First Clues, Mysteries for Kids: New Titles for April 2010, Part 2

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 April 2010.

Because there are so many this month, we're splitting this list into two. Today we're featuring Sleuths in Training (ages 10 to 12) and Apprentice Sleuths (ages 13 and older). Yesterday we featured mystery, suspense, and thriller novels for younger kids.

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Secret of the Bradford House by Albert A. Bell
A Steve and Kendra Mystery

The spooky old Bradford House at the top of the hill has loomed over Steve Patterson and Kendra Jordan's neighborhood for years. But not until a new neighbor, 11-year-old Rachel Mendoza, notices an eerie light in an attic window does the question arise: Is there a ghost in the house?

While they try to answer that question, Steve and Kendra have to deal with the tension caused by the presence of a "new kid" in the neighborhood, one who seems to have a more than casual interest in Steve. Steve is also reconnecting with his divorced father and learning how difficult that process can be.

The 2nd mystery in this series.

This Steve and Kendra Mystery is recommended for readers aged 10 to 12.

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Disney in Shadows by Ridley Pearson
A Kingdom Keepers Thriller

When Disney Imagineers installed hologram guides for the Magic Kingdom, using teenage models they had no idea the technology might backfire. But backfire it did: some nights when the kids go to sleep, they wake up in one of the Disney parks as a hologram.

The five teens, Finn, Philby, Willa, Charlene, and Maybeck search to find Wayne, their mentor and head Imagineer who has mysteriously gone missing. Concerned Wayne has been abducted by the Overtakers -- Disney villains, who along with other Disney characters, take over the parks when the turnstiles stop spinning, and want desperately to steer the parks to a far darker place -- the five kids pick up a major clue from a close friend, Jez, whose dreams (nightmares, really) often accurately predict the future.

The very few clues from Jez’s dream lead the kids into Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Epcot -- through imaginary worlds that become real, by imaginary kids who are real. Each clue seems tied to the last, and with the stakes growing ever higher, what starts out as a puzzle ends up as a fight for their lives. Through a transparent paper box, a quest for a sword, rides on Soarin' and Maelstrom, life-and-death encounters with giant snakes, and a devious Maleficent, the Kingdom Keepers not only begin to decipher deeper meanings to the clues, but discover new truths about themselves and their ever-growing friendships.

The 3rd book in this series.

The Kingdom Keepers thrillers are recommended for readers aged 10 to 12.

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The Light by D. J. MacHale
A Morpheus Road Thriller

16-year-old Marshall Seaver discovers that something beyond our world is after him. The eerie clues pile up quickly, and when people start dying, it’s clear whatever this is, it’s huge.

Marshall has no idea what’s happening to him, but he’s soon convinced that it has something to do with his best friend Cooper, who’s been missing for over a week. Together with Coop’s sister, Marsh searches for the truth about what happened to his friend, ultimately uncovering something bigger than he could ever have imagined.

The 1st book in this trilogy of thrillers.

This first Morpheus Road book is recommended for readers aged 10 to 12.

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We the Children by Andrew Clements
A Benjamin Pratt "Keepers of the School" Mystery

Sixth-grader Ben Pratt is thrust into a mystery-adventure when his school's janitor shoves a gold coin in his hand, passing on the responsibility to save Oakes School from developers. Captain Oakes gave the school to the community back in 1783; its original building overlooks the Massachusetts town's harbor. But the land has been sold, and buildings will be razed to make way for a theme park. With his parents recently separated and new living arrangements—one week at home with mom, the next on dad's sailboat—Ben has had enough change. He and Jill Acton, a friend with brainpower and potential, embark on a campaign to stop the attack.

The 1st mystery in this series.

This Benjamin Pratt "Keepers of the School" mystery is recommended for readers aged 10 to 12.

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The Case That Time Forgot by Tracy Barrett
The Sherlock Files

Xander’s classmate gives a report at school about a famous amulet of the Egyptian god of time, Thoth. It was thought to be so powerful that it could turn back time one day every hundred years. And that day will come in a week!

The amulet disappeared from a museum in London years ago. Xena and Xander’s celebrated ancestor, Sherlock Holmes, tried to find it, but with no luck. The twins are on the case—but so are some mysterious foes who are trying to thwart and perhaps even harm them! Can Xander and Xena track down what Sherlock Holmes could not?

The 3rd mystery in this series.

The Sherlock Files are recommended for readers aged 10 to 12.

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Theodosia and the Eyes of Horus by R. L. LaFevers
A Theodosia Throckmorton Mystery

Being able to detect black magic isn’t all tea and crumpets—and for Theodosia Throckmorton, it can be a decidedly tricky business! When Sticky Will drags Theo to a magic show featuring the Great Awi Bubu, she quickly senses there is more to the magician than he lets on, setting in motion a chain of events she never could have bargained for.

Meanwhile, back at the Museum of Legends and Antiquities, Henry is home for the spring holidays and makes an accidental discovery of an artifact that alchemists have been hunting for centuries. Soon, every black-cloaked occultist in London is trying to get their hands on it ...

The 3rd mystery in this series.

The Theodosia Throckmorton mysteries are recommended for readers aged 10 to 12.

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The Emperor's Code by Gordan Korman
The 39 Clues

As the race to find the 39 Clues builds to its explosive finish, Amy and Dan must explore an ancient culture and steal a Clue guarded by thousands of the world's best-trained soldiers. It's the most dangerous Clue search yet. As their enemies crowd in, Amy and Dan find themselves separated for the first time ever. The choice lies before them – find the next Clue, or find their way back to each other.

Be the first to find out where the next Clue is! There are three messages hidden on the cover of Book 8: The Emperor’s Code. Go to The39Clues.com/theemperorscode for a blow up of the cover, enter the secret messages you find, and unlock a page from The Emperor’s Code that reveals the whereabouts of the next Clue.

The 8th book in this seris of adventures.

The 39 Clues suspense novels are recommended for readers aged 10 to 12.

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Seeing Green by Carolyn Keene
A Nancy Drew, Girl Detective Mystery

What was supposed to be a blissed-out vacation at a pristine eco-resort has turned into one of the biggest cases of my life. And just as we were getting into it, Bess, George, and I had to return to River Heights. But, it looks like the case has followed us home. Now that I'm back on my home turf, I can investigate Cristobal's mysterious American girlfriend further -- I'm sure she has more to do with the sabotaging of the Casa Verde resort than her boyfriend and resort owner, Cristobal, would let on.

But as I've so often come to find out, this case goes much deeper the more I scratch the surface. Who are these mysterious people Cristobal and his girlfriend are involved with? And what is their plan? I'm on the case and determined to find out!

The third and final book in the Eco-Mystery trilogy.

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

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Conspiracy 365: April by Gabrielle Lord
A Conspiracy 365 Thriller

Don't blink. Don't forget to breathe. On New Year's Eve Cal is chased down the street by a staggering, sick man with a deadly warning ... They killed your father. They'll kill you. You must survive the next 365 days!

Hurled into a life on the run, the 15-year-old fugitive is isolated and alone. Hunted by the law and ruthless criminals, Cal must somehow uncover the truth about his father's mysterious death and a history-changing secret. Who can he turn to, who can he trust, when the whole world seems to want him dead? The clock is ticking. Any second could be his last.

The 4th book in this series.

The Conspiracy 365 thrillers are recommended for readers aged 13 and older.

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Me, the Missing, and the Dead by Jenny Valentine
Non-series

Me: Lucas Swain—I'm nearly sixteen years old and live in London. I was fairly normal until the night I found Violet. Then everything changed.

The missing: Dad. He disappeared five years ago. Nobody knows what happened to him, and nobody cares except me. It's enough to drive you crazy.

The dead: That's Violet ... in the urn. Speaking of crazy—I know she's trying to tell me something, and I think it's about my father ...

I may have met Violet after she died. But it didn't stop me from getting to know her ...

This novel is recommended for readers aged 13 and older.

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Kiss in the Dark by Lauren Henderson
A Scarlett Wakefield Mystery

With Dan McAndrews's murder finally behind her, Scarlett has high hopes for a fresh start at Wakefield Hall Collegiate, the elite English boarding school her grandmother runs. Unfortunately, those hopes are dashed when her nemesis, the infamous Plum Saybourne, is transferred to the school. Plum wastes no time turning Scarlett’s impressionable classmates against her.

Scarlett has dealt with Plum’s nasty schemes before, and she can handle her archenemy very nicely, thank you—until Plum sets her sights on Scarlett’s best friend, Taylor, and new boyfriend, Jase. Then Scarlett is more than willing to fight for what’s rightfully hers.

Things only get worse after Scarlett becomes entangled in a mysterious death on campus. Scarlett is compelled to investigate because she wants to protect someone close to her. She never imagines that she’ll uncover secrets related to her parents’ fatal accident so many years ago.

The 3rd mystery in this series.

The Scarlett Wakefield mysteries are recommended for readers aged 13 and older.

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The Knife That Killed Me by Anthony McGowan
Non-series

Paul Vanderman could be at any normal high school where bullies, girls, and annoying teachers are just part of life. But “normal” doesn’t apply when it comes to the school’s biggest bully, Roth—a twisted and threatening thug with an evil agenda.

When Paul ends up delivering a message from Roth to the leader of a gang at a nearby school, it fuels a rivalry with immediate consequences. Paul attempts to distance himself from the feud, but somehow Roth keeps finding reasons for him to stick around. Then one day Roth hands him a knife. And even though Paul is scared, he has never felt so powerful.

This novel is recommended for readers aged 13 and older.

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Possessing Jessie by Nancy Springer
Non-series

Quiet, cautious Jessie had always lived in the shadow of her dynamic younger brother -- her mother's clear favorite. His recent death leaves Jessie and her mother numb with grief. That is, until the morning Jessie cuts her hair and dresses in Jason's clothes, swaggering out of the house in an uncanny imitation of her brother. Her mother is visibly cheered, and for once Jessie is the center of attention at school. But each day Jason takes over Jessie more and more. Can she escape his power?

This thriller is recommended for readers aged 13 and older.

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New Hardcover Mysteries for April 2010

The Hidden Staircase Mystery Books has updated its list of new hardcover mysteries with books scheduled for publication in April 2010. Please note that some titles may publish early (and may already be available) and some may be delayed, published at a later date.

Below we're listing those authors with returning series characters, new series characters, and non-series or stand-alone mysteries in separate sections. All titles are available on our April new mystery books page.

• Authors with mysteries featuring returning series characters (in parentheses) this month:

Will Adams (Daniel Knox, 2nd), Susan Wittig Albert (China Bayles, 18th), Madelyn Alt (Bewitching, 6th), Jessica Fletcher and Donald Bain (Murder, She Wrote, 33rd), Jefferson Bass (Body Farm, 5th), Benjamin Black (Quirke, 3rd), C. J. Box (Joe Pickett, 10th), Rita Mae Brown (Mrs. Murphy, 18th), Alafair Burke (Ellie Hatcher, 3rd), Jennifer Lee Carrell (Kate Stanley, 2nd), Carol Higgins Clark (Regan Reilly, 13th), Jane K. Cleland (Josie Prescott, 5th), Barbara Cleverly (Joe Sandilands, 8th), Clare Curzon (Mike Yeadings, 22nd), Clare Curzon (Mike Yeadings, 24th), Ariana Franklin (Adelia Aguilar, 4th), Brian Freeman (Jonathan Stride, 5th), Sally Goldenbaum (Seaside Knitters, 3rd), J. M. Gregson (Inspector Peach, 14th), Martha Grimes (Richard Jury, 22nd), Rosemary Harris (Dirty Business, 3rd), Carolyn Hart (Death on Demand, 20th), Michael T. Harvey (Michael Kelly, 3rd), Declan Hughes (Ed Loy, 5th), Graham Ison (Hardcastle, 8th), Michael Jecks (Medieval West Country, 28th), Iris Johansen (Eve Duncan and Joe Quinn, 10th), Larry Karp (Scott Joplin, 3rd), Laurie R. King (Mary Russell, 10th), John McEvoy (Jack Doyle, 3rd), Ralph McInerny (Notre Dame, 13th), Robert S. Napier (Jack Lorentz, 2nd), James Patterson (Women's Murder Club, 9th), Tony Perona (Nick Bertetto, 3rd), R. T. Raichev (Country House Crime, 5th), Mary Reed and Eric Mayer (John the Eunuch, 8th), Jeremy Robinson (Jack Sigler, Chess Team, 2nd), Sara Rosett (Ellie Avery, Mom Zone, 5th), Ann B. Ross (Miss Julia Springer, 11th), Alexander McCall Smith (No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, 11th), Julia Spencer-Fleming (Clare Fergusson, 7th), David Stone (Micah Dalton, 4th), Mark Terry (Derek Stillwater, 3rd), P. J. Tracy (Grace MacBride, 5th), Kathryn R. Wall (Bay Tanner, 10th), Michelle Wan (Death in the Dordogne, 3rd), Lis Wiehl (Triple Threat, 2nd), Liz Williams (Inspector Chen, 5th), Jacqueline Winspear (Maisie Dobbs, 7th), Stuart Woods (Stone Barrington, 18th)

• Authors with mysteries introducing new series characters (in parentheses) this month:

John DeMers (Brett Baldwin), Gerrie Ferris Finger (Moriah Dru), Richard Helms (Judd Wheeler), D. P. Lyle (Dub Walker), Jassy Mackenzie (Jade de Jong)

• Authors with non-series or stand-alone mysteries this month:

Ace Atkins, David Baldacci, Angela S. Choi, Mary Higgins Clark, Jeffrey A. Cohen, Douglas Corleone, Katie Crouch, Ted Dekker, Sam Eastland, Stona Fitch, Irene Fleming, Victor Gischler, David Goodwillie, Heather Graham, Gerald Hammond, Daniëlle Hermans, Tom Hinshelwood, Lisa Jackson, Jeff Jacobson, Herman L. Jimerson, Daniel Kalla, Jesse Kellerman, Anne Lamott, Holly LeCraw, Joseph L. Mackin, Ilsa Mayr, Alan L. Moss, Jack O'Halloran, N. Cris Prince, Christopher Rice, Thomas Roberts, Penny Rudolph, J. J. Salem, Neta Seffer, Thomas Steinbeck, Simon Tolkien, Raffi Yessayan

For more information on any of these titles, please visit the April new mysteries page on our website. If you're interested in new paperbacks, visit The Mystery Bookshelf where you can discover a library of new mysteries, also updated with April 2010 releases.

Please visit the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books where we are committed to providing readers and collectors of mystery books with the best and most current information about their favorite authors, titles, and series.

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Michael Crichton's Jurassic Park Story Continues in Comic Book Format

The storyline for Michael Crichton's Jurassic Park continues in an updated format! IDW Publishing announced this week an agreement to create a new series of comics based on the Jurassic Park franchise.

According to the release, the first five-issue series will be titled Jurassic Park: Redemption, and takes place thirteen years after the very first Jurassic Park film. John Hammond's grandchildren, Tim and Lex Murphy, are now well-to-do young adults, with Lex working with the UN to continue keeping people off of both Isla Nublar and Isla Sorna ... but her brother Tim has other ideas about how to get their grandfather's name back in good standing.

The comic series debuts in June 2010.

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Mystery Bestsellers for March 26, 2010

A list of the top 15 mystery hardcover bestsellers for the week ending March 26, 2010 has been posted on the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books website.

More changes this week except at the top. Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol is still number one, though by a very small margin, and two titles that debuted earlier in the month move into the top 15.

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Moving up to number 9 from 16 is The Spellmans Strike Again, the fourth mystery in the Isabel Spellman series by Lisa Lutz.

First among her priorities as head of Spellman Investigations is to dig up some dirt on the competition, slippery ex-cop Rick Harkey -- a task she may enjoy a little too much. Next, faced with a baffling missing-persons case at the home of an aging millionaire, Izzy hires an actor friend, Len, to infiltrate the mansion as an undercover butler -- a role he may enjoy a little much.

Meanwhile, Izzy is being blackmailed by her mother (photographic evidence of Prom Night 1994) to commit to regular blind dates with promising professionals -- an arrangement that doesn't thrill Connor, an Irish bartender on the brink of becoming ex-boyfriend number 12.

At Spellman headquarters, it's business as unusual. Doorknobs and light fixtures are disappearing every day, Mom's been spotted crying in the pantry, and a series of increasingly demanding Spellman Rules (Rule #27: No Speaking Today) can't quite hold the family together. Izzy also has to decipher weekly "phone calls from the edge" from her octogenarian lawyer, Morty, as well as Detective Henry Stone's mysterious interest in rekindling their relationsh ... well, whatever it was.

Just when it looks like things can't go more haywire, little sister Rae's internship researching pro bono legal cases leads the youngest Spellman to launch a grassroots campaign that could spring an innocent man from jail -- or land Rae in it.

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Stealthily creeping up the list and moving into 11th position is The Devil's Star, the fifth mystery in the Harry Hole series Jo Nesbo (but only the third to be published in English).

Oslo is sweltering in the summer heat when a young woman is murdered in her flat. One finger has been cut off and a tiny red diamond in the shape of a pentagram—a five-pointed star—is found under her eyelid. Detective Harry Hole is assigned the case with Tom Waaler, a colleague he neither likes nor trusts. He believes Tom is behind a gang of arms smugglers—and the murder of his partner. But Harry, an off-the-rails alcoholic, is barely holding on to his job and has little choice but to play nice.

Five days later, another woman is reported missing. When her severed finger is found adorned with a star-shaped red diamond ring, Harry fears a serial killer is on the loose. Determined to find the killer and expose the crooked Tom Waaler, Harry discovers the two investigations melding in unexpected ways. But pursuing the truth comes at a price, and soon Harry finds himself on the run and forced to make difficult decisions about a future he may not live to see.

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The top four mystery bestsellers this week are shown below:

Please visit the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books where we are committed to providing readers and collectors of mystery books with the best and most current information about their favorite authors, titles, and series.

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First Clues, Mysteries for Kids: New Titles for April 2010, Part 1

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 April 2010.

Because there are so many this month, we're splitting this list into two. Today we're featuring New Sleuths (ages 4 to 6) and Future Sleuths (ages 7 to 9). Tomorrow we'll feature mystery, suspense, and thriller novels for older kids.

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Bones and the Clown Mix-Up Mystery by David A. Adler
A Bones Mystery

Bones is on the case in this 8th mystery of the series!

Detective Jeffrey Bones is having fun eating cake and watching a clown perform tricks at Not-Me Amy’s birthday party. But when the clown can’t find her street clothes at the end of the party, it’s up to Bones to solve this Easy-to-Read mystery!

The Bones Mysteries are recommended for readers aged 4 to 6.

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Dognapped! by Jodie Mellor
A Mystery Pups Mystery

It's the start of the summer holidays and Megan and Lauren go to the Magic Mountain Rescue Centre to bring home two of the cutest, most adorable puppies in the world. With their friend, Caitlin, and her toy dog, Daisy, they start a Puppy Club.

But when they hang the Puppy Club medallions on their pups, something mysterious happens -- a sudden, dizzying whirl of light whizzes them to Sleuth City and Daisy comes to life! Spotting a headline about a missing pooch, the three doggy detectives are soon on the trail of a dognapper -- and it's all the girls can do to keep up!

The 1st book in this series.

This Mystery Pups mystery is recommended for readers aged 4 to 6.

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From Russia with Lunch by Bruce Hale
A Chet Gecko Mystery

Inventions, spells, and bullies—oh my!

It all begins when Chet’s favorite teacher is fired, only to be replaced by the mechanical invention of Dr. Tanya Lightov—a mysterious Russian scientist.

Suddenly, the school seems possessed by forces that are upsetting the natural order of things: Kindergartners are beating up sixth graders; teachers’ pets are talking back; and worst of all, Chet’s faithful partner and best friend, Natalie Attired, has abandoned him in his hour of need.

Will Chet be able to restore his friendship with Natalie and bring Emerson Hicky back to normal? One thing’s for certain: The crazy, mixed-up mastermind behind this case will be the last creature anyone expects.

The 13th mystery in this series, originally published in hardcover in January 2009.

The Chet Gecko "noir" mysteries are recommended for readers aged 7 to 9.

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Ibrahim Khan and the Mystery of the Roaring Lion by Farheen Khan
An Ibrahim Khan Mystery

“It was almost midnight when Ibrahim first heard the sounds of hyenas in the backyard and they were laughing! He quietly slipped out of his sleeping bag and peered into the yard. Less than a minute later he heard a loud thunderous roar! He grabbed his binoculars and held them against the window. There was definitely something out there, something big!”

Tree forts, maple trees and roaring lions? When their classmate Yusuf hears ferocious roaring lions and creepy laughing hyenas in his backyard, he calls the best detectives he knows, Ibrahim and Zayn Khan! With the help of their trusty brown sack, they search for clues and bit by bit piece together this extraordinary mystery.

The 1st mystery in this series.

This Ibrahim Khan mystery is recommended for readers aged 7 to 9.

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The Case of the Secret Weapon by John R. Erickson
A Hank the Cowdog Mystery

Hank the Cowdog is at it again!

There’s a burglar on the loose, and he’s robbing houses with the help of a super-sneaky, super-stinky secret weapon. As Head of Ranch Security, Hank knows it’s his job to protect the ranch and all the buildings on it. So when a suspicious character comes sniffing around Slim’s bachelor shack, Hank heads right into action. But does Hank have what it takes to save the day—even after getting caught in the line of fire?

The 55th mystery in this series.

The Hank the Cowdog mysteries are recommended for readers aged 7 to 9.

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The Calder Game by Blue Balliett
A Petra and Calder Mystery

When Calder Pillay travels with his father to a remote village in England, he finds a mix of mazes and mystery ... including an unexpected Alexander Calder sculpture in the town square. Calder is strangely drawn to the sculpture, while other people have less-than-friendly feelings towards it. Both the boy and the sculpture seem to be out of place ... and then, on the same night, they disappear! Calder's friends Petra and Tommy must fly out to help his father find him. But this mystery has more twists and turns than a Calder mobile ... with more at stake than first meets the eye.

The 3rd mystery in this series, originally published in hardcover in May 2008.

The mysteries in this series are recommended for readers aged 7 to 9.

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Trouble at the Arcade by Franklin W. Dixon
A Hardy Boys Secret Files Mystery

Frank and Joe are brothers, but that won't stop them from competing against each other at the Fun World arcade's video game tournament. The boys make a bet: Whoever wins the competition gets to move into the cool new room their dad just built!

But suddenly money goes missing. The owner of Fun World shuts down the tournament until the stolen cash is returned! Can the boys figure out who took it? Or will their chances of victory -- and a brand-new room! -- be crushed by a thief?

The 1st in a series featuring Frank and Joe Hardy as 9- and 8-year-old amateur sleuths for younger readers.

The Hardy Boys Secret Files Mysteries are recommended for readers aged 7 to 9.

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The Missing Mitt by Franklin W. Dixon
A Hardy Boys Secret Files Mystery

Frank and his brother, Joe, are excited! It's the final game in the Little League season, and their team, the Bayport Bandits, has a real shot at winning. Sure, the other team is good -- but they don't have the Bandits' good luck charm. The charm is their teammate Jason's mitt. His dad, a major-league pitcher, wore it in the World Series! The whole team touches it before every game for luck.

Right before the game, Jason's mitt goes missing! The team is devastated. Can Frank and Joe solve the case of the missing mitt before the Bandits lose the game?

The 2nd in a series featuring Frank and Joe Hardy as 9- and 8-year-old amateur sleuths for younger readers.

The Hardy Boys Secret Files Mysteries are recommended for readers aged 7 to 9.

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Mystery Book Review: The Woman Who Attracted Money by Steve Chandler

Mysterious Reviews, mysteries reviewed by the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books, is publishing a new review of The Woman Who Attracted Money by Steve Chandler. For our blog readers, we are printing it first here in advance of its publication on our website.

The Woman Who Attracted Money by Steve Chandler
A Robert Chance Mystery

Robert Reed (Trade Paperback)
ISBN-10: 1-934759-40-6 (1934759406)
ISBN-13: 978-1-934759-40-0 (9781934759400)
Publication Date: October 2009
List Price: $14.95

Review: Bestselling personal growth coach Steve Chandler, who has over 20 non-fiction books to his credit, turns to crime fiction introducing ex-cop Robert Chance in The Woman Who Attracted Money, the first of an expected series of twelve books.

Chance now works as a life coach ... and a private investigator when the need arises. And one has. He learns that a good friend, Tom Dumar, has been found dead in his real estate office, an apparent suicide. But in his discussions with Chance, Tom was eagerly looking forward to the future. Could Chance have not known his friend as well as he thought? A client, Madison Kerr, an advertising strategist and computer hacker, wants to help. She knew Tom, and possibly more importantly, his business partner Glen Gibbon, who is suspected of being involved in some shady deals. In fact, she thinks she knows who killed Tom, even though the police officially ruled his death a suicide. Chance wants to believe her, but where's the evidence?

Their inquiry is hampered by the fact that everything in Tom's office was removed following the police investigation by his partner. Furthermore, Tom's body was cremated. But Susan, Tom's wife, also believes her husband didn't take his own life. When her house burns to the ground, a clear case of arson, Chance fears for Susan. And when Madison hacks into Glen Gibbon's computer and finds photos taken of Susan without her knowledge, as if he were stalking her, they're convinced Glen may have had something to do with Tom's death.

The Woman Who Attracted Money is a light, entertaining mystery, and one with interesting characters and humor, making it both delightful and easy to read. Much of the appeal here is in the interaction between Robert Chance and Madison Kerr. Chance is methodical and insightful, Madison buoyant and fearless. The mystery plot is nicely structured and well paced. It's a strong start to this series that promises to have interesting cases for the two, a bit of gentle life coaching for the reader, and a touch of romance between Chance and Madison.

Special thanks to guest reviewer Betty of The Betz Review for contributing her review of The Woman Who Attracted Money and to Steve Chandler for providing a copy of the book for this review.

Review Copyright © 2010 — Hidden Staircase Mystery Books — All Rights Reserved

If you are interested in purchasing The Woman Who Attracted Money from Amazon.com, please click the button to the right.

Synopsis (from the publisher): Chandler’s suspense novel features ex-cop Robert Chance and his investigator friend and romantic interest, Madison Kerr. This book is the first in a 12-book series.

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Mystery Book Review: The Midnight Curse by L. M. Falcone

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

The Midnight Curse by L. M. Falcone
Non-series

Kids Can Press (Hardcover)
ISBN-10: 1-55453-358-9 (1554533589)
ISBN-13: 978-1-55453-358-9 (9781554533589)
Publication Date: March 2010
List Price: $16.95

Review: L. M. Falcone's third comic supernatural thriller written for middle-school level readers has a brother and sister trying to avoid The Midnight Curse.

11-year-old fraternal twins Lacey and Charlie are off to England after their mother receives a letter stating that they've been included in the will of the recently deceased Jonathan Edward Darcy, a great-great-uncle on their father's side. But strange things begin to occur after they arrive at Blaxton Manor, their uncle's home, including a whispered voice from inside a bottle that ominously tells Charlie that "the midnight curse has been passed on to you." The twins soon meet up with Daniel, a ghost about their own age living in the house, who tells them the story of how generations of Darcy men have been cursed ... and since Charlie is the last remaining male in the family, the curse is now on him. Lacey is determined to learn more about the curse -- and how it can be lifted -- so she can save her brother from a lifetime of fear.

The Midnight Curse can probably best be described as a madcap adventure, the literary equivalent of being trapped in an amusement park funhouse. The overall story arc makes sense, but the pathway taken is circuitous, and often seems arbitrary. Written at an age-appropriate level, middle school readers might enjoy being taken along for the ride, but a critical look at the narrative reveals significant plot conveniences, if not outright holes, including what seems to be a complete disregard for the passage (or lack thereof) of time, ironic given how important time is the story.

The two principal characters, Lacey and Charlie, also present something of a problem. The book is narrated from the point of view of Lacey, who, not unexpectedly, spins things her way. She introduces herself and her brother as "not at all alike", she being "cool, calm and sophisticated" and Charlie as "a pain in the butt". That's fine, as far as it goes, and her perspective is generally amusing. But Charlie comes across as wildly immature in the story, acting much younger than his age, screaming "I'm gonna die" with annoying regularity. There's something incongruous about their portrayal here that simply doesn't serve the story well.

Still, it's likely that most younger readers will overlook these issues and be thrilled to accompany Lacey and Charlie on their adventure to discover the secret behind The Midnight Curse.

Special thanks to Raab Associates for providing an ARC of The Midnight Curse for this review.

Review Copyright © 2010 — Hidden Staircase Mystery Books — All Rights Reserved

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

Synopsis (from the publisher): A deep, raspy voice whispered, “The midnight curse has been passed on to you!”

Thus begins a frightfully wacky adventure that will have young readers turning every page in spine-tingling anticipation. Lacey and her twin brother, Charlie, are visiting England to find out if they inherited anything from their reclusive uncle Jonathan, but before long, Charlie realizes he might not have inherited anything but the family curse. It’s a bad one — he’ll shrivel up and die unless someone ventures to the attic to face a malevolent spirit.

Curse removal is a complicated game involving a gothic cast of shifty characters. The twins sure have stirred things up, and the clock is ticking on Charlie’s curse. Can they finish what they started?

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Mystery Book Review: The Many Deaths of the Firefly Brothers by Thomas Mullen

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

The Many Deaths of the Firefly Brothers by Thomas Mullen
Non-series

Random House (Hardcover)
ISBN-10: 1-4000-6753-7 (1400067537)
ISBN-13: 978-1-4000-6753-4 (9781400067534)
Publication Date: January 2010
List Price: $26.00

Review: Thomas Mullen's second novel, The Many Deaths of the Firefly Brothers, follows the exploits -- and the deaths -- of two young men who lead a well-publicized life of crime in Indiana during the Great Depression.

Jason and Whitman "Whit" Fireson, known far and wide as the Firefly brothers, are successful bank robbers, their daring crimes documented -- and glamorized -- by the press. That is until they are shot dead while hiding out following their largest take to date. Much to their surprise, they awaken (come to life?) in the morgue, the blood drying around their multiple, presumably fatal, bullet wounds. They flee, unsure what had happened but sure that their mother, Jason's girlfriend and Whit's wife, need to know they're alive. But staying dead may be more difficult than robbing banks for the brothers, as a second and third death await them.

It's tempting to try to label The Many Deaths of the Firefly Brothers as something other than a historical novel. It's certainly historical, no argument there, with sweeping and illustrative narrative describing the 1930s environment in which the Firefly brothers live (and die). Yet, from the way it is written (but not structured), there's a distinct impression that the author may also want the book to be considered more than just a literary exercise, to be more of, for lack of a better term, a thriller. Or, given its subject matter, an allegorical thriller. But it's paced far too slowly for a thriller and, somewhat paradoxically given how violent some of the scenes are, it's too light, almost playful, to generate any sustained suspense, even when it comes to the basic question of how and why the brothers are reborn, as it were. (To be fair, the publisher never characterizes the book as a thriller in any way, but as an "imaginative and spirited saga".)

There is the (initially clever) surreal immortality aspect of the principal characters and the parallels drawn between the time period of the story and that of today, but by the third death, the concept becomes derivative, pedestrian even. The book is ably written, to be sure, and the brothers are charming and charismatic characters, but in the end, the plot lacks focus and closure. Despite its interesting and provocative title, readers expecting a mystery, suspense or crime novel may well be disappointed.

Special thanks to Random House for providing a copy of The Many Deaths of the Firefly Brothers for this review.

Review Copyright © 2010 — Hidden Staircase Mystery Books — All Rights Reserved

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

Synopsis (from the publisher): Jason and Whit Fireson are bank robbers known as the Firefly Brothers by the press, the authorities, and an adoring public that worships their acts as heroic counterpunches thrown at a broken system.

Now it appears they have at last met their end in a hail of bullets. Jason and Whit’s lovers—Darcy, a wealthy socialite, and Veronica, a hardened survivor—struggle between grief and an unyielding belief that the Firesons have survived. While they and the Firesons’ stunned mother and straight-arrow third son wade through conflicting police reports and press accounts, wild rumors spread that the bandits are still at large. Through it all, the Firefly Brothers remain as charismatic, unflappable, and as mythical as the American Dream itself, racing to find the women they love and make sense of a world in which all has come unmoored.

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Finalists Announced for the 2009 ForeWord Book of the Year Award

The finalists for ForeWord Magazine's 2009 Book of the Year Awards have been announced. The awards were established to bring increased attention from librarians and booksellers to the literary achievements of independent publishers and their authors. 60 categories are represented, including one for mystery. The finalists are:

◊ Death at Solstice by Lucha Corpi
◊ Deer Season by Aaron Stander
◊ Dixie Noir by Kirk Curnutt
◊ Every Boat Turns South by J. P. White
◊ Hard Stop by Chris Knopf
◊ In Their Blood by Sharon Potts
◊ Jump by Tim Maleeny
◊ Justice for All by Radclyffe
◊ Quiet Teacher by Arthur Rosenfeld
◊ Rupture by A. Scott Pearson
◊ The Big Wake-Up by Mark Coggins
◊ The Khan Dilemma by Ron Goodreau
◊ The Pier by Bill Noel
◊ Tower by Ken Bruen and Reed Farrel Coleman
◊ Why Did You Die in the Park? by Patricia K. Batta
◊ Wrath by Robert Santora
◊ Wyatt's Revenge by H. Terrell Griffin

A complete list of all finalists is available here. The winners (gold, silver, bronze in each category) will be announced at BookExpo America on Tuesday, May 25th, 2010, in New York City.

indicates a review by Mysterious Reviews.

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Michael Connelly Sues Paramount for Inflated Costs associated with the Film Rights to the First Two Harry Bosch Novels

Sometimes film adaptations of mystery novels don't go quite as smoothly as all parties might like. The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that Michael Connelly is suing Paramount over excessive costs associated with the author's buy-back of the exclusive rights given to the studio for the first two books in his Harry Bosch series, The Black Echo and The Black Ice, originally published by Little, Brown (respectively) in 1992 and 1993.

According to the article, Paramount exclusively optioned the film rights in 1995 for a 15 year period, after which Connelly had the right to reacquire them for all out-of-pocket development costs if no films were made. None were, so when Connelly tried to do so this year, there was no documentation to support the amount of costs the studio claims were incurred.

Stay tuned.

About The Black Echo (from the publisher): For maverick LAPD homicide detective Harry Bosch, the body in the drainpipe at Mulholland Dam is more than another anonymous statistic. This one is personal ... because the murdered man was a fellow Vietnam "tunnel rat" who had fought side by side with him in a hellish underground war.

Now Bosch is about to relive the horror of Nam.

From a dangerous maze of blind alleys to a daring criminal heist beneath the city, his survival instincts will once again be tested to their limit. Pitted against enemies inside his own department and forced to make the agonizing choice between justice and vengeance, Bosch goes on the hunt for a killer whose true face will shock him.

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Mystery Book Review: Spade & Archer by Joe Gores

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

Spade & Archer by Joe Gores
Non-series

Knopf (Hardcover)
ISBN-10: 0-307-26464-5 (0307264645)
ISBN-13: 978-0-307-26464-0 (9780307264640)
Publication Date: February 2009
List Price: $24.00

Review: Joe Gores takes on the risky project of penning a prequel to The Maltese Falcon, Dashiell Hammett's mystery introducing Sam Spade, with Spade & Archer, chronicling some of the early cases of the famous private eye.

In 1921 -- some seven years before the events that take place in The Maltese Falcon -- Sam Spade resigns his position as a Seattle-based investigator for the Continental Detective Agency. Moving south to San Francisco, he sets up an independent agency as "Sam Spade, Esq.", which is quickly shortened to just "Sam Spade" after his new receptionist, Effie Perine, says it seems "more elegant". He's open to about any case, but no domestic matters. His buddy Sid Wise, a lawyer, is a source for new clients, and Spade hits his stride when a missing persons case is referred to him. Posing as a shipyard inspector, he's drawn into a separate case involving a fortune in stolen gold. The two cases are solved nearly simultaneously, setting him up for bigger and better (those are relative terms) things.

Spade & Archer reads a lot like a continuous series of short stories, with recurring characters and interlocking storylines. Gores seems to have captured the essence of Sam Spade exceptionally well; the rapid, clipped dialog pitch perfect. Discussing an early case with Effie, he says,

"[The police and the detectives] are thinking big and complicated. I'm thinking small and simple." He touched a finger to the tip of her nose. "Simple is always best, sweetheart."

The overall tone to the book isn't quite as dark and noir-ish as one might expect, the chapter titles deftly adding a light, entertaining touch, but it is certainly written in the style of Hammett and quite enjoyable. Fans of The Maltese Falcon and its author can rest assured that all due respect was paid to the original, and will not be disappointed with Spade & Archer.

Special thanks to Random House for providing a trade paperback edition (Vintage Crime, March 2010, 978-0-307-27706-0) of Spade & Archer for this review.

Review Copyright © 2010 — Hidden Staircase Mystery Books — All Rights Reserved

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

Synopsis (from the publisher): It’s 1921—seven years before Sam Spade will solve the famous case of the Maltese Falcon. He’s just set up his own agency in San Francisco and he gets off to a quick start, working cases (he doesn’t do domestic) and hiring a bright young secretary named Effie Perrine. When he’s hired by a prominent San Francisco banker to find his missing son, Spade gets the break he’s been looking for. He spends the next few years dealing with booze runners, waterfront thugs, banking swindlers, gold smugglers, and bumbling cops. He brings in Miles Archer as a partner to help bolster the agency, though it was Archer who stole his girl while he was fighting in World War I. All along, Spade will tangle with an enigmatic villain who holds a long-standing grudge against Spade. And, of course, he’ll fall in love—though it won’t turn out for the best. It never does with dames.

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Cory Doctorow's Young Adult Thriller Little Brother Optioned for Film

The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that AngryFilms producer Don Murphy (Transformers, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen) has optioned the young adult political thriller Little Brother by Cory Doctorow (the title a play on Big Brother by George Orwell). The production company is currently seeking a director and screenwriter.

About Little Brother (from the publisher): Marcus, a.k.a “w1n5t0n,” is only seventeen years old, but he figures he already knows how the system works – and how to work the system. Smart, fast, and wise to the ways of the networked world, he has no trouble outwitting his high school’s intrusive but clumsy surveillance systems.

But his whole world changes when he and his friends find themselves caught in the aftermath of a major terrorist attack on San Francisco. In the wrong place at the wrong time, Marcus and his crew are apprehended by the Department of Homeland Security and whisked away to a secret prison where they’re mercilessly interrogated for days.

When the DHS finally releases them, Marcus discovers that his city has become a police state where every citizen is treated like a potential terrorist. He knows that no one will believe his story, which leaves him only one option: to take down the DHS himself.

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Games of Mystery: The Lost Cases of 221B Baker St., New at Big Fish Games

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

Return to 221 Baker St. and play as the famous consulting detective Sherlock Holmes to solve 16 mysterious crimes in Victorian England. Dust off your magnifying glass and use your astute observational skills to gather evidence in 60 brilliantly rendered locations around Victorian England including Stonehenge, Marlsbury Castle, London's Music Hall and more!

Unlock vital clues by playing over 50 mind-bending puzzles and mini-games in each case, including anagrams, cryptograms, and more. Featuring over 40 levels of hidden object and find the difference gameplay. Interact with more than 100 lively characters including Watson, Mycroft, and Inspector Lestrade. Each clue leads you closer to catching the culprit in some of Holmes' toughest cases!

Also available: The Lost Cases of 221B Baker St. Game Walkthrough.

See also the previous game the series, The Lost Cases of Sherlock Holmes.

The Lost Cases of 221B Baker St. may be downloaded and purchased for $6.99 with a Big Fish Game Club membership. A demonstration version (237.66 MB) may be downloaded and played for free for one hour.

Watch a preview video below:

Get any standard 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! (Collector's Editions earn 3 punches each, half-way towards your free game!)

Read our new game reviews by Ms. Terri: Midnight Mysteries: The Edgar Allan Poe Conspiracy (Review), Nancy Drew Dossier: Lights, Camera, Curses! (Review), The Hardy Boys: The Perfect Crime (Review), Enlightenus (Review), and Nick Chase: A Detective Story (Review).

Big Fish Games: Bestsellers

Big Fish Games: New releases

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

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