Thursday, March 26, 2009

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Premieres this Sunday on HBO

Television viewers who subscribe to HBO should be in for a real treat this weekend. The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, based on the novels by , premieres Sunday, March 29, 2009 (8 PM ET) on HBO.

Precious Ramotswe (Jill Scott)

Jill Scott stars as Precious Ramotswe, the cheerful, eminently sensible proprietor of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, the first and only female-owned detective agency in her country of Botswana. Aided by her efficient yet high-strung secretary Grace Makutsi (played by Anika Noni Rose), Precious investigates a variety of cases, helping townspeople solve mysteries in their lives, from missing children to philandering husbands to con-artist scams. The series also stars Lucian Msamati as JLB Matekoni, the finest mechanic in Botswana, and Desmond Dube as BK, owner of the Last Chance Hair Salon located next door to the detective agency.

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency was filmed entirely on location in Botswana. The 2-hour premiere will be followed by 6 1-hour episodes.

View the HBO-produced commercial for the series below:

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Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Games of Mystery: Insider Tales, The Stolen Venus, 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 page or by clicking on the links provided below.

Insider Tales: The Stolen Venus

Help solve the biggest art robbery in decades and recover a stolen masterpiece in this mysterious hidden object game! Set in the heart of Italy, Insider Tales: The Stolen Venus puts you and Inspector Francesca di Porta on the case, as you track down the criminals responsible for the theft of Botticelli's The Birth of Venus. Discover centuries-old hidden facts and enigmas, and enjoy addicting mini-games on your pursuit of justice in this intriguing mystery game!

Insider Tales: The Stolen Venus may be downloaded and purchased for as little as $6.99 with the Big Fish Game Club Jumbo Pack. A demonstration version (53.87 MB) may be downloaded and played for free for one hour.

Watch a preview video below:

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Other popular games on our page include several and games, games in the 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 Nick Chase: A Detective Story.

Read our new game reviews by Ms. Terri: , and .

Big Fish Games: Bestsellers

Big Fish Games: New releases

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

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Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Mystery Book Review: Unseen by Nancy Bush

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

Unseen by Nancy Bush

by
Non-series

Zebra (Mass Market Paperback)
ISBN-10: 1-4201-0340-7 (1420103407)
ISBN-13: 978-1-4201-0340-3 (9781420103403)
Publication Date: April 2009
List Price: $6.99

Review: Some may consider Nancy Bush's stand-alone novel Unseen a supernatural thriller, but it's really not: it's an imaginative mystery that will beguile the reader.

Gemma LaPorte wakes up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there, or when, or why. Detective Will Tanninger, who is at the hospital to speak with her, tells her she had walked into the emergency room and collapsed. She had been badly bruised and was bleeding. Further examination strongly suggested that she had a mild concussion, all injuries comparable to those sustained in an automobile accident. She had been admitted as Jane Doe inasmuch as she had no identification with her. Awake and alert, questions are now being asked: What is your name? What happened? Who brought you here? Gemma tells Tanninger her name and that she has no memory of what had happened or how she got to the hospital. He then asks what her last memory is. She tells him she remembers having breakfast and looking out her window watching a heavy rainfall. Tanninger knows the last rain they had was three days ago. He tells Gemma that a woman answering her description was seen the day before deliberately running down a man, a pedophile, with her automobile and then speeding away. Although she has no memory of the incident, Gemma is positive she could not have done it. From that moment on Gemma’s life takes on two time dimensions: before the accident -- and after the accident. After the accident is becoming clear in her mind, but before the accident is like a jigsaw puzzle of memories with missing pieces. She hopes to restore her splintered memories, but in doing so what will she find out about herself?

Unseen is a riveting novel and the character at the center of it all is mesmerizing. Gemma has been told by her mother that she has the "gift", that she can see, or at least feel, the future. Gemma has never believed this herself, but she knows she has violent headaches and blackout spells. A deranged man in town certainly believes it, perceiving himself as a wolf and Gemma as a witch, someone to be burned on a pyre, to be sent to hell. As Gemma learns more about her past she begins to see herself as both good and evil. But she doesn't know which is her true self.

The suspense continues to build through the twisted maze of Gemma's memories to what can only be described as a shocking conclusion. Unseen is, quite simply, an electrifying thriller.

Special thanks to guest reviewer Betty of The Betz Review for contributing her review of Unseen and to Nancy Berland Public Relations for providing a copy of the book for this review.

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

Buy from Amazon.com

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

Synopsis (from the publisher): She Woke Up With No Memories …
She wakes up in a hospital room...bruised…bloody...confused. She knows her name is Gemma La Porte—but that’s all. She doesn’t remember smashing her car. She doesn’t remember anything from the last three days. But a policeman, Deputy Will Tanninger, is waiting for answers and wants to know if she’s responsible for a fatal hit-and-run …

But Remembering Her Past Could Kill Her …
Hoping to restore her shattered memory, Gemma has no choice but to put her trust in Will. But if it turns out she’s guilty of murder, he has no choice but to arrest her. Torn by her growing feelings for Will, and haunted by her shadowy past, Gemma is determined to learn the truth. But, in this case, the darkest truths are unknowable—and the deadliest enemies are unseen …

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

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Persuader by Lee Child, eBook Available for Free Download

Bestselling author has written 13 thrillers featuring drifter and ex-military policeman Jack Reacher. Now you can read the 7th mystery in this series, Persuader, free!

Persuader by Lee Child

Random House is making available Persuader free to download from now through May 19, 2009. Available formats include PDF, Kindle, Sony Reader, and more. It's also available for the iPhone using Stanza.

Jack Reacher is the ultimate loner. He's moved from place to place ... without family ... without possessions ... without commitments.

And without fear. Which is good, because trouble—big, violent, complicated trouble—finds Reacher wherever he goes. And when trouble finds him, Reacher does not quit, not once … not ever.

But some unfinished business has now found Reacher. And Reacher is a man who hates unfinished business.

Ten years ago, a key investigation went sour and someone got away with murder. Now a chance encounter brings it all back. Now Reacher sees his one last shot. Some would call it vengeance. Some would call it redemption. Reacher would call it … justice.

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Media Mystery News (with Thanks to In Reference to Murder)

In Reference to Murder posted this morning a terrific summary of recently reported media mystery news. Here are a couple of items that caught our eye, but check out the IRTM post for a complete list.

Variety reported last week that two of 's crime novels, At Risk and The Front (both featuring series characters District Attorney Monique Lamont and Massachusetts state investigator Win Garano) will be adapted for made-for-television movies to be shown on Lifetime Network. This is the first time any of Cornwell's novels, which include the long-running Kay Scarpetta series, have been filmed. "Her books have very broad appeal with both men and women among a wide demographic, and we are looking forward to seeing these stories bring those readers to television screens around the world," said Rola Bauer of Tandem Communications, which will manage the production.

The Baltimore Sun is reporting that a television pilot based on the novel The Reincarnationist by is being filmed in Baltimore. The pilot follows a team of investigators who use the concept of reincarnation to solve present-day problems in their clients' lives. [MBN note: Read our review of the book of which our reviewer said, "[O]ne of those compelling mysteries with such an original concept that it is hard to put down.".]

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Games of Mystery: Emerald City Confidential, 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 page or by clicking on the links provided below.

Emerald City Confidential

The magical land of Oz has never seemed so gritty! Petra is the only private detective in this reimagining of the Emerald City, so it is up to her to find Dee Gale’s missing fiancé. Dive deep into the seedy underbelly of the criminal underground, and track down the kidnappers, as well as learn a few secrets about Petra! This sprawling adventure game pulls out all the stops!

Emerald City Confidential may be downloaded and purchased for as little as $6.99 with the Big Fish Game Club Jumbo Pack. A demonstration version (79.21 MB) may be downloaded and played for free for one hour.

Watch a preview video below:

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Other popular games on our page include several and games, games in the 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 Nick Chase: A Detective Story.

Read our new game reviews by Ms. Terri: , and .

Big Fish Games: Bestsellers

Big Fish Games: New releases

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

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Monday, March 23, 2009

Finalists Announced for 2008 ForeWord Book of the Year Award

Mystery Book Awards: The Edgars, The Agathas, The Anthonys, and many more.

The finalists for for books published in 2008 have been announced by ForeWord Magazine. Awards are given out in 61 categories to recognize the literary achievements of independent publishers and their authors.

The finalists in the Fiction: Mystery category are:

Black Market Truth by Sharon Kaye (Parmenides)
by (Oceanview Publishing)
Bloodroot by Larry Arrowood (iUniverse)
Brother by James Fredericks (Beacon Hill)
Dark Horse by (Five Star)
by (Dorchester)
Folly by Bill Noel (iUniverse)
by (The Permanent Press)
Hoodoo by Susan Cummins Miller (Texas Tech Univ Press)
Leading Lady by Heywood Gould (Five Star)
Murder Bay by David R. Horwitz (Top Five Books)
Rabbit Moon by Deborah and Joel Shlian (Oceanview Publishing)
by (Oceanview Publishing)
by (Oceanview Publishing)
Tengu: The Mountain Goblin by (YMAA)

Read mystery book reviews at Mysterious Reviews indicates a review by .

The winners will be announced at a special program at BookExpo America at the Javits Center in New York City on May 29, 2009.

Congratulations from everyone at Mystery Books News to the finalists!

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Newsweek Profiles Thriller Author David Baldacci

First Family by David Baldacci

Newsweek published yesterday a profile on political thriller writer whose fourth mystery in the Sean King / Michelle Maxwell series, First Family, is being published next month by Grand Central. (The article, by Louisa Thomas, will appear in the March 30, 2009 issue of the magazine.)

Baldacci burst onto the scene in 1996 when his novel Absolute Power was published and later adapted for the 1997 film of the same name directed by and starring Clint Eastwood. Since then he has had 16 bestselling novels.

Like other thriller authors, Thomas writes, Baldacci depends on a mixture of inventive plotting, appealing characters, luck and consistency. Unlike others, his books rely more on characters' relationships than whiz-bang technology or procedural twists. Baldacci, a former attorney, agrees, adding that his novels also offer a kind of reworking of justice. "As a lawyer, as a private citizen, you see a lot of injustice. You see a lot of people who should have been punished and are not, and people who were punished wrongfully are not vindicated," he says. "Fiction is sort of a way to set the record straight, and let people at least believe that justice can be achieved and the right outcomes can occur."

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AirBorne, the James Patterson-Inspired Chain Thriller, Now Online

We missed reporting on the debut of AirBorne last week, a "chain thriller" inspired by and sponsored by Borders.

AirBorne (Chain Thriller) by James Patterson

The 30 chapters of AirBorne are being released over 30 days, the first of which was made available last Friday, March 20, 2009. Patterson wrote the 1st chapter and will write the last one. As of today, 5 chapters are available to download.

The 28 authors of the other chapters were winners of an online competition on the Borders website where they were asked to complete a paragraph in 250 words or less, which began "The sky had turned grey as the four men walked nervously past the police car...". Each of the authors will receive a copy of the finished book, with one lucky author to receive the chance of a lifetime "one-on-one master class" in the form of a telephone call with James Patterson himself.

Australian residents can enter their name for a chance to win a signed copy of the book.

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Games of Mystery: Cate West, The Vanishing Files, New for Nintendo Wii

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 Wii. More mystery games for the Nintendo Wii are available from our recently updated webpage.

Cate West: The Vanishing Files

In this intriguing game of an unsolved mystery, local police are baffled by a series of unexplained cases, dubbed The Vanishing Files, which have paralyzed the city.

Enter Cate West, celebrated novelist and insightful visionary. Help Cate find clues, compile evidence, locate hideouts and name the culprit in these mysterious crimes. With 29 locations, 15 cases and 75 levels, this original whodunit mystery is sure to delight fans of all ages.

Scheduled for release tomorrow, March 24, 2009, Cate West: The Vanishing Files (Nintendo Wii) is rated E10+, Everyone age 10 and older. Also available: Cate West: The Vanishing Files (Nintendo DS) and Cate West: The Vanishing Files (download version) from Big Fish Games.

Watch a video introduction to the game, courtesy of Big Fish Games, below:

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

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Mysteries on TV: Midsomer Murders and Taggart

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, is profiling two British series that have DVDs being released this week.

The cozy villages of Midsomer County reveal their most sinister secrets in the contemporary British television mystery series . Inspired by the novels of , modern master of the English village mystery, the series stars John Nettles as the unflappable Detective Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby with Jason Hughes as his earnest, efficient protégé, Detective Constable Ben Jones.

The Midsomer Murders: Set Twelve DVD set of 4 discs contains the 4 episodes shown during September 2006: Four Funerals and a Wedding, Country Matters, Death in Chorus, and Last Year's Model. Special features include the 50th episode production notes, interviews with John Nettles and Jason Hughes, and cast filmographies.

Edgy mysteries, intriguing characters, and a dark sense of humor give , the longest running crime drama on television, a universal appeal even while reveling in its seamy Scottish setting. Detectives Matthew Burke, Robbie Ross, Jackie Reid, and Stuart Fraser -- a team of Glasgow cops as hard as the criminals they chase and as gritty as the city they call home -- together take on everything that the mean streets of Glasgow throw their way.

The Taggart: Set One DVD set of 3 discs contains the 7 episodes that aired in December 2002 and January 2003. Though titled Set One, the DVD actually corresponds to Series 19 in the order shown in the UK.

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

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Mystery Godoku Puzzle for March 23, 2009

A new 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!).

Mystery Godoku Puzzle for March 23, 2009

This week's letters and mystery clue:

A D E H I K N R T

This is the title of the 4th thriller featuring Detective Jonathan Stride (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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Sunday, March 22, 2009

Mystery Book Review: Starvation Lake by Bryan Gruley

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

Starvation Lake by Bryan Gruley

by
A Gus Carpenter Mystery

Touchstone (Trade Paperback)
ISBN-10: 1-4165-6362-8 (1416563628)
ISBN-13: 978-1-4165-6362-4 (9781416563624)
Publication Date: March 2009
List Price: $14.00

Review: Bryan Gruley's debut mystery, Starvation Lake, introduces newspaper editor and reporter Gus Carpenter investigating the decade old mysterious death of his hockey coach.

Jack Blackburn was more than a coach: he was a mentor to the boys of Starvation, a small town in the upper region of the lower peninsula of Michigan. Throughout the 1970s Blackburn helped put Starvation on the map, turning it into a hockey powerhouse in the state. As a teenager, Gus and his buddies were regulars on the team and in their final year of high school they had a chance to bring the state championship to Starvation. In a play the townspeople will never let him forget, goalie Gus let the opposing team's winning puck by him, depriving the school of the championship and the town of bragging rights. To escape the humiliation, Gus left for Detroit to pursue a career as a reporter. During the time Gus was away, Coach Blackburn had a tragic and fatal accident, falling through the lake's ice one winter while snowmobiling. His body was never recovered. Now, years later, Gus is back in Starvation as editor of the local paper. Blackburn's snowmobile has just washed up on the shore of a different lake reopening the mystery of the circumstances of his death. Gus' reporting instincts tell him there's a story here, but as he digs deeper he comes to realize that the coach he so much admired is someone he may never have really known at all.

Starvation Lake is alternately a brilliantly written novel and a seriously flawed one. On the positive side is the complex, deeply conflicted character of Gus Carpenter. The story is told from his perspective and as a newspaper reporter with deep roots in his community this approach works well. The other characters are nearly as richly drawn and the setting is perfect. The mystery itself is more than a little derivative, but it's handled exceptionally well. Starvation Lake sets out strong and ends even stronger, but it is the middle 150 pages or so that nearly derails the reader's interest.

For starters, the inevitable twist is hardly unexpected as it is foreshadowed quite early. No reader is going to be taken by surprise. As such, it takes far too long for the story to reveal it. But once it finally happens, the plot is quickly able to regain the momentum that was so perilously close to being completely lost due to the mid-book inclusion of (1) a steady stream of backstories and (2) the seemingly endless recounting of hockey games, past and present. Though some of the backstories are admittedly relevant to the plot, most seem to simply exist as transitional filler. As tedious as they can be, they are still far more interesting than the hockey games. Even the most ardent sports fans would be hard-pressed not to start skimming through the play-by-plays here.

An ambivalent review, to be sure. More positive than negative, still, it's disappointing that a more critical eye towards editing Starvation Lake wasn't exercised. (A postscripted Q and A with the author suggests this is the first of a series to feature Gus Carpenter.)

Special thanks to Simon & Schuster for providing an ARC of Starvation Lake for this review.

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

Buy from Amazon.com

If you are interested in purchasing Starvation Lake from Amazon.com, please click the button to the right. Starvation Lake (Kindle edition) is also available. Learn more about the Kindle, Amazon's Wireless Reading Device.

Synopsis (from the publisher): In the dead of a Michigan winter, pieces of a snowmobile wash up near the crumbling small town of Starvation Lake—the same snowmobile that went down with Starvation’s legendary hockey coach years earlier. But everybody knows Coach Blackburn’s accident happened five miles away on a different lake. As rumors buzz about mysterious underground tunnels, the evidence from the snowmobile says one thing: murder.

Gus Carpenter, editor of the local newspaper, has recently returned to Starvation after a failed attempt to make it big at the Detroit Times. In his youth, Gus was the goalie that let a state championship get away, crushing Coach’s dreams and earning the town’s enmity. Now he’s investigating the murder of his former coach. But even more unsettling to Gus are the holes in the town’s past, and the gnawing suspicion that those holes may conceal some dark and disturbing secrets—secrets that some of the people closest to him may have killed to keep.

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

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Mystery Book Review: Death Takes the Cake by Melinda Wells

Mysterious Reviews, mysteries reviewed by the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books, is publishing a new review of Death Takes the Cake by Melinda Wells. For our blog readers, we are printing it first here in advance of its publication on our website.

Death Takes the Cake by Melinda Wells

by
A Della Carmichael Mystery

Berkley Prime Crime (Mass Market Paperback)
ISBN-10: 0-425-22642-5 (0425226425)
ISBN-13: 978-0-425-22642-1 (9780425226421)
Publication Date: February 2009
List Price: $7.99

Review: Death Takes the Cake is the second culinary escapade for cooking school owner and new cable television personality Della Carmichael. The series is written by Melinda Wells.

When she is told by her boss Mickey Jordon that she is to participate in a baking contest, Della is all for it. That is, until she finds out she must use as a base for her creation Reggi-Mixx. Della not only believes that Reggi-Mixx is the worst cake mix available, but her old college adversary, Regina Davis, is the owner of the company. Over twenty-five years ago someone was stealing money from some of the college dorms. Della was able to prove that Regina was the thief. When Regina was expelled she vowed to someday get back at Della. It’s been more than twenty-five years; would Regina still be out to seek revenge? When Regina is found murdered on the set of the cooking show, Bill, one of Della’s closest friends, is taken in for questioning. Another dear friend, Iva, Mickey Jordon’s wife, afraid she would be accused of the murder, tells Della that Regina had hired a private investigator by the name of Taggert who had threatened to expose her sordid past to her husband. Della confronts Taggert and presses him into giving her the file he had prepared for Regina. Just hours later Taggert is found dead, murdered. Are the answers to the questions of who killed Regina and Taggert in the private investigator’s folder that Della now holds in her possession?

Death Takes the Cake is full of good humor, engaging characters, and flawlessly planned suspense. It's a real treat (pun absolutely intended). Readers will not only be charmed and seduced by a solidly plotted culinary mystery with some light romance on the side, but also be in possession of a list of exquisite pastries in the form of recipes included at the end of the book.

Special thanks to guest reviewer Betty of The Betz Review for contributing her review of Death Takes the Cake and to Melinda Wells for providing a copy of the book for this review.

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

Buy from Amazon.com

If you are interested in purchasing Death Takes the Cake from Amazon.com, please click the button to the right. Death Takes the Cake (Kindle edition) is also available. Learn more about the Kindle, Amazon's Wireless Reading Device.

Synopsis (from the publisher): To help boost ratings for her show, Della Carmichael agrees to enter a televised cake competition sponsored by Reggi-Mixx, even though the company’s owner, Regina Davis, is an old college nemesis.

When she finds someone drowned in a mixing bowl of batter, Della realizes solving this murder will be no cakewalk.

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

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MBN Welcomes Guest Blogger Kristin Callender

Mystery Books News is delighted to welcome author Kristin Callender as a guest blogger today. Her debut mystery, The Truth Lies in the Dark, was recently published by BlueWaterPress.

The Truth Lies In the Dark by Kristin Callender

Hi Mystery Books News fans and readers. First I want to say thank you for your interest and a few moments of your time. I also want to thank Lance for having me on as a guest. I am Kristin Callender, author of The Truth Lies in the Dark. Very briefly, it is a mystery about a woman who lost her all memory of her life as a child and then as an adult finds out she was raised with the identity of a dead girl. Who is Amanda? In order to find out she must answer a very important question; who is there to help her and who is there to make sure the truth remains ... in the dark?

Many people have asked me how I got the idea for this book. I get a strange look when I say that it came to life as I wrote it, like a movie I had already seen and just had to get down on paper. Don't get me wrong, the writing process was not easy. I stressed over everything from character names to their backgrounds. I had to keep notes to remember how everything was connected and how each different character would react to certain situations. Amanda, the main character was the biggest challenge, because she evolved the most throughout the story. She began as an emotionally dependent person and eventually found a strength and identity of her own, both physically and emotionally. It was hard sometimes to show her vulnerability without making her come across as too weak in the readers' eyes.

Amanda's nightmares were a big part of the story and her reactions to them help to show her growing strength. The first page begins with her in one of these nightmares; which are always about a strange young girl trapped in a room that is engulfed by flames. She awakes screaming like a child and is comforted by her loving husband. As the story evolves, the scope of the nightmare is widened allowing more glimpses into Amanda's mysterious past.

In addition to being a new author, I am also a mom of four children and a substitute teacher for grades K-6. I am very proud that The Truth Lies in the Dark has been published, not only as the author but as a mom. My teenage son, Michael painted the original portrait that was used as my cover. Friends of mine had suggested that his picture of a city at night would be a great cover. I submitted it to my editors at Blue Water Press and they loved it. I have pictures of that original on my website (go to the Art Showcase link). There are also pictures of some of his other paintings. He is very talented and I am proud to share this opportunity with him.

I live with my husband and children in Northern Connecticut. Some of my interests include writing, reading, hanging out at the fire pit in the back yard with family and friends, going to the beach, and taking family vacations. (The closer the quarters and crazier, the better!) We have taken a train trip from Connecticut to California only bringing what we could fit into our backpacks. I bought all of my kids reversible clothing to keep their bags light and so they didn't have the same things on in every picture. It worked out great until we reached California and my husband washed all of our whites with a blue and white blanket. We went all the way back home as the light blue tie-dyed family.

OK, I have talked about me and my book enough. If you want to share your own funny family adventures or would like to leave a comment on my book, feel free to stop by my website. All of my contact information is posted there. The address is: http://sites.google.com/site/kristincallenderbooks. I know it is a long address, but you know what they say? After a long trip it is always nice to come home, and you are always welcome in my online home(page). Well, if they don't say that, I do!

The Truth Lies in the Dark is available from Amazon.com or from the publisher, BlueWaterPress.com.

I am working on a second novel now that is under consideration at a New York publisher. I will update my website with my progress and upcoming events.

Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy lives to meet me and hear about my book on Mystery Books News.

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