Mystery Bestsellers for February 18, 2011

A list of the top 15 mystery hardcover bestsellers for the week ending February 18th, 2011 has been posted on the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books website.

Though The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson remains atop the list, last week's featured title, A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness, in only its second week, moves solidly into the top 4.

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Debuting last week at number 16 and moving up to number 9 this week is the third mystery with 11-year-old Flavia de Luce, A Red Herring without Mustard by Alan Bradley.

Flavia had asked the old Gypsy woman to tell her fortune, but never expected to stumble across the poor soul, bludgeoned in the wee hours in her own caravan. Was this an act of retribution by those convinced that the soothsayer had abducted a local child years ago? Certainly Flavia understands the bliss of settling scores; revenge is a delightful pastime when one has two odious older sisters. But how could this crime be connected to the missing baby? Had it something to do with the weird sect who met at the river to practice their secret rites? While still pondering the possibilities, Flavia stumbles upon another corpse—that of a notorious layabout who had been caught prowling about the de Luce’s drawing room.

Pedaling Gladys, her faithful bicycle, across the countryside in search of clues to both crimes, Flavia uncovers some odd new twists. Most intriguing is her introduction to an elegant artist with a very special object in her possession—a portrait that sheds light on the biggest mystery of all: Who is Flavia?

As the red herrings pile up, Flavia must sort through clues fishy and foul to untangle dark deeds and dangerous secrets.

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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.

Nominations for the 2010 Agatha Awards Announced

Malice Domestic has announced the nominees for the 2010 Agatha Awards.

A ballot listing each category's nominees will be given to all attendees of Malice Domestic 23, which will be held April 29-May 1, 2011. Attendees will vote by secret ballot, the ballots will be tabulated and the winners will be announced at the 2010 Agatha Awards banquet to be held on Saturday, April 30, 2011.

(Hat tip to Mystery Fanfare for alerting us that these were posted.)

◊ Best Mystery Novel
Stork Raving Mad by Donna Andrews (Minotaur Books)
Bury Your Dead by Louise Penny (Minotaur Books)
The Scent of Rain and Lightning by Nancy Pickard (Ballantine)
Drive Time by Hank Phillippi Ryan  (Mira Books)
Truly, Madly by Heather Webber (St. Martin's Press)

◊ Best First Mystery Novel
The Long Quiche Goodbye by Avery Aames (Berkley)
Murder at the PTA by Laura Alden (Signet)
Maid of Murder by Amanda Flower  (Five Star)
Full Mortality by Sasscer Hill (Wildside Press)
Diamonds for the Dead by Alan Orloff (Midnight Ink)

◊ Best Non-Fiction
The Poisoner's Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York by Deborah Blum (Penguin)
Sherlock Holmes for Dummies by Stephen Doyle & David A. Crowder (For Dummies)
Agatha Christie's Secret Notebooks: 50 Years of Mysteries in the Making by John Curran (Harper)
Charlie Chan: The Untold Story of the Honorable Detective and His Rendezvous with American History by Yunte Huang by Yunte Huang (Norton)
Have Faith in Your Kitchen by Katherine Hall Page (Orchises Press)

◊ Best Short Story
"Swing Shift" (Crimes by Moonlight) by Dana Cameron (Berkley)
"Size Matters" (Thin Ice) by Sheila Connolly (Level Best Books)
"Volunteer of the Year" (Chesapeake Crimes: They Had it Comin') by Barb Goffman (Wildside Press)
"So Much in Common" by Mary Jane Maffini (Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine)
"The Green Cross" by Elizabeth Zelvin (Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine)

◊ Best Children's/Young Adult
Theodore Boone, Kid Lawyer by John Grisham (Dutton)
Theodosia and the Eyes of Horus by R. L. LaFevers (Houghton Mifflin)
The Agency: A Spy in the House by Y. S. Lee (Candlewick)
Virals by Kathy Reichs (Razorbill)
The Other Side of Dark by Sarah Smith (Atheneum)

indicates a review by Mysterious Reviews.

Phillip Noyce to Direct Submarine Thriller Hunter Killer

Relativity Media announced today in a press release that Phillip Noyce (Patriot Games, Clear and Present Danger, The Bone Collector) will direct Hunter Killer, a film adaptation of Firing Point, a yet-to-be-published sequel to the 2003 submarine thriller Final Bearing by George Wallace and Don Keith.

The plotline of the film follows an untested submarine captain who must work with a Navy SEAL team to rescue the Russian president, who has been taken prisoner during a military coup, in an effort to stop a rogue Russian General from igniting World War III.

Amanda Hocking's YA Trylle Trilogy Optioned for Film

Bestselling -- and self-published -- and only 26 years old -- author Amanda Hocking announced on her blog yesterday that her young adult Trylle trilogy of thrillers has been optioned for film. Terri Tatchell (District 9) will pen the screenplay.

The first novel in the series, Switched, was published just last July. When Wendy Everly was six years old, her mother was convinced she was a monster and tried to kill her. It isn't until eleven years later that Wendy discovers her mother might have been right. With the help of Finn Holmes, Wendy finds herself in a world she never knew existed -- a world both beautiful and frightening ... and Wendy's not sure she wants to be a part of it.

The sequels are Torn (published November 2010) and Ascend (January 2011).

You can read the first chapter(s) of Switched below. Use the Aa settings button to adjust text size, line spacing, and word density.

Merciless by Mary Burton (Mystery Book Review)

Merciless by Mary Burton. An Alexandria Homicide Unit Mystery. Zebra Mass Market Paperback, February 2011.

This sequel to Senseless is set soon after the events of the previous book and features many of the same characters, though this time a serial killer who leaves the meticulously cleaned bones of his victims is being sought. But a loose plot and garden-variety villains fail to generate or maintain much suspense.

Read the full text of our review at Mysterious Reviews: Merciless by Mary Burton.

Purchase Options:  |  |  | 

Read the first chapter(s) of Merciless below. Use the Aa settings button to adjust text size, line spacing, and word density.

I Am Number Four, Adapted from the YA Thriller by Pittacus Lore, Opens in Theaters February 18th

This Friday, February 18th, I Am Number Four, adapted from the young adult thriller of the same title by the pseudonymous Pittacus Lore, hits theaters.

Three are dead. Who is Number Four? An extraordinary teen, John Smith (Alex Pettyfer) is a fugitive on the run from ruthless enemies sent to destroy him. Changing his identity, moving from town to town with his guardian Henri, John is always the new kid with no ties to his past. In the small Ohio town he now calls home, John encounters unexpected, life-changing events — his first love, powerful new abilities and a connection to the others who share his incredible destiny.

Watch a trailer for the film below.

Enter to Win a Signed Copy of The Body in the Gazebo by Katherine Hall Page

To celebrate the April publication of The Body in the Gazebo, the 19th mystery in the Faith Fairchild series by Katherine Hall Page, HarperCollins is giving away a signed first edition of the book. Plus ... the first 20 entrants will receive a signed copy of one of the previous books in the series.

Visit Katherine Hall Page's website to enter. Entries must be received by Monday, April 18th.

The Body in the Gazebo is an evocative journey into the past, where truth hangs suspended by the threads of one woman's memory — and the present-day consequences of that truth prove to be devastating.

Warner Bros. Announces App Editions of Inception and The Dark Knight

Warner Bros. announced yesterday that "App Editions" for two of its films, Inception and The Dark Knight, have been released. (It actually looks like they came out about a month ago, but or only now being officially announced.)

The free App Editions provide a fully-loaded, connected viewing experience that gives consumers the first five minutes of a feature film and a portion of bonus content that can include games, trivia, soundtracks and soundboards. The entire feature film can be unlocked via an in-app purchase, which enables downloading and unlimited streaming, as well as access to the entire array of bonus content available within the App.

Using Inception as an example, the Inception: The App is a dream machine that transforms the world around you into a dream world. It uses augmented sound to induce dreams through the headset of your iPhone or iPod Touch. It will change your perception of reality.

Inception The App transports Inception The Movie straight into your life. New dreams can be unlocked in many ways, for example by walking, being in a quiet room, while traveling or when the sun shines. You will get realtime musical experiences, featuring new and exclusive music from the Inception soundtrack composed by Hans Zimmer.

Warning: Don't play this app with your touchscreen; play it with your life.

The Inception: The App is available for free through the App Store on iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. The entire feature film and bonus materials can be purchased through an In-App Purchase at an introductory price of $11.99.

Harlequin Silhouette Romantic Suspense Titles for March 2011

Sparked by danger, fueled by passion, eHarlequin.com has released the list of March 2011 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!

For more information about the book from eHarlequin.com, click on the title or cover; other purchase options are also provided.

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Special Agent's Surrender by Carla Cassidy

The town of Black Rock is under a dark cloud. Four single women have disappeared, and there are no leads as to their whereabouts. Until one evening after work, pretty real-estate broker Layla West fends off an attacker, and becomes the newest obsession of a deranged serial killer …

Desperate for protection, Layla seeks refuge at the remote cabin of Jacob Grayson, the brother of the local sheriff. A former FBI agent, Jacob still bears the guilt of a similar case gone fatally wrong. Now Jacob's growing desire for Layla could tempt him into letting his guard down … with potentially deadly results.

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Operation: Forbidden by Lindsay McKenna

Helicopter pilot Captain Emma Cantrell has a chance to clear her military record in war-torn Afghanistan. She's not about to let anyone get in her way — especially Afghan Captain Khalid Shaheen. Emma can't deny Khalid is total eye candy. But she's fallen prey to his kind of charm before — and she never makes the same mistake twice.

Khalid's fight against the insurgents makes him a target, but his need for justice runs deep. He can't jeopardize this perilous mission by falling for Emma, but he soon finds that might be a losing battle. And when Emma is kidnapped, can Khalid rescue her in time to give their love a fighting chance?

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Soldier's Night Mission by Cindy Dees

Special Forces operative Carter Baigneaux has never shied away from danger — and he has the scars to prove it. His assignment to interview astrophysicist Lily James about her latest research project hardly qualifies as a life-or-death mission. But after thwarting kidnapping attempts, facing potential nuclear war and sharing the most lust-inducing kisses he'd ever experienced, the war-hardened soldier isn't so sure.

Lily might not consider herself a sexy scientist but she can't resist the way she feels in her handsome bodyguard's arms — and in his bed. And when a deadly formula finds itself in criminal hands, this unlikely duo must avert a military and scientific disaster that could end the world …

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The Doctor's Deadly Affair by Stephanie Doyle

Fresh on the heels of their disastrous date, Dr. Camille Lawson is none too pleased to find Dr. Wyatt Holladay darkening her doorstep. But a mystery ailment is claiming her patients — and just maybe the gorgeous doctor can help her get some answers. What should be a simple investigation of medical causes quickly reveals a very real threat. Someone is targeting Camille by killing her patients, one by one.

Surrounded by suspects and unable to convince the authorities crimes are being committed, Wyatt is the only person who can keep the infuriating beauty safe. With everything on the line, he must protect her reputation, her life … and her heart.

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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 to subscribe for free.

Discover the Source of a Mysterious Illness in Maestro: Music of Death (Collector's Edition), New from BFG

Games of Mystery is pleased to announce the availability of a new mystery casual game from Big Fish Games released today and available to BFG Club members. 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.

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Paris. Beginning of 19th century. Awful things have started to happen in one of the far districts of city. There are people who grow old very fast, terrible shadows on the streets, strange music ...

Journey to the quarantined village and discover the cause of the deadly disease. While you search for the source, find a little girl, who is trapped in the town! Master this hidden object adventure game and save the entire village!

This is a special Collector's Edition full of exclusive extras you won’t find in the standard version, including an integrated strategy guide, bonus gameplay, wallpapers and screensavers, concept art, an original soundtrack, and early access.

Maestro: Music of Death (Collector's Edition) may be downloaded and purchased for $13.99 with a Big Fish Game Club membership. A demonstration version (205.10 MB) may be downloaded and played for free for one hour; the full version is 618.50 MB.

Watch a preview video below:

Get any standard game for $6.99 with a Big Fish Game Club membership. Other benefits include the $2.99 Daily Deal, Tomorrow's Game Today, and special member rewards. And if you purchase any 6 games within a single month, you earn a free game with the Big Fish Game Club Monthly Punch Card! (Collector's Editions earn 3 punches each, half-way towards your free game!)

Read Ms. Terri's reviews of the adventure and casual mystery games featured on this site, including Midnight Mysteries: The Edgar Allan Poe Conspiracy, Nancy Drew Dossier: Lights, Camera, Curses!, Enlightenus, and many more!

Big Fish Games: Bestsellers

Big Fish Games: New releases

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

Maria Bello Cast as Lead in NBC's Reboot of Prime Suspect

Several sources are reporting (here's the article from Inside TV) that Maria Bello has been cast for the Helen Mirren role in NBC's reboot of Prime Suspect.

"Definitely nervous to even think about taking over for Helen Mirren," Bello told EW exclusively. "C'mon! How could anyone compete with her?"

Indeed.

Film Adaptation of Ubik by Philip K. Dick Planned

Allocine.com is reporting that Michel Gondry (The Green Hornet) is planning on directing his own adaptation of Philip K. Dick's 1969 metaphysical comedy of death and salvation, Ubik.

In the book, Glen Runciter is dead. Or is everybody else? Someone died in an explosion orchestrated by Runciter's business competitors. And, indeed, it's the kingly Runciter whose funeral is scheduled in Des Moines. But in the meantime, his mourning employees are receiving bewildering -- and sometimes scatological -- messages from their boss. And the world around them is warping in ways that suggest that their own time is running out. Or already has.

Interestingly, Dick himself was asked to write a screenplay from the novel, which he did in 1974. Nothing became of it, but several years after the author's death, Corroboree Press published a copy of it. It was more recently republished by Subterranean Press, and is available to purchase (Ubik: The Screenplay by Philip K. Dick.)

You can read the first chapter(s) of Ubik below. Use the Aa settings button to adjust text size, line spacing, and word density.

New Poster for The Killing, AMC's Murder Mystery Crime Drama

AMC has released (via Inside TV) a promotional poster for its upcoming murder mystery drama series, The Killing.

Based on the successful Danish television series Forbrydelsen, The Killing weaves together three distinct stories around a single murder in Seattle, including the detectives assigned to the case and their suspects, the victim’s grieving family, and the local politicians connected to the case.

The two-hour premiere is scheduled for Sunday, April 3rd, on AMC. Thirteen episodes have been ordered.

Watch a first look at the series below; more information can be found on the AMC: The Killing website.