Today's Bestselling Free Kindle MystereBooks (120907)

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.

Save 25% This Weekend on a Bestselling Kobo eBook

From now through Monday, September 10th, 2012, Kobo is offering 25% off a single title from a select group of bestselling ebooks. (There were 124 from which to choose, when we checked this morning.)

Here is the coupon code: sep0725XY for 25% off one of these bestsellers.

There are quite a few crime novelists represented here: Steven James, Richard Castle, Nancy Bush, Lisa Jackson, Heather Graham, Joanne Fluke, and more.

New Trailer for The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2

A new trailer — embedded below — premiered last night on MTV for the fifth and final film in the "Twilight Saga" series, Breaking Dawn Part 2.

Adapted from the fourth (and final) book in the series by Stephenie Meyer, the film stars Kirsten Stewart as Bella Swan, who, at the conclusion of Part 1, has married to vampire Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson). Part 2 opens with Bella, who gave birth to a daughter as a human, now a newborn vampire herself.

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 opens in theaters November 16th, 2012.

Warner Bros. Announces Blade Runner 30th Anniversary Collector's Edition

The 30th anniversary of the release of Blade Runner is this year — the film opened in theaters June 25th, 1982 — and Warner Bros. is recognizing the occasion with a new Collector's Edition of the film … together with a new trailer (embedded below).

Directed by Ridley Scott and adapted from the classic sci-fi novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Philip K. Dick, Blade Runner has itself become a classic film, a blend of science fiction and crime noir included on many "best" lists.

Harrison Ford stars as Rick Deckard, a retired cop in Los Angeles circa 2019. L.A. has become a pan-cultural dystopia of corporate advertising, pollution and flying automobiles, as well as replicants, human-like androids with short life spans built by the Tyrell Corporation for use in dangerous off-world colonization. Deckard's former job in the police department was as a talented blade runner, a euphemism for detectives that hunt down and assassinate rogue replicants. After a quartet of replicants escape and head to Earth, killing humans in the process, Deckard is recalled to duty to track them down.

This Collector's Edition will include four cuts of the film: the original US theatrical 1982 version; the original international 1982 version, which is just a minute longer, extending by seconds a few action scenes; the 1992 "director's cut" version, which differs significantly from the original and is more of a director/studio compromise cut; and the 2007 "final cut" version, for which the director had complete artistic control and is probably best described as the "director's cut".

Four discs are included in this set. (1) The Blu-ray version of the final cut with introduction and commentary by Ridley Scott. (2) The first three cuts mentioned above, each with an introduction by Scott. (3) A large number of special features including an 8-part documentary on the making of the film, several original trailers and TV spots, deleted and alternate scenes with introduction by Scott, and much, much more. (4) The DVD version of the final cut with introduction and commentary by the director.

And there's more! An all new concept spinner car for your collection and a 72 page art production book with never-before-seen Ridley sketches, poster art and photos from the set.

The Blade Runner 30th Anniversary Collector's Edition comes out October 23rd, 2012 and may be pre-ordered.

The CW Orders Pilot for Boy Band PI Series

The CW has ordered a pilot for a crime drama featuring two former members of a boy band, who become private investigators. Titled Boiling Point — the name of their band — they use the connections they made during their "15 minutes of fame" to drum up business. Their first case, however, is to find a former band-mate, the brother of one of the partners.

Deadline reports that Craig Sweeny, who is executive producing Elementary for CBS this fall, will write the pilot script and executive produce.

Don't Sweat the Small Stuff by Don Bruns is Today's Fifth Featured Free MystereBook

MystereBooks is pleased to feature Don't Sweat the Small Stuff by Don Bruns as today's fifth free mystery ebook.

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

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Don't Sweat the Small Stuff
Don Bruns
A James Lessor and Skip Moore Mystery
Publisher: Oceanview Publishing

In our review of this fourth mystery in this series, we said it is "one that will satisfy existing fans and draw in new readers."

It's official: stumbling, bumbling James Lessor and Skip Moore are licensed private investigators. Now, that's some scary stuff.

It could take time to get Moore or Less investigations off the ground, so James takes a job with a traveling carnival show. But this show has a dubious reputation, having had a string of accidents and at least one death in the past year.

When they're hired to investigate what's caused the carnival chaos, James and Skip set into motion a dizzying, roller coaster chain of events. After a terrifying trip on the Dragon Tail ride, a not-so-fun dust-up in Freddy's Fun House, and a host of threats, James and Skip realize they'll get anything but cooperation from this cantankerous cast of carnies. But when a carnival worker is murdered, James and Skip will have to act fast-because they might be next in line.For James and Skip, the only thing sweeter than the smell of corndogs and fried dough will be the sweet smell of success — but in this case, "success" means getting out alive.

This investigation is going completely off the rails.

Read our review of Don't Sweat the Small Stuff by Don Bruns.

  

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 Opium Equation by Lisa Wysocky is Today's Fourth Featured Free MystereBook

MystereBooks is pleased to feature The Opium Equation by Lisa Wysocky as today's fourth free mystery ebook.

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

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The Opium Equation
Lisa Wysocky
A Cat Enright Mystery
Publisher: Cool Titles

Everyone hates Glenda. So when retired movie star Glenda Dupree was murdered at Fairbanks, her antebellum mansion near Nashville, Tennessee, there was much speculation, but no one missed her much. Prior to leaving life on earth, Glenda had managed to offend everyone in sight, including her neighbor, a (mostly) law-abiding horse trainer named Cat Enright.

Cat finds Glenda s body and is implicated in the murder, and also in the disappearance of a ten-year-old neighbor, Bubba Henley. Cat thinks Bubba s disappearance ties into the murder and realizes her name will not be cleared until he is found. Although a Henley ancestor built Fairbanks, the current Henley clan lives next door in a scruffy trailer. Because the police treat the missing boy as a runaway Cat begins her quest to find Bubba, solve Glenda s murder, and clear her name.

An unpopular sheriff and upcoming election mean the pressure to close the case is on. With the help of her riding students, a (possibly) psychic horse, a local cop, a kid named Frog, and an eccentric client of a certain age with electric blue hair, Cat takes time from her horse training business to try to solve the case and keep herself out of prison.

  

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.

No Time to Run by J. D. Trafford is Today's Third Featured Free MystereBook

MystereBooks is pleased to feature No Time to Run by J. D. Trafford 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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No Time to Run
J. D. Trafford
A Michael Collins Thriller
Publisher: J. D. Trafford

Michael Collins burned his suits and ties in a beautiful bonfire before leaving New York and taking up residence at Hut No. 7 in a run-down Mexican resort. He dropped-out, giving up a future of billable hours and big law firm paychecks. But, there are millions of dollars missing from a client's account and a lot of people who want Michael Collins to come back. When his girlfriend is accused of murder, he knows that there really isn't much 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.

Tourist Trap by Julie Smith is Today's Second Featured Free MystereBook

MystereBooks is pleased to feature Tourist Trap by Julie Smith as today's second free mystery ebook.

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

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Tourist Trap
Julie Smith
A Rebecca Schwartz Mystery
Publisher: Julie Smith

This is the third mystery in this series, first published in hardcover by Mysterious Press in 1986.

You just know the Easter sunrise service is going to be a bummer when the San Francisco fog lifts to reveal a body nailed to a landmark cross. Next: mass shellfish poisoning at Pier 39. A very different kind of serial killer is operating here—one who seems to have a grudge against the whole city.

And this is a very different kind of serial killer tale—a funny one. Well, actually, what serial killer’s funny? But lawyer sleuth Rebecca Schwartz is warm and witty, never takes herself too seriously, and on one occasion offers closing testimony with green hair. A highly embarrassing moment, but the bright chartreuse is all in the service of making her case. No way does she believe her client would nail somebody — especially to a cross. And the things she has to do to prove it are hilarious and often unorthodox, yet always professional. Sometimes hyper-professional--the average lawyer simply can’t be bothered spraying herself with Thunderbird to fit in with her witnesses!

  

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.

Dead on Ice by Lauren Carr is Today's Featured Free MystereBook

MystereBooks is pleased to feature Dead on Ice by Lauren Carr 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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Dead on Ice
Lauren Carr
A Joshua Thornton and Cameron Gates Mystery
Publisher: Acorn Book Services

This is the first in a new series by the author of the "Mac Faraday" mysteries.

Spunky Cameron Gates is tasked with solving the murder of Cherry Pickens, a legendary star of pornographic films, whose body turns up in an abandoned freezer. The case has a personal connection to her lover, Joshua Thornton, because the freezer was located in his cousin's basement. It doesn't take long for their investigation to reveal that the risqué star's roots were buried in their rural Ohio Valley community, something that Cherry had kept off her show business bio. She should have kept her hometown off her road map, too — because when this starlet came running home from the mob, it proved to be a fatal homecoming.

  

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.

Mystery Bestsellers for the Week Ending September 07, 2012

A list of the top 15 mystery hardcover bestsellers for the week ending September 7th, 2012 has been posted by the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books.

There are actually few changes in the list this week, some shuffling in order though the stand-alone thriller Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn remains a strong number one. Two new titles enter the list (position in parentheses).

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(10): Zoo
James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge

All over the world, brutal attacks are crippling entire cities. Jackson Oz, a young biologist, watches the escalating events with an increasing sense of dread. When he witnesses a coordinated lion ambush in Africa, the enormity of the violence to come becomes terrifyingly clear.

With the help of ecologist Chloe Tousignant, Oz races to warn world leaders before it's too late. The attacks are growing in ferocity, cunning, and planning, and soon there will be no place left for humans to hide.

            

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(11): Garment of Shadows
Laurie R. King

In a strange room in Morocco, Mary Russell is trying to solve a pressing mystery: Who am I? She has awakened with shadows in her mind, blood on her hands, and soldiers pounding on the door. Out in the hivelike streets, she discovers herself strangely adept in the skills of the underworld, escaping through alleys and rooftops, picking pockets and locks. She is clothed like a man, and armed only with her wits and a scrap of paper containing a mysterious Arabic phrase. Overhead, warplanes pass ominously north.

Meanwhile, Holmes is pulled by two old friends and a distant relation into the growing war between France, Spain, and the Rif Revolt led by Emir Abd el-Krim — who may be a Robin Hood or a power mad tribesman. The shadows of war are drawing over the ancient city of Fez, and Holmes badly wants the wisdom and courage of his wife, whom he's learned, to his horror, has gone missing. As Holmes searches for her, and Russell searches for herself, each tries to crack deadly parallel puzzles before it's too late for them, for Africa, and for the peace of Europe.

            

James Patterson's Guilty Wives to be Adapted for Film

James Patterson has something of an uneven track record when it comes to adaptations of his books. Next month Alex Cross opens in theaters with Tyler Perry starring as the detective, who appears in a long-running series of thrillers by Patterson. (Perry seems a most unlikely choice here, but we're giving him the benefit of the doubt … for now. Morgan Freeman previously played the character in two films based on Patterson's books.)

But we digress …

We are learning this evening (via THR) that one of Patterson's more recent novels, Guilty Wives, co-written with David Ellis and published earlier this year, is being adapted for film by Paul Harris Boardman. We haven't read Guilty Wives, nor are we really fans of Patterson as a stand-alone author, but we did rate Ellis's 2009 novel The Hidden Man one of the best of the year. And Ellis did win an Edgar Award for his debut novel, Line of Vision. So we may have to get past the fact that Patterson's name is on the cover, focus on Ellis's, and go back and check out Guilty Wives. (Published in hardcover and ebook formats in March, it comes out in paperback later this month.)

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Guilty Wives
James Patterson and David Ellis

Only minutes after Abbie Elliot and her three best friends step off of a private helicopter, they enter the most luxurious, sumptuous, sensually pampering hotel they have ever been to. Their lavish presidential suite overlooks Monte Carlo, and they surrender: to the sun and pool, to the sashimi and sake, to the Bruno Paillard champagne. For four days they're free to live someone else's life. As the weekend moves into pulsating discos, high-stakes casinos, and beyond, Abbie is transported to the greatest pleasure and release she has ever known.

In the morning's harsh light, Abbie awakens on a yacht, surrounded by police. Something awful has happened — something impossible, unthinkable. Abbie, Winnie, Serena, and Bryah are arrested and accused of the foulest crime imaginable. And now the vacation of a lifetime becomes the fight of a lifetime — for survival.

      

Amazon Announces New Kindle Fires and Kindle Paperwhite

Amazon announced today several new and upgraded additions to its Kindle line of tablets.

Almost certainly to be the most popular is the Kindle Fire HD featuring an 1280x800 HD 7-inch display with polarizing filter and anti-glare technology for rich color and deep contrast from any viewing angle. Two configurations are available: 16GB and 32GB. Other features include an exclusive Dolby audio and dual-driver stereo speakers for immersive, virtual surround sound; a dual-band, dual-antenna Wi-Fi for 40% faster downloads and streaming; and a high performance 1.2 Ghz dual-core processor with Imagination PowerVR 3D graphics core for fast and fluid performance. The 16GB model is priced at $199; the 32GB at $249. The Kindle Fire HD can be ordered today with a September 14th, 2012 ship date.

The standard Kindle Fire, which essentially replaces the current model, gets upgraded with 40% faster performance, twice the memory, and a longer battery life … though it retains its 8GB storage capacity. It is priced at $159 and will also ship on September 14th.

A new larger Kindle Fire HD 8.9" was announced, in two models — 4G and Wi-Fi only — both with two configurations (32GB and 64GB). This Kindle Fire features a 1920x1200 HD display with polarizing filter and anti-glare technology; Dolby audio and dual stereo speakers; dual-band, dual-antenna Wi-Fi; and a high(er) performance 1.5 Ghz dual-core processor with Imagination PowerVR 3D graphics core. The Wi-Fi model is priced at $299 for 16GB, $369 for 32GB; the 4G model is priced at $499 for 32GB, $599 for 64GB. For the 4G models, an annual payment plan ($49.99) is available offering 250MB per month of data plus 20GB of cloud storage. Available to pre-order now, this device is expected to ship November 20th, 2012.

Finally, Amazon announced a new ereader, the Kindle Paperwhite, available in two models: 4G and Wi-Fi. This device includes a built-in light that evenly illuminates the screen to provide the perfect reading experience in all lighting conditions; 25% better contrast for sharp, dark text, even in bright light; and an 8-week battery life, even with the light turned on. The Paperwhite comes in four configurations: 4G ($199); 4G with special offers ($179); Wi-Fi ($139), and Wi-Fi with special offers ($119). Available to pre-order now, this device is scheduled to ship on October 1st, 2012.

We were among the first to get a Kindle Fire last year, and couldn't be more pleased with it. In addition to reading, we use it as a secondary browser, listening to music, playing games, and watching videos. Probably the most productive $199 we've spent in a long time. Despite downloading books every day, we haven't even come close to maxing it out, though to be fair, we don't store movies on our Fire, streaming them instead from Amazon's cloud storage. We think that the larger storage capacity of the new Fires will encourage owners to store a movie or two on them, which can then be viewed when Wi-Fi access isn't available.

Watch two new commercials featuring these products below:

This Week's Bestselling Mystery and Suspense Television and Film on Blu-ray Disc (120906)

Here is this week's list of the top bestselling mystery and suspense television and film Blu-ray discs 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.

New Character Posters for Elementary

Two new character posters (right; click for larger images) have been released by CBS for Elementary, its contemporary update of the crime solving team of Holmes and Watson.

Jonny Lee Miller stars as detective Sherlock Holmes and Lucy Liu as Dr. Joan Watson, who together crack the NYPD's most impossible cases.

Following his fall from grace in London and a stint in rehab, eccentric Sherlock escapes to Manhattan where his wealthy father forces him to live with his worst nightmare — a sober companion, Dr. Watson. A successful surgeon until she lost a patient and her license three years ago, Watson views her current job as another opportunity to help people, as well as paying a penance.

The restless Sherlock, however, is nothing like her previous clients. He informs her that none of her expertise as an addiction specialist applies to him and he's devised his own post-rehab regimen — resuming his work as a police consultant in New York City. Watson has no choice but to accompany her irascible new charge on his jobs. But Sherlock finds her medical background helpful, and Watson realizes she has a knack for playing investigator.

Sherlock's police contact, Capt. Tobias "Toby" Gregson (Aidan Quinn), knows from previous experience working with Scotland Yard that Sherlock is brilliant at closing cases, and welcomes him as part of the team. With the mischievous Sherlock Holmes now running free in New York solving crime, it's simple deduction that he's going to need someone to keep him grounded, and it's elementary that it's a job for Watson.

Elementary premieres on Thursday, September 27th at 10 PM (ET/PT). Watch a behind-the-scenes promo below.