Earlier today, we reported that Mysterious Press had lowered the price on many of its reissued ebook titles to either $1.99 or $2.99.
Separately, Open Road Integrated Media also lowered the price on many other reissued ebook mystery and suspense ebooks to either $1.99 or $2.99. Open Road distributes Mysterious Press titles, so we probably should have realized that providing a link to a list of discounted Open Road Kindle ebook titles would also include the list of Mysterious Press titles, making life simpler all around for everyone! There are some 50 or so books in total from which to choose.
So … here it is. Use this link to see a list of books currently available for between $1.99 and $2.99 from Open Road, which also include the Mysterious Press titles we mentioned earlier today. (We've featured two titles separately by authors, whose books we enjoyed when they were first published in hardcover, and may mention one or two more before the day is through.)
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
MystereBooks: Even More Discounted eBook Titles from Open Road
Death on Deadline, a Nero Wolfe Mystery by Robert Goldsborough, Now at a Special Price
MystereBooks is pleased to feature Death on Deadline by Robert Goldsborough, now available at a special price, courtesy of the publisher, Mysterious Press.
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 (06/11/2013 at 5:00 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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Death on Deadline by Robert Goldsborough
A Nero Wolfe Mystery (2nd in series)
Publisher: Mysterious Press
To save his favorite newspaper, Wolfe steps into the crossfire of a tabloid war …
Master sleuth Nero Wolfe's small circle of friends is limited to his assistant Archie Goodwin, his chef Fritz, and Lon Cohen, the head man at the New York Gazette. Cohen knows more about the city's power structure than any man in Manhattan, and for years he happily passed Wolfe information in return for the odd exclusive scoop. But now Cohen needs Wolfe's help, for the Gazette is ailing and the vultures have begun to circle.
Scottish newspaper magnate Ian MacLaren plans to gut the paper and turn it into a sex-filled conservative rag. Standing in his way is the company's chief shareholder, Gazette heir Harriet Haverhill. But when the aged Ms. Haverhill dies in an apparent suicide, no one remains to resist the Scot's advances except Wolfe. MacLaren may be fierce, but when the cause is just, Nero Wolfe knows how to play dirty, too.
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.
Strike Three You're Dead, a Harvey Blissberg Mystery by R. D. Rosen, Now at a Special Price
MystereBooks is pleased to feature Strike Three You're Dead by R. D. Rosen, now available at a special price, courtesy of the publisher, Mysterious Press.
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 (06/11/2013 at 4:30 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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Strike Three You're Dead by R. D. Rosen
A Harvey Blissberg Mystery (1st in series)
Publisher: Mysterious Press
A slugger struggles with an empty ballpark and a murdered teammate …
The Providence Jewels, an American League expansion team, have been taking a beating all season. Worse, relief pitcher Rudy Furth has just suffered a beating of a more lethal kind — and been left to die in the clubhouse whirlpool among whispers of mob corruption and violently lovesick fans.
When the police investigation stalls, veteran Providence center fielder Harvey Blissberg, who knew Furth as well as anyone, decides to play detective. While trying to keep his eye on the ball, and his head above water with the spunky, beautiful sports newscaster Mickey Slavin, Blissberg quietly stalks Furth's killer through major-league locker rooms and the dark streets of Rhode Island's capital city. Lots of ballplayers keep their batting averages above .300 — but how many have chased a murderer at the same time?
Winner of the 1985 Edgar 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.
Winners of the 2013 Benjamin Franklin Awards Announced
We missed reporting on the winners of the 2013 Benjamin Franklin Awards when they were announced a couple of weeks ago, and apologize for the delay. These awards recognize excellence in independent publishing and are given out by the Independent Book Publishers Association in a number of categories.
This year's gold winner in Mystery/Suspense is The Unkindness of Strangers by Peter S. Fischer (The Grove Point Press). The silver winners in the same category are Ripped by Shelly Dickson Carr (which also won the Bill Fisher Award for Best First Book) and Run To Ground by D. P. Lyle (Oceanview Publishing).
MystereBooks: Dozens of eBook Titles from Mysterious Press, Now at a Special Price
Earlier today Mysterious Press lowered the price on many of its reissued ebook titles to either $1.99 or $2.99. We were going to feature them all individually — and did so earlier today for two of our favorite authors — but realized that that probably wasn't the most efficient use of our — and your, our readers — time. We still may highlight one or two more that we think deserve special recognition, but in the meantime, you can use this link to see a list of Kindle books currently available on Amazon.com for between $1.99 and $2.99 from Mysterious Press.
The Woman Who Fell from Grace, A Stewart Hoag Mystery by David Handler, Now at a Special Price
MystereBooks is pleased to feature The Woman Who Fell from Grace by David Handler, now available at a special price, courtesy of the publisher, Mysterious Press.
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 (06/11/2013 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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The Woman Who Fell from Grace by David Handler
A Stewart Hoag Mystery (4th in series)
Publisher: Mysterious Press
A sequel to a fifty-year-old book puts Hoagy on the scent of a long-cold murder case …
Few American novels are as beloved as Alma Glaze's Revolutionary War epic, Oh, Shenandoah. Although Glaze died before she could write a sequel, she left behind an outline for one, along with instructions that it not be written until fifty years after her death. The deadline has passed, and the American public clamors for the long-promised Sweet Land of Liberty. Only one thing stands in its way: Glaze's heirs.
Her daughter, socialite Mavis Glaze, is writing the novel under guidance from her mother, who she claims has been appearing in her dreams. As Mavis's writing spirals farther into madness, her brothers hire Stewart Hoag, a ghostwriter famous for dealing with troublesome celebrities. When he arrives at the family's Virginia manor, he finds that Alma's is not the only unsettled spirit. Blood was spilt for Oh, Shenandoah, and more will die before the sequel hits the bestseller list.
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.
Sudden Exposure, a Jill Smith Mystery by Jill Dunlap, Now at a Special Price
MystereBooks is pleased to feature Sudden Exposure by Jill Dunlap, now available at a special price, courtesy of the publisher, Open Road.
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 (06/11/2013 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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Sudden Exposure by Jill Dunlap
A Jill Smith Mystery (10th in series)
Publisher: Open Road
An Olympic athlete finds her life in danger when she starts a feud with a ruthless gym owner …
Homicide detectives don't chase streakers. So it shouldn't be Jill Smith's problem when Berkeley's new public nudity ban stirs the spirit of the city's exhibitionists, unleashing a horde of indignant flashers on the city streets. But department infighting has resulted in Jill being stripped of her gold detective badge and put back in uniform to pursue the naked radicals.
She's pursuing one of these au naturel miscreants though a patch of poison oak when she's stopped by Bryn Wiley, Olympic diver, gym owner, and local hero. Bryn is in a feud with a rival fitness club, whose owner she suspects of shooting bullets through her car windows. Jill can't help her — she has nudists to apprehend! — and so Bryn resolves to take matters into her own hands, holding a press conference where she calls her rival out. It's a bold move, and may also be a foolish one. Her assailant's next target will be something far more valuable than a car.
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.
The Little Death, a Henry Rios Mystery by Michael Nava, Now at a Special Price
MystereBooks is pleased to feature The Little Death by Michael Nava, now available at a special price, courtesy of the publisher, Open Road.
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 (06/11/2013 at 2:00 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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The Little Death by Michael Nava
A Henry Rios Mystery (1st in series)
Publisher: Open Road
A lawyer doggedly pursues a murder investigation into the lions' den of San Francisco's moneyed elite …
A burnt-out public defender battling alcoholism, Henry Rios has reached a crossroads in his life. While interviewing his former lover Hugh Paris in jail, Rios goes through the motions, but notices that Paris is far more polished and well off than the usual suspects arrested for drug possession. Paris is mysteriously bailed out — but a few weeks later, he turns up on Rios's doorstep. Skittish and paranoid, he admits to using heroin and says he's afraid that his wealthy grandfather wants to murder him.
Rios tries to help Paris get clean, but when Paris is found dead of an apparent heroin overdose, Rios is the only one who considers foul play. Determined to find Paris's killer, Rios knocks on San Francisco's most gilded doors, where he discovers a family tainted by jealousy, greed, and hate. They've been warped by a fortune someone's willing to kill — and kill again — to possess.
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.
Blunt Darts, a John Francis Cuddy Mystery by Jeremiah Healy, Now at a Special Price
MystereBooks is pleased to feature Blunt Darts by Jeremiah Healy, now available at a special price, courtesy of the publisher, Mysterious Press.
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 (06/11/2013 at 1:30 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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Blunt Darts by Jeremiah Healy
A John Francis Cuddy Mystery (1st in series)
Publisher: Mysterious Press
Cuddy looks for a brilliant missing boy whose family doesn't want him found …
John Cuddy's heart is buried in a cemetery overlooking Boston harbor. His wife, Beth, fought her cancer for nearly a year, and when she died Cuddy gave up his morning runs in favor of nightly benders. Two months after her death, he is forced out of his job as an insurance investigator for refusing to sign his name to a phony claim. Now he is filing for unemployment, cutting back on his drinking, and attempting to become a private eye.
His first real case comes in the form of Valerie Jacobs, a junior high teacher who was friends with Beth. Her star pupil, the son of a Massachusetts judge, has vanished, and the local police have no leads. To make his name as a detective, Cuddy searches for a boy who's too smart to be found, and whose father would prefer his son never return.
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.
New, Extended Length Trailer for White House Down
Sony has released a new, extended trailer for the thriller White House Down (embedded, below). At over four minutes of self-proclaimed "action packed fun", it's one of the longest trailers we've ever seen … and almost as long as the film itself!
Channing Tatum stars as Capitol Policeman John Cale, who has just been denied his dream job with the Secret Service of protecting President James Sawyer (Jamie Foxx). Not wanting to let down his little girl with the news, he takes her on a tour of the White House, when the complex is overtaken by a heavily armed paramilitary group. Now, with the nation's government falling into chaos and time running out, it's up to Cale to save the president, his daughter, and the country.
Directed by Roland Emmerich from an original screenplay by James Vanderbilt, White House Down opens in theaters June 28th, 2013.
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Christopher Valen Wins 2012 Garcia Memorial Prize for Best Fiction Book
Mystery author Christopher Valen has been honored with the 2012 Garcia Memorial Prize for Best Fiction Book of the Year for his novel Bone Shadows, a John Santana Mystery. The book also took first place in the Mystery/Thriller/Suspense/Horror category of the Reader Views Awards and was named as the winner of a Midwest Book Award in the Mystery/Thriller category.
More about this award-winning book, below.
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Bone Shadows
Christopher Valen
A John Santana Mystery
The bodies of young men have been turning up in the Mississippi River for years, their deaths attributed to excessive drinking. But when an Iraq war vet suffering from PTSD is found in the river, St. Paul Homicide Detective John Santana must decide if the young man's death was accidental or the result of something far more sinister.
Caught between a reporter trying to resurrect his flagging career, an FBI agent with a troubled past, and a beautiful private investigator on the trail of a serial killer, Santana is pulled into a whirlpool of greed, seduction, and death. Determined to find the truth no matter what the cost, he must first face his own dark memories and a killer intent on stopping him.
A Conversation with Suspense Novelist Lori Roy
with Lori Roy
We are delighted to welcome novelist Lori Roy to Omnimystery News today.
Lori, who won an Edgar Award for Best First Novel last year for Bent Road, has a new novel of suspense being published this week, Until She Comes Home (Dutton, June 2013 hardcover, ebook, and audiobook formats).
We recently had the pleasure of talking to Lori about her new book.
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Omnimystery News: We introduced Until She Comes Home as a "novel of suspense". Would you agree with this description?
Photo provided courtesy of
Lori Roy
Lori Roy: I would classify my books as literary suspense, which I suppose puts them in the cross-over category. While writing my first novel, Bent Road, I gave no thought to where it would be shelved in a bookstore. Instead, I wrote the book I wanted to read. I followed this same guideline when writing Until She Comes Home. I want to read a book with fully developed characters and a setting that presses down on those characters in some way. I want to read a book with an engaging voice and one that explores significant struggles. And lastly, I want to read a book that makes me want to, have to, turn the pages. While the literary aspects of my work come more naturally to me, I work very hard to construct a plot that will hopefully compel readers to keep turning pages.
OMN: Tell us a little more about your writing process.
LR: I wish I could say that I outline. I wish I had binders full of character sketches, maps and a fully realized synopsis. I wish I was organized. This, however, is not the case. Until She Comes Home and Bent Road both started as short stories. I knew I liked the voice and characters that rose out of each story and that I was compelled to expand them into novels, but the plot emerged slowly as my characters became more fully formed. In an attempt to bring some order to my work, I did try to keep track of the various details and plot points as I made my way through each book, but my efforts were only mildly successful. This approach meant I wrote several drafts as I tried to find my way to a plot and cut many scenes and chapters along the way.
OMN: The story in Until She Comes Home takes place over 50 years ago. How did you do your research for that time period?
LR: Because I chose to set the novel in 1958 Detroit, I read a great deal about the era in general and about Detroit specifically. This included studying the politics — local, national and worldwide — the economy and the culture. The challenge became reflecting this knowledge in the behavior, thoughts and emotions of my characters. I also interviewed several people who lived in Detroit during the late 1950s. This is where I unearthed the most interesting details and facts. These interviews, in conjunction with a 1958 Sears catalog I bought off Ebay, were my favorite sources of research.
OMN: What is the best advice you've received as an author?
LR: One of the best pieces of advice I ever received was to write the book I wanted to read. This should not be confused with write the book you want to write. They are entirely different sentiments. Another great piece of advice was also my harshest criticism. I received it long before I wrote my first novel, Bent Road. That's nice writing, but who cares? I was told. This speaks directly to the significance of plot. Characters are most important to me and nothing defines a character as clearly or as fully as that character's actions. Without plot, there will likely be little conflict and in turn, little action.
OMN: What kinds of books did you read as a child?
LR: My first memories of books are the trips I took to the library as a child. Once a week during the summer, after spending several hours at the public swimming pool, my mom would dry us off and take my brother and me to the local library. There, I would load up on Beverly Cleary, Nancy Drew and whatever else caught my eye. Because I picked out so many books, my mom would make me double count them so we'd be sure to return the right number when next we visited the library.
Besides having to count the books in my stack, I remember re-reading the books I most loved. Over and over, I would read them. The voice is what drew me and kept me coming back. I think this fact, more than any one specific author, most influenced my work. It was a love for the voice of the work that I had then and still have today.
OMN: What's next for you?
LR: Beyond potty-training the new puppy that recently joined our family, I'm excited to be working on a novel set in northeastern Kentucky and loosely inspired by the last public hanging conducted in the United States.
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Lori Roy was born and raised in the Midwest, where she worked for years as a tax accountant before turning her focus to writing. Her work has appeared in the Chattahoochee Review and she is the recipient of the Ed Hirshberg Award for Excellence in Florida Writing. She lives with her family in Florida.
To learn more about Lori and her work, please visit her website at LoriRoy.com or find her on Facebook and Twitter.
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Until She Comes Home
Lori Roy
In 1958 Detroit, on Alder Avenue, neighbors struggle to care for neighbors amid a city ripe with conflicts that threaten their peaceful street.
Grace, Alder's only expectant mother, eagerly awaits her first born. Best friend Julia prepares to welcome twin nieces. And Malina sets the tone with her stylish dresses, tasteful home, and ironfisted stewardship of St. Alban's bake sale.
Life erupts when childlike Elizabeth disappears while in the care of Grace and Julia. All the ladies fear the recent murder of a black woman at the factory on Willingham Avenue where their husbands work may warn of what has become of Elizabeth, and they worry what is yet to become of Julia — the last to see Elizabeth alive.
The men mount an around-the-clock search, leaving their families vulnerable to sinister elements hidden in plain sight. Only Grace knows what happened, but her mother warns her not to tell. "No man wants to know this about his wife." Ashamed that her silence puts loved ones in harm's way, Grace gravitates toward the women of Willingham Avenue, who recognize her suffering as their own. Through their acceptance, Grace conquers her fear and dares to act.
On Alder Avenue, vicious secrets bind friends, neighbors, and spouses. For the wicked among them, the walk home will be long.
Elusive by Sara Rosett is Today's Third Featured Free MystereBook
MystereBooks is pleased to feature Elusive by Sara Rosett as today's third free mystery ebook (A Zoe Hunter, On the Run Mystery; Kindle format only).
This title was listed for free as of the date and time of this post, June 11, 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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Elusive
Sara Rosett
A Zoe Hunter, On the Run Mystery
Publisher: Sara Rosett
Zoe Hunter loves living on the edge. Free-spirited and spontaneous, she's built a life stringing together various freelance gigs that keep her bank account barely in the black.
But when her ex, Jack, goes missing along with several million dollars from his business and the FBI zeros in on her as a person of interest, Zoe's life goes from delightfully unpredictable to downright frightening.
Plunged into a world of fake identities, deception, and murder, she's afraid to trust anyone. Zoe impulsively skips town in a search for answers that takes her from Las Vegas to Italy, but instead of tracking down answers, she only uncovers more questions.
Who was Jack? Is he dead or did he fake his disappearance? And, what was he mixed up in — art theft, the mafia, espionage, or all three?
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.
Grave Sins by Paul Bishop is Today's Second Featured Free MystereBook
MystereBooks is pleased to feature Grave Sins by Paul Bishop as today's second free mystery ebook (A Fey Croaker, LAPD Mystery; Kindle format only).
This title was listed for free as of the date and time of this post, June 11, 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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Grave Sins
Paul Bishop
A Fey Croaker, LAPD Mystery
Publisher: Paul Bishop
All of Los Angeles is thrust into chaos when a popular NBA athlete is charged with a series of gruesome murders. The evidence against the defendant appears overwhelming, but old evils die hard.
For L.A.P.D. homicide detective Fey Croaker and her appealing crew, the race for the truth will tax each of them to the limit. Under the scorching light of media attention, Fey’s own demons are brought into sharp focus with the life of her wayward brother literally hanging in the balance.
It’s a race to get to the truths hidden beneath layers of lies, secrets, and deadly perversions — and Fey must win while there is still an L.A. left to protect and serve.
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.
Circles of Confusion by April Henry is Today's Featured Free MystereBook
MystereBooks is pleased to feature Circles of Confusion by April Henry as today's free mystery ebook (A Claire Montrose Mystery; Kindle format only).
This title was listed for free as of the date and time of this post, June 11, 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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Circles of Confusion
April Henry
A Claire Montrose Mystery
Publisher: April Henry
First published in hardcover by HarperCollins in 1999 and a finalist for an Agatha Award and an Anthony Award for Best First Mystery.
With the exception of having the power to reject salacious requests for vanity license plates, Claire Montrose leads a monotonous life. Then she inherits the possessions of her great aunt and finds a beautiful painting hidden for decades in an old suitcase. Claire takes it to New York, but an expert deems it a forgery. But is it really?
Unable to trust anyone, Claire tries to stay alive long enough to find out the truth about the coveted piece of art and her pursuers.
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.