Sanctus by Simon Toyne. The Sancti Trilogy. William Morrow Hardcover, September 2011.
If you enjoy reading a dual storyline book with an old world religious secret and cliffhanging suspense, you'll love this book.
Read the full text of our review at Mysterious Reviews: Sanctus by Simon Toyne.
MystereBooks is pleased to feature October Fest by Jess Lourey as today's Amazon Kindle Daily Deal. The deal price of $1.99 is valid only for today, Thursday, October 13, 2011.
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October Fest by Jess Lourey
A Mira-James, Murder-by-Month Mystery
Midnight Ink
This appropriately themed mystery (given the date) is the 6th in the series, the first having started with the month of May.
About October Fest (from the publisher): Beer and polka music reign supreme at Octoberfest, Battle Lake's premier fall festival. To kick off the celebrations, the town hosts a public debate between the two congressional candidates: straight-laced Arnold Swydecker, and slippery incumbent, Sarah Glokkmann. As a reporter for the Battle Lake Recall, Mira James is roped into writing up the word war. But the festive mood sours when a well-known Glokkmann-bashing blogger is found dead … and the congresswoman herself meets a gruesome fate.
To keep the heat off her best friend's fiancé — an ex-con reporter — Mira wades through the candidates' dirty laundry, their unsavory secrets, and some murderous mudslinging to expose the killer.
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NBC added today episode orders to two of its crime dramas.
Both Harry's Law (in its second season) and the new Prime Suspect were extended by 6 episodes. Not a complete season order for either, but enough to demonstrate that the network has some confidence in these relatively low-rated shows.
(Source: The Hollywood Reporter.)
Two new character posters have been released in the UK for Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, the second film to feature Robert Downey Jr. as the famed consulting detective and Jude Law as his crime-solving partner, Dr. John Watson. (Click on the images, below, for larger versions.)
Film synopsis: Sherlock Holmes has always been the smartest man in the room … until now. There is a new criminal mastermind at large — Professor Moriarty (Jared Harris) — and not only is he Holmes' intellectual equal, but his capacity for evil, coupled with a complete lack of conscience, may actually give him an advantage over the renowned detective.
When the Crown Prince of Austria is found dead, the evidence, as construed by Inspector Lestrade (Eddie Marsan), points to suicide. But Sherlock Holmes deduces that the prince has been the victim of murder--a murder that is only one piece of a larger and much more portentous puzzle, designed by one Professor Moriarty.
Mixing business with pleasure, Holmes tracks the clues to an underground gentlemen's club, where he and his brother, Mycroft Holmes (Stephen Fry) are toasting Dr. Watson on his last night of bachelorhood. It is there that Holmes encounters Sim (Noomi Rapace), a Gypsy fortune teller, who sees more than she is telling and whose unwitting involvement in the prince's murder makes her the killer's next target. Holmes barely manages to save her life and, in return, she reluctantly agrees to help him.
The investigation becomes ever more dangerous as it leads Holmes, Watson and Sim across the continent, from England to France to Germany and finally to Switzerland. But the cunning Moriarty is always one step ahead as he spins a web of death and destruction — all part of a greater plan that, if he succeeds, will change the course of history.
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows opens in theaters December 16, 2011.
ABC has picked up a mystery/thriller project featuring an illusionist based on David Blaine, often called a modern day Houdini due to highly publicized feats of magic and illusion.
Titled In Like Fin — we hate the title and hope someone in the network's marketing department puts their foot down and changes it — the premise is that the title character is involved in a government sting operation.
Alexi Hawley (Castle) will write the pilot script and co-executive produce.
David Blaine is the author Mysterious Stranger: A Book of Magic, published in 2002.
(Source: The Hollywood Reporter.)
A month or so ago we reported that TNT had ordered a pilot for a crime drama based on the non-fiction book Scent of the Missing by Susannah Charleson. Now we're learning that Tricia Helfer (Dark Blue; The Firm, recurring) will star as Susannah, a volunteer with a K-9 search and rescue unit. (The book takes place throughout the Southwest, but there's no indication where the action will take place in the pilot or potential series.) Gerald McRaney (Simon & Simon; Undercovers) will co-star as her father. The real star of the show, the golden retriever Puzzle, has yet to be cast.
(Source: Deadline|Hollywood.)
The SyFy supernatural mystery Haven has been renewed for a 13-episode third season. In addition, for the first time, a stand-alone special holiday episode of Haven will air on Tuesday, December 6th, 2011 at 10 PM (ET/PT).
Based on the Stephen King novella The Colorado Kid, the series stars Emily Rose as FBI Special Agent Audrey Parker, who arrives in the small town of Haven, Maine on a routine murder investigation. But her natural curiosity lands her in the epicenter of activity in this curious enclave, which turns out to be a longtime refuge for people that are affected by a range of supernatural afflictions.
In Haven's holiday episode, titled "Silent Night", Audrey Parker begins seeing Christmas decorations mysteriously popping up all over Haven in the middle of July yet nobody else, including local cop Nathan Wuornos (Lucas Bryant), seem to feel anything is unusual. Yet, when Haven residents start disappearing into thin air, Audrey convinces Nathan they must find a way to stop it.
Omnimystery News is pleased to welcome crime novelist Henry Mosquera, whose debut thriller is Sleeper's Run (Oddity Media Trade Paperback, July 2011, print and ebook editions).
Henry titled today's post, "Write about what you know, but if you don't know …"
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I loved researching Sleeper's Run. Well, I love research, period. Granted, many of the themes portrayed in the story are of general interest to me, so not only did I have a good running start, but it also made the process more enjoyable. Piles of non-fiction texts, documentaries and articles informed me about history, politics, military units, tactics, technology, espionage and other topics. My life-long affair with martial arts definitely came in handy. I've been exposed to a wide variety of martial arts throughout my life, even becoming an instructor for a few years. The fighting systems involved in the plot were not randomly chosen. Needless to say, a lot of care and technical savvy went into to the fight scenes/self-defense situations in the story. I also drew from my knowledge of rock climbing, scuba diving, interest in Special Operation Forces and passion for history and traveling. Yet, that wasn't enough for me.
Photo provided courtesy of
Henry Mosquera
When we think about a writer, one pictures some disheveled hermit wearing an old robe with socks and sandals, i.e. Johnny Depp in the Secret Window. There's some truth to that, but how many authors do you know spend a day escaping a team of trackers after having been kidnapped?
That was the final exam of an urban survival class I took in the name of research. The course taught me how to pick locks, do social engineering, disappear into a crowd and other cool skills that came in handy when writing Sleeper's. That and it was also a popular topic of conversation at social gatherings. "Come here and entertain us with your stories of urban survival," someone asked me at a recent friend's wedding. Tactical shooting, knife self-defense and a few flying lessons also became part of the repertoire of things I chose to experience first hand.
Make no mistake I'm a weekend warrior. In no way do my forays into these exciting worlds put me anywhere near in the same league as my protagonist, the true professionals he represents, or the people who spend their lives dedicated to their respective disciplines. Curiosity and personal edification aside, this type of research informed me of the mechanics and psychology required to represent Eric Caine's abilities as realistic as I could. In some instances it even changed the way I looked at certain things, and it made me gain a whole new appreciation for the work of those who have to use this knowledge in the real world.
These experiences also put me in front of people who have to learn those skills as part of their job: federal agents, the military, law enforcement, etc. and of course, their instructors. I spent those priceless encounters trying to pick their brain as much as I could respectfully do.
I always say Sleeper's Run is a fiction novel built on a solid non-fiction foundation. Research was a lot of fun, in fact, it still is. I can't wait for the next adventure, whether it's a class, book, person or a trip that will inevitably find its way into my work. Keep on running!
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Henry was born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela. He attended the University of Miami, Florida, where he obtained a double major in Graphic Design and Film. As a writer, he enjoys researching his novels extensively, including gaining first-hand knowledge of some of his characters' skills. He currently reside in Los Angeles with my wife, dog and cat. For more information about the author and his book, visit his website at Sleepers-Run.com.
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About Sleeper's Run:
War on Terror veteran Eric Caine is found wandering the streets of Miami with no memory of the car accident that left him there. Alone and suffering from PTSD, Eric is on a one-way road to self-destruction.
Then a chance meeting at a bar begins a series of events that helps Eric start anew.
When his new job relocates him to Venezuela — the land of his childhood — things, however, take an ominous turn as a catastrophic event threatens the stability of the country.
Now Eric must escape an elite team of CIA assassins as he tries to uncover an international conspiracy in which nothing is what it seems.
MystereBooks is pleased to feature 13½ by Nevada Barr as today's Barnes&Noble Nook Daily Find. The deal price of $4.99 is valid only for today, Wednesday, October 12, 2011. (Note: Amazon is matching the price of this book today as well.)
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13½ by Nevada Barr
Non-Series
Vanguard Press
Best known for her award-winning Anna Pigeon mysteries, this is Nevada Barr's second stand-alone.
About 13½ (from the publisher): In 1971, the state of Minnesota was rocked by the “Butcher Boy” incident, as coverage of a family brutally murdered by one of their own swept across newspapers and television screens nationwide.
Now, in present-day New Orleans, Polly Deschamps finds herself at yet another lonely crossroads in her life. No stranger to tragedy, Polly was a runaway at the age of fifteen, escaping a nightmarish Mississippi childhood.
Lonely, that is, until she encounters architect Marshall Marchand. Polly is immediately smitten. She finds him attractive, charming, and intelligent. Marshall, a lifelong bachelor, spends most of his time with his brother Danny. When Polly’s two young daughters from her previous marriage are likewise taken with Marshall, she marries him. However, as Polly begins to settle into her new life, she becomes uneasy about her husband’s increasing dark moods, fearing that Danny may be influencing Marshall in ways she cannot understand.
But what of the ominous prediction by a New Orleans tarot card reader, who proclaims that Polly will murder her husband? What, if any, is the Marchands’ connection to the infamous “Butcher Boy” multiple homicide? And could Marshall and his eccentric brother be keeping a dark secret from Polly, one that will shatter the happiness she has forever prayed for?
Read our review of 13½ by Nevada Barr.
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MystereBooks is pleased to feature At Risk by Kit Ehrman as today's second free mystery ebook. 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 we urge you to download it while it is still available for free.
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At Risk by Kit Ehrman
A Steve Cline Mystery
Smashwords
Horseman and amateur sleuth Steve Cline is introduced in this first of four mysteries in the series, all originally published in hardcover by Poisoned Pen Press.
About At Risk (from the publisher): Steve Cline seems, at 21, much too young to be in charge of a major stable in Maryland's horse country. His skills and stamina are sorely tested when he's hijacked early one morning along with some of his horses. His escape turns him into a killer's target in an environment where everyone, no matter how innocent, courts risks …
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MystereBooks is pleased to feature Diagnosis Death by Richard L. Mabry as today's free mystery ebook. 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 we urge you to download it while it is still available for free.
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Diagnosis Death by Richard L. Mabry
A Prescription for Trouble Medical Thriller
Abingdon Press
This third book in a series of four was published as a trade paperback in April 2011.
About Diagnosis Death (from the publisher): The threatening midnight calls followed Dr. Elena Gardner from one city to another, prolonging her grief. Even worse, they are echoed by the whispers of her own colleagues. Whispers that started after her comatose husband died in the ICU … then another mysterious death during her training. When a third happens at her new hospital, the whispers turn into a shout: “Mercy killer!”
Why doesn’t she defend herself? What is the dark secret that keeps Elena’s lips sealed?
Two physicians, widowers themselves, offer support, telling Elena they know what she is going through after the death of her husband. But do they? And is it safe to trust either of them with her secret? Soon Elena will find that even when the world seems to be against her, God is for her, if she'll only trust him.
Important Note: Prices can and do change without prior notice, so please confirm the price of the book before completing your purchase.
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Black Diamond by Martin Walker. A Mystery of the French Countryside. Knopf Hardcover, August 2011.
A simple cozy village mystery this is not. What starts out as an interesting, if fairly typical, situation for the Chief of Police to investigate, turns complicated — seemingly unnecessarily so — and very dark about a third of the way in when the first murder occurs, followed by too many intersecting storylines for Bruno to sort through.
Read the full text of our review at Mysterious Reviews: Black Diamond by Martin Walker.
DC Entertainment announced today that the books of the Millennium Trilogy by Stieg Larsson will be adapted into graphic novels. The first, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, will be published in 2012.
"The intricate characters and stories Larsson created in the Millennium Trilogy are a perfect match for the graphic novel format, where we can bring Lisbeth Salander to life in entirely new, visually compelling ways," stated Dan DiDio, co-publisher of DC Entertainment. "It’s a distinct honor to work on a story that is already so popular with millions of readers around the world."
"Stieg always liked comics and it will be exciting to see the unforgettable characters he created come to life on the comics page," says Joakim Larsson, younger brother of the journalist and novelist, who died in 2004 before the first book in the series was published.
No writer or illustrator were announced for the books.
(Source: Press release via Comic Book Resources.)
MystereBooks is pleased to feature Nordic Nights by Lise McClendon as today's second free mystery ebook. 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 we urge you to download it while it is still available for free.
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Nordic Nights by Lise McClendon
An Alix Thorssen Mystery (3rd in series)
About Nordic Nights (from the publisher): Hank was found standing over the body of visiting Norwegian artist Glasius Dokken. When Hank won't say a word in his own defense, it falls to his step-daughter, gallery owner and sometime sleuth Alix Thorssen, to clear him and uncover who actually sent Dokken, the painter of myths, to Valhalla. With ancient legends seeming to spring to life around her, and with very real bullets being fired through the windows of Alix's art gallery, her investigation could end with a Viking funeral. The answers may all be hidden in the secrets inscribed on some ancient rune stones.
Important Note: Prices can and do change without prior notice, so please confirm the price of the book before completing your purchase.
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MystereBooks is pleased to feature Nefertiti: The Book of the Dead by Nick Drake as today's free mystery ebook. 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 we urge you to download it while it is still available for free.
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Nefertiti: The Book of the Dead by Nick Drake
A Rahotep Mystery (1st in series)
HarperCollins
About Nefertiti: The Book of the Dead (from the publisher): She is Nefertiti—beautiful and revered. With her husband, Akhenaten, she rules over Egypt, the most affluent, formidable, sophisticated empire in the ancient world. But an epic power struggle is afoot, brought on by the royal couple's inauguration of an enlightened new religion and the construction of a magnificent new capital. The priests are stunned by the abrupt forfeiture of their traditional wealth and influence; the people resent the loss of their gods—and the army is enraged by the growing turbulence around them. Then, just days before the festival that will celebrate the new capital, Nefertiti vanishes.
Rahotep, the youngest chief detective in the Thebes division, has earned a reputation for his unorthodox yet effective methods. Entrusted by great Akhenaten himself with a most secret investigation, Rahotep has but ten days to find the missing Queen. If he succeeds, he will bask in the warmth of Akhenaten's favor. But if Rahotep fails, he and his entire family will die.
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