Harlequin Mira Mystery and Suspense Titles for June 2009

eHarlequin.com has announced the June 2009 titles for their Mira imprint, the brightest stars in women's fiction. From all titles available, we've only listed those that are mystery, thriller, or suspense on this page. To purchase any of the books below, click on the book title or the book cover. (Previous months titles can be found on the backlist page.)

The Angel by Carla Neggers
Non-series

Inside an ancient ruin, Keira discovers the mythic stone angel she seeks—but also senses a malevolent presence … just before the ruins collapse around her.

Search-and-rescue veteran Simon Cahill finds Keira in the rubble just as she's about to free herself. Simon holds no stock in myths or magic, so he isn't surprised that there's no trace of her stone angel.

But there is evidence of startling violence and—whatever the source—the danger to Keira is quite real. The long-forgotten legend that captivated her has also aroused a killer … a calculating predator who will follow them back to Boston, determined to kill again.

Deep Down by Karen Harper
Non-series

As a child, Jessie Lockwood spent many hours helping her mother, Mariah, count the endangered ginseng plants hidden in the local woods of Deep Down, Kentucky. There she learned to appreciate the tiny Appalachian town—and ginseng's healing powers. Now a Ph.D., she's made her home in Lexington, even though that meant leaving Deep Down and her beloved mother—and Sheriff Drew Webb, the man she secretly loved.

When Jessie is notified that her mother never returned from her last walk in the woods, she comes home to Deep Down—and to Drew. As Jessie and Drew race to find her mother, several suspects emerge: an agent for those who market the herb for its life-giving properties; Mariah's disgruntled suitor; and an old Cherokee desperate to protect the sacred tribal herb.

In the mist of legend and fear, only two things make sense to Jessie. At any cost, she is desperate to find her mother. And she can't help falling desperately in love with Drew all over again.

Red Hot Lies by Laura Caldwell
An Izzy McNeil Mystery (1st in series)

They say bad things happen in threes. When her fiancé, Sam, disappears on the same day her mentor and biggest client is killed, hotshot Chicago attorney Izzy McNeil starts counting. But trouble keeps coming. Sam is implicated in the client's death, her apartment is broken into and it's not just the authorities who are following her.

Now, to find Sam and uncover her client's murderer, Izzy will have to push past limits she never imagined. Lucky for her she's always thrived under pressure, because her world is falling apart. Fast. And the trail of half truths and lies is red-hot.

Lust, Loathing and a Little Lip Gloss by Kyra Davis
A Sophie Katz Mystery (4th in series)

Mystery writer and dabbling recreational sleuth Sophie Katz is head over heels in love—with a three-bedroom Victorian. She's just got to have it, despite a few drawbacks. Her slimy ex is the Realtor. The rich, creepy seller wants her to join San Francisco's spirited Specter Society. And her first tour of the house reveals, well, a lifeless body clutching a cameo with a disturbing history of its own.

There's no way Sophie is going to give up the ghost on her dreams of stained glass and original woodwork, though—even when things become officially weird. A Society member is found with a slashed throat, and Sophie's house might as well be yelling, "GET … OUT!" She's hearing footsteps, lights are turning themselves off and her stuff keeps moving inexplicably. To top it off, boyfriend Anatoly thinks it's all in her head.

Sophie is 99 percent sure her problems are caused by someone six feet tall instead of six feet under, but the only way to be sure is to track down the killer—before he pushes her kicking and screaming to the other side.

6 Killer Bodies by Stephanie Bond
A Body Movers Mystery (6th in series)

Carlotta Wren's world is crumbling beneath her well-shod feet. One of her closest friends has been arrested as the Charmed Killer, but Carlotta refuses to believe it. And to prove her friend's innocence, Carlotta goes against her boyfriend Peter's wishes and resumes her after-hours body-moving duties.

And then …

Peter pressures her for an answer to his proposal …

Her troubled brother Wesley goes missing …

And the madman stalking the city strikes again, this time a little too close to home.

But when Carlotta finds herself in the clutches of the Charmed Killer, is she destined for her own body bag?

(MBN note: Stephanie Bond was a recent guest blogger on Mystery Books News. Read her account of A Day in the Life of a Mystery Novelist.)

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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Mysteries on TV: Cannon and Quincy ME, 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 two series that have season DVDs being released this week.

William Conrad starred as Frank Cannon, an overweight, balding ex-LAPD cop with expensive tastes in Cannon, a crime drama that aired on CBS for 5 seasons. Cannon worked as a private investigator who charged high fees but got results. Due to Conrad's large size, there wasn't much action, the series relying instead on intricate plots.

The series was popular with fans. Nine book tie-ins were published from 1971 through 1979 featuring the character (all now long out of print).

The Cannon: Season Two (V1) DVD set of 3 discs contain the first 12 episodes of the second season that aired on CBS from September through December, 1972.

Jack Klugman starred as the Los Angeles medical examiner in Quincy M. E., a series that aired on NBC for 8 seasons. The first 4 episodes originally appeared as a rotating part of the NBC Sunday Mystery Movie (together with Columbo, McCloud, and McMillan and Wife).

One of the earliest forensic mystery series, Quincy took an active role in police investigations as he looked deeper into what happened to a body -- before and after a crime.

The Quincy M. E.: Season Three DVD set of 4 discs contain all 20 episodes of the third season that aired on NBC from September 1977 through March 1978.

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

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Mystery Godoku Puzzle for June 01, 2009

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!).

This week's letters and mystery clue

B C E K L O P R U

This group of buddies accidentally kill an intruder in this 1997 thriller by Ed Gorman (with “The”, 9 letters).

We now have two weeks of our puzzles on one page in PDF format for easier printing. Print this week's puzzle here.

Previous puzzles are stored in the Mystery Godoku Archives.

Enjoy the weekly Mystery Godoku Puzzle from the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books, and Thanks for visiting our website!

   

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Games of Mystery: Lost Secrets, Caribbean Explorer, 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.

In Lost Secrets: Caribbean Explorer, you are the daughter of the infamous Francis Lafitte. Your mortally-injured father, along with your family’s fortune, has disappeared! Save your father and locate what is rightfully yours. Your journey begins in Port Royal and will take you to dozens of different locations scattered across pirate-infested waters. Learn the secrets of the sea in this exciting hidden object game! (MBN note: see also the first game in this series, Lost Secrets: Bermuda Triangle.)

Also available: Lost Secrets: Caribbean Explorer Game Walkthrough.

Lost Secrets: Caribbean Explorer, a Big Fish Game Club World Premiere Exclusive, may be downloaded and purchased for $6.99 with a Big Fish Game Club membership. A demonstration version (80.08 MB) may be downloaded and played for free for one hour.

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, Syberia and Syberia II, The Serpent of Isis, James Patterson's Women's Murder Club: A Darker Shade of Grey, and Nick Chase: A Detective Story.

Read our new game reviews by Ms. Terri: Nancy Drew Dossier: Lights, Camera, Curses! (Review), and Nick Chase: A Detective Story (Review).

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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Enter to Win an Advance Copy of The Body in the Sleigh by Katherine Hall Page

Katherine Hall Page, author of the Faith Fairchild mystery series, is giving away a signed advance copy of the next book in the series, The Body in the Sleigh, currently scheduled for publication this October. It is the 18th in this award-winning series that began in 1990 with The Body in the Belfry, which won the Agatha Award for Best First Novel.

Entering is easy! Simply visit Katherine-Hall-Page.org and click on the contest link. The winner will be drawn at random on October 12, 2009.

Synopsis for The Body in the Sleigh: It's Christmastime, and the Fairchild family is spending the holidays on idyllic Sanpere Island in Maine while the Reverend Thomas Fairchild recuperates from surgery. His caterer wife, Faith, is rejoicing in the rare holiday family time together, watching ice boaters, snowshoeing, and doing plenty of reading in front of the fire.

But Faith's high spirits are dampened when she discovers the body of a young woman in an antique sleigh in front of the Sanpere Historical Society. The victim, Norah, was a teenage drug addict who apparently died by her own hand. Beloved by many, her untimely death rocks the isolated, tight-knit island community.

Meanwhile, Mary Bethany, a local spinster who raises goats, happens upon a newborn baby boy lying in the manger of her barn on Christmas Eve. The only clues to his identity are a note in the basket asking her to take care of him, as well as an alarming amount of cash. As Faith helps Mary locate the baby's mother, she soon finds that the truth behind the abandonment is connected to Norah's last days — and that just as death and life are intertwined on Sanpere, so are evil and redemptive goodness.

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First Clues, Mysteries for Kids: New Titles for June 2009

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 four different age categories (New Sleuths, ages 4 to 6; Future Sleuths, ages 7 to 9; Sleuths in Training, ages 10 to 12, and Apprentice Sleuths, ages 13 and older), is pleased to announce 10 new mystery books (8 series books) scheduled for publication during June, 2009.

Wilson and Miss Lovely by John Stadler
The Back-to-School Mystery Series

Wilson had just finished his first week of school and could not wait for the next one to begin. He was very fond of his new teacher, Miss Lovely. But something was wrong that day—very wrong. There were no school buses, the school itself was empty, and something strange was approaching. Undeterred and ever-hopeful that he would see Miss Lovely soon, Wilson went through his normal school day alone—he did his math lesson alone, his science lesson alone, sent himself to the principal’s office when he was naughty, and more, but still ... something was approaching. Stadler skillfully uses gatefold flaps to keep the suspense mounting until we find out just who—or what—was approaching in the first book of this series.

The Back-to-School Mystery Series are recommended for readers aged 4 to 6.

The Mystery of the Missing Books by Doug Cushman
The Dirk Bones Series

In the town of Ghostly, where everything is spooky, something really strange is going on: Books are disappearing! And not just any books—only those written by the famous author Edgar Bleek. Luckily ace reporter Dirk Bones is on the case. As Dirk tracks down information about the only clue—a weird spotted leaf—the mystery gets even more bizarre. What is happening in Ghostly? Expect the unexpected in this second Dirk Bones mystery about a fearless reporter in a town full of silly, creepy creatures.

The Dirk Bones Series are recommended for readers aged 4 to 6.

The Molly Shoe Mystery by David A. Adler
The Young Cam Jansen Series

Aunt Molly is in town. Cam Jansen and her best friend, Eric, are at the airport to greet her. They find Aunt Molly, but her favorite high heels are missing! Did she leave them in Peru, or China, or behind a trash can? Will gumshoe Cam find Aunt Molly’s missing shoes? The 14th book in this delightful Level 2 reading series. For older readers, see also the Cam Jansen mystery series.

The Young Cam Jansen Series are recommended for readers aged 4 to 6.

The Ransom Note Blues by Jill Santopolo
The Alec Flint Series

Alec Flint is a super sleuth in training, with one mystery under his belt, and a really great partner named Gina. When Gina's mom, a local newspaper reporter, gets a ransom note at work, Alec and Gina are on the case. The note claims that something belonging to the whole town has been stolen ... but that something could be anything! The partners do their best to spend as much time as possible sleuthing, but their schoolwork keeps getting in the way. The entire fourth grade is doing a unit on the abstract artist Jackson Pollock that's sponsored by a distant relative of Pollock's. Alec and Gina have more important things to worry about than a bunch of paintings with lots of strange paint dripped on the canvas. But are the detectives overlooking an important clue? Could the mysterious sponsor and the abstract paintings have something to do with the ransom note? The 2nd book in this series.

The Alec Flint Series are recommended for readers aged 7 to 9.

The Ghost at Old Oak Way by Laurie Cameron and Laura Meagher
The Acorn Mysteries

Eliza is seeing things, but what she hears shakes her to the core. The Bookshop has been in her family since before the Civil War and now it s in financial trouble. Strange things are happening ... Eliza receives mysterious messages, stumbles across obscure clues, and finds hidden spaces in The Bookshop. When a creepy man starts popping up in unexpected places, she knows not to trust him. When Eliza learns he is planning to buy The Bookshop, she becomes more suspicious, convinced there is something in the family shop worth finding. It's up to three seventh graders, Eliza, her best friend Melinda, and the new kid Simon, to unravel the mystery and save The Bookshop in the first book of this series.

The Acorn Mysteries are recommended for readers aged 10 to 12.

The Legend of Burial Island by David Crossman
The Bean and Ab Mystery Series

In a tale overflowing with adventure, teens Bean Carver and Abigail Peterson -- and a Middle Eastern princess summering on their island -- pull off narrow escapes by boat, ultralight, and mini-submarine. Bizarre occurrences indicate that the legends surrounding nearby Burial Island-site of a tragedy during the French and Indian Wars-might not be merely folktales. Bean and Ab solve a baffling mystery, plus get some clues about the importance of loyalty and friendship. The 3rd book in this series.

The Bean and Ab Mystery Series are recommended for readers aged 10 to 12.

Uncer Cover by Barbara Mitchelhill
The Damian Drooth, Supersleuth Series

Damian's amazing detective skills are called on when rich boy, Clavin Baggington, has his super-expensive bike stolen at the Green Park Holiday Village . With a brilliant and cunning plan, Damian solves the crime in style - but not before Mum's blood pressure rises to new heights and the Holiday Village is thrown into chaos. Even Inspector Crockitt, hoping for a peaceful week's break, becomes unwillingly and painfully involved. The 7th book in this series.

The Damian Drooth, Supersleuth Series are recommended for readers aged 10 to 12.

Ballerina Detective and the Missing Jeweled Tiara by Karen Rita Rautenberg
Non-series

Providing a colorful slice of life, mystery, light romance, and personal struggles, this adventure tale draws readers into the life of a contemporary American girl, Kayla, in her quest to pursue her dreams and find her identity in the exciting transition from childhood to early adolescence. The story takes an unexpected turn when someone steals her friend Amber's most prized possession—the gold tiara she planned to use as the crown in The Nutcracker ballet. Suddenly, Kayla and her fellow ballerina friend Vicki find themselves embroiled in the roles of amateur detectives. Kayla also discovers something very special about herself; she gets the starring role in a school play but must overcome stage fright and the difficulty of memorizing her lines all while experiencing her first crush on a boy.

This book is recommended for readers aged 10 to 12.

The Mystery of the Third Lucretia by Susan Runholt
The Kari and Lucas Series

If it hadn’t been for Lucas’s photographic memory, they might not have remembered the man. It had been almost a year since she and Kari noticed him copying a famous Rembrandt painting in the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. But now in the National Gallery in London, they spot the same guy, copying another Rembrandt. Then, when a never-before-seen Rembrandt painting is discovered in Amsterdam, the girls begin to suspect the truth. Convinced that no one will believe them without hard and fast evidence, the teenage sleuths embark on a madcap adventure to find the forger and bring him to justice. The 1st book in this series. Also available: The Mystery of the Third Lucretia (hardcover edition).

The Kari and Lucas Series are recommended for readers aged 13 and older.

The Boxer and the Spy by Robert B. Parker
Non-series

When a shy high school student’s body is found washed up on the shore of a quiet beach town—an apparent suicide—Terry Novak doesn’t know what to think. He decides to do some investigating with the help of his best friend, Abby. Before long, they learn that asking questions puts them in grave danger. Fortunately, Terry has been learning about fighting, thanks to a retired boxer, who teaches him to use his head and keep his feet set beneath him—lessons Terry takes to heart in more ways than one. Also available: The Boxer and the Spy (hardcover edition).

This book is recommended for readers aged 13 and older.

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ForeWord Magazine Announces Winners of the Book of the Year Awards

ForeWord Magazine's Book of the Year Awards were announced yesterday, which recognize literary achievements of independent publishers and their authors. The winners in the Fiction: Mystery category were:

Gold: Stealing Trinity by Ward Larsen
Silver: Rabbit in the Moon by Deborah and Joel Shlian
Bronze: Hoodoo by Susan Cummins Miller

indicates a review by Mysterious Reviews.

Congratulations from everyone at MBN to the winners!

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New Children's Mystery Series Features Autistic Child; Portion of Royalties to be Donated to Charity

Sue Birch is the author of Dead Puzzling, a recently published children's murder mystery.

In Dead Puzzling, 9-year-old Oliver Pickles, one of the three young heroes in the story, suffers from the autistic condition Asperger's Syndrome. While this doesn't stop him from trying to help his sister Lizzie and friend Tom track down their village killer, it doesn't always make the adventure run smoothly. Much of Oliver's amusing and unpredictable behavior is based on Sue's son Michael, who is also autistic. "Although Mike never got involved in any criminal investigations," Sue told us hastily.

Sue also let us know she is donating half her royalties on the book to the National Autistic Society, the UK's leading charity for people affected by autism.

Dead Puzzling is the first in a planned series of young adult thrillers involving the trio and is available on Amazon.com and other major retailers.

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USA Today Talks to Burn Notice Star Jeffrey Donovan

USA Today recently talked to Jeffrey Donovan, who stars as the "burned" covert agent Michael Westen on Burn Notice, the third season of which premieres next Thursday (June 4th, 9 PM ET/PT) on USA Network.

"I'm having the best time of my life. Absolutely," says Donovan. "This is the best material I've ever had to work with, and it's getting better. The cast and crew are great. It's a marriage made in heaven."

USA Today notes viewers appreciate the match. Burn Notice's "cool" factor, story lines and charismatic cast attract 5 million viewers an episode. Much of the appeal lies with Donovan's turn as the unflappable, self-deprecating CIA agent given a "burn notice," his employment terminated by unknown operatives for reasons unclear.

The series, set in Miami, is popular enough have attracted a book tie-in. Tod Goldberg has written two books to date, both of which have been positively reviewed by Mysterious Reviews: The Fix (published August 2008) and The End Game (published May 2009).

The first two seasons of the series are available on DVD from Mysteries on TV: Burn Notice.

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Filming Begins on New Season of Agatha Christie's Poirot

The Telegraph is reporting that David Suchet is set to begin filming the current season of Agatha Christie's Poirot. The first episode of the four to be filmed is The Clocks in which Poirot must determine whether a woman is responsible for the murder of a man found stabbed. The title comes from the four frozen clocks that read 13 minutes past 4 in the room where the dead body is discovered. The Clocks was originally published by Christie in 1963.

"After 21 years filming Poirot I am as excited as ever to be returning to the role and very much looking forward to filming with such a wonderful guest cast," says Suchet.

ITV has yet to schedule a date to broadcast the new season, but is expected to be early 2010. It is likely the episodes will air on PBS in the US soon thereafter.

Visit Mysteries on TV: Agatha Christie's Poirot for more information about the series available on DVD.

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Games of Mystery: Sherlock Holmes in The Secret of the Silver Earring, 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.

Help the famous consulting detective solve a string of grisly murders in Sherlock Holmes: The Secret of the Silver Earring! Team up with Dr. Watson to scour exquisitely detailed scenes, track down clues, and find the person responsible for these crimes. Use your detective skills and piece together this mystery, as you dive into a carefully constructed 19th century. Sherlock Holmes: The Secret of the Silver Earring is an adventure game full of excitement and suspense and classic characters.

Also available: Sherlock Holmes: The Secret of the Silver Earring Strategy Guide.

Sherlock Holmes: The Secret of the Silver Earring, a Big Fish Game Club World Premiere Exclusive, may be downloaded and purchased for $6.99 with a Big Fish Game Club membership. A sample version (173.94 MB) may be downloaded and played for free for one hour; the full unlimited version is 1.2 GB.

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, Syberia and Syberia II, The Serpent of Isis, James Patterson's Women's Murder Club: A Darker Shade of Grey, and Nick Chase: A Detective Story.

Read our new game reviews by Ms. Terri: Nancy Drew Dossier: Lights, Camera, Curses! (Review), and Nick Chase: A Detective Story (Review).

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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Lambda Literary Award Winners Announced

The 2008 Lambda Literary Awards were given out were given out last night by the Lambda Literary Foundation in 24 categories based on the quality of writing and the LGBT content of the work. The winners in the mystery categories were:

• Gay Men's Mystery: First You Fall by Scott Sherman

• Lesbian Mystery: Whacked by Josie Gordon

Congratulations from MBN to the winners!

Visit Mystery Book Awards for a complete list of previous winners as well as winners of over 30 other awards recognizing excellence in mystery fiction.

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Mystery Book Review: Fault Line by Barry Eisler

Mysterious Reviews, mysteries reviewed by the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books, is thrilled (pun intended!) to be a participant in Barry Eisler's online book tour. We had the pleasure of reading his latest book, Fault Line, a review of which is published here.

Fault Line by Barry Eisler
Non-series

Ballantine (Hardcover)
ISBN-10: 0-345-50508-5 (0345505085)
ISBN-13: 978-0-345-50508-8 (9780345505088)
Publication Date: March 2009
List Price: $25.00

Review: Barry Eisler departs from his John Rain mysteries to craft a fast-paced, high-tech thriller set in the heart of Silicon Valley in Fault Line, his first non-series novel.

Alex Treven is an ambitious attorney looking to make partner at his firm. He sees his chance when a young inventor who has developed a new, revolutionary data encryption algorithm hires him to file all the necessary patent applications and associated paperwork. But when the inventor and his contact at the patent office are murdered within hours of each other, and he's threatened himself, Alex realizes something is seriously wrong. He knows of only one person to call, his estranged brother Ben. Ben, a covert ops agent for a secret agency within the US government, reluctantly agrees to help but doesn't know exactly what he's in for until someone tries to take him out. And he takes that personally, very personally.

Despite four murders committed within the first chapter or two, Fault Line starts fairly slowly for a thriller. The three principal characters (Alex, Ben, and an associate of Alex's, Sarah) are introduced separately but their stories are unremarkable. It isn't until they are together that the plot picks up speed ... and interest. Together they're battling an unknown force determined to acquire the encryption software, but individually there are also interpersonal conflicts: between Alex and Ben over the accidental death of their sister when they were teenagers; Alex's unexpressed affection for Sarah, which is unreciprocated; and Ben's suspicion that Sarah may be an embedded agent because of her Iranian heritage and Sarah's resentment that he believes that. Eisler handles these various subplots well while keeping the main plot moving forward, but there's really just a little too much going on here.

It isn't clear if Fault Line is intended to be a stand-alone novel or not but Ben, as the most dynamic and arguably most interesting character in the book, could readily sustain a series on his own. To be sure, the book appears to be written with a future screenplay in mind, with a simple plot that's easy for the audience to follow, lots of action, political intrigue with a high-tech slant, the obligatory romantic interlude, an inevitable twist, and so on. The ending is a little too pat (then again, most movies need to quickly wrap up loose threads as well), but overall, Fault Line is a thriller that successfully accomplishes its primary goal of entertaining the reader.

Special thanks to Pump Up Your Book Promotion for providing a copy of Fault Line for this review.

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

If you are interested in purchasing Fault Line from Amazon.com, please click the button to the right. Fault Line (Kindle edition) is also available.

Synopsis (from the publisher): Silicon Valley: the eccentric inventor of a new encryption application is murdered in an apparent drug deal. Istanbul: a cynical undercover operative receives a frantic call from his estranged brother, a patent lawyer who believes he’ll be the next victim. And on the sun-drenched slopes of Sand Hill Road, California’s nerve center of money and technology, old family hurts sting anew as two brothers who share nothing but blood and bitterness wage a desperate battle against a faceless enemy.

Alex Treven has sacrificed everything to achieve his sole ambition: making partner in his high-tech law firm. But then the inventor of a technology Alex is banking on is murdered, the patent examiner who reviewed the innovation dies--and Alex himself narrowly escapes an attack in his own home. Off balance, out of ideas, and running out of time, he knows that the one person who can help him is the last person he’d ever ask: his brother.

Ben Treven is a military liaison element, an elite undercover soldier paid to “find, fix, and finish” high-value targets in the United States global war on terror.

Disenchanted with what he sees as America’s culture of denial and decadence, Ben lives his detached life in the shadows because the black ops world is all he really knows--and because other than Alex, whom he hasn’t spoken to since their mother died, his family is long gone.

But blood is thicker than water, and when Ben receives Alex’s frantic call he hurries to San Francisco to help him. Only then does Alex reveal that there’s another player who knows of the technology: Sarah Hosseini, a young Iranian American lawyer whom Alex has long secretly desired--and whom Ben immediately distrusts. As these three struggle to identify the forces attempting to silence them, Ben and Alex are forced to examine the events that drove them apart--even as Sarah’s presence, and her own secret yearnings, deepens the fault line between them.

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