Blackdown by D. M. Mitchell is Today's Featured Free MystereBook

MystereBooks is pleased to feature Blackdown by D. M. Mitchell as today's free mystery ebook (A Thomas Blackdown Mystery; Kindle format only).

This title was listed for free as of the date and time of this post, April 21, 2014 at 6:30 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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Blackdown
D. M. Mitchell
A Thomas Blackdown Mystery
Publisher: Agammemnon Independent Publishing

It is 1817, Regency England. Thomas Blackdown, a thieftaker and ex-soldier, receives word that his brother and father are in deep trouble and need his help. But Blackdown is a man that harbours bitter memories; a man banished from his homeland because of a terrible accident, and so is reluctant to return to his ancestral home in Somerset.

However, once there he discovers that his brother has been savagely murdered — torn to shreds, some say by a mythical creature the locals call the Blackdown Beast. Thomas Blackdown does not believe in any creature of fantasy, and is determined to bring to justice his brother's murderer, encouraged by his brother's fiancé, Julianne Tresham, and aided by the faithful servant Addison.

But Blackdown is quickly drawn deep into a complicated web of deceit, power, greed and murder involving Lord Tresham — Julianne's father — and the cold Sir Peter Lansdowne. What is the mysterious Lupercal Club? Why do ex-soldiers go missing from Commodore Pettigrew's travelling theatre? What strange thing is happening in Devilbowl Wood where Blackdown's brother was found mutilated? And does a savage, hellish creature really prowl the night?

Soon, Blackdown must fight for his own life and face up to his demons both imaginary and real. He will need all his wits and skills to survive if he is ever to discover the shocking truth behind the evil that has penetrated as far as the government itself.

  

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.

First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones is Today's Kobo Daily Deal

MystereBooks is pleased to feature First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones as today's Kobo Daily Deal.

The deal price of $2.99 is valid only for today, Monday, April 21, 2014.

Note: The price has been matched by Amazon.com for today only.

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First Grave on the Right
Darynda Jones
A Charley Davidson Mystery
St. Martin's Press

Charley sees dead people. That's right, she sees dead people. And it's her job to convince them to "go into the light". But when these very dead people have died under less than ideal circumstances (i.e., murder), sometimes they want Charley to bring the bad guys to justice.

Complicating matters are the intensely hot dreams she's been having about an Entity who has been following her all her life … and it turns out he might not be dead after all. In fact, he might be something else entirely.

    

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

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 Godoku Puzzle for April 21, 2014

A new Mystery Godoku Puzzle has been created by the editors of the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books and is now available on our website.

Godoku is similar to Sudoku, but uses letters instead of numbers. To give you a headstart, we provide you a mystery clue to fill in a complete row or column (if you choose to use it!).

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This week's letters and mystery clue:

A E G H I M N W Y

This famous author's last name is featured in the titles of mysteries by Michael Atkinson (9 letters).

We now have two weeks of our puzzles on one page in PDF format for easier printing. Print this week's puzzle here.

Previous puzzles are stored in the Mystery Godoku Archives.

Enjoy the weekly Mystery Godoku Puzzle from the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books, and Thanks for visiting our website!

Today's Mystery and Suspense Update from Big Fish Games (140421)

Here is today's mystery and suspense update from Big Fish Games …

• The New Release is Final Cut: Homage.

• The Daily Deal is Secrets of the Dark: Mystery of the Ancestral Estate, just $2.99 today only!

• The current Catch of the Week is Mystery of the Ancients: Curse of the Black Water, just $2.99 through Sunday, April 28, 2014 only.

• Today's Special Deal — It is Bonus Punch Monday! Receive a BONUS PUNCH with every game purchase, only on Mondays.

Visit the Omnimystery Entertainment Network for more games of mystery and suspense!

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The New Release today is Final Cut: Homage

Your father's projector appears again as a game-play feature, allowing you to switch between real-life scenes and the Director's movie sets. Save your family from certain death as the Director tries to immortalize them as works of "art". Beat him at his game of cat-and-mouse. And uncover the Director's true identity before the final credits roll!

A sample version is available to download and play for free for one hour.

Also available for this game:

• Get the Strategy Guide
• Check out the Blog Walkthrough
• For a more in-depth experience, see the Collector's Edition

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Today's Daily Deal is Secrets of the Dark: Mystery of the Ancestral Estate

You will have to challenge yourself as a professional who specializes in most tangled cases and defeat the darkness to rescue an innocent soul. Earlier you've already had a chance to investigate strange cases in ancient Thai and Mexico. Now it's time visit the Mediterranean coast and reveal the secret of an ancient family estate which was inherited by a young woman who is now begging you for help. Her life hangs in the balance and her fate is up to your strength and courage.

A sample version is available to download and play for free for one hour. You can purchase this game today only — Monday, April 21, 2014 — for $2.99.

Also available for this game:

• Get the Strategy Guide.
• Check out the Blog Walkthrough.
• For a more in-depth experience, see the Collector's Edition.

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The current Catch of the Week is Mystery of the Ancients: Curse of the Black Water

You travel to the remote island town of Black Water, investigating the mysterious disappearance of two archaeologists when you encounter a mythical monster straight from the ancient myths of Poseidon! What cursed secrets have these archaeologists unearthed beneath the town? Now it's up to you to save the world from falling into a curse of eternal darkness! Uncover the truth lurking deep below the island's darkening waters.

A sample version is available to download and play for free for one hour. You can purchase this game at the special price of $2.99 through Sunday, April 28, 2014.

Also available for this game:

• Get the Strategy Guide.
• Check out the Blog Walkthrough.
• For a more in-depth experience, see the Collector's Edition.

A New MystereBook: Murder, Sometimes by Patricia Lee Macomber

Here is 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 2014 priced $4.99 or less …

Murder, Sometimes by Patricia Lee Macomber is the first in a new series, introducing ex-NYPD, new PI Jason Callahan.

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Murder, Sometimes by Patricia Lee Macomber
A Jason Callahan Mystery
Publisher: Crossroad Press
Publication Date: April 19, 2014
Price: $3.99 (as of 04/20/14 4:30 PM ET)

Fresh off the NYPD, Jason Callahan has his own detective agency, a nice apartment, and a secretary who doesn't drive him crazy. Jason is happy with his life. Until he meets Trina Dane, that is. Trina is that crazy lady you always worry about meeting. She's also psychic. From the minute Jason meets her, he finds himself spiraling downward into a world of ghosts, spells and demons. But Trina is also beautiful and funny and Jason can't quite force himself to stay away.

Jason and Trina's first case: The repeated attempted murder of one of the city's high rollers. Alarms haven't helped. Even video surveillance can't seem to detect the would-be assassin. Now, it's up to Jason and Trina. Can they catch the killer before he succeeds, or is he something beyond human, something beyond capture?

  

Important Note: This book was listed for the price indicated on the date and time as shown. Prices can and do change without prior notice. Please confirm the price of the book before completing your purchase.

Sugar and Iced by Jenn McKinlay, New in Bookstores in April 2014

Today's featured paperback original mystery title, scheduled to be published during April 2014 by Berkley Prime Crime, is Sugar and Iced by Jenn McKinlay.

For a list of more new paperback mysteries, thrillers, and novels of suspense published this month, visit our Mystery Bookshelf page for April 2014. For hardcover titles, visit New Mysteries for a selection of books published during April 2014.

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Sugar and Iced
Jenn McKinlay
Series: A Melanie Cooper and Angie DeLaura, Cupcake Bakery Mystery

Sugar and spice and murderous vice. That's what pageants are made of …

Normally Melanie Cooper and Angie DeLaura wouldn't be caught dead at a beauty pageant, but when Mel's mom asks them to provide cupcakes for the seventy-fifth annual Sweet Tiara contest as a favor for her best friend, they can't say no. Plus, between cooking up a daily display for the three-day event and sponsoring a cupcake creation challenge for the participants, Fairy Tale Cupcakes will get great publicity.

But the world of pageants is even hotter than Mel's kitchen. A high-strung judge and a pushy stage mom target Lupe, a young friend of Mel and Angie's, at the competition and aim to take her out — by any means necessary. When the same judge shows up dead underneath Mel and Angie's cupcake display, Lupe is crowned the lead suspect. Now Mel and Angie will have to find the real killer quickly or Lupe may be strutting the catwalk in prison pinstripes …

        

From the Charred Remains by Susanna Calkins, New in Bookstores in April 2014

Today's new hardcover mystery title, scheduled to be published during April 2014 by Minotaur Books, is From the Charred Remains by Susanna Calkins.

For a list of more new hardcover mysteries published this month, visit our New Mysteries page for April 2014. For new paperback mysteries, visit The Mystery Bookshelf where a selection of April 2014 mysteries, novels of suspense, and thrillers are shelved.

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From the Charred Remains
Susanna Calkins
Series: Lucy Campion (2nd)

It's 1666 and the Great Fire has just decimated an already plague-ridden London. Lady's maid Lucy Campion, along with pretty much everyone else left standing, is doing her part to help the city clean up and recover. But their efforts come to a standstill when a couple of local boys stumble across a dead body that should have been burned up in the fire but miraculously remained intact — the body of a man who died not from the plague or the fire, but from the knife plunged into his chest.

Searching for a purpose now that there's no lady in the magistrate's household for her to wait on, Lucy has apprenticed herself to a printmaker. But she can't help but use her free time to help the local constable, and she quickly finds herself embroiled in the murder investigation. It will take all of her wits and charm, not to mention a strong stomach and a will of steel, if Lucy hopes to make it through alive herself.

        

New from Harlequin Romantic Suspense: Defending the Eyewitness by Rachel Lee

Every month Harlequin publishes several new novels of mystery and suspense. We are pleased to present in this post one of its new April, 2014 titles, published in the Harlequin Romantic Suspense series.

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Defending the Eyewitness by Rachel Lee
A Conard County: The Next Generation Novel
Publisher: Harlequin Romantic Suspense
Publication Date: April 01, 2014
List Price: $4.99 (ebook), $5.50 (paperback)

The note wasn't a threat, exactly. But for Corey Donahue, who'd witnessed her mother's murder as a child, it felt very menacing. Surprisingly, the one person she trusted to show the note to was a man merely renting a room from her — Austin Mendez. Traumatized since childhood, Corey had never trusted men … until Austin moved in.

Six years undercover had caused Austin to shut everyone out … until Corey. The vulnerability she hid from others made him yearn to break down the walls she'd erected around her heart. And with a killer closing in, two lost souls were discovering the trust they'd lost — and much more — in each other's arms.

  

A Killing Tide, A Novel of Romantic Suspense by P. J. Alderman, Now at a Special Price

MystereBooks is pleased to feature A Killing Tide by P. J. Alderman, now available at a special price, courtesy of the author.

The ebook format of this title was priced at $0.99 from the listed vendors (below) as of the date and time of this post (04/20/2014 at 1:00 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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A Killing Tide by P. J. Alderman
A Novel of Romantic Suspense
Publisher: P. J. Alderman

Kaz Jorgensen is used to fear — the anxiety of negotiating treacherous currents as she captains her family's fishing trawlers, the terrifying nightmares of the day she almost lost her life on the river. But now a man is dead, an arsonist has set the Anna Marie ablaze, and her brother is missing.

Michael Chapman knows how to take the heat — as the new fire chief of Astoria, Oregon, he's dealt with more than his share. No way can he afford to get involved with the sister of a suspect. But the scorching attraction between him and Kaz burns out of control, and when someone takes a shot at her, his protective instincts kick in. Whatever happens, he can't allow another woman to die because of him.

  

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.

A New MystereBook: Deadly Puzzles by Terry Odell

Here is 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 2014 priced $4.99 or less …

Deadly Puzzles by Terry Odell is the third mystery in the Mapleton (Colorado) series, featuring police chief Gordon Hepler.

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Deadly Puzzles by Terry Odell
A Gordon Hepler, Mapleton Mystery
Publisher: Terry Odell
Publication Date: April 19, 2014
Price: $3.99 (as of 04/20/14 12:30 PM ET)

Solving a crime is like piecing together a puzzle. But what happens if the pieces don't fit?

When Police Chief Gordon Hepler's doctor orders him to cut down on the stress in his life or risk losing his vision, Gordon books a winter retreat at a remote Bed and Breakfast. Hours away from Mapleton, where nobody knows he's a cop, he plans to relax and try to forget about his eyes.

However, traveling “incognito” doesn't mean he's left his cop instincts behind. His curiosity is piqued when one of the other guests at the B&B doesn't appear to be who she claims. Before he can explore the puzzle she presents, a man shows up, pleading for help. His car's gone off the road, and his wife is inside.

Although a blizzard is approaching, Gordon can't refuse the frantic man's request and agrees to help him search. Fighting the storm, Gordon and the man struggle down a ravine to the car. What they find turns out to be one more puzzle, and it's not the last Gordon faces.

Are they unrelated coincidences? Or part of one bigger mystery? Or is he seeing a crime where none exists? Well outside his jurisdiction, with his health at stake, Gordon wonders whether he should follow his cop impulses, or remember he's on vacation and let the locals handle it. When it becomes personal, Gordon has no choice.

  

Important Note: This book was listed for the price indicated on the date and time as shown. Prices can and do change without prior notice. Please confirm the price of the book before completing your purchase.

Amazon's TV Deal of the Week is 32 Season DVD Sets of CSI, CSI: Miami, and CSI: NY

This week's Amazon TV Deal of the Week is Season Sets of CSI, CSI: Miami, and CSI: NY.

32 seasons of CSI and its two spin-offs are on sale this week, most priced at $9.99 each with three of the more recent seasons of CSI — 11 through 13 — priced a bit higher.

This week only, save up to 80% on these season DVD sets. Offer ends April 26th, 2014.

  

Easter Treats from Anne Zouroudi, Author of the Seven Deadly Sins Mystery The Lady of Sorrows

with Anne Zouroudi

We are delighted to welcome mystery author Anne Zouroudi to Omnimystery News.

Anne's fourth "Deadly Sins" mystery is The Lady of Sorrows (Little, Brown; March 2014 hardcover, audio and ebook formats) in which the inimitable detective Hermes Diaktoros faces forgery, betrayal, and superstition, and the consequences of all-consuming rage.

In honor of Easter, Anne has provided us with two special recipes that you can make and serve to your guests: Kourabiethes (Greek Butter Cookies); and Kolokithokeftedes (Zucchini and Feta Cheese Fritters).

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Photo provided courtesy of
Anne Zouroudi

Kourabiethes — Greek Butter Cookies

These shortbread-like cookies are traditionally served on special occasions like Christmas and Easter. They're easy to make, and drenched in powdered sugar they make a lovely centrepiece for any family gathering.

Prep Time: 50 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour, 10 minutes
Yield: About 40 cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 lb softened butter
• 2 large egg yolks
• 1/2 cup confectioner's sugar, plus plenty more for dusting
• 2 tbsp ouzo, or rosewater, or orange-flower water — if you can't find any of these, use water. (Bergamot oil is lovely too, if you can get it — add a few drops to 2 tbsp water)
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup blanched almonds, toasted and finely chopped
• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda

Method:

Cream the butter (easiest using a food-processor or electric mixer) until it's light and fluffy. Add the egg-yolks and the half-cup of confectioner's sugar and mix until incorporated. Stir in the ouzo (or whichever flavouring you're using), vanilla and chopped almonds and mix again.

Sift the flour, baking powder and baking soda together and add to the butter mixture a little at a time until it makes a firm dough. Only mix for the minimum time necessary to form the dough or the cookies will lose their lovely crumbly texture. If the dough's too crumbly, add another egg-yolk.

Wrap the dough in cling-film and chill for about half an hour.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Traditionally, kourabiethes are shaped into crescents. Take a piece of dough about the size of a walnut, roll it into a log (not too thin), bend it into a curl and pinch the ends to form a crescent "moon".

Bake for about 20 minutes or until golden. Whilst the cookies are still hot, dredge them in confectioner's sugar. Be generous, but take care with the cookies, which are fragile when warm. The sugar will partly melt into the cookies forming a sugary shell. When they're almost cool, dredge them with more sugar so they're pristine white and ready for the table.

Kolokithokeftedes (Zucchini and Feta Cheese Fritters)

Easy to make and delicious, these savoury fritters are a great alternative to traditional Greek meat-based keftedes.

Makes about 12 fritters.

Ingredients:

• 1 large peeled potato
• 3 zucchini, washed, topped & tailed
• ½ onion
• 1 pack feta cheese
• 1 egg
• A few sprigs of fresh dill, or 1tsp dried – mint is good too, if you prefer
• Salt and pepper
• A little all-purpose flour
• Oil for frying

Method:

Grate the onion, potato and zucchini into a bowl. You can do this by hand (mind your knuckles) or use a food-processor. Squeeze any excess liquid from the raw vegetables.

Mix in the chopped herbs, egg, feta and salt and pepper, being generous with the seasoning.

Over low to medium heat, pour enough oil into a frying pan to cover the base. Form the vegetable mixture into small patties (if the mixture is wet, add a little flour) and dip in flour before frying gently, turning when the first side is golden brown.

Serve with salad and a dip of thick Greek yogurt or skordalia.

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Anne Zouroudi was born in England and has lived in the Greek islands. Her attachment to Greece remains strong, and the country is the inspiration for much of her writing. She now lives in the Derbyshire Peak District with her son.

For more information about the author, please visit her website at AnneZouroudi.com or find her on Facebook and Twitter.

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The Lady of Sorrows
Anne Zouroudi
A Seven Deadly Sins Mystery

A painter is found dead at sea off the coast of a remote Greek island. For our enigmatic detective Hermes Diaktoros, the plot can only thicken: the painter's work, an icon of the Virgin long famed for its miraculous powers, has just been uncovered as a fake.

But has the painter died of natural causes or by a wrathful hand? What secret is a dishonest gypsy keeping? And what haunts the ancient catacombs beneath the bishop's house?

        

Dead Love by Linda Wells is Today's Fourth Featured Free MystereBook

MystereBooks is pleased to feature Dead Love by Linda Wells as today's fourth free mystery ebook (A Suspense Thriller; Kindle format only).

This title was listed for free as of the date and time of this post, April 20, 2014 at 7:15 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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Dead Love
Linda Wells
A Suspense Thriller
Publisher: Linda Wells

When a terrorist attack is unleashed on a major US metropolitan area, the lives of a beautiful scientist, her military lover, and two FBI agents become intertwined.

As the government races to contain the spreading damage and the FBI closes in on the perpetrators, the officer must choose between protecting his lover and the oath he took to defend his country.

  

This is a repeat freebie, last featured on this site on April 16, 2013.

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.