Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Harlequin Intrigue Titles for January 2010

eHarlequin.com has released the January 2010 titles in their Intrigue, breathtaking romantic suspense series. Get these edge-of-your-seat reads today with characters who conquer everything from kidnappings to murder mysteries, only to find themselves irresistibly drawn to one another! For more information or to purchase any of the books below, click on the book title or book cover. (Previous months titles can be found on the backlist page.)

— ◊ —

The Shadow by Aimee Thurlo

The Shadow by Aimee Thurlo

There was no room for emotion on a mission.

Jonas Slowman knew that better than anyone. He'd left the Navajo Nation to fight overseas as a top-level ranger in the military. His devotion to his heritage brought him back to the reservation, back to the Brotherhood. But they handed him his toughest mission yet.

"Protect her at all costs," was the order from the tribe. That Jonas would do with his life. Except his attraction to Emily Atkins was a liability. She'd grown into a confident woman who now found herself the target of an implacable enemy, someone who was using her to get to the Navajo.

Jonas was good at what he did, but he'd need his sharpest edge against a formidable foe. Because he couldn't risk the consequences to the sacred Brotherhood…or to the woman who'd stealthily claimed his heart.

— ◊ —

Case File: Canyon Creek, Wyoming by Paula Graves

Case File: Canyon Creek, Wyoming by Paula Graves

1st suspense novel in the Cooper Justice series.

What was supposed to be a quiet vacation in scenic Wyoming turned deadly when Hannah Cooper became the target of a serial killer. Although she survived the attack, the ordeal was far from over. But she wasn't alone. Not when Riley Patterson appointed himself her protector.

Beneath Riley's strapping, solemn exterior hid a hard-driving sheriff who would stop at nothing to catch a killer. He promised Hannah safety, but it was the danger he posed that drew her in. Riley was as much a mystery as the man who sought to take her life. Trapped on his ranch, with no one but each other to trust, only justice could set them free … and possibly separate them forever.

— ◊ —

The Sheriff of Silverhill by Carol Ericson

The Sheriff of Silverhill by Carol Ericson

The safety of Silverhill rested on Rafe McClintock's broad shoulders. Good-natured but hard-nosed, the sheriff kept the peace in Colorado with a shotgun and a smile. At least until Dana Croft crossed into his jurisdiction. She was here on FBI duty—a dead body on the rez—but after all these years Rafe could still put a hitch in her throat.

Though a star was pinned to the rangy cowboy's chest, he didn't have authority over her heart. As they hunted a killer together, across the reservation and into uncharted territory, Dana's secret threatened to explode at any moment. But before Rafe could wrap her in his protection, would their reunion be cut short?

— ◊ —

A Perfect Stranger by Jenna Ryan

A Perfect Stranger by Jenna Ryan

P.I. Damon Marlowe always found his man—or, in this case, his woman. Tracking down Darcy Nolan at his client's request was a piece of cake for the ex-cop. But there was something about this assignment that didn't sit right with him. When the attractive blonde was attacked, put into danger by his unwitting exposure, Marlowe told himself he had no choice but to flush out her would-be killer. After all, he had compromised the cover of a protected witness to a crime.

But was it the guilt that drove him…or a deeper emotion he'd long since buried? Try as he might, Darcy roused feelings he'd rather deny. But for Marlowe, the motive didn't matter. The killer was making his move, and now Darcy was his to protect …

— ◊ —

Classified Cowboy by Mallory Kane

Classified Cowboy by Mallory Kane

3rd suspense novel in the Silver Star of Texas series.

Texas Ranger Lieutenant Wyatt Colter will never forgive himself for allowing a witness to go missing on his watch … even if he did take a bullet as a result. Now forensic anthropologist Nina Jacobsen has unearthed human remains that might explain the mystery, and Wyatt finally sees his chance to solve a cold case that has haunted him for two long years. He knows Nina has her doubts about his ability to remain objective, but then someone tries to bury Nina with the evidence and, trust him or not, Wyatt appoints himself her own personal watchdog. And this time, this cowboy will get his man—and his woman.

— ◊ —

The Socialite and the Bodyguard by Dana Marton

The Socialite and the Bodyguard by Dana Marton

Bodyguard to a dog? Former commando Nash Wilder can't believe he took this assignment, watching over the prized poodle of some spoiled heiress. But with his history, the burly ex-soldier can't turn down a job—and the task of protecting pretty Kayla Landon and her pedigreed pooch was a direct command. But when the threats escalate, and the danger shifts from puppy to owner, Nash's years of combat training kick in. Before long, the rugged bodyguard comes to recognize that the undeniably attractive Kayla has her own kind of strength—and that, to save her, he must risk everything.

— ◊ —

If you enjoy the romantic suspense books in this series, you can get 2 free Harlequin Intrigue books plus 2 free gifts just for giving the automatic program a try. Accepting your two free Intrigue books and mystery gifts places you under no obligation to buy anything. You may keep the books and gifts and return the shipping statement marked cancel. If you do not cancel, about two months later, and then every other month, eHarlequin will send you four additional Intrigue books.

Keep up to date by subscribing to eHarlequin.com's free newsletter that contains the latest information about their series of books as well as informing you about subscriber-only special offers and new products. Click on the banner below to subscribe for free:

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Monday, December 14, 2009

Join Us in Following the Second Annual Author Holiday Blog on BookReporter.com

BookReporter.com's Second Annual Author Holiday Blog feature is underway, and we hope you'll join us in following the posts by authors sharing stories about gift giving and getting, holiday traditions and memories, and more.

Pieces from such authors as Stephen Coonts, Hallie Ephron, Robert Goolrick, Wade Rouse, Mahbod Seraji and Donna VanLiere have already been posted. The upcoming lineup will include guest blogs from Sandra Brown, Sandra Dallas, Barbara Delinsky, Jamie Ford, Kristin Hannah, Marcia Muller and Lisa Scottoline -- plus many others.

This special holiday blog will be updated on the BookReporter.com site through Christmas Day.

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Games of Mystery: Women's Murder Club in Twice in a Blue Moon, New at 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.

James Patterson's Women's Murder Club: Twice in a Blue Moon
James Patterson's Women's Murder Club: Twice in a Blue Moon

Marking the third game in the franchise, Twice in a Blue Moon is an original story based on James Patterson's successful Women's Murder Club series of mystery novels.

On a violent night in the murky streets of San Francisco, a cryptic message becomes key to unraveling a gruesome investigation. Players assume the roles of Lindsay Boxer, Claire Washburn and Cindy Thomas as they combine their expertise and talents to unravel a murderer’s tribute to the past by uncovering clues, gathering facts and revealing his identity before it’s too late.

In the most authentic James Patterson experience to date, players will be left trembling as they search for clues and solve mysteries in more than 50 levels, including 25 chilling locations, 27 challenging puzzles and nine unsettling investigations.

See also the first two games in the series, Women's Murder Club: Death in Scarlet and Women's Murder Club: A Darker Shade of Grey.

Also available: Women's Murder Club: Twice in a Blue Moon Game Walkthrough.

James Patterson's Women's Murder Club: Twice in a Blue Moon may be downloaded and purchased for $6.99 with a Big Fish Game Club membership. A demonstration version (87.12 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. And if you purchase any 6 games within a single month, you earn a free game with the Big Fish Game Club Monthly Punch Card!

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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Mystery Godoku Puzzle for December 14, 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 December 14, 2009

This week's letters and mystery clue:

A B E G I K P U W

Mark Coggins’ fifth August Riordan mystery has this title (with “The”, 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, December 13, 2009

Mystery Book Review: Final Approach by Rachel Brady

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

Final Approach by Rachel Brady

by
Non-series

Poisoned Pen Press (Hardcover)
ISBN-10: 1-59058-655-7 (1590586557)
ISBN-13: 987-1-59058-655-6 (9871590586556)
Publication Date: October 2009
List Price: $24.95

Review: Rachel Brady introduces Emily Locke, an experienced sky diver still mourning the loss of her husband and infant daughter in a boating accident four years ago, whose help is requested by a most unlikely source, in Final Approach, the author's debut mystery.

Richard Cole was the police officer in charge of investigating, and mishandling, the accident that killed Emily's family. Forced to leave the police department, he's now a private investigator looking into the disappearance of a child in Texas, far from Emily's home in Ohio. His only lead is the Gulf Coast Skydiving School. Richard knows of only one person who may help him gather information, but Emily is loathe to assist him. Still, she can't bear the thought that another mother might lose a daughter because of her unwillingness to help. She travels to Texas and joins the school as an instructor. Not skilled in the more subtle aspects of investigative stealth, she's quickly caught looking through the school's financial records, but not before learning that there are numerous entries of income that don't seem directly related to the business. Though the owners are now suspicious of her, she's allowed to stay on, later overhearing talk of trafficking in children. Unsure of how to proceed, and lacking concrete evidence to back up her story, she and Richard work together to determine who is in charge of this child kidnapping ring, and how they can shut it down.

The plot of Final Approach is somewhat implausible and at times doesn't seem fully developed, but the entertaining and well-drawn characters, especially those of the sky diving school, tend to compensate. That one of them is a cold-blooded villain is not unexpected, but it's hard to pick out which of the group it is. Overall, though Final Approach is a fast reading book, interesting and quirky in its own way, it is not especially memorable.

Special thanks to guest reviewer Betty of The Betz Review for contributing her review of Final Approach and to Poisoned Pen Press for providing an ARC 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 Final Approach from Amazon.com, please click the button to the right.

Synopsis (from the publisher): Sometimes clues just fall from the sky. Four years ago Emily Locke's life was shattered when her infant daughter and husband were lost in an inexplicable accident. She has nearly rebuilt her fragile mental health when Richard Cole, a disgraced former police detective now working as a PI, resurfaces. He wants help he says only she can provide—reconnaissance at a Texas skydiving establishment over a thousand miles away. Emily knows better than to work with him again, but can't refuse when she learns it's about a missing boy. She identifies too greatly with the new missing child case.

At Gulf Coast Skydiving, similarities between this new case and Emily's troubled past make it increasingly difficult for her to stay objective. Soon she's convinced that she is somehow connected to whoever took little Casey Lyons. Someone at the quiet, rural airstrip knows what happened to the boy ... and to Emily's own daughter.

To find Casey before it's too late, Emily will have to make sense of the menacing parallels between his case and her daughter's.

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Saturday, December 12, 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.

Powerless by Matthew Cody. Possibly the 1st book in a new series featuring a group of middle school-aged superhero kids, one of whom is "powerless". Recommended for readers aged 10 to 12. Reviewed by a 6th grade student who wrote, "I thought Powerless had an amazing plot! The story gripped me as tightly as a superhero would."

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

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Games of Mystery: Introducing the BFG Game Club Monthly Punch Card, Buy 6 Get 1 Free

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 pass on a new promotion from Big Fish Games that was announced earlier this month.

Now you can earn a free game every month with the Big Fish Game Club Monthly Punch Card.

Every month, you’ll have the opportunity to fill a punch card that can earn you one free Game Club credit. Purchase at least six games during that month and you’ll earn one Game Club credit good for one free standard edition game of your choice. But once the month ends, your punch card resets to zero and you start over for the next month.

Here are the specifics:

1. Buy ANY six games on the site between the first day of any month and the last day of that month. Every game on the site is eligible, but only purchases made by 11:59pm on the last day of the month count.

2. Just after the last day of the month, we’ll tally up a list of qualifying Game Club members and email them one free Game Club credit.

3. Choose your game, use your free Game Club credit, and enjoy!

Remember, all punch cards go back to zero at the end of each month, whether they were filled up or not. Additionally, only active Game Club members can earn free Game Club credits.

Games of Mystery has two pages of mystery games available from Big Fish Games: a list of adventure mystery games and a list of hidden object mystery games. We have also started posting reviews of these games. You can read these reviews here: , , , , and .

Click on the banner below to start this month's punch card at Big Fish Games!

BFG Game Card

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

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Friday, December 11, 2009

The Ghost Writer, based on the novel by Robert Harris, Gets US Distribution

The Ghost by Robert Harris

The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that Summit Entertainment has picked up the North American distribution rights for The Ghost Writer, based on the 2007 thriller The Ghost by Robert Harris. The film's future was, at one time, somewhat in doubt as it is directed by Roman Polanski, who is currently under house arrest in Switzerland. Summit is planning a release date sometime during the first half of 2010.

The Ghost Writer stars Pierce Brosnan as a former British Prime Minister and Ewan McGregor as his ghostwriter, who uncovers secrets from the past; see more in the book synopsis below.

About The Ghost: Adam Lang has been Britain's longest serving and most controversial prime minister of the last half century. And now that he's left office, he's accepted one of history's largest cash advances to compose a tell-all (or at least, tell-some) memoir of his life and years of power. As pressure mounts for Lang to complete this magnum opus, he hires a professional ghostwriter to finish the book. As he sets to work, the ghostwriter discovers many more secrets than Lang intends to reveal, secrets with the power to alter world politics, secrets with the power to kill.

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Games of Mystery: Mystery Case Files - Dire Grove, 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
Mystery Case Files: Dire Grove

The Celtic legend of Dire Grove has been passed down from generation to generation for centuries. Considered a fairytale, its telling was meant to frighten small children into staying in their beds through the night. A recently unearthed artifact in the United Kingdom, however, proves the dark legend to be true! Use your wits and hidden object talents to follow the trail of a group of missing graduate students to search for the source of the legend of Dire Grove.

Visit the website, MCF: Dire Grove, for more information about the game, including a game trailer. See also the exclusive Dire Grove Collector's Edition.

Also available: Mystery Case Files: Dire Grove Strategy Guide and Mystery Case Files: Dire Grove Game Walkthrough.

Mystery Case Files: Dire Grove, a Big Fish Games Exlusive, may be downloaded and purchased for $6.99 with a Big Fish Game Club membership. A sample version (181.03 MB) may be downloaded and played for free for one hour; the full unlimited version is 493.75 MB.

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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Press Release: Shots Awards for 2009 Announced

Press Release: SHOTS Magazine, the UK's leading online fanzine, has announced the annual Shots Awards for mystery fiction in its December "Getting Away With Murder" column.

The Shots Awards are given in six categories for books published in the UK in 2009. And the winners are:

 • Shots Thriller of the Year: The Information Officer by Mark Mills [HarperCollins].
 • Crime Shot of the Year: At The City's Edge by Marcus Sakey [Penguin].
 • Historical Shot: The Interrogator by Andrew Williams [John Murray].
 • Shot in Translation: Havana Fever by Leonardo Padura [Bitter Lemon].
 • First Shot (debut novel): The Twelve (US title: The Ghosts of Belfast) by Stuart Neville [Harvill Secker].
 • Comic Shot: Mystery Man by Colin Bateman [Headline].

The winning titles include two British novels set during WWII (Mills and Williams); two set in Belfast by writers from Northern Ireland (Neville and Bateman); plus one set in Chicago (Sakey) and one in Cuba (Padura).

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Mystery Bestsellers for December 11, 2009

Mystery Bestsellers

A list of the top 15 for the week ending December 11, 2009 has been posted on the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books website.

Last week's featured title, U is for Undertow by Sue Grafton, moves into the top 4 this week, and a new series political thriller enters the list.

The Paris Vendetta by Steve Berry

Former US Justice Department agent Cotton Malone returns for his fifth adventure in The Paris Vendetta by Steve Berry.

When Napoleon Bonaparte died in exile in 1821, he took to the grave a powerful secret. As general and emperor, he had stolen immeasurable riches from palaces, national treasuries, and even the Knights of Malta and the Vatican. In his final days, his British captors hoped to learn where the loot lay hidden. But he told them nothing, and in his will he made no mention of the treasure. Or did he?

Cotton Malone isn't looking for trouble when it comes knocking at his Copenhagen bookshop. Actually, it breaks and enters in the form of an American Secret Service agent with a pair of assassins on his heels. Malone has his doubts about the anxious young man, but narrowly surviving a ferocious firefight convinces him to follow his unexpected new ally.

Their first stop is the secluded estate of Malone's good friend, Henrik Thorvaldsen. The wily Danish tycoon has uncovered the insidious plans of the Paris Club, a cabal of multimillionaires bent on manipulating the global economy. Only by matching wits with a terrorist-for-hire, foiling a catastrophic attack, and plunging into a desperate hunt for Napoleon's legendary lost treasure can Malone hope to avert international financial anarchy.

But Thorvaldsen's real objective is much more personal: to avenge the murder of his son by the larcenous aristocrat at the heart of the conspiracy. Thorvaldsen's vendetta places Malone in an impossible quandary—one that forces him to choose between friend and country, past and present. Starting in Denmark, moving to England, and ending up in the storied streets and cathedrals of Paris, Malone plays a breathless game of duplicity and death, all to claim a prize of untold value. But at what cost?

The top four mystery bestsellers this week are shown below:

The Lost Symbol by Dan BrownI, Alex Cross by James PattersonU is for Undertow by Sue GraftonPirate Latitudes by Michael Crichton

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, December 10, 2009

Disney Options New Fallen Series by Lauren Kate

Fallen by Lauren Kate

The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that Disney has optioned the film rights to the young adult Fallen series, the first book of which, Fallen by Lauren Kate, publishes this week. A total of four books in the supernatural romantic thriller series is expected.

About Fallen: There's something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori. Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price's attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah, Georgia. He's the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move. Even though Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce -- and goes out of his way to make that very clear -- she can't let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, she has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret ... even if it kills her.

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Mystery Book Review: The University by Jeffrey Leever

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

The University by Jeffrey Leever

by
A Kevin Gibson Mystery

Capital Crime Press (Trade Paperback)
ISBN-10: 0-9799960-6-6 (0979996066)
ISBN-13: 978-0-9799960-6-1 (9780979996061)
Publication Date: November 2009
List Price: $14.95

Review: Indianapolis investigative reporter Kevin Gibson travels to an elite college in Nebraska to look into the disappearance of a student in The University, the second mystery in this series by Jeffrey Leever.

Kevin's cousin ("former cousin-in-law", as he puts it) Deswood Graham, an ex-cop from Tremont, Nebraska, relates a story of mysterious goings-on at the local university, eventually piquing the reporter's interest. "Think about it," Desmond says, "[an] unsolved murder in a college town, a two-year-old mystery, an inept police investigation, a missing student." Dead is a co-ed, shot in the face two years ago, her boyfriend also shot, but not killed, and who remains in a coma. The missing student is James Reed, who seems to have simply vanished one night. His friend, Brett Duncan, seems to be the only one concerned about his disappearance. The police have no interest in looking into the matter, and even his family seems resigned that he's gone for good, though why is unknown. Kevin travels to Tremont and learns of a secret organization, one with possible occult leanings, that may be operating in the town and using the university as its base.

For a purported suspense thriller, The University suffers from not being terribly suspenseful or thrilling. The problem lies not in the subject matter, but in the way it's presented. The narrative is excessively choppy with too many characters participating in rapidly shifting points of view. The author also frequently uses mini point-of-view cliffhangers as a means of generating suspense. ("He slit the seal and saw a piece of paper, which he took out and unfolded. Need help on this one! Instantly he recognized the handwriting. He glanced back in the envelope. Professor Howard couldn't believe what he saw next.") Finally, so much is known to the reader about what's happening in Tremont and on the university campus that Kevin's investigation, which should be a means of tying everything together, seems almost redundant.

The University tends to fall into the movie-of-the-week category of novels, one with some interest and appeal, but in the end, one of little substance.

Special thanks to Jeffrey Leever for providing an ARC of The University for this review.

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

Buy from Amazon.com

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

Synopsis (from the publisher): Ah, college life at Tremont University. A place for learning. Partying and dating. And murder.

When investigative journalist Kevin Gibson lets his cousin, a former cop, talk him into looking into a student's disappearance at Tremont University, he gets more than he bargained for. A former student — injured in a brutal attack two years ago and in a coma — may hold a critical piece of information that can solve the mystery. Meanwhile, an attractive coed continues to hide a very dark secret.

Tremont junior Brett Duncan is determined to find out what happened to his best friend, who's gone missing. Along with his girlfriend Ciera Kindle, Brett is drawn into a cunning world few know exist -- a conspiracy involving faculty, students, and some well-connected people in high places.

Beneath the campus’ Hallmark-card exterior lie many secrets, and a pulse-racing mystery with plenty of chills along the way.

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Games of Mystery: Jane Angel in the Templar Mystery, 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.

Jane Angel: Templar Mystery
Jane Angel: Templar Mystery

Jane Angel, an FBI agent and an art expert, is investigating the Holy Grail. Follow the clues to find this priceless treasure.

Where could the Holy Grail be found nowadays? Was it brought to Colombia by Columbus under the Red Templar’s Cross on his sails? Was it buried under Roslyn Chapel in the Scottish highlands? Are the Knights Hospitaller of Malta considered to be the keepers of the Holy Grail?

Discover the truth and solve a timeless mystery!

Jane Angel: Templar Mystery may be downloaded and purchased for $6.99 with a Big Fish Game Club membership. A demonstration version (60.73 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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Wednesday, December 09, 2009

Dorothy Gilman to Receive 2010 MWA Grand Master Award

Mystery Writers of America

In a press release this morning, the Mystery Writers of America announced that Dorothy Gilman, author of the Mrs. Pollifax series of suspense spy novels, has been chosen as the recipient of the 2010 Grand Master Award. MWA's Grand Master Award represents the pinnacle of achievement in mystery writing and was established to acknowledge important contributions to this genre, as well as significant output of consistently high-quality material. Gilman, a New Jersey native, has written and contributed to over 30 books that feature uncommon and unique characters. Her writing has continually kept readers coming back for 60 years.

"What a lovely surprise!" Gilman said. "The list of past Grand Masters is like a Who's Who of the great mystery writers of the last century. To be chosen for this award by my professional peers has to be the greatest honor of my 60 years as an author. Thank you, Mystery Writers of America! And thank you, too, for your important work on behalf of our profession."

The MWA also announced that the Raven Award is being shared by Broadway producer Zev Buffman and the Mystery Lovers Bookshop of Oakmont (PA). The Raven Award recognizes achievement in the mystery field outside of creative writing.

Finally, the 2010 Ellery Queen Award, which recognizes editors or publishers who have distinguished themselves by their support of the genre, is being given to Barbara Peters and Robert Rosenwald of Poisoned Pen Press.

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Tuesday, December 08, 2009

CBS Developing Crime Drama Based on the novel Private by James Patterson

James Patterson

Variety is reporting that CBS is developing a crime drama based on the yet-to-be-published novel Private by James Patterson (co-written with Maxine Paetro; see book synopsis below). Jason Cahill (Fringe, Profiler, The Sopranos) will write the adaptation.

The most recent adaption for television of Patterson's work was the short-lived ABC series Women's Murder Club, loosely based on the series of Women's Murder Club mysteries (1st To Die, 2nd Chance, 3rd Degree, etc.).

About Private: Former Marine and CIA agent Jack Morgan inherits his father's renowned security and detective business--along with a case load that tests him to the breaking point. Getting to the bottom of an NFL gambling scandal and an unsolved LAPD investigation into 18 school girl slayings would be enough. On top of all that, Morgan takes on solving the horrific murder of his best friend's wife. As Morgan fights the urge to exact brutal revenge on that killer, he has to navigate a workplace imbroglio that could blow the roof off his elite agency. And it's an especially explosive situation ... because the love affair is his own.

Private is scheduled to be published by Little, Brown in June, 2010.

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Mystery Book Review: Twenty-Five Years Ago Today by Stacy Juba

Mysterious Reviews, mysteries reviewed by the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books, is publishing a new review of Twenty-Five Years Ago Today by Stacy Juba. For our blog readers, we are printing it first here in advance of its publication on our website.

Twenty-Five Years Ago Today by Stacy Juba

by
Non-series

Mainly Murder Press (Trade Paperback)
ISBN-10: 0-615-29011-6 (0615290116)
ISBN-13: 978-0-615-29011-9 (9780615290119)
Publication Date: October 2009
List Price: $14.95

Review: Budding reporter Kris Langley reopens a 25-year-old unsolved murder investigation in Twenty-Five Years Ago Today, a mystery debut by Stacy Juba.

Kris is writing obituaries, press releases, and any other odds-and-ends assignment left on her desk for the newspaper of the small Massachusetts town of Fremont. Her primary task, though is to come up with the daily "25 and 50 Years Ago Today" column that is included with each edition of the paper. While researching the archives, she comes across an unsolved murder mystery that might be of interest. But she's reluctant to use it, as she has a murder in her own family, one that was solved from a legal perspective, but is unresolved in her own head. Believing that solving a crime from the past may help her deal with her own issues, she prints the story, opening long closed wounds in the community, and unwittingly putting her own life at risk.

Whether intended or not isn't clear, but Twenty-Five Years Ago Today has a claustrophobic, at times overwhelmingly so, feel to it. The small town, close confines of the newsroom, even Kris's constant introspection, all contribute to this impression. The author does a credible job conveying what it must be like to be the new employee in the newsroom, Kris's ambition to prove her value and worth to the organization, and later her amateur sleuthing. The cold case news item gambit may not be the most original choice here to set up the mystery, but the whodunit elements of the story are well done. As is Kris's desire to come to closure with the murder of her cousin (though some readers may find too much of the narrative dwells on this aspect of the story). Incorporating Greek mythology is an unexpected, and somewhat surprisingly relevant, angle. Overall, Twenty-Five Years Ago Today is an interesting mystery, and if the first in a series, serves as a solid introduction to the character of Kris Langley.

Special thanks to Stacy Juba for providing a copy of Twenty-Five Years Ago Today for this review.

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

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Synopsis (from the publisher): Kris Langley has always been obsessed with murder. She blames herself for the violent death of her cousin when they were kids and has let guilt invade every corner of her existence. Now an editorial assistant and obit writer for a Massachusetts newspaper, Kris stumbles across an unsolved murder while compiling "25 Years Ago Today" items from the microfilm. She grows fascinated with the case of a young cocktail waitress who was bludgeoned to death and dumped in the woods. Determined to solve the case and atone for the death of her cousin, Kris immerses herself in the mystery of what happened to Diana Ferguson, a talented artist who expressed herself through haunting paintings of Greek mythology. Not only does Kris face resistance from her family and her managing editor, she also clashes with Diana's suspicious nephew, Eric Soares -- until neither she nor Eric can deny the chemistry flaring between them. Kris soon learns that old news never leaves the morgue and that yesterday's headline is tomorrow's danger, for finding out the truth about that night twenty-five years ago may shatter Kris's present, costing her love, her career, and ultimately, her life.

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