Winner of the 2010 Nero Award Announced

Faces of Gone by Brad Parks was announced as the winner of the Nero Award for 2010 this past weekend. This annual award, named in honor of the famed fictional sleuth, is presented by the Nero Wolfe Society to an author for literary excellence in the mystery genre. Faces of Gone is Parks's first novel and introduces investigative reporter Carter Ross.

Mystery Godoku Puzzle for December 06, 2010

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:

D I N O R S T W Y

This 2003 thriller by Georges Simenon is a study of the criminal mind (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!

The Track of Sand by Andrea Camilleri (Book Review)

The Track of Sand by Andrea Camilleri. A Salvatore Montalbano Mystery. Penguin Books Trade Paperback, October 2010.

The author infuses the story with a lot of local color and interesting characters. Though the mystery itself isn't too demanding, it will certainly delight fans of the series, and have new readers seeking out previous titles.

Read the full text of our review at Mysterious Reviews: The Track of Sand by Andrea Camilleri.

— ◊ —

Mysterious Reviews is your source for the latest mystery, suspense, thriller, and crime novel reviews, edited by the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books.

Reviews of Mystery and Suspense Books for Kids, New This Week on Book Trends (101204)

Book Trends, a review site for young adult and children books, published several new book reviews this past week. We're presenting here a summary of those in the mystery/suspense/thriller category.

Dying to Meet You by Kate Klise. The first mystery in the 43 Old Cemetery Road series, recommended for readers aged 10 to 12. Lexile measure: 730L. Reviewed by a 6th grade student, who writes, "There are surprises on every page ... The actions the characters in this book make bring the story, settings and plots to life. It is almost like watching a movie in my head."

November by Gabrielle Lord. The 11th thriller in the Conspiracy 365 series, recommended for readers aged 12 and older. Lexile measure: 710L. Reviewed by a 6th grade teacher, who writes, "Gabrielle Lord continues to blend intrigue, suspense, and compassion in November. This is certainly not a series to start midstream -- readers must begin with January in order to fully understand the predicament that faces Cal. However, no reader will be disappointed. These eleven books have been the most exciting and entertaining young adult books I’ve read in a long time."

For more reviews of children and young adult books of all genres, visit Book Trends; their reviews will amaze you! You can also follow Book Trends on Twitter.

Blue Toad Murder Files, Twisted Lands, and Master Thief, New This Week to Download from AVG

Games of Mystery is pleased to announce this week's new mystery and suspense casual and adventure games available for immediate download from Amazon Video Games.

A complete list of downloadable mystery games is available on our Games of Mystery: Amazon Video Games Download page.

— ◊ —

Blue Toad Murder Files: The Mysteries of Little Riddle

Set in the sleepy village of Little Riddle, the aim of the game is to follow clues to find the murderer. Along the way you'll also encounter a variety of different and challenging puzzles which help you move through the peaceful world of Little Riddle. As one of the detectives you move around the village by selecting locations on the map. Visit the doctor at his surgery and hear his flimsy alibi. Meet with the Station Master and learn his motive. Exploring the village and meeting the villages is key to unraveling The Mysteries of Little Riddle. The villagers have information and puzzles to solve that you must complete to reveal the truth!

With each step of the investigation a puzzle is played and further clues about the case are revealed. Pay attention to what transpires - you will regularly be questioned on your knowledge of the case, and only observant detectives will learn the truth behind the events of their day.

Whodunnit? At the end of every episode you will be asked to choose your suspect before the true culprit is revealed and exposed in all their criminal capacities!

ESRB Rating: Everyone, 10 and older.

Windows Vista/XP (2400 MB download).

— ◊ —

Twisted Lands: Shadow Town

Why does your heart beat faster when you peer into a dark room? What makes the hair on your neck bristle when something invisible whispers in your ear? And why do you jump when something that should not be real appears in the corner of your vision? Welcome to Twisted Lands: Shadow Town, the first game in a new saga that will explore the emotion of fear. Guide the actions of a man as he searches a deserted island for his wife, who disappeared when their boat crashed on the shore. Along the way, gather hidden items, solve hair-raising puzzles and make one spine-chilling discovery after another as you draw ever closer to a shocking conclusion!

ESRB Rating: Not Specified.

Windows Vista/XP (257 MB download).

— ◊ —

Master Thief: Skyscraper Thief

Find the evidence to convict a criminal in this exhilarating caper that gives payback a new name.

Master criminal Samuel Hawthorne is about to escape justice, but one woman from his past is determined to make him pay for his crimes. Master Thief Robin Fleet, trained then betrayed by Hawthorne, is using her skills to find the evidence needed to convict him. With only one night to uncover his secrets however, she will have to use every trick in the book to stop him!

Infiltrate the high-tech high-rise as the Master Thief and find evidence to send this crook away for good. Elude security, crack safes, hack computers, and more as you search high and low to discover what Hawthorne hides. With hundreds of hidden objects, addictive mini-games, and tons of bonus content to unlock, this skyscraper sting is sure to leave its mark on you.

ESRB Rating: Not Specified.

Windows Vista/XP (255 MB download).

— ◊ —

Games of Mystery is your source for mystery-themed video, electronic and board games, parties for kids and adults, murder mystery weekends and mystery getaway vacations, and more mysterious fun!

Tatort, Germany's Top-Rated and Longest-Running Crime Drama, Celebrates 40 Years on the Air

Variety has an article this morning on Germany's top-rated and longest-running crime drama, Tatort (English title: Crime Scene).

Premiering in November, 1970, the series has aired 781 episodes and featured 102 detectives (to date). Each of the 16 German state TV channels that together form broadcast network ARD, plus ORF in Austria, produces its own episodes, starring its own police inspector (or team of inspectors).

"We were actually quite relieved that we made it through to the end of the first season," says Gunther Witte, who created Tatort and admits he never dreamed it would last 40 years.

The basic formula -- and even the opening credits -- for the series has remained the same since the start. The focus is on the detectives, and often their own foibles, and the stories are uniquely German with almost no action and rarely even a shot fired. The cops rely on their brains or the blunders of the criminals to get their man.

Face of Betrayal by Lis Wiehl is Today's Featured Free Kindle Mystery

Kindle Mysteries is pleased to feature a mystery title that is currently available in Kindle eBook format for free from Amazon.com. We don't know how long it will be offered at this special price (typically only until a certain number of downloads have been completed), so download it today!

— ◊ —

Face of Betrayal by Lis Wiehl
A Triple Threat Mystery (1st in series)
Thomas Nelson (Kindle eBook)
Download Link

About Face of Betrayal (from the publisher): While home on Christmas break, a seventeen-year-old Senate page takes her dog out for a walk and never returns. Reporter Cassidy Shaw is the first to break the story. The resulting media firestorm quickly ensnares Federal Prosecutor Allison Pierce and FBI Special Agent Nicole Hedges. The three unique women are life-long friends who call themselves The Triple Threat--a nickname derived from their favorite dessert and their uncanny ability to crack cases via their three positions of power.

Though authorities think Katie might have been kidnapped or run away, those theories shatter when Nicole uncovers Katie's blog. They reveal a girl troubled by a mysterious relationship with an older man. Possibly a U.S. Senator.

As the three women race against time to find Katie alive, their increasing emotional involvement brings out their own inner demons and external enemies. There are many faces of betrayal, but they must find one face in a crowd of growing suspects before they become the next victims.

Read our Review of Face of Betrayal by Lis Wiehl at Mysterious Reviews.

Blood of the Wicked by Leighton Gage is Today's Featured Free Kindle Mystery

Kindle Mysteries is pleased to feature a mystery title that is currently available in Kindle eBook format for free from Amazon.com. We don't know how long it will be offered at this special price (typically only until a certain number of downloads have been completed), so download it today!

— ◊ —

Blood of the Wicked by Leighton Gage
A Mario Silva Mystery (1st in series)
Soho Crime (Kindle eBook)
Download Link

About Blood of the Wicked (from the publisher): In the remote Brazilian town of Cascatas do Pontal, where landless peasants are confronting the owners of vast estates, the the bishop arrives by helicopter to consecrate a new church and is assassinated.

Mario Silva, Chief Inspector for Criminal Matters of the Federal Police of Brazil, is dispatched to the interior to find the killer. The Pope himself has called Brazil’s president; the pressure is on Silva to perform. Assisted by his nephew, Hector Costa, also a federal policeman, Silva must battle the state police and a corrupt judiciary as well as criminals who prey on street kids, the warring factions of the Landless League, the big landowners and the Church itself, in order to solve the initial murder and several brutal killings that follow. Justice is hard to come by. An old priest, a secret liberation theologist, finally metes it out.

Read our Review of Blood of the Wicked by Leighton Gage at Mysterious Reviews.

NBC Shortens the First Season of Chase to 18 Episodes

Entertainment Weekly is reporting that NBC has cut its order of episodes of the crime drama Chase from 22 to 18 ... but is quick to note that this does not mean the series has been canceled -- and that it still represents a full season of the series.

We're confused. What is the current definition of a "full season"? For the major broadcast networks, we thought it meant at least 22 (more usually 24 to 26) episodes. Cable networks, however, often have much shorter "full seasons". Apparently, a "full season" means whatever the marketing department wants it to mean! Still, we don't expect Chase to see a second season, based on its new "full season" first season.

Chase moves to Wednesdays at 9 PM (ET/PT) starting January 12th, 2011.

Only Two Mysteries on the New York Times List of 100 Notable Books of 2010

The New York Times has just published its list of 100 Notable Books of 2010, about half of which are fiction, and much to our surprise it seems only two titles on the list are mysteries (and one of these should come as no surprise to anyone, if popularity is any measure): The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson, and Mr. Peanut by Adam Ross.

One other title on the list, which we were completely unaware of that has a mystery-ish description, is Ilustrado by Miguel Syjuco, which won the 2008 Man Asian Literary Prize. We'll have to check that one out.

The full list will appear in the December 5th print edition of the Book Review.

AMC to Air All Six Episodes of The Walking Dead (Season 1) This Sunday, December 5th

What's better than an all-new episode of The Walking Dead? How about an all-new episode preceded by 5½ hours of all the previous ones?

On Sunday, December 5th, starting at 4:30 PM (ET/PT), AMC will air the entire first season of The Walking Dead, culminating with the Season Finale at 10 PM (ET/PT).

Based on Robert Kirkman's popular comic book series, The Walking Dead is an epic, edge-of-your-seat drama where personal struggles are magnified against a backdrop of moment-to-moment survival.

The comic book series first appeared in 2003, with six issues each collected into a series of books. The first is titled The Walking Dead Volume 1: Days Gone Bye with the most recent, The Walking Dead Volume 13: Too Far Gone, published just last month.

The Walking Dead has been renewed for a second season.

The Walking Dead Season One (DVD) and The Walking Dead Season One (Blu-ray Disc) will be released on March 8th, 2011, and may be pre-ordered.

Watch a sneak peek at Sunday's finale "TS-19" below:

AMC's Suspense Series The Killing Begins Production

Earlier this year, AMC-TV announced a pilot order for a crime drama adapted from the Danish suspense series Forbrydelsen. Yesterday, the network announced that production has begun in Vancouver on its 13-episode series, titled The Killing.

The Killing ties together three distinct stories by a single murder and as the detectives assigned to the case disagree about the best course of action, they chase down a variety of leads and suspects. Along the way there are major repercussions for the victim's family, the detectives, the suspects, and the local politicians connected to the case. Set in Seattle, it is an exploration of the city's politics; a unique portrayal of a victim's grieving family, and a study of the personal life of a cop. There are no accidents in The Killing. Everyone has a secret, and while the characters think they've moved on, their past isn't done with them.

"We were drawn to the project immediately after viewing the original format. Veena Sud's (Cold Case) adaptation has everything we loved about the original and more -- it is compelling and addictive storytelling," said Susie Fitzgerald, AMC's SVP of scripted development and current programming.

The Killing is expected to premiere in March 2011.

Mystery Bestsellers for December 03, 2010

A list of the top 15 mystery hardcover bestsellers for the week ending December 3rd, 2010 has been posted on the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books website.

Just some minor shuffling on the list this week -- yes, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson is remains in the top spot -- with one new title debuting.

— ◊ —

Coming in at number 11 is Port Mortuary, the 18th mystery in the Kay Scarpetta series by Patricia Cornwell.

A treacherous path from Scarpetta's past merges with the high tech highway she now finds herself on. At the beginning of her professional career, when she enlisted in the Air Force to pay off her medical school debt, she found herself ensnared in a gruesome case of what seemed to be vicious, racially motivated hate crimes against two Americans in South Africa. Now, more than twenty years and many career successes later, her secret military ties have drawn her to Dover Air Force Base, where she has been immersed in a training fellowship to master the art of CT-assisted virtual autopsy -- a procedure the White House has mandated that she introduce in the private sector.

As the chief of the new Cambridge Forensic Center in Massachusetts, a joint venture of the state and federal governments and MIT, Scarpetta is confronted with a case that could shut down her new facility and ruin her personally and professionally. A young man drops dead, apparently from a cardiac arrhythmia, eerily close to Scarpetta's new Cambridge home. But when his body is examined the next morning, there are stunning indications that he may have been alive when he was zipped inside a pouch and locked insider the Center's cooler. Various 3-D radiology scans reveal more shocking details about internal injuries unlike any Scarpetta has ever seen. These suggest the possibility of a conspiracy to cause mass casualties. She realizes that she is fighting a cunning and cruel enemy that is invisible as she races against time to discover who and why before more people die.

— ◊ —

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.

Buy 2 Books, Get the 3rd Free This Friday (December 3rd) at eHarlequin.com

We don't often mention eHarlequin's Freebie Fridays since they rarely -- much to our dismay -- feature mystery or suspense novels as the free book.

But this week and next, as part of their 12 Deals of Christmas, you can buy 2 or more books and get a 3rd title of your choice absolutely free! The fine print: the lowest price book is free, and ebooks are excluded. This offer is only valid for purchases made on Friday, December 3rd, 2010.

Click on the banner above to start shopping!

Dexter Renewed for a Sixth Season

E! Online is reporting that Showtime's crime drama Dexter has been renewed for a sixth season. The series, based on a character created by Jeff Lindsay, stars Michael C. Hall as Dexter Morgan, a blood spatter expert for the Miami Dade Police Department ... and a ruthless serial killer.

The fifth book in the series, Dexter is Delicious, was published this past September. Read the first chapters of the book below: