eHarlequin Silhouette Romantic Suspense Titles for March 2009

Sparked by danger, fueled by passion, eHarlequin.com has released the March 2009 titles in their Silhouette Romantic Suspense series. Let yourself be swept away with characters who fall in love under larger-than-life circumstances. In Silhouette Romantic Suspense, suspense, emotion and glamour combine to create these highly charged books! To purchase any of the books below, click on the book title. (Previous months titles can be found on the backlist page.)

Safe by His Side by Linda Conrad (book cover shown)

"Twinkle twinkle little star. I know where you are."

Another threatening note sent to a beloved child star. But this time, the stalker got inside the house. Desperate to protect her young charge, guardian Blythe Cooper is grateful for the tall, strong bodyguard now standing sentinel at their door. Until Ethan Ryan awakens feelings in Blythe she can't acknowledge.

The former secret service agent turned bodyguard makes it his mission to protect children. The rules: never make it personal, and everyone walks away alive. Amendment: somehow, someway, keep beautiful Blythe and the little girl out of his heart -- and safe by his side.

The Rancher Bodyguard by Carla Cassidy

Fiercely independent, determined, driven and…betrayed. Grace Covington vowed never again to lay eyes on the arrogant, hotshot defense attorney who'd broken her heart. But everything changed when her stepfather was murdered, her sister found holding the bloody knife. Charlie Black was the only one who could help.

Accepting the case would shatter the simple life Charlie established after taking charge of the family ranch in Cotter Creek, but he couldn't deny Grace's pleas. Discovering who was bent on destroying the Covington clan might be the only way to prove he was a changed man capable of protecting her -- body and soul.

Claimed by the Secret Agent by Lyn Stone (book cover shown)

COMPASS agent Grant Tyndal had been dispatched to Germany to rescue CIA translator Marie Beauclair from her terrorist captors. But the mission had already been accomplished. The resourceful undercover agent not only escaped, she vowed to go after her kidnappers. Tyndal wouldn't let that happen. One, it was too dangerous. And two -- he worked alone.

Marie didn't need a bodyguard or a babysitter. What she needed was someone to help her complete a critical mission of her own. But the former Navy SEAL was already shattering her defenses. He awakened passion and tempted her to let down her guard…to risk everything for the promise of forever in his arms.

Suspect Lover by Stephanie Doyle

Eager to start a family, Caroline Sommerville marries Dominic Santos in a whirlwind courtship. Then the unthinkable happens: her husband becomes the prime suspect in the murder of his business partner.

With Dominic on the run from the police, Caroline is his last hope. Though she's only known him a short time, she's certain he was framed.

But there's so much about him she doesn't know. And when a damning secret in Dominic's past surfaces, Caroline has to decide whether she believes in the man she married. Is he the murderer he's accused of being? Or is he the husband who needs her trust…and love?

Keep up to date by subscribing to eHarlequin.com's free newsletter that contains the latest information about their series of books as well as informing you about subscriber-only special offers and new products. Click on the banner below to subscribe for free:

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Mystery Book Review: Absinthe of Malice by Pat Browning

Mysterious Reviews, mysteries reviewed by the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books, is publishing a new review of Absinthe of Malice by Pat Browning. For our blog readers, we are printing it first here in advance of its publication on our website.

Absinthe of Malice by Pat Browning
A Penny Mackenzie Mystery

Krill Press (Trade Paperback)
ISBN-10: 0-9821443-1-8 (0982144318)
ISBN-13: 978-0-9821443-1-2 (9780982144312)
Publication Date: December 2008
List Price: $15.95

Review: Setting her debut mystery in a small town in California's central valley, Pat Browning introduces newspaper reporter Penny Mackenzie in the almost but not quite a cozy Absinthe of Malice.

Penny's friend and colleague Maxie Harper are on a midnight stake-out in a cotton field. Maxie's looking for that one hard-hitting story that will be picked up by the national news services and get her out of the small town in which they live and work. When a few boys show up to smoke some weed and dig around in the dirt in secrecy, they're disappointed. But when they suddenly run off, they're intrigued. What Penny and Maxie find are the bones of an old skeleton, unexpectedly uncovered by the boys. An old body would hardly seem all that newsworthy, but when Maxie is later found dead, possibly of food poisoning, Penny's not so sure. Then old secrets start to come to light and Penny realizes her small, unexciting town may be hiding more than just a body in a field.

The primary problem with a mystery like Absinthe of Malice is that it is a punny title in search of a plot. Worse for a mystery, with a title like this, it usually dictates not only how the victim was killed, but often who the culprit was, eliminating any element of surprise that may have been attempted. This isn't to say Absinthe of Malice isn't a pleasant read. The setting is appealing and creatively drawn, and the characters are interesting and well-developed. Penny Mackenzie in particular would seem to be a series lead worthy of following. But there's a lack of focus here; there are too many plot threads, most of them obviously tangential to the murder mystery, that seem to exist simply to fill out the narrative. It's unfortunate that the emphasis seems to be more on the clever title of this mystery than on constructing a strong plot to support it.

Special thanks to Krill Press for providing a copy of Absinthe of Malice for this review.

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

If you are interested in purchasing Absinthe of Malice from Amazon.com, please click the button to the right. Absinthe of Malice (Kindle edition) is also available. Learn more about the Kindle, Amazon's Wireless Reading Device.

Synopsis (from the publisher): Old crimes come back to haunt a small California town in this intriguing urban cozy. Absinthe of Malice introduces Penny Mackenzie, Lifestyle reporter for The Pearl Outrider and a cast of unforgettable characters who find their lives turned upside down when old secrets and new secrets all come to light after chance discovery of a skeleton in a cotton field leads to murder ... and romance.

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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Harlequin Intrigue Titles for March 2009

eHarlequin.com has released the March 2009 titles in their Intrigue, breathtaking romantic suspense series. Get these edge-of-your-seat reads today with characters who conquer everything from kidnappings to murder mysteries, only to find themselves irresistibly drawn to one another! To purchase any of the books below, click on the book title. (Previous months titles can be found on the backlist page.)

Renegade Soldier by Pat White (book cover shown)

Secret operative Dalton Keen had never met a woman like Sydney Trent: sweet, innocent and so beautiful he couldn't look away. Trying to complete his latest mission meant he needed Sydney's help. But it was hard to control how his body responded when she turned to him with her violet eyes and looked at him with both awe and desire. Rather than crossing the line, though, he needed to protect her. Someone had discovered that she knew more than she was telling … and they didn't like it. Dalton regretted involving Syd in what was quickly becoming a very dangerous mission, but she couldn't back out now. And, secretly, he didn't want to let her go.

Multiples Mystery by Alice Sharpe

Olivia Capri knew giving birth to quads would cause a stir in her media-starved small town. But she didn't realize it would bring back Zac Bishop, the boy she'd once loved with all her teenage heart. Luckily, as sheriff, he'd returned just in time. It seemed someone was after her and her babies thanks to a past she knew nothing about. And though she knew whoever it was didn't stand a chance against Zac and his protective nature, reminiscing about old times stirred up too many long-buried emotions. Still, Zac assured her everything would be okay, all she had to do was trust him. And she did. With everything but her heart.

Snowed In with the Boss by Jessica Andersen (book cover shown)

CEO Griffin Vaughn knew Sophie LaRue was trouble the moment he agreed to hire her. Still, he hadn't become one of the wealthiest men in the world by being distracted by silky blond hair and legs that didn't quit, and he refused to start now. But thanks to a freak blizzard, he and Sophie were trapped in his Colorado mansion … and they weren't alone. With someone watching from the shadows, Griffin attempted to ignore their building attraction and focus on protecting Sophie. A successful businessman, Griffin thrived on challenge -- until his innocent assistant made him an offer he couldn't refuse.

Desert Ice Daddy by Dana Marton

Billionaire Akeem Abdul's arrival at the McKade ranch went from business to personal when he learned Taylor McKade's little boy had disappeared. Taylor had only become more beautiful over the years, and Akeem couldn't stand seeing the pain on her face. As they followed the kidnappers' orders and trekked through the Texas heat, Akeem admired the strength it took for Taylor not to fall apart. But he was there when she did -- and vowed to bring her son home. Still, all the money in the world couldn't eliminate his secret fears: that if they didn't find her son, this woman he'd finally found again could be lost to him forever.

Cowboy Commando by Joanna Wayne (book cover shown)

On navy SEAL missions Cutter Martin had been a warrior. But when it came to Linney Kingston, he was just a red-blooded Texas cowboy with bad luck at love. Linney had walked out on him six years ago. Now she was back -- with a motherless child and a crazy story.

Linney's theory of murder and scandal was as preposterous as her body's traitorous response to Cutter. Still, when she was shot at, the cowboy came to her rescue. Cutter -- her hero. And the only man who could break her heart again. Trusting him a second time was more frightening than the killers stalking her every move.

Secret Delivery by Delores Fossen

Sheriff Jack Whitley hadn't seen Alana Davis in nearly a year. Not since he'd saved her life and helped to deliver her baby. And when she'd mysteriously disappeared, he'd raised her son as his own. So despite the way Alana's vulnerability tugged at his heart, Jack vowed he wouldn't let her claim his child. But with a dangerous killer hot on her trail, he found himself wanting to be her protector. Keeping her safe meant he ran the risk of losing his son. And ultimately his heart.

If you enjoy this series, you can get 2 free Harlequin Intrigue books plus 2 free gifts just for giving the automatic program a try. Accepting your two free Intrigue books and mystery gifts places you under no obligation to buy anything. You may keep the books and gifts and return the shipping statement marked cancel. If you do not cancel, about two months later, and then every other month, eHarlequin will send you four additional Intrigue books.

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Mystery Book Review: The Actress by Elizabeth Sims

Mysterious Reviews, mysteries reviewed by the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books, is publishing a new review of The Actress by Elizabeth Sims. For our blog readers, we are printing it first here in advance of its publication on our website.

The Actress by Elizabeth Sims
A Rita Farmer Mystery

St. Martin's Minotaur (Hardcover)
ISBN-10: 0-312-37727-4 (0312377274)
ISBN-13: 978-0-31237-727-4 (9780312377274)
Publication Date: May 2008
List Price: $24.95

Review: Rita Farmer, a part-time actress, had her charge card declined at the grocery store and pawned Grandma Gladys’s brooch for $400, which might put food on the table for herself and Petey, her four-year-old son, but it won’t cover the late rent. But after her puppet performance for story time at the L.A. Public Library, she meets defense attorney Gary Kwan who offers her a difficult but lucrative job using her acting expertise to help his client appear more sympathetic to a jury. The media and public seem to have already convicted Eileen Tenaway who is beautiful, rich and accused of murdering her 18-month-old daughter. No easy task since Rita finds her cold and unfeeling, but for a thousand dollars a day and a bonus if she’s acquitted, Rita will give it her all.

But that’s just part of what’s going on here. Eileen’s husband, Richard, a Los Angeles jewel magnate, turned up dead in Brazil and a lot of gems went missing. Eileen and Richard’s business partner received a fat payment from the insurance company. But George Rowe, an insurance investigator, suspects there’s more to the story, and perhaps Richard faked his death. George travels to Brazil to research details of the case and recruits Rita, whose life and that of her son, might soon depend on her finding out the truth of Richard’s disappearance, the missing gems and who killed the little girl.

Elizabeth Sims has created a wonderful character and a terrific start to a new series with Rita Farmer and The Actress. It’s easy to sympathize with Rita’s situation especially given today’s economic circumstances, but above and beyond that she’s funny, loving, insecure, smart and tough when she needs to be: calling Eileen a bitch in one of their early meetings to elicit an emotional response. Rita has a lively supporting cast as well in her best friend Daniel a gay man with whom she can talk about everything including men; Gary Kwan, a flashy, smart defense attorney for whom she has a serious attraction; George Rowe, the fiercely determined and quirky investigator and Jeff, her easy-to-dislike ex-husband who has much to do with her self-esteem and wants to use Rita’s financial situation as a means to gain custody of their son. Pfew!

Sims has written a tightly plotted tale with multiple layers. The story maintains a fast pace except for a few places in the middle, but it’s not enough to distract from the story’s enjoyment. The sassy Rita takes some risks that seem a bit out of character, but perhaps none of us thinks too clearly about our actions when our loved ones are in danger.

The narrative switches viewpoints from Rita’s first-person voice to other characters in the third-person. This technique works especially well near the end when Sims switches back and forth between two simultaneously gripping situations, keeping the reader on pins and needles as to the resolutions. She uses all of our senses to bring the book’s settings to life from the sounds of the waves of traffic at the corner of Santa Monica and Rodeo where Rita frequently has consultations with Grandma Gladys’s spirit to the smell of the pawn shop and the feel of Petey’s soft skin. The dialogue rings true, especially the quips Rita shares with her best friend, Daniel. The plot has an engrossing complexity with lots of characters to keep track of and some surprises for the reader to discover. I look forward to reading The Extra, the second book in the series, due out this spring.

Special thanks to Katherine Petersen for contributing her review of The Actress.

Review Copyright © 2009 — Katherine Petersen — All Rights Reserved — Reprinted with Permission

If you are interested in purchasing The Actress from Amazon.com, please click the button to the right. The Actress (Kindle edition) is also available. Learn more about the Kindle, Amazon's Wireless Reading Device.

Synopsis (from the publisher): Aspiring actress and single mother Rita Farmer has gone from struggling to find work to downright desperate. If she doesn’t land a paying job soon---horror movie, soap commercial, anything---she’s afraid her ex-husband will use her dire financial straits to take away Petey, her cherished four-year-old son.

While she’s charming the crowd at storytime at the L.A. public library, a celebrity defense attorney approaches her with an unusual job offer: So long as she’s discreet, Rita can rake in a thousand dollars a day preparing his client for her appearance in court. Easy money? Hardly. His client, Eileen Tenaway, is not only a wealthy heiress and a queen of the tabloids but she’s been charged with the murder of her own child. The attorney needs Rita to coach Eileen secretly to help her seem more sympathetic, more human. He needs the jury to believe not only her words but the subtle cues of body language, facial expressions, even vocal style. Rita knows she can do it, but what she doesn’t know is how determined she’ll become to find out what really happened to Eileen’s family---once her own life and Petey’s life depend on it.

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: St. Patrick's Day Mystery Party Suggestions

Games of Mystery, your source for mystery-themed games, parties, and vacations, has some recommendations for your next party.

'Tis approaching the day for the wearin' of the green, and what better way for celebrating St. Patrick's Day this year than to throw a murder mystery party!

Patrick Murphy was the most popular man in town -- he owned the highly successful town pub, was a large contributor to the parish charities, and came home every night to his lovely and devoted wife. Last week he was killed coming home late from his pub. At first, everyone thought it was a tragic accident ... but now at his wake, it is very clear that Patrick was not the most popular man in town ... and that his murderer is present at Murphy's wake ...

The fully scripted clues in Murphy's Wake give you and your guests the chance to use your best Irish accents as you play the game. 'Tis a fine way to spend St. Patrick's Day.

This clue-based evening of mystery and fun is designed for 6 to 8 party guests plus host (see the character list), aged 18 and older. The party is rated M.

Another mystery party option with Irish characters is Paddy O'Really is Dead.

There was a storm brewing outside, but it was cozy and warm in O'Malley's pub and everyone was in good spirits. But just when musician Grace O'Malley was about to lead everyone in yet another rousing chorus, Molly O'Really came stumbling in. But her father wasn't with her. He was last seen heading towards the Cliffs of Moher. But he didn't fall ... he was pushed. Everyone will soon discover that Paddy O'Really is dead.

Who killed Patrick O'Really? This cozy murder mystery set in a pub in Ireland, and includes scripted clues to bring out your best blarney. Written for 6 to 9 guests including host (see the character list), aged 16 and older. The party is rated M.

And if you need costumes for your St. Patrick's Day mystery party, visit BuyCostumes.com for the best selection of adults and kids costumes, accessories, masks, and more. You can also find all your party needs there including supplies, decorations, and props.

Visit Games of Mystery: Mystery Parties for a wide selection of parties for kids, teens, and adults. You'll find all sorts of themed parties available to suit every occasion throughout the year.

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Author Online Book Tour: Barbara Levenson Visits Buzz About Books and Marta's Meanderings

Mystery Books News is pleased to be coordinating this week's online book tour for Barbara Levenson whose new mystery, Fatal February, was published earlier this month by Oceanview Publishing. Fatal February is the author's debut mystery and features Mary Magruder Katz, a criminal defense attorney in Miami.

Today, Saturday February 21st, Barbara will be visiting 2 blog sites:

• Buzz About Books where Barbara will be interviewed; and
• Marta's Meanderings where a review of Fatal February will be posted.

We're also thrilled to announce that Barbara is giving away a signed copy of her new book to one lucky tour visitor. Visit each tour site on the day indicated and pick up a unique PIN to be used to enter the giveaway on that day. The entry form can be found on Barbara's tour page, Author Book Tour: Barbara Levenson, which also has a complete schedule of Barbara's tour including a biography and more information about Fatal February.

We hope you have the opportunity to stop by each of the tour sites later this week to learn more about Barbara and her series character Mary Magruder Katz.

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Mystery Book Review: Pleasing the Dead by Deborah Turrell Atkinson

Mysterious Reviews, mysteries reviewed by the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books, is publishing a new review of Pleasing the Dead by Deborah Turrell Atkinson. For our blog readers, we are printing it first here in advance of its publication on our website.

Pleasing the Dead by Deborah Turrell Atkinson
A Storm Kayama Mystery

Poisoned Pen Press (Hardcover)
ISBN-10: 1-59058-597-6 (1590585976)
ISBN-13: 978-1-59058-597-9 (9781590585979)
Publication Date: February 2009
List Price: $24.95

Review: Deborah Turrell Atkinson continues following the life of Honolulu lawyer Storm Kayama who is on Maui doing the legal work required to set up a new business but drawn into the dangerous world of the yakuza in Pleasing the Dead, the fourth mystery in this series.

Setting up the dive shop for her friend Lara Farrell seems routine until two seemingly unrelated tragedies occur, a restaurant bombing and a destitute Japanese laborer killing himself and his daughter, wounding another. Storm begins to ask questions and is quickly caught up in a world unfamiliar to her, the Japanese crime organization known as the yakuza. Knowing the long arm of the yakuza may extend into legitimate business, and even the police department, Storm must tread carefully. But soon her own life is in danger, and she doesn't know who she can trust.

As she has with the previous mysteries in this series, Atkinson paints a gorgeous Hawaii, lush and beautiful, rich in its community and history. Her characters come alive with distinctive personalities, relatable to the reader, both good and evil. Storm's personal background also plays an important role in the story, allowing her to connect with the people she's trying to help, and ultimately rescue. The only drawback here is the somewhat confusing, at times hard to follow, plot. Though an exciting read, the appeal of this mystery is ultimately in its characters and setting. Pleasing the Dead is an agreeable addition to the series, just not a strong one.

Special thanks to guest reviewer Betty of The Betz Review for contributing her review of Pleasing the Dead and to Poisoned Pen Press for providing an ARC of the book for this review.

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

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

Synopsis (from the publisher): Some nasty predators dwell in paradise, and they aren’t all hiding in the azure waters. The day attorney Storm Kayama arrives in Kahului to help Lara Farrell set up her new dive shop, someone bombs a restaurant. When one of Lara’s employees, a recent Japanese immigrant, kills himself and one of his young daughters, Storm begins to ask questions.

The tentacles of the Yakuza, the dangerous, Japanese organized crime group, grip local businesses, real estate, and politics. Cunning and deadly, the clan leaders exploit underage women and eliminate anyone who dares face up to them.

Storm finds herself up against a lethal and faceless enemy, in a place where disposing of a victim is easy as dumping her in shark-infested waters.

But who is hunting whom? In a struggle to the death, Storm begins to realize that surviving doesn’t always mean living. For some, the ghosts of the past may be more painful than the anguish of the present.

Hawaii lawyer Storm Kayama must battle against the yakuza's presence and an ancient adherence to tradition to save more young girls from a terrible fate.

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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James Patterson and 28 Co-Authors Write First Chain Thriller

Here's a bit of mystery book news that flew under our radar.

Next month, James Patterson is publishing what is being called the first "chain thriller", a book written by the bestselling author plus 28 other contributing writers. Titled AirBorne, more details can be found on the book's website (hosted by the Australian division of Borders Books, which may be one of the reasons it escaped our attention).

Patterson will write the first and last chapters. Each of the 30 in total chapters will be released one day at a time starting Friday, March 20, 2009. There's no synopsis for the book (yet), but aspiring writers were told to write a fast-paced, thrilling chapter in the style of Patterson, 750 words or less.

And it's not at all clear whether the book, when published, will be available outside of Australia. Visitors to the website can enter to win a signed copy, but only Australian residents are eligible. (Presumably a Kindle version will be available regardless.)

Still and all, it ought to be an interesting read. We'll set a reminder for March 20th to check out the first chapter.

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Author Online Book Tour: Barbara Levenson Visits Booking Mama and Murder by 4

Mystery Books News is pleased to be coordinating this week's online book tour for Barbara Levenson whose new mystery, Fatal February, was published earlier this month by Oceanview Publishing. Fatal February is the author's debut mystery and features Mary Magruder Katz, a criminal defense attorney in Miami.

Today, Friday February 20th, Barbara will be visiting 2 blog sites:

• Booking Mama where a review of Fatal February will be posted; and
• Murder by 4 which is welcoming Barbara as a guest blogger.

We're also thrilled to announce that Barbara is giving away a signed copy of her new book to one lucky tour visitor. Visit each tour site on the day indicated and pick up a unique PIN to be used to enter the giveaway on that day. The entry form can be found on Barbara's tour page, Author Book Tour: Barbara Levenson, which also has a complete schedule of Barbara's tour including a biography and more information about Fatal February.

We hope you have the opportunity to stop by each of the tour sites later this week to learn more about Barbara and her series character Mary Magruder Katz.

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Mystery Bestsellers for February 20, 2009

A list of the top 15 mystery hardcover bestsellers for the week ending February 20, 2009 has been posted on the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books website.

No change in the top 4 bestselling mysteries this week with John Grisham and James Patterson retaining the top two positions this week with their respective thrillers, The Associate and Run for Your Life.

Just missing the top 15 last week and moving up to the 9th position this week is Dog On It, Spencer Quinn's debut mystery. Meet Chet, the wise and lovable canine narrator of Dog on It, who works alongside Bernie, a down-on-his-luck private investigator. Chet might have flunked out of police school ("I'd been the best leaper in K-9 class, which had led to all the trouble in a way I couldn't remember exactly, although blood was involved"), but he's a detective through and through. In this, their first adventure, Chet and Bernie investigate the disappearance of Madison, a teenage girl who may or may not have been kidnapped, but who has definitely gotten mixed up with some very unsavory characters. A well-behaved, gifted student, she didn't arrive home after school and her divorced mother is frantic. Bernie is quick to take the case -- something about a cash flow problem that Chet's not all that clear about -- and he's relieved, if vaguely suspicious, when Madison turns up unharmed with a story that doesn't add up. But when she disappears for a second time in a week, Bernie and Chet aren't taking any chances; they launch a full-blown investigation. Without a ransom demand, they're not convinced it's a kidnapping, but they are sure of one thing: something smells funny. Their search for clues takes them into the desert to biker bars and other exotic locals, with Chet's highly trained nose leading the way. Both Chet and Bernie bring their own special skills to the hunt, one that puts each of them in peril. But even as the bad guys try to turn the tables, this duo is nothing if not resourceful, and the result is an uncommonly satisfying adventure. With his doggy ways and his endearingly hardboiled voice, Chet is full of heart and occasionally prone to mischief. He is intensely loyal to Bernie, who, though distracted by issues that Chet has difficulty understanding -- like divorce, child custody, and other peculiar human concerns -- is enormously likable himself, in his flawed, all-too-human way. Publishers Weekly calls Dog On It a "winning debut" and Kirkus Reviews adds, "Chet's amusing, perceptive canine take on the human characters should appeal to hard-boiled fans and canine fanciers alike." We recently reported that Universal Pictures had acquired the film rights to Dog On It.

New at number 10 is Among the Mad, the 6th mystery in the Maisie Dobbs series by Jacqueline Winspear. It’s Christmas Eve 1931. On the way to see a client, Maisie Dobbs witnesses a man commit suicide on a busy London street. The following day, the prime minister’s office receives a letter threatening a massive loss of life if certain demands are not met -- and the writer mentions Maisie by name. After being questioned and cleared by Detective Chief Superintendent Robert MacFarlane of Scotland Yard’s elite Special Branch, she is drawn into MacFarlane’s personal fiefdom as a special adviser on the case. Meanwhile, Billy Beale, Maisie’s trusted assistant, is once again facing tragedy as his wife, who has never recovered from the death of their young daughter, slips further into melancholia’s abyss. Soon Maisie becomes involved in a race against time to find a man who proves he has the knowledge and will to inflict death and destruction on thousands of innocent people. And before this harrowing case is over, Maisie must navigate a darkness not encountered since she was a nurse in wards filled with shell-shocked men. Publishers Weekly says that Among the Mad "raises the stakes considerably for [Winspear's] psychologically astute sleuth" and adds that the author "does her usual superb job of portraying London between the world wars."

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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Mystery Author Lee Child Elected President of MWA

In a press release today, the Mystery Writers of America (MWA) announced that Lee Child has been elected its president and will serve a one-year term beginning this month. Child will succeed Harlan Coben. Child is a New York Times best-selling author of the Jack Reacher series, published in 43 countries and 30 languages worldwide.

The MWA Board of Directors also elected Frankie Y. Bailey to serve as Executive Vice President and Larry Light as Treasurer. Each will serve a one year term ending in February 2010.

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First Clues Review: Behind the Curtain by Peter Abrahams

First Clues: Mysteries for Kids is delighted to introduce a new feature for our website, book reviews written by students. These students offer their unique perspective on the book in their review and provide a valuable resource to parents looking for new mystery adventures for their kids to read.

Behind the Curtain by Peter Abrahams
The Echo Falls Mysteries

HarperCollins (Mass Market Paperback)
ISBN-10: 0-06-073706-9 (0060737069)
ISBN-13: 978-0-06-073706-1 (9780060737061)
Publication Date: May 2007
List Price: $6.99

Review written by Kevin, Age 11, Grade 6. Date of review: February 2009.

Review: If you are looking for a book to get you biting your nails and laughing your pants off at the same time, then this is the book for you. This superb novel, Behind the Curtain, written by Peter Abrahams is an excellent read. This is the second book in the series of the top-notch Echo Falls novels.

This story starts out with the main character, Ingrid Levin-Hill, in math class. She is not paying attention in math class so she is picked for Math Fest. Math Fest is a math competition held at the High School and viewers come to watch. Ingrid’s least favorite class is math. One day when she gets home her brother Ty wants her to spot him for his bench press. Ingrid notices that Ty is benching a lot more than he usually does. When he stands up she sees numerous amounts of acne on his back. Ty has always been an acne-free kid. The next morning Ingrid hears that this new woman from New York named Julia LeCain has come to fill the position of Ingrid’s dad’s job. On the morning of Math Fest Ingrid wakes up thirteen minutes before it starts. She has to rush in order to get there in time. While Ingrid is on her bike … darkness. She sees nothing and she is in a very small space. She is in the trunk of a car! Her hands and feet and mouth are duct taped. She feels around for an unlocking mechanism. Then … click she can fell the air rushing on her face. She feels the urge to jump; when the car slows for a turn … she jumps. She rolls down a hill and into a gully. When she finally arrives at math fest, it is over. She tells the police chief and they try to find some evidence to prove that she was kidnapped. After a while Ingrid goes to the hospital to visit her soccer coach, who is sick, and she sees a door slightly ajar. She walks in and finds some steroids in a bottle in a locked cabinet. She finally connects all of these things together and figures out the whole plan. Will the evidence be enough to solve the two cases, or will people just think that she is crazy?

This novel was just as good, if not better than the first novel. This divine second crime novel is a great read if you’re having a bad day or you need some action look no further. This book is filled with all kinds of twisty-turvey scenes and intelligent happenings. I really like the way the author made the scenes so that you could figure out the crime before she does. I would recommend the book to ages 12 to adult. The content in the book is a little to mature for the ages younger than the ones listed. There is some violence and some cursing, but overall the book is phenomenal. I cannot wait until the next one is released.

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