MystereBooks: This Week's Update of Kindle Crime Fiction Priced $2.99 or Less (130316)

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!

Below are listed the new $2.99 or less titles we added either today or mentioned in separate posts earlier this week; 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.

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Tears of the Dragon by Holly Baxter. An Elodie Browne Mystery.

Before She Dies by Mary Burton. A Novel of Romantic Suspense.

A Slice of Murder by Chris Cavender. An Eleanor Swift, Pizza Lovers Mystery (1st in series).

The Evil That Men Do by Jeanne M. Dams. A Dorothy Martin Mystery (11th).

Category Five by Philip Donlay. A Donovan Nash Thriller (1st).

The Wreck by Marie Force. A Novel of Suspense.

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

15 Seconds by Andrew Gross.

Horns by Joe Hill.

Scorpion Betrayal by Andrew Kaplan. A Scorpion Thriller (2nd in series).

Scorpion Winter by Andrew Kaplan. A Scorpion Thriller (3rd in series).

A Drink Before the War by Dennis Lehane. A Patrick Kenzie and Angela Gennaro Mystery (1st in series).

Innocent as Sin by Elizabeth Lowell. A Novel of Romantic Suspense.

Hunt the Wolf by Don Mann with Ralph Pezzullo. A SEAL Team Six Thriller (1st in series).

Executive Privilege by Phillip Margolin. A Dana Cutler Thriller (1st in series).

Going Organic Can Kill You by Staci McLaughlin. A Dana Lewis, Blossom Valley Mystery (1st in series).

The Revisionists by Thomas Mullen.

Delirious by Daniel Palmer.

Listen to the Mockingbird by Penny Rudolph.

Slip & Fall by Nick Santora.

Courting Trouble by Lisa Scottoline. A Rosato and Associates Mystery (9th in series).

Two for Sorrow by Nicola Upson. A Josephine Tey Mystery (3rd in series).

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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.

A Conversation with Tonya Kappes, Author of the Magical Cures Mysteries

with Tonya Kappes

We are delighted to welcome mystery author Tonya Kappes to Omnimystery News today, courtesy of Cozy Mystery Book Reviews, which is coordinating her online book tour. We encourage you to visit all of the host sites; you can find her schedule here.

Tonya's third mystery in her "Magical Cures" mystery series is A Charming Wish (MagiCal Press, March 2013 ebook formats).

We recently had a chance to talk to the Tonya about her new book.

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Omnimystery News: In addition to the "Magical Cures" mysteries, you write several other series mysteries. What about series characters appeals to you as a writer?

Photo provided courtesy of
Tonya Kappes

Tonya Kappes: I believe that readers come back to read subsequent novels in a series because they liked the story and the characters. There is a great feeling of familiarity when you pick up a series and already know the character. It is very important to a well developed recurring character from the first novel they are introduced. I make sure the character grows in each book to keep the reader interested in seeing the character recur. They have to grow, just like we do.

OMN: Your mysteries cross two genres, cozies and paranormals.

TK: That's correct. The fun loving sleuth that stumbles upon a murder that they just can't turn a blind eye to and a little paranormal thrown into the mix.

OMN: Tell us something about the book that's not mentioned in the synopsis.

TK: It's full of fun, mystery, humor and a dash of romance! What else could you want in a book?

OMN: This series features a psychic named June Heal, owner of a homeopathic cure shop. Do you and she share any character traits?

TK: It isn't so much that we're alike, but she's who I wanted to be! June Heal is a sort of witch that has all good powers. I'm certainly not a witch; though I have dreamed of putting a spell or two on some people!

OMN: Describe your writing process.

TK: The story begins to develop in my head along with the small town. I let that fester as the characters begin to talk to me. In the meantime, I purchase an address book where I start to come up with names and descriptions. By that point, the beginning of the story is taking place and I generally know the beginning, middle and end. I just sit and write. It never fails … when I hit the 100 page mark, I have to plot out the rest of the novel. So I guess you can say that I both let the story develop while I outline the plot.

OMN: Tell us more about that "small town".

TK: The Magical Cures mysteries are set in Whispering Falls, Kentucky. Whispering Falls is a make-believe, magical small town where I would love to visit. I'm from Kentucky and love every inch of the state. Whispering Falls would fit perfectly in between a big valley of Kentucky bluegrass and limestone.

OMN: How do you go about doing research on your paranormal crimes?

TK: I have a good friend who is a psychic and she is great with detail. I have a brother-in-law who is in law enforcement which makes visiting him and the office the most exciting! I get first hand experience on crazy ways to kill people. Did I mention I love my job?

OMN: Lots of books these days are being adapted for film. Any thoughts on how that might work with your series?

TK: Books that are turned into movies are so different. I would just be honored to have that happen and just trust the experts! Why? Do you know someone I can talk to?

OMN: Sadly, no. But speaking of movies, what do you watch for enjoyment?

TK: I'm a comedy gal to the core! I watch them to escape the everyday grind. I don't watch a lot of crime movies because it's my job. I can't say that Bridget Jone's Diary inspired anything in my cozy series … hmmm … I bet I could put her in there somewhere.

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Tonya Kappes writes fun humorous fiction, some with romance and some with a little mystery.

More than anything she loves to connect with readers! Shes a huge fan of them and loves getting to know them. Making readers smile, and remember not to take life to seriously is how she likes to write. An addict to coffee, McDonald's Diet Coke, and Red Hots Candy keep her going!

When Tonya not writing about quirky characters and even quirkier situations, she's busy being the princess, queen and jester of her domain which includes her BFF husband, three teenage boys and two dogs.

To learn more about Tonya and her books, visit her website at TonyaKappes.com.

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A Charming Wish
Tonya Kappes
A Magical Cures Mystery (3rd in series)

Bubble … Bubble …

It seems shop owner and newly appointed Whispering Falls Village President June Heal has it all: Beauty, wits, bewitching powers … Sheriff Oscar Park. Life is good. Because life in Whispering Falls is magical.

Cures and Trouble …

But when a member of the community is found dead on the steps of A Charming Cure, June's homeopathic cure shop, and her fingerprints show up at the scenes of local robberies, she is kicked off the village council and her powers fall under scrutiny. Until it's uncovered who is wreaking havoc on the town … June's magic is suspended.

Magic Stirs …

With the help of a rather obnoxious genie and Mr. Prince Charming, June's Fairy-God cat, June is determined to figure out who is framing her. Time is of the essence when it becomes clear that the true villain is trying to get rid of her … permanently!

And Trouble Doubles …

Oscar Park will do anything to protect June even if that means giving up all of his magical powers … or worse, his life.

    

Maxwell St. Blues by Marc Krulewitch is Today's Fourth Featured Free MystereBook

MystereBooks is pleased to feature Maxwell St. Blues by Marc Krulewitch as today's fourth free mystery ebook (A Jules Landau Mystery; iTunes format only).

This title was listed for free as of the date and time of this post, March 16, 2013 at 7:40 AM ET. 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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Maxwell St. Blues
Marc Krulewitch
A Jules Landau Mystery
Publisher: Marc Krulewitch

Grabbing snapshots of cheating spouses and hunting down bail jumpers provides a comfortable living for Jules Landau — until his estranged father knocks on the door. Second-rate con man Bernie Landau reports Jules's beloved "Uncle Snook" has taken five bullets in the head. The newspapers dismiss the victim as another bean counter for the mob caught skimming off the top.

But Jules isn't buying it. Sure, his uncle's accounting practice included shady characters, but the wise-guys loved Snooky and not just for his money-laundering skills. With Snooky you had a devoted friend — a regular hoodlum's therapist.

From the start, Bernie criticizes his son's brash approach to the investigation. But despite their conflicts, father and son uncover Snooky's entanglements in a convoluted world of crooked politics, corrupt police, and drug trafficking. And those who stand to benefit from Snooky's death reads like a Who's Who of the Chicago power elite.

  

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.

Unlock the Truth by Robena Grant is Today's Third Featured Free MystereBook

MystereBooks is pleased to feature Unlock the Truth by Robena Grant as today's third free mystery ebook (A Novel of Romantic Suspense; Kindle format only).

This title was listed for free as of the date and time of this post, March 16, 2013 at 7:30 AM ET. 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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Unlock the Truth
Robena Grant
A Novel of Romantic Suspense
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Dena Roman needs closure. Three months ago, her sister's murdered body was found in the California desert. When a second body is found at the same site, Dena jeopardizes her public relations position to go undercover and investigate. But falling for the main suspect isn't part of her plan.

Zeke Cabrera needs help. He sold a portion of his family's Three C's Estates to keep his citrus farm afloat, but when bodies are unearthed on the site, he's suspected of murder. Help comes in the form of a communications expert who makes all the difference in his life and business — and in his heart.

Amidst an attack on her life and run-ins with a cantankerous foreman, Dena digs for the truth, even as she forms a strong bond with Zeke. But can their newly found love survive all the deep secrets hidden at Three C's Estates?

  

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.

Trust No One by Diana Layne is Today's Second Featured Free MystereBook

MystereBooks is pleased to feature Trust No One by Diana Layne as today's second free mystery ebook (A Vista Security Thriller; Kindle format only).

This title was listed for free as of the date and time of this post, March 16, 2013 at 7:20 AM ET. 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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Trust No One
Diana Layne
A Vista Security Thriller
Publisher: Black Gold Books

Drafted into the nebulous underworld of a secret agent right out of college, MJ Thornberg survived betrayal and attempted murder at the hands of her trusted partner. Instead of returning to the deadly realm of espionage, she chose to retire to a small Texas town and work as a mechanic while raising her soon-to-be-adopted baby daughter.

Ben Walker is a man with his own secrets. An agent with MJ's former employer, Vista Security, Ben is clawing his way out of a downward spiral from a job gone wrong when Vista sends him after MJ, with orders to use the threat of halting her baby's adoption to ensure her cooperation.

Furious and trusting no one, MJ intends on working the job solo until a sniper's bullet alters her plans. With no choice but to work with Ben, MJ must confront ghosts from her past, discover truths of her present, and trust that the future she deserves is in her hands to create.

  

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.

Tidewater by Antoinette Stockenberg is Today's Featured Free MystereBook

MystereBooks is pleased to feature Tidewater by Antoinette Stockenberg as today's free mystery ebook (A Novel of Suspense; iTunes format only).

This title was listed for free as of the date and time of this post, March 16, 2013 at 7:10 AM ET. 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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Tidewater
Antoinette Stockenberg
A Novel of Suspense
Publisher: Antoinette Stockenberg

First published by St. Martin's Press in 2001.

Newly married to a man of wealth and reputation who's willing to be stepfather to her daughter Abigail, Sara Bonniface would seem to have all she's ever wanted for Abby: a beautiful home, a man to be there for her, and the assurance of a top education for the bright if headstrong child. But twelve-year-old Abby has other ideas, embarking on a crusade to learn more about her birth father. Relentless and computer-savvy, Abby manages to track down and then drag Ben McElwyn, ex-cop and now a P.I., back into Sara's life.

It's the last thing that Sara needs. She's already under assault from a series of mystifying events that have her dreading the possibility that she's suffering from schizophrenia, the affliction that destroyed her own mother.

It's the last thing that Ben needs. He's a lone wolf and determined to stay that way. Him, the father of a twelve-year-old daughter? He refuses to believe it.

It's the last thing that Rodger Bonniface, Abby's stepfather, needs. Headmaster of a prestigious prep school in Massachusetts, Rodger's reputation is pristine. Rich, confident, and coolly charming, Rodger has surprised everyone by marrying a woman with neither his background nor his sophistication. Still, Sara has great beauty, so they understand. And before her marriage she was a respectable widow, a sympathetic figure — everyone, including Rodger, believes.

Until twelve-year-old Abby lobs that hand grenade into the elegant quarters of the house called Tidewater.

  

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.

Telemystery: Veronica Mars's Creator to Fans — It's a green light my friends

Two days ago we mentioned that the Veronica Mars Movie Project on Kickstarter had reached its $2 million goal in less than a day. (It's currently over $3.4 million.)

Creator Rob Thomas wrote on the site that Warner Bros., which owns the rights to the character, told him, "[I]f you can show there's enough fan interest to warrant a movie, we're on board."

Thomas has since confirmed that they are indeed. "Hallelujah!" he tweeted. "It's a green light my friends. I love you all, but particularly the donors among you."

The film is expected to start pre-production next month.

Veronica Mars originally aired on The CW for three seasons, from 2004 through 2007. Kristen Bell starred as the titular character, a 17-year-old private investigator solving the toughest mysteries in her coastal community of Neptune, California.

Review: Fatal Decree by H. Terrell Griffin

A Mysterious Review of …

Fatal Decree by H. Terrell Griffin. A Matt Royal Mystery.

Review summary: The storyline of this thriller has a kind of by-the-numbers feel to it. It's not necessarily predictable but it is familiar. And more in a good way than a bad one. But it's the character of Matt Royal that surprises; he's fallen in love … and for a man with a history of taking risks that doesn't bode well for the future. (Click here for text of full review.)

Our rating:

Fatal Decree
H. Terrell Griffin
A Matt Royal Mystery
Oceanview Publishing (January 2013)

Publisher synopsis: When a serial killer shows up on Longboat Key, Florida after a twelve year absence, Matt Royal is stymied. The first woman killed on Longboat Key has ties to a secretive government agency for which Matt's best friend Jock Algren works. Was this a coincidence or was she a targeted kill?

Matt's friend, Longboat Key detective Jennifer Diane (J.D.) Duncan, investigates the murders but also seems to be a target of the killer. Why? And where has the killer been for the past twelve years? And why has he come to Longboat Key when his earlier kills were all in Miami?

The mystery deepens when Guatemalan gang-bangers try to kill Matt and J.D. and suspicions grow that Mexican drug cartels are somehow involved. The director of Jock's agency orders him to do whatever is necessary to find the killer because of the death of the woman with connections to the agency. Will Jock simply take out the murderer or allow J.D. and the law to arrest, try and convict the bad guys? Matt's life is further complicated by J.D.'s growing dissatisfaction with island living and her thoughts of returning to Miami.

      

MystereBooks: Eyes of Justice, a Triple Threat Thriller by Lis Wiehl, Now at a Special Price

MystereBooks is pleased to feature Eyes of Justice by Lis Wiehl with April Henry, now available at a special price, courtesy of the publisher, Thomas Nelson.

The ebook format of this title was priced at $3.99 from the listed vendors (below) as of the date and time of this post (03/15/2013 at 2:30 PM ET). 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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Eyes of Justice by Lis Wiehl with April Henry
A Triple Threat Thriller (4th in series)
Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Cassidy, Allison, and Nicole fight for justice everyday — Cassidy as a crime reporter, Nicole as an FBI agent, and Allison as a federal prosecutor. Together they're a Triple Threat to be reckoned with. A force that, together, has solved the toughest mysteries.

Until a ruthless killer finds a way to isolate and murder one of the three.

When the authorities keep the survivors at arm's length in the investigation, the women's desire for justice goes into overdrive. They find an unexpected ally in a quirky private investigator named Ophelia whose unorthodox methods seem to offer a possible breakthrough in the case.

Yet just as the police appear to have the killer in custody and justice within sight, the murderer strikes again. Not knowing whom to trust, the team must engage in a deadly game of cat-and-mouse where nothing can be taken at face value … and nothing will ever be the same.

    

Click on the Amazon button to see also the special Whispersync offer associated with this title.

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.

MystereBooks: Executive Privilege by Phillip Margolin, Now at a Special Price

MystereBooks is pleased to feature Executive Privilege by Phillip Margolin, now available at a special price, courtesy of the publisher, Harper.

The ebook format of this title was priced at $1.99 from the listed vendors (below) as of the date and time of this post (03/15/2013 at 3:30 PM ET). 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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Executive Privilege by Phillip Margolin
A Dana Cutler Thriller (1st in series)
Publisher: Harper

When private detective Dana Cutler is hired to follow college student Charlotte Walsh, she never imagines the trail will lead to the White House. But the morning after Walsh's clandestine meeting with Christopher Farrington, President of the United States, the pretty young coed is dead—the latest victim, apparently, of a fiend dubbed "the D.C. Ripper".

A junior associate in an Oregon law firm, Brad Miller is stunned by the death row revelations of convicted serial killer Clarence Little. Though Little accepts responsibility for a string of gruesome murders, he swears he was framed for one of them: the death of a teenaged babysitter who worked for then-governor Farrington.

Suddenly nowhere in America is safe for a small-time private eye and a fledgling lawyer who possess terrifying evidence that suggests the unthinkable: that someone at the very highest level of government, perhaps the president himself, is a cold and brutal killer.

      

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.

MystereBooks: Before She Dies by Mary Burton, Now at a Special Price

MystereBooks is pleased to feature Before She Dies by Mary Burton, now available at a special price, courtesy of the publisher, Zebra Books.

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 (03/15/2013 at 3:00 PM ET). 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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Before She Dies by Mary Burton
A Novel of Romantic Suspense
Publisher: Zebra Books

In death, they are purified. Holding his victims under water, he washes away their sins as they struggle for their last breath. Then he stakes their bodies to the ground, exposing them for what they really are. Witches, sent to tempt and to corrupt …

No one knows about defense attorney Charlotte Wellington's murdered sister, or about her childhood spent with the carnival that's just arrived in town. For Charlotte, what's past is past. But others don't agree. And as a madman's body count rises, she and Detective Daniel Rokov are drawn into a mission that's become terrifyingly personal …

At last, she is within his reach. All his victims deserve their fate, but her guilt is greatest. And with every scream, he will make her see what it means to suffer and repent — before she dies …

    

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.