Omnimystery News is pleased to present a selection of newly published and recently released mystery, suspense and thriller titles — mostly from independent publishers — for Thursday, March 09, 2017.
Body Blow by Dan Ames
A John Rockne Mystery (6th in series)
Published: 03/07/17 by Dan Ames
Edition(s): eBook only
eBook Price: 99¢
Knitting Up a Murder by Celeste Bennett
A Yarn Genie Mystery (1st in series)
Published: 03/07/17 by Island City Publishing
Edition(s): eBook only
eBook Price: $3.99
Bad Debt by Jenna Bennett
A Savannah Martin Mystery (14th in series)
Published: 03/07/17 by Magpie Ink
Edition(s): Print and eBook
eBook Price: $5.99
See all 14 mysteries in the Savannah Martin Series for $5.99 each on Kindle. The 1st book in the series, A Cutthroat Business, is currently FREE!
Lucky Charm by Annabel Chase
A Spellbound Paranormal Cozy Mystery (4th in series)
Important Note: Price(s) verified as of 03/09/17 5:00 PM ET. 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.
The Shut-In by James Patterson and Duane Swierczynski, A Novel of Suspense
Publisher: BookShots
I know you're watching me …
Confined to a studio apartment, Tricia Celano watches the outside world through a flying drone. But when her high-tech toy records a vicious murder, she's determined to track down the killer — a killer who knows she's being watched.
— The Shut-In by James Patterson and Duane Swierczynski
Today's featured new hardcover mystery, suspense, or thriller title scheduled to be published during March 2017 is …
Oath of Honor by Matthew Betley, a Logan West Mystery (2nd in series)
Publisher: Atria
Logan West and John Quick are sent to Dutch Harbor, Alaska, to investigate the possible presence of a Russian black ops team on a mission to steal United States next-generation technology. The resulting violent confrontation triggers a global search for the stolen technology and threatens to pit the US against China in a looming shadow war and technology race.
As Logan and John — joined by the chief of the CIA's Special Operations Group, Cole Matthews — battle their way through Spain, the Mediterranean, and ultimately, across Sudan, an imminent threat arises at home that FBI Deputy Director Mike Benson must face and determine if it is part of the deadly global conspiracy.
Police at the Station and They Don't Look Friendly by Adrian McKinty, A Sean Duffy Mystery
Publisher: Seventh Street Books
Belfast 1988: A man is found dead, killed with a bolt from a crossbow in front of his house. This is no hunting accident. But uncovering who is responsible for the murder will take Detective Sean Duffy down his most dangerous road yet, a road that leads to a lonely clearing on a high bog where three masked gunmen will force Duffy to dig his own grave.
Hunted by forces unknown, threatened by Internal Affairs, and with his relationship on the rocks, Duffy will need all his wits to get out of this investigation in one piece.
— Police at the Station and They Don't Look Friendly by Adrian McKinty
Here is a selection of the recently discounted mystery, suspense and thriller titles found on Thursday, March 09, 2017 …
Just One Evil Act by Elizabeth George
A Lynley/Havers Mystery (18th in series)
Publisher: Penguin
Price: $1.99
Dead Over Heels by Charlaine Harris
An Aurora Teagarden Mystery (5th in series)
Publisher: JABberwocky Literary Agency
Price: $2.99
The Lost Concerto by Helaine Mario
A Novel of Suspense
Publisher: Oceanview Publishing
Price: 99¢
Girl in the Shadows by Angela Pepper
The Diamond Files Mysteries (1st in series)
Publisher: Angela Pepper
Price: 99¢
The Sinner by Amanda Stevens
The Graveyard Queen Series
Publisher: MIRA
Price: $1.99
S is for Stranger by Louise Stone
A Psychological Thriller
Publisher: Carina
Price: 99¢
Barking Mad at Murder by Jacqueline Vick
A Frankie Chandler, Pet Psychic Mystery (1st in series)
Publisher: Jacqueline Vick
Price: $2.99
Important Note: Price(s) verified as of 03/09/17 9:10 AM. 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.
We are delighted to welcome back author Nancy Boyarsky to Omnimystery News today.
Earlier this week we had the chance to talk about her new first in series mystery The Swap (Light Messages Publishing; February 2017 trade paperback and ebook formats) and today she tells us more about intrigue in her own neighborhood in a guest post titled "A Visit from the Bomb Squad".
— ♦ —
Photo provided courtesy of Nancy Boyarsky
As mystery writers, we dream up plots, then create characters to act them out. But in every day life, we often encounter mysteries of a different sort, if we take the time to be observant.
On my walks around my neighborhood, I’ve spotted some strange and even scary stuff. These aren’t the kind of situations I’d write a book about. But they stir my interest, and I find myself trying to puzzle out what’s going on. It’s kind of like the old game, “what’s wrong with this picture?”
One morning I encountered such a mystery while I was sitting in my breakfast room, reading the paper. I happened to glance out at our front courtyard and noticed something odd sitting in the center: a battered brown paper bag with something inside it.
How odd, I thought. Had I dropped a grocery bag on my way in from the store the day before?
I went out to look. I didn’t pick it up. Something warned me to be careful. The bag was obviously recycled, its top bent inward, so I couldn’t see what was inside. I remembered airport warnings about unattended bags. So, feeling a bit alarmed, I used my toe to spread open the top of the bag so I could see what was inside. It looked like an old-fashioned doctor’s valise, but made of cheap, somewhat worn imitation black leather. I stepped back, alarm bells ringing in my head.
You have to understand. We live in Los Angeles, paranoia central. To add to this, my husband writes opinion pieces for several political news outlets. Politics is a fairly incendiary topic. Understandably, whether it’s from the left or right, he’s gotten his share of hate mail over the years — varying from insults to veiled death threats. He never takes these seriously, although I’ve worried about several of the more scary ones.
OK. Back to me and the mysterious package in our courtyard. My husband was out, and I was alone in the house, completely stumped about what to do. After some thought, I called the LAPD police department’s non-emergency line. I described the package and asked what to do. There was a hesitation on the part of the non-emergency operator. Finally, she passed me on to 911 emergency. A male voice came on and told me, “We’ll be there as soon as we can. Please exit your house, preferably by a back door, and come out to the sidewalk.”
There is a police station close to our house, and it was only a minute or two before I heard sirens approaching.
The cops asked me to walk to the far corner of our block and wait. I watched as police officers knocked on the door of my neighbors, evacuating the entire block. We stood crowded at the end of the block, waiting for the bomb squad.
There must be a lot of bomb threats in L.A. because it was two hours before the bomb squad arrived. Meanwhile, my husband had returned and was waiting — with all our neighbors — to get home. Since we were the owners of the house and possibly targeted with a bomb, one of cops asked if we’d received any threats.
My husband admitted, that, yes, he wrote political columns for several websites. People of opposing views sometimes took exception to what he wrote. And, yes, sometimes he received threats. But, he insisted, they weren’t serious. These people were just venting. He didn’t mention a message he’d gotten from one reader who’d fantasized about watching us burn alive. But it was certainly on my mind.
Finally, after another long wait. A member of bomb squad walked to our end of the block and asked if we knew someone named (I’ll spare her the embarrassment of actually naming her here). Sure enough, she was someone I knew from the Botanical Artists’ Guild. Instead of a bomb, the package contained photo images of flower paintings.
I was completely humiliated, even though none of my neighbors seemed to hold it against me. To them, perhaps, it had been an adventure. I turned the bag of art photos over to a friend who was still active in the guild (which I no longer was, that chapter of my life having closed). And I suppose it eventually ended up where it belonged.
I never did figure out why the woman chose to leave the package in the middle of our courtyard without calling first, or why she put her note of explanation at the very bottom of the bag. I guess some people (like me) have a more highly developed sense of danger than others (like her).
— ♦ —
Nancy Boyarsky has been a writer and editor for her entire working career. She coauthored Backroom Politics with her husband, Bill Boyarsky. She has written several textbooks on the justice system. She has written articles for publications such as The Los Angeles Times, Forbes, and McCall's. She has also contributed to political anthologies, including In the Running, about women's political campaigns, and The Challenge of California by the late Eugene Lee. In addition to her writing career, Nancy has served as communications director for political affairs for ARCO. She is a graduate of U.C. Berkeley with a major in English literature. She resides in Los Angeles.
When Nicole Graves arranges a summer-long swap of her Los Angeles condo for a London couple's house, she thinks it's the perfect arrangement. She's always dreamed of seeing the real London; she's also hopeful the time away with her husband Brad will be good for their troubled marriage.
But things don't turn out the way Nicole expects: The Londoners fail to arrive in L.A. and appear to be missing. Then people begin following Nicole and making threats, demanding information she doesn't have. Soon, Nicole realizes she's in serious trouble — — but she can't get Brad or the police to believe her.
When the confrontations turn deadly, Nicole must either solve the case or become the next victim.
Omnimystery News is pleased to feature a selection of Free MystereBooks found on Thursday, March 09, 2017 at 7:00 AM ET …
The Magpie's Cry by Sina Melanie Bauer
A Novel of Suspense
Publisher: Sina Melanie Bauer
Price: FREE!
Executive Severance by Robert K. Blechman
The Twistery Twilogy
Publisher: Robert K. Blechman
Price: FREE!
The Mendelian Protocol by Raymond Finkle
A Novel of Suspense
Publisher: Raymond Finkle
Price: FREE!
The Picture of Dracula by Max Fiorelli
A Gordon Spada Mystery
Publisher: Virgibooks
Price: FREE!
Crème Brulee Murder by Susan Gillard
A Donut Hole Cozy Mystery
Publisher: Guardian Publishing
Price: FREE!
Marshland by J. W. Robitaille
A Cory Marin Mystery
Publisher: Cypress Highlands Press
Price: FREE!
Amended Ways by Thomas Sartain
A Novel of Suspense
Publisher: Thomas Sartain
Price: FREE!
The Charm of Revenge by Tom Secret
A Suspense Thriller
Publisher: Tom Secret
Price: FREE!
The Rx Carousel by Anthony G. Tebbutt
A Medical Thriller
Publisher: Creativia
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.
