We Hold These Truths by Skip Coryell is Today's Featured Free MystereBook

MystereBooks is pleased to feature We Hold These Truths by Skip Coryell 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.

— ◊ —

We Hold These Truths by Skip Coryell
Non-Series
Whitefeather Press

About We Hold These Truths (from the publisher): After Hank Simmons caught his wife cheating with his Editor, he fled the hustle and bustle of the big city, and moved away with his four children to a small one-horse town in Northern Michigan. All he wanted was a little peace and quiet, and a safe and happy place to raise his children. Hank bought the local newspaper, and all was well … until … 9/11. And then the peace and tranquility of small-town America is suddenly shattered when a terrorist cell group from Detroit is infiltrated by FBI Special Agent Richard Resnik.

Agent Resnik, hot on their trail, follows the terrorists to Grand Rapids, but he underestimates the leader, Momin Islam, who attempts to detonate one of two nuclear suitcase bombs, and then flees north, with Agent Resnik in pursuit. Everything comes to a head when Momin stops in Freidham Ridge for gasoline and a simple bite to eat. Agent Resnik is compelled to join forces with Hank and the townspeople as they fight to capture the terrorist and prevent him from exploding the second nuclear suitcase bomb.

Through the course of conflict, Hank and the other townspeople are forced out of their small, secure worlds, and now must look at things in a global way, where black and white no longer seems cut and dried.

Important Note: Prices can and do change without prior notice, so please confirm the price of the book before completing your purchase.

Download Link(s):

Amazon Free Kindle Edition Download Link.

B&N Free Nook Book Download Link.

Apple Free iBook Download Link (via iTunes).

Smashwords Free Book Download Link.

For more free mystery ebooks, visit our Free MystereBooks page.

The Bourne Betrayal by Eric Van Lustbader is Today's Amazon Kindle Daily Deal

MystereBooks is pleased to feature The Bourne Betrayal by Eric Van Lustbader as today's Amazon Kindle Daily Deal. The deal price of $2.99 is valid only for today, Thursday, October 27, 2011.

— ◊ —

The Bourne Betrayal by Eric Van Lustbader
A Jason Bourne Thriller
Grand Central

This is the fifth book in the series, the second written by Lustbader following the death of Robert Ludlum in 2001.

About The Bourne Betrayal (from the publisher): Already devastated by loss, Bourne is shattered by a report that his last friend in the world, Martin Lindros has gone missing. A CI deputy director, Lindros was in Ethiopia tracking suspicious shipments of yellowcake uranium and atomic bomb weaponry. His last lifeline to humanity, Bourne will not let Lindros go. Despite his hatred for CI, Bourne sets out to rescue his friend and finish the job: dismantling a terrorist network determined to build nuclear armaments by cutting off their source of money. But Bourne doesn't realize that these men, Islamic supremacists, are leaders of an incredibly dangerous, technologically savvy group with ties from Africa, across the Middle East, and into Eastern Europe and Russia. They have predicted Bourne's every move, and are counting on his unwitting help in their plans to destroy America.

Important Note: Prices can and do change without prior notice, so please confirm the price of the book before completing your purchase.

Download Link(s):

Amazon Kindle Daily Deal 10/27/2011 Download Link.

The Dead Man Thrillers by Lee Goldberg and William Rabkin

Earlier this year, crime novelists Lee Goldberg and William Rabkin created a new series of adventure thrillers featuring Matthew Cahill, a man resurrected from death.

After writing (and publishing) the first book, Face of Evil, they recruited other writers to continue the series, which eventually numbered five before the authors signed a new deal with 47North to manage the publication of future books in the series. Goldberg and Rabkin will continue to be responsible for the books' content.

As part of this new deal, 47North is reissuing all five books in the series as ebooks, and they are currently priced at 99 cents each (though we suspect this is some sort of introductory offer and not an on-going price).

The books in the series are:

Face of Evil by Lee Goldberg and William Rabkin;
Ring of Knives by James Daniels;
Hell in Heaven by Lee Goldberg and William Rabkin;
The Dead Woman by David McAfee; and
The Blood Mesa by James Reasoner.

The sixth book in the series, Kill Them All by Harry Shannon, which will be published in November, is also currently available to pre-order for 99 cents.

Important note: Prices can and do change without prior notice. Please confirm the price of your book before you checkout.

Anonymous Opens in Limited Release this Friday, October 28th, 2011

The political and literary thriller Anonymous opens in limited release this Friday, October 28th, 2011. It is expected to be released more widely sometime in November.

Set in the political snake-pit of Elizabethan England, the film speculates on an issue that has for centuries intrigued academics and brilliant minds ranging from Mark Twain and Charles Dickens to Henry James and Sigmund Freud, namely: who was the author of the plays credited to William Shakespeare? Experts have debated, books have been written, and scholars have devoted their lives to protecting or debunking theories surrounding the authorship of the most renowned works in English literature. Anonymous poses one possible answer, focusing on a time when cloak-and-dagger political intrigue, illicit romances in the Royal Court, and the schemes of greedy nobles hungry for the power of the throne were exposed in the most unlikely of places: the London stage.

Anonymous stars Rafe Spall as William Shakespear, Vanessa Redgrave as Queen Elizabeth I, and Rhys Ifans as Edward de Vere, the 17th Earl of Oxford. Watch a trailer for the film below.

The Lord is My Shepherd by Debbie Viguié is Today's Featured Free MystereBook

MystereBooks is pleased to feature The Lord is My Shepherd by Debbie Viguié 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.

— ◊ —

The Lord is My Shepherd by Debbie Viguié
A Psalm 23 Mystery
Abingdon Press

A few weeks ago the second in this series, I Shall Not Want, was available for free. Now you can get the first, which introduces church secretary Cindy Preston and Rabbi Jeremiah Silverman. A third book in the series, Lie Down in Green Pastures, was published earlier this year.

About The Lord is My Shepherd (from the publisher): 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.

Important Note: Prices can and do change without prior notice, so please confirm the price of the book before completing your purchase.

Download Link(s):

Amazon Free Kindle Edition Download Link.

B&N Free Nook Book Download Link.

For more free mystery ebooks, visit our Free MystereBooks page.

Universal to Adapt Robert Ludlum's The Janson Directive

Universal is moving forward with a film adaptation of Robert Ludlum's The Janson Directive with the expectation (hope?) that it could become another Bourne-type franchise for the studio. John Hlavin is writing the screenplay.

In the book, it's up to Paul Janson — a legend in the notorious US covert agency Consular Operations — to save billionaire philanthropist Peter Novak when he is kidnapped by a terrorist known as The Caliph. But Janson's rescue operation goes horribly wrong … and soon Janson is marked for death, the target of a "beyond salvage" order issued from the highest level of the government. Now Janson is running for his life, pursued by Jessica Kincaid, a young agent of astonishing ability who can anticipate and counter his every move. To survive, Janson must outrace a conspiracy that has gone beyond the control of its originators. To win, he must counter it with a conspiracy of his own …

The Janson Directive, published posthumously a year after the author's death in 2001, will be followed by a sequel, The Janson Command by Paul Garrison, to be published early next year.

(Source: Deadline.)

Ed Brubaker's Noir Graphic Novel Coward to be Adapted for Film

Ed Brubaker is adapting his own noir graphic novel Coward — which collects the first five issues of the "Criminal" series of comics, originally published in 2006 — for film. David Slade (The Twilight Saga: Eclipse) is on board to direct.

Coward is the story of Leo, a professional pickpocket who is also a legendary heist-planner and thief. But there's a catch with Leo: he won't work any job that he doesn't call all the shots on, he won't allow guns, and the minute things turn south, he's looking for any exit that won't land him in prison. But when he's lured into a risky heist, all his rules go out the window, and he ends up on the run from the cops and the bad men who double-crossed him. Now Leo must come face-to-face with the violence he's kept bottled up inside for 20 years, and nothing will ever be the same for him again.

"Coward was just a great modern story," Slade said. "It harkens back to an era of crime stories where there's really a gritty reality to it, but there's a kind of underworld haze of noir. It's not like we have to reinvent the material, to figure it out, because it already works."

(Source: Variety.)

Telemystery: CBS Orders Full Seasons of Unforgettable and Person of Interest

CBS has given full season orders to two of its new crime dramas: Unforgettable and Person of Interest.

Unforgettable stars Poppy Montgomery as former police detective Carrie Wells, who has a rare condition that allows her to remember every place, every conversation, every moment of her life … except the details that would help solve her sister's murder.

Person of Interest stars Jim Caviezel as former — and presumed by his employer, dead — CIA agent Reese, who teams up with mysterious billionaire Finch (played by Michael Emerson) to prevent crimes before they happen.

Telemystery: AMC Orders Third Season of The Walking Dead

With its second season just underway, AMC has renewed The Walking Dead for a third season.

"Today we are pleased to announce that the dead shall live as we proudly renew The Walking Dead for a third season on AMC and, globally, with our terrific partners at Fox International Channels," said AMC president Charlie Collier.

Based on Robert Kirkman's graphic novels, the series stars Andrew Lincoln as County Sheriff Rick Grimes, who wakes from a coma to discover the world as he knows it is gone, ravaged by a zombie epidemic.

MysteriousPress.com Launches Today

MysteriousPress.com, the digital version of Otto Penzler's original Mysterious Press, officially launches today.

Founded in 1975, Mysterious Press was devoted to printing the best mystery, crime and suspense books, as well as offering many limited, signed editions.

Now, the Mysterious Press is back and it's going digital, putting out books through MysteriousPress.com.

Working in conjunction with Open Road Integrated Media, this 21st-century publishing house will take books from some of the most distinguished crime, mystery and suspense writers in the world, and offer them in digital reading formats. And they're maintaining their commitment to quality: books will be carefully formatted, expertly proofread, and will be accompanied by professionally-designed covers.

The books offered by MysteriousPress.com are currently out of print but protected by copyright, and will take advantage of digital reading formats to bring classic fiction to new audiences. Currently, they're in the process of digitizing books by some of the most distinguished and best-selling crime writers in the world. In the not-too-distant future, they plan to publish original novels by previously published authors, as well as by talented newcomers.

To celebrate the launch of MysteriousPress.com, they're running a contest: Follow their Twitter account, @eMysteries, between now and November 2nd and you'll be eligible to receive three free ebooks:

• The City When It Rains by Thomas H. Cook;
• Rilke on Black by Ken Bruen;
• The Mordida Man by Ross Thomas.

One winner will be picked at random on November 2nd and receive these books in the format of their choice (for iPad, Kindle, etc.).

Review: Death of a Wannabe by Lawrence Friedman

Read the full text of our review at Mysterious Reviews: Death of a Wannabe by Lawrence Friedman.

New Hardcover Mysteries for November 2011

The Hidden Staircase Mystery Books has updated its list of new hardcover mysteries with books scheduled for publication in November 2011. Please note that some titles may publish early, and may already be available, and some may be delayed, published at a later date.

Below we're listing those authors with returning series characters, new series characters, and non-series or stand-alone mysteries in separate sections. All titles are available on our November new mystery books page, which will become the default home page for the site on November 1st.

• Authors with mysteries featuring returning series characters (in italics) this month:

Mignon F. Ballard(Dimple Kilpatrick, 2nd) —  Maggie Barbieri(Alison Bergeron, Murder 101, 6th) —  Alan Bradley(Flavia de Luce, 4th) —  Simon Brett(Fethering, 12th) —  Emily Brightwell(Mrs. Jeffries, 29th) —  Erin Brockovich and C. J. Lyons(A. J. Palladino, 2nd) —  Charles Brokaw(Thomas Lourds, 3rd) —  Michael Connelly(Harry Bosch, 17th) —  Gary Corby(Nicolaos, 2nd) —  Mary Daheim(Emma Lord, 23rd) —  Elizabeth Darrell(Max Rydal, 7th) —  Phillip DePoy(Fever Devilin, 6th) —  Laura DiSilverio(Charlotte "Charlie" Swift, 2nd) —  Paul Doherty (Templars, 2nd) —  James D. Doss(Charlie Moon, 16th) —  Kaitlyn Dunnett(Liss MacCrimmon, 5th) —  Janet Evanovich(Stephanie Plum, 18th numbered) —  Charles Finch(Charles Lennox, 5th) —  Diana Gabaldon(Lord John Grey, 4th) —  Sue Grafton(Kinsey Millhone, 22nd) —  Susanna Gregory (Matthew Bartholomew, 17th) —  J. M. Gregson(Lambert and Hook, 24th) —  James W. Hall(Thorn, 12th) —  Cora Harrison (Burren Mysteries, 7th) —  Dana Haynes(Crashers, 2nd) —  Betty Hechtman(Molly Pink, Crochet, 5th) —  David Heinzmann(Augustine Flood, 2nd) —  Peg Herring(Simon Maldon, 2nd) —  Susan Hill(Simon Serrailler, 6th) —  Anthony Horowitz(Sherlock Holmes) —  Bill James (Harpur and Iles, 28th) —  Peter James(Roy Grace, 7th) —  Asa Larsson(Rebecka Martinsson, 4th) —  Margaret Maron(Deborah Knott, 17th) —  Shirley Rousseau Murphy(Joe Grey, 16th) —  Hilary Norman(Sam Becket, 5th) —  Ann Parker(Inez Stannert, Silver Rush, 4th) —  James Patterson(Alex Cross, 18th) —  Caro Peacock(Liberty Lane, 4th) —  Junius Podrug("Harold Robbins", 9th) —  Linda Regan(Paul Banham, 4th) —  Cynthia Robinson(Max Bravo, 2nd)

• Authors with mysteries introducing characters (in italics) in a new series this month:

In what we think is a first, there are no new series characters being introduced in this month's hardcover selection of titles.

• Authors with non-series or stand-alone mysteries this month:

David Baldacci —  Roberto Bolaño —  William S. Cohen —  Michael Crichton and Richard Preston —  John Curran —  Carol Anne Davis —  Marjorie Eccles —  Rashad Harrison —  R. J. Jagger —  Bernhard Jaumann —  Lene Kaaberbol and Agnete Friis —  Ward Larsen —  Jon Mills —  Jack O'Halloran —  Ian Rankin —  Piero Rivolta —  Stephen Solomita

For more information on any of these titles, please visit the November new mysteries page on our website. If you're interested in new paperbacks, visit The Mystery Bookshelf where you can discover a library of new mystery, suspense and thriller books, also updated with November 2011 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.

Mr. E. Reviews Unknown

Purchase/Rental Option(s)

It's always disappointing when a good idea for a thriller is mishandled. It's not a total loss here but probably only worthy of a rental for most of us, with only die-hard Liam Neeson fans opting to purchase a copy, just so they can say their collection is complete.

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

— ◊ —

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

New Poster for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

A new — and possibly final, given the date — poster for the English-language adaptation of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson has surfaced (right; click for larger version). This is clearly our favorite, with terrific imagery that meshes well with the book's storyline and the film's relatively new tagline, "What is hidden in snow comes forth in the thaw," a vast improvement over the previous "Evil shall with evil be expelled."

Directed by David Fincher, the film stars Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara with Christopher Plummer. It opens in US theaters December 21st, 2011.

A Wee Christmas Homicide by Kaitlyn Dunnett is Today's Featured Free MystereBook

MystereBooks is pleased to feature A Wee Christmas Homicide by Kaitlyn Dunnett 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.

— ◊ —

A Wee Christmas Homicide by Kaitlyn Dunnett
A Liss MacCrimmon Mystery
Kensington

This is the third mystery in this series featuring the former professional Scottish dancer, who now runs a shop in Maine. The fifth, Scotched, will be published next month.

About A Wee Christmas Homicide (from the publisher): Tis the season to be jolly, but in Moosetookalook, Maine, Christmas cheer is in short supply due to a snowless winter that's keeping skiers and shoppers at a distance. Fortunately, Liss MacCrimmon of the Scottish Emporium has a plan …

Liss's brainstorm focuses on Tiny Teddies, the new "hot" toy of the season. Every store across the country is out of stock — except a few wee establishments in good ol' Moosetookalook. It's easy enough to drum up approval for the idea of luring consumers to town and keeping them there with a stockingful of New England holiday charm. Liss's real challenge lies in contending with bickering businesspeople and--once America learns of Moosetookalook's Tiny Teddy cache--doggedly determined shopaholics.

The first sign of something amiss occurs when the last Tiny Teddy is summarily executed: shot through the heart in the display window of greedy toy store owner Gavin Thorne. But the Teddy's demise is just a precursor to the eerily similar murder of Gavin himself …

The two men in Liss's life want her far from the case, but she can't help feeling guilty for starting the fur frenzy that seems to have led to Gavin's death. Besides, how can she ignore the lengthy list of suspects, not the least of whom include Gavin's vindictive ex-wife, an unscrupulous selectman, a ski shop owner with an axe to grind, and a rabid toy collector packing heat in her purse?

Now, with the Twelve (or, in Scots terms, the Daft) Days of Christmas rapidly approaching, Liss has a plate full of things worse than haggis to contend with, starting with a stockroom packed with poultry (don't ask), and ending with a killer who'd like to see Liss's goose well and fully cooked …

Important Note: Prices can and do change without prior notice, so please confirm the price of the book before completing your purchase.

Download Link(s):

Amazon Free Kindle Edition Download Link.

B&N Free Nook Book Download Link.

For more free mystery ebooks, visit our Free MystereBooks page.