Games of Mystery: Three Cards to Midnight Delayed to February

Anyone hoping that the highly anticipated mystery adventure game Three Cards to Midnight would be released this month will have to wait just a little while longer.

We stumbled across a forum post from one of the developers who provided an update on the status of the project. Originally planned for a November (then December) 2008 release, Big Finish Games now expects to have the game available in February 2009.

The information on the Three Cards to Midnight official website is (as of today) out of date but does provide more information about what promises to be a most intriguing game. Watch the trailer released last August below:

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Mystery Book Review: Cross Country by James Patterson

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

Cross Country by James Patterson
An Alex Cross Mystery

Little Brown (Hardcover)
ISBN-10: 0-316-01872-4 (0316018724)
ISBN-13: 978-0-316-01872-2 (9780316018724)
Publication Date: November 2008
List Price: $27.99

Review: Alex Cross is drawn into the ruthless underworld of Washington D.C. on the hunt for a man known only as "The Tiger" in Cross Country, the 14th thriller featuring the forensic detective in this series by James Patterson.

When Ellie Cox, a college friend of Cross, is killed and mutilated along with her family, the crime attributed to a gang of fearless, riotous teenage boys, Cross knows that he will hunt down their leader, a mysterious figure called the Tiger, no matter how long it takes or where it takes him. Anyone who was known writing about, or checking into the background of, an organization or individuals dealing in drugs, oil, money laundering, and more in the nation's capital become a target for this diabolical warlord. The cold-blooded, brutal murderers he had encountered in the past do not compare with the callous ruthlessness he would soon be a part of. Cross' quest ultimately takes him to Africa where he meets a reporter who had known Ellie and was also seeking information about the Tiger and his murderous escapades for the press. The person or persons giving the orders on what family should be killed next remains, however, a mystery. Alex turns to the CIA for help but their help is in short supply. Soon Cross the hunter becomes Cross the hunted in the decrepit, dilapidated, and decaying cities of Africa. He is arrested, jailed and tortured for three days, before the CIA is able to get him released. Cross sees the most horrible situations for men, women and children that could possibly exist. And he is forced not only to watch it as it happens, but to become a part of it.

Cross Country is one of the most perplexing entries in this long-running series. In many ways it is atypical and fans of the Cross mysteries may be disappointed that the plot is more action-oriented adventure than psychological thriller. As in previous books, Cross is expected to deal with the worst kind of criminal, but here, the images evoked are far more horrific than anything previously written. It's really overwhelming. One might wish that Cross finally marry his sweetheart and take Nana and the kids on a long vacation together somewhere sunny and warm, far away from what he experiences here, and leave the horror of murder to someone else. But what makes Cross such a powerful character in crime fiction is that he perseveres, always certain that his work makes a difference, if only to just one person.

Special thanks to guest reviewer Betty of The Betz Review for contributing her review of Cross Country and to Margo Nauert for providing a copy of the book for this review.

Review Copyright © 2009 — Hidden Staircase Mystery Books — All Rights Reserved.

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

Synopsis (from the publisher): When the home of Alex Cross's oldest friend, Ellie Cox, is turned into the worst murder scene Alex has ever seen, the destruction leads him to believe that he's chasing a horrible new breed of killer. As Alex and his girlfriend, Brianna Stone, become entangled in the deadly Nigerian underworld of Washington D.C., what they discover is shocking: a stunningly organized gang of lethal teenagers headed by a powerful, diabolical man-the African warlord known as the Tiger. Just when the detectives think they're closing in on the elusive murderer, the Tiger disappears into thin air. Tracking him to Africa, Alex knows that he must follow. Alone.

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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Games of Mystery: A New Murder Mystery Party for Valentine's Day

Games of Mystery, your source for mystery-themed games, parties, and vacations, has some suggestions for your next holiday party.

We recently offered three suggestions for mystery parties appropriate for Valentine's Day, and we're pleased to announce a new one just made available.

Join the guests at Rosie Valentine’s Party to celebrate of the purchase of her latest novel, Heartbreak to Heaven, by movie mogul Hugh Hadaway. The evening is filled with high spirits, fun and laughter. That is until the party is disrupted by the revelation of a real broken heart!

A Broken Heart Murder on Valentine's Day is a simple to use murder mystery. It’s a great way to have lots of fun and entertain your guests. How exciting to celebrate Valentine’s Day with the trivia and dancing that is included, and of course a murder! Everyone is a suspect, so come join the fun!

This Valentine's Day themed murder mystery party is designed for 6 to 14 guests, aged 18 and older. The party is rated M.

And if you need costumes for your Valentine's Day party, visit BuyCostumes.com for the best selection of adults and kids costumes, accessories, masks, and more. You can also find all your party needs there including supplies, decorations, and props.

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Harlequin and Big Fish Games Announce Partnership

In a press release issued this morning, Harlequin and Big Fish Games announced a joint licensing partnership.

Under the terms of the agreement, in the summer of 2009, Big Fish Games will begin publishing interactive games inspired by Harlequin Presents, the most popular romance-novel series in the world, which regularly tops eRetailer and retail bookstore bestseller lists. These games will be sold on line exclusively at BigFishGames.com and at all major retail stores.

In the second quarter of 2010, Harlequin will begin publishing a branded series of books inspired by Mystery Case Files, Big Fish Games' award-winning franchise with over 3 million units sold. These novels will be written by Harlequin's bestselling authors. Harlequin will be the first to publish women's mystery fiction for Big Fish Games.

You can discover all mystery-themed games available from Big Fish Games by visiting Games of Mystery: Big Fish Games. A separate page on the site provides information on the Mystery Case Files series.

Visit eHarlequin.com for more information about their series of books, including their Worldwide Mysteries and Suspense Book Club. You can also get subscriber-only offers by signing up for free email newsletters from eHarlequin.com.

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AgathaChristie.com Launches New American Site

The estate of Agatha Christie has just relaunched the author's website, AgathaChristie.com, for the American audience with new features and an emphasis on engaging the visitor into the world of the famous writer.

First time visitors will appreciate the wealth of information available, from background information on Christie's characters (and even a couple of sidekicks) to brief synopses of all the books and stories.

We found the suggested reading order for Christie to be particularly informative. The guidelines suggest it is possible to read, for example, Poirot in any order but note the following points: Read Curtain last, Lord Edgware Dies should be read before After the Funeral, Five Little Pigs should be read before Elephants Can Remember, Cat Among the Pigeons should be read before Hallowe’en Party, Mrs McGinty’s Dead should be read before Hallowe’en Party and Elephants Can Remember, and Murder on the Orient Express should be read before Murder in Mesopotamia. The guidelines for Miss Marple aren't nearly so complicated but they do recommend reading the books out of publication order for maximum enjoyment.

The site has a shop but we'd like to recommend you take a look at some of our own pages for Agatha Christie movies, games, and books.
Agatha Christie DVDs are available at Mysteries on TV in the following categories: Agatha Christie's Poirot, Agatha Christie Marple, and Agatha Christie's Tommy & Tuppence, Partners in Crime.

Agatha Christie games for the PC, Wii, and download are available at Games of Mystery: Agatha Christie.

Agatha Christie books may be searched at Amazon.com using this link: Agatha Christie books.

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Mystery Bestsellers for January 23, 2009

A list of the top 15 mystery hardcover bestsellers for the week ending January 23, 2009 has been posted on the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books website.

The third between-the-numbers mystery featuring New Jersey bounty hunter Stephanie Plum, Plum Spooky by Janet Evanovich retains the top spot this week with some shuffling in the order among last week's top six.

New this week at number 7 is Josh Bazell's debut mystery, Beat the Reaper. Meet Peter Brown, a young Manhattan emergency room doctor with an unusual past that is just about to catch up with him. His morning begins with the quick disarming of a would-be mugger, followed by a steamy elevator encounter with a sexy young pharmaceutical rep, topped off by a visit with a new patient -- and from there Peter's day is going to get a whole lot worse and a whole lot weirder. Because that patient knows Peter from his other life, when he had a different name and a very different job. The only reason he's a doctor now is thanks to the Witness Protection Program -- and even they can't protect him from the long reach of the New Jersey mob. Now he's got to do whatever it takes to keep his patient alive so he can buy some time ... and beat the reaper. Publishers Weekly calls Beat the Reaper "[a] breezy and darkly comic suspense novel" and adds "The hero's wry narrative voice, coupled with Bazells artful use of flashbacks to sustain tension and fill in Pietro's past, are a winning combination."

New in the top 15 this week, but actually debuting on the list last week, is the latest topical thriller from Richard North Patterson, Eclipse. Damon Pierce’s life has just reached a defining moment: a gifted California lawyer, he’s being divorced by his wife and his work often seems soulless. Then he receives a frantic e-mail from Marissa Brand Okari -- a woman he loved years ago -- and decides to risk everything to respond to her plea for help. Marissa’s husband, Bobby Okari, is the charismatic leader of a freedom movement in the volatile west African nation of Luandia, which is being torn apart by the world’s craving for its vast supply of oil. Bobby’s outspoken opposition to the exploitation of his homeland by PetroGlobal -- a giant American oil company with close ties to Luandia’s brutal government -- has enraged General Savior Karama, the country’s autocratic ruler. After Bobby leads a protest rally during a full eclipse of the sun, everyone in his home village is massacred by government troops. And now Bobby has been arrested and charged with the murder of three PetroGlobal workers. Still drawn to Marissa, Pierce agrees to defend Bobby, hoping to save both Bobby and Marissa from almost certain death. But the lethal politics of Luandia may cost Pierce his life instead. Getting a starred review from Publishers Weekly which said "This stellar legal thriller ... both informs and entertains", adding "Patterson has exerted all his considerable skill in creating a nightmare atmosphere that will cling to readers long after the last page is turned."

Finally, in 15th position is Mounting Fears, the 7th Will Lee political thriller by Stuart Woods. President Lee is having a rough week. As he prepares for the upcoming election, the usually cool and collected President has several crises going on at once, from loose nukes to a close political ally with skeletons in his closet. And as if that weren’t enough, Kate Rule Lee, his first lady and CIA director, is contending with another threat: the return of a dangerous and unusually cunning fugitive Teddy Fay. There’s plenty of the usual trouble to be found in Washington, from double-crossing political appointees to an impending sex scandal. But with the threat from abroad looming, the President puts every resource he has -- including Lance Cabot and Holly Barker -- into damage control as the clock ticks down to election night. From the seedy world of muckraking journalism to the murderous hotspots of Central America, there’s enough intrigue to keep even the sharpest and most daring of intelligence agents on edge.

On our bestseller page, we've added an icon next to every title that is available for immediate download onto the Amazon Kindle. To learn about this wireless reading device, visit the Amazon Kindle page for more information.

The top four mystery bestsellers this week are shown below:

Please visit the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books where we are 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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Jesse Stone: Thin Ice Scheduled to Air on CBS March 1st

CBS has finally set a date for Jesse Stone: Thin Ice: Sunday, March 1st, from 9 to 11 PM (ET). Tom Selleck returns as the Paradise (MA) chief of police.

The series is based on the character created by mystery author Robert B. Parker. Jesse Stone: Thin Ice is the first of the made-for-television movies not to be based on one of the Parker novels.

In Jesse Stone: Thin Ice, Jesse Stone finds himself in trouble with the Town Council when he inadvertently becomes involved in a shoot-out on a Boston street. His friend, State Homicide Commander Healy, is seriously wounded and Jesse comes under investigation by the Boston Police Department's Internal Affairs Division, which causes him to be away from Paradise for extended periods of time.

Jesse further alienates the Council by firing the Paradise Police Department's most prodigious ticket writer, resulting in a considerable loss of revenue for the town. His issues with the Council are further exacerbated when a celebrated out-of-towner shows up in Paradise in search of her missing child, and Jesse agrees to take her case. His continued defiance of the Council's wishes now begins to jeopardize his very job.

Kathy Baker and Kohl Sudduth reprise their roles as the only police officers in Paradise.

The previous four movies are available on DVD from Mysteries on TV: Jesse Stone.

A sixth movie, Jesse Stone: No Remorse, has already been ordered by CBS and wrapped up production last November.

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Games of Mystery: Natalie Brooks, The Treasure of the Lost Kingdom, 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 by visiting our Mystery Games: Big Fish Download Games page or by clicking on the links provided below.

Famous teenage detective Natalie Brooks is back in an all-new adventure that will thrill players of the original and win new fans! In Treasures of the Lost Kingdom, Natalie faces the seemingly impossible task of saving her grandfather, a renowned archaeologist, from kidnappers holding him ransom for an ancient treasure map. She has just 24 hours to find the map, solve the mystery of a terrible curse and unmask the truth behind a legendary ghost train! With 7 full chapters of gameplay, her quest is nearly twice as long and includes several exhilarating mini-games.

Natalie Brooks: Treasures of the Lost Kingdom may be downloaded and purchased for as little as $6.99 with the Big Fish Game Club Jumbo Pack. A demonstration version (87.29 MB) may be downloaded and played for one hour for free.

Watch a preview video below:

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, Adventure Chronicles: The Search for Lost Treasure, the Carol Reed mystery Remedy, Mystery Legends: Sleepy Hollow, Mystery Chronicles: Murder Among Friends, and Lost Realms: Legacy of the Sun Princess.

Big Fish Games: Bestsellers

Big Fish Games: New releases

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

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First Clues, Mysteries for Kids: The Milo & Jazz Mysteries

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 Milo & Jazz Mysteries feature two friends who, with the help of master detective Dash Marlowe, track down clues, stake out suspects, and learn all the skills they need to become top-notch detectives.

The first two books in the series are scheduled for publication early next month. In The Case of the Stinky Socks, the Wildcats’ star pitcher is missing his lucky socks, and his pitching is going to pieces! Can detective duo Milo and Jazz find the thief -- before the big game? And in The Case of the Poisoned Pig Milo and Jazz have to find out the identity of a mysterious pig poisoner. There’s no time to lose! Two additional books (The Case of the Haunted Haunted House and The Case of the Amazing Zelda) are scheduled for publication later this year.

These early chapter mysteries, written by Lewis B. Montgomery and illustrated by Ann Wummer, are recommended for future sleuths aged 7 to 10.

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Mystery Book Review: Ruins of Grandeur by Donald G. Geddes, III

Mysterious Reviews, mysteries reviewed by the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books, is publishing a new review of Ruins of Grandeur by Donald G. Geddes, III. For our blog readers, we are printing it first here in advance of its publication on our website.

Ruins of Grandeur by Donald G. Geddes, III
A Peter Grant Mystery

Morgana Press (Hardcover)
ISBN-10: 0-9773514-9-1 (0977351491)
ISBN-13: 978-0-9773514-9-7 (9780977351497)
Publication Date: October 2008
List Price: $17.95

Review: Donald G. Geddes, III, introduces Peter Grant on the trail of a stolen masterpiece in Venice in Ruins of Grandeur, the first of a trilogy of mysteries featuring the international art sleuth.

Peter is hired by Lloyd's of London to recover a missing Bellini, a masterpiece presumably stolen from a Duke's residence in Venice. Peter's ex-wife happens to live in Venice, but upon arrival he's disappointed to learn she's vacationing elsewhere on the Continent. He quickly discovers that the missing painting is just one of a large number of religious artifacts that have recently disappeared, including one taken from a monk who was killed in Venice while returning to Rome from Murano. The police have no suspects until Peter is presented as one when the police convince him to pose as a thief and then a dead woman turns up in his apartment. Pursued by the police and by the real criminals who believe he knows too much, Peter must save himself before he's a victim himself.

Ruins of Grandeur tries to be light, romantic comedy as well as serious suspense fiction coupled with international action intrigue but never quite strikes the right balance between any of them. Peter Grant is clearly patterned after the ever-suave Cary Grant (the similarity in their names almost certainly not a coincidence) and the plot seems written more as the basis for a screenplay than as a novel. The Venice setting is spendidly descriptive and most of the characters are creatively drawn if a bit shallow and stereotypical. But the story lacks substance and after adopting a decidedly leisurely pace for much of the narrative, the ending is overly rushed which may be an attempt disguise the fact that the resolution to the various crimes is quite illogical. On balance, though, Ruins of Grandeur is a pleasantly entertaining if undemanding mystery.

Special thanks to Morgana Press for providing a copy of Ruins of Grandeur for this review.

Review Copyright © 2009 — Hidden Staircase Mystery Books — All Rights Reserved.

If you are interested in purchasing Ruins of Grandeur from Amazon.com, please click the button to the right.

Synopsis (from the publisher): New York art sleuth Peter Grant is summoned to Venice by Lloyd's of London to recover a priceless Giovanni Bellini original masterpiece stolen from an Austrian Archduke's seventeenth-century palazzo.
Under the charm, elegance and decadence of the winged lion's dark-edged renaissance city, Peter pursues reconciliation with his beautiful estranged wife, Claire. Meanwhile what seems a case of simple art theft spirals into a depraved conspiracy and Peter finds himself swept into the deep, troubled waters of holiness, debauchery, theft and murder.

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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Games of Mystery: Natalie Brooks in The Treasure of the Lost Kingdom, New at PlayFirst 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 a special price for a mystery game available from PlayFirst Games. You can find out more about these games from our Mystery Games: PlayFirst Download Games page or by clicking on the links provided below.

Famous teenage detective Natalie Brooks is back in an all-new hidden object adventure in Natalie Brooks: The Treasure of the Lost Kingdom. Natalie faces a seemingly impossible task: save her grandfather, a renowned archaeologist, from kidnappers holding him ransom for an ancient treasure map. She has just 24 hours to find the map, solve the mystery of a terrible curse, and unmask the truth behind a legendary ghost train! With seven chapters of gameplay, a thrilling plot, 3-D animated locations and characters, and numerous mini-games, you'll be using all your sleuthing skills to help Natalie in her quest.

Natalie Brooks: The Treasure of the Lost Kingdom is available to purchase for $9.95 with the PlayPass program. A trial version is available to download for a 60 minutes of play (Windows PC, 86.0 MB).

Other popular games on our download PlayFirst Mystery Games page include both Mystery PI games, Mystery P.I.: The Vegas Heist and Mystery P.I.: The Lottery Ticket, James Patterson's Women's Murder Club: Death in Scarlet, and Private Eye.

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

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Mystery Book Review: Blood Wedding by P. J. Brooke

Mysterious Reviews, mysteries reviewed by the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books, is publishing a new review of Blood Wedding by P. J. Brooke. For our blog readers, we are printing it first here in advance of its publication on our website.

Blood Wedding by P. J. Brooke
A Max Romero Mystery

Soho Constable (Hardcover)
ISBN-10: 1-56947-529-6 (1569475296)
ISBN-13: 978-1-56947-529-4 (9781569475294)
Publication Date: December 2008
List Price: $25.00

Review: Sub-Inspector Max Romero of the Granada police force investigates the potentially politically motivated murder of a young Muslim woman in Blood Wedding, the first mystery in this series by P. J. Brooke.

Leila, a graduate student from Edinburgh, had been in Granada interviewing 83-year-old Paula Romero, Max’s grandmother, who had lived during the Spanish civil war and had many stories to tell that were not in history books. Leila was only 23 and led a somewhat wilder life than her father would have liked. She dated Hussan, a man who was thought to be a member of a Muslim terrorist group, but also kept company with a few married men. At the time, there was much turmoil in Spain as the country had recently joined forces with England and the United States to support the war in Iraq. The opposition was considerable and vocal. There was also competition and resentment among the various religious groups in and around Granada, between Muslims and Palestinians, the Palestinians and the Christians, the Christians and the Muslims. The police are on constant vigil to uncover terrorist cells and shut them down.

When Leila’s body is found, Hussan becomes the first, obvious, and only suspect by the police. She had been seen having a passionate argument near the time and the site of her death. Plus, he was a Muslim whose name was on a list as a possible terrorist. Max, however, wants more proof. In custody, Hussan is tortured and ultimately commits suicide, closing the murder case in the eyes of the authorities. Against orders, however, Max continues his quest, seeking out the married men Leila had been seen with. He is shocked and appalled to find one of the men is his cousin and best friend from childhood, Juan. Leila had insisted that he leave his wife and family for her. He had refused. She threatened to tell all. Did Juan kill Leila? Max can't be sure. He continues his pursuit for the truth, risking not only his job, but his life.

There is a considerable amount of backstory involving the Spanish civil war and the reign of the Spanish dictator Francisco Franco. While certainly of interest, especially when considered in comparison to the current unrest in Spain, it makes the main plot and its various threads seem overly complicated. Still, at its core, Blood Wedding is not only an intriguing murder mystery but also a beautifully written book with a powerful message, the story of a man who, against all odds, believes in the truth and the basic good of humanity, and a family whose love surmounts all evils.

Special thanks to guest reviewer Betty of The Betz Review for contributing her review of Blood Wedding and to Soho Press for providing a copy of the book for this review.

Review Copyright © 2009 — Hidden Staircase Mystery Books — All Rights Reserved.

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

Synopsis (from the publisher): Sub-inspector Max Romero investigates the death of a Muslim girl. The prime suspect has supposed terrorist links, but insensitive handling of the case leads to his suicide. As a result, Max is co-opted into a dangerous anti-terrorist operation.

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 Savings: An eHarlequin Newsletter Exclusive Offer

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 list of offers recently received that we're pleased to pass on at this time.

eHarlequin.com has a newsletter subscriber-only deal that we're sure you're going to enjoy.

Celebrate the New Year with a Great Deal! From now through January 31, 2009, get featured books for only $2.09 on eHarlequin.com! Enjoy stories by some of your favorite authors at a very special price. You must enter coupon code 209WN when checking out. (There are some restrictions: for example, eBooks are not eligible and there is a 30 book limit.)

When we visited we found the featured books included mysteries and thrillers under the Mira imprint, Harlequin Intrigue and Love Inspired Suspense titles, and many more in other categories.

You won't find this offer mentioned on the eHarlequin website. To keep up to date on all the sales and other promotions offered by eHarlequin.com, especially those for newsletter subscribers only, register to receive their free newsletter by clicking on the banner below:

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Games of Mystery: Nightshift Legacy, The Jaguar's Eye, 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 by visiting our Mystery Games: Big Fish Download Games page or by clicking on the links provided below.

Mike was a night-security guard at a metropolitan museum. Isabel was cat burglar hunting for ancient treasure. But on the night they met, the only thing she ended up stealing was his heart. Now they are on the trail of an ancient Aztec Codex known as the Jaguar's Eye, an artifact rumored to have incredible power. Their journey will take them to cities all over the globe, beautiful exotic locations like Moscow and Barcelona, and eventually lead them back to the place where it all began, over 70 years ago. Unlock the secret of the Aztec codex in Nightshift Legacy: The Jaguar's Eye.

Nightshift Legacy: The Jaguar's Eye may be downloaded and purchased for as little as $6.99 with the Big Fish Game Club Jumbo Pack. A demonstration version (37.38 MB) may be downloaded and played for one hour for free.

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, Adventure Chronicles: The Search for Lost Treasure, the Carol Reed mystery Remedy, Mystery Legends: Sleepy Hollow, Mystery Chronicles: Murder Among Friends, and Lost Realms: Legacy of the Sun Princess.

Big Fish Games: Bestsellers

Big Fish Games: New releases

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

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Bid on Mysterious Destinations at the LuxuryLink.com Mystery Auction

OK, we realize it's a bit of a stretch to link mystery books to travel sites (we travel, we read, close enough), but we couldn't help it after we saw an ad for the LuxuryLink.com Mystery Auction.

We've actually used LuxuryLink.com before, bidding on a travel package (but never bidding high enough). This is an interesting twist on the concept. Two mystery destinations are featured each week and each auction begins with a $1 starting bid. Subsequent bids are in $1 increments. While LuxuryLink.com will only reveal the name of the property to the auction winner, hints to the location of the luxury property will be updated on the website.

LuxuryLink.com provides a list of the previous destinations on the Mystery Auction webpage. Most are pretty impressive.

If you're curious, check out the site by clicking on the banner below. And if you do jet off to your mystery destination, remember to take along a mystery book! (See, we've linked the two again.)