Saturday, June 17, 2006

Mystery on DVD: Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang

Mysteries on DVDNew on DVD this week isKiss Kiss, Bang Bang Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang, a comedy-thriller based in part on Brett Halliday's Bodies are Where You Find Them, the fifth mystery in the Michael Shayne series published in the 40's and 50's.

In Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang, a petty thief (Robert Downey Jr.) is brought to Los Angeles for an unlikely audition and finds himself in the middle of a murder investigation, along with his high school dream girl (Michelle Monaghan) and a detective (Val Kilmer) who has been training him for his upcoming role.

Reviews of this movie, which was virtually unseen when released last year, have been uniformly positive. FilmCritic.com probably sums it up best: "Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang works as a buddy cop picture, a noir, and a straight-up comedy."

See more mystery books that have been adapted as screenplays at Mysteries on DVD.

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Friday, June 16, 2006

Mystery Hardcover Bestsellers (06/16/2006)

Mystery BestsellersA list of the top ten mystery hardcover bestsellers for the week ending June 16, 2006 has been posted on the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books website.

Though there are different books topping each of the lists (and their composition is strikingly dissimilar as well), there is only one significant new mystery that opens at the top spot at Barnes & Noble.com ...

Blue Screen by Robert B. ParkerRobert B. Parker's 5th Sunny Randall mystery, Blue Screen, teams Sunny with another Parker series character, Jesse Stone. In their review of the mystery, Publishers Weekly states, "While the mystery's resolution may be fairly predictable, the witty byplay between the principals and the convincing portrayal of their burgeoning relationship will leave Parker fans eager for the next book to feature Sunny and Jesse as sleuthing and romantic partners. "

Visit the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books often where we provide readers and collectors of mysteries with the best and most current information about their favorite mystery authors, books, and series.

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Wednesday, June 14, 2006

Mystery Book Review: The Tale of Cuckoo Brow Wood by Susan Wittig Albert

Mysterious ReviewsMysterious Reviews, mysteries reviewed by the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books, has published its review of by on its website. For our blog readers, it is reprinted here in its entirety.

The Tale of Cuckoo Brow Wood by Susan Wittig AlbertSynopsis
(from the publisher): Perhaps it's the gentle breezes that waft into Sawrey off the lake. Or perhaps it's the town's distance from big-city life. Whatever the reason, Miss Beatrix Potter loves the genuine warmth of her new neighbors. But even the kindest of souls can turn snappish when houseguests overstay their welcome ...

When Beatrix returns to Hill Top Farm from her parents' home in London, she finds the attic overrun with rats. Rosabelle, resident rat and generous hostess, has offered her family a place to stay. But when word gets out, she soon has dozens of rat families on her tiny hands. To get rid of them Beatrix invites some cats over—deeply offending Felicia Frummety, resident cat.

The town vicar shares Beatrix's problem—some pesky visitors have all but refused to leave the vicarage. Even worse, a mysterious, moneyed outsider plans to ruin the pristine shoreline of Lake Windermere by building a sprawl of villas. And trouble has beset three village children, favorites of Beatrix, who are counting on the help of the fairies of Cuckoo Brow Wood. Now, with her signature tact, Beatrix must work with her friends—human and animal—to set
things right ...

Review: "The tale I am about to tell you begins on a bright, clear, April-sweet morning in the Lake District of Sawrey." So begins Susan Wittig Albert's utterly charming and beautifully written Beatrix Potter narrative mystery, The Tale of Cuckoo Brow Wood. This book is the third entry in the author's series, The Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter.

Albert displays a wide range of writing talents in The Tale of Cuckoo Brow Wood. She portrays Beatrix's land between the lakes with amazing clarity using expressive descriptions and imaginative details. The story is an extension of the landscape and is an affable mystery with Beatrix Potter as the gentle sleuth. And there are elements of comedy as well: the scene in Dimity Woodcock's kitchen as she is serving "her" sticky buns is quite humorous.

There are several thoughtful additions to the book that make it even more enjoyable. A map and cast of characters act as an introduction to the tale. Historical notes and additional resources on Beatrix Potter serve as postscripts. Finally, a glossary of terms is both helpful and
informative.

The joy that Albert surely expresses in writing this series is abundantly evident in The Tale of Cuckoo Brow Wood. It is highly recommended.

Special thanks to Berkley Prime Crime for providing an ARC of The Tale of Cuckoo Brow Wood for this review.

Review Copyright © 2006 Hidden Staircase Mystery Books

Visit for other reviews of current and upcoming mystery books. The is commited to providing readers and collectors of with the best and most current information about their favorite authors, titles, and series.

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Tuesday, June 13, 2006

New Mystery Hardcover Titles for July 2006

New MysteriesA preview of new hardcover mysteries for July 2006 has been posted on the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books website. A few of the 24 new mystery titles listed in this first update ...

Dead Wrong by J. A. JanceJ. A. Jance continues the Joanna Brady series with the 12th mystery featuring the Arizona sheriff in Dead Wrong. The murder of an unidentified man found in the desert, all ten of his fingers savagely severed, haunts Joanna. Being a sheriff is no longer an empty title she wants to achieve -- somehow it has become what she is. Her job is to avenge man's inhumanity to man, and finding out who the victim was and why he is now dead is what she has been summoned to do with her life. Publishers Weekly states that "... Jance deftly brings the desert, people and towns of southeastern Arizona to life ..." in this solid entry to her crime series.

Pegasus Descending by James Lee BurkePegasus Descending, by James Lee Burke, is the 15th mystery to feature Louisiana detective Dave Robicheaux who is facing the most painful and dangerous case of his career. A troubled young woman breezes into his hometown of New Iberia, Louisiana. She happens to be the daughter of Robicheaux's onetime best friend -- a friend he witnessed gunned down in a bank robbery, a tragedy that forever changed Robicheaux's life. Can Robicheaux make his peace with the demons that have haunted him since his friend's murder so many years ago? Library Journal writes, "With his superbly written prose and intricate plotting, Burke's latest is sure to please his legion of fans. Highly recommended."

Vanishing Point by Marcia MullerNewly married Sharon McCone returned in Vanishing Point, the 23rd mystery in this series by Marcia Muller. The case of a woman who disappeared 22 years ago is cold, and the evidence McCone begins uncovering is chilling. Secrets kept for two decades now emerge to create a portrait of a woman who's perfect on the surface and anything but a paragon beneath it. And when someone takes potshots at McCone to scare her into dropping her inquiries, the detective's resolve hardens. Publishers Weekly states, "The story takes readers on a charming tour through the fishing villages of the California coast, while the tight, crisp plot surges relentlessly forward. The tension between light and dark, between surface happiness and hidden truths, raises this novel well above the common run of whodunits."

Kathy Reichs' 9th mystery featuring Temperance "Tempe" Brennan, Break No Bones by Kathy ReichsBreak No Bones, has the forensic anthropologist stumbling upon a fresh skeleton among the ancient bones in a Native American burial ground on the Charleston shore. Her old friend Emma Rousseau, the local coroner, persuades her to stay on and help with the investigation. When Emma reveals a disturbing secret, it becomes more important than ever for Tempe to help her friend close the case. The Fox TV show Bones is based on this mystery series.

Other new titles include the 22nd Bed-and-Breakfast mystery by Mary Daheim (Saks and Violins), the 2nd Alex Delillo thriller (Never Fear) by Scott Frost, the 3rd Frank Elder mystery (Darkness and Light) by John Harvey, and many others. And it wouldn't be summer without another blockbuster by James Patterson (Judge & Jury).

Visit the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books often where we provide readers and collectors of mysteries with the best and most current information about their favorite mystery authors, books, and series.

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Monday, June 12, 2006

Weekly Mystery Godoku Puzzle for 06/12/2006

Mystery GodokuMystery Godoku Puzzle for June 12, 2006A new Mystery Godoku Puzzle has been created by the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books and is 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!).

This week's mystery clue: The third thriller by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child to feature FBI Agent Aloysius Pendergast had this title (9 letters): B E I M N O R S T

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!

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Sunday, June 11, 2006

Profile: T. Jefferson Parker's San Diego

San Diego Union-Tribune writer John Wilkens recently ran a profile on author T. Jefferson Parker who sets his more recent mysteries in the San Diego area. Parker's latest mystery, The Fallen, is filled with enough local references to serve as a time capsule for modern-day San Diego.

The Fallen by T. Jefferson ParkerParker said it can be risky to write about a real place. “At times I guess you are asking people to love the city that you love and are writing about,” he said. “At other times, you're asking them to not like it because you are exposing things that are dark, even though they're fictional.”

Wilkens writes that some authors, such as Sue Grafton, use semi-factual places (her Santa Teresa is an approximation of Santa Barbara) and that gives them more leeway. But that approach doesn't work for Parker. “I like to be as specific and evocative as I can be,” he said. “I like it that way because it provides a verisimilitude for the reader than can be delightful.”

Parker, who makes his home in the north county city of Fallbrook, says his next book will hit even closer to home: It's set in Fallbrook. “It's about a private detective, a TV weather woman who can make rain, and a Mexican mafia kingpin,” he said. “All of them collide surprisingly and dramatically.”

Read the rest of the San Diego Union-Tribune profile of T. Jefferson Parker here.

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Friday, June 09, 2006

Game Preview: Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express

Emily Morganti of Adventure Gamers provided a preview of the second Agatha Christie mystery to be adapted as a PC game: Murder on the Orient Express. The first game in the series, And Then There Were None, was released late last year.

In her preview, she states that in classic Christie style, every passenger is a suspect, and it's up to the player to unravel the mystery. The basic interface is similar to And Then There Were None, and the pre-rendered scenes are infused with the same 1930's charm.

Morganti concludes her preview by noting that The Adventure Company, which is producing the game, has been attempting to sign David Suchet, the renowned actor who has portrayed Poirot in a number of television productions, to provide his voice for the game. However, negotiations are still on-going, so there is no definitive word on whether they will be able to secure his services.

Read here entire preview here.

Find more mystery games (PC, board, card, online, and more!) at Games of Mystery.

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News: HBO to Film Walter Mosley's Little Scarlett

Variety is reporting that Walter Mosley is adapting his Easy Rawlins mystery, Little Scarlett, for the screen. Jeffrey Wright and Mos Def have signed on to star in the HBO Films and Picturehouse production.

Easy Rawlins returns to solve a mystery in Little Scarlett, set amid the flames of the hottest summer Los Angeles has ever seen . Just after devastating riots tear through the city in 1965 - when anger is high and fear still smolders everywhere - the police turn up at Easy Rawlins's doorstep. He expects the worst, as usual. But they've come to ask for his help.

Mosley is writing the script; of the two lead roles (Rawlins, an unlicensed private eye, and Mouse, a killer who helps Rawlins crack cases), Wright and Def haven't decided who will play which character. There's no production schedule set for Little Scarlet.

Read the entire article, as published on MovieWeb.com, here.

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Mystery Hardcover Bestsellers (06/09/2006)

Mystery BestsellersA list of the top ten mystery hardcover bestsellers for the week ending June 09, 2006 has been posted on the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books website.

Not much change at the tops of the charts. However, there are always a couple of new mysteries on the lists including ...

Dead Watch by John SandfordFrom John Sandford, a new political thriller, Dead Watch. Early morning, Virginia, and a woman is on the run. Her husband, a former U.S. Senator, has been missing for days. Kidnapped? Murdered? She doesn't know, but she thinks she knows who's involved, and why. And that she's next. Hours later in Washington, D.C., a cell phone rings. The White House chief of staff needs Jacob Winter now. His chief investigator and an Army Intelligence veteran, Winter knows how to move quickly and decisively, but he's never faced a problem like this. The disappearances are bad, but when the blackened body shows up barbed-wired to a tree, Winter knows there is much worse to come. And soon enough, there is. Large forces are at work, determined to do whatever it takes to achieve their ends. Winter will have to use all his resources not only to prevail but also to survive. And so will the nation. Kirkus Reviews states, "Not as tightly woven as Sandford's best, but reliable thrills with some unexpected political overtones from a pro's pro."

Undead and Unpopular by MaryJanice DavidsonOn a much lighter note, vampire queen Betsy Taylor is back in Undead and Unpopular, the 5th mystery in this series by MaryJanice Davidson. Betsy already has plenty on her plate. For one thing, next week is her birthday -- the big 3-1 in human years, and one in undead years. (Yes, she bit the dust on her birthday last year.) On top of that, she still has wedding plans to finalize -- and it’s not helping that the prospective groom is avoiding anything to do with it. And then there’s her decision to stop drinking blood -- something she has yet to share with Eric Sinclair, her fiancé -- who also happens to be the vampire king. So the last thing she wants to deal with is uninvited guests, even if they happen to be the powerful European vampires who have finally come to pay their respects the week before her birthday. Some of them don’t want Betsy as their queen and will do anything to get rid of her.

Visit the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books often where we provide readers and collectors of mysteries with the best and most current information about their favorite mystery authors, books, and series.

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Thursday, June 08, 2006

Mystery Book Review: Consigned to Death by Jane K. Cleland

Mysterious ReviewsMysterious Reviews, mysteries reviewed by the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books, has published its review of Consigned to Death by Jane K. Cleland on its website. For our blog readers, it is reprinted here in its entirety.

Consigned to Death by Jane K. ClelandSynopsis (from the publisher): Jane Prescott's friends thought she was nuts when she left her high-paying New York auction house job and her boyfriend to live on the rugged and beautiful New Hampshire coast. Truth is, Josie wondered a little herself—never mind that her peripheral involvement in a well-publicized price-fixing scandal made the possibility of a new start incredibly enticing.

Things are looking better, though, now that she's got her own antiques auction business up and running and has made something of a success of her new life. That is, until she gets mixed up in murder, and the supremely eligible but emotionally distant local police chief seems to think she's the prime suspect.

Suddenly, Josie has a lot to lose and no desire to leave her new life—or the possibility of a little romance—behind. So she sets her mind on identifying the killer and making the best out of her unfortunate circumstances. After all, Josie is grateful for her second chance in life and knows a third is just too much to ask ... especially with a vicious killer on the loose.

Review: The hallmark of a successful author is to take a premise that's been done before, many times before, and make it seem fresh. Jane K. Cleland has done just that with her debut mystery, Consigned to Death, featuring antiques dealer Josie Prescott.

Cleland herself was once an antiques dealer, and her expertise in the field imparts an authentic quality to Consigned to Death. The descriptions of how items are appraised, valued, and even sold at auction are fascinating and are well integrated into the plot.

Authors frequently try to accomplish too much with their first novel, but Cleland strikes just the right balance here. She provides a background story for Josie, but wisely doesn't dwell on it, allowing the reader the opportunity to learn more about her in future mysteries in this series. The adages of Josie's late father provide a moral compass for her, but with at least one being invoked every chapter, one wonders how long Cleland can keep using them without getting repetitive.

Consigned to Death is an absorbing and impressive first mystery, and readers will no doubt look forward to spending more time with Josie in the future.

Special thanks to BreakThrough Promotions for providing a copy of Consigned to Death for this review.

Review Copyright © 2006 Hidden Staircase Mystery Books

Visit Mysterious Reviews for other reviews of current and upcoming mystery books.

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Wednesday, June 07, 2006

New Mystery Hardcover Titles for June 2006 (updated)

New MysteriesAn update of new hardcover mysteries for June 2006 has been posted on the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books website. An overview of some of the additional new mystery titles ...

The Casebook of Sidney Zoom by Erle Stanley GardnerWorking with the agents for the estate of Erle Stanley Gardner, Bill Pronzini will edit and Crippen & Landru will publish collections of never previously reprinted stories from pulps, slicks and digests by the great creator of Perry Mason. Available this month is The Casebook of Sidney Zoom. The Sidney Zoom short stories were published from 1930 through 1934 in Detective Fiction Weekly. Previously published is The Danger Zone and Other Stories, the 13th in the Crippen & Landru Lost Classics series and the first of the series of Erle Stanley Gardner collections.

A Garden of Vipers by Jack KerleyWhen a young reporter is found murdered, Mobile detectives Carson Ryder and Harry Nautilus wonder if there may be more to this slaying than a standard homicide in A Garden of Vipers, the third mystery in this series by Jack Kerley. Simultaneously, the detectives are drawn into the dealings of the Kincannon family, "picture-perfect" socialites and philanthropists with ties to Ryder's partner . . . and to his journalist girlfriend. When Ryder is abducted by bizarre and unknown forces, he's given up for dead by all but those closest to him. Digging fast as Ryder's time disappears, they discover a web of connections between the murdered reporter, the dealings of an elusive bearded man, and the charitable enterprises of the Kincannons. The question quickly becomes: What will the perfect family do to protect an image of perfection? Publishers Weekly states that "Kerley has a nice feel for the Gulf area, and his detectives are a couple of aces sharing competence, bravery and camaraderie."

Visit the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books often where we provide readers and collectors of mysteries with the best and most current information about their favorite mystery authors, books, and series.

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Tuesday, June 06, 2006

News: Book Passage Mystery Writers Conference

Book Passage is pleased to announce the dates and location of the 13th Annual Book Passage Mystery Writers Conference.

The conference will be held on July 13-16, 2006, just across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco at 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera, California 94925.

The four-day Book Passage Mystery Writers Conference has a strong tradition of great authors and teachers. It covers everything mystery writers need, from developing ideas and writing skills to finding a publisher. Students work closely with mystery writers, agents, editors, and publishers as well as investigators and crime-fighting professionals. In this conference, mystery writers learn the clues to a successful writing career.

The cost of the conference is $525. Optional consultations are available for conference participants with manuscripts in progress for an extra $95. There is an optional writing workshop taught by popular mystery writer Hallie Ephron on Thursday afternoon just prior to the conference. It's available to conference participants for a cost of $70.

For further information, visit the conference website. To enroll in the conference, please contact Tim Pearson, the conference coordinator, by phone at 1-800-999-7909, ext. 233, or by e-mail at tim@bookpassage.com.

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Monday, June 05, 2006

Mystery Godoku Puzzle for June 05, 2006

Mystery GodokuMystery Godoku Puzzle for June 05, 2006A new Mystery Godoku Puzzle has been created by the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books and is 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!).

This week's mystery clue: In Flammen was the German title for this mystery by Minette Walters (with “The”) (9 letters): B D E I N O R T X

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!

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Sunday, June 04, 2006

News: For Writers, Holmes Casts Long Shadow

Nearly 120 years after Arthur Conan Doyle wrote his first Holmes story, the game is still afoot, writes Kerry Lengel of The Arizona Republic. Exhibit A: any bestseller list. Seven of the top 10 hardcover novels in this week's New York Times Bestseller List are mysteries of one sort or another.

The Art of Detection by Laurie R. King"Anyone who writes crime fiction, who writes mysteries, is dealing on some level with the presence of Sherlock Holmes. You're always aware that there is the master in the background," says bestselling author Laurie R. King, whose latest mystery in the Kate Martinelli series, The Art of Detection, builds a modern-day investigation around the discovery of a "lost" Holmes manuscript. "One of the reasons that Conan Doyle was so hugely popular was that he more or less invented the serial mystery. . . . You could have the same characters again and again confronted by new problems," she adds.

Lengel also writes that pop culture has made Sherlock Holmes instantly recognizable, but for true Conan Doyle fanatics, or Sherlockians, the original supersleuth has spawned a subculture in itself. The Baker Street Irregulars fan club has chapters from San Francisco to Tokyo and publishes the quarterly Baker Street Journal devoted to Conan Doyle scholarship. "There's a lot of inconsistencies in the stories, because he wrote rapidly to make money," says Doris Dale, founder of the Desert Beekeepers, a group of Arizona Sherlockians. "So the people are still trying to solve some of these inconsistencies and some of these mysteries, and I think that's what makes them interesting."

Read the entire article, as published on azcentral.com, here.

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Saturday, June 03, 2006

Profile: James Patterson, Accidental Best-Selling Author

"James Patterson's life was an accident, a clashing of indecisiveness, a lost first love, and an idea that there were rules for ordinary folks like him. But at 59, there's nothing ordinary about the multimillionaire author." writes Brian Skoloff of the Associated Press, and as published on NorthJersey.com.

He adds, "Patterson has published 35 books, 18 of which hit No. 1 on The New York Times list of bestsellers. He's sold 100 million copies, grossing $1 billion in sales. His thrillers Kiss the Girls and Along Came a Spider have been made into movies starring Morgan Freeman as criminal profiler Alex Cross. More Hollywood deals are in the works."

Patterson initially took a job as a copywriter with J. Walter Thompson in the ad agency's New York office following graduation from Manhattan College in the Bronx. "My rise in advertising was another accident. I had no interest in really going up the corporate ladder at all," Patterson says. "I'd gotten my first book published. It got turned down by 30-some publishers, and then it won an Edgar as the best first mystery." The Thomas Berryman Number won the Edgar Award for Best First Novel in 1977.

Beach Road by James PattersonThough a prolific author himself, a few years ago, Patterson began working with collaborators to produce even more work. Patterson writes the story outline. The co-author pens a first draft. After a series of back-and-forths, a new book is produced in about half the time. His most recent book, Beach Road, was co-written with Peter de Jonge.

Read the rest of this interesting profile of James Patterson here.

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