New International Poster for Skyfall

A new international poster for Skyfall has been released by the studio (right; click for slightly larger image). No tagline, just "007" … which probably says it all.

This is Daniel Craig's third appearance as James Bond, with Sam Mendes directing an original screenplay by Robert Wade & Neal Purvis and John Logan, based on a character created by Ian Fleming.

Skyfall has its UK premiere on October 26th, but opens in the US and Canada on November 9th.

Winner of the 2012 Bloody Scotland Crime Book of the Year Award Announced

The winner of the inaugural Bloody Scotland Crime Book of the Year Award has been announced by the festival organizers and goes to Charles Cumming for his stand-alone thriller A Foreign Country, a tale of deceit and betrayal, conspiracy and redemption.

The Award recognizes excellence in Scottish crime writing, for books first published between August 1st, 2011 and July 31st, 2012.

— ♦ —

A Foreign Country
Charles Cumming

On the vacation of a lifetime in Egypt, an elderly French couple are brutally murdered. Days later, a meticulously-planned kidnapping takes place on the streets of Paris. Amelia Levene, the first female Chief of MI6, has disappeared without a trace, six weeks before she is due to take over as the most influential spy in Europe. It is the gravest crisis MI6 has faced in more than a decade.

Desperate not only to find her, but to keep her disappearance a secret, Britain’s top intelligence agents turn to one of their own: disgraced MI6 officer Thomas Kell. Tossed out of the Service only months before, Kell is given one final chance to redeem himself — find Amelia Levene at any cost.

The trail leads Kell to France and Tunisia, where he uncovers a shocking secret and a conspiracy that could have unimaginable repercussions for Britain and its allies. Only Kell stands in the way of personal and political catastrophe.

      

A Conversation with Dorian Paul

with Dorian Paul

We are delighted to welcome author Dorian Paul to Omnimystery News today. Actually, that should be "authors" as Dorian Paul is the pen name used by Dorrie Parini and Paul LaFerriere, whose first novel, Risking the World (Wilde About You, February 2012 trade paperback and ebook formats), is a bioterrorist thriller centered on a plot to purposely infect children with tuberculosis.

We recently had a chance to talk to the authors about their work in general, and their new book in particular.

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Omnimystery News: Tell us a little more about your new book.

Dorian Paul: Risking the World is the first of a series, and a sequel, Deadly Hygiene, is in the works for 2013. The lead characters are Claire Ashe, an American scientist, and David Ruskin, a British intelligence officer. At the end of Risking the World, both live to fight another day, fortuitous since our readers love them. One wrote that Claire "lives and breathes"; another that "I wanted to shake David when he wouldn't open up to Claire." In future books, these characters will change while at the same time remaining true to themselves. They'll surprise each other and you, the reader, when put to the test — but more than anything, they'll surprise their adversaries!

OMN: We tend to categorize books into little niches based on our perception of them. We called your book a "bioterrorist thriller". Do you think that is an accurate label?

DP: Thriller, science thriller, suspense novel, romantic suspense, cross-over, many of these apply to Risking the World. We think our book is all about characters, probably far more important to any book's success than category. And yet the concept of category helps readers and the publishing industry. But what do these reveal about the reading experience? A better way might be to compare books is by making reference to authors or types of books readers already know. For example, Risking the World is a book for readers who:
… like Tom Clancy, but want to try science instead of flash-bangs;
… like romantic suspense because of fully formed female leads, but are tired of heroes who are too good to be true;
… groove to medical thrillers (like Tess Gerritsen) or science-based stories (like Michael Crichton).

OMN: You started together by writing science and medical education materials. What prompted you to write a novel?

DP: Science is our "thing". For years we wrote about cutting edge science for the biotech and pharmaceutical industries, working with inventors of genetic engineering processes and breakthrough drugs. Sometimes we had to explain the science before it reached the textbooks. We wanted to extend this, and give readers a peek behind the screen where scientists use Nobel laureate research in a life and death bioterrorism crisis. Could this be required for real? You betcha!

OMN: How did you approach writing the book?

DP: It was a combination of "seat of the pants" writing and following a detailed plan. An initial outline is essential to lay out all the moving parts. Personally, we divide the story up into its basic movements and then use large index cards for scenes. Some of the topics on the cards include: the POV the scene is written in, the purpose and setting of the scene, the characters present, and the various plot layers for each of the characters, as well as any special effects. This allows us to divvy up the cards and work independently, reading to each other at night, feeding off ideas — and being open to those great seat of the pants moments that influence the ultimate shape of the book.

As far as character bios are concerned, each character needs an arc, goals, motivations, and conflicts. However it's done, knowing the ins and outs of your characters is imperative to make your readers invest in them. One reader said she could tell who was speaking by the language being used, even without the dialogue tags. Why? Probably because attention to each character's words and speaking style was developed in detail and followed through during our editing process.

OMN: We suspect you devoted a lot of time and energy into researching Risking the World. Tell us more about the process.

DP: Research is important for a science thriller and fortunately we've got experience digging around in the scientific arena. The internet is generally the most up-to-date, but you have to be careful about which sources are reliable. Peer reviewed journals, as far as the science end of things goes, are top-notch. Beyond that we do know scientists who we run ideas by periodically.

In Risking the World the science we describe is real, but the way we put it together is fiction. Herein lay the challenge — using what was known and projecting into the unknown. What's put forward could in fact happen under a worst case scenario.

The most exciting topic to research was Bucky Balls, a form of nanotechnology. Who would have thought Buckminster Fuller, a man beloved by hippies for inventing the Geodesic Dome, would see his name associated with a technique in which scientists manipulate matter on an atomic and molecular scale? Designer nanomolecules offer almost unlimited possibilities for made-to-order applications for treating diseases, and it is in this realm that Claire Ashe battles against a bio-engineered form of TB.

OMN: The characters in your book travel the world. Are these places you've visited yourself?

DP: Yes, though some specifics have been altered in the interests of fiction. But we try to be true, not only to the setting's geography, but it's spirit as well. We love London, and know its buildings and people through work life and friends. Paris is, well, Paris. Morocco has been seen by one of us through the eyes of the U.S. State Department. And New York is a childhood haunt, enriched by professional success.

OMN: Speaking of your childhood — how's that for a segue? — what kinds of books did you read when you were young?

DP: When we met, we discovered that each of us read under the covers with a flashlight as kids. When we got married we found we had so many duplicate books we had to give lots away. Classics are favorites of both of us, but we're willing to try all sorts of things. So many books, so little time!

OMN: You've mentioned that science is an important part of your life and writing. What about other activities or hobbies? Have they made, or will they make, an appearance in your books?

DP: It's inevitable hobbies turn up in your writing. Dorrie loves antiques and china, and by the way, Claire Ashe knows a thing or two about china. Paul is in love with the Wallace Collection in London and its eclectic mix of paintings and armour. No surprise David visits the Wallace Collection to uncover the villain's secret past.

OMN: Just for fun, if Risking the World were adapted for TV or film, who do you see in the lead roles?

DP: Think of Michelle Dockery, Lady Mary Crawley in Downton Abbey, as Claire Ashe. She has the right mix of intelligence and spunk. As for David Ruskin, how about Henry Cavill, who played Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, in The Tudors. He's handsome, bold, and willing to risk his life by speaking truth to the King.

— ♦ —

Dorrie Parini and Paul LaFerriere, known to clients and friends as Dorian Paul, built a company of 100+ people who created medical education materials. For nearly three decades they worked with Fortune 500 pharmaceutical and biotech companies to explain breakthroughs in genetic engineering, immunology, cancer research and many other areas.

With day-to-day corporate responsibilities behind them, they naturally returned to what brought them together — two people writing as one. Given their experience, expect tales of suspense, romance, and cutting edge science.

When not penning novels that open up the brave new world of science and technology, Dorian Paul can be found relishing New England beach walks in all kinds of weather … and in favorite cities like New York, London, and Baden-Baden. But, of course, that's only when a new story isn't budding in the brain.

Dorian Paul enjoy giving talks and readings for book clubs and other groups (just ask). They're available for questions through their web site DorianPaul.com.

— ♦ —

Risking the World
Dorian Paul

Kidnapped in Morocco to help weaponize a killer TB, American scientist Claire Ashe says flat out "No", an answer that triggers a chain of shattering events. For starters it pits her against David Ruskin, an arms dealer, and Varat, the mastermind behind the plot. She doesn't know David's a British intelligence officer sent to unravel Varat's plans or that he's secretly intent on personal vengeance against Varat.

When David's forced to flee with Claire, his mission a failure on every count because he intervened in her near rape, things get more than a little complicated. Soon death, betrayal, and career suicide become part of a shared reality that puts their already frayed trust in each other to the test. When the first TB attack strikes a Paris nursery school and all the kids die, their cooperation is as vital as their mounting attraction is dangerous.

They reach a boiling point when his goal to end the game at any cost goes against her conviction that the exacting science needed to find an antidote is the only thing that will save the day. Who wins and at what price?

    

Mystery Godoku Puzzle for September 17, 2012

A new Mystery Godoku Puzzle has been created by the editors of the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books and is now available on our website.

Godoku is similar to Sudoku, but uses letters instead of numbers. To give you a headstart, we provide you a mystery clue to fill in a complete row or column (if you choose to use it!).

— ◊ —

This week's letters and mystery clue:

A D F G L R U W Y

This is the title of the English translation of William C. Gordon's third "Samuel Hamilton" mystery, O Anão (9 letters).

We now have two weeks of our puzzles on one page in PDF format for easier printing. Print this week's puzzle here.

Previous puzzles are stored in the Mystery Godoku Archives.

Enjoy the weekly Mystery Godoku Puzzle from the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books, and Thanks for visiting our website!

This Week's Bestselling Large Print Mystery and Suspense Books (120916)

Here is this week's list of the top ten bestselling mystery and suspense books in large print format 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.

Today's Bestselling Free Kindle MystereBooks (120916)

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.

Worth the Wait, the Bloody Scotland Short Story Anthology, Free to Download

With Bloody Scotland wrapping up its first international crime writing festival today, we wanted to recognize the winner and runners-up of the festival's inaugural short story competition.

Over 200 entries were submitted, with Sarah Reynolds winning for her short story "Natural Causes". There were eighteen runners-up, and all nineteen stories have been collected into a single anthology, Worth the Wait.

You can download the ebook for free from the Bloody Scotland website. Three formats are available: PRC (for Kindle), EPub (for most other ereaders), and PDF.

Crime Fiction Whispersync Deals: A Look at the September 2012 Kindle 100 List

A week or so ago we discovered a new feature from Amazon, Whispersync for Voice, a seamless method for switching between reading a Kindle book and listening to the same Audible audiobook. In our post, we noted that not only was the technology impressive, but you could realize some significant savings when purchasing both formats together, sometimes paying less than the list price of either alone.

We thought we'd take a look for a few of those deals, especially with respect to crime fiction: mysteries, novels of suspense, and thrillers.

But before reading on, you might want to check out our original post on the subject to see if this topic might be of interest to you. We're the first to admit that we don't listen to many audiobooks, but with this kind of program available, we're guessing that we may be doing more of that in the future!

This program is new enough that Amazon hasn't put into place any convenient way of sorting by, or searching for, these deals by genre. So right now it's a bit of a brute force approach.

Important Note: Before we begin, we should emphasize that any prices mentioned in this post were accurate as of the date and time of the post, and may be different when you read this. The prices displayed by Amazon when you visit the site are the prices for the product(s). You should carefully check and confirm all prices before completing your purchase.

For this post, we thought we'd start with this month's list of 100 Kindle books priced $3.99 or less.

Of the fifteen books available in the Mysteries & Thrillers category, six have Audible audiobooks available for them. And of these, five Audible audiobooks are available at a lower price IF you own the Kindle version.

OK, so let's take a look at the savings.

• Thicker Than Water by G. M. Ford. Kindle list price: $9.99. Audible list price: $11.95. Current Kindle price: $1.99. Add the Audible format for $4.99. The price together, about $7, is less than the list price of either alone.

• Already Gone by John Rector. Kindle list price: $9.99. Audible list price: $9.95. Current Kindle price: $1.99. Add the Audible format for $1.99. The price together, about $4, is less than half the list price of either alone.

• The Immortalists by Kyle Mills. Kindle list price: $9.99. Audible list price: $9.95. Current Kindle price: $1.99. Add the Audible format for $1.99. As with the previous title, the price together, about $4, is less than half the list price of either alone.

• The Devotion of Suspect X by Keigo Higashino. Kindle list price: $14.99. Audible list price: $17.95. Current Kindle price: $2.99. Add the Audible format for $7.95. Maybe not the best deal here, but for about $11, you can get both formats, which is less than the list price of either alone.

• A Good and Useful Hurt by Aric Davis. Kindle list price: $9.99. Audible list price: $11.95. Current Kindle price: $1.99. Add the Audible format for $1.99. About $4 together versus list prices of $10 or $12 alone.

We'll continue to scout around and tell you about great deals when we find them. In the meantime, if you're interested in purchasing an Audible audiobook, it definitely pays to check to see whether or not there is a Whispersync deal associated with it. You may find that buying the Kindle book and then the Audible audiobook will be less expensive than buying the audiobook alone. Furthermore, even if you've never listened to an audiobook before, you might enjoy the experience. We encourage you to try it for free using the instructions we provided in our previous post.

An Important Reminder: Any prices mentioned above were correct 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.

This Week's Bestselling Mystery and Suspense Games to Download (120915)

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.

Review: Devil's Moon by Matthew Marine

A Mysterious Review of …

Devil's Moon by Matthew Marine.

Review summary: This is a nicely structured, evenly paced police procedural, one that takes advantage of the changing nature of a once isolated, but now much less so, Arizona city. A fairly obvious clue to the killer's identity is given early on, but one that doesn't lessen the reader's interest in the story. (Click here for text of full review.)

Our rating:

Devil's Moon
Matthew Marine
Open Books Press (June 2012)

Publisher synopsis: Secrets shrouded in a tourist town An FBI agent tortured by his past A murder the local police don't want solved Sedona, Arizona: A young woman is found mutilated in a police officer's basement, his confession scrawled on the wall above his lifeless body. The local police rule the case a murder-suicide, but the dead officer's sister isn't convinced. She persuades rundown FBI Agent Stuart Ransom to conduct an off-the-books investigation. With her help, Ransom realizes that the police appear to be hiding the truth behind the gruesome murder. Now he must question everything — from the case to his own beliefs — before his past becomes the killer's next target.

  

Today's Bestselling Free Kindle MystereBooks (120915)

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 (120915)

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 list …

• There are two pre-orders this week: the first in a new series by J. A. Konrath and Ann Voss Peterson; and the third mystery in the "Roy Grace" series by Peter James. With respect to this latter series, the first two titles are also still available for $2.99.

• Thomas & Mercer has discounted the first four books in the "Leo Waterman" series by G. M. Ford. The fifth, and most recent, is already included in this month's list of 100 Kindle books priced $3.99 or less.

• Poisoned Pen Press once again this past week lowered the price on four more mysteries, two books in the "Ragtime Trilogy" by Larry Karp, and the first two books in the "Alan Saxon" series by Keith Miles. Use this link to see all the books this publisher has lowered to $2.99 or less.

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.

And Only to Deceive by Tasha Alexander.
A Lady Emily Ashton Mystery (1st).

A Fatal Waltz by Tasha Alexander.
A Lady Emily Ashton Mystery (3rd).

The Zurich Conspiracy by Bernadette Calonego.

Legs Benedict by Mary Daheim.
A Bed-and-Breakfast Mystery (14th).

Who in Hell is Wanda Fuca? by G. M. Ford.
A Leo Waterman Mystery (1st).

Cast in Stone by G. M. Ford.
A Leo Waterman Mystery (2nd).

The Bum's Rush by G. M. Ford.
A Leo Waterman Mystery (3rd).

Slow Burn by G. M. Ford.
A Leo Waterman Mystery (4th).

The Ninth Day by Jamie Freveletti.
An Emma Caldridge Mystery (3rd).

Not Dead Enough by Peter James.
A Roy Grace Mystery (3rd).

Pre-order.

The Ragtime Kid by Larry Karp.
The Ragtime Trilogy (1st).

The King of Ragtime by Larry Karp.
The Ragtime Trilogy (2nd).

Flee by J. A. Konrath and Ann Voss Peterson.
A Chandler Mystery (1st).

Pre-order; cover art not yet available.

Bullet Hole by Keith Miles.
An Alan Saxon Mystery (1st).

Double Eagle by Keith Miles.
An Alan Saxon Mystery (2nd).

The Cybelene Conspiracy by Albert Noyer.

The Secundus Papyrus by Albert Noyer.

A Beautiful Place to Die by Malla Nunn.
An Emmanuel Cooper Mystery (1st).

A Small Death in the Great Glen by A. D. Scott.
A Joanne Ross Mystery (1st).

 

Two Mondo Posters for Looper

Mondo has been creating remarkable movie posters for years, putting a creative and often unexpected spin on characters or images from the film. The one for Looper (via MovieFone), designed by Martin Ansin, is a terrific example of the art form (right; click for larger image — see also the alternate version).

The film takes place in 2072, when time travel has been invented … and outlawed. But that doesn't stop a thriving black market in the science. When the mob wants to get rid of someone, a target is sent 30 years into the past, where a hired gun awaits. Someone like Joe (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), who learns they want to "close the loop" by sending back Joe's future self (Bruce Willis).

Written and directed by Rian Johnson, Looper opens in theaters September 28th, 2012.

The Forgotten Land by Keith McArdle is Today's Third Featured Free MystereBook

MystereBooks is pleased to feature The Forgotten Land by Keith McArdle 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 Forgotten Land
Keith McArdle
Publisher: CreateSpace

Sergeant Steve Golburn, an Australian Special Air Service veteran, is tasked with a dangerous mission in Iraq, deep behind enemy lines. When Steve’s five man SAS patrol inadvertently spark a time portal, they are thrown into a place far more dangerous and lawless than modern Iraq.

Join the SAS patrol on this action adventure into the depths of not only a hostile land, far away from the support of the Allied front line, but into another world … another time.

  

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.

Attorney-Client Privilege by Pamela Samuels Young is Today's Second Featured Free MystereBook

MystereBooks is pleased to feature Attorney-Client Privilege by Pamela Samuels Young 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.

— ♦ —

Attorney-Client Privilege
Pamela Samuels Young
Publisher: Goldman House

A brutal murder, missing documents and an unscrupulous opposing counsel lead attorney Vernetta Henderson on a quest for justice — and ultimately — revenge. The hotshot L.A. lawyer takes on a corporation with a long history of discriminating against women. While Vernetta simply wants justice for her clients, the corporation’s hired gun wants to win … and she doesn’t care how.

On the home front, Vernetta’s infamous sidekick Special has finally found true love. But is the price more than she’s willing to pay?

  

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.