The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party by Alexander McCall Smith (Mystery Book Review)

The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party by Alexander McCall Smith. A No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Mystery. Pantheon Hardcover, March 2011.

The mysteries in this series are enjoyed more for the delightful characters, their respective life experiences, and, to a lesser extent, the unusual setting in which the storylines play out, than for their crime plots. This entry offers a satisfying, if ambiguous, resolution to Mma Ramotswe's investigation, though readers who have come to enjoy the entries in this series will not be disappointed with this one.

Read the full text of our review at Mysterious Reviews: The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party by Alexander McCall Smith.

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Enter to Win a Copy of The Third Rail by Michael Harvey

Omnimystery News is pleased to welcome Michael Harvey, author of the Michael Kelly mysteries. In recognition of the publication of the trade paperback edition of the third entry in the series, The Third Rail (Minotaur Books, March 2011, 978-0-307-94658-4), Kaye Publicity is providing our readers with an opportunity to win a copy of the book. Visit Mystery Book Contests, click on the "Michael Harvey: The Third Rail" contest link, enter your name, e-mail address, and this code (8711) for a chance to win! (One entry per person; contest ends 03/29/2011.)

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About The Third Rail: A woman is shot as she waits for her train to work. An hour later, a second woman is gunned down as she rides an elevated train through the Loop. Two hours after that, a church becomes the target of a chemical weapons attack. The city of Chicago is under siege, and Michael Kelly, cynical cop turned private investigator, just happens to be on the scene when all hell breaks loose.

Kelly is initially drawn into the case by the killers themselves, then tasked by Chicago's mayor and the FBI to hunt down the bad guys and, all things being equal, put a bullet in them. Kelly, of course, has other ideas. As he gets closer to the truth, his instincts lead him to a retired cop, a shady train company, and an unnerving link to his own past. Meanwhile, Kelly's girlfriend, Rachel Swenson, becomes a pawn in a much larger game, while a weapon that could kill millions ticks away quietly in the very belly of the city.

The Third Rail is available in Trade Paperback and popular eBook formats (see icons below book cover above). In our review of The Third Rail, we called it "a compelling, action-packed thriller ... a tough book to put down ..."

For a chance to win a copy of The Third Rail, courtesy of Kaye Publicity, visit Mystery Book Contests, click on the "Michael Harvey: The Third Rail" contest link, enter your name, e-mail address, and this code (8711) for a chance to win! (One entry per person; contest ends 03/29/2011.)

Read the first chapter of The Third Rail below; use the Aa settings button to adjust font size, line spacing, and word density.

Suzanne Collins Comments on Casting of Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss in The Hunger Games

We recently reported on the casting of Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen in the film adaptation of Suzanne Collins's The Hunger Games, the first in a trilogy of young adult thrillers.

Today, the author issued a statement to EW.com about the casting, saying, in part, "In her remarkable audition piece, I watched Jennifer embody every essential quality necessary to play Katniss. ... So powerful, vulnerable, beautiful, unforgiving and brave. I never thought we’d find somebody this amazing for the role. And I can’t wait for everyone to see her play it."

The lead male role has yet to be cast.

Gary Ross (Pleasantville, Seabiscuit) will direct a screenplay adapted by Collins and Billy Ray (Hart's War, State of Play). The film's target release date is March 23rd, 2012.

(via EW.com)

The Woodcutter by Kate Danley Wins Garcia Prize for Best Fiction Novel

The winners of the 2010 Reader Views Literary Awards were recently announced for writers who self-published or had their books published by a subsidy publisher, small press, university press, or independent book publisher intended for the North American reading audience. We've updated our website with the winners and runners-up in the Mystery/Suspense category, but wanted to recognize here the winner of the Garcia Prize for Best Fiction Book of the Year: The Woodcutter, the debut fantasy suspense novel by Kate Danley.

In The Woodcutter, Cinderella is dead and one of Odin's hellhounds has gone rogue. The Woodcutter, protector of peace between the Twelve Kingdoms of Man and the Realm of Faerie, is charged with finding the beast and returning him to the Wild Hunt. Unfortunately, it seems the forces of evil have other plans.

Leaving his beloved wife and the comforts of his quiet home, the Woodcutter shoulders his ax and begins a journey to set things right. Instead, he finds a pixie dust trade raging out of control and a power hungry Wicked Queen who will stop at nothing to take over the world. The lives of Snow White, Rapunzel, and Little Red Riding Hood are at stake in this dark, fairytale mash-up—and the Woodcutter is the only one who can help them.

It is a race against time as the Woodcutter travels east of the sun and west of the moon, up beanstalks and down to the bowels of the earth to unravel a mystery that can only be described as Grimm.

Irene Watson, Managing Editor of Reader Views commented, "In The Woodcutter, Kate Danley skillfully weaves her story around well-known fairy tales, bringing in characters that readers can relate to. Through her adept writing, she conveys fantasy and mystery, making this book a definite page-turner."

The Midnight Tunnel by Angie Frazier (Mystery Book Review)

The Midnight Tunnel by Angie Frazier. A Suzanna Snow Mystery. Scholastic Hardcover, March 2011.

This surprisingly complex, well-developed mystery set at a resort in northeastern Canada and introducing an engaging 12-year-old amateur sleuth is no doubt intended for a reading audience of middle-school girls, though boys -- and parents -- may also find the storyline compelling.

Read the full text of our review at Mysterious Reviews: The Midnight Tunnel by Angie Frazier.

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Mystery and Suspense Films, New This Week on DVD (110322)

Checking through our list of films currently scheduled for release this week on DVD and/or Blu-ray disc, shown below are those that fall into the mystery, suspense, and thriller categories.

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Purchase/Rental Options

The Tourist (2010)

Johnny Depp stars as Frank Tupelo, an American tourist whose playful dalliance with a stranger leads to a web of intrigue, romance and danger.

During an impromptu trip to Europe to mend a broken heart, Frank unexpectedly finds himself in a flirtatious encounter with Elise Clifton-Ward (Angelina Jolie), an extraordinary woman who deliberately crosses his path. Against the breathtaking backdrop of Paris and Venice, their whirlwind romance quickly evolves as they find themselves chased by Interpol, the Italian police, and Russian hit men, unwittingly thrust into a deadly game of cat and mouse. (PG-13, 103 minutes)

Julian Fellowes to Adapt Crooked House, an Agatha Christie Mystery, for Film

Oscar-winning screenwriter Julian Fellowes (Gosford Park) is adapting Agatha Christie's mystery Crooked House for film. Originally published in 1949, it is one of several novels by the author that do not feature a series character.

The book centers on the three generations of Leonides, one big Anglo-Greek family living happily in a sprawling, ramshackle mansion. That is until the head of the household, Aristide, is murdered with a fatal barbiturate injection. Suspicion naturally falls on the old man's young widow, fifty years his junior. But the murderer has not reckoned with the tenacity of Charles Hayward, fiancé of Sophia, the late millionaire's granddaughter, who must find the killer before he can marry her.

In an interview with The Independent, Fellowes says, "I love Christie and don't think it's at all dated," he said. "It's one of those things that never go stale: murder in a genteel setting appeals to audiences in Britain and around the world."

(Source: The Independent)

Telemystery: Scarecrow and Mrs. King, New This Week on DVD

Telemystery, your source for one of the most comprehensive selections of detective, amateur sleuth, private investigator, and suspense television mystery series, mini-series and made-for-television movies, now available on or coming soon to DVD or Blu-ray disc, is profiling one series being released this week.

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Bruce Boxleitner and Kate Jackson star as Scarecrow and Mrs. King, an adventure series with more comedy and romance than drama that aired on CBS for four seasons.

Lee Stetson is an operative with an organization known only as the Agency, whose code name is "Scarecrow". Inadvertently getting Amanda King involved in one of his cases, she later begins to work for the Agency as office staff, before becoming an agent-in-training.

The series also stars Beverly Garland as Amanda's mother Dotty, Mel Stewart as Lee's boss Billy Melrose, and Martha Smith as fellow agent Francine Desmond (who is largely dismissive of Amanda's ambition to be an agent ... and certainly not one of her own caliber).

The Scarecrow and Mrs. King: Season Two DVD set of five discs contain the 23 episodes that aired from October 1984 through May 1985.

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Visit the Telemystery website to discover more television mystery series currently available on and coming soon to DVD and Blu-ray disc.

Mystery Godoku Puzzle for March 21, 2011

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!).

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This week's letters and mystery clue:

A E I M O R S T V

The title of the second book in the Rune Trilogy by Jeffery Deaver features the death of this “blue” character (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!

Murder in Passy by Cara Black (Mystery Book Review)

The School of Night by Louis Bayard. Non-series. Henry Holt Hardcover, March 2011.

A most entertaining literary adventure featuring a twist-filled plot, this crisply written, intellectual and captivating mystery may have readers doing a bit of research afterward to learn more about some of the real-life characters, who are so prominently featured here.

Read the full text of our review at Mysterious Reviews: The School of Night by Louis Bayard.

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

Nab an Art Thief Aboard a Luxury Cruise Liner in Insider Tales: The Stolen Venus 2, 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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A world-renowned painting has been stolen!

Aboard the luxury cruise ship, The Empire, are rich tourists, a world-renowned art-exhibition, ... and a thief. Soon the highlight of the exhibition is stolen and Francesca di Porta, the famous detective, is whisked away from her well-earned holiday to investigate undercover. Help Francesca prevent a panic among the passengers by finding the masterpiece and identifying the culprit.

See also the other games in this series: Insider Tales: Vanished in Rome, Insider Tales: The Secret of Casanova, and Insider Tales: The Stolen Venus.

Insider Tales: The Stolen Venus 2 may be downloaded and purchased for $6.99 with a Big Fish Game Club membership. A demonstration version (154.03 MB) may be downloaded and played for free for one hour.

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!

Mr. E. Reviews Unstoppable

Available on

The success of this film comes not from the action sequences (of which there are plenty) but from the characters played by Denzel Washington and Chris Pine, who share an easy, natural rapport on screen. A thriller to be sure, with the film's pacing striking a good balance between strategies to stop, and the consequences of failing to stop, a runaway train.

Read the full text of our review at Mr. E. Reviews Unstoppable.

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Mr. E. Reviews is your source for mystery, suspense, thriller, and crime drama reviews of television and film.

Reviews of Mystery and Suspense Books for Kids, New This Week on Book Trends (110319)

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.

Scared to Death by Norah McClintock. The third mystery in the Chloe & Levesque series, recommended for readers aged 13 and older. Lexile measure: 780L. Reviewed by a 6th grade student, who writes, "[This] is a great book. It is suspenseful and has amazing descriptions. It is a story that keeps you on the edge of your seat. I especially enjoy the main character, Chloe. Chloe is an excellent detective who I admire for her intelligence." (Read the entire review.)

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.

Character Posters for Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

Disney has now released four "character" posters for the fourth film in "Pirates of the Caribbean" series, On Stranger Tides. (Above: Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow, Penélope Cruz as Angelica, Geoffrey Rush as Pirate Lord Hector Barbossa, and Ian McShane as Blackbeard. Click on any image to see a larger version.)

Adapted from the novel On Stranger Tides by Tim Powers, the film opens in theaters May 20th.