Saturday, November 28, 2009

Reviews of Mystery and Suspense Books for Kids, New This Week on Book Trends

Book Trends: Reviews of Young Adult and Children Books

Book Trends, a review site for young adult and children books, published several new book reviews this past week. We're presenting here a summary of those in the mystery / suspense category.

Nate the Great and the Hungry Book Club by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat and Mitchell Sharmat. 26th book in the Nate the Great series. Recommended for readers aged 7 to 9. Reviewed by a 6th grade student who wrote, "I would recommend this book to any young reader who is interested in sleuthing, or loves to read."

For more reviews of children and young adult books, visit Book Trends; their reviews will amaze you!

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Games of Mystery: Dream Sleuth and Wisegal, New This Week from Amazon Video Games

Games of Mystery

, your source for mystery-themed electronic and board games, parties for kids and adults, murder mystery weekends and mystery getaway vacations, and more mysterious fun, is pleased to announce this week's new mystery and suspense games available for immediate download from Amazon Video Games.

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Dream Sleuth
Download and Buy Dream Sleuth

Dream Sleuth

Catherine has always had normal dreams. That is, until one day she had one about a little girl that went missing and that the police couldn't find. The dream was so clear and vivid that she decided to start her own investigation. Delve into Catherine's mind as she interviews people that knew the missing girl and sifts through the facts and rumors in the real world ... but pay attention at night, as the most important clues are to be found in her dreams ...

Windows Vista / XP (81 MB download).

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Wisegal
Download and Buy Wisegal

Wisegal

Take the role of Patty Montanari, a real life Mafia mom, as she struggles to track down her son from the world of the Wiseguys. Follow the clues as they guide you through the seedy Mafia underworld. Drawing on the past of a "Wisegal," you must find objects and piece together evidence to save her son. Be loyal to the family, but devoted to your own!

Based on the hit TV movie of the same name.

Windows Vista / XP (60 MB download).

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A complete list of downloadable mystery games is available on our Games of Mystery: Amazon.com Game Download page.

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Friday, November 27, 2009

Breaking the Wall of Crime Fiction, an Article in Publishers Weekly

Publishers Weekly

In an article earlier this week in the Publishers Weekly Talkback section, Jordan Foster writes about breaking the wall of crime fiction.

What separates the genre of crime fiction from literary fiction may be more membrane than wall, Foster writes, but it's still a barrier that is often tricky to penetrate. The very act of categorizing brings with it an implicit ranking and the idea that anything shelved under “genre” is somehow lacking. In particular, the genre's rigidness of structure seems to work against it. Yet crime novelists have come up with myriad ways to work around this perceived limitation.

In the end, Foster writes, what matters to writers and readers of crime fiction—and fiction in general—is the quality of the writing, the depth of the characters, the intricacies of the plot, and the richness of the setting. “When you're working to make a sentence as perfect as it can be,” says Tana French, author of the Rob Ryan and Cassie Maddox mystery series, “or to make a character real and vivid and three-dimensional, how and whether you do that isn't dependent on where the book will be shelved.”

Read this interesting article in its entirety here.

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Mystery Bestsellers for November 27, 2009

Mystery Bestsellers

A list of the top 15 for the week ending November 27, 2009 has been posted on the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books website.

A quiet Thanksgiving week, with little change among the top 15, with only one new title entering the list.

Pirate Latitudes by Michael Crichton

A rollicking adventure thriller marks Pirate Latitudes by the late Michael Crichton.

The Caribbean, 1665. A remote colony of the English Crown, the island of Jamaica holds out against the vast supremacy of the Spanish empire. Port Royal, its capital, is a cutthroat town of taverns, grog shops, and bawdy houses.

In this steamy climate there's a living to be made, a living that can end swiftly by disease—or by dagger. For Captain Charles Hunter, gold in Spanish hands is gold for the taking, and the law of the land rests with those ruthless enough to make it.

Word in port is that the galleon El Trinidad, fresh from New Spain, is awaiting repairs in a nearby harbor. Heavily fortified, the impregnable harbor is guarded by the bloodthirsty Cazalla, a favorite commander of the Spanish king himself. With backing from a powerful ally, Hunter assembles a crew of ruffians to infiltrate the enemy outpost and commandeer El Trinidad, along with its fortune in Spanish gold. The raid is as perilous as the bloodiest tales of island legend, and Hunter will lose more than one man before he even sets foot on foreign shores, where dense jungle and the firepower of Spanish infantry stand between him and the treasure.

The top four mystery bestsellers this week are shown below:

The Lost Symbol by Dan BrownI, Alex Cross by James PattersonTrue Blue by David BaldacciThe Scarpetta Factor by Patricia Cornwell

Please visit the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books where we are 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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Thursday, November 26, 2009

Games of Mystery: Mystery Case Files, Dire Grove Collector's Edition, New from Big Fish Games

Games of Mystery

, your source for mystery-themed electronic and board games, parties for kids and adults, and murder mystery weekends 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.

Mystery Case Files: Dire Grove Collector's Edition
Mystery Case Files: Dire Grove Collector's Edition

Be the first to play Mystery Case Files: Dire Grove with this special Collector's Edition.

Considered a fairytale, its telling was common at campfires and as a bedtime story meant to frighten small children into staying in their beds through the night. However, a recently unearthed artifact in the United Kingdom corroborates the legend and so begins a journey of survival for a small band of graduate students in the secluded resort of Dire Grove.

The exclusive Collector's Edition includes bonus "Easter egg" levels and puzzles that reveal secrets related to both past and future Mystery Case Files episodes. The integrated Deluxe Strategy Guide also includes extra video outtakes, concept art, screenshots, and desktop wallpapers.

Visit the website, MCF: Dire Grove, for more information about the game, including a game trailer.

Mystery Case Files: Dire Grove Collector's Edition, a Big Fish Game exclusive, may be downloaded and purchased for $19.95 with a Big Fish Game Club membership. A demonstration version for this Collector's Edition is not available. The $6.99 standard edition, with a free trial version, will be available in early December.

Watch a preview video below:

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Get any game for $6.99 with a Big Fish Game Club membership. Other benefits include the $2.99 Daily Deal, Tomorrow's Game Today, and special member rewards.

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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Wednesday, November 25, 2009

First Clues, Mysteries for Kids: Nancy Drew Titles for December 2009

First Clues: Mysteries for Kids

is your source for information on over 100 mystery series for children and young adults where each series is conveniently listed under four different age categories (New Sleuths, ages 4 to 6; Future Sleuths, ages 7 to 9; Sleuths in Training, ages 10 to 12, and Apprentice Sleuths, ages 13 and older), is pleased to announce Nancy Drew series books that are scheduled for release during December, 2009.

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Princess Mix-Up Mystery by Carolyn Keene

Princess Mix-Up Mystery by Carolyn Keene
Series:

24th book in this series featuring an 8-year-old Nancy Drew.

No summary available.

Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew books are recommended for readers aged 7 to 9.

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Green-Eyed Monster by Carolyn Keene

Green-Eyed Monster by Carolyn Keene
Series:

1st book in the Eco-Mystery Trilogy.

George, Bess, and I were so excited when we won an amazing vacation at an eco-resort in Costa Rica. Fun, sun, surf -- all in the name of ecology and helping to keep our planet clean. But, as always, dirty business seems to follow me wherever I go, and this resort isn't as spic 'n' span as we originally thought.

After a string of increasingly dangerous "accidents," it seems that there is a jealous predator staying at the resort, making trouble for the management and the guests. Against the urging of my friends, I know that I need to take this case and get to the bottom of it before our entire week at Casa Verde is ruined -- or worse. Can I uncover who is sabotaging the press tour before it's too late? Or will our vacation come to an unhappy end?

Nancy Drew, Girl Detective books are recommended for readers aged 10 and older.

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Tuesday, November 24, 2009

The Mystery Bookshelf: A Secret and Unlawful Killing by Cora Harrison, a Mystery of Medieval Ireland

The Mystery Bookshelf: Discover a Library of New Mysteries

The Mystery Bookshelf, where you can discover a library of new mysteries, is pleased to feature a new mystery series title we recently received from the publisher.

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A Secret and Unlawful Killing by Cora Harrison
A Burren Mystery (2nd in series)
St. Martin's Minotaur (Trade Paperback)
Publication Date: November 2009
ISBN-13: 978-0-312-58602-7

A Secret and Unlawful Killing by Cora Harrison
More Information About A Secret and Unlawful Killing by Cora Harrison

About A Secret and Unlawful Killing (from the publisher): It is 1509 and, for the people of the Burren in western Ireland, the Michaelmas Fair is a joyous time for trade and celebration, signaling the start of autumn. It’s a chance to gather, buy and sell their wares, and pay tribute to the lord of their clans. But this year is different. The steward of the MacNamara clan has decided to raise the amount demanded for its tribute, and it’s not long before tempers are running high.

When the steward’s body is found in the local churchyard, it falls upon Mara, the Burren’s Brehon Judge, to piece the puzzle together. Was it revenge, greed, or something more sinister that motivated the murder? When another body is discovered, it is up to Mara—despite the distraction of a surprising marriage proposal—to bring the killer to justice before there can be yet another death.

Originally published as Michaelmas Tribute in the UK.

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About the author: Cora Harrison lives in the Burren in the west of Ireland, an area whose landscape and history form the background to a medieval series of which this is the second novel. She has published twenty-six books for children, mainly dealing with Irish history and mythology. Please visit her Web site at CoraHarrison.com.

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First Clues, Mysteries for Kids: New Titles for December 2009

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 four different age categories (New Sleuths, ages 4 to 6; Future Sleuths, ages 7 to 9; Sleuths in Training, ages 10 to 12; and Apprentice Sleuths, ages 13 and older), is pleased to announce a selection of new mystery books (including series books) scheduled for publication during December, 2009.

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January Joker by Ron Roy

January Joker by Ron Roy


First book in a planned series of twelve.

Green Lawn, we have a problem! When Bradley Pinto wakes up in the night to strange lights in his backyard, he thinks there are aliens in town. When he sees three-toed footprints in the snow, he’s sure of it. His twin, Brian, and friends Lucy and Nate aren’t so certain. But then Lucy’s cousin Dink, the twins’ brother, Josh, and Nate’s sister, Ruth Rose, all disappear. Are there really aliens in Green Lawn? And where could they be taking Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose?

Calendar Mysteries are recommended for readers aged 7 to 9.

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February Friend by Ron Roy

February Friend by Ron Roy


Second book in this series.

It's a Valentine's Day party! Bradley is passing out his class’s valentines, but one of them has no name on it. Inside, the card tells the class to look in the closet. When they open the closet door, the kids find a rabbit named Douglas in a cage! What mysterious “friend” left him there? And why? Then the bunny gets sick. It’s up to Bradley, Brian, Lucy, and Nate to track down his owner and figure out what is wrong with poor little Douglas.

Calendar Mysteries are recommended for readers aged 7 to 9.

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Fox Announces Midseason Schedule, including New Series Past Life and Human Target

Fox Television

In a press release today, Fox Television announced its 2009 / 2010 midseason schedule, which includes the new thriller Past Life, the action drama Human Target, and an additional 9 episodes of the crime drama Lie to Me.

Past Life is based on the novel The Reincarnationist (read our review) and features detectives who investigate the world of the unexplained. It will air its 2-hour premiere on Thursday, February 11th at 8 PM, with subsequent episodes airing on Thursdays at 9 PM.

Human Target is based on the comic book series of the same name and features a private detective and bodyguard who will stop at nothing to protect his clients. It will air its premiere on Sunday, January 17th, with subsequent episodes airing on Wednesdays at 9 PM. (This is the second adaptation of Human Target for television. ABC aired a summer series in 1992 with Rick Springfield in the title role.)

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Tommy Lee Jones Leaves Production of The Lincoln Lawyer, based on the Novel by Michael Connelly

The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly

Last month, we reported that Tommy Lee Jones was in negotiations to direct and co-star in the film adaptation of Michael Connelly's 2005 legal thriller The Lincoln Lawyer. Variety is now reporting that, much to our dismay, Jones has left the production over "creative differences on the script." No replacement was announced. Matthew McConaughey, much to our dismay, apparently is still attached to play the lead, Los Angeles defense attorney Mickey Haller.

The Lincoln Lawyer was the winner of the 2006 Macavity Award for Best Mystery Novel, and won the 2006 Shamus Award for Best P. I. Hardcover.

Book synopsis: Mickey Haller is a Lincoln Lawyer, a criminal defense attorney who operates out of the backseat of his Lincoln Town Car, traveling between the far-flung courthouses of Los Angeles to defend clients of every kind. Bikers, con artists, drunk drivers, drug dealers -- they're all on Mickey Haller's client list. For him, the law is rarely about guilt or innocence, it's about negotiation and manipulation. Sometimes it's even about justice.

A Beverly Hills playboy arrested for attacking a woman he picked up in a bar chooses Haller to defend him, and Mickey has his first high-paying client in years. It is a defense attorney's dream, what they call a franchise case. And as the evidence stacks up, Haller comes to believe this may be the easiest case of his career. Then someone close to him is murdered and Haller discovers that his search for innocence has brought him face-to-face with evil as pure as a flame. To escape without being burned, he must deploy every tactic, feint, and instinct in his arsenal -- this time to save his own life.

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Psych Renewed for Fifth Season by USA Network

Psych (USA Network)

The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that the Psych sleuths will return for another year of "psychic" investigations. USA Network has ordered 16 episodes for its fifth season.

The series stars James Roday as Shawn Spencer who, with his keen eye for detail, convinces the police that he has psychic abilities and can assist them in solving crimes. Dule Hill plays his best friend and partner in their police consulting business.

The fifth season of Psych is expected to premiere during the summer of 2010.

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Games of Mystery: Cajun Cop in The French Quarter Caper, New from Big Fish Games

Games of Mystery

, your source for mystery-themed electronic and board games, parties for kids and adults, and murder mystery weekends 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.

Cajun Cop: The French Quarter Caper
Cajun Cop: The French Quarter Caper

Join Cajun Cop Jacques Lamont as he pursues a gang of jewel thieves through the streets of the Big Easy. Scour the city for clues, from the haunts of the rich to gritty back alleys. As the evidence piles up, the puzzles and mini-games only become more baffling. You'll need sharp eyes and keen wits as the gangsters attempt to cover their tracks. Will the long arm of the law ever bring them to justice? Join the pursuit and find out!

Also available: Cajun Cop: The French Quarter Caper Game Walkthrough.

Cajun Cop: The French Quarter Caper may be downloaded and purchased for $6.99 with a Big Fish Game Club membership. A demonstration version (55.09 MB) may be downloaded and played for free for one hour.

Watch a preview video below:

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Get any game for $6.99 with a Big Fish Game Club membership. Other benefits include the $2.99 Daily Deal, Tomorrow's Game Today, and special member rewards.

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, November 23, 2009

Mysteries on TV: Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Law & Order Criminal Intent, and Life on Mars, New This Week on DVD

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 three series that have season DVDs being released this week.

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Information on Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Season Four

Legendary, award-winning and suspenseful, set the gold standard for all TV mystery series to come and has remained an indelible part of popular culture.

Join guest stars Steve McQueen, Bette Davis, Claude Rains, Cloris Leachman, Roger Moore, Walter Matthau, Brian Keith, Elizabeth Montgomery, Art Carney, Mary Astor, Barbara Bel Geddes, Denholm Elliott, Dick York, Leslie Nielsen, and more as they act in stories of intrigue and murder, all under the watchful eye of the Master of Suspense himself.

The Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Season Four DVD set of 4 discs contain the 36 episodes that aired on CBS from October 1958 through June 1959.

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Information on Law & Order: Criminal Intent: Season Four

The legacy of television’s most successful brand continues with . Analyze crimes from the unique perspective of the lawbreakers themselves as they strategize and execute the plans that end up on the New York Police Department's Major Case Squad roster.

The powerful fourth season features a distinguished cast including Vincent D’Onofrio, Kathryn Erbe, Jamey Sheridan and Courtney B. Vance. Joining them are powerful guest stars such as Chris Noth, Tatum O’Neal, Rosanna Arquette, Neil Patrick Harris, and Peter Bogdanovich.

The Law & Order: Criminal Intent: Season Four DVD set of 5 discs contain the 23 episodes that aired on NBC from September 2003 through May 2004.

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Information on Life on Mars (UK): Series Two

One of today's most original police dramas follows modern-day Manchester detective Sam Tyler (John Simm), a cop who's back on the beat ... and back in 1973 in .

The time-travelling series returns for a second (and its final) season with more twists and turns as Tyler hunts down a notorious cop killer, investigates a racial hate crime, follows the trail of a young woman's killer and attempts to deal with an IRA bombing threat.

Much of the appeal in the series results from the ambiguity of Tyler's situation: is he hallucinating, or possibly in a coma dreaming, or has he really traveled back in time?

The Life on Mars (UK): Series Two DVD set of 4 discs contain the 8 episodes that aired on BBC during the spring of 2007.

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

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Mystery Godoku Puzzle for November 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 November 23, 2009

This week's letters and mystery clue:

A B D G H I N S T

These “happen” in the title of Harry Dolan’s debut thriller (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, November 22, 2009

Enter to Win a Copy of Kwei Quartey's Darko Dawson Mysteries

Kwei Quartey

Kwei Quartey will be releasing his second Darko Dawson mystery in 2011, and he's holding a contest to give away a signed copy of the first in the series, Wife of the Gods, as well as the second, when published.

The first letter of each word in the second book's title spell COTS, respectively. Guess the title of the book from the following description of the story: "In the second Detective Inspector Darko Dawson mystery set in Ghana, the discovery of a corpse plunges Darko face to face with the brutal environment of Accra’s largest slum, its dog-eat-dog underground economy in which street children fight for survival, and a series of shocking murders that resemble ritual killings."

Go to KweiQuartey.com to enter your guess. The first five people who guess correctly win!

(MBN note: In our review of Wife of the Gods, we called Quartey's debut novel "an outstanding effort", adding it was a "truly remarkable mystery that unfolds in a most unusual setting." We're definitely looking forward to the second in the series.)

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