Ryan Reynolds to Star in Psychological Thriller Queen of the Night

Ryan Reynolds has signed on to star in the psychological thriller Queen of the Night, an original film screenplay written by Atom Egoyan (Where the Truth Lies) and David Fraser. Egoyan will direct.

The storyline follows a father (Reynolds) of an abducted child, who learns eight years later that she may still be alive.

Production is expected to begin in Ontario in February 2013.

(Related article: The Hollywood Reporter.)

Fox Acquires Television Rights to Gun Machine by Warren Ellis

Fox is developing a television adaptation of the yet-to-be-published thriller Gun Machine by Warren Ellis.

Ellis is best known as the creator/writer of a vast number of comics and graphic novels. Gun Machine would be only his second crime novel (after 2007's Crooked Little Vein).

Dario Scardapane (Trauma) will write the project's screenplay pilot.

"Chernin [Entertainment] and Fox pursued Gun Machine with great passion and intelligence, and I couldn't be happier to be making this show with them," said Ellis, who will co-executive produce the potential series.

(Related article: Deadline.)

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Gun Machine
Warren Ellis
Mulholland Books (January 2013)

After a shootout claims the life of his partner in a condemned tenement building on Pearl Street, Detective John Tallow unwittingly stumbles across an apartment stacked high with guns. When examined, each weapon leads to a different, previously unsolved murder. Someone has been killing people for twenty years or more and storing the weapons together for some inexplicable purpose.

Confronted with the sudden emergence of hundreds of unsolved homicides, Tallow soon discovers that he's walked into a veritable deal with the devil. An unholy bargain that has made possible the rise of some of Manhattan's most prominent captains of industry. A hunter who performs his deadly acts as a sacrifice to the old gods of Manhattan, who may, quite simply, be the most prolific murderer in New York City's history.

    

ION Acquires Off-Network Rights to Numb3rs and Law & Order: Criminal Intent

ION Television made two announcements this week regarding crime dramas.

Yesterday, the independent broadcasting company acquired the off-network rights to Numb3rs, which includes all six seasons — 118 episodes — of the series that originally aired on CBS. Numb3rs will premiere on ION during the 2012/2013 television season.

Today, it acquired Law & Order: Criminal Intent. The off-network licensing rights give ION all 10 seasons — 195 episodes — of the crime drama that originally aired initially on NBC, and later on USA Network. No premiere date was provided.

ION already has in place licensing arrangements to air a number of crime dramas, including Criminal Minds, Monk, Cold Case, Without a Trace, Flashpoint, Psych, and Leverage.

This Week's Bestselling Mystery and Suspense Television and Film on DVD (120808)

Here is this week's list of the top bestselling mystery and suspense television and film on DVD available from Amazon.com.

We're using a script to embed an RSS feed from Amazon.com, which is frequently updated, 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.

The Bourne Legacy Opens in Theaters August 10th, 2012

The Bourne Legacy. Opens in theaters August 10, 2012.

In the wake of Jason Bourne's dismemberment of Operation Blackbriar, the CIA decides to dispose of their other black ops programs, which includes the termination of their field agents. However, Aaron Cross (Jeremy Renner), an agent from Operation Outcome, escapes from being executed and, with the help of an Outcome scientist (Rachel Weisz), sets out to expose the crimes of his superiors.

Directed by Tony Gilroy from an original screenplay co-written with Dan Gilroy, based on a series premise created by Robert Ludlum.

Running time: 135 minutes Rated PG-13 for violence and action sequences.

Watch a trailer for the film below:

Review: The Case of the Crooked Campaign by Lewis B. Montgomery

A Mysterious Review of …

The Case of the Crooked Campaign by Lewis B. Montgomery. The Milo & Jazz Mysteries.

Review summary: Milo and Jazz are students of the famous PI Dash Marlowe, with the lesson of the day always applicable to the case at hand. But the subject of this lesson — red herrings — is a tough concept for children to understand, and it doesn't seem particularly well applied here. Still, it's a fun case, if a bit quirky. (Click here for text of full review.)

Our rating:

The Case of the Crooked Campaign
Lewis B. Montgomery
The Milo & Jazz Mysteries
The Kane Press (August 2012)

Publisher synopsis: Campaign mania hits Westview when Jazz decides to run for school president. But is someone stealing all her best ideas? And how? Milo and Jazz must solve the mystery … before Election Day!

  

Today's Bestselling Free Kindle MystereBooks (120808)

Here is today's list of the Bestselling Free Kindle Crime Fiction: the top nine mysteries, novels of suspense, 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 click on the image to the right or use this link to see the relevant page on Amazon.com.

The Mystery Bookshelf: A Crimson Warning by Tasha Alexander, a Lady Emily Ashton 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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A Crimson Warning by Tasha Alexander
A Lady Emily Ashton Mystery (6th in series)
Minotaur Books (Trade Paperback)
Publication Date: August 2012
ISBN-13: 978-1-250-00718-6

About A Crimson Warning (from the publisher): Newly returned to her home in Mayfair, Lady Emily Hargreaves is looking forward to enjoying the delights of the season. The delights, that is, as defined by her own eccentricities — reading The Aeneid, waltzing with her dashing husband, and joining the Women’s Liberal Federation in the early stages of its campaign to win the vote for women.

But an audacious vandal disturbs the peace in the capital city, splashing red paint on the neat edifices of the homes of London’s elite.

This mark, impossible to hide, presages the revelation of scandalous secrets, driving the hapless victims into disgrace, despair and even death. Soon, all of London high society is living in fear of learning who will be the next target, and Lady Emily and her husband, Colin, favorite agent of the crown, must uncover the identity and reveal the motives of the twisted mind behind it all before another innocent life is lost.

Purchase Options for A Crimson Warning:

      

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About the author: Tasha Alexander attended the University of Notre Dame, where she signed on as an English major (with a concentration in Medieval Studies) in order to have a legitimate excuse for spending all her time reading. She and her husband, novelist Andrew Grant, divide their time between Chicago and the UK. Visit her website at TashaAlexander.com.

Please Welcome Mystery Author Judith Mehl

by Judith Mehl

We are delighted to welcome debut novelist Judith Mehl as our guest today.

Judy's first mystery, Formula for Murder (Pennystone Books, June 2012 trade paperback and ebook formats), introduces handwriting analyst and amateur sleuth Kat Everitt.

Today Judith tells how she incorporated her own interest in handwriting analysis into this new series. And she is giving one of our readers a chance to win a copy of the book; details below.

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A great character idea, plot twist, or location spurs on some authors. For me it was the idea that handwriting analysis could reveal my inner self — and that of others. I was hooked when I realized that how I write my o's can disclose whether I am honest or deceitful. Then I thought, "What detective wouldn't love to know these things about her suspects?" And Kat Everitt was born in Formula for Murder.

Photo provided courtesy of
Judith Mehl

This debut book in a handwriting analysis series introduces Kat and her crew of zany assistants. Though handwriting analysis serves as the most serious element in my mystery, it is not an overbearing one. I peppered the plot with little tidbits to assist the readers in wondering about suspects, or maybe cause them to think about themselves or someone they know. But the protagonist is the strength of the novel.

Formula for Murder weaves a tale of a protagonist in Vera Wang shoes who stumbles on murder and doesn't hesitate to sprint anyway — always toward the suspects. By day she's a respected and reliable university employee who juggles her publicity job with feather soothing, quick thinking, and inquisitiveness. It's that curiosity, the constant questioning, and the genuine interest she takes in everyone around her that draws her to solve murders when they come her way, in this case the murder of a professor in his laboratory on campus.

While the handwriting analysis clues serve as Kat's method to sift and sort the suspects, it's her charm and perceptiveness that offer a captivating combination of humor and murder. She doesn't outright accuse anyone but just follows the leads — generally into trouble. Her determination and panache help her wend her way through each time, though help from her friends give her a solid backing when she needs it.

With her feisty yet pleasing personality, down-home herbal advice and strange research techniques, Kat marches through the investigation seeking justice for her peers, balm for the fear that permeates the academic community, and an end to increasingly dire threats to all.

The list of suspects mushrooms as secrets, jealousies, and private passions are exposed to the harsh light of scrutiny. Kat juggles leads and clues to track the killer despite warnings from the police to stay out of the case.

Her search pits her against a faceless killer who will stop at nothing to remain hidden among the reserved buildings, quiet quadrangles, and frightened students of the campus. While gossip unmasks the raw desires and bitter rivalries of this not-so-gentle world, romance blossoms with Nick, a mysterious stranger thrust into the fray. Was his arrival the night of the murder coincidental? He's her temporary new boss but is he a friend? Or something more sinister?

While Kat and her travails form the strength of the book, the setting is grand, too. I live in the Pocono Mountains so the location was a natural choice for me. The lure of this setting is not only its beautiful peaks but its woodlands, waterfalls, and unexplored territory. Opportunities for Kat's adventures abound in this northeast corner of Pennsylvania with its dazzling lakes and streams nestled among gentle mountains.

Enjoy where all this leads and don't forget the clues. They're fun. I tell readers upfront that handwriting analysis not only requires careful study of hundreds of traits, it also involves complex knowledge of combinations, rhythm, margins, pressure, form, direction, speed, coordination, style, and connections—just to name some.

Though I'm a member of the American Association of Handwriting Analysts, I am not certified and I take my clues seriously. Therefore, my clues are all verified by a certified analyst.

Each subsequent book in the series will include the original cast and launch new unforgettable characters. Future books will also offer handwriting analysis tips at the beginning of chapters. Just remember, handwriting is a projection of personality, a mirror of one's thoughts. It reveals strengths, and weaknesses, and dark secrets.

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Judith Mehl is a member of the American Association of Handwriting Analysts, and past editor of the organization's journal. She supports the use of handwriting analysis as a valuable diagnostic tool in personal selection, marriage counseling, crime detection, vocational guidance, and business compatibility. This includes appreciating the nuances involved in solving real-world crime through handwriting's negative traits and innocent attributes.

Now a full-time writer, she has years of experience in higher education publications and public relations work. A graduate of Northern Illinois University with a degree in journalism, she published numerous newspaper and magazine articles prior to her move to fiction writing, which combines all her interests into a compatible whole. Judy's non-fiction works are peppered with gardening and medicinal herb information. Her fictitious students, faculty, and staff are colored with the quirks of her real life world.

Judy lives in the mountains where she explores the relationship of woodland plants to their environment and their medicinal value for humans. You can find more information and weekly handwriting analysis tips on her website, JudyMehl.com.

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Formula for Murder
Judith Mehl
A Kat Everitt, Handwriting Analysis Mystery
Publisher: Pennystone Books

Kat Everitt, a seasoned amateur sleuth, uses handwriting analysis to hunt suspects in the murder of a professor in the Pocono Mountains. A public relations administrator with a shoe fetish and a knack for herbal remedies, Kat sifts through the quirky personalities and private lives of people who will do anything to guard a secret. Throughout this fast-paced, character-driven mystery, rife with alarming car chases, phantom callers, and obelisks dark with doom, Kat searches for the truth.

    

For a chance to win a copy of Formula for Murder, courtesy of the author, visit Mystery Book Contests, click on the "Judith Mehl: Handwriting Analysis Mysteries" contest link, enter your name, e-mail address, and this code — 5497 — for a chance to win! (One entry per person; contest ends August 15th, 2012.)

Mew is for Murder by Clea Simon is Today's Second Featured Free MystereBook

MystereBooks is pleased to feature Mew is for Murder by Clea Simon 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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Mew is for Murder
Clea Simon
A Theda Krakow Mystery
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press

Theda Krakow is in a funk. Her sometime boyfriend's gone for good. The death of her beloved cat opened a bigger void. And the career leap she's made from copy editor to freelance writer has left her finances—and her spirit—flat. She desperately needs a headline to get her life back on track.

One day, out for a stroll in her Cambridge neighborhood, Theda spies an adorable stray kitten. This charmer leads Theda to an old woman holed up in a decrepit house full of cats. Is this one of those "crazy cat ladies", a classic hoarder, or is the old woman a neighborhood do-gooder? More important: is this the story to catapult Theda out of the dumps? But when she returns to interview Lillian Helmhold, Theda finds her fascinating subject dead of an apparent accident. The neighbors are celebrating, the police aren't interested, and the cats are removed to a shelter. End of story? Not for Theda—one or two things don't compute. So Theda marshals her investigative journalism skills to turn gumshoe.

Why is the purple-haired punk Violet, a barista at Theda's favorite coffee house, hanging around Lillian's home? Then there's Lillian's neighbor who's only too anxious to clean up an eyesore. What's the story on Lillian's disturbed son? Theda's inquiries lead her from a halfway house in the hills of Western Massachusetts back to Boston's happening rock scene. Enter a music-loving artist, the one who jumpstarts Theda's pulse. He's handsome, he's interested—but is he a bit too mysterious? Theda's quiet life, her heart, and her bank account are about to be shaken to the core.

  

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.

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

The Heat of the Moon by Sandra Parshall is Today's Featured Free MystereBook

MystereBooks is pleased to feature The Heat of the Moon by Sandra Parshall 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 Heat of the Moon
Sandra Parshall
A Rachel Goddard Mystery
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press

This mystery was the winner of the 2006 Agatha Award for Best First Novel.

Young veterinarian Rachel Goddard's world begins to crumble when a client rushes into the animal hospital with a basset hound struck by a car during a thunderstorm. The dog owner's terrified tot, drenched with rain, loses sight of her mother in the flurry of activity and screams, "Mommy! I want Mommy!"

Instantly Rachel is hurled back in time to a day in her own childhood when her baby sister Michelle uttered the same cry while thunder crashed and rain poured down on them. The unearthed memory feels like a fragment from a nightmare, and Rachel doesn't understand its meaning or the anguish it stirs up in her.

When she seeks answers she learns nothing from Michelle or from Judith, their loving but manipulative mother. Judith is a psychologist who is only too happy to have her adult daughters still living in her elegant Tudor house outside Washington, DC. But their apparently serene home is a house of secrets where Judith's unspoken rules forbid questions about the family history or the daughters' long-dead father. As more baffling memories surface, Rachel begins to suspect that nothing about her family is what it seems.

As her mother's attempts to control her accelerate, Rachel embarks on a quest that takes her deep into her own memory as well as halfway across the country. The heartbreaking truth she uncovers will shatter her world and force her to make an unthinkable choice.

  

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.

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

The Yiddish Policeman's Union by Michael Chabon is Today's Nook Daily Find

MystereBooks is pleased to feature The Yiddish Policeman's Union by Michael Chabon as today's Barnes & Noble Nook Daily Find.

The deal price of $2.99 is valid only for today, Wednesday, August 08, 2012.

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The Yiddish Policeman's Union
Michael Chabon

For sixty years Jewish refugees and their descendants have prospered in the Federal District of Sitka, a "temporary" safe haven created in the wake of the Holocaust and the shocking 1948 collapse of the fledgling state of Israel. The Jews of the Sitka District have created their own little world in the Alaskan panhandle, a vibrant and complex frontier city that moves to the music of Yiddish. But now the District is set to revert to Alaskan control, and their dream is coming to an end.

Homicide detective Meyer Landsman of the District Police has enough problems without worrying about the upcoming Reversion. His life is a shambles, his marriage a wreck, his career a disaster. And in the cheap hotel where Landsman has washed up, someone has just committed a murder—right under his nose. When he begins to investigate the killing of his neighbor, a former chess prodigy, word comes down from on high that the case is to be dropped immediately, and Landsman finds himself contending with all the powerful forces of faith, obsession, evil, and salvation that are his heritage.

Important Note: This book was listed at the price mentioned above 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.

This Week's New Games of Mystery and Suspense — and more — from Big Fish Games (120807)

Here is this week's list of new games — many of which include elements of mystery and suspense — available to purchase and download from Big Fish Games.

We're using a script to embed an RSS feed from Big Fish Games, which is updated daily, but if you cannot see the box below — or have scripts blocked — you can use this link to see the relevant page on BigFishGames.com.

Today's Bestselling Free Kindle MystereBooks (120807)

Here is today's list of the Bestselling Free Kindle Crime Fiction: the top nine mysteries, novels of suspense, 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 click on the image to the right or use this link to see the relevant page on Amazon.com.

Benjamin Black to Write Raymond Chandler Mystery

Photo credit: BenjaminBlackBooks.com

Crime novelist Benjamin Black — the pen name used by Booker Prize-winning author John Banville — will write a new "Raymond Chandler" mystery, to be published by Henry Holt in 2013.

"I love the challenge of following in the very large footsteps of Raymond Chandler," Banville said. "I began reading Chandler as a teenager, and frequently return to the novels. This idea has been germinating for several years and I relish the prospect of setting a book in Marlowe's California, which I always think of in terms of Edward Hopper's paintings. Bay City will have a slightly surreal, or hyper-real, atmosphere that I look forward to creating."

The mystery, written under an arrangement with the Chandler estate, will feature an original storyline set in the 1940s.

(Hat tip to Mystery Fanfare for first reporting this news.)