First Clues, Mysteries for Kids: New Titles for September 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 September 2012, listed in approximate order of reading level, from books for younger readers to books for teens.

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Bones and the Football Mystery
David A. Adler
A Bones Mystery

This Level 3 reader is recommended for young sleuths aged 4 to 6.

Detective Jeffrey Bones is at a football game with Grandpa and his friend Sally. With Grandpa's lucky shirt and hat, their favorite team is sure to win. But when Grandpa throws his hat in the air after a touchdown, it disappears, and it could be anywhere in the stadium! Can Bones use his detective bag and his sharp mind to solve this mystery of the missing hat?

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The Pumpkin Patch Puzzle
Carolyn Keene
Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew

This 33rd entry in this series featuring a young Nancy Drew is recommended for readers aged 7 to 9.

It’s autumn in River Heights, and that means it’s time for the annual Fall Festival! Nancy, Bess, and George are excited for a whole week of games, rides, delicious treats, and the famous pumpkin-decorating contest. They are all participating for the first time this year!

But the day the girls are set to compete, all the designs for the contest are stolen and the decorating supplies are destroyed. If the culprit doesn’t come forward, the contest will be canceled — and a River Heights tradition will be ruined. It’s up to Nancy and the Clue Crew to solve this pumpkin patch mystery!

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The Prince's Emerald
Thea Stilton
A Geronimo Stilton Mystery

This mystery featuring Geronimo's sister Thea is recommended for readers aged 7 to 9.

When the Thea Sisters' friend Ashvin is in trouble, they rush to his aid … in India! Ashvin has been bringing the monkeys that live in the big city back to their natural jungle environment. But the monkeys have suddenly started stealing jewels! Someone must be behind this terrible theft. Can the Thea Sisters solve the mystery?

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3 Below
Patrick Carman
A Floors Adventure

This second book in the series is recommended for readers aged 7 to 9.

Now that Leo has uncovered a few secrets behind the wacky Whippet Hotel, he'll have to save it!

Leo has explored the zany, wonderful Whippet Hotel from basement to top floor, with trains, flying goats, and mazes (among other things) in between. But even Leo doesn't know every secret of the Whippet — and when he discovers that there's more beneath the hotel than he'd thought, it doesn't take long for more adventures to unfold!

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The Millionaire Mystery
David A. Adler
A Cam Jansen Mystery

The latest entry in this long-running series is recommended for junior sleuths aged 7 to 9.

Can Cam catch a jewel thief?

Cam Jansen and her best friend, Eric Shelton, are at a charity function with their mothers to raise money for local firefighters. When the host's pearl necklace goes missing, the luncheon turns into a whodunit, and all the guests are suspects. Can Cam use her photographic memory to identify the culprit before the thief gets away?

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Shatterproof
Roland Smith
The 39 Clues: Cahills vs. Vespers

Readers aged 10 to 12 will enjoy this fourth entry in this exciting series.

After pulling some spectacular heists, Amy and Dan have become two of Interpol's most wanted criminals. So when Vesper One orders them to steal the world's largest diamond, they know they're facing life in prison … or worse. But with the Cahill hostages still in peril, Amy and Dan have no choice but to launch a mission that leads them to an ancient city full of dangerous secrets.

With a Vesper mole sabotaging the Madrigals from inside, Amy and Dan have to fulfill their enemy's request before it's too late. Vesper One has developed a taste for killing Cahills, and Amy and Dan aren't going to wait to see who's next.

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Secrets of Shakespeare's Grave
Deron R. Hicks

This stand-alone adventure is recommended for readers aged 10 to 12.

Twelve-year-old Colophon Letterford has a serious mystery on her hands. Will she discover the link between her family’s literary legacy and Shakespeare’s tomb before it’s too late? Antique paintings, secret passages, locked mausoleums, a four-hundred-year-old treasure, and a cast of quirky (and some ignoble) characters all add up to a fun original adventure.

Readers will revel in a whirlwind journey through literary time and space in real-world locales from Mont St. Michel to Stratford-Upon-Avon to Central Park!

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Malcolm at Midnight
W. H. Beck

This stand-alone novel is recommended for readers aged 10 to 12.

When Malcolm the rat arrives as the pet at McKenna School, he revels in the attention. He also meets the Midnight Academy, a secret society of classroom pets that keeps the nutters (kids) safe. There’s just one problem … rats have a terrible reputation! So when the Academy’s iguana leader is kidnapped, Malcolm must prove his innocence — and that even rats can be good guys.

Illustrated by Brian Lies of Bats at the Beach, this engaging middle-grade novel will have readers rooting for Malcolm as they try to solve the mystery alongside him.

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Stars and Sparks on Stage
Sharon M. Draper
The Clubhouse Mysteries

This series is recommended for middle-school sleuths aged 10 to 12.

Ziggy, Jerome, Rashawn, and Rico are sure they’re going to win the upcoming school talent show. And the best part? First prize is $200! With great singing and showmanship, the boys are already envisioning all the new upgrades they’ll give their clubhouse when they win the prize money. But they didn’t count on a little girl with a big, big voice, who just might have what it takes to overcome the Clubhouse kids — and who also needs the money much more than the boys do. Can everyone come out a winner in this contest?

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Seconds Away
Harlan Coben
A Mickey Bolitar Mystery

This second in the series by the author of the "Myron Bolitar" mysteries for adults is recommended for teen readers.

When tragedy strikes close to home, Mickey Bolitar and his loyal new friends — sharp-witted Ema and the adorkably charming Spoon—find themselves at the center of a terrifying mystery involving the shooting of their friend Rachel. Now, not only does Mickey have to continue his quest to uncover the truth about the Abeona Shelter, the Butcher of Lodz and the mysterious death of his father, he needs to figure out who shot Rachel — no matter what it takes.

Mickey has always been ready to sacrifice everything to help the people he loves. But with danger just seconds away, how can he protect them when he’s not even sure who — or what — he’s protecting them from?

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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).

House of Blues by Julie Smith is Today's Fourth Featured Free MystereBook

MystereBooks is pleased to feature House of Blues by Julie Smith 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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House of Blues
Julie Smith
A Skip Langdon Mystery
Publisher: booksBnimble

This fifth mystery in this series was originally published in hardcover by Fawcett in 1995.

Crime is "Topic A" across America. Even New Orleans, the most gracious American city, has hundreds of homicides each year, and sufficient random violence to keep the city's police force working overtime. So what's one more fatal shooting? When the victim is prominent restaurateur Arthur Hebert, whose distinguished restaurant of the same name attracts both knowledgeable visitors and natives, it's what the cops call a heater case, and the heat is on Homicide Detective Skip Langdon.

During the family's Monday night supper, Hebert is murdered in his beautiful Garden District home. At the same time, several other family members vanish: Hebert's daughter, who was soon to have taken over the management of the restaurant, his ex-addict son-in-law, and his small granddaughter — all missing without a trace.

A kidnapping gone wrong? Skip thinks it's possible, but why should the kidnappers have taken three hostages when one would have been enough?

Skip's hunt for a murderer and the missing Hebert heirs embraces worlds within worlds — the elegant, dangerous Garden District, the French Quarter, the seedy Treme, broken-down projects, exclusive mansions, and lowdown bars. It takes her into places where the city's dirty business is transacted, and those where life is mostly madness, sadness, and badness. It may even take her to her death.

  

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

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

The Protectors by James Piper is Today's Third Featured Free MystereBook

MystereBooks is pleased to feature The Protectors by James Piper as today's third free mystery ebook.

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

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The Protectors
James Piper
Publisher: McLeod Hill Publishing

When a sniper's bullet hits Secret Service Agent Emerson Black, he saves the president's life, becomes a national hero and a paraplegic. Forced to retire, he starts a new career as a security consultant with Baird Carr, a former CIA officer. Their business is a success, but five years after the assassination attempt, events from Black's career in the Secret Service surface and Black is missing. Everyone believes he left the country in search of a new life, taking with him millions in stolen money. Everyone except Baird Carr.

Searching for Black, searching for the money, Carr penetrates the world of offshore banking and discovers what happened to Black and why, but now Carr is the target. To save his life, he needs proof, but the evidence has been destroyed, witnesses silenced and the protectors have become the hunters.

  

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.

A Box of Pandoras by Steve Brewer is Today's Second Featured Free MystereBook

MystereBooks is pleased to feature A Box of Pandoras by Steve Brewer 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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A Box of Pandoras
Steve Brewer
A Loretta Kimball Mystery
Publisher: Steve Brewer

This new series is by the author of two other mystery series, which feature PI Bubba Mabry and sportswriter Drew Gavin, both set in Albuquerque.

When small town busybody Loretta Kimball learns her favorite actor is coming to New Mexico for a film festival, she couldn't be more excited. Loretta's claim to fame is that she's the long-time president of the International Michael Girard Fan Club, and she never passes up a chance to see Mr. Girard in person.

The festival is in trendy Santa Fe, which is practically a different planet from rural New Mexico towns like Pandora, where Loretta lives, so she expects a certain amount of weirdness when she and her husband, Harley, attend. And she is determined not to let her lifelong nemesis, Mitzi Tyner, ruin the festival for her.

Then murder strikes the film festival, and suspicion is cast upon Mr. Girard. Loretta is thrown into the midst of a media circus while she snoops around, endangering her own life while trying to uncover the 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.

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

Buying Murder by Nancy Lynn Jarvis is Today's Featured Free MystereBook

MystereBooks is pleased to feature Buying Murder by Nancy Lynn Jarvis 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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Buying Murder
Nancy Lynn Jarvis
A Regan McHenry Mystery
Publisher: Good Read Mysteries

This is the third mystery in this series.

Murder gets personal when human remains are found in the beach cottage that real estate agents Regan McHenry and her husband Tom Kiley buy. The murder victim has been hidden away for sixteen years, and although the authorities quickly discover his identity, the trail to his killer is cold after so many years.

Regan has sworn off playing amateur detective, but when it becomes clear the police have to focus on more pressing crimes, she has to break her promise. As her friend police ombudsman Dave Everett says, "Your house, Regan, your murder."

  

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.

Ten Popular Young Adult Novels is Today's Kindle Daily Deal for Teens

MystereBooks is pleased to feature A Spy in the House by Y. S. Lee, one of ten popular young adult novels that is today's Amazon Kindle Daily Deal for Teens.

The deal price of $1.99 is valid only for today, Sunday, August 26, 2012.

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A Spy in the House
Y. S. Lee
A Mary Quinn, Agency Mystery (1st in series)
Candlewick

Rescued from the gallows in 1850s London, young orphan (and thief) Mary Quinn is more than surprised to be offered a singular education, instruction in fine manners — and a most unusual vocation. Miss Scrimshaw's Academy for Girls is in fact a cover for an all-female investigative unit called The Agency, and at seventeen, Mary is about to put her training to the test.

Assuming the guise of a lady's companion, she must work against time as she infiltrates a rich merchant's home in hopes of tracing his missing cargo ships. But it soon becomes clear that the Thorold household is full of dangerous deceptions, and there is no one to trust — or is there?

Packed with action and suspense, banter and romance, and evoking the gritty backstreets of Victorian London, this breezy mystery debuts a daring young detective who lives by her wits while uncovering secrets — including those of her own past.

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.

The Keeper of Lost Causes by Jussi Adler-Olsen is Today's Kindle Daily Deal

MystereBooks is pleased to feature The Keeper of Lost Causes by Jussi Adler-Olsen as today's Amazon Kindle Daily Deal.

The deal price of $2.99 is valid only for today, Sunday, August 26, 2012.

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The Keeper of Lost Causes
Jussi Adler-Olsen
A Carl Mørck, Department Q Mystery (1st in series)
Dutton

Originally published in Denmark in 2007 under the title Kvinden i buret.

Carl Mørck used to be a good homicide detective — one of Copenhagen's best. Then a bullet almost took his life. Two of his colleagues weren't so lucky, and Carl, who didn't draw his weapon, blames himself.

So a promotion is the last thing Carl expects.

But it all becomes clear when he sees his new office in the basement. Carl's been selected to run Department Q, a new special investigations division that turns out to be a department of one. With a stack of Copenhagen's coldest cases to keep him company, Carl's been put out to pasture. So he's as surprised as anyone when a case actually captures his interest. A missing politician vanished without a trace five years earlier. The world assumes she's dead. His colleagues snicker about the time he's wasting. But Carl may have the last laugh, and redeem himself in the process.

Because she isn't dead … yet.

Read our review of The Keeper of Lost Causes by Jussi Adler-Olsen.

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 Bestselling Mystery and Suspense Games to Download (120825)

Here is this week's list of the top ten bestselling games to download from Amazon.com, many of which have a mystery or suspense theme.

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.

See also these pages: Mystery Games to download to your PC and Mystery Games available as Android Apps.

Today's Bestselling Free Kindle MystereBooks (120825)

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.

MystereBooks: This Week's Update of Kindle Crime Fiction Priced $2.99 or Less (120825)

Every month Amazon publishes a list of 100 Kindle books priced $3.99 or less. We thought we'd take that idea and improve on it, publishing a list of 100 Kindle mystery books priced $2.99 or less and updating it every week!

Here is our general criteria for selecting titles to include: books from major or specialty publishers of crime fiction and those written by authors familiar to us. There are far more than 100 to choose from, so we use our best judgment to narrow it down.

And just a reminder … as we add new titles, older ones are removed from the list. These books aren't likely to be repeated, so we encourage you to check in frequently!

A few notes before we get to today's lengthy update.

• Many of these ebooks have had their prices temporary discounted by the publisher and are only available at this price for a very short period of time. Indeed, more than a dozen titles were removed from our list today because the publisher reverted the ebook to its list price. If any of our titles interest you, we suggest you act sooner than later! (Fortunately, today's update includes enough "new" titles to compensate for the loss.)

• Poisoned Pen Press continues to thrill readers by discounting the first- and second-in-series titles from two more of its authors this week. For a complete list of what is available priced $2.99 or less, use this link.

• If you are fans of Stephen Leather's Jack Nightingale PI series, the third book is available to pre-order for $2.99; it is published this coming November. (The first two are still available at this price.)

• Our list only includes books priced up to $2.99 but if you're willing to consider ones priced just 4 cents more, Hyperion has six thrillers by Ridley Pearson priced at just $3.03. We don't have them listed on our site, but you can use this link to see them.

And now on to our update! Below are listed the new $2.99 or less titles we added today; click on the cover or title for more information or to purchase the Kindle edition.

Important Note: Prices can and do change without prior notice! We strongly urge you to confirm the price of the book before completing your purchase. The price displayed on the vendor website at the time of purchase is the price of the book.

The Past Came Hunting by Donnell Bell.

Tropical Heat by John Lutz.
A Fred Carver Mystery (1st).

A Famine of Horses by P. F. Chisholm.
A Sir Robert Carey Mystery (1st).

A Season of Knives by P. F. Chisholm.
A Sir Robert Carey Mystery (2nd).

The Coffin Trail by Martin Edwards.
A Lake District Mystery (1st).

The Cipher Garden by Martin Edwards.
A Lake District Mystery (2nd).

The Fatal Touch by Conor Fitzgerald.
An Alec Blume Mystery (2nd).

The Last Justice by Anthony J. Franze.

No Mercy by John Gilstrap.
A Jonathan Grave Mystery (1st).

Tall, Dark, and Deadly by Heather Graham.

The Eagle Has Landed by Jack Higgins.
A Liam Devlin Thriller.

Killer Frost by Judy Hogan.

The Hunted by Alan Jacobson.

Until Proven Guilty by J. A. Jance.
A J. P. Beaumont Mystery (1st).

Nightmare by Stephen Leather.
Nightingale (3rd).
Pre-Order (November 2012 publication date).

Forbidden by Ted Dekker and Tosca Lee.

Blue Bayou by Dick Lochte.
A Terry Manion Mystery (1st).

The Neon Smile by Dick Lochte.
A Terry Manion Mystery (2nd).

Last Snow by Eric Van Lustbader.
A Jack McClure Mystery (2nd).

Killer Image by Drema J. Reed.

 

New Hardcover Mysteries for September 2012

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

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

Jane Adams (Rina Martin, 6th) •  Susan Wittig Albert (Darling Dahlias, 3rd) •  Sandra Balzo (AnneLise Griggs, Main Street Murders, 2nd) •  M. C. Beaton (Agatha Raisin, 23rd) •  James R. Benn (Billy Boyle, World War II, 7th) •  Michael Brandman (Jesse Stone, 11th) •  Tori Carrington (Sofie Metropolis, 6th) •  Richard Castle (Nikki Heat, 4th) •  Lee Child (Jack Reacher, 17th) •  Margaret Coel (Wind River, 16th) •  Cheryl Crane (Nicki Harper, 2nd) •  Clive Cussler and Thomas Perry (Fargo Adventure, 4th) •  Paul Doherty (Canterbury Tales, 7th) •  Keith Donnelly (Donald Youngblood, 3rd) •  Kate Ellis (Joe Plantagenet, 4th) •  Sharon Fiffer (Jane Wheel, 8th) •  Ken Follett (Century Trilogy, 2nd) •  Jamie Freveletti (Covert One, 9th) •  Cora Harrison (Burren Mysteries, 8th) •  Michael Haskins (Mick Murphy, Key West, 6th) •  Veronica Heley (Ellie Quicke, 13th) •  Arnaldur Indridason (Reykjavik Murder, 9th) •  Claude Izner (Victor Legris, 5th) •  Michael Jecks (Knights Templar, Medieval West Country, 31st) •  D. E. Johnson (Will Anderson, 3rd) •  Christobel Kent (Sandro Cellini, 3rd) •  Tracy Kiely (Elizabeth Parker, 4th) •  Laurie R. King (Mary Russell, 12th) •  Dave Klein (Ed Buck, 2nd) •  Laura Levine (Jaine Austen, 11th) •  Eric Van Lustbader (Jack McClure, 4th) •  Richard Marcinko and Jim DeFelice (Rogue Warrior, 17th) •  Deon Meyer (Benny Griessel, 3rd) •  Sandra Parshall (Rachel Goddard, 5th) •  Spencer Quinn (Chet and Bernie, 5th) •  J. D. Robb (Eve Dallas, 35th) •  Laura Joh Rowland (Sano Ichiro, 16th) •  June Thomson (Sherlock Holmes •  Peggy Webb (Southern Cousins, 5th) •  Jason Webster (Max Cámara, 2nd) •  Inger Ash Wolfe (Hazel Micallef, 3rd) •  Stuart Woods (Stone Barrington, 24th)

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

Harry Bingham (Fiona Griffiths) •  Neil Cross (John Luther) •  Joanne Dobson and Beverle Graves Myers ("New York in Wartime") •  Flo Fitzpatrick (P. L. McGinnis) •  Joseph Heywood (Lupe Babcat) •  Marek Krajewski (Eberhard Mock) •  James Patterson and Maxine Paetro (Angel Family) •  Carole Price (Cait Pepper, Shakespeare in the Vineyard) •  Wayne Simmons and Mark Graham (Jake Conlan) •  Randy Wayne White (Hannah Smith)

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

Linwood Barclay •  Dale Brown •  Sandra Brown •  James M. Cain •  Thomas Cobb •  Vicki Delany •  John Edward •  Michael Ennis •  Blake Fontenay •  Donald Greig •  Harry Haines •  Ken Hodgson •  A. M. Homes •  Michael Kardos •  Chris Knopf •  Tim LaHaye and Craig Parshall •  Attica Locke •  Margaret Mayhew •  Val McDermid •  J. R. Moehringer •  The Medieval Murderers •  Timothy L. O'Brien •  Lawrence Osborne •  Felix J Palma •  James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge •  Sharon Potts •  Stephen Romano •  Mark Russinovich •  Hank Phillippi Ryan •  Michael Sears •  John Gordon Sinclair •  Sally Spedding

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