From now — yesterday, actually — through the end of the month, April 30th, 2012, Touchstone is giving away five signed ARCs of The Skeleton Box, the third mystery in the "Starvation Lake" series by Bryan Gruley. (Some collectors consider an ARC, or Advanced Reading Copy, to be true the true "first edition" of a book.) We enjoyed the second mystery in this series, The Hanging Tree, much more than the first, Starvation Lake, which went on to win several literary mystery awards, including the 2010 Anthony Award for Best Paperback Original.
To enter the giveaway, visit this page on GoodReads.com. And don't forget to check out the photo of Bryan signing the books!
Here's a synopsis of the book, from the publisher:
Mysterious break-ins are plaguing the small town of Starvation Lake. While elderly residents enjoy their weekly bingo night at St. Valentine's Catholic Church, someone is slipping into their homes to rifle through financial and personal files. Oddly, the intruder takes nothing — yet the "Bingo Night Burglaries" leave the entire town uneasy.
Worry turns into panic when a break-in escalates to murder. Suddenly, Gus Carpenter, editor of the Pine County Pilot, is forced to investigate the most difficult story of his life. Not only is the victim his ex-girlfriend Darlene's mother, but her body was found in the home of Bea Carpenter — Gus's own mother. Suffering from worsening dementia and under the influence of sleeping pills, Bea remembers little of the break-in.
With the help of Luke Whistler, a former Detroit Free Press reporter who came north looking for slower days and some old-fashioned newspaper work, Gus sets out to uncover the truth behind the murder. But when the story leads him to a lockbox his mother has kept secret for years, Gus doesn't realize that its contents could forever change his perception of Starvation Lake, his own family, and the value of the truth.
The Skeleton Box hits bookstores on June 5th, 2012.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Touchstone is Giving Away 5 Signed ARCs of Bryan Gruley's The Skeleton Box
Today's Bestselling Free Kindle MystereBooks (120424)
Here is today's list of the top bestselling free Kindle mysteries, suspense novels and thrillers.
We're using a script to embed an RSS feed from Amazon.com, which is updated hourly, but if you cannot see the box below — or have scripts blocked — you can use this link to see the relevant page on Amazon.com.
MWA's Edgar Week Activities
Tomorrow, Wednesday April 25th, the 2012 Edgar Symposium — "We're All In This Together — From Typing to Tweeting, Selling a Book is Everybody's Job." — will be held at The Lighthouse in New York City. This will be a one-day symposium of panels and interviews. Find more details and the registration form on the Mystery Writers of America website.
The following day, on Thursday April 26th, the 2012 Edgar Awards Banquet will be held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Manhattan with the presentation of the annual Edgar Awards, recognizing the best work in many categories of literature and media. This year's Grand Master is Martha Grimes. We can't attend ourselves, but we will be following the tweets of those present and update our awards page with the winners at the conclusion the event.
Mr. E. Reviews The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Purchase/Rental Option(s)
It's probably impossible not to watch this English-language film adaptation of Stieg Larsson's novel without comparing it to the original Swedish-language version. I thought the latter focused a bit more on the murder mystery storyline as the characters were developed, while the former seems to reverse this. Still and all, I do recommend it.
Read the full text of our review at Mr. E. Reviews The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
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Mr. E. Reviews is your source for mystery, suspense, thriller, and crime drama reviews of television and film.
Nominees for the 2012 BAFTA Awards Announced
The nominees for the 2012 BAFTA television awards were announced this morning and we scoured the list for those related to our favorite category, mystery and crime drama!
No surprise here — Sherlock dominates with three nominations including Benedict Cumberbatch as Leading Actor; and Andrew Scott and Martin Freeman as Supporting Actors … but no nod for Drama Series.
Speaking of which, Spooks — which airs here in the US as MI-5 — is nominated for Drama Series as is Scott & Bailey, an ITV series we know very little about.
Finally, The Killing — the original Danish version, not the US one — is nominated in the International category.
Monday, April 23, 2012
Lionsgate Hires Screenwriter for Chaos Walking Adaptation
Last October Lionsgate acquired the film rights to the "Chaos Walking" trilogy of young adult futuristic thrillers by Patrick Ness. Now we're learning that the studio has brought Charlie Kaufman (Adaptation, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind) on board to write the screenplay adaptation of the first book in the series, The Knife of Never Letting Go, published in 2008. (The other two books in the trilogy are The Ask and the Answer and Monsters of Men, published in 2009 and 2010, respectively.)
The storyline introduces Todd Hewitt, the only boy in a town of men. Ever since the settlers were infected with the Noise germ, Todd can hear everything the men think, and they hear everything he thinks. Todd is just a month away from becoming a man, but in the midst of the cacophony, he knows that the town is hiding something from him — something so awful Todd is forced to flee with only his dog, whose simple, loyal voice he hears too. With hostile men from the town in pursuit, the two stumble upon a strange and eerily silent creature: a girl. Who is she? Why wasn't she killed by the germ like all the females on New World?
New Poster for Thriller House at the End of the Street
A new poster, possibly the first, for the horror thriller House at the End of the Street has been released by the studio (right; click for larger version). The poster's tagline: "Fear reaches out … for the girl next door." (Not terribly imaginative, in our opinion.)
The storyline follows newly divorced Sarah (Elisabeth Shue) and her daughter Elissa (Jennifer Lawrence), who find the house of their dreams in a small, upscale, rural town. But when startling and unexplainable events begin to happen, Sarah and Elissa learn the town is in the shadows of a chilling secret.
Years earlier, in the house next door, a daughter killed her parents in their beds, and disappeared — leaving only a brother, Ryan (Max Thieriot), as the sole survivor. Against Sarah's wishes, Elissa begins a relationship with the reclusive Ryan — and the closer they get, the deeper they're all pulled into a mystery more dangerous than they ever imagined.
Directed by Mark Tonderai from a screenplay by David Loucka, House at the End of the Street opens in theaters September 21st, 2012.
Mystery and Suspense Films, New This Week on DVD (120424)
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, thriller and adventure categories.
See also a list of current mystery and suspense DVD, Blu-ray, or VOD deals on Amazon.com.
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Purchase/Rental Options
Contraband (2012)
Film Synopsis (from the studio): Set in New Orleans, this action thriller stars Mark Wahlberg as Chris Farraday, who long ago abandoned his life of crime. But after his brother-in-law, Andy (Caleb Landry Jones), botches a drug deal for his ruthless boss, Tim Briggs (Giovanni Ribisi), Chris is forced back into doing what he does best — running contraband — to settle Andy's debt.
Chris is a legendary smuggler and quickly assembles a crew with the help of his best friend, Sebastian (Ben Foster), to head to Panama and return with millions in counterfeit bills. Things quickly fall apart and with only hours to reach the cash, Chris must use his rusty skills to successfully navigate a treacherous criminal network of brutal drug lords, cops and hit men before his wife, Kate (Kate Beckinsale), and sons become their target.
Based on the 2008 Icelandic film ReykjavÃk-Rotterdam, which was written by crime novelist Arnaldur Indriðason and Óskar Jónasson, Contraband is directed by Baltasar Kormákur, who also starred in the original. Rated R, the film runs for 109 minutes.
Watch a trailer for the film below:
Today's Bestselling Free Kindle MystereBooks (120423)
Here is today's list of the top bestselling free Kindle mysteries, suspense novels and thrillers.
We're using a script to embed an RSS feed from Amazon.com, which is updated hourly, but if you cannot see the box below — or have scripts blocked — you can use this link to see the relevant page on Amazon.com.
Telemystery: Poirot, New This Week on DVD and Blu-ray Disc
Telemystery, your source for one of the most comprehensive listings of crime drama, amateur sleuth, private investigator, mystery and suspense television 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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Acorn Media continues releasing its series of original Poirot episodes, remastered and in their original UK broadcast order with this fourth set.
David Suchet stars as the dapper Belgian private detective in three feature-length made-for-television movies, based on Agatha Christie's novels: The ABC Murders, Death in the Clouds, and One, Two, Buckle My Shoe.
The ABC Murders also stars Hugh Fraser as Captain Arthur Hastings though Philip Jackson as Chief Inspector Japp appears in all three. (A bit of trivia: In the novels, One, Two, Buckle My Shoe marks the final appearance of Inspector Japp.)
Poirot: Series Four is available on DVD and Blu-ray disc and consists of these three episodes that originally aired on ITV as its fourth season during January 1992.
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Visit the Telemystery website to discover more television mystery series currently available on and coming soon to DVD, Blu-ray disc, or video on demand.
ITV Commissions Murder Mystery Mini-Series The Bletchley Circle
ITV has commissioned a murder mystery mini-series based on four (fictional) women, who worked at the (real-life) Bletchley Park.
Titled The Bletchley Circle, the 3-part series will star Anna Maxwell Martin, Rachael Stirling, Sophie Rundle, and Julie Graham as four ordinary women with an extraordinary flair for code-breaking and razor-sharp intelligence skills.
Set in 1951, Susan, Millie, Lucy and Jean have returned to their normal lives modestly setting aside the part they played in producing crucial intelligence which helped the Allies to victory and shortened the war.
Behind Susan's conventional exterior as a 1950's housewife and mother, there's a steely determination you underestimate at your peril. Seemingly unadventurous and conservative on the surface, she is a force to be reckoned with. She just hasn't done anything about it for the last 8 years.
Until now that is … and the unresolved murders of Jane Hart and Patricia Oakes. With her handwritten charts of numbers, dates and times, and stretched lines of wool connecting pins to clips, Susan has spotted a pattern of behavior no-one else has …
Susan goes to the police only to be met with utter skepticism by the desk sergeant. Unaware of her Bletchley background, the police refuse to take Susan's theory seriously. She quickly realizes she can only begin to crack the murders and bring the culprit to justice with the help of her former friends: Bohemian Millie, speaker of fourteen languages and with a streetwise approach to life; Lucy whose youthful, naïve exterior masks a brilliant memory for data recall; and Jean, the methodical no-nonsense organizer with valuable access to key records and documents.
Filming is expected to begin at the end of April.
For more information about Bletchley Park, Sinclair McKay recently published a compendium of memories of the people who once inhabited the Buckinghamshire country house in The Secret Life of Bletchley Park.
(Source: Press release.)
New Carina eBook Mysteries for April 2012
Each month, Omnimystery News is pleased to present new mystery and suspense titles from Carina Press, an ebook only publisher. Links are provided to purchase the ebook from, where available, Amazon.com, Barnes&Noble, Kobo Books, or the Apple iBookstore; click on the banner to the right to be taken to the CarinaPress.com website to browse for other titles.
New ebooks of mystery and suspense for April 2012 from Carina Press include one subtitled "Steampunk Noir", something we may have to check out ourselves as we have absolutely no idea what "steampunk" means!
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Cruel Numbers by Christopher Beats
Non-series
After the North loses the War of Southern Secession, money buys power in the Magnocracy, and people can disappear in a blink. War veteran Donovan Schist's specialty is finding these missing persons. There isn't much money in it, but he sleeps a little better.
This time, Donovan is looking for a girl named Bridget Cleary. Her family's had no word from her for months. Donovan's certain he'll find her belly-up, but it seems her talent for analytical machines has made her a valuable asset to the powers that be — an asset that they're determined to keep hidden and out of reach. In over his head, Donovan enlists his friend Verhalen to help. The eccentric inventor may be unstable, but his steam-powered gadgets give Donovan the edge.
Donovan's no stranger to the rougher edges of society, but when the usual threats turn to attacks on his life, it quickly becomes clear that someone very important does not want him to find Bridget Cleary …
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Acceptable Risks by Natalie J. Damschroder
Non-series
When security expert Jason Templeton's team is ambushed while protecting a weapons manufacturer vital to U.S. interests, he risks his life to save the man's daughter … and loses. Unbeknownst to Jason, his mentor had been funding experimental medical procedures after losing his young wife. Using the untested drugs, Jason is brought back to life, stronger and faster than before, but also vulnerable in new ways. He's determined to find the traitor in their midst, who is after the miracle drug.
That means protecting the brilliant scientist Lark Madrassa. Their attraction and compatibility are undeniable, but Jason tries to deny his growing feelings for her, thinking he is too damaged. When Lark's father is kidnapped they have to rely on each other in a dangerous plot to uncover the double agent. Before, Jason always accepted the risks — but what about when the life of the woman he loves is on the line?
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Carina Press, a division of Harlequin, is a digital-first publisher offering ebooks in a variety of genres, including mystery. eBooks from Carina can be read on the Apple iPad, Amazon Kindle, Sony Reader, B&N Nook
For more mystery, suspense and thriller ebooks, visit MystereBooks.com.
Antiques Bizarre by Barbara Allan is Today's Featured Free MystereBook
MystereBooks is pleased to feature Antiques Bizarre by Barbara Allan 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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Antiques Bizarre by Barbara Allan
A Brandy Borne, Trash and Treasures Mystery
Publisher: Kensington
This is the fourth mystery (of five to date; the sixth publishes next month) by the husband and wife writing team of Max Allan Collins and Barbara Collins.
About Antiques Bizarre (from the publisher): Spring has sprung a major leak in far-from-serene Serenity, as the Mississippi River drops in for an extended stay. With homes and businesses flooded, how better to help the town recover then by staging a church bazaar?
Brandy Borne knows her mother Vivian's plan, however, is more likely to lean toward bizarre, especially when she hears mother wheedle a reclusive Russian heiress into donating the last Faberge egg ever created! When the winning bidder turns up mortally scrambled, Brandy and mother cook up a plan to crack the case of this killer … who is one seriously bad egg.
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):
For more free mystery ebooks, visit our Free MystereBooks page.
Mystery Godoku Puzzle for April 23, 2012
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 D E G K L O R W
In a series of mysteries by Judi McCoy, amateur sleuth Ellie Engleman has this job (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!
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Surface Tension by Christine Kling is Today's Fourth Featured Free MystereBook
MystereBooks is pleased to feature Surface Tension by Christine Kling 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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Surface Tension by Christine Kling
A Seychelle Sullivan Mystery
Publisher: Tell-Tale Press
This is the first mystery of four in this series.
About Surface Tension (from the publisher): Years ago Seychelle Sullivan had the chance to save a person's life. But on that summer night in Florida, lost in a world of teenage resentment and loneliness, Seychelle was not able to feel any pain but her own. Today Seychelle captains her father's forty-six-foot salvage boat out of Fort Lauderdale's New River. She's seen change sweep through South Florida, and witnessed friends and lovers come and go. But she's never escaped that one moment when she could have made a difference and didn't. Now each time she rescues a ship in distress, a little hope is born in her again.
On a steamy Florida morning Seychelle is answering a Mayday call launched from the five-million-dollar Broward yacht called Top Ten. Racing her fiercest competitor for salvage rights, Seychelle has a personal stake in this rescue: Her former lover, Neal Garrett, is the yacht's hired skipper. But being the first to reach Top Ten will lead Seychelle to a bloody payday. A beautiful woman has been stabbed to death on-board. And Garrett is nowhere to be found.
Even on shore, the pressures are mounting — Seychelle owes money on her boat, and her love life is in shambles. Within twenty-four hours of finding the dead woman and towing Top Ten out of the surf, Seychelle realizes that she has stepped into a lethal business involving some of South Florida's sleaziest criminals.
While the police treat her as the prime suspect, Seychelle begins to unravel a tangled plot centered on a strip club where "all the girls are tens on top." Discovering the sordid secrets of the owner of the yacht she rescued and the fate of the man she had once loved, Seychelle is connecting human predators with innocent victims, and a mystery on land with a mystery buried deep beneath the sea. Now, to find out what really happened to Neal Garrett, Seychelle must retrace his last steps, through two murders and a horrific crime wave, to a final confrontation with someone who may want to kill her … or be her salvation.
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):
For more free mystery ebooks, visit our Free MystereBooks page.
