A Splendid Little Murder by Henry Simpson is Today's Second Featured Free MystereBook

MystereBooks is pleased to feature A Splendid Little Murder by Henry Simpson as today's second free mystery ebook (Death on La Tempestad Island; Kindle format only).

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.

For a summary of all of today's featured titles, plus any that may have appeared before and are repeat freebies, visit our Free MystereBooks page. This page is updated daily, typically by 8 AM ET.

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A Splendid Little Murder
Henry Simpson
Death on La Tempestad Island
Publisher: Henry Simpson

A congressman's lovely executive assistant is murdered on La Tempestad Island. Federal police assign a seasoned veteran, Inspector Ed Lane, to investigate. On a whim, he picks novice detective Miranda Bell from the Fish and Game service to assist.

Lane and Bell examine the crime scene, question possible witnesses, and try to identify a motive and suspects. They find the island a wild west balkanized among cattle ranchers, throwback vaqueros, hunters, a pot farmer, and Grateful Deadhead custodians of a nature sanctuary.

Their investigation is complicated by Bell's unbridled curiosity, Lane's chronic motion sickness, a charismatic Mexican Mafia leader, a deceitful congressman, a DEA agent with a J. Edgar Hoover complex, and a meddling reporter chasing a Pulitzer.

  

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.

Black Oil, Red Blood by Diane Castle is Today's Featured Free MystereBook

MystereBooks is pleased to feature Black Oil, Red Blood by Diane Castle as today's free mystery ebook (Kindle format only).

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.

For a summary of all of today's featured titles, plus any that may have appeared before and are repeat freebies, visit our Free MystereBooks page. This page is updated daily, typically by 8 AM ET.

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Black Oil, Red Blood
Diane Castle
Publisher: Wishlist

The thing about cancer is it's hard to prove somebody gave it to you on purpose — but Chloe Taylor can prove it. In fact, she proves it for a living. She sues oil refineries that would rather save a buck than comply with safety regulations designed to do important things like, you know, keep people alive.

Chloe had a successful career until circumstances forced her to move to the bass-ackwards town of Kettle, Texas (human population: 4,000; gun population: 34,356). Big Oil industry giant PetroPlex employs half of Kettle's population, and there's no question the judge in the town's got oil stains on his hands. It's no wonder she's been on a losing streak lately. She suspects she's been litigating on an uneven playing field, but when her star expert witness turns up dead less than 48 hours before a make-or break hearing, she knows.

What she doesn't know is the key piece of information that got her expert killed. It turns out PetroPlex is harboring a shocking secret — one that has the potential to skyrocket gasoline prices, spark an energy market meltdown, and trigger riots, chaos, death, and destruction on a global scale. Chloe must discover the secret and expose the villains before she is permanently silenced, all while juggling a troublesome ex-fiancé and a tantalizing new flame along the way.

  

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.

Universal Announces Release Date for Jurassic Park IV

Universal Studios announced today that the fourth film in the "Jurassic Park" series would be in theaters June 13th, 2014.

Rumors surrounding this film have been around since 2002, though little progress has been made on the project. Today's announcement confirms that Steven Spielberg will return to produce, though no mention was made of a director, cast, or screenplay … though it is known that Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver (Rise of the Planet of the Apes) have been involved in crafting the film's storyline.

The first in the franchise, Jurassic Park, adapted from the novel by Michael Crichton, is on our top ten list of best films ever made. Indeed, we are considering watching it for the umpteenth time again this weekend … it is that good. The second film was — and remains — almost unwatchable but the third is a respectable entry in this series, okay but not great. We're somewhat ambivalent about a fourth film, but we think the time may be right to try it. We'll be following this project closely!

Three-Eyed Raven Teaser Video for Game of Thrones Season 3

A decidedly odd teaser video for the third season of Game of Thrones has been uploaded by HBO to the series' YouTube channel (embedded below), featuring a three-eyed raven traveling from modern Venice to Manhattan. We're not sure exactly what it all means … and based on some of the comments from others there, neither does anyone else.

The third season storyline is expected to follow the first half of A Storm of Swords, the third book in the fantasy series by George R. R. Martin, details of which you can find below the video.

Game of Thrones returns on March 31st, 2013.

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A Storm of Swords
George R. R. Martin
A Song of Ice and Fire (3rd in series)

Of the five contenders for power, one is dead, another in disfavor, and still the wars rage as violently as ever, as alliances are made and broken.

Joffrey, of House Lannister, sits on the Iron Throne, the uneasy ruler of the land of the Seven Kingdoms. His most bitter rival, Lord Stannis, stands defeated and disgraced, the victim of the jealous sorceress who holds him in her evil thrall. But young Robb, of House Stark, still rules the North from the fortress of Riverrun. Robb plots against his despised Lannister enemies, even as they hold his sister hostage at King's Landing, the seat of the Iron Throne.

Meanwhile, making her way across a blood-drenched continent is the exiled queen, Daenerys, mistress of the only three dragons still left in the world. Filled with the stench of death and decay from the destructive dynastic war, Daenerys is gathering allies and strength for an assault on King's Landing, hoping to win back the crown she believes is rightfully hers.

But as opposing forces maneuver for the final titanic showdown, an army of barbaric wildlings bent on overwhelming the Seven Kingdoms arrives from the outermost line of civilization. In their vanguard is a horde of mythical Others — a supernatural army of the living dead whose animated corpses are unstoppable. And as the future of the land hangs in the balance, no one will rest in the quest for victory until the Seven Kingdoms have exploded in a veritable storm of swords.

      

New Trailer for the Crime Thriller The Iceman

A new trailer for the crime thriller The Iceman has been released by the studio (embedded below).

Inspired by actual events, The Iceman follows notorious contract killer Richard Kuklinski (Michael Shannon) from his early days in the mob until his arrest for the murder of more than 100 men. Appearing to be living the American dream as a devoted husband and father, in reality Kuklinski was a ruthless killer-for-hire. When finally arrested in 1986, neither his wife nor daughters had any clue about his real profession.

Directed by Ariel Vromen from a screenplay co-written with Morgan Land, The Iceman opens in theaters May 3rd, 2013.

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Mr. E. Reviews Midsomer Murders Set 21

Purchase/Rental Option(s)

This set of four episodes from the popular murder mystery series are the first to feature DCI John Barnaby as the new "Barnaby" of Midsomer County, Tom Barnaby having retired in the last episode of the previous set. Unfortunately, the first couple of episodes are really weakly plotted, giving John little to do other than get acquainted with his surroundings. The final episode on the set, however, is first rate, a crisply written and solid whodunit.

Read the full text of our review at Mr. E. Reviews Midsomer Murders Set 21.

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Mr. E. Reviews is your source for mystery, suspense, thriller, and crime drama reviews of television and film.

Today's Bestselling Free Kindle MystereBooks (130111)

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; as an alternative, you can click on the image to the right or use this link to see the relevant page on Amazon.com, which includes a list of both the Top 100 Paid and Top 100 Free Kindle Mysteries and Thrillers.

New Poster for Archer Season 4

A new poster for the fourth season of Archer has been released by FX Networks (right; click for slightly larger image). The tagline: "Quantum of mediocrity."

This animated, half-hour comedy revolves around the International Secret Intelligence Service (ISIS) and the lives of its employees. Although their work of espionage, reconnaissance missions, wiretapping and undercover surveillance is daunting and dangerous, every covert operation and global crisis is actually just another excuse for the ISIS staff to undermine, sabotage and betray each other for personal gain.

We don't much about what missions are in store for Sterling Archer and the team this season, though he did try to give us some "top secret intel" in the video below.

the fourth season of Archer premieres next week, Thursday January 17th at 10 PM ET/PT.

Bias Cut by Morgan Richter is Today's Fourth Featured Free MystereBook

MystereBooks is pleased to feature Bias Cut by Morgan Richter as today's fourth free mystery ebook (A Thriller Set in the Fashion World; Kindle format only).

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.

For a summary of all of today's featured titles, plus any that may have appeared before and are repeat freebies, visit our Free MystereBooks page. This page is updated daily, typically by 8 AM ET.

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Bias Cut
Morgan Richter
A Thriller Set in the Fashion World
Publisher: Luft Books

Burned out and bitter after a string of disappointments, Nicola Strozyk takes a short-term gig assisting Laurie Sparks, the design world's reigning enfant terrible. Barely in his twenties, Laurie has built himself an empire that encompasses a chic Manhattan boutique and a role on an obnoxious reality series. Part worldly sophisticate and part cheerful scatterbrain, Laurie is beautiful and extravagant; at nearly twice his age, Nicola is jaded and resolutely unglamorous. As Laurie's burgeoning fame threatens to overwhelm him, Nicola finds herself struggling to keep him on solid ground.

When Laurie becomes obsessed with tracking down the designer of a mysterious coat, he drags Nicola along on a champagne-fueled quest that takes them from the New York catwalks to glittery Hollywood parties and swanky suites in Paris hotels. What begins as a lark takes an ominous turn when they uncover a decades-old mystery involving the murders of two young models. Along the way, the odd-couple camaraderie between Nicola and Laurie evolves into a fierce bond, which is put to the test when she must protect him from a pair of deadly threats: a mercurial fellow designer hell-bent on burying a dark secret, and an obsessive killer who has fixed his sights on Laurie.

  

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.

Cadaver Blues by J. E. Fishman is Today's Third Featured Free MystereBook

MystereBooks is pleased to feature Cadaver Blues by J. E. Fishman as today's third free mystery ebook (A Phuoc Goldberg Mystery; Kindle format only).

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.

For a summary of all of today's featured titles, plus any that may have appeared before and are repeat freebies, visit our Free MystereBooks page. This page is updated daily, typically by 8 AM ET.

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Cadaver Blues
J. E. Fishman
A Phuoc Goldberg Mystery
Publisher: StoneGate Ink

When smoking-hot Mindy Eider walks into the office with a foreclosure notice directed to her elderly Uncle Gunnar, cynical debt man Phuoc Goldberg at first sees her as little more than the source of this month's rent payment. But Phu soon learns that Uncle Gunnar's problems run deeper and darker than the money he owes. The niece can't find him, suspicious characters lurk everywhere, and a sleazy bank has alarming designs on the old man's little house.

Beguiled by Mindy's beauty and innocence — not to mention her breasts — Phu gets sucked further into playing detective with each passing unpaid hour, venturing from a small town near Wilmington, Delaware, to the snow-choked Pocono Mountains to dank mushroom farms closer to home. Before long he's seeking much more than debt relief for Mindy's wayward uncle. To everyone's surprise, the debt man won't end this fiasco looking for cash relief, but for cadavers.

  

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.

Missing Rebecca by John Worsley Simpson is Today's Second Featured Free MystereBook

MystereBooks is pleased to feature Missing Rebecca by John Worsley Simpson as today's second free mystery ebook (A Mystery of High Crimes and Dark Shadows; Kindle format only).

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.

For a summary of all of today's featured titles, plus any that may have appeared before and are repeat freebies, visit our Free MystereBooks page. This page is updated daily, typically by 8 AM ET.

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Missing Rebecca
John Worsley Simpson
A Mystery of High Crimes and Dark Shadows
Publisher: John Worsley Simpson

After a whirlwind romance, Liam and Rebecca marry, knowing almost nothing of each other's backgrounds. Only months later, on an afternoon shopping trip to a mall in the Buffalo, New York, suburb of Cheektowaga, Rebecca vanishes, seemingly abducted. Or did she make herself disappear? Was the marriage a sham? Was Liam a dupe?

This is a novel of high crimes and dark shadows, involving the immensely profitable drug industry in which exclusive access to the market for a medication can mean billions of dollars, and holding on to that exclusivity might lead to lies, deceit, corruption, payoffs, and even 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.

Moonlight Falls by Vincent Zandri is Today's Featured Free MystereBook

MystereBooks is pleased to feature Moonlight Falls by Vincent Zandri as today's free mystery ebook (A Dick Moonlight Mystery; Kindle format only).

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.

For a summary of all of today's featured titles, plus any that may have appeared before and are repeat freebies, visit our Free MystereBooks page. This page is updated daily, typically by 8 AM ET.

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Moonlight Falls
Vincent Zandri
A Dick Moonlight Mystery
Publisher: StoneGate Ink

In this expanded version of the original novel, you not only have Moonlight's perspective, you also enter into the head of several major characters, including Scarlet Montana, her husband Jake Montana, Moonlight's ex-wife Lynn, and even the Russian mobsters who are busy harvesting human organs illegally. Any chapters that appear for you in italics, are the "uncut" chapters and published in their entirety. Even the original quotation by the late Robert B. Parker which appears prior to the Prologue and which was eventually substituted for a quote from Genesis, is included in this new novel.

In some ways, this novel is a richer portrayal of the tragic events that lead Dick Moonlight to believe he might actually be responsible for the death of his lover while, as a private detective under the employ of the Albany Police Department's understaffed violent crimes/homicide division, he goes about trying to solve the riddle of who killed her. You see now the near impossible dilemma Moonlight faces. Simple irony doesn't fit the bill here. Neither does paradox. Only the words "dark tragedy" seems to come close to describing the frantic and often desperate circumstances in which Dick Moonlight finds himself. The more he searches for a killer or killers, the more the evidence points to himself.

  

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 January 11, 2013

A list of the top 15 Mystery Hardcover Bestsellers for the week ending January 11th, 2013 has been posted by the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books.

Little change among the top ten titles this week with Gone Girl by Gilliam Flynn retaining the top spot on our list. Two new books enter the list this week (positions in parentheses).

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(12): Collateral Damage
Stuart Woods

A Stone Barrington Mystery (25th)

Stone Barrington is back in Manhattan and pleased to receive an unexpected visit from his friend and sometime lover Holly Barker, now an assistant director at the CIA. For her part, Holly is glad to leave the staid, official environs of the capital for the dining and atmosphere of New York, but her sojourn isn't only for pleasure. An explosive incident requires her immediate attention — and Stone's investigative expertise.

But what initially appears to be a clear-cut case soon becomes increasingly complex — and dangerous. For in the secretive world of government intelligence, national interests all too often conflict with power grabs and turf wars, and extreme wealth allows even the most pursued rivals to slip through the cracks. As Stone and Holly follow the trail from London's posh embassy district to Manhattan's Upper East Side, they learn just how well the most cunning plans can be disguised … and how far some people will go to wreak vengeance.

            

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(13): The Blood Gospel
James Robbins and Rebecca Cantrell

The Order of the Sanguines (1st)

An earthquake in Masada, Israel, kills hundreds and reveals a tomb buried in the heart of the mountain. A trio of investigators — Sergeant Jordan Stone, a military forensic expert; Father Rhun Korza, a Vatican priest; and Dr. Erin Granger, a brilliant but disillusioned archaeologist — are sent to explore the macabre discovery, a subterranean temple holding the crucified body of a mummified girl.

But a brutal attack at the site sets the three on the run, thrusting them into a race to recover what was once preserved in the tomb's sarcophagus: a book rumored to have been written by Christ's own hand, a tome that is said to hold the secrets to His divinity. The enemy who hounds them is like no other, a force of ancient evil directed by a leader of impossible ambitions and incalculable cunning.

From crumbling tombs to splendorous churches, Erin and her two companions must confront a past that traces back thousands of years, to a time when ungodly beasts hunted the dark spaces of the world, to a moment in history when Christ made a miraculous offer, a pact of salvation for those who were damned for eternity.

            

Review: Dog in the Manger by Mike Resnick

A Mysterious Review of …

Dog in the Manger by Mike Resnick. An Eli Paxton Mystery.

Review summary: This reissue of a mystery first published in 1997 is a real pleasure, featuring a Cincinnati PI, who has a captivating charm on a case that continues to confound him the longer he pursues it. A most welcome sequel is scheduled to be published in June 2013. (Click here for text of full review.)

Our rating:

Dog in the Manger
Mike Resnick
An Eli Paxton Mystery
Seventh Street Books (November 2012)

Publisher synopsis: A dog is missing. Not just any dog. The number one Weimaraner in the country and current Westminster winner.

Down-on-his-luck private eye Eli Paxton is hired to find him. Not exactly an elite assignment, but better than nothing. Maybe it will help him pay his rent.

It turns out to be anything but a routine case. People start dying in mysterious ways, a cargo plane goes missing, and someone is taking shots at him. It makes no sense. Even a top show dog isn't worth that much.

Now the hunt is on. Paxton needs to find this dog to save his own skin. The trail leads to Arizona, then Mexico, and finally back to his hometown of Cincinnati …

Where he finds the startling solution.