Special Offer: 11 Poisoned Pen Press Mystery eBooks for 99 Cents Each

For much of January and February, Poisoned Pen Press offered over 20 of its ebook mystery titles for just 99 cents each. For March, the specialty publisher of crime novels has a new list of 11 ebooks, many first in series and each priced at just 99 cents. (No end date is mentioned on the publisher's website, so check the price of the book before confirming your purchase.)

We've had the pleasure of reading and reviewing over half of these; click on the  icon to read our review.

And now for some better news: Many of the January/February titles are still priced at 99 cents! Here's a general link to the list of discounted Poisoned Pen Press mysteries on Amazon.com.

Important Note: 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 prices of the books before completing your transaction.

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Relative Danger 
Charles Benoit

Past Imperfect 
Kathleen Hills
Series: A John McIntire Mystery (1st in series)

Lone Star 
Ed Ifkovic
Series: An Edna Ferber Mystery (1st in series)

The Ragtime Kid 
Larry Karp
Series: A Scott Joplin Ragtime Mystery (1st in series)

The Loud Adios 
Ken Kuhlken
Series: A Hickey Family Mystery (1st in series)

Liar, Liar 
K. J. Larsen
Series: A Cat DeLuca Mystery (1st in series)

Night Kill 
Ann Littlewood
Series: An Iris Oakley Mystery (1st in series)

Dry Bones 
Peter May
Series: An Enzo Macleod Mystery (1st in series); originally published as Extraordinary People

Murder in Mykonos 
Jeffrey Siger
Series: An Andreas Kaldis Mystery (1st in series)

Mew is for Murder 
Clea Simon
Series: A Theda Krakow Mystery (1st in series)

Fiddle Game 
Richard A. Thompson
Series: A Herman Jackson Mystery (1st in series)

Two Repeat Freebies are Today's Featured Free MystereBooks

MystereBooks is pleased to feature two repeat titles as today's free mystery ebooks.

These titles were 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 prices of the books before completing your transaction.

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Ballistic by Paul Levine
Publisher: Nittany Valley Productions

Paul Levine is the author of the popular Jake Lassiter mysteries. This action/adventure military thriller is inspired by his work as a screenwriter on the CBS drama JAG.

About Ballistic (from the publisher): A nuclear missile … A band of terrorists … And only two people who can prevent Armageddon.

It's up to Sergeant Jack Jericho, who is haunted by an act of cowardice in his past, and Dr. Susan Burns, a psychiatrist trapped in the launch control capsule, to prevent a nuclear holocaust. That's right. It's time to buckle your seatbelts, because it just might be a thermonuclear night.

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.

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One O'Clock Jump by Lise McClendon
A Dorie Lennox Mystery (1st in series)
Publisher: Thalia Press

About One O'Clock Jump (from the publisher): Halfway around the world, war has begun, but for Dorie Lennox, a newly-minted private eye on her first tail, danger is more immediate. The dark streets of Kansas City of 1939 offer swing music, fast cars, gangsters, and the chance to forget about the Depression and her own murky past. But first she must conquer her fears and save a woman on a bridge high above the muddy Missouri. Dorie is thrown into a quickly unraveling scam that offers salvation to few — and misery to plenty — in the high stakes world of machine politics and desperation deals.

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.

Review: Dying in the Wool by Frances Brody

Read our … Review of Dying in the Wool by Frances Brody. A Kate Shackleton Mystery. Minotaur Books Hardcover, February 2012.

Available to purchase from …

The Mystery Bookshelf: Breaking Silence by Linda Castillo, a Kate Burkholder 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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Breaking Silence by Linda Castillo
A Kate Burkholder Mystery (3rd in series)
Minotaur Books (Trade Paperback)
Publication Date: March 2012
ISBN-13: 978-1-250-00158-0

About Breaking Silence (from the publisher): The Slabaugh family are model Amish farmers, prosperous and hardworking, with four children and a happy extended family. When the parents and an uncle are found dead in their barn, it appears to be a gruesome accident: methane gas asphyxiation caused by a poorly ventilated cesspit. But in the course of a routine autopsy, the coroner discovers that one of the victims suffered a head wound before death — clearly, foul play was involved. But who would want to make orphans of the Slabaughs' children? And is this murder somehow related to a recent string of shocking hate crimes against the Amish?

Having grown up Amish, Kate is determined to bring the killer to justice. Because the other series of attacks are designated hate crimes, the state sends in agent John Tomasetti, with whom Kate has a long and complex relationship. Together, they search for the link between the crimes — and uncover a dark secret at work beneath the placid surface of this idyllic Amish community.

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About the author: Linda Castillo lives in Texas with her husband and is currently at work on her next book in this series, also set in Amish Country and featuring Chief of Police Kate Burkholder. Visit her website at LindaCastillo.com.

Purchase Options for Breaking Silence:

Reviews of Mystery and Suspense Books for Kids, New This Week on Book Trends (120310)

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.

Dead is a Battlefield by Marlene Perez. A "Dead is …" Mystery. Lexile measure: N/A (though previous books in this series are rated about HL630L.) Reviewed by a 6th grade student, who writes, "[I]t centers around zombies and perfume, quite interesting if you ask me. It's so wonderful because Marlene Perez managed to combine the two, and they have almost no connection whatsoever. What an amazing plot!" (Read the full review here.)

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.

New US Trailer for Headhunters, Adapted from the Crime Novel by Jo Nesbø

A new US trailer for the film adaptation of Jo Nesbø's 2008 crime caper Headhunters has been released by the studio; we've embedded it below. (A trade paperback edition of Headhunters was published in the US last September.)

Aksel Hennie stars as Roger Brown, a charming scoundrel and Norway's most accomplished headhunter. Roger is living a life of luxury well beyond his means, and stealing art to subsidize his expensive lifestyle. When his beautiful gallery owner wife introduces him to a former mercenary in the possession of an extremely valuable painting, he decides to risk it all to get his hands on it, and in doing so discovers something which makes him a hunted man.

The film was released last August under its Norwegian title Hodejegerne … which is also the original title of the book. It will open in limited release on April 27th, 2012 in Los Angeles and New York City and expand to additional cities over the following three weeks.

Fatal February by Barbara Levenson is Today's Seventh Featured Free MystereBook

MystereBooks is pleased to feature Fatal February by Barbara Levenson as today's seventh 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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Fatal February by Barbara Levenson
A Mary Magruder Katz Mystery
Publisher: Oceanview Publishing

This first in a series (of two to date) introduces the Miami criminal defense attorney. In our review of the book, we said, "[W]ith its engaging characters and colorful setting, [this] is an enjoyable way to while away that wintry afternoon."

About Fatal February (from the publisher): For half Jewish, half Southern Baptist Miami criminal defense attorney Mary Magruder Katz, life starts to spin completely out of control when a minor fender bender turns out to be an unlikely shot from Cupid’s bow.

Carlos Martin, the other car’s driver, isn’t just a distracted driver; he’s distracting. Carlos is charming, handsome, and mysterious. Hardly before she knows what hit her, Mary breaks off her engagement, jumps into a sizzling romance with Carlos, gets fired from her former fiancé’s highbrow law firm, starts her own practice, and lands her first client, Lillian Yarmouth.

But Lillian isn’t just any client; she’s the prime suspect in what’s become the Miami society murder of the year.

While investigating Lillian’s alleged crime of passion, Mary finds that this case, like all matters of the heart, is anything but black and white. And Mary has clearly stumbled onto something that has someone seeing red.

February may be the shortest month of the year, but Mary’s got some long days (and nights) ahead. This month could be a real killer.

Read our review of Fatal February by Barbara Levenson.

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 Masuda Affair by I. J. Parker is Today's Sixth Featured Free MystereBook

MystereBooks is pleased to feature The Masuda Affair by I. J. Parker as today's sixth 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 Masuda Affair by I. J. Parker
A Sugawara Akitada Mystery
Publisher: Stony Creek Press

This is the seventh mystery in this series to feature Sugawara Akitada, a minor official in the Ministry of Justice during the Heian Period of Japan (11th century).

About The Masuda Affair (from the publisher): Sugawara Akitada finds a small mute boy on a deserted road. Still grieving for his own small son, he determines to find the boy’s parents. Meanwhile, Akitada’s faithful servant Tora has troubles of his own: he has lost his new bride to a powerful man who pursues beautiful women and will stop at nothing to possess them. The trails of these two seemingly unrelated cases lead Akitada and Tora to the entertainers and prostitutes of the amusement quarter, and murder follows in their footsteps …

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.

Little Lamb Lost by Margaret Fenton is Today's Fifth Featured Free MystereBook

MystereBooks is pleased to feature Little Lamb Lost by Margaret Fenton as today's fifth 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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Little Lamb Lost by Margaret Fenton
A Claire Conover Mystery
Publisher: Oceanview Publishing

In our review of this first book in a series, we said that, "[This] is a mystery to be sure, but it is more: a story of love and sacrifice, of responsibility and devotion, of truth and consequences, and possibly most important of all, it is the story of a child."

About Little Lamb Lost (from the publisher): Social worker Clare Conover honestly believed she could make a difference in the world until she gets the phone call she's dreaded her entire career. One of her young clients, Michael, has been found dead and his mother, Ashley, has been arrested for his murder. And who made the decision to return Michael to Ashley? Claire Conover.

Ashley had seemingly done everything right — gotten clean, found a place to live, worked two jobs, and earned back custody of her son. Devastated but determined to discover where her instincts failed her, Claire vows to find the truth about what really happened to Michael.

What Claire finds is no shortage of suspects. Ashley's boyfriend made no secret that he didn't want children. And Ashley's stepfather, an alcoholic and chronic gambler, has a shady past. And what about Michael's mysterious father and his family? Or Ashley herself? Was she really using again? Amidst a heap of unanswered questions, one thing is for certain: Claire Conover is about to uncover secrets that could ruin lives — or end her own.

Read our review of Little Lamb Lost by Margaret Fenton.

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 Suicide Effect by L. J. Sellers is Today's Fourth Featured Free MystereBook

MystereBooks is pleased to feature The Suicide Effect by L. J. Sellers as today's fourth 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 Suicide Effect by L. J. Sellers
Publisher: Spellbinder Press

This stand-alone thriller is by the author of the Wade Jackson mysteries.

About The Suicide Effect (from the publisher): When Sula overhears a shocking revelation about a drug being developed by her employer, she's paralyzed with indecision. She desperately needs her job to gain the judge's favor in a custody hearing for her son. Yet hundreds of patient lives could be at stake.

Two days later when the drug's lead scientist disappears, Sula is compelled to search for the incriminating data. But Prolabs' CEO is a desperate man determined to stop her. Can Sula get the proof and expose the drug's fatal flaw before the CEO risks everything to silence her?

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.

Circle of Bones by Christine Kling is Today's Third Featured Free MystereBook

MystereBooks is pleased to feature Circle of Bones by Christine Kling 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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Circle of Bones by Christine Kling
Publisher: Tell-Tale Press

This stand-alone thriller is by the author of the Seychelle Sullivan mysteries

About Circle of Bones (from the publisher): This Caribbean thriller is based on an actual mystery of World War II. The French submarine Surcouf, once the largest submarine in the world, departed Bermuda in 1942 and vanished without a trace. Kling imagines what might have happened in this unsolved mystery.

Solo sailor Maggie Riley is cruising aboard her forty-foot sailboat when she rescues a sexy — but crazy conspiracy-spouting treasure hunter/archeologist, who is swimming totally nude off the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe. She soon learns he is searching for the wreck of a mysterious submarine. Cole Thatcher claims the sub holds millions in gold coins as well as secret documents from a powerful inner circle of Skull and Bones whose goal is to keep America at war for their own profits. Cole hopes for Riley's help in decoding his father’s journals that are the key to the location of the wreck. At last, Riley joins the search for Surcouf when she discovers the demons in her own past intersect the inner Circle of Bones, and this conspiracy nut might not be so crazy after all.

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.

All the Young Warriors by Anthony Neil Smith is Today's Second Featured Free MystereBook

MystereBooks is pleased to feature All the Young Warriors by Anthony Neil Smith 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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All the Young Warriors by Anthony Neil Smith
Publisher: Blasted Heath

About All the Young Warriors (from the publisher): When two of the Twin Cities' "Lost Boys" — young Somali men drafted to fight for terrorists back in the homeland — kill a pair of cops on his home turf, detective Ray Bleeker is left devastated. One of the dead cops was his girlfriend.

The investigation grinds to a halt when he discovers that the young murderers have fled to Somalia to fight in the rebel army. He's at his wits' end when the father of one of the boys, an ex-gang leader named Mustafa, comes looking for answers, wanting to clear his son's name and refusing to take no for an answer.

Bleeker and Mustafa form an uneasy alliance, teaming up to help bring the boys back home to stand trial. But little do they know what Somalia has in store for them.

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 Bone Polisher by Timothy Hallinan is Today's Featured Free MystereBook

MystereBooks is pleased to feature The Bone Polisher by Timothy Hallinan 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 Bone Polisher by Timothy Hallinan
A Simeon Grist Mystery
Publisher: Hallinan Consulting

About The Bone Polisher (from the publisher): This sixth and final novel featuring erudite Los Angeles private eye Simeon Grist takes place in the West Hollywood of 1995, where the community is shaken by the brutal killing of an older man who was widely loved for his generosity and kindness. In a time when the police were largely indifferent to crimes against gay people, Simeon is hired to catch the murderer — and finds himself up against the most dangerous adversary of his career, a man who kills his victims not once, but twice: once physically and once in spirit. The story's climax takes place at a memorable Halloween-themed wake, but there's a big plot twist yet to come.

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.

Altar of Eden by James Rollins is This Week's Amazon Deal Vote Winner

We're not sure when Amazon began their "Weekly Deal Vote" but we did notice that this week's Kindle book winner is a thriller by James Rollins, available to download at a discounted price. (The game download winner is also a mystery!)

Visit the deal page to see this week's winners in all four categories — Instant Video, MP3 Album, Kindle Book, and Game Download — and to vote for next week's winner.

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Altar of Eden by James Rollins
Publisher: William Morrow

About Altar of Eden (from the publisher): Following the fall of Baghdad, two Iraqi boys stumble upon armed men looting the city zoo. The floodgates have been opened for the smuggling of hundreds of exotic birds, mammals, and reptiles to Western nations, but this crime hides a deeper secret. Amid a hail of bullets, a concealed underground weapons lab is ransacked — and something even more horrific is set free.

Seven years later, Louisiana state veterinarian Lorna Polk stumbles upon a fishing trawler shipwrecked on a barrier island. The crew is missing or dead, but the boat holds a frightening cargo: a caged group of exotic animals, clearly part of a black market smuggling ring.

Yet, something is wrong with these beasts, disturbing deformities that make no sense: a parrot with no feathers, a pair of Capuchin monkeys conjoined at the hip, a jaguar cub with the dentition of a saber-toothed tiger. They also all share one uncanny trait — a disturbingly heightened intelligence.

To uncover the truth about the origin of this strange cargo and the terrorist threat it poses, Lorna must team up with a man who shares a dark and bloody past with her and is now an agent with the U.S. Border Patrol, Jack Menard.

Together, the two must hunt for a beast that escaped the shipwreck while uncovering a mystery tied to fractal science and genetic engineering, all to expose a horrifying secret that traces back to humankind's earliest roots.

But can Lorna stop what is about to be born upon the altar of Eden before it threatens not only the world but also the very foundation of what it means to be human?

Important Note: Amazon.com updates its weekly deal vote winners every Friday. The title referenced above is available at a discounted price of $1.99 from Friday, March 09, 2012 through Sunday, March 11, 2012 only.

Download Link(s):

Amazon Weekly Deal Vote Winner.