Five Deborah Crombie Mystery eBooks, Now $3.99 Each

MystereBooks is pleased to feature the first five books in the Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James mystery series by Deborah Crombie, currently available at a special price each (ebook editions only).

The publisher — Scribner — has set the price of each ebook at $3.99 as of the date and time of this post. Prices are subject to change without notice. The price displayed on the vendor website at the time of purchase will be the price paid for the book. Please confirm the price of the book before completing your transaction.

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A Share in Death
Deborah Crombie
Series: A Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James Mystery (1st in series)

All Shall Be Well
Deborah Crombie
Series: A Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James Mystery (2nd in series)

Leave the Grave Green
Deborah Crombie
Series: A Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James Mystery (3rd in series)

Mourn Not Your Dead
Deborah Crombie
Series: A Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James Mystery (4th in series)

Dreaming of the Bones
Deborah Crombie
Series: A Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James Mystery (5th in series). Winner of the 1998 Macavity Award for Best Mystery Novel.

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Important Note: These ebooks were priced at $3.99 on the date and time of this post. Prices can and do change without prior notice. Please confirm the price of the book before completing your purchase.

Death Benefits by J. W. Becton is Today's Featured Free MystereBook

MystereBooks is pleased to feature Death Benefits by J. W. Becton as today's free mystery ebook.

This title was listed as free as of the date and time of this post. Prices are subject to change without notice. The price displayed on the vendor website at the time of purchase will be the price paid for the book. Please confirm the price of the book before completing your transaction.

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Death Benefits by J. W. Becton
A Julia Jackson, Southern Fried Mystery
Publisher: Whiteley Press

This is the second mystery in this series to feature the insurance fraud investigator.

About Death Benefits (from the publisher): Julia's next assignment throws her straight into the crosshairs of a bevy of desperate people … and one man who will do anything to keep his secret safe.

Late one night, a car burns on a lonely rural road, and the discovery of a body — charred beyond recognition — in the driver’s seat sets in motion a series of deadly events. And when the wife of the supposedly deceased driver demands her husband’s million-dollar life insurance policy payout before the autopsy can be completed, fraud investigators Julia Jackson and Mark Vincent must determine exactly how the victim died and at whose hands.

As Julia and Vincent interview witnesses and tangle with a host of angry suspects, another man is working behind the scenes to sever his mysterious connection to the body by any means necessary. Soon Julia and Vincent realize they are not dealing with an average death benefits scam, but with a potential serial killer instead.

Important Note: This book was listed for free on the date and time of this post. Prices can and do change without prior notice. Please confirm the price of the book before completing your purchase.

Download Link(s):

Amazon Free Kindle Edition Download Link.

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

The Mystery Bookshelf: An Evil Eye by Jason Goodwin, a Yashim Togalu Mystery

The Mystery Bookshelf, where you can discover a world of mystery and suspense, is pleased to feature a new crime novel we recently received from the publisher.

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An Evil Eye by Jason Goodwin
A Yashim Togalu Mystery (4th in series)
Picador (Trade Paperback)
Publication Date: March 2012
ISBN-13: 978-1-250-00243-3

About An Evil Eye (from the publisher): It’s Istanbul in 1839, and as the new sultan installs his harem in the palace, the intrepid investigator Yashim is set adrift on the swirling currents of loyalty and betrayal. The dramatic treachery of Fevzi Ahmet, the admiral of the fleet, brings Yashim up against the one man he has ever hated … the only man he has ever feared.

Drawn ever deeper into the closed and mysterious world of the Sultan’s harem, Yashim must search for a secret that could save a life or destroy an empire.

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About the author: Jason Goodwin studied Byzantine history at Cambridge and is the author of Lords of the Horizons: A History of the Ottoman Empire, among other award-winning nonfiction. He lives with his family in West Dorset, England. For more information about the author and his books, visit his website at JasonGoodwin.info.

Purchase Options for An Evil Eye:

Nominees for the 2011 Strand Critics Awards Announced

The nominees for the 2011 Strand Critics Awards have been announced by The Strand Magazine for books published during 2011. Recognizing excellence in the field of mystery fiction, the nominees have been judged by, and winners selected from, book reviewers from the nation's top daily newspapers as well as Andrew F. Gulli, Managing Editor of the magazine and announced on July 11th, 2012 in New York City.

Best Novel …
• The Affair by Lee Child (Delacorte Press)
• The Drop by Michael Connelly (Little, Brown)
• Buried Secret by Joseph Finder (St. Martin's Press)
• Death Comes to Pemberley by P. D. James (Knopf)
• The Cut by George Pelecanos (Little, Brown)

Best First Novel …
• The Boy in the Suitcase by Lene Kaaberbøl and Agnete Friis (Soho Press)
• The Poison Tree by Erin Kelly (Viking)
• The Hypnotist by Lars Kepler (Farrar, Straus and Giroux)
• Sister by Rosamund Lupton (Crown)
• Before I Go To Sleep by S. J. Watson (Harper)


 indicates a review by Mysterious Reviews.

(Hat tip to Mystery Fanfare for alerting us to this list.)

James Herbert's The Secret of Crickley Hall to be Adapted for BBC Miniseries

James Herbert's 2011 haunted house thriller The Secret of Crickley Hall is being adapted for a BBC 3-part miniseries.

Directed by Joe Ahearne from his own screenplay, the miniseries will star Suranne Jones, Tom Ellis, Douglas Henshall, David Warner, Sarah Smart, Iain De Caestecker, and Donald Sumpter.

"Everyone loves a good ghost story and James Herbert is an iconic writer in the genre," said Ahearne. "He's come up with a really thrilling and moving story that delights you while it's terrifying you. It's a testament to his craft that we've attracted such a great cast to play the characters he created."

The storyline follows Eve and Gabe Caleigh (Suranne Jones, Tom Ellis), who take their family to Crickley Hall to try and escape the past; a year ago their little boy went missing. It seems like the perfect destination, until cellar doors open of their own accord, unseen children cry through the night and water seeps through impervious rock. At the center of it all, a frenzied spectre wields a cane.

Just as the Caleighs are ready to move out, Eve hears her missing son. Time shifts between present day and 1943 as the Caleighs desperately try to find out what connects Crickley Hall to their lost boy. Will they find him before the evil that stalks Crickley Hall finds their other children?

Filming is expected to begin this month, with an air date on BBC One this fall.

(Source: Press release.)

Raylan Givens Collection by Elmore Leonard is Today's Barnes&Noble Nook Daily Find

MystereBooks is pleased to feature Raylan Givens Collection by Elmore Leonard as today's Barnes&Noble Daily Find. The deal price of $4.99 is valid only for today, Wednesday, March 07, 2012.

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Raylan Givens Collection by Elmore Leonard
Publisher: HarperCollins

Raylan Givens is the character featured on the FX crime drama Justified.

About Raylan Givens Collection (from the publisher): The first three Raylan Givens novels — Pronto (1993), Riding the Rap (1995), and Fire in the Hole and other stories (2001) — are together in one ebook, along with an excerpt from Raylan, the brand new novel in the series.

Important Note: Barnes&Noble updates its Nook Daily Find every day at approximately midnight PT. The title referenced above is available at a discounted price for Wednesday, March 07, 2012 only.

Download Link(s):

B&N Nook Daily Find.

Amazon Kindle Price Match (today only).

Warner Bros. Moves Forward with Film Adaptation of Ross Macdonald's The Galton Case

Last October, we reported that Warner Bros. had optioned the film rights to the series of Lew Archer mysteries by Ross Macdonald. At the time, The Galton Case was expected to be first to be filmed and today we're learning that that is indeed the case with Peter Landesman writing the adapted screenplay. Originally published in 1959, The Galton Case is the eighth mystery in the series.

In The Galton Case, almost twenty years have passed since Anthony Galton disappeared, along with a suspiciously streetwise bride and several thousand dollars of his family's fortune. Now Anthony's mother wants him back and has hired Lew Archer to find him. What turns up is a headless skeleton, a boy who claims to be Galton's son, and a con game whose stakes are so high that someone is still willing to kill for them.

Lew Archer has been featured in several other screen adaptations. Paul Newman played the character — renamed Lew Harper — in two films, both from Warner Bros.: Harper (1966) and The Drowning Pool (1976). The character was also featured in an NBC television series and made-for television movie, also for the same network. Peter Graves played Lew Archer in The Underground Man (1974), while Brian Keith played the private investigator in six episodes of Archer that aired in the spring of 1975.

As with most crime novel series adaptations, Warner Bros. is hoping to develop a new franchise based on the character.

(Related article: Deadline.)

New Poster for Thriller Meeting Evil

A new poster for the thriller Meeting Evil has been released (right; click for larger version).

Adapted from the 1992 novel of the same title by Thomas Berger, the film stars Luke Wilson as John Felton, who (in the book) meets evil late one Monday morning when the doorbell rings. Standing on the front porch is a stranger. He wears expensive running shoes and a baseball cap and calls himself Richie (Samuel L. Jackson). He tells John his car has stalled and asks for help. An altercation at the gas station leads to a shocking crime as violence begets violence. At the end of this harrowing day, John returns home to find Richie ensconced in his living room, chatting up his wife. The evil has somehow seeped into his life. Thus begins the transformation of an unremarkable husband and father of two into a desperate man willing to go to any length to protect his family from the darkness that threatens them.

Directed by Chris Fisher from his adapted screenplay, Meeting Evil opens in limited release on May 4th, 2012.

Review: Plunder by Mary Anna Evans

Read our … Review of Plunder by Mary Anna Evans. A Faye Longchamp Mystery. Poisoned Pen Press Hardcover, March 2012.

Available to purchase from …

FX Renews Justified for a Fourth Season

FX Networks has renewed its crime drama Justified for a fourth season of 13 episodes.

Based on a character created by Elmore Leonard, the series stars Timothy Olyphant as US Marshal Raylan Givens, who brings his own brand of justice to his Eastern Kentucky home town.

"Justified is one of television's best series, and this season has reinforced that excellence," Nick Grad, Executive Vice President, Original Programming at FX, said. "Graham Yost and his writing team continue to deliver compelling material and richly drawn characters brought to life by the brilliance of Timothy Olyphant and our terrific ensemble cast. Their work is validated by universal acclaim, awards and ratings that have grown every year. We look forward to many more seasons to come."

Review: The Fishy Business by Maxwell Eaton III

Read our … Review of The Fishy Business by Maxwell Eaton III. The Flying Beaver Brothers. Alfred A. Knopf Trade Paperback, January 2012.

Available to purchase from …

Fox Cancels Terra Nova

Fox has canceled its prehistoric thriller Terra Nova. It premiered last September and aired 12 titled episodes (including the 2-part opening episode, "Genesis") through December 2011.

We tuned in to the first 15-20 minutes of the first episode, thought it moved along far too slowly to watch in real time, and decided to catch it later On Demand. We never did. Maybe that says something about how impatient we are as viewers, the need to be immediately engaged otherwise we look elsewhere.

The studio and producers are reportedly trying to interest other networks in continuing the series.

The Killing Room by John Manning is Today's Third Featured Free MystereBook

MystereBooks is pleased to feature The Killing Room by John Manning as today's third free mystery ebook.

This title was listed as free as of the date and time of this post. Prices are subject to change without notice. The price displayed on the vendor website at the time of purchase will be the price paid for the book. Please confirm the price of the book before completing your transaction.

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The Killing Room by John Manning
Publisher: Pinnacle

About The Killing Room (from the publisher): Old houses have their secrets.

The Young residence — a beautiful Maine mansion overlooking the Atlantic — is no exception. But the secrets here are different. They can kill …

Carolyn Cartwright, private detective and ex-FBI agent, has been hired by Howard Young to investigate a string of gruesome family deaths. The crimes are horrific, brutal, and senseless. And the time has come for the killing to begin again …

One by one, members of the Young family are chosen to die. Old and young, weak and strong, no one is safe from a killer with a limitless thirst for revenge. And the only way for Carolyn to uncover the shocking truth is to enter the room no one has ever left alive — and make herself the next target …

Important Note: This book was listed for free on the date and time of this post. Prices can and do change without prior notice. Please confirm the price of the book before completing your purchase.

Download Link(s):

Amazon Free Kindle Edition Download Link.

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

Becoming Quinn by Brett Battles is Today's Second Featured Free MystereBook

MystereBooks is pleased to feature Becoming Quinn by Brett Battles as today's second free mystery ebook.

This title was listed as free as of the date and time of this post. Prices are subject to change without notice. The price displayed on the vendor website at the time of purchase will be the price paid for the book. Please confirm the price of the book before completing your transaction.

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Becoming Quinn by Brett Battles
A Jonathan Quinn Mystery
Publisher: Brett Battles

This novella is a prequel to the Jonathan Quinn series, the second of which — The Deceived — was the winner of the 2009 Barry Award for Best Thriller.

About Becoming Quinn (from the publisher): Most careers begin with an interview and a handshake. Others require a little … something more.

Meet Jake Oliver. The day will come when he's one of the best cleaners in the business, a man skilled at making bodies disappear. At the moment, however, he's a twenty-two year old rookie cop, unaware his life is about to change.

In a burning barn a body is found — and the fire isn't the cause of death. The detectives working the case have a pretty good idea about what went down. But Officer Oliver thinks it's something else entirely, and pursues a truth others would prefer remain hidden — others who will go to extreme lengths to keep him quiet.

Every identity has an origin. This is Quinn's.

Important Note: This book was listed for free on the date and time of this post. Prices can and do change without prior notice. Please confirm the price of the book before completing your purchase.

Download Link(s):

Amazon Free Kindle Edition Download Link.

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

The Black Minute by Christopher Valen is Today's Featured Free MystereBook

MystereBooks is pleased to feature The Black Minute by Christopher Valen as today's free mystery ebook.

This title was listed as free as of the date and time of this post. Prices are subject to change without notice. The price displayed on the vendor website at the time of purchase will be the price paid for the book. Please confirm the price of the book before completing your transaction.

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The Black Minute by Christopher Valen
A John Santana Mystery
Publisher: Conquill Press

This second mystery in this series was the winner of the 2009 Reader Views First Place Award for Mystery/Thriller/Suspense/Horror Novel.

About The Black Minute (from the publisher): When the body of a young, Hmong woman is found on Harriet Island near the Mississippi River, it appears to be a simple case of murder and revenge. But what begins as a routine investigation soon becomes something far more sinister. Paired with a Hmong partner he’s not sure he can trust, and attracted to a beautiful woman with dark secrets, St. Paul Homicide Detective John Santana is drawn into a maze of political intrigue and broken promises made during the Vietnam War. Trusting his instincts and determined to find justice, Santana uncovers a web of lies and a terrifying plot that could lead to a national disaster — and to his own death.

Important Note: This book was listed for free on the date and time of this post. Prices can and do change without prior notice. Please confirm the price of the book before completing your purchase.

Download Link(s):

Amazon Free Kindle Edition Download Link.

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