The Bone Tree by Greg Iles, New in Bookstores during April 2015

Today's featured new hardcover mystery, suspense, or thriller title scheduled to be published during April 2015 is …

The Bone Tree by Greg Iles, a Penn Cage Mystery (5th in series)

Publisher: William Morrow

    

Former prosecutor Penn Cage and his fiancée, reporter and publisher Caitlin Masters, have barely escaped with their lives after being attacked by wealthy businessman Brody Royal and his Double Eagles, a KKK sect with ties to some of Mississippi's most powerful men. But the real danger has only begun as FBI Special Agent John Kaiser warns Penn that Brody wasn't the true leader of the Double Eagles. The puppeteer who actually controls the terrorist group is a man far more fearsome: the chief of the state police's Criminal Investigations Bureau, Forrest Knox.

The only way Penn can save his father, Dr. Tom Cage — who is fleeing a murder charge as well as corrupt cops bent on killing him — is either to make a devil's bargain with Knox or destroy him. While Penn desperately pursues both options, Caitlin uncovers the real story behind a series of unsolved civil rights murders that may hold the key to the Double Eagles' downfall. The trail leads her deep into the past, into the black backwaters of the Mississippi River, to a secret killing ground used by slave owners and the Klan for over two hundred years … a place of terrifying evil known only as "the bone tree."

— The Bone Tree by Greg Iles

For a list of more new hardcover titles to be published this month, visit our New Mysteries page for April 2015. For new paperback mysteries, visit The Mystery Bookshelf where a selection of April 2015 mysteries, novels of suspense, and thrillers are shelved.

Dry Bones in the Valley by Tom Bouman Wins 2014 Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Mystery/Thriller

The winners of the annual Los Angeles Times Book Prizes were handed out last weekend, and in the Mystery/Thriller category, Tom Bouman won for his crime novel Dry Bones in the Valley.

The storyline is centered on Officer Henry Farrell, who, when an elderly recluse discovers a corpse on his land, follows the investigation to strange places in the countryside, and into the depths of his own frayed soul.

Synopsis: In Wild Thyme, Pennsylvania, secrets and feuds go back generations. The lone policeman in a small township on the sparse northern border, Henry Farrell expected to spend his mornings hunting and fishing, his evenings playing old-time music. Instead, he has watched the steady encroachment of gas drilling bring new wealth and erode neighborly trust. The drug trade is pushing heroin into the territory. There are outlaws cooking meth in the woods, guys Henry grew up with. When a stranger turns up dead, Henry's search for the killer will open old wounds, dredge up ancient crimes, and exact a deadly price.

Basic Law by J. Sydney Jones, New on the Mystery Bookshelf during April 2015

New on the Mystery Bookshelf during April 2015 …

Basic Law by J. Sydney Jones, A Mystery of Cold War Europe

Publisher: Open Road

  

A peace-seeking man must unravel the mystery that led to his former lover's death …

Expat American journalist Sam Kramer is burned out: too many dead bodies, too many wars covered, too little meaning in it all. He's got a dead-end job at the Daily European as the correspondent for Vienna, where nothing happens now that the Cold War is over. And that is exactly how Kramer likes it.

But his private neutral zone is shattered with news of the suicide of Reni Müller, a German left-wing firebrand and Kramer's long-estranged ex-girlfriend. To his surprise, Kramer suddenly finds himself the executor of Reni's literary estate — but the damning memoir named in her will is nowhere to be found. Tracking down the manuscript will lead Kramer to the unsettling truth of Reni's death, drawing him back into the days of the Cold War and showing him the dark side of the woman he loved.

— Basic Law by J. Sydney Jones

To see more new paperback titles scheduled to be published this month, visit The Mystery Bookshelf for April 2015. For new hardcover mysteries, visit New Mysteries where for a list of April 2015 mysteries, novels of suspense, and thrillers is provided.

Jinxed, A Jinx Fogarty Mystery by Kathryn Leigh Scott, Now Available at a Special Price

Omnimystery News is always searching for newly discounted mystery, suspense, thriller and crime novels for our readers to enjoy.

Today, we're pleased to present the following title, now available at a special price courtesy of the publisher, Cumberland Press …

Jinxed by Kathryn Leigh Scott

A Jinx Fogarty Mystery (1st in series)

Publisher: Cumberland Press

Price: $2.99 (as of 04/22/2015 at 1:00 PM ET).

  

Back on the comeback trail, actress Meg Barnes, beloved for her role as amateur sleuth Jinx Fogarty in a renowned detective show, assumes she'll star as Jinx in the revamped TV series, only to discover that a young ingénue has been cast instead. Meg swallows her pride for a paycheck to coach Chelsea Horne — until temperamental Chelsea goes missing before filming begins. Meg ignores the warnings from Jack, her FBI-agent boyfriend, not to do her "Jinx thing."

But when Jinx's iconic top hat goes missing and someone from her past is murdered, it's clear Meg's life — and more — is in jeopardy.

— Jinxed by Kathryn Leigh Scott

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Important Note: Price(s) verified as of the date and time shown. Price(s) are subject to change at any time. Please confirm the price of the book before purchasing it.

Officer Elvis, A Darla Cavannah Mystery by Gary Gusick, New This Week from Alibi

Alibi is a digital-only imprint of Random House dedicated to publishing mystery and thriller books.

We've selected one of their recently published titles to feature here today …

Officer Elvis by Gary Gusick

A Darla Cavannah Mystery (2nd in series)

Publisher: Alibi

Price: $2.99 (as of 04/22/2015 at 12:30 PM ET).

  

After performing at a local old-folks home, off-duty police officer and part-time Elvis impersonator Tommy Reylander smoothes out his pompadour, climbs into his pink Caddy, and gets all shook up — fatally so, when a bomb explodes. Whether he was killed for his police work or bad singing is a mystery that detective Darla Cavannah is determined to solve.

Though it's been several years since Darla (reluctantly) partnered up with Tommy, she convinces her boss to let her lead the murder investigation. As the new regional director of the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, Shelby Mitchell can think of better uses for his star detective's time, but not even the most hardened good ole boy can resist Darla's smart, savvy persuasions. She soon embarks on a roller coaster ride through the world of Elvis tribute artists while tracking down one of the most bizarre serial killers in the history of the Magnolia State.

Aiding her pursuit of the killer is recently reprimanded officer Rita Gibbons, fresh from the trailer park and described by Shelby as "half a licorice stick short in the manners department." But Rita's plenty smart, even when this case takes their suspicious minds in an entirely unexpected direction.

— Officer Elvis by Gary Gusick

See also the first mystery in this series, The Last Clinic, for 99¢ on Kindle.

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Important Note: Price(s) verified as of the date and time shown. Price(s) are subject to change at any time. Please confirm the price of the book before purchasing it.

Please Welcome Back Mystery Author Silvia Villalobos

We are delighted to welcome back author Silvia Villalobos to Omnimystery News.

We spoke with Silvia earlier this month to discuss her debut novel of suspense Stranger or Friend (Summer Solstice; March 2015 trade paperback and ebook formats) and we asked her to give us the backstory to the book, which is the subject of her guest post for us today. You can also enter to win a copy of Stranger or Friend by visiting this page.

— ♦ —

Photo provided courtesy of
Silvia Villalobos

In Stranger or Friend, Zoe Sinclair returns to Wyoming to care for her ailing mother, only to learn that her best friend Lori has been killed. Soon after, another body is found, and there are cries coming form the woods. The lawyer inside the woman is prompted into action, but she meets resistance from locals wary of outsiders. After having been gone so long, Zoe is little more than an outsider.

The mystery and suspense start on the first page and move deep into the story involving a cast of suspicious characters and dangerous events that affect not only Zoe, but people with firmly pre-established views on who belongs there and who doesn't.

The twists and turns lead to the surprising conclusion and revelation of who the murderer is, and why he or she decided to strike fear in the small town.

The story is sure to hit home with suspense-loving readers and present an all to real cast of characters with the kind of prejudice and harsh judgment that hide in every heart. In the midst of it all, Zoe Sinclair, the big-city lawyer, grapples with secrets and distrust. Can she really trust anyone? Is the man she's falling in love with trustworthy?

The Story Behind Stranger or Friend

Stranger or Friend is the culmination of two lives at a confluence of cultures: an Eastern European immigrant — the author — married to a California native of Hispanic descent. The result is a highly fictionalized story, an observation, of intersecting cultures, of newcomers and locals, the bumps along the way, discovery, rejection, and acceptance. This is the story of a woman going back home, only to find that home is no longer the place she remembers, or maybe never really knew.

— ♦ —

Silvia Villalobos, a native of Romania who lives immersed in the laid-back vibe of Southern California, is a writer of mystery novels and short fiction. Her stories have appeared in The Riding Light Review, Pure Slush, and Red Fez, among other publications. When not writing, or hiking the Santa Clarita Woodlands Park trails, she can be found blogging at Silvia Writes.

For more information about the author, please visit her author page on Goodreads, or find her on Facebook and Twitter.

— ♦ —

Stranger or Friend by Silvia Villalobos

A Novel of Suspense

Publisher: Summer Solstice

L.A. lawyer Zoe Sinclair finds her Wyoming hometown reeling from the murder of its most popular resident: her best friend, Lori. Not less unnerving are the strange cries coming from the woods. The lawyer inside the woman is prompted into action, but she meets resistance from a town wary of outsiders.

When a second body is found and Zoe is threatened, the case turns personal. Under pressure from the sheriff to leave the probing to the police, and taunted by the killer's subtle messages, Zoe finds herself trapped in a game of hunter and prey.

— Stranger or Friend by Silvia Villalobos

Today's Selection of Daily Deals for Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Omnimystery News is pleased to feature a selection of today's Daily Deals found on Wednesday, April 22, 2015 at 7:30 AM ET …

Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith

A Leo Demidov Mystery (1st in series)

Publisher: Grand Central

Kobo Daily Deal Price: $2.99 (price-matched by Amazon)

  

Winner of the 2009 Thriller Award for Best First Novel. Winner of the 2008 Strand Critics Award for Best First Novel. Winner of the 2009 Barry Award for Best First Novel.

In a country ruled by fear, no one is innocent …

Stalin's Soviet Union is an official paradise, where citizens live free from crime and fear only one thing: the all-powerful state. Defending this system is idealistic security officer Leo Demidov, a war hero who believes in the iron fist of the law. But when a murderer starts to kill at will and Leo dares to investigate, the State's obedient servant finds himself demoted and exiled.

Now, with only his wife at his side, Leo must fight to uncover shocking truths about a killer — and a country where "crime" doesn't exist.

— Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith

For more deals that may have been found after this post was created, see our Daily Deals page on Omnimystery News for an updated list.

Important Note: Price(s) verified as of the date and time shown. Price(s) are subject to change at any time. The price displayed on the vendor website at the time of the purchase will be the price paid for the book. Please confirm the price of the book before purchasing it.

Today's Selection of Free MystereBooks for Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Omnimystery News is pleased to feature a selection of Free MystereBooks found on Wednesday, April 22, 2015 at 6:30 AM ET …

The Secret Society of Like-Minded Individuals by Stuart R. West

A Novel of Suspense

Publisher:

Price: FREE!

  

Tourist Trapped by Molly Dox

A Poppy Pepper's Paradise Cove and Mini Golf Short Mystery

Publisher: Molly Dox

Price: FREE!

  

Never Dead by Wonny Lea

A Martin Phelps, Cardiff Bay Investigation

Publisher: Accent Press

Price: FREE!

  

The Detective and Mr. Dickens by William J. Palmer

Being an Account of the Macbeth Murders and the Strange Events Surrounding Them

Publisher: Diversion Books

Price: FREE!

  

For a summary of all of today's titles, plus any that may have been added since this post was created, visit our Free MystereBooks page. This page is updated daily, typically by 8 AM ET.

Important Note: Price(s) verified as of the date and time shown. Price(s) are subject to change at any time. The price displayed on the vendor website at the time of the purchase will be the price paid for the book. Please confirm the price of the book before purchasing it.

Review: The Stranger by Harlan Coben

A Mysterious Review of The Stranger by Harlan Coben.

Review summary: The premise of this suspense thriller is an intriguing one, and the first third of this book is compelling and strong. But then, quite suddenly, the narrative loses its way, almost as if the author couldn't figure out where to take the story but kept writing anyway, hoping something might materialize. (Click here for text of full review.)

Our rating:

The Stranger
Harlan Coben
Dutton (March 2015)

Publisher synopsis: The Stranger appears out of nowhere, perhaps in a bar, or a parking lot, or at the grocery store. His identity is unknown. His motives are unclear. His information is undeniable. Then he whispers a few words in your ear and disappears, leaving you picking up the pieces of your shattered world.

Adam Price has a lot to lose: a comfortable marriage to a beautiful woman, two wonderful sons, and all the trappings of the American Dream: a big house, a good job, a seemingly perfect life.

Then he runs into the Stranger. When he learns a devastating secret about his wife, Corinne, he confronts her, and the mirage of perfection disappears as if it never existed at all. Soon Adam finds himself tangled in something far darker than even Corinne's deception, and realizes that if he doesn't make exactly the right moves, the conspiracy he's stumbled into will not only ruin lives — it will end them.

Three Mysteries in the Atticus Fish Series by Shaun Morey, Now Available at a Special Price

Omnimystery News is always searching for newly discounted mystery, suspense, thriller and crime novels for our readers to enjoy.

Today, we're pleased to present the following title, now available at a special price courtesy of the publisher, Thomas & Mercer …

Wahoo Rhapsody by Shaun Morey

An Atticus Fish Mystery (1st in series)

Publisher: Thomas & Mercer

Price: $1.99 (as of 04/21/2015 at 7:00 PM ET).

  

Take one sea-loving captain, a drug-smuggling first mate, and a novice deckhand with a secret, and you have the motley crew of the Wahoo Rhapsody, a ramshackle fishing charter plying the Pacific's waters off the coast of Cabo San Lucas.

Captain Winston Weber makes an honest, if lean, living running fishing charters between Mexico and California, with no inkling of the fact that his first mate, Weevil Ott, is smuggling marijuana inside the yellowfin tuna stacked in the boat's hold. But when Weevil decides to skim a small fortune for himself, goons under orders from the mysterious drug lord known only as "La Cucaracha" descend upon the Wahoo Rhapsody.

What ensues is a madcap romp that will catapult readers from Cabo San Lucas to Tucson and San Diego, as Winston, Weevil, and an expat American lawyer by the name of Atticus Fish try to outrun La Cucaracha's bloody reach.

— Wahoo Rhapsody by Shaun Morey

El Dorado Blues by Shaun Morey

An Atticus Fish Mystery (2nd in series)

Publisher: Thomas & Mercer

Price: $1.99 (as of 04/21/2015 at 7:00 PM ET).

  

In the badlands of southern Baja, retired expatriate billionaire Atticus Fish finds himself sabotaging illegal commercial longliners from his one-man submarine, and schooling boneheaded tourists in civility. But when archaeologist Duncan Rigby gets kidnapped while on the trail of the legendary Jesuit Treasure, intrepid PI Toozie McGill enlists Atticus to fire up his seaplane and fly off in pursuit.

Finding the archaeologist is one thing; recovering the stolen jewels is something else altogether. Now that word of the Treasure is out, will Atticus and his sideckick, mescal bootlegger Skegs, stand a chance against the deadly wave of treasure hunters who wash up on Baja's shores?

— El Dorado Blues by Shaun Morey

The Crooked Pearl by Shaun Morey

An Atticus Fish Mystery (3rd in series)

Publisher: Thomas & Mercer

Price: $1.99 (as of 04/21/2015 at 7:00 PM ET).

  

The storied pearl beds of La Paz were long thought destroyed until a local fisherman discovers a handful of rare, red-tinged pearls and one extraordinary, enormous pear-shaped specimen. But when the pearls are swept away from the fisherman in a storm and stumbled upon by a vacationing American couple, it could mean big bucks — and even bigger trouble — for all involved. Enter dashing billionaire and beloved expatriate Atticus Fish. When he learns about the pearls, he knows he'd better intervene before all hell breaks loose.

Fish has worked hard to protect his beloved Baja Coast and knows all too well the kind of trouble that a discovery like this could bring to La Paz. Sure enough, it's not long before the pearls are swiped from Fish's seaplane (thanks to the loose lips of his friend, the infamous mescal bootlegger Skegs) and his beloved Cantina del Cielo is burned to the ground. Fortunately all of Fish's employees, including two drunken iguanas and a parrot named Chuy, are unharmed, but the message from the bad guys is loud and clear.

Now Fish and Skegs are off to find the thief and deliver some payback before word gets out about the precious pearl beds.

— The Crooked Pearl by Shaun Morey

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Diva Detectives, A Box Set by Various Authors, New This Week from Gemma Halliday

Gemma Halliday Publishing is a boutique publisher of light-hearted mystery, romantic suspense and romantic comedy novels, perfect for popping into your beach bag for a weekend away or cozying up beside a warm fire for a quiet night in.

We've selected one of their recently published titles to feature here today …

Diva Detectives by Various Authors

A Box Set

Publisher: Gemma Halliday Publishing

Price: 99¢ (as of 04/21/2015 at 6:30 PM ET).

  

From mystery authors Gemma Halliday, Jennifer Fischetto, Stephanie Caffrey, and Traci Andrighetti comes a box set of three cozy mysteries featuring fabulous female private investigators. These diva detectives always get their man … and catch the killer too!

— Diva Detectives by Various Authors

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First Two Books in the Man of Wax Trilogy by Robert Swartwood, Now Available at a Special Price

Omnimystery News is always searching for newly discounted mystery, suspense, thriller and crime novels for our readers to enjoy.

Today, we're pleased to present the following title, now available at a special price courtesy of the author …

Man of Wax by Robert Swartwood

The Man of Wax Trilogy (1st in series)

Publisher: RMS Press

Price: $2.99 (as of 04/21/2015 at 6:00 PM ET).

  

Ben Anderson goes to bed Sunday night, lying next to his wife in the comfort and safety of their Pennsylvania family home, to wake up the next day in a rundown motel in California — alone.

He doesn't know how he got there, he doesn't know where his family is, and written in dried blood on the bathroom door are the words LET THE GAME BEGIN.

Soon Ben is contacted by Simon. Simon knows all there is to know about Ben, more than he cares to remember himself.

If Ben wants to save himself and his family, he will have to do everything Simon says.

As the game begins — with stakes much higher than either man can imagine — no one knows where it will lead or how it will end.

Only one thing is for certain: this time the game will change everything.

— Man of Wax by Robert Swartwood

The Inner Circle by Robert Swartwood

The Man of Wax Trilogy (2nd in series)

Publisher: RMS Press

Price: $2.99 (as of 04/21/2015 at 6:00 PM ET).

  

Two years ago Ben Anderson woke up in a rundown motel, three thousand miles from home, his family missing, and the words LET THE GAME BEGIN written in blood on the back of the bathroom door.

Now, with his past life gone, Ben has become a soldier in Carver Ellison's army against Caesar.

But when a mission goes wrong and one of their team members is murdered, it's the last cryptic word spoken that will lead Ben and the team one step closer to the Inner Circle — a step that may bring them salvation … or get them all killed.

— The Inner Circle by Robert Swartwood

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New This Week: Red Tide, A Tony Lowell Mystery by E. C. Ayres

Omnimystery News is pleased to present a mystery, suspense, or thriller ebook that we recently found by sleuthing (as it were) through new or recently reissued titles from independent publishers during April 2015 and priced $4.99 or less …

Red Tide by E. C. Ayres

A Tony Lowell Mystery (1st in series)

Publisher: Booktrope

Price: $4.99 (as of 04/21/2015 at 5:30 PM ET).

  

An abandoned research vessel in the Gulf of Mexico. Five dead marine scientists who were tracking a furtive tanker for offshore dumping. While Government agencies squabble over jurisdiction for the killings no one is taking responsibility for the tanker. That unwanted task falls at last to Tony Lowell: a pot-smoking environmentalist and private investigator who knows the Gulf and knows how to sail.

Lowell is laid back as only a former Navy SEAL-turned hippy can be: a nonconformist who refuses to carry a gun. But he is now the last man left with skills and knowledge of the Gulf who is willing to face an unknown terror at sea and prevent a global environmental catastrophe.

— Red Tide by E. C. Ayres

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False Impressions, A Megan Scott/Michael Elliott Mystery by Sandra Nikolai, Now Available at a Special Price

Omnimystery News is always searching for newly discounted mystery, suspense, thriller and crime novels for our readers to enjoy.

Today, we're pleased to present the following title, now available at a special price courtesy of the publisher, Vemcort Publishing …

False Impressions by Sandra Nikolai

A Megan Scott/Michael Elliott Mystery (1st in series)

Publisher: Vemcort Publishing

Price: $1.99 (as of 04/21/2015 at 5:00 PM ET).

  

Montreal ghostwriter Megan Scott falls under police suspicion when her husband and a female companion are found murdered. In what a Québec detective calls a crime of passion, startling evidence surfaces to also implicate Michael Elliott, a young investigative reporter who'd rather rub elbows with scumbags than live the posh lifestyle he inherited.

Clutched out of her comfort zone, Megan is flung into Michael's dark world of criminal investigation. As they make a last-ditch attempt to prove their innocence, an elusive enemy closes in and threatens their lives. Who wants them out of the way and why?

Their only path to freedom is to catch the twisted killer before they become the next victims. But not knowing who to trust or where to turn can have consequences that are just as lethal …

— False Impressions by Sandra Nikolai

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