Mysterious Reviews: The Best Mysteries of 2008

It's time once again to review (as it were) the best mysteries reviewed by Mysterious Reviews during 2008. It's a somewhat more difficult task this year as we welcomed a number of new regular and guest reviewers to our family of mystery readers. To keep things simple, we'll primarily focus our attention on the reviews of just one person, that being yours truly.

I don't know if this was a tough year for outstanding mysteries or I simply assigned the great ones to my fellow reviewers or maybe I was just cranky all year, but I rated only 4 books as best in class during 2008. In contrast, Betty and Wayne each rated over twice as many titles as 5-star mysteries. To be sure, when I compare 2008 with 2007, I rated far more books 4 stars this year, very good but just lacking something to elevate them into the top tier.

Enough analysis. Of the 75 or so mystery books I read this year, herewith are my selections as the best mysteries of 2008 (in alphabetical order by author's last name).

Curse of the Pogo Stick by Colin Cotterill

This fifth mystery in the Dr. Siri Paiboun series was an unexpected treat. I'm not entirely sure what I was expecting, especially after reading the publisher's synopsis, but I was inexorably drawn into this fascinating tale set in mid-1970s Laos featuring the national coroner. As I remarked in my review, "The story goes off in unexpected and delightful directions and is quite simply a joy to read. The author has a remarkable ability to introduce a rhythm, a cadence as it were, into his narrative." I was so engaged in the plot that the conclusion caught me by surprise. This is the first book I've read by Cotterill and if Curse of the Pogo Stick is typical of the series, it definitely won't be the last.

Read my complete review at Mysterious Reviews: Curse of the Pogo Stick by Colin Cotterill.

Blackman's Coffin by Mark de Castrique

It's always a risk when the author of an established mystery series creates a new series character. It seems to invite inevitable, and probably unfair, comparisons between the two. Yet Mark de Castrique, author of the so-called "Buryin' Barry" mysteries featuring undertaker Barry Clayton, did just that this year with Blackman's Coffin, introducing Iraqi war veteran Sam Blackman. And what a magnificent start to a new series. In my review I said, "[This] is a terrific mystery embedded in a well-crafted tale with a fascinating historical background, and is populated with richly drawn, interesting characters that readers will want to see again." While I hope de Castrique continues the Buryin' Barry mysteries, two of which I've read and reviewed, I'm really looking forward to Sam Blackman's next case.

Read my complete review at Mysterious Reviews: Blackman's Coffin by Mark de Castrique.

Head Wounds by Chris Knopf

This third entry in the Sam Acquillo series was another that caught me off-guard, always a positive trait for a top-rated mystery. I was expecting a more-or-less standard private eye investigation but instead was treated to what I said was "an exceptional novel, in both character and setting, but most importantly in how the plot develops." I was also caught up in Knopf's narrative style, what I called "marvelous examples of literary engineering", passages that in any other context would seem excessive or even absurd, but here simply added to the mystique of the story. There is an especially interesting twist introduced early that will certainly have any reader doubting exactly how the book will end. All in all, Head Wounds is an outstanding effort.

Read my complete review at Mysterious Reviews: Head Wounds by Chris Knopf.

A Grave in Gaza by Matt Beynon Rees

I read Matt Beynon Rees' second mystery featuring Palestinian school teacher Omar Yussef, A Grave in Gaza, early in the year and knew even then that "with its expressive narrative, intricate plot, and even its subtly clever title" it would rank among the year's best. As I stated in my review, this book is not a standard mystery or whodunit but a puzzle, and that "it is up to Omar Yussef to arrange the pieces of these disparate events to form a clear picture of not what has happened, that he already knows, but why it happened." Rees has a flair for immersing the reader into his atmospheric setting so much so you can almost taste the dust that lingers in the air. A truly exceptional novel by any measure.

Read my complete review at Mysterious Reviews: A Grave in Gaza by Matt Beynon Rees.

And now the lists of the best mysteries of 2008 from two of our regular reviewers (in alphabetical order, with links to their reviews, through the date of this post).

Betty's 5 star books: Diablo's Shadow by Mark W. Danielson, The Dark Tide by Andrew Gross, Orphan by Harry Haines, Silent Thunder by Iris Johansen and Roy Johansen, Twisted by Andrea Kane, The Clockwork Teddy by John J. Lamb, Wobble to Death by Peter Lovesey, First Daughter by Eric Van Lustbader, Shadow of Power by Steve Martini, The Marshal Makes His Report by Magdalen Nabb, Cezanne's Quarry by Barbara Corrado Pope, Mercy Street by Mariah Stewart, and A Pale Horse by Charles Todd.

Wayne's 5 star books: The Outlander by Gil Adamson, The Last Enemy by Grace Brophy, Anarchy and Old Dogs by Colin Cotterill, Garcia's Heart by Liam Durcan, Die With Me by Elena Forbes, Reconstruction by Mick Herron, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson, Rigged for Murder by Jenifer LeClair, Death in the Air by Shane Peacock, Eye of the Crow by Shane Peacock, Trumpets Sound No More by Jon Redfern, and A Twist of Orchids by Michelle Wan.

For more mystery book reviews visit Mysterious Reviews, a partner with the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books which is committed to providing readers and collectors of mystery books with the best and most current information about their favorite authors, titles, and series.

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Mystery Book Review: Different Paths by Judy Clemens

Mysterious Reviews, mysteries reviewed by the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books, is publishing a new review of Different Paths by Judy Clemens. For our blog readers, we are printing it first here in advance of its publication on our website.

Different Paths by Judy Clemens
A Stella Crown Mystery

Poisoned Pen Press (Hardcover)
ISBN-10: 1-59058-300-0 (1590583000)
ISBN-13: 978-1-59058-300-5 (9781590583005)
Publication Date: September 2008
List Price: $24.95

Review: Women working in positions historically held by men, including a close friend of dairy farmer Stella Crown, are being targeted by an unknown assailant in rural Pennsylvania in Different Paths, the fifth mystery in this series by Judy Clemens.

The loves of Stella's life include Nick, her boyfriend who has recently been diagnosed with MS, her friends, her cow farm, and her Harley bike. But trouble has once again come to her picturesque little town. Dr. Carla Beaumont, the town’s veterinarian and Stella's close friend, is brutally beaten and her truck containing medicines hijacked. Reverend Katherine Hershberger, recently hired over a male candidate, as the minister of a Mennonite Church, finds her office ransacked, and many papers and icons destroyed. Dr. Rachel Peterson, a local physician taking over her retired father's practice, is found murdered in her office with cabinets opened and papers trashed. Stella believes the actions are related and is concerned that she, being a woman farmer, could be next on the list.

The police, however, are going under the assumption that drugs are involved. But since the attacker showed aggression against the female minister, Stella believes her impression of the events is more logical. Though Nick arrives from his home in West Virginia to help protect her, Stella isn't sure that's enough. So she sets out to find the assailant before he, or she, can do any damage to her, her farm, or the two women who help her run it.

An obvious suspect is Carla's new boyfriend, Bryan. Stella thinks him devious and mean and more than capable of committing the crimes. But how can she investigate Bryan without offending Carla?

Stella Crown is a delightful, clever, and endearing amateur sleuth, and Different Paths is at its heart a story of close friendships in a small community and how important they are during good times and bad. It's also a story of love and hate, and how one can love yet also hate. It's both funny and sad, and, by the way, it's a very good mystery.

Special thanks to guest reviewer Betty of The Betz Review for contributing her review of Different Paths and to Poisoned Pen Press for providing an ARC of the book for this review.

Review Copyright © 2008 — Hidden Staircase Mystery Books — All Rights Reserved.

If you are interested in purchasing Different Paths from Amazon.com, please click the button to the right.

Synopsis (from the publisher): When Stella’s friend and veterinarian Carla Beaumont is car-jacked it’s just the beginning of a rash of vicious attacks on local business women. A truck driver, minister, and personal trainer are next in line for vandalism and theft, but the community is shaken to the core when the kind-hearted Dr. Peterson is found murdered in her office.

Stella, worried that she and her farmhand Lucy might be next in line, takes it upon herself to find the connection between the victims -- something other than their gender. Who knew about these women enough to go after them? It seems obvious that someone is targeting specific leaders in the town, and Stella makes it her job to track down the killer and get the good Detective Willard to stop the violence.

Meanwhile, Stella’s boyfriend, Nick, joins her on the farm when he hears of the danger surrounding her. Will he, with his newly diagnosed MS, be able to protect her? And does she even want him to? It’s hard enough that Nick’s younger sister hates Stella and what she represents, but will that be able to keep them from making the decisions about the future?

As Stella investigates she finds much that doesn’t seem right in her usually quiet town. Between her suspicions of steroids at the local gym, irate patients at the doctor’s office, and Carla’s brand-new boyfriend, Stella’s not sure which way to focus her attention. But she knows she must -- before any more women die.

For more mystery book reviews visit Mysterious Reviews, a partner with the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books which is committed to providing readers and collectors of mystery books with the best and most current information about their favorite authors, titles, and series.

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Mystery Book Review: The Molech Prophecy by Thomas Phillips

Mysterious Reviews, mysteries reviewed by the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books, is publishing a new review of The Molech Prophecy by Thomas Phillips. For our blog readers, we are printing it first here in advance of its publication on our website.

The Molech Prophecy by Thomas Phillips
Non-series

Whitaker House (Trade Paperback)
ISBN-10: 1-60374-055-4 (1603740554)
ISBN-13: 978-1-60374-055-5 (9781603740555)
Publication Date: July 2008
List Price: $9.99

Review: After he is enlisted by his pastor to find a missing church secretary, reformed criminal Tommy Cucinelle stumbles into more of a mystery than he bargained for. As his investigations lead back to a cult and a terrible prophecy, Cuicinelle draws closer and closer to the horrifying secret behind the group’s prophecies.

Thomas Phillips’ The Molech Prophecy features everything readers would expect from a classic mystery: thrilling adventure, plot twists, and even a little romance. But while The Molech Prophecy doesn’t lack any of the classic elements of mystery, it does include one theme not usually found in the genre: strong Christian faith. Cucinelle contemplates his relationship with God as well as his relationship to his criminal past throughout the work. Phillips has obviously worked hard to make the Christianity in this book non-threatening and approachable.

Cucinelle’s struggles with his faith will undoubtedly appeal to mystery lovers who also want to understand the mystery of God’s love. Tommy’s yearnings to better understand his own faith lend a contemplative, deeper element to the books sometimes shallow story, which might not fully appeal to readers who don’t share Phillip’s beliefs. As Phillip’s protagonist Tommy notes, the story of an anti-Christian murderous Wicca cult may not seem believable and interesting to all readers, Christian and non-Christian alike.

Yet, the religious elements of The Molech Prophecy by no means prevent it from being a fast-paced, exciting story that captures the reader’s attention and keeps them drawn into a thrilling story, although the plot's resolution feels rushed and a bit predictable. The book’s characters are likable and believable, despite sounding more like small town Christians than the reformed gangsters that Phillips intends.

In all, The Molech Prophecy is undoubtedly worth the read for Christians seeking a good thriller story, as well as for non-Christians with open minds. Although it is a little unsubtle, the book is exciting and fun, pulling readers into a tangled web of intrigue and an examination of faith and what it means.

Special thanks to Rebecca Henderson for contributing her review of The Molech Prophecy and to Thomas Phillips for providing a copy of the book for the review.

Review Copyright © 2008 — Rebecca Henderson — All Rights Reserved — Reprinted with Permission

If you are interested in purchasing The Molech Prophecy from Amazon.com, please click the button to the right.

Synopsis (from the publisher): Former gang member Tommy Cucinelle thought he had left his old life behind when he became a Christian. That’s why he’s surprised when his pastor asks him to use his old "skills"--finding people who don’t want to be found--to locate the church secretary after she mysteriously disappears and the church is vandalized. The police don’t have any leads.

Tommy’s investigation brings him face-to-face with unpleasant memories from the past that threaten his new identity, but inner turmoil is soon the least of his worries. A local Wiccan church is at the heart of the mystery, and Tommy’s search uncovers a startling prophecy about child sacrifice to the pagan god The Molech. When the missing woman's sister--and Tommy’s newfound romantic interest--disappears as well, the quest becomes personal.

For more mystery book reviews visit Mysterious Reviews, a partner with the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books which is committed to providing readers and collectors of mystery books with the best and most current information about their favorite authors, titles, and series.

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Updated Information for SleuthFest 2009

Updated information for SleuthFest 2009 has been posted to the website of the host for the event, the Florida Chapter of Mystery Writers of America. The conference will be held February 26 through March 01, 2009, at the Deerfield Beach Hilton in Deerfield Beach, Florida. This year's guests of honor are John Hart and Brad Meltzer.

Registration information and a program of events can be found at SleuthFest.com.

The Florida Chapter of the Mystery Writers of America call themselves a killer group whose goal is to help experienced, professional writers advance their careers and to support new writers on the road to publication. They host meetings and training sessions all year round throughout the state, and help their members participate in major events such as the Miami Book Fair International. The FMWA Chapter also publishes a newsletter, The Rap Sheet, filled with how-to articles about writing, publishing and marketing mystery-thrillers.

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First Clues Review: Sammy Keyes and the Hollywood Mummy by Wendelin Van Draanen

First Clues: Mysteries for Kids is delighted to introduce a new feature for our website, book reviews written by students. These students offer their unique perspective on the book in their review and provide a valuable resource to parents looking for new mystery adventures for their kids to read.

Sammy Keyes and the Hollywood Mummy by Wendelin Van Draanen
The Sammy Keyes Series

Random House (Paperback)
ISBN-10: 0-440-41866-6 (0440418666)
ISBN-13: 978-0-440-41866-5 (9780440418665)
Publication Date: May 2002
List Price: $6.50

Review written by Emma, Age 11, Grade 6. Date of review: December 2008.

Review: A train station with a lot of weird and suspicious people, a house filled with over fifteen ladies who are actors, and an Egyptian shrine dedicated to a lady dear to someone’s heart. If you do not want to hear anymore about any of these things any longer then do not read Sammy Keyes and the Hollywood Mummy. But hopefully you do, and the Hollywood Mummy would be a great selection for you. It is written by the great author Wendelin Van Draanen who has written the entire series of Sammy Keyes. This book is the sixth in the long series.

In the beginning of the story, the bold, brainy, sharp, sassy, nervy, and on-the-ball Sammy and her friend Marissa secretly take a trip to Hollywood without telling any adults. They are in search of Sammy’s mother because she escaped from Sammy and went to Hollywood a few years ago to start acting. They find her mom and she is living in a house with other people and they are both allowed to stay the night. But as they reach the house and get settled into it, something horrible happens and Sammy can’t help but to try to figure out what has happened and who did it. She must use her smart wits and vigorous persuasion to try to figure out who really did the crime.

I would recommend this story for 9-15 year olds depending on what kind of reading you enjoy. A really good thing about this story is that at the end of each chapter there is a ton of suspense. It always made me want to read more until one day I finished the book. Sometimes the suspense made me really think and wonder about what was happening in the story. I would always have a bunch of questions run through my head and try to predict what was going to happen next. That always made the book more exciting to keep reading. One thing that I did not like was that a lot during the story they would not tell or indicate who was talking at a given point. That made the story more challenging to understand and it confused me a lot during the book.

I wouldn’t put this book in the category of one of the best books I have read, but it is a book I would suggest if you need a short book with a lot of excitement in much of the book.

If you are interested in purchasing Sammy Keyes and the Hollywood Mummy from Amazon.com, please click the button to the right.

First Clue Mysteries is pleased to provide information on over 100 mystery series for children and young adults. Each series is conveniently listed under three different age categories (New Sleuth, ages 4 to 7; Future Sleuth, aged 7 to 10; and Sleuth in Training, ages 10 and older). If you have a favorite mystery series you'd like to see added to our site, please contact us.

All student book reviews are protected by copyright and may not be reproduced in any manner, print or electronic, without the express written consent of the copyright owner. Reviews are published here with permission of the copyright owner.

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Mystery Savings: Save 25% on 1 Item at B&N.com

Mystery Savings periodically provides our readers with current promotions that offer discounts or other incentives for purchasing mystery-themed products and services products through our partner websites. Below is a special offer recently received by us that we're pleased to pass on at this time.

From now through December 18th, save 25% on one item at Barnes&Noble.com. Just enter coupon code P7P7YPN at checkout and the 25% discount will be applied to the highest-priced item in your cart. This coupon code is valid from December 15 through 18, 2008, and is available for online purchases only. Click on the banner link below to start shopping!

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Mystery Author Don Bruns Featured in Delta Sky Magazine

Delta Airline's in-flight Sky Magazine features an interview with mystery author Don Bruns in their December 2008 issue. Bruns is the author of two mystery series, one of which, the Mick Sever mysteries, is set in sun-filled locales around Florida and the Caribbean. Bruns notes in his interview that all his travels throughout the region are research for his books, though the interviewer points out that the author winked while saying that.

We've had the opportunity to review all but one of Bruns' mysteries; our reviews can be found by clicking on the green book icon next to each of his titles on our Don Bruns author page. His next mystery featuring rock-and-roll reporter Mick Sever, Bahama Burnout, is scheduled for publication in early March, 2009 by Oceanview Publishing. He is also the author of the "Stuff" mysteries featuring James Lessor and Skip Moore, two 20-something underemployed best friends in south Florida.

We've also had the pleasure of interviewing Don earlier this year. You can read our conversation with him on Mysterious Reviews: Don Bruns Interview.

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Mysteries on TV: A Look Back at Murder One and Kidnapped

Mysteries on TV, your source for the most complete selection of detective, amateur sleuth, private investigator, and suspense television mystery series now available or coming soon to DVD, on Mondays typically profiles series that have DVD sets being released the following Tuesday. With the next new release of a mystery series not scheduled until after the first of the year, we thought we'd take the last three Mondays of 2008 to highlight some of our favorite series.

This week: two series that followed a single storyline for an entire season.

In 1995, ABC made (what was at the time) a bold move in developing a 23 episode season of the series Murder One that followed the murder trial of a popular Hollywood actor accused of killing a 15-year-old-girl. Fearing viewers might not return each week to the same storyline, ABC mitigated their risk somewhat by spending only part of the early episodes on the case while showcasing the trials of other defendents unrelated to the murder. Soon, however, the writers realized that the main murder plot was sufficiently compelling to devote each episode to the investigation and trial, and the side stories all but disappeared.

The casting for Murder One was spot on. Daniel Benzali was magnificant as Theodore Hoffman, the lead defense attorney for a high-profile Los Angeles law firm, whose quiet but authoritative voice commanded attention. Jason Gedrick and Stanley Tucci were both perfect in their respective roles, as Neil Avedon, the actor on trial for murder, and Richard Cross, the mysterious billionaire who was somehow involved in the lives of everyone involved. Other notable performances include Barbara Bosson as District Attorney Miriam Grasso and Patricia Clarkson as Hoffman's wife, Annie.

Murder One is one of our favorite series in that it works as both terrific television and has an intricate, twist-filled mystery plot. Unfortunately, this description only applies to the first season. For the second season, Hoffman was written out (on a personal leave of absense to spend more time with his family), replaced by Anthony LaPaglia as former DA Jimmy Wyler. And instead of a single case, several were covered over the course of the season. None of the stories were as compelling as the sensational murder of the first season, and though LaPaglia is a fine actor, Benzali as Hoffman was an impossible act to follow. The series was cancelled at the end of the second season.

For viewers who lament the recent trend of largely eliminating theme music from series television, Murder One has a mesmerizing Emmy-winning score written by Mike Post.

Both seasons of Murder One are currently available on DVD.

If it weren't for the internet, even the shortened season of Kidnapped may have never seen the light of day. NBC originally planned for a standard 22-24 episode season of the dramatic series to debut in September 2006. After airing just three episodes, NBC shortened the season to 13 episodes and then, after airing the fifth episode, announced the series was being moved online effectively killing it for most viewers.

One might read this opening paragraph and take a pass on the series. And one would be wrong to do so. Kidnapped is compelling television. The series starred Timothy Hutton and Dana Delany as Conrad and Ellie Cain, a wealthy New York couple whose lives are thrown into turmoil when their teenage son Leopold (played by Will Denton) is kidnapped. The Cain's hire an ex-FBI operative known only as Knapp (Jeremy Sisto) to find their son and return him safely home.

Viewers who start the series will be hard-pressed not to watch all 13 episodes in one marathon setting. We were prepared to view one, maybe two episodes every other day or so but after seeing the first two episodes, ending up watching it all over the course of 3 days. And then rewatching it several weeks later to see what we may have missed the first time. There are some minor problems, to be sure. The background music is far too loud and inappropriate for the first few episodes but gets better soon thereafter. The initial episodes begin several tangential storylines in anticipation of filling a complete 22-24 episode season, but many of these are left unresolved when the series was shortened to just 13 episodes. Still, reviewing the series as a whole, it's easy to overlook these early flaws.

The Kidnapped webpage is still accessible on the NBC website with background information on the series and characters. The individual episodes are no longer available online (at least, we couldn't find them), but Kidnapped the series is available on DVD.

Visit the Mysteries on TV website to discover more television mystery series currently available on DVD.

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Mystery Godoku Puzzle for December 15, 2008

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!).

This week's letters and mystery clue:

A E H I L N Q R U

This publisher’s Worldwide “Your Partner in Crime” imprint sells mysteries not available in stores (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!

   

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First Clues Mysteries for Kids: Skulduggery Pleasant

First Clues: Mysteries for Kids, your source for information on over 100 mystery series for children and young adults where each series is conveniently listed under three different age categories (New Sleuth, ages 4 to 7; Future Sleuth, aged 7 to 10; and Sleuth in Training, ages 10 and older), is pleased to feature another series of mysteries on our website.

The Skulduggery Pleasant mysteries feature the eponymous detective, a well-dressed, wise-cracking, living-dead, skeleton magician who takes on 12-year-old Stephanie Edgely as an apprentice, replacing her with a clone so she can devote her full-time energies to fighting crime.

The first book of the series, Skulduggery Pleasant, introduces the detective and his apprentice Stephanie. Skulduggery may be long dead, but he is also a mage who dodged the grave so that he could save the world from an ancient evil. But to defeat it, he'll need the help of his new partner, a not so innocent pre-teenage girl. They are quickly caught up in a battle to stop evil forces from acquiring Stephanie's recently deceased uncle's most prized possession -- the Sceptre of the Ancients. The Ancients were the good guys, an extinct race of uber-magicians from the early days of the earth, and the scepter is their most dangerous weapon, one capable of killing anyone and destroying anything. Back in the day, they used it to banish the bad guys, the evil Faceless Ones. Unfortunately, in the way of bad guys everywhere, the Faceless Ones are staging a comeback and no one besides our two heroes believes in the Faceless Ones, or even that the Sceptre is real.

The second and most recent book in the series, Playing with Fire, was published earlier this year.

These mysteries, recommended for sleuths aged 10 and older, are written by Derek Landy. For more information about the characters and the series visit SkulduggeryPleasant.com.

Watch the music video produced for the series below:

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Nintendo and HarperCollins to Publish 100 Classic Novels for DS

Last week The Times Online reported that Nintendo has signed a deal with HarperCollins to publish literary classics on the DS gaming device. The 100 Classic Book Collection, to be released December 26, 2008, will initially be available only for sale in England (Amazon.co.uk has it listed on its website), and follows Nintendo's recent strategy of trying to broaden the audience for its products. The suggested list price is £19.99.

For mystery book fans, The 100 Classic Book Collection will include The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle, Tales of Mystery and Imagination by Edgar Allen Poe, and The Moonstone and The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins. There will also be adventure thrillers by Alexandre Dumas (The Count of Monte Cristo and The Three Musketeers), Jules Verne (Round the World in Eighty Days and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea), and Robert Louis Stevenson (Kidnapped, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and Treasure Island).

Some news organizations (including The Times Online) are now comparing the DS to the Amazon Kindle. We're not entirely sure that's a fair or justified comparison. Still, it's a positive step for both Nintendo and HarperCollins to encourage kids who probably spend far too much time playing games on their DS to sample some classic literature including early detective fiction.

We're sure it won't be long before this collection of novels for the Nintendo DS reaches our shores and we will report on its availability as soon as we can.

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Games of Mystery: Mystery P.I. Portrait of a Thief, New for Nintendo DS

Games of Mystery, your source for mystery-themed electronic and board games, parties for kids and adults, and getaway vacations, is pleased to announce the availability of a new mystery game for the Nintendo DS. More mystery games for this platform can be found at Games of Mystery: Nintendo DS.

Become a private investigator in Mystery P.I.: Portrait of a Thief. Track an art thief to recover missing paintings recently stolen from a private collection. The game features 18 missions with multiple locations in each, including 9 DS-only locations. Collect awards, encounter new characters and keep track of suspects and clues in the case log while unlocking secret gameplay modes and mini-game free play. Mystery P.I.: Portrait of a Thief also provides a dual screen interface and touch-screen functionality.

Mystery P.I.: Portrait of a Thief, developed by PopCap games and rated E for Everyone, is the first in this series of hidden object games to be released on the Nintendo DS. Other games in the series available for Windows download are Mystery P.I.: The Lottery Ticket and Mystery P.I.: The Vegas Heist.

Don't forget to visit Games of Mystery for all types of mysterious fun!

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Mystery Savings: 50% Off Select Casual Mystery Games at Big Fish Games

Mystery Savings periodically provides our readers with current promotions that offer discounts or other incentives for purchasing mystery-themed products and services through our partner websites. Below is a special offer recently received by us that we're pleased to pass on at this time.

Earlier today, we profiled the new release of a casual mystery game from Big Fish Games: Agatha Christie: Evil Under the Sun. While learning more about the game, we also noticed some special pricing on other game titles including some mystery games.

The following games are available for 50% off the standard $19.99 list price as part of the Big Fish Games Super Sale: Interpol 2: Most Wanted, The Treasures of Mystery Island, Hidden Mysteries: Buckingham Palace, Redrum, Lost Secrets: Bermuda Triangle, and maybe a half-dozen other non-mystery game titles.

To get your 50% discount, sign in or create a new account, select the $19.99 price option, and then type SUPERSALE into the coupon box. Click "Apply Code" and complete your order. No end date is indicated, only the vague "Limited Time Only".

If you're interested in longer-term savings, all Big Fish Games may be downloaded and purchased for as little as $6.99 with the Big Fish Game Club Jumbo Pack.

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Games of Mystery: Agatha Christie Evil Under the Sun, New at Big Fish Games

Games of Mystery, your source for mystery-themed electronic and board games, parties for kids and adults, and mystery getaway vacations, is pleased to announce the availability of a new mystery game from Big Fish Games released today. You can find out more about these games from our Mystery Games: Big Fish Download Games page or by clicking on the links provided below.

Journey to Seadrift Island, circa 1940, where a strange chain of unconnected events has led to the murder of a famous actress. Now, Detective Hercule Poirot is on the case, scouring the dark and clouded relationships of the island's inhabitants. Carving deeper into the heart of the mystery, Poirot uncovers the truth behind ancestral ghosts and macabre cultists. Can he unravel the enigma before the killer gets away? Agatha Christie: Evil Under the Sun has an eerie, immersive adventure game environment with over 20 unique characters.

Agatha Christie: Evil Under the Sun may be downloaded and purchased for as little as $6.99 with the Big Fish Game Club Jumbo Pack. Due to the large size of this adventure game, a demonstration version is not available.

For a complete list of Agatha Christie games available for the PC, Nintendo Wii, or for download, visit our Games of Mystery: Agatha Christie page.

Other popular games on our download Big Fish Mystery Games page include several Agatha Christie and Nancy Drew games, games in the Mystery Case Files series and in particular the latest, Mystery Case Files: Return to Ravenhearst, Art of Murder: FBI Confidential, the Carol Reed mystery Remedy, Veronica Rivers: Portals to the Unknown, Mystery Chronicles: Murder Among Friends, and The Treasures of Mystery Island.

And don't forget to visit Games of Mystery for all kinds of mysterious fun!

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Mystery Savings: 10% Discount on $150 or more Getaway Gift Card Promotion Extended by BedandBreakfast.com

Mystery Savings periodically provides our readers with current promotions that offer discounts or other incentives for purchasing mystery-themed products and services through our partner websites. Below is a special offer recently received by us that we're pleased to pass on at this time.

We've been informed by BedandBreakfast.com that they are generously extending their offer of a 10% discount on Getaway Gift Cards valued at $150 or more through the end of the year. This offer is not available on the BedandBreakfast.com website, through direct e-mail, or from any of their corporate partners, but only through sites like Mystery Books News.

This gives you two more weeks to find that special bed-and-breakfast for a getaway weekend next year (or maybe a murder mystery weekend for you or family and friends). From now through December 31, 2008, make a Getaway Gift Card purchase of $150 or more and enter the reward code TRAVELGIFT10 at checkout (the reward code is case sensitive) to receive your 10% savings. Click on the banner link below to order.

[MBN note: You can check out the many Murder Mystery Weekend packages available from the home page of BedandBreakfast.com by clicking on the orange Search tab near the top and selecting Special Packages. We are still updating our Games of Mystery: Murder Mystery Weekends page highlighting many of these inns and are making slow but sure progress. We'll make an announcement here on Mystery Books News when we're done.]

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