The Axeman's Jazz by Julie Smith is Today's Third Featured Free MystereBook

MystereBooks is pleased to feature The Axeman's Jazz by Julie Smith 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.

— ◊ —

The Axeman's Jazz by Julie Smith
A Skip Langdon Mystery
Publisher: Minotaur Books/booksBnimble

This is the second mystery in this Edgar Award-winning series.

About The Axeman's Jazz (from the publisher): It's a steamy August in New Orleans and a murderer has borrowed the name of the Axeman, a serial killer who roamed the city in 1919. The modern-day Axeman has strangled a young woman and stabbed an elderly man, beside whose body a teddy bear is found. The letter "A" is scrawled near both corpses in lipstick and in blood. Both victims, it develops, were members of 12-point recovery programs modeled on Alcoholics Anonymous; the killer may be using the groups' anonymity as a shield.

A most appealing heroine, social-misfit Skip Langdon, is now a homicide detective assigned to the Axeman team. Risking her life, Skip must get close to suspects, among them beautiful but ditzy Di, a New Era devotee; the very angry Alex, "a walking testosterone bomb" who writes self-help books; Sonny Gerard, a stressed-out second-year medical student; and Missy, Sonny's overmothering girlfriend. As Skip threads her fascinated way from one self-help group to another, she finds she has more in common with the twelve-steppers than just the murder. And she knows what they do not: that among their anonymous numbers is a deadly murderous, and dangerously attractive — psychopath …

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 Kindle Edition Download Link.

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

Flying the Coop by John Sailors is Today's Second Featured Free MystereBook

MystereBooks is pleased to feature Flying the Coop by John Sailors 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.

— ◊ —

Flying the Coop by John Sailors
A Video Game Mystery
Publisher: Story Crest Press

About Flying the Coop (from the publisher): Bernard Walker, the eccentric founder of a video game startup, has his life put on hold when the police fail to deal with a grisly murder, so he tries using his company's video game technology to solve the horrible crime, pitting video game designers against inept police officers, overpaid city officials, and irritating venture capitalists in a hilarious battle of wit, cunning, and vastly different tastes in hot dogs and tofu.

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 Kindle Edition Download Link.

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

A Flash of Noir by Christopher Pinto is Today's Featured Free MystereBook

MystereBooks is pleased to feature A Flash of Noir by Christopher Pinto 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.

— ◊ —

A Flash of Noir by Christopher Pinto
Flash Fiction and Very Short Stories with a Twist
Publisher: Stardust Mysteries

About A Flash of Noir (from the publisher): From smokey bars in New York City to the tropical islands of the Florida keys, this collection takes you for a spin through the seediest gin joints and darkest alleys. One minute you're speeding down I-95 in a hot rod, the next you're tasting cheap whiskey in a basement tap room where the women are heartless and the men are unforgiving. Gangsters, cops, private eyes, strippers, murderers, phantoms … plus a few comedy pieces to keep you from wanting to slit your wrists.

Over 40 stories of crime fiction, ghost stories, retro fiction and short beatnik poetry plus noir-esque original photographs by the author make this a fast, fun read. There's even a flash written entirely of song titles … see if you can list every one!

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 Kindle Edition Download Link.

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

The Lions of Lucerne by Brad Thor is Today's Barnes&Noble Nook Daily Find

MystereBooks is pleased to feature The Lions of Lucerne by Brad Thor as today's Barnes&Noble Nook Daily Find. The deal price of $2.99 is valid only for today, Saturday, May 26, 2012.

— ◊ —

The Lions of Lucerne by Brad Thor
A Scot Harvath Thriller
Publisher: Atria Books

Note: The B&N Daily Find page lists the price as $3.99 but, as of the time of this post, when you click over to the Nook book page it is priced at $2.99.

About The Lions of Lucerne (from the publisher): On the snow-covered slopes of Utah, the President of the United States has been kidnapped and his Secret Service detail massacred. Only one agent has survived—ex-Navy SEAL Scot Harvath. He doesn’t buy the official line that Middle Eastern terrorists are behind the attack and begins his own campaign to find the truth and exact revenge. But now, framed for murder by a sinister cabal, Harvath takes his fight to the towering mountains of Switzerland—and joins forces with beautiful Claudia Mueller of the Swiss Federal Attorney’s Office. Together they must brave the subzero temperatures and sheer heights of treacherous Mount Pilatus—where their only chance for survival lies inside the den of the most lethal team of professional killers the world has ever known …

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 Saturday, May 26, 2012 only.

Download Link(s):

B&N Nook Daily Find.

Save up to 25% this Memorial Day Weekend at Booksamillion.com

Stock up and save on your summer reading this Memorial Day weekend with books from Booksamillion.com.

Select your books and use one of the following coupon codes at checkout:

MDSL25 to save $25 off purchases of $100 or more;
M2685DX to save 20% of your order of $50 or more;
MT28XS to save 10% off your entire purchase regardless of amount.

And while you're checking out the book selection, don't miss the Blockbuster Movie Sale, with prices up to 53% off bestselling DVDs.

All coupon codes expire Monday, May 28th, 2012 at 11:59 PM CST.

Run Among Thorns by Anna Louise Lucia is Today's Third Featured Free MystereBook

MystereBooks is pleased to feature Run Among Thorns by Anna Louise Lucia 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.

— ◊ —

Run Among Thorns by Anna Louise Lucia
Publisher: Medallion Press

About Run Among Thorns (from the publisher): A harrowing trio of murder, romance, and power propel the action forward in this story about little Jenny Waring. In a moment of dire crisis, she did something exceptional, and the authorities want to know how and why she killed three armed men like a seasoned agent. It's Kier McAllister's job to break Jenny Waring—he's asking a lot of questions, and he isn't asking nicely. However much McAllister thinks he's in control, the balance of power is shifting. Jenny's accusing eyes are starting to hold the whole world for him, and that isn't good—not when the people he works for aren't about to leave her alone. Jenny Waring started out as McAllister's job, how can she become his redemption?

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 Kindle Edition Download Link.

Apple iBook Download Link (via iTunes).

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

Enter to Win One of Two Touchstone Mysteries

Two of Touchstone's crime novelists will be back with new books next month, and the publisher is generously providing us with the opportunity to give a copy of each to our readers.

Bryan Gruley's third "Starvation Lake" mystery, The Skeleton Box, is published on June 5th. We've enjoyed the first two books in the series, Starvation Lake and The Hanging Tree, and are definitely looking forward to this new one. The series character is Gus Carpenter, the editor of a rural Michigan newspaper.

A week later, on June 12th, Robert Dugoni's fifth "David Sloane" legal thriller, The Conviction, is published. We enthusiastically reviewed two of the four preceding books, Wrongful Death and Bodily Harm, and are excited to see what comes next in the series. (David Sloane is an attorney in Seattle.)

To enter our giveaways, visit Mystery Book Contests and click on the respective author's links. Enter your name and e-mail address, and this code, 6298 — the same code can be used for both books — for your chance to win. One entry per person; these contests end Monday, June 4th, 2012.

First Clues, Mysteries for Kids: New Titles for June 2012

First Clues: Mysteries for Kids is pleased to announce a selection of new mystery, suspense and thriller books (including series books) scheduled for publication during June 2012, listed in approximate order of reading level, from books for younger readers to books for teens.

— ◊ —

The All-Star Joker
David A. Kelly
Ballpark Mysteries

The stars are out in Kansas City … the baseball stars, that is! Mike and Kate are at the All-Star game, and even get to go on the field during the Home Run Derby to catch pop-ups! That's where they meet Andy, whose dad, Josh Robinson, is an All-Star catcher. But before the Home Derby ends, Josh finds himself in hot water. Someone is playing practical jokes on the other players, and the coach is sure it's him. Andy swears his dad is innocent. Who would want to frame Josh? And why?

Ballpark Mysteries are recommended for readers aged 7 to 9.

— ◊ —

July Jitters
Ron Roy
Calendar Mysteries

The kids and their pets are going to march in the Fourth of July Pet Parade! The winner of the patriotic pet costume contest gets a great prize—to be mayor for a day! For Bradley's entry, Polly the Pony gets to be President Thomas Jefferson for the day. But Polly runs off with her red wig and hat still sitting on her head. Maybe she has stage fright! Can the kids find her and calm her down before the fourth of July festivities begin?

Calendar Mysteries are recommended for readers aged 7 to 9.

— ◊ —

August Acrobat
Ron Roy
Calendar Mysteries

Bradley, Brian, Nate and Lucy go to trapeze school! But their high-flying fun is interrupted by another mystery to solve.

Calendar Mysteries are recommended for readers aged 7 to 9.

— ◊ —

The Case of the Fatal Phantom
Emma Kennedy
Wilma Tenderfoot

Mystery is afoot when Wilma and her dog, Pickle, snuffle up a mummified body holding an ancient-looking key at Blackheart Mansion, home of the wealthiest family on Cooper Island. When it is revealed that the body belongs to a long-lost ancestor, Bludsten Blackheart, the family fights over Bludsten's key and races to find the treasure it unlocks — rumored to be guarded by a fatal phantom. And just when things reach fever pitch, Wilma discovers another clue about who her parents may be.

The Wilma Tenderfoot cases are recommended for readers aged 7 to 9.

— ◊ —

The Blue Scarab Hunt
Thea Stilton
Geronimo Stilton

The Thea Sisters have been invited to Egypt to participate in a fabumouse archeological excavation. They are helping to look for the legendary ancient Treasure of the Sun! A precious blue stone scarab may be the key to their search, and they work enthusiastically to uncover the past. But they also discover that thieves are after the hidden treasure. It's up to the Thea Sisters to stop them!

Geronimo Stilton books are recommended for readers aged 7 to 9.

— ◊ —

Sleepover Stakeout
Kim Harrington
Sleuth or Dare

Norah and Darcy's detective agency, Partners in Crime, is taking on a new and chilling case. The girls' classmate, Maya, is hearing strange, crackling voices coming over the baby monitor while she's babysitting late at night. Maya is worried someone might be in danger.

To help investigate, Norah and Darcy join her for a sleepover stakeout. In between eating snacks and watching TV, the girls are on high alert for anything suspicious. Soon, they stumble upon a mysterious secret they never could have imagined — but Norah and Darcy clash over how to interpret the new clues.

Can the girls get past their differences to see their way to the truth?

The Sleuth or Dare series mysteries are recommended for readers aged 7 to 9.

— ◊ —

First Clues: Mysteries for Kids is your source for information on over 200 mystery series for children and young adults, where each series is conveniently listed under four different age categories (New Sleuths, ages 4 to 6; Future Sleuths, ages 7 to 9; Sleuths in Training, ages 10 to 12; and Apprentice Sleuths, ages 13 and older).

Today's Bestselling Free Kindle MystereBooks (120525)

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.

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is this week's Amazon's Instant Video Weekly Deal Vote Winner

This week's Amazon Deal Vote Kindle winner isn't a mystery — it's the "Cupcake Club" romantic novel Sugar Rush — but the instant video winner is Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, available to rent this weekend only for $1.99.

Gary Oldman stars as George Smiley in this adaptation of the John le Carré bestseller. At the height of the Cold War, a precarious operation goes deadly wrong, and the head of British Intelligence wonders if a double agent is leaking vital secrets. Brought out of retirement to expose the potential mole, master spy George Smiley is the only one who can be trusted to expose one of their own. Or can he? As the emotional and physical tolls mount on the high-ranking suspects, Smiley will be forced into the ultimate international spy game where everyone's motives are in question.

We recently watched and reviewed Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and while we basically enjoyed it, we're not sure we'd buy it to add to our collection … but it's certainly worth a rental.

Use this link to see all of this weekend's Amazon Weekly Deal Vote winners. Weekly deals on all featured products end on Sunday.

PBS's Masterpiece Mystery! Summer 2012 Schedule

Now that we've all enjoyed the second season of Sherlock — we'll post our review probably sometime this weekend — we thought we'd let you know what else is on the schedule this summer for Masterpiece Mystery!

There's nothing this weekend or next, but for three weeks starting Sunday, June 10th, encore presentations of Zen will air. These originally aired last July, and consist of the following 90-minute episodes, all adapted from the novels by Michael Dibdin: "Vendetta" (June 10th), "Cabal" (June 17th), and "Ratking" (June 24th).

A week later, on July 1st, the 90-minute pilot of Endeavour airs, starring Shaun Evans as Detective Constable Endeavour Morse, a young police officer in Oxford. Based on a character created by crime novelist Colin Dexter, this prequel has since received a first season commission by ITV for four new episodes.

The fifth season of Inspector Lewis, a spin-off of Inspector Morse, premieres on July 8th. Four 90-minute episodes will air: "The Soul of Genius" (July 8th), "Generation of Vipers" (July 15th), "Fearful Symmetry" (July 22nd), and "The Indelible Stain" (July 29th).

After taking a break for August, the third season of Wallander premieres in September with three new 90-minute mysteries based on a character created by Henning Mankell. First up is "An Event in Autumn" (September 9th), followed by "The Dogs of Riga" (September 16th), and "Before the Frost" (September 23rd). All are adaptations of novels in the series, though Before the Frost is widely considered to be a "Linda Wallander" mystery, featuring the police officer daughter of Kurt Wallander.

New Hardcover Mysteries for June 2012

The Hidden Staircase Mystery Books has updated its list of new hardcover mysteries with books scheduled for publication in June 2012. Please note that some titles June publish early, and June already be available, and some June 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 June new mystery books page, which will become the default home page for the site on June 1st.

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

Roberto Ampuero (Cayetano Brulé, 6th) —  Aileen Baron (Tamar Saticoy, 2nd) —  Mark Billingham (Tom Thorne, 9th) —  Alafair Burke (Ellie Hatcher, 4th) —  Linda Castillo (Kate Burkholder, 4th) —  Marilyn J. Clay ("Jamestown", 2nd) —  Darwyn Cooke (Parker Graphic, 3rd) —  Colin Cotterill (Jimm Muree, 2nd) —  Jeffery Deaver (Kathryn Dance, 3rd) —  Robert Dugoni (David Sloane, 5th) —  Gerald Elias (Daniel Jacobus, 4th) —  David Ellis (Jason Kolarich, 3rd) —  Loren D. Estleman (Amos Walker, 22nd) —  Janet Evanovich (Lizzy Tucker and Diesel, 2nd) —  Conor Fitzgerald (Alec Blume, 3rd) —  Brian Freemantle (Charlie Muffin, 15th) —  Alan Furst (Night Soldiers, 12th) —  Lee Goldberg (Mr. Monk, 14th) —  Bryan Gruley (Gus Carpenter, 3rd) —  Carolyn Haines (Sarah Booth Delaney, Southern Belle, 12th) —  Charlaine Harris (Aurora Teagarden, 6th) —  David Housewright (Rushmore McKenzie, 8th) —  Dorothy Howell (Haley Randolph, 5th) —  Quintin Jardine (Bob Skinner, 22nd) —  Roderic Jeffries (Inspector Alvarez, 36th) —  Chris Knopf (Jackie Swaitowski, 3rd) —  Sophie Littlefield (Stella Hardesty, 4th) —  Peter Lovesey (Peter Diamond, 12th) —  Eric Van Lustbader (Jason Bourne, 10th) —  Jeanne Matthews (Dinah Pelerin, 3rd) —  John McEvoy (Jack Doyle, 4th) —  Amy Myers (Jack Colby, 2nd) —  Caro Peacock (Liberty Lane, 5th) —  Sheldon Russell (Hook Runyon, 3rd) —  Maggie Sefton (Kelly Flynn, Knitting, 11th) —  Jeffrey Siger (Andreas Kaldis, 4th) —  Frank Smith (Neil Paget, 9th) —  Elizabeth Speller (Laurence Bartram, 2nd) —  Marcia Talley (Hannah Ives, 11th) —  Robert K. Tanenbaum (Butch Karp and Marlene Ciampi, 24th) —  Charles Todd (Bess Crawford, 4th) —  Peter Turnbull (Hennessey and Yellich, 22nd)

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

Lincoln Child (Jeremy Logan) —  Gerald Jay (Paul Mazarelle) —  Mons Kallentoft (Malin Fors) —  Andrea Kane ("Forensic Instincts") —  Al Lamanda (John Bekker) —  Don Mann and Ralph Pezzull ("Seal Team Six")

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

Ann Bauer —  Louise Black —  S. J. Bolton —  Chase Brandon —  James Conway —  Lindsey Davis —  Ted Dekker and Tosca Lee —  Glen Ebisch —  Bill Evans —  Zoë Ferraris —  Gillian Flynn —  Sara Foster —  John Gapper —  Robert Goolrick —  Elizabeth Haynes —  Daniel Kalla —  John Katzenbach —  Lisa King —  Harriet Lane —  G. M. Lawrence —  Gail Lukasik —  Alix Ohlin —  Ridley Pearson —  Tom Piccirilli —  Kitty Pilgrim —  Matthew Quirk —  Linda Regan —  Luanne Rice —  Joydeep Roy-Bhattacharya —  Justin Scott —  Carsten Stroud —  Simon Toyne —  Lisa Unger —  Charlotte Vale-Allen —  Daniel H. Wilson —  Don Winslow —  Benjamin Wood —  Tom Wright —  Jean Zimmerman

For more information on any of these titles, please visit the June 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 June 2012 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.

Incinerator by Timothy Hallinan is Today's Second Featured Free MystereBook

MystereBooks is pleased to feature Incinerator by Timothy Hallinan 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.

— ◊ —

Incinerator by Timothy Hallinan
A Simeon Grist Mystery
Publisher: William Morrow/Hallinan Consulting

This is the fourth mystery to feature the Los Angeles private investigator.

About Incinerator (from the publisher): Grist comes up against his most terrifying adversary yet, a madman who's setting fire to the homeless. As Simeon is drawn into the case – very much against his will – he realizes that the Incinerator has a huge advantage. Somewhere, years ago, the two of them met, and the Incinerator has been nursing hatred and resentment for years. Now, as helpless people burst into flame on Skid Row, Simeon has to scour the wastelands of Los Angeles, and his own past, looking for the face of a killer.

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 Kindle Edition Download Link.

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

The Frenzy Way by Gregory Lamberson is Today's Featured Free MystereBook

MystereBooks is pleased to feature The Frenzy Way by Gregory Lamberson 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.

— ◊ —

The Frenzy Way by Gregory Lamberson
The Frenzy Cycle
Publisher: Medallion Press

About The Frenzy Way (from the publisher): When raped and dismembered corpses start to appear throughout New York City, the investigation draws police captain Mace into a plot that plays like a horror movie. Taking the lead role in this chilling story may be the challenge of his career, testing his skills and his stamina, but even a superhero would find the series of terrifying crimes daunting. Unlike anything Mace has experienced, every blood-spattered scene is filled with body parts and partially eaten human remains and in the wake of each attack is the haunting premonition of another murdering onslaught. As Mace follows this crimson trail of madness, he must accept the inevitable conclusion: whomever or whatever is responsible for this terror does not intend to stop, and it’s up to him to put an end to the chaotic reign of a perpetrator whom, until now, he’s met only in the annals of mythology. Unfortunately, the mere mention of the word—werewolf—would send New Yorkers into a panic.

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 Kindle Edition Download Link.

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

Mystery Bestsellers for the Week Ending May 25, 2012

A list of the top 15 mystery hardcover bestsellers for the week ending May 25th, 2012 has been posted by the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books.

For the third week in a row, the 12th "Southern Vampire" mystery Deadlocked by Charlaine Harris retains the top spot.

No new titles debut … though one that was just off the list last week moves into the top 15 this week.

— ◊ —

Moving up two spots to number 14 is the 8th Walt Longmire mystery, As the Crow Flies by Craig Johnson.

Wyoming Sheriff Walt Longmire has a more important matter on his mind than cowboys and criminals. His daughter, Cady, is getting married to the brother of his undersheriff, Victoria Moretti. Walt and old friend Henry Standing Bear are the de facto wedding planners and fear Cady’s wrath when the wedding locale arrangements go up in smoke two weeks before the big event.

The pair set out to find a new site for the nuptials on the Cheyenne Reservation, but their scouting expedition ends in horror as they witness a young Crow woman plummeting from Painted Warrior’s majestic cliffs. It’s not Walt’s turf, but the newly appointed tribal police chief and Iraqi war veteran, the beautiful Lolo Long, shanghais him into helping with the investigation. Walt is stretched thin as he mentors Lolo, attempts to catch the bad guys, and performs the role of father of the bride.

Purchase Options:

— ◊ —

For more mystery books news, 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.