Mystery Book Review: The Fourth Assassin by Matt Beynon Rees

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

The Fourth Assassin by Matt Beynon Rees
An Omar Yussef Mystery

Soho Crime (Hardcover)
ISBN-10: 1-56947-619-5 (1569476195)
ISBN-13: 978-1-56947-619-2 (9781569476192)
Publication Date: February 2010
List Price: $24.00

Review: Omar Yussef tries to unravel the mysterious circumstances surrounding the murder of one of his son's friends in The Fourth Assassin, the fourth mystery in this series by Matt Beynon Rees.

Omar Yussef is in New York City to attend a United Nations conference. The trip is made more bearable because his son, Ala, lives in the city with two childhood friends. When Omar Yussef visits their apartment soon after his arrival, he's shocked to discover the body of a headless man on one of the beds. Initially fearing it might be Ala, he's relieved when his son soon arrives and identifies the dead man is one of his roommates. But somewhat inexplicably, Ala refuses to alibi himself when the police arrive, and he's taken into custody. Omar Yussef is sure his son isn't a killer, but seems equally sure neither of his friends -- who were once students of his -- could be either. But with Ala remaining silent, and another roommate missing, Omar Yussef is determined to learn the truth, regardless of the consequences.

There isn't much of a mystery in The Fourth Assassin, which is something of a disappointment, especially when compared to the intricate puzzles Omar Yussef solved in the previous books of the series. Rather, it's as if the author posited a number of questions -- Can an Arab community exist as such outside of the Middle East? Can a Muslim woman embrace the customs of her faith while still exploring and enjoying the life of a young woman in New York City? Can a naturalized American Muslim police officer do his job yet retain the respect of his people? Can an Arab merchant exiled from his home in the Middle East escape his past and start anew in another country? -- then created characters and a story for them to try to answer the questions. It's not always a successful exercise.

In many ways the most troubling character in The Fourth Assassin, especially from an American perspective, is Ala, Omar Yussef's son. He's conflicted, to be sure, but the source of that conflict isn't always obvious. True, he's accused of murder, but even before that he's known to hate living in New York City, even the concept of New York City, where he's an underemployed computer engineer. He even calls the Muslim cop investigating the case a "filthy infidel", simply because he chose to become a US citizen. It isn't made clear why Ala is living here, or how he came about living here, but the obvious question is: why not go home, back to your family in Bethlehem? Why subject yourself to a setting that was not forced upon you, that you've voluntarily chosen to live in, when you don't have to? One might argue that, as a Palestinian, he has no home, but that isn't the point here ... or maybe it is.

Rees often uses environment to help set the tone for his stories, and the New York City of The Fourth Assassin is cold and wet, dark and dreary, forbidding and unforgiving. If it weren't for the practical optimism of Omar Yussef, it would be downright depressing. But this optimism is really what the story is about: there are often no easy or simplistic answers to life's questions, in fact, there may be no answers at all, but that doesn't mean one cannot -- as Omar Yussef does -- adapt to the challenges and avail oneself to the opportunities of an ever-changing landscape.

The Fourth Assassin isn't the best novel in this series, but that is mostly because it fails to show Omar Yussef at his intellectual best as an amateur sleuth, something readers have come to expect from him.

Special thanks to Goldberg McDuffie Communications for providing a copy of The Fourth Assassin for this review.

Review Copyright © 2010 — Hidden Staircase Mystery Books — All Rights Reserved

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

Synopsis (from the publisher): When Omar Yussef travels to New York for a UN Conference, he's eager to visit his youngest son Ala, who lives in Bay Ridge, a Brooklyn neighborhood with a large Palestinian community. He arrives at Ala's apartment to find the door ajar and a headless body in one of the beds. He's initially terrified that the dead man is his son, but soon Ala arrives and identifies the body as that of one of his roommates. He's convinced that his other roommate is the killer. But when the cops show up Ala refuses to give an alibi and is arrested.

Desperate to prove his son's innocence, Omar Yussef investigates. The murderer has left clues that refer to the Assassins, a medieval Shiite sect. When they were teenagers, Ala and his roommates had a club by that name. What's the connection? As Omar Yussef delves deeper, he uncovers a deadly international conspiracy.

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Authors on Tour: Paul Harris Visits In Reference to Murder and Murder by 4

Mystery Books News is pleased to be coordinating this week's online book tour for author Paul Harris, whose debut novel, The Secret Keeper (Plume Trade Paperback, February 2010), chronicles the story of one man's search for the truth in war-torn Sierra Leone, where the rules of civilized society don't apply ...

Today, Tuesday, March 2nd, Paul will be visiting 2 blog sites:

• In Reference to Murder, where Paul will be interviewed; and
• Murder by 4, where Paul is the guest blogger.

We're also thrilled to announce that Paul is giving away a signed copy of his new book to one lucky tour visitor. Visit each tour siste 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 Paul's tour page, Authors on Tour: Paul Harris.

We hope you have the opportunity to stop by each of the tour sites this week to learn more about Paul and how his experience as a journalist was woven into the fictional story of Danny Kellerman.

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Mystery Book Review: Frame-Up by John F. Dobbyn

Mysterious Reviews, mysteries reviewed by the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books, is publishing a new review of Frame-Up by John F. Dobbyn. For our blog readers, we are printing it first here in advance of its publication on our website.

Frame-Up by John F. Dobbyn
A Michael Knight and Lex Devlin Mystery

Oceanview Publishing (Hardcover)
ISBN-10: 1-933515-63-5 (1933515635)
ISBN-13: 978-1-933515-63-2 (9781933515632)
Publication Date: March 2010
List Price: $25.95

Review: Friendships past and present, new and old, are tested when a man is murdered and another is charged with the crime in Frame-Up, the second thriller in the Michael Knight and Lex Devlin series by John F. Dobbyn.

Three boys grew up in the same neighborhood in Boston. Best friends as youths, they took different paths as adults. Lex Devlin went to Harvard Law School and became one of Boston's more prominent trial attorneys; Matt Ryan became a priest; and Dominic Santangelo took over as Don for one of New Englands most notorious crime families. A half century later, two other young men became friends while attending Harvard Law, but they, too, took divergent paths upon graduation. Michael Knight became a junior partner in the firm headed by Lex Devlin; John McKendrick became legal counsel for the local mob. All their lives come together when McKendrick is killed by a car bomb, and Peter Santangelo, Dominic's son, is accused of the murder. Dominic asks Devlin to defend his son, but everything about Dominic and his "profession" offends Devlin. Is their past friendship enough of a reason to get involved?

Matt Ryan, now Monsignor Ryan, brings the two old friends together, and Devlin agrees to defend Peter and though Michael Knight has a personal connection to the case, Devlin assigns him to investigate. He follows leads to London and Amsterdam, where a criminal syndicate is involved in trafficking forged art masterpieces. It soon becomes clear that there is no one involved he can truly trust ... but then again, can Michael be trusted to be objective?

Frame-Up is an electrifying thriller, not so much a legal thriller (despite the abundance of lawyers present) but rather one of international intrigue. The relationship between Devlin and Michael is one of father-figure and son, mentor and apprentice, reasoned counsel and impetuous zeal; it's an appealing combination and one of the strongest elements of the story. Still, this is a murder mystery, with a plot that is well paced, replete with credible misdirection, that keeps the reader guessing as to who killed John McKendrick and why. Frame-Up will appeal to those who appreciate an exciting, gripping story with well-drawn characters; it is highly recommended.

Special thanks to guest reviewer Betty of The Betz Review for contributing her review of Frame-Up and to Oceanview Publishing for providing a copy of the book for this review.

Review Copyright © 2010 — Hidden Staircase Mystery Books — All Rights Reserved

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

Synopsis (from the publisher): After graduating from Harvard Law with his closest friend John McKedrick, Michael Knight takes a job with his mentor, legendary trial attorney Lex Devlin, while John becomes sole associate of a notorious mob lawyer.

Michael never lost hope that John McKedrick would escape to "cleaner pastures" -- until John is murdered in a car bombing bearing the signature of his questionable clientele. How could two friends who were so close have taken such wildly divergent paths?

In the wake of McKedrick's murder, three men who took their own deviating paths will meet for the first time in forty years. Matt Ryan, a priest, Dominic Santangelo, a mafia don, and Lex Devlin put the past aside to focus on a present concern: Dominic's son has been charged with John McKedrick's murder.

At Lex's urging, Michael Knight reluctantly agrees to represent the alleged bomber. In building a defense, Michael is drawn into a high-stakes art fraud that leads him from the seediest parts of Boston to the sophisticated Amsterdam inner sanctum of international crime.

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Firsts on the 1st: New Series Characters Being Introduced in March 2010 Mysteries

The Hidden Staircase Mystery Books recently updated its list of March 2010 hardcover mysteries as well shelved new March paperbacks on The Mystery Bookshelf. In this post, which we're calling Firsts on the 1st, we're introducing readers to new series characters who will make their debut during March.

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Title: Glazed Murder
Author: Jessica Beck
Series Character: Donut Shop with Suzanne Hart
Format: Mass Market Paperback

What we know about the character: Suzanne Hart is the owner and operator of Donut Hearts coffee shop in April Springs, North Carolina.

Her first case: Meet Suzanne Hart, owner and operator of Donut Hearts coffee shop in April Springs, North Carolina. After her divorce from Max, an out-of-work actor she’s dubbed “The Great Impersonator,” Suzanne decided to pursue her one true passion in life: donuts. So she cashed in her settlement and opened up shop in the heart of her beloved hometown.

But when a dead body is dumped on her doorstep like a sack of flour, Suzanne’s cozy little shop becomes an all-out crime scene. Now, everyone in town is dropping by for glazed donuts and gruesome details. The retired sheriff warns her to be careful—and they’re all suspects. Soon Suzanne—who finds snooping as irresistible as donuts—is poking holes in everyone’s alibis …

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Title: The Dogs of rome
Author: Conor Fitzgerald
Series Character: Alec Blume
Format: Hardcover

What we know about the character: Commissario Alec Blume is an ex-patriate American living in Rome.

His first case: On a hot summer morning, Arturo Clemente is sloppily murdered in his Roman apartment by a mysterious slasher. Though the murder appears amateurish, even random, Clemente is no ordinary victim. An animal rights activist campaigning against dogfighting, he is married to a prominent politician and sleeping with Manuela Fusco, the daughter of a dangerous crime boss.

Police inspector Alec Blume has a favorite suspect, but the investigation is already being manipulated by both the Senate and the Fusco crime ring. As the details of the case continue to trickle out, Blume soon realizes he is being watched from on high—and that solving this crime may be the least of his worries. Angry, sleep-deprived, and unsure who to trust, Blume is losing control of his investigation. As the mob tightens its grip on the city, and with the killer still at large, Blume’s struggle for justice may cost more innocent lives.

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Title: The Clouds Roll Away
Author: Sibella Giorello
Series Character: Raleigh Harmon
Format: Trade Paperback

What we know about the character: Raleigh Harmon is a forensic geologist in Richmond, Virginia.

Her first case: Closing her assignment with the FBI's Seattle office, forensic geologist Raleigh Harmon returns to her hometown of Richmond, Virginia, expecting a warm welcome. Instead she finds herself investigating an ugly cross burning at a celebrity's mansion and standing in the crosshairs of her boss at the Bureau. And the deeper Raleigh digs into the case, the murkier the water becomes...until she's left wondering who the real victims might be.

To make matters worse, Raleigh's personal life offers almost zero clarity. Her former confidant is suddenly remote while her former boyfriend keeps popping up wherever she goes. And then there's her mother. Raleigh's move home was supposed to improve Nadine's fragile sanity, but instead seems to be making things worse.

As the threads of the case begin crossing and double-crossing, Raleigh is forced to rely on her forensic skills, her faith, and the fervent hope that breakthrough will come, bringing with it that singular moment when the clouds roll away and everything finally makes sense.

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Title: Enemies Among Us
Author: Bob Hamer
Series Character: Matt Hogan
Format: Trade Paperback

What we know about the character: Matt Hogan is an undercover FBI agent.

His first case: When undercover FBI agent Matt Hogan totals three vehicles in an out-of-policy Beverly Hills pursuit of a fleeing Arab drug runner, he incurs the wrath of the Bureau hierarchy. To avoid an almost certain suspension, he accepts a new assignment tracking terrorist cell groups while posing as a volunteer at a nonprofit charity. What he doesn't know is the ripples of danger from this case will threaten not only his life but the safety and security of the entire nation.

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Title: Drink the Tea
Author: Thomas Kaufman
Series Character: Alec Blume
Format: Hardcover

What we know about the character: Willis Gidney is a private investigator in Washington DC.

His first case: Willis Gidney is a born liar and rip-off artist, an expert at the scam. Growing up without parents or a home, by age twelve he is a successful young man, running his own small empire, until he meets Shadrack Davies. That’s Captain Shadrack Davies, of the D.C. Police. Davies wants to reform Gidney and becomes his foster father. Though he tries not to, Gidney learns a small amount of ethics from Shad -- just enough to bother a kid from the streets for the rest of his life.

Now Gidney is a PI, walking those same streets. So it's no surprise that when his closest friend, jazz saxophonist Steps Jackson, asks Gidney to find his missing daughter, Gidney is compelled to say yes -- even though she's been missing for twenty-five years. He finds a woman who may be the girl’s mother -- and within hours she turns up dead. The police accuse Gidney of the murder and throw him in jail.

Maybe Gidney should quit while he’s behind. But when his investigation puts him up against a ruthless multinational corporation, a two-faced congressman, and a young woman desperate to conceal her past, Gidney has no time left for second thoughts. In fact, he may have no time left at all.

Winner of the 2008 PWA Best First Private Eye Novel Contest.

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Title: Bulletproof Mascara
Author: Bethany Maines
Series Character: Nikki Lanier
Format: Trade Paperback

What we know about the character: Linguist Nikki Lanier joins the “confidential side” of cosmetics giant Carrie Mae, whose charity foundation uses covert means to help women.

Her first case: When Nikki Lanier signs up as a cosmetics rep at Carrie Mae, it's hardly her idea of a dream job. With a degree in linguistics and a hard-core workout regimen, the twenty-six-year-old redhead once had hopes for a real career. But unemployed and desperate to escape life at home with her nagging mother, she'll try anything—even selling makeup to housewives. Soon, Nikki learns that the powder and lipstick are simply cover-up for the Carrie Mae Foundation: a secret organization of international espionage and high-tech mascara founded for the purpose of “helping women everywhere.”

Whisked off to Thailand with the legendary Carrie Mae agent Val Robinson, Nikki is soon in over her head. Between investigating the abduction of a human rights activist, tracking down a murderous arms dealer, keeping up with her wildly dangerous new partner, and occasionally trying to date a hunk who may or may not be CIA, Nikki has to use all the courage and cosmetic technology she's got to bring down the bad guys and get out alive.

With the support of the colorful Carrie Mae crew, Nikki will overcome even the most harrowing obstacles—including incessant phone calls from her mother—or die trying.

— ◊ —

Title: Our Lady of Immaculate Deception
Author: Nancy Martin
Series Character: Roxy Abruzzo
Format: Hardcover

What we know about the character: Roxy Abruzzo is the owner of Bada Bling Architectural Salvage in Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania).

Her first case: Roxy Abruzzo is a loud-mouthed, sexy, independent-minded niece of a Pittsburgh Mafia boss trying to go (mostly) straight. She’d like to stay completely out of her uncle Carmine’s shady business dealings, though he's trying to reel her in. She'd like to concentrate on the architectural salvage business she runs mostly on the up and up for a tidy profit. She'd like to keep her rebellious teenage daughter on the straight and narrow. But Roxy knows where all the good intentions in the world usually lead, and when she can’t help herself from tucking away an ancient Greek statue that's not really hers, she pays for it by getting caught up in the chaos surrounding the sordid murder of the statue’s former owner, heir to a billion-dollar Pittsburgh steel fortune.

Of course, she has plenty of help getting in and out of trouble, including her sidekick “Nooch” Santonucci, too dumb to say no to whatever Roxy wants to do and strong enough to do it; her widowed aunt Loretta, a lawyer whose big hair and short skirts are as big a help to her in court as her brains; and Patrick Flynn, ex-marine, professional chef, and former high school flame, fresh from Afghanistan to torture Roxy, just like old times.

— ◊ —

Title: The Alchemy of Murder
Author: Carol McCleary
Series Character: Nellie Bly
Format: Hardcover

What we know about the character: Nellie Bly is an international reporter in the late 19th century.

Her first case: The world’s most famous reporter, the intrepid Nellie Bly, teams up with science fiction genius Jules Verne, the notorious wit and outrageous rogue Oscar Wilde, and the greatest microbe-hunter in history, Louis Pasteur. Together, they must solve the crime of the century.

They are all in Paris—the capital of Europe and center of world culture—for the 1889 World’s Fair. A spectacular extravaganza dedicated to new industries, scientific discoveries, and global exploration, its gateway is the soaring Eiffel Tower. But an enigmatic killer stalks the streets and a virulent plague is striking down Parisians by the thousands. Convinced that the killings are connected to the pandemic, Nellie is determined to stop them both ... no matter what the risks.

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Title: Sprinkle with Murder
Author: Jenn McKinlay
Series Characters: Cupcake Bakery with Mel Cooper and Angie DeLaura
Format: Mass Market Paperback

What we know about the characters: Melanie "Mel" Cooper and Angie DeLaura own the bakery Fairy Tale Cupcakes.

Her first case: Melanie Cooper and Angie DeLaura are finally living out their dream as the proud owners of the Fairy Tale Cupcakes bakery. But their first big client is a nightmare. She's a bridezilla who wants 500 custom cupcakes for her wedding.

When Mel stumbles upon the bride-to-be dead-by-cupcake, she becomes the prime suspect. To save themselves and their business, the ladies need to find the real murderer, before the cupcake killer ices someone else.

— ◊ —

Title: At Witt's End
Author: Beth Solheim
Series Character: Sadie Witt
Format: Trade Paperback

What we know about the character: Sadie Witt is the owner of the Witt's End Resort.

Her first case: Things are really bustling at the Witt's End resort in Northern Minnesota. Clients are vying for one of the few remaining rentals, except Cabin 14. Thing is, no-one gets out of Cabin 14 alive.

Sadie isn't your typical sixty-four year old senior citizen. She has things she wants to do and shouldn't be expected to solve a murder while trying to prevent an unscrupulous sheriff's deputy from shutting down the lakeside resort she owns with her straight arrow sister. But that's exactly what Sadie Witt must do. When five guests with hidden agendas arrive at Cabin 14, they're stunned to learn that the flamboyant Sadie is their conduit to the hereafter. Clad in the latest fashion trends -- fads typically reserved for those without sagging body parts -- and sporting hairdos that make bystanders want to look away but can't, Sadie realizes one of the guests has been murdered and must work against the clock to untangle the web and prevent further mayhem.

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Title: The Lord Is My Shepherd
Author: Debbie Viguie
Series Character: Psalm 23 with Cindy Preston and Jeremiah Silverman
Format: Trade Paperback

What we know about the characters: Church secretary Cindy Preston and Rabbi Jeremiah Silverman are amateur sleuths.

Her first case: Cindy’s church is getting ready to celebrate Easter, and Jeremiah’s Temple is preparing for Passover when Cindy literally stumbles over the body of an unknown man lying dead in the sanctuary. The church was locked, and a bloody cross necklace on the floor seems to be the only clue. The killer is likely a member of the congregation, but there are hints that similar deaths have happened in the past. Are Cindy and Jeremiah dealing with a serial killer? They have to unravel the clues before Easter Sunday arrives and more people die.

Cindy and Jeremiah come from two different worlds, even though they work right next door to each other. Cindy is a strong Christian who lives a normal but somewhat dull life, working as a church secretary. Jeremiah is a Reformed rabbi with a mysterious past full of danger and excitement. But one eventful Easter/Passover week, the two find themselves working together to solve a murder and stop a serial killer from striking again. Solving the mystery should put an end to their alliance, but the church secretary and the rabbi quickly find themselves enmeshed in another mystery. Soon the two form a friendly alliance and friendship, exploring personal history and faith and growing closer with each passing adventure. Despite their differences Cindy and Jeremiah find a lot of common ground.

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For a list of more mysteries scheduled for publication during March, please visit our New Mysteries home page. If you're interested in new paperbacks, visit The Mystery Bookshelf where you can discover a library of new mysteries, also updated with March 2010 releases.

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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The Mystery Bookshelf: Murder in the Latin Quarter by Cara Black, an Aimée Leduc Investigation

The Mystery Bookshelf, where you can discover a library of new mysteries, is pleased to feature a new mystery series title we recently received from the publisher.

Murder in the Latin Quarter by Cara Black
An Aimée Leduc Investigation (9th in series)
Soho Crime (Trade Paperback)
Publication Date: March 2010
ISBN-13: 978-1-56947-621-5

About Murder in the Latin Quarter (from the publisher): A Haitian woman arrives at the office of Leduc Detective and announces that she is Aimée’s sister, her father’s illegitimate daughter. Aimée is thrilled. A virtual orphan since her mother’s disappearance and her father’s death, she has always wanted a sister. Her partner, René, is wary of this stranger, but Aimée embraces her and soon finds herself involved in murky Haitian politics leading to murder.

The setting for Murder in the Latin Quarter is the old university district of Paris, on the left bank of the Seine.

About Cara Black: She is the author of ten books in the Aimée Leduc series, including her most recent, Murder in the Palais Royal. She frequently visits Paris but lives in San Francisco with her husband and son. Visit her website at CaraBlack.com.

Mysteries by Cara Black reviewed by Mysterious Reviews: Murder in the Rue de Paradis (2008).

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Mysteries on TV Review: A Mind to Kill, Series 1

Mystery Books News is pleased to publish a review of a "Mystery on TV", a television series or movie featuring either a detective, amateur sleuth, or private investigator, or a mystery, suspense, or crime drama with an ensemble cast, that is now available on DVD.

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A Mind to Kill Series 1

Original air date(s): November 1994 through January 1995.
DVD release date: 02/02/2010.

Recurring characters: Noel Bain (Philip Madoc), Hannah Bain (Ffion Wilkins), Margaret Edwards (Sharon Morgan), Alison Griffiths (Gillian Elisa), Carwyn Phillips (Geraint Lewis), Jack Bevan (Meic Povey).

Rating: Not Rated (but comparable to TV-MA for occasional course language and brief nudity).
Running time: 596 minutes.

The series was originally filmed in both English and Welsh, though only the English version is available on the DVD.

— ◊ —

Review: Philip Madoc stars as Detective Chief Inspector Noel Bain in this superior crime drama filmed on location in Wales and featuring a largely Welsh cast of actors. The six episodes included in this set take place at a variety of locations in Wales, thanks in part to a new mobile crime unit (essentially a large mobile home outfitted with high-tech communications and basic forensic equipment) that is transported to the scene of a crime.

The mystery plots are sophisticated and solidly plotted, not so much whodunits but more along the lines of police procedurals. The stories are often grim, the outcomes not always positive -- much like real crime in real life.

The series has a very noir-ish look to it. Most scenes take place at night or under overcast skies during the day, giving them a dark, at times gritty, feel. There isn't much color here, and it's clearly not an image promoted by the tourist bureau, but all this adds rather than detracts from the appeal of the series.

Madoc seems perfectly cast as the lead investigator for the crimes depicted in each episode. In the series, he's a widower with a 17-year-old daughter, who resents that her father's profession interferes so much with her life. A multi-episode story arc involves her growing dissatisfaction, from something as simple as trying to plan a vacation with her father to him interfering in her young love life. There is also an underlying theme through these episodes that involves the transition of the region, from the loss of industrial and agricultural jobs to fragmentation of communities and the political upheaval that resulted. More importantly to the Police Department, the introduction and employment of modern forensic techniques is shown to be an effective method of solving crimes, though not at the expense of good instinct and feet on the ground.

A Mind To Kill ran for five "series" in Wales, on an irregular basis from 1994 through 2002. ("Series" is not an exact equivalent to "season" in the US, but the concept is similar.) It was commissioned following the success of a 1991 made-for-television film, Noson yr Heliwr, which served as the pilot. (Note: the pilot is not included on this DVD set.) To my knowledge, the series has not aired on any television network in the US.

The six episodes in A Mind To Kill, each of which runs about 100 minutes, are (with descriptions provided by the studio):

Episode 1: "Black Silence"
During a strike at the local coal mine, Bain investigates the murder of a 17-year-old prostitute. He suspects that the powerful, intimidating strike leader Roderick Tate is involved, but the evidence points to another man.

Episode 2: "White Rocks"
A young mother is beaten to death at a run-down holiday camp, and her 7-year-old son—who may have witnessed the crime—disappears. Racing against time to find the boy before the murderer does, Bain uncovers secrets worth killing for.

Episode 3: "Gameboys"
When the charred body of a young man is found in a peaceful farming community, Bain’s investigation leads to a series of shocking discoveries: drugs, rent boys, and a town elder who’s not as respectable as he seems.

Episode 4: "Rest Not Secure"
A gang war is brewing, but Bain is preoccupied with troubles at home: his teenage daughter, Hannah, has moved out, resentful of his job as a policeman. When Bain retreats to a remote cabin for some privacy, he is taken hostage by an escaped prisoner bent on revenge.

Episode 5: "Son of His Works"
A gruesome killing in the woods links a secretive religious cult to a troubled urban neighborhood and a heroin dealer to a prominent married judge and his lover. Bain must untangle a web of clues to learn the truth behind the murder and expose a fraud.

Episode 6: "Rachel Hardcastle"
Bain is flattered by the romantic attentions of Rachel Hardcastle, a successful concert pianist and sophisticated, attractive woman. Then her husband turns up dead, and Bain becomes the prime suspect in his murder.

A Mind to Kill is a remarkable, and certainly not typical, crime drama that I highly recommend. My rating: 3½ (of 4) stars.

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Formats and/or viewing options:
Purchase A Mind to Kill Series 1 on DVD

More information about the series can be found at Mysteries on TV: A Mind to Kill.

Reviewed on 03/01/2010 by Mr. E., television and film critic for Mystery Books News

Review Copyright © 2010— Omnimystery — All Rights Reserved

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

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Harlequin Worldwide Mystery Titles for March 2010

eHarlequin.com has announced the March 2010 titles for their Worldwide imprint, your partner in crime. Amateur sleuths, traditional cozies, police procedurals and private-eye fiction, written by award-winning authors. 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.)

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Howling Bloody Murder by Sue Owens Wright
A Beanie and Cruiser Mystery (1st in series)

Murder comes to beautiful Lake Tahoe with a serial killer dubbed the Tahoe Terror. Journalist Elsinore "Beanie" MacBean and her basset hound, Cruiser, unofficially assist the local law, looking for similarities among the victims—all powerful, well-connected businessmen. Police suspect the trail leads back to militant tribal councils and their fury against land developers, but whispers of the supernatural add an eerie twist to the case.

As Beanie—and Cruiser—spend a rather chilly Thanksgiving holiday with daughter Nona and her new and unlikable boyfriend, Beanie links the murders to a large corporation trying to a build a casino resort on Cave Rock. Soon, it's a downhill race of life and death with a killer who has everything to lose if Beanie exposes the truth …

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Donna Rose and the Roots of Evil by Norma Tadlock Johnson
A Cedar Harbor Mystery (2nd in series)

Retired schoolteacher and avid gardener Donna Rose Galbreath is no longer slinging slugs over her neighbor Cyrus's fence, but the duo continue to waver between feuding and friendship. Still, nothing brings folks together like a dead body—especially when it's the loathed and unlamented police chief, Billy Donniker. Donna's friend, Officer Jake Santorini, is arrested, having muttered something about killing his boss at the awards dinner where Billy succumbed to poisoned food.

It takes skill and determination to sift through all those who wanted Billy dead to find someone who might actually have done the deed. When the murder weapon proves to be a poisonous plant Donna is uniquely familiar with, she makes the connection between several of Cedar Harbor's influential—and not so influential—citizens to expose the roots of evil before an innocent man pays the price …

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Death of a Lovable Geek by Maria Hudgins
A Dotsy Lamb Mystery (2nd in series)

American medieval history professor Dotsy Lamb and her best friend Lettie Osgood are working an archaeological dig in the Scottish Highlands on the grounds of Dunlaggan Castle when murder strikes. The victim is genial, well-liked graduate student Froggy Quale, the on-site pollen and spore expert. His roommate, the dig's media man, is the prime suspect, but Dotsy, quite fond of both boys, is convinced otherwise.

When the head of the dig, Dr. John Sinclair, dies of unnatural causes soon thereafter, Dotsy shovels a little deeper, suspecting there are some buried secrets in a dark family history. Closing in on a clever and desperate killer, Dotsy makes a stunning connection to poisoned mushrooms, ghostly noises echoing through the halls and the discovery of a centuries-old gold coin that could rewrite the history of the eleventh century …

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