Lost In Italy by Stacey Joy Netzel is Today's Kindle Romantic Suspense Daily Deal

MystereBooks is pleased to feature Lost In Italy by Stacey Joy Netzel as today's Amazon Kindle Romantic Suspense Daily Deal.

The deal price of $1.99 is valid only for today, Saturday, January 26, 2013.

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Lost In Italy
Stacey Joy Netzel
A Novel of Romantic Suspense
CreateSpace

Halli Sanders spent two years planning the trip of a lifetime to Italy. Her itinerary did not include being stranded by her siblings, kidnapped by a sexy American movie star, dodging bullets, or fleeing criminals in a car chase around Lake Como. And that's just in the first three hours.

Trent Tomlin put his movie career on hold to investigate his brother's murder-ruled-suicide at his Italian villa. He's closing in on the suspects when an American tourist unwittingly films the murder of the retired cop helping him. The killers will stop at nothing to get the evidence--including holding Halli's family as collateral.

Thrust into the role of real-life hero, Trent finds himself falling for the Plain Jane whose beauty blossoms with every challenge they face. But how can he keep the evidence from the murderers to get justice for his brother and friend without betraying Halli and her family?

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.

Telemystery: Promotional Poster and Video for Body of Proof, Season 3

A promotional poster for the (shortened) third season of Body of Proof has been released by the network (right; click for slightly larger image). The tagline: "No guts. No glory."

Dana Delany stars as medical examiner Megan Hunt in this "creatively revamped" season. Two new cast members join her quest to find justice for the dead and prevent harm to the living.

Twenty years ago Megan had her heart broken. Not that she would ever admit it. As a surgical resident in New York City, she stitched up a wounded young cop named Tommy Sullivan who was shot during a drug bust, and a passionate love affair began. It ended just as tempestuously when he cheated on her. Reeling from this betrayal, she returned to Philadelphia vowing never to be hurt again.

Now, after a long career in New York City Detective Tommy Sullivan (Mark Valley) has relocated to Philadelphia where he and his new partner Detective Adam Lucas (Elyes Gabel) have drawn the unenviable job of teaming with Megan to solve homicide cases. Needless to say Megan is stunned by Tommy's presence, wants nothing to do him and immediately suspects he has somehow engineered his new post to rekindle their relationship. Is she right? Does he have a prayer? Their personal history will animate every investigation they are uncomfortably forced to work on together.

Body of Proof returns on ABC on Tuesday, February 19th at 10 PM ET/PT. Watch a preview, below.

Telemystery: Promotional Poster for New ABC Series Red Widow

A teaser poster for the new ABC crime drama Red Widow has been released by the network (right; click for slightly larger image). The tagline: "No time to mourn."

Based on the 2010 Dutch television series Penoza, Radha Mitchell stars as the widow of a murdered man who crossed the Bratva — Russian gangsters — and is now forced to work with them to repay his debt. But FBI also wants her to cooperate with them in order to bring the Bratva organization down.

The 8-episode first season of Red Widow premieres on ABC on Sunday, March 3rd at 9 PM ET/PT.

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MystereBooks: Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith, Now at a Special Price

MystereBooks is pleased to feature Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith, now available at a special price, courtesy of the publisher, Grand Central.

The ebook format of this title was priced at $2.99 from the listed vendors (below) 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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Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith
A Leo Demidov Thriller (1st)
Publisher: Grand Central

Stalin's Soviet Union strives to be a paradise for its workers, providing for all of their needs. One of its fundamental pillars is that its citizens live free from the fear of ordinary crime and criminals.

But in this society, millions do live in fear … of the State. Death is a whisper away. The mere suspicion of ideological disloyalty-owning a book from the decadent West, the wrong word at the wrong time-sends millions of innocents into the Gulags or to their executions. Defending the system from its citizens is the MGB, the State Security Force. And no MGB officer is more courageous, conscientious, or idealistic than Leo Demidov.

A war hero with a beautiful wife, Leo lives in relative luxury in Moscow, even providing a decent apartment for his parents. His only ambition has been to serve his country. For this greater good, he has arrested and interrogated.

Then the impossible happens. A different kind of criminal-a murderer-is on the loose, killing at will. At the same time, Leo finds himself demoted and denounced by his enemies, his world turned upside down, and every belief he's ever held shattered. The only way to save his life and the lives of his family is to uncover this criminal. But in a society that is officially paradise, it's a crime against the State to suggest that a murderer-much less a serial killer-is in their midst. Exiled from his home, with only his wife, Raisa, remaining at his side, Leo must confront the vast resources and reach of the MBG to find and stop a criminal that the State won't admit even exists.

Winner of the 2009 Thriller Award for Best First Novel.

      

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

Today's Bestselling Free Kindle MystereBooks (130125)

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.

Review: Orders from Berlin by Simon Tolkien

A Mysterious Review of …

Orders from Berlin by Simon Tolkien. A William Trave Mystery.

Review summary: This is a stirring historical crime novel, combining known facts surrounding the events of September 1940 with a fictional murder investigation in London. Though the whodunit mystery at the core of this tale is a little weak, the overall story is a thrilling one. (Click here for text of full review.)

Our rating:

Orders from Berlin
Simon Tolkien
A William Trave Mystery
Minotaur Books (December 2012)

Publisher synopsis: It's September of 1940. France has fallen and London is being bombed day and night. Almost single-handedly Winston Churchill maintains the country's morale. Britain's fate hangs in the balance and the intelligence agencies on both sides of the Channel are desperate for anything that could give them the edge.

Albert Morrison, ex-chief of MI6, is pushed over the banister outside his London apartment. He falls to his death at the feet of his daughter, Ava, but it is too dark for her to see the attacker before he escapes. Two Scotland Yard detectives attend the crime scene: Inspector Quaid and his junior assistant, Detective Trave. Quaid is convinced that this is a simple open-and-shut case involving a family dispute. But Trave is not so sure. Following a mysterious note in the dead man's pocket, Trave discovers that Morrison was visited by Alec Thorn, deputy head of MI6, on the day of his death. Could Thorn — who is clearly carrying a flame for Morrison's daughter — be involved in a plot to betray his country that Morrison tried to halt, and if so, can Trave stop it in time?

      

New Hardcover Mysteries for February 2013

The Hidden Staircase Mystery Books has updated its list of new hardcover mysteries with books scheduled for publication in February 2013. 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 February new mystery books page, which will become the default home page for the site on February 1st.

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

Julianna Baggott (Pure Trilogy, 2nd) •  Alex Berenson(John Wells, 7th) •  Parker Bilal(Makana, 2nd) •  Lawrence Block(Keller, 5th) •  Frances Brody(Kate Shackleton, 2nd) •  Colin Cotterill(Dr. Siri Paiboun, 9th) •  Deborah Crombie(Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James, 15th) •  Joanne Fluke(Hannah Swensen, 16th) •  Leighton Gage(Mario Silva, 6th) •  Sara J. Henry(Troy Chance, 2nd) •  Lisa Jackson and Nancy Bush("Wicked" Series, 3rd) •  J. A. Jance(Ali Reynolds, 8th) •  Paul Johnston(Alex Mavros, 5th) •  Chris Morgan Jones(Benjamin Webster, 2nd) •  Jonathan Kellerman(Alex Delaware, 28th) •  Deryn Lake(Nick Lawrence, 2nd) •  Don Mann and Ralph Pezzullo ("SEAL Team Six", 2nd) •  Keith McCafferty(Martha Ettinger and Sean Stranahan, 2nd) •  Denise Mina(Alex Morrow, 3rd) •  James Patterson(Alex Cross, 20th) •  Barbara Corrado Pope(Bernard Martin, 3rd) •  Frederick Ramsay(Jerusalem Mysteries, 2nd) •  J. D. Robb(Eve Dallas, 36th) •  Yrsa Sigurdardottir(Thóra Gudmundsdóttir, 4th) •  Dana Stabenow(Kate Shugak, 20th) •  Jeffrey S. Stephens(Jordan Sandor, 3rd) •  P. G. Sturges(Dick Henry, 3rd) •  Peter Tonkin (Richard Mariner, 26th) •  Helene Tursten(Irene Huss, 5th) •  Merla Zellerbach(Hallie Marsh, 4th)

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

Dawn Clark(The Secret Keeper Series) •  Kate Rhodes(Alice Quentin) •  Chris Simms(Iona Khan) •  Lachlan Smith(Leo Maxwell) •  Triss Stein(Erica Donato) •  Burt Weissbourd(Corey Logan Trilogy)

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

Mark Alpert •  Tania Carver •  Christopher R. Cox •  John Dean •  Stephen Dobyns •  Lisa Gardner •  Kerry Greenwood •  A. M. D. Hays •  Roger Hobbs •  Holly Goddard Jones •  Merry Jones •  Erin Kelly •  Herman Koch •  Robert S. Levinson •  Jamie Mason •  Edith McClintock •  Erica Obey •  Jodi Picoult •  Karen Pullen •  David Rosenfelt •  Michael Savage •  Guy Saville •  Gerald Seymour •  Stephen Solomita •  Stephan Talty

For more information on any of these titles, please visit the February 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 February 2013 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.

Trouble Is Her Business by V. Alexander is Today's Third Featured Free MystereBook

MystereBooks is pleased to feature Trouble Is Her Business by V. Alexander as today's third free mystery ebook (A Kate Drasher 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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Trouble Is Her Business
V. Alexander
A Kate Drasher Mystery
Publisher: Twisted Sister Suspense

While pursuing a thief who has stolen $10,000 in dowry money, Kate Drasher, the black sheep of a wealthy Boston family, unwittingly becomes entangled in the affairs of a Memphis society maven who is at war with her four children.

Wanted for shoving Dorothy Schroeder from her balcony at the Rhapsody Hotel, Kate must navigate the treacherous channels of another woman's life if she is to outmaneuver an infamous machine boss and solve two murders.

Among the suspects … a devious woman called Vivian, Kate's estranged husband who's also a swindler, a Beale Street crime lord, and a host of eccentric villains who are rising quickly through the ranks of the Memphis underworld.

  

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 Storm Killer by Mike Jastrzebski is Today's Second Featured Free MystereBook

MystereBooks is pleased to feature The Storm Killer by Mike Jastrzebski as today's second free mystery ebook (A Historical Thriller; 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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The Storm Killer
Mike Jastrzebski
A Historical Thriller
Publisher: CreateSpace

Time: 1935. Place: New York City. Crime beat reporter Jim Locke gets sucked into a quagmire of death, deceit, and danger when his actress sister is murdered — and he becomes the prime suspect.

When he uncovers a pattern of similar murders, he is convinced that a serial killer is on the loose. But the police aren't buying it, and it's up to Jim to stop the madman.

The hunt takes him from the grimy streets and smoke-filled bars of Manhattan to deceptively laid-back Key West, just as a killer storm bears down on the island.

  

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.

Luna Sea by Kim Roberts is Today's Featured Free MystereBook

MystereBooks is pleased to feature Luna Sea by Kim Roberts as today's free mystery ebook (An Aloha Jones 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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Luna Sea
Kim Roberts
An Aloha Jones Mystery
Publisher: Westport Winery

While surfing off Maui, Hawaii's famed Valley Isle, the new Lahaina harbormaster Aloha Jones finds herself in dangerous seas. What Jones initially thought was going to be the rescue of a snorkeler hit by a catamaran turns out to be the recovery of the body of water taxi owner and harbor troublemaker Dan Colley.

Her Coast Guard law enforcement background makes her question if the death a tragic accident or a premeditated murder. Aloha's boss with the Hawaii State Harbors Division, Max Yake, and his sidekick, Marine Enforcement Officer Gil Mangas, conclude it's an accident. Investigators Officer Awiwi Lono's and Detective Ho Killingsworth's questions reveal something else, while reporter Brita Beamer from the local newspaper is less than forthcoming on what she knows.

In the process Aloha finds no lack of suspects — not to mention a whole raft of motives — as she gets to know Colley's crazy girlfriend Zhen Blue and her daughter, Momi; former lead singer of the band Deaf Lesbians, Koni Ke, who looks like an Amish Rastafarian; Aloha's ex-husband Snake; and a street person who resembles a cross between a Shar-pei and a supermodel. Possible motives behind the murder range from money to love to race. As Aloha wades through information to find the truth, in the ocean and on the beach, she faces real threats from sharks of all type.

  

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 Cowboy and the Vampire by Clark Hays and Kathleen McFall is Today's Kindle Daily Deal

MystereBooks is pleased to feature The Cowboy and the Vampire by Clark Hays and Kathleen McFall as today's Amazon Kindle Daily Deal.

The deal price of $1.99 is valid only for today, Friday, January 25, 2013.

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The Cowboy and the Vampire
Clark Hays and Kathleen McFall
A Darkly Romantic Mystery
Midnight Ink

Reporter Lizzie Vaughan doesn't realize it, but she has 2,000 years of royal Vampiric blood coursing through her veins. Neither she nor Tucker, her cowboy lover, has any idea that Julius, the leader of the undead, has a diabolical plan to reign over darkness for all eternity — with Lizzie at his side.

Lizzie battles for her life — and her soul — as she and Tucker find themselves caught up in a vampire war, pursued by hordes of Julius' maniacal, bloodthirsty followers.

Who will be left standing when the sun rises?

Read our review of The Cowboy and the Vampire by Clark Hays and Kathleen McFall.

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.

Mystery Bestsellers for the Week Ending January 25, 2013

A list of the top 15 Mystery Hardcover Bestsellers for the week ending January 25th, 2013 has been posted by the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books.

Lots of movement this week … except at the top, where Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn retains the top spot on our list again. Two new books enter the list this week (positions in brackets).

[5]: Suspect
Robert Crais

LAPD cop Scott James is not doing so well. Eight months ago, a shocking nighttime assault by unidentified men killed his partner Stephanie, nearly killed him, and left him enraged, ashamed, and ready to explode. He is unfit for duty — until he meets his new partner.

Maggie is not doing so well, either. A German shepherd who survived three tours in Iraq and Afghanistan sniffing explosives before losing her handler to an IED, her PTSD is as bad as Scott's.

They are each other's last chance. Shunned and shunted to the side, they set out to investigate the one case that no one wants them to touch: the identity of the men who murdered Stephanie. What they begin to find is nothing like what Scott has been told, and the journey will take them both through the darkest moments of their own personal hells. Whether they will make it out again, no one can say.

            

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[9]: Private Berlin
James Patterson and Mark Sullivan

Jack Morgan, Private (5th)

Chris Schneider is a superstar agent at Private Berlin, Germany headquarters for the world's most powerful investigation firm. He keeps his methods secret as he tackles Private's most high-profile cases-and when Chris suddenly disappears, he becomes Private Berlin's most dangerous investigation yet.

Mattie Engel is another top agent at Private Berlin, gorgeous and ruthlessly determined-and she's also Chris's ex. Mattie throws herself headfirst into finding Chris, following leads to the three people Chris was investigating when he vanished: a billionaire suspected of cheating on his wife, a soccer star accused of throwing games, and a nightclub owner with ties to the Russian mob. Any one of them would surely want Chris gone-and one of them is evil enough to want him dead.

Mattie's chase takes her into Berlin's most guarded, hidden, and treacherous places, revealing secrets from Chris's past that she'd never dreamed of in the time they were lovers. On the brink of a terrifying discovery, Mattie holds on to her belief in Chris — in the face of a horror that could force all of Europe to the edge of destruction and chaos.

            

Nominees for the 2013 Lovey Awards Announced

The nominees for the 2013 Lovey Awards have been anounced by the organizers of the Love Is Murder Mystery Conference. The winners will be chosen by the conference attendees.

Love Is Murder XIV will be held from February 1st through the 3rd at the InterContinental Chicago O'Hare.

The nominees are …

Best First Novel:
• Courting Murder by Bill Hopkins
• Souljourner by Dody Marriott
• Perfidy by M. E. May
• In Her Shadow by August McLaughlin

Best Traditional/Amateur Sleuth:
• Where Did You Die by Patricia K. Batta
• The Trashy Gourmet by David Ciambrone
• A Small Hill To Die On by Elizabeth Duncan
• The Lightkeeper's Legacy by Kathleen Ernst
• Dabllers by Kathryn Flatt
• Tears of the Jaguar by A. J. Hartley
• The Lost Artist by Gail Lukasik
• Emma Winberry and the Evil Eye by Helen Osterman
• Murder In the Round by Patricia Rockwell
• Cross Currents by Powell Smily

Best PI/Police Procedural:
• The Sons of Jude by Brandt Dodson
• Portrait of Murder by Rob Riley

Best Thriller:
• The Black Stiletto: Black & White by Raymond Benson
• Hitman: Damnation by Raymond Benson
• The Ninth Day by Jamie Freveletti
• Company Orders by David J. Walker

Best Paranormal/Sci-Fi:
• Last Wool and Testament by Molly MacRae
• When the Moon Is Gibbous & Waxing by Angela Parson Myers
• Walk-In by Honora Finkelstein and Susan Smily

Best Suspense:
• A Bitter Veil by Libby Fischer Hellmann
• Moonlight For Maggie by Karen l. Syed

Best Historical:
• Archie Meets Nero Wolfe by Robert Goldsborough
• Macbeth by A. J. Hartley and David Hewson
• Death at Woods Hole by Frances McNamara
• The Bootlegger's Nephew by Sarah Wisseman

Best Series:
• Get Fluffy (Pampered Pets) by Sparkle Abbey
• Thy Will Be Done (Lord's Prayer) by Richard Davidson
• The Janus Reprisal (Covert One) by Jamie Freveletti
• Killerfind (Rhetta McCarter) by Sharon Woods Hopkins
• Tricksters Point (Cork O'Connor) by William Kent Krueger
• The Watch (A. J. Garrison) by Jerry Peterson
• Secret Hollows (Mary O'Reilly) by Terri Reid

Best Short Story:
• "Harry's Fall From Grace" (A Prequel To The Grace Marsden Series) by Luisa Buehler
• "The Love Nest" (The Legend of Judgment Rock and Other Mystery Stories) by Sharon Love Cook
• "Capital Partners" (Writes of Spring) by Libby Fischer Hellmann
• "Early Christmas" (A James Early Christmas and Other Stories of the Season) by Jerry Peterson
• "The Case of the Extra Ingredient" (Hot Crime, Cool Chicks) by Mary Welk

(Hat tip to Mystery Fanfare for alerting us to this list.)

Today's Bestselling Free Kindle MystereBooks (130124)

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.

Mr. E. Reviews The Bourne Legacy

Purchase/Rental Option(s)

I thought the screenplay of this action thriller did a fine job of creating a new universe for Aaron Cross all the while maintaining a connection to the Bourne universe. The direction is crisp and the actors all turn in credible performances. The ending keeps the door open for a sequel, should the producers decide to film one; I hope they do.

Read the full text of our review at Mr. E. Reviews The Bourne Legacy.

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