's Eye, an artifact rumored to have incredible power. Their journey will take them to cities all over the globe, beautiful exotic locations like Moscow and Barcelona, and eventually lead them back to the place where it all began, over 70 years ago. Unlock the secret of the Aztec codex in Nightshift Legacy: The Jaguar's Eye.

Nightshift Legacy: The Jaguar's Eye may be downloaded and purchased for as little as $6.99 with the Big Fish Game Club Jumbo Pack. A demonstration version (37.38 MB) may be downloaded and played for one hour for free.

Other popular games on our download Big Fish Mystery Games page include several Agatha Christie and Nancy Drew games, games in the Mystery Case Files series and in particular the latest, Mystery Case Files: Return to Ravenhearst, Adventure Chronicles: The Search for Lost Treasure, the Carol Reed mystery Remedy, Mystery Legends: Sleepy Hollow, Mystery Chronicles: Murder Among Friends, and Lost Realms: Legacy of the Sun Princess.

Big Fish Games: Bestsellers

Big Fish Games: New releases

And don't forget to visit Games of Mystery for all kinds of mysterious fun!

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Bid on Mysterious Destinations at the LuxuryLink.com Mystery Auction

OK, we realize it's a bit of a stretch to link mystery books to travel sites (we travel, we read, close enough), but we couldn't help it after we saw an ad for the LuxuryLink.com Mystery Auction.

We've actually used LuxuryLink.com before, bidding on a travel package (but never bidding high enough). This is an interesting twist on the concept. Two mystery destinations are featured each week and each auction begins with a $1 starting bid. Subsequent bids are in $1 increments. While LuxuryLink.com will only reveal the name of the property to the auction winner, hints to the location of the luxury property will be updated on the website.

LuxuryLink.com provides a list of the previous destinations on the Mystery Auction webpage. Most are pretty impressive.

If you're curious, check out the site by clicking on the banner below. And if you do jet off to your mystery destination, remember to take along a mystery book! (See, we've linked the two again.)

First Clues, Mysteries for Kids: The Kids on a Case Series

First Clues: Mysteries for Kids, your source for information on over 100 mystery series for children and young adults where each series is conveniently listed under three different age categories (New Sleuth, ages 4 to 7; Future Sleuth, aged 7 to 10; and Sleuth in Training, ages 10 and older), is pleased to feature another series of mysteries on our website.

The Kids on a Case mysteries feature a number of school-age children who investigate adult-type crimes. In the first book of the series, The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping, local trouble maker Tyler Bowen’s school crush, Kimberly Mockton, gets kidnapped by a gang of hardened criminals. He is determined to rescue her and stumbles onto a massive clue when he overhears a conversation at an abandoned house and believes that he’s discovered the location of Kimberly’s kidnappers. He sets out to convince his classmates to help him find and rescue her; the few who believe him form their own group of private investigators. In order to keep up with the criminals, the kids resort to calculated tactics and adult methods that put their lives in danger. They search deep within themselves to find the strength, determination and perseverance needed to succeed.

The author, Tony Peters, is reportedly working on a sequel, though no title has been announced.

The Kids on a Case mysteries are recommended for young private investigators aged 13 and older.

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Mystery Book Review: The Telltale Turtle by Joyce and Jim Lavene

Mysterious Reviews, mysteries reviewed by the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books, is publishing a new review of The Telltale Turtle by Joyce and Jim Lavene. For our blog readers, we are printing it first here in advance of its publication on our website.

The Telltale Turtle by Joyce and Jim Lavene
A Pet Psychic Mystery with Mary Catherine Roberts

Midnight Ink (Trade Paperback)
ISBN-10: 0-7387-1226-4 (0738712264)
ISBN-13: 978-0-7387-1226-0 (9780738712260)
Publication Date: October 2008
List Price: $13.95

Review: Joyce and Jim Lavene introduce Mary Catherine Roberts, a middle-aged, four-times widowed (on the look out for number five), radio talk show host who also happens to be a pet psychic, in The Telltale Turtle.

Mary Catherine has returned to her hometown of Wilmington, North Carolina leaving Hollywood after the untimely death of her fourth husband. Her aunt has died and left her run-down home that she has remodeled, creating a veterinarian clinic/hospital on the first floor and her residence on the second. When she begins her pet psychic talk show on the local radio station she thinks her life is all-embracing. Of course, she wouldn’t mind maybe seeking out a fifth husband to make her life complete. On her show, she offers worried pet owners advice on how to make their animals happier and easier to get along with. Her own pet, Baylor, a sizeable orange-colored tabby cat, helps her in the more perplexing situations.

When Mary Catherine finds a murdered woman, the wealthy aunt of her station manager Colin Jamison, more men enter her life than she’s willing to handle. A mysterious private investigator, Charlie Dowd, becomes an unwanted side-kick. She can’t figure out if he is investigating her or digging up proof of an affair Colin may be having. Bernie, a homeless handyman with a goat, shows up and offers to make repairs on her home, in exchange for a place to keep the goat. Buck Maybelle, owner of Meaty Boy Dog Food, is not only fond of Mary Catherine but wants her to take his company on as her sponsor. These characters all intertwine throughout the mystery of the murder of Colin’s aunt, killed with the broken bowl of her injured turtle. Although the authorities have identified Colin as their prime suspect, the turtle somehow convinces Mary Catherine that someone else killed Colin’s aunt. Will Mary Catherine be able to prove this before she herself becomes a victim of the unknown killer?

The Telltale Turtle is a riotous, imaginative story with of a most unusual woman as the lead character. The reader never knows who, or rather what, Mary Catherine will speak to next and the personalities of the various animals are a treat unto themselves. The mystery isn't demanding, and the whole concept may be a bit far-fetched for some, but it does provide an interesting twist on the standard cozy.

Special thanks to guest reviewer Betty of The Betz Review for contributing her review of The Telltale Turtle and to Midnight Ink for providing a copy of the book for this review.

Review Copyright © 2009 — Hidden Staircase Mystery Books — All Rights Reserved.

If you are interested in purchasing The Telltale Turtle from Amazon.com, please click the button to the right.

Synopsis (from the publisher): Mary Catherine has a rare gift -- she can talk to animals. A flamboyantly dressed four-time widow, Mary Catherine pulls top ratings for her pet psychic radio show and helps run an animal shelter. Then one day Mary Catherine hears pitiful thoughts of anguish coming from a house. Rushing inside to help, she finds an injured turtle crying bloody murder -- and the dead body of his owner, a society matriarch with a fortune, lying nearby.

By tuning into Tommy the turtle's thoughts and memories, Mary Catherine becomes a vital, if ridiculed, resource for the detectives. But now a psycho caller is threatening the lives of Mary Catherine and Baylor, her haughty and overprotective tabby cat, while dangling clues in front of her like bait. Despite the annoying charms of PI Charlie Dowd -- aka, potential husband number five -- can Mary Catherine use her talent to find a killer more cold-blooded than the star witness?

For more mystery book reviews visit Mysterious Reviews, a partner with the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books which is committed to providing readers and collectors of mystery books with the best and most current information about their favorite authors, titles, and series.

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Mysteries on TV: MI-5, Moonlight, The Rockford Files, and Waking the Dead, New This Week on DVD

Mysteries on TV, your source for the most complete selection of detective, amateur sleuth, private investigator, and suspense television mystery series now available or coming soon to DVD, is profiling four series that have season DVDs being released this week.

The UK spy series Spooks airs as MI-5 in the US. Based on the secret British intelligence agency, the series has a large ensemble cast that portray the agents of MI-5 with the mission of protecting the country's national security. They do not exist, you will never know their names.

The series stars Peter Firth as Sir Harry James Pearce, head of the counter-terrorism department. In addition to Firth, the only cast member to be a part of all 6 seasons to date is Hugh Simon who plays Malcolm Wynn-Jones, a technician and data analyst.

The MI-5 (Spooks): Volume Six DVD set of 5 discs contains the 10 episodes of the sixth season that aired on BBC-1 during the late fall of 2007. The series recently completed its 7th season. More information can be found on the official Spooks website on BBC.co.uk.

Trying to capitalize on the trend of vampires as private investigators (or almost anything else), CBS developed Moonlight, a crime drama that aired for just one season. The series starred Alex O'Loughlin as LA PI Mick St. John, an immortal vampire bitten 60 years ago by his bride Coraline on their wedding night. Sophia Myles played his current mortal girlfriend, reporter Beth Turner. The complications of their relationship form the backdrop for many of the series episodes.

Though crime dramas currently dominate on CBS and Moonlight would have seemed a good fit, the series high costs and relatively low viewership led to the network cancelling the show after just one season.

The Moonlight: The Complete Series DVD set of 4 discs contains the 16 episodes its only season that aired on CBS from September 2007 through May 2008.

One of the classic series from the 1970s, and maybe all time, was The Rockford Files. The series starred James Garner as Jim Rockford, a Los Angeles private investigator who lived in a trailer in a Malibu parking lot. Noah Beery Jr. played Rockford's father Rocky, and Joe Santos LA Police Lt. Dennis Becker.

The series ran for 6 seasons on NBC. Almost 15 years after The Rockford Files ended, a total of 8 made-for-television movies based on the series aired from 1994 through 1999.

The Rockford Files: Season Six DVD set of 3 discs contains the 10 episodes of the sixth and final season that aired September 1979 to January 1980. (It was cancelled mid-season.) James Garner was nominated for an Emmy five times, winning once, and the series itself was awarded an Emmy as best drama series in 1978.

The BBC's cold case crime drama, Waking the Dead, debuted in 2000 and remains in production today having just completed its 7th season. An 8th season has been confirmed. The series stars Trevor Eve as Detective Superintendent Peter Boyd of the Metropolitan Police Service's Cold Case Unit, set up to investigate old cases where new evidence or links to modern day crimes have come to light. Using advanced techniques in forensic science, the team gets under the skin of some tough cold cases, often taking risks in order to discover the truth and bring the perpetrators to justice.

Each season of the series consists of 4 to 6 episodes airing in 2 parts over consecutive nights.

The Waking the Dead: Season Three DVD set of 2 discs contains the 4 episodes that aired in the fall of 2003. More information can be found on the official Waking the Dead website on BBC.co.uk.

Finally, also being released this week are the four seasons of The Last Detective starring Peter Davison as Detective Constable "Dangerous" Davies, now available as The Last Detective: The Complete Series.

Visit the Mysteries on TV website to discover more television mystery series currently available on DVD.

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