Today's Fall 2010 television upfront coverage from The Hollywood Reporter and network press releases, focusing on suspense and crime dramas.
ABC announced its Fall 2010 schedule with returning shows Castle (Mondays) and Desperate Housewives (Sundays) being joined by cop drama Detroit 1-8-7 (Tuesdays), the legal drama The Whole Truth (Wednesdays), and Body of Proof (formerly Body of Evidence, Fridays) with Dana Delaney as a medical examiner who solves crimes. (News item)
CBS has officially canceled Cold Case, Ghost Whisperer, and Numbers. (News item)
The CW has picked up the remake of La Femme Nikita, now simply titled Nikita. (News item)
The Hollywood Reporter has a Fall 2010 schedule grid of what's known so far for the over-the-air networks (basically just missing CBS).
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Today's Fall 2010 Television Upfront Coverage (100518)
Mystery Book Review: Eye of the Mountain God by Penny Rudolph
Review of Eye of the Mountain God by Penny Rudolph
Single mother and professional photographer Megan Montoya, newly settled in Santa Fe, New Mexico, finds herself drawn into a maelstrom of mystery when she discovers five ancient artifacts wrapped in her morning newspaper in Eye of the Mountain God, a non-series thriller by Penny Rudolph.
Read the full text of our review at Mysterious Reviews.
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Eye of the Mountain God
Penny Rudolph
Non-series
St. Martin's Press (Hardcover)
ISBN-10: 0-312-54546-0 (0312545460)
ISBN-13: 978-0-312-54546-8 (9780312545468)
Publication Date: April 2010
List Price: $25.99
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Mysterious Reviews is your source for the latest mystery, suspense, thriller, and crime novel reviews, edited by the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books.
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Authors on Tour: Jeffrey Leever Visits In Reference to Murder and Mystery Reader Discussion
Mystery Books News is thrilled to be coordinating this week's online book tour for author Jeffrey Leever, whose thriller, The University (Capital Crime Press Trade Paperback, November 2009), has investigative journalist Kevin Gibson drawn into a cunning world few know exist -- a conspiracy involving facilty, students, and some well-connected people in high places on the campus of a local college.
Today, Tuesday May 18th, Jeffrey will be visiting two blog sites:
• Mystery Reader Discussion:, where The University is reviewed.
We're also thrilled to announce that Jeffrey is giving away a signed copy of his new book to one lucky tour visitor. Visit each tour site on the day indicated and pick up a unique PIN to be used to enter the giveaway on that day. The entry form can be found on Jeffrey's tour page.
We hope you have the opportunity to stop by each of the tour sites this week to learn more about Jeffrey and the secrets that lie beneath a university's upstanding exterior.
Games of Mystery: Tiger Eye Part 1, Curse of the Riddle Box, New from Big Fish Games
Games of Mystery is pleased to announce the availability of a new mystery casual game from Big Fish Games released today and available to BFG Club members. 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.
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Play as the psychically-gifted Dela Reese as she’s hurtled into danger after purchasing an ancient riddle box in a Beijing dirt market. From the box emerges Hari, a striking 7-foot tall warrior who has been imprisoned for 2000 years. Help Dela thwart assassins who seek the power of the box, and find a way for her and Hari to safely return to Dela’s homeland, while earning each other’s respect and love.
Based on the romantic suspense novel Tiger Eye by Margorie M. Liu, this hidden object adventure game is divided into two episodes. Curse of the Riddle Box corresponds to the first half of the book and takes place in China; the concluding installment takes place in the United States. Replete with compelling puzzles and addictive mini-games, the game also includes hand-drawn, voice-acted cut scenes that depict the story.
Also available: Tiger Eye Part I: Curse of the Riddle Box Game Walkthrough.
Tiger Eye Part 1: Curse of the Riddle Box may be downloaded and purchased for $6.99 with a Big Fish Game Club membership. A demonstration version (285.04 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 Ms. Terri's reviews of the adventure and casual mystery games featured on this site, including Midnight Mysteries: The Edgar Allan Poe Conspiracy, Nancy Drew Dossier: Lights, Camera, Curses!, Enlightenus, and many more!
Big Fish Games: Bestsellers
Big Fish Games: New releases
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Games of Mystery is your source for mystery-themed video, electronic, and board games, parties for kids and adults, and murder mystery weekends and mystery getaway vacations!
Film Rights Optioned for Blood Oath by Christopher Farnsworth
The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that the film rights to debut thriller Blood Oath by Christopher Farnsworth have been picked up by Lucas Foster (Warp Films). The book hit bookstores yesterday (and is on our list of titles to be reviewed).
“It always starts with the character for me,” said Foster, the producer behind thrillers Law Abiding Citizen and Mr. and Mrs. Smith. “Nathanial Cade [a vampire protecting the Presidency] has an amazing history, a great attitude and a great set of powers. He is a complete movie figure.” Foster hopes to have the film in production next year.
About Blood Oath (from the publisher): Zach Barrows is an ambitious young White House staffer whose career takes an unexpected turn when he's partnered with Nathaniel Cade, a secret agent sworn to protect the president. But Cade is no ordinary civil servant. Bound by a special blood oath, Cade has spent more than 140 years in service to the president, battling nightmares before they can break into the daylight world of the American dream.
Immediately Zach and Cade receive their first joint assignment: one that uncovers a shadowy government conspiracy and a plot to attack the Unites States with a gruesome new biological weapon. Zach soon learns that the world is far stranger, and far more dangerous, than he ever imagined ... and that his partner is the least of his problems.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Naked Heat, Richard Castle's Second Nikki Heat Crime Thriller
The season finale of Castle this evening showed a brief glimpse of the cover of the (fictional) mystery writer's next novel. And sure enough, it's already listed on Amazon and available for pre-order.
Titled Naked Heat, it is the sequel to the crime thriller Heat Wave, which ABC had pseudonymously written and published through Disney's Hyperion unit to promote the second season of the series, probably not realizing it would become a runaway bestseller in the process. So it makes sense that a new book will introduce the third season of the popular series, which has already been renewed by the network. Naked Heat has a scheduled publication date of September 28th, 2010.
At present, there is no plotline available for Naked Heat, which is consistent with what Castle says -- and does -- during tonight's episode.
About Naked Heat (from the publisher): Tough, sexy, professional, NYPD Homicide Detective Nikki Heat carries a passion for justice as she leads one of New York City's top homicide squads. In what's sure to be another smash sensation by blockbuster author Richard Castle, readers will once again follow Nikki Heat and hotshot reporter Jameson Rook as they trade barbs and innuendos all while on the trail of a murderer!
Today's Fall 2010 Television Upfront Coverage (100517)
Today's Fall 2010 television upfront coverage from The Hollywood Reporter and network press releases, focusing on suspense and crime dramas.
Fox has unveiled its Fall 2010 schedule with no new crime dramas ... at least initially. Returning shows include Lie To Me (Wednesday), Bones (Thursday), and Human Target (Friday). The new Chicago-based cop show Ride-Along is slated for mid-season. (News item)
CBS has picked up the updated Hawaii Five-O as well as the legal drama Defenders and the crime drama Blue Bloods (formerly Reagan's Law). The latter show, which stars Tom Selleck, probably means no more new Jesse Stone films for the foreseeable future. (News item) Separately, it was announced that the network also ordered the Criminal Minds spin-off (which seems to remain untitled at this point). (News item)
The Hollywood Reporter now has full trailers for all 12 new NBC shows on its website.
Authors on Tour This Week: Jeffrey Leever, for his novel The University
Mystery Books News is thrilled to be coordinating this week's online book tour for author Jeffrey Leever, whose thriller, The University (Capital Crime Press Trade Paperback, November 2009), has investigative journalist Kevin Gibson drawn into a cunning world few know exist -- a conspiracy involving faculty, students, and some well-connected people in high places on the campus of a local college.
Jeffrey will be visiting nine blog sites this week:
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
• In Reference to Murder: Author Interview
• Mystery Reader Discussion: Book Review
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
• Café of Dreams: Book Review
• Wendy's Minding Spot: Author Guest Post
Thursday, May 20, 2010
• Novel Works: Author Interview
• Allie's Musings: Author Guest Post
Friday, May 21, 2010
• CMash Loves To Read: Book Review
• Murder by 4: Author Guest Post
Saturday, May 22, 2010
• Sharon's Garden of Book Reviews: Book Review
A complete schedule of Jeffrey's tour including a biography and more information about The University can be found at Authors on Tour: Jeffrey Leever.
It's also our pleasure to announce that Jeffrey is giving away a signed copy of his new book to one lucky tour visitor. Visit each tour site on the day indicated and pick up a unique PIN to be used to enter the giveaway on that day. The entry form can be found on Jeffrey's tour page.
We hope you have the opportunity to stop by each of the tour sites this week to learn more about Jeffrey and the secrets that lie beneath a university's upstanding exterior.
Mark Hamill to Direct Film Adaptation of his Graphic Crime Thriller The Black Pearl
Variety is reporting that Mark Hamill (Star Wars) will direct a film adaptation of his graphic crime thriller The Black Pearl. The plotline was considered for an original screenplay some 14 years ago, but instead was developed into a comic series, published by Dark Horse in 1996. Hamill will also pen the adaptation.
About The Black Pearl (from the publisher): Luther isn't a hero. He isn't motivated by honor or justice -- at best he's a regular guy. He went out one night; he followed the woman home because he hoped to see something. What he saw was her abduction. What he did was save her ... for himself. But the newspapers and TV personalities turned it into something else, and turned him into someone else. Now he's The Black Pearl, and the media won't let him quit.
Games of Mystery: Alan Wake, New for Xbox 360
Games of Mystery is pleased to announce a new game being released this week and available from Amazon Video Games.
You can find more mystery games for Windows PC, Nintendo DS and Wii, and Xbox 360 gaming systems on their respective pages at our Games of Mystery website.
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Alan Wake
Alan Wake is a bestselling thriller novelist who has moved to the small town of Bright Falls, Washington after suffering from insomnia and depression. Wake is able to sleep again, but after he meets a mysterious woman, he begins to have terrible nightmares. As he puts these nightmares on paper for a new book, he soon notices that all the things that happen in his book are coming true right before his eyes. Alan must piece together a mystery to prevent himself from being trapped inside a nightmarish world forever.
Using cinematic effects and technology such as real-time lighting, shadows and reflections, you'll be treated to a game that is oozing with atmosphere and able to invoke an emotional response from the player. The realistic environment features real-time weather and light changes that effect the game play for a remarkably immersive experience.
Also available: Alan Wake: Limited Edition. Hardbound in quality linen, the packaging is designed to resemble a hardcover book and will include game disc in box with unique art, exclusive in-game audio commentary and hints, The Alan Wake Files, a 144 page book that includes a short story written by Alan Wake and compiles the FBI dossiers investigating the events in Bright Falls, and an exclusive Xbox 360 bonus disc with special content.
Platform: Xbox 360. ESRB Rating: Teen. Release Date: May 18th, 2010.
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Games of Mystery is your source for mystery-themed video, electronic and board games, parties for kids and adults, murder mystery weekends and mystery getaway vacations, and more mysterious fun!
Return to Mystery Books News ...
Vertigo Publishes Preview of Original Graphic Novel A Sickness in the Family by Denise Mina
Vertigo has a preview of mystery author Denise Mina's first original graphic crime novel, A Sickness in the Family. Illustrated by Antonio Fuso with cover art by Lee Bermejo, the book is expected to be published this October.
About A Sickness in the Family (from the publisher): Meet the Ushers. (By the way, this name is no accident). The parents, Ted and Biddy. Grandma Martha. The three kids, William, Amy and Sam. Just a normal, middle-class family gathered around the table on Christmas Day. Until they start dying. Violent deaths. One by one. Is there a curse on their house, as a recently unearthed history of witchcraft in the area would suggest? Or has one member of the Usher clan declared open season on the rest?
As secrets and resentments boil to the surface, it becomes clear that more than one Usher has a motive for killing off the others. But in the end, the truth turns out to be far more shocking than anyone in this ill-fated family could have imagined.
Mysteries on TV: Law & Order Criminal Intent, 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 or Blu-ray disc, is profiling one series being released this week.
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New York’s war on crime enters an unprecedented phase of tension and conflict in the fifth season of Law & Order: Criminal Intent.
With compelling, ripped-from-the-headlines cases, the Major Case Squad takes on some of its most difficult scenarios to date—from brainwashing and foul play to bondage and bizarre ritualistic killings. Chris Noth joins cast members Annabella Sciorra, Vincent D’Onofrio, Kathryn Erbe, Jamey Sheridan and Courtney B. Vance as well as guest stars Whoopi Goldberg, Michael Gladis, Leslie Hendrix and Malcolm McDowell for each riveting moment of suspenseful drama.
Discover why this unique series in the critically acclaimed Law & Order franchise stays with viewers like no other show ever has long after the final clue is revealed.
The Law & Order: Criminal Intent: Season Five DVD set of 5 discs contain the 22 episodes that aired from September 2005 through May 2006 on NBC.
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Visit our Mysteries on TV website to discover more television mystery series currently available on DVD and Blu-ray disc.
The Mystery Bookshelf: Ffolkes' Medicine by B. R. Stateham, a Geoffery Armitage Ffolkes Mystery
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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Ffolkes' Medicine: The Adventures of Geoffery Armitage Ffolkes Begin by B. R. Stateham
A Geoffery Armitage Ffolkes Mystery
Fireside Mysteries (Trade Paperback)
Publication Date: May 2010
ISBN-13: 978-1-936021-21-5
About Ffolkes' Medicine (from the publisher): Geoffery Armitage Ffolkes is a brazenly opinionated braggart who is foppish to the extreme, yet urbane and erudite -- if not truly brilliant. He is also a duelist, diplomat, spy, pirate and physician. And he has another gift few humans have. Two hundred years before the creation of the brilliant mind of Sherlock Holmes, Ffolkes is gifted with insight and "prognostication". His sharp observations and the following inductive reasoning make Ffolkes a master at solving crimes.
The adventures take place in Caribbean city of Port Royal, Jamaica in the late 1600's -- the height of piracy activity in the New World. Port Royal was called, by many, the Sodom and Gamorrah of the the Caribbean.
Ffolkes' Medicine is his story, or rather the beginning of his story. A glorious adventure for anyone who loves mysteries, dashing rogues, pirates, and high-sprited adventure.
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About B. R. Stateham: A writer of speculative fiction, his reading tastes run towards fantasies, histories, mysteries, and science fiction. Visit his website at BRStateham.com.
Mystery Godoku Puzzle for May 17, 2010
A new Mystery Godoku Puzzle 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!).
This week's letters and mystery clue:
A D E I L M N V Y
Nunzio DeFilippis and Christina Weir write a mystery series featuring this Beverly Hills PI (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!
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Today's Fall 2010 Television Upfront Coverage (100516)
Today's Fall 2010 television upfront coverage from The Hollywood Reporter and network press releases, focusing on suspense and crime dramas.
NBC has officially announced its Fall 2010 schedule, with only one returning crime drama (Law & Order: SVU). New series are The Event and Chase on Mondays, Undercovers and Law & Order: Los Angeles on Wednesdays, and Outlaw on Fridays. Conspicuously absent from the schedule is the relaunch of The Rockford Files, which as recently as late last month was considered a shoe-in. (News item)
The Hollywood Reporter has a list of NBC upfront clips on its website.
