NPR Listeners Select 100 Most Thrilling Novels Ever Written

Earlier today NPR published a list of the Top 100 Killer Thrillers, the most pulse-quickening suspenseful novels ever written, as chosen by its listeners. From over 17,000 ballots, the top title is The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris.

Arguably, there are very few books that don't belong on this list, but what's most interesting is how broad the category of "thriller" fiction is. We recently said as much in our review of Thrillers: 100 Must Reads, co-edited by David Morrell and Hank Wagner and published last month, which also has a rather diverse selection of titles.

And the author most represented on the NPR list: Stephen King (with 6 titles) followed by Lee Child (with 4).

Second Season of Dark Blue Premieres Wednesday, August 4th, on TNT

Tomorrow, Wednesday August 4th, the second season of Dark Blue premieres on TNT with a 2-hour episode (9 PM ET/PT).

Dark Blue follows the lives of an undercover team of Los Angeles police officers so covert, many of their own colleagues don’t even know they are involved. The team is supervised by Lieutenant Carter Shaw (Dylan McDermott), who frequently butts heads with his superiors over the risks the team is prepared to take to bring down a target. This summer, Carter will be forced to take orders from FBI Agent Alex Rice (Tricia Helfer) as they work together on a special joint task force. Alex’s arrival will also set the stage for a major change in Carter’s personal life.

Get caught up with a recap of the first season below:

Her Interactive To Release Remastered Version of First Nancy Drew Game, Secrets Can Kill

In a press release yesterday, Her Interactive announced that the company was releasing a new, remastered version of the first game in the Nancy Drew PC series, Secrets Can Kill.

"Whether you played the original, or are looking for your first Nancy Drew game, this game has something for everyone," says Megan Gaiser, CEO of Her Interactive. "What better way to celebrate the anniversary of an icon than to revisit the game that started it all 12 years ago? Fans won't be disappointed with the full 3-D graphics, new puzzles, vintage Nancy Drew references and of course, a new ending to put a completely fresh spin on a classic gaming adventure."

In Secrets Can Kill, death, danger, and deception weren’t on the curriculum at a Florida school, but when Jake Rogers is murdered to protect a lie, everything changes. With the town in fear and the students in shock, you, as Nancy Drew, are the only one who can uncover the truth. You must follow the clues, solve the puzzles, question the suspects -- including a new one -- and ultimately expose the culprit when all others have failed.

Nancy Drew: Secrets Can Kill is scheduled for release on August 24, 2010, and may be pre-ordered.

For a complete list of all Nancy Drew games for Windows PC and other platforms, visit Games of Mystery: Nancy Drew.

Devil's Trill by Gerald Elias, a Daniel Jacobus Mystery (1st in series)

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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Devil's Trill by Gerald Elias
A Daniel Jacobus Mystery (1st in series)
Minotaur Books (Trade Paperback)
Publication Date: August 2010
ISBN-13: 978-0-312-65350-7

About Devil's Trill (from the publisher): Daniel Jacobus is a blind, reclusive, crotchety violin teacher living in self-imposed exile in rural New England. He spends his time chain-smoking, listening to old LPs, and occasionally taking on new students, whom he berates in the hope that they will flee.

Jacobus is drawn back into the world he left behind when he decides to attend The Grimsley Competition at Carnegie Hall. The young winner of this competition is granted the honor of playing the Piccolino Stradivarius, a uniquely dazzling three-quarter-size violin that has brought misfortune to all who possessed it over the centuries. But the violin is stolen before the winner of the competition has a chance to play it, and Jacobus is the primary suspect.

With the help of his friend and former musical partner, Nathaniel Williams, his new student, Yumi Shinagawa, and several quirky sidekicks, Jacobus sets out to prove his innocence and find the stolen Piccolino Strad. Will he be successful? The quest takes him through the halls of wealth and culture, across continents to Japan, and leads him to a … murder.

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About Gerald Elias: A graduate of Yale, he has been a Boston Symphony violinist, Associate Concertmaster of the Utah Symphony, Adjunct Professor of Music at the University of Utah, first violinist of the Abramyan String Quartet, and Music Director of the Vivaldi Candlelight concert series. Visit his website at GeraldElias.com.

Mysteries by Gerald Elias reviewed by Mysterious Reviews: Devil's Trill (2009).

Summer Savings on Thrilling Suspense Novels at eHarlequin.com

Through the end of this month only (August 31st, 2010), eHarlequin is offering $3 off any purchase of $15 or more from a list of featured thrillers and suspense novels. Both print and ebooks are included.

Click on the banner to the right to visit the Thrilling Suspense Stories page on eHarlequin.com. (It's a little unclear if a coupon code is needed or not; none is indicated on the list of print books, but the coupon code CHILLING is mentioned on the list of ebook titles, so it probably can't hurt to have it handy at checkout.)

Did Not Survive by Ann Littlewood (Book Review)

Did Not Survive by Ann Littlewood. An Iris Oakley Mystery. Poisoned Pen Press Hardcover, August 2010.

A very pregnant Iris Oakley must assume additional responsibilities -- not the least of which to play amateur sleuth -- at the zoo where she's a bird keeper when her boss is found seriously injured in an elephant enclosure in Did Not Survive, the second mystery in this series by Ann Littlewood.

Read the full text of our review at Mysterious Reviews: Did Not Survive by Ann Littlewood.

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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.

MBN Welcomes Robert Wickes, Author of the Thriller The Hornbrook Prophecy

Mystery Books News is delighted to welcome Robert Wickes as our guest blogger. Robert is the author of political thriller The Hornbrook Prophecy (Crystal Dreams Publishing, August 2010 Trade Paperback), his debut novel.

Today, Robert provides us with some background information about his new book. And he's also providing our readers with an opportunity to win a copy of his book. Visit Mystery Book Contests, click on the "Robert Wickes: The Hornbrook Prophecy" contest link, enter your name, e-mail address, and this code (2754) for a chance to win! (One entry per person; contest ends August 17, 2010.)

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Photo provided courtesy of
Robert Wickes

When I first thought about writing a book I wanted to write a disaster novel. Ultimately, after considering that all the natural disasters had been done to death (pardon the pun), I figured that a really widespread disaster was more likely to be of social origin, and these days nothing happens in society without the heavy hand of politics. Thus, I was led to a story of modern political mischief ending (without much of a stretch of imagination) in disaster.

I finished the original manuscript sometime in 2002 or so but, as an “undocumented author” I had no success in getting someone interested in the work. I shelved it to work on a non-fiction book that ended up opening some doors for me. During the several intervening years, my father, who had read an early Hornbrook manuscript, kept telling me, “You’d better hurry up and get that novel published or it won’t be fiction anymore!” The economy then slowed the publisher’s efforts to get the book out so, as a result, the book is coming out in 2010, the year I set the story in originally. When I updated parts of the story to account for political and economic events of the last few years, I realized how right my father had been.

Reality is definitely catching up with fiction. Let me give you an example. In Hornbrook, a tax revolt is triggered by the actions of a coalition of corporations, led by a West Virginia coal mining company. So it amazed even me when I read last week that an Appalachian coal mining company was trying to organize its competitors for political action against politicians they view as anti-coal. A weird coincidence?

In my early drafts, the lead character, U.S. Senator Henley Hornbrook, was a leader of his political party. Over time, however, I turned him into an Independent because, frankly, I didn’t feel that either party deserved him. Some early reviews have referred to him as a modern “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,” because he’s too idealistic to be realistic. Well, I don’t apologize for Mr. Hornbrook. I think the country could use a strong dose of idealism as well as someone to derail the bipartisan political juggernaut that’s steamrolling America with corruption, fiscal irresponsibility, and a legislative playbook that is only concerned with the outcome of the next election.

I constructed the story in three parts. In the beginning, we see Congress wrestling with a far-reaching, multi-dimensional, massive legislative act which proponents claim is necessary to save the nation’s economy. Naturally, it backfires, and in Part Two we see the chaos which ensues as unintended, but inevitable consequences of political ambition. In the final part, the good guys ride to the rescue.

That, of course, is what makes this fiction. I’m pretty sure there’s no one out there getting ready to ride to our rescue. A real Hornbrook would be Don Quixote on steroids. He would probably be stoned from the windmill.

But we can always dream.

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Robert Wickes is an optometric physician in private practive for more than three decades. With his wife of over 36 years, he has two sons: an aspiring kindergarten teacher and an F22 fighter pilot. He has served his community as a Boy Scout leader, soccer coach, Rotarian, Chamber of Commerce President, and political volunteer. Visit his website at RobertWickes.com.

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About The Hornbrook Prophecy: What would happen if the United States government suddenly went bankrupt? An ancient beheading and a 200-year-old prediction foretell the inevitable consequences of blind ambition and the abuse of power in a thought-provoking, passionate challenge to conventional political wisdom.

Maverick Senator Henley Hornbrook fights against unscrupulous President Winston Dillard while a nationwide tax revolt plunges the country into chaos before Hornbrook unveils a stunning plan that will forever change the nation and preserve its destiny. Is it fiction, or prediction?

In a classic confrontation between government oppression and rugged individualism, The Hornbrook Prophecy will spark debate from the classroom to the bar room about a new, principled hero who fights for more than the girl and the gold.

For a chance to win a copy of The Hornbrook Prophecy, courtesy of Robert Wickes, visit Mystery Book Contests, click on the "Robert Wickes: The Hornbrook Prophecy" contest link, and enter your name, e-mail address, and this code (2754) in the entry form. (One entry per person; contest ends August 17, 2010.)

Today's Featured Free Kindle Mystery: A Nail Through the Heart by Timothy Hallinan

Kindle Mysteries is pleased to feature a mystery title that is currently available in Kindle eBook format for free from Amazon.com. We don't know how long it will be offered at this special price (typically only until a certain number of downloads have been completed), so download it today!

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A Nail Through the Heart by Timothy Hallinan
A Poke Rafferty Mystery (1st in series)
William Morrow (Kindle eBook)
Download Link

About A Nail Through the Heart (from the publisher): Poke Rafferty was writing offbeat travel guides for the young and terminally bored when Bangkok stole his heart. Now the American expat is assembling a new family with Rose, the former go-go dancer he wants to marry, and Miaow, the tiny, streetwise urchin he wants to adopt. But trouble in the guise of good intentions comes calling just when everything is beginning to work out.

Poke agrees to take in Superman, Miaow's troubled and terrifying friend from the gutter. Then he agrees to help locate a distraught Aussie woman's missing uncle and accepts a generous payment to find a blackmailing thief. No longer gliding carelessly across the surface of a culture he doesn't really understand, suddenly Poke is plodding through dark and unfamiliar terrain—and everything and everyone he loves is in terrible danger.

Read our Review of A Nail Through the Heart by Timothy Hallinan at Mysterious Reviews.

Nominations for 2010 T. Jefferson Parker Award Announced

The Southern California Independent Booksellers Association has announced the nominees for its annual awards that reflect Southern California culture or lifestyle, with authors/illustrators living within the SCIBA region.

For the 2010 T. Jefferson Parker Award, named in honor of the crime novelist, who sets all his stories in southern California, the nominees for best mystery, suspense, or thriller novel are:

◊ The First Rule by Robert Crais (Putnam)
◊ Silver Lake by Peter Gadol (Bleak House)
◊ Boulevard by Stephen Jay Schwartz (Forge)

The winner will be announced on October 23rd.

Download a Free eStory by Marcus Sakey

Mystery author Marcus Sakey has recently published a short story collection in ebook format titled Scar Tissue: Seven Stories of Love and Wounds. These stories are of men and women pushed to—and beyond—the ragged edge.

The book is available for $2.99 in Kindle format by clicking on the cover to the right, or in a variety of electronic formats from Smashwords, where the book may be purchased in its entirety, or as individual stories.

Marcus Sakey is giving us the opportunity to provide you with a download of one of the stories, "The Days When You Were Anything Else", for free from Smashwords! Add the story to your cart, then use the coupon code YB98Q in the box at checkout.

The Mystery Bookshelf: The Fleet Street Murders, a Charles Lenox Mystery by Charles Finch

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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The Fleet Street Murders by Charles Finch
A Charles Lenox Mystery (3rd in series)
Minotaur Books (Trade Paperback)
Publication Date: July 2010
ISBN-13: 978-0-312-65027-8

About The Fleet Street Murders (from the publisher): It’s Christmas, 1866, and amateur sleuth Charles Lenox, recently engaged to his best friend, Lady Jane Grey, is happily celebrating the holiday in his Mayfair townhouse. Across London, however, two journalists have just met with violent deaths—one shot, one throttled. Lenox soon involves himself in the strange case, but must leave it behind to go north to Stirrington, where he is running for Parliament. Once there, he gets a further shock when Lady Jane sends him a letter whose contents may threaten their nuptials.

In London, the police apprehend two unlikely and unrelated murder suspects. From the start, Lenox has his doubts; the crimes, he is sure, are tied. But how? Racing back and forth between London and Stirrington, Lenox must negotiate the complexities of crime and politics, not to mention his imperiled engagement. But as the case mounts, Lenox learns that the person behind the murders may be closer to him—and his beloved—than he knows.

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About Charles Finch: A graduate of Yale and Oxford, his debut in the Charles Lenox series, A Beautiful Blue Death, was nominated for an Agatha Award and named one of Library Journal’s Best Books of the Year. He lives in Oxford, England.

Mysteries by Charles Finch reviewed by Mysterious Reviews: The September Society (2008).

Hawaii Five-O, New This Week on DVD

Telemystery, your source for one of the most comprehensive selections of detective, amateur sleuth, private investigator, and suspense television mystery series, mini-series and made-for-television movies, now available or coming soon to DVD or Blu-ray disc, is profiling one series being released this week.

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Jack Lord stars as Steve McGarrett, head of an elite state police unit investigating crime in our 50th state, in Hawaii Five-O.

Filmed entirely in Hawaii, the series ran for 12 seasons on CBS from 1968 to 1980. Hawaii Five-O is returning to network television this fall in a contemporary update and will star Alex O'Loughlin as McGarrett's son, a Naval officer who returns to Hawaii to investigate his father's murder.

The Hawaii Five-O: Season Nine DVD set of 6 discs contain the 22 episodes, including the exciting 2-part opener that has McGarrett traveling to Hong Kong in search of deadly toxins stolen by his nemesis Wo Fat, that aired during the 9th season on CBS from September 1975 through April 1976.

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Visit the Telemystery website to discover more television mystery series currently available on DVD and Blu-ray disc.

Cassandra's Journey: The Legacy of Nostradamus is BFG's Catch of the Week

From Monday, August 2nd, through Sunday, August 8th, the Big Fish Games Catch of the Week involves finding a mysterious ring in Cassandra's Journey: The Legacy of Nostradamus. Use the coupon code CATCH299 at checkout to purchase the game for $2.99.

In Cassandra's Journey: The Legacy of Nostradamus, a young mystic relies on a mysterious ring to solve cases that are assumed to be impossible. One day, Cassandra is visited by a client needing help. Agreeing to the case she opens her secret box to reveal her enchanted ring. As the magical seal is broken it is discovered that her ring has gone missing! Now it is up to you, with the help of the spirit of Nostradamus and unique mind-reading magic tricks and fortune-telling wisdom, to find the missing ring and help Cassandra reveal the secrets of her family, before they are forever lost!

Find more (regularly priced) mystery games to download on our BFG Adventure Games and BFG Hidden Object Games pages.

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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!

Mystery Godoku Puzzle for August 02, 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 E G H I M N R T

This was the name of the alley in the title of William Lindsay’s 2010 thriller (9 letters).

We now have two weeks of our puzzles on one page in PDF format for easier printing. Print this week's puzzle here.

Previous puzzles are stored in the Mystery Godoku Archives.

Enjoy the weekly Mystery Godoku Puzzle from the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books, and Thanks for visiting our website!

Harlequin Worldwide Mystery Titles for August 2010

eHarlequin.com has announced the August 2010 titles for their Worldwide imprint, your partner in crime. Amateur sleuths, traditional cozies, police procedurals and private-eye fiction, written by award-winning authors. 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.)

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Snowhedge by Dorothy Bodoin
Non-series

After an arsonist sets fire to her kennels and her business partner steals her man, show dog breeder Susanna Kentwood heads for the small northern Michigan town of Maple Creek. House-sitting for a relative at a rambling old manor called Snowhedge promises a safe haven. She wants some time to think and regroup. Instead, she's led into a mystery from the past … and a killer's trap.

Something is disturbing about the old house, especially the unnaturally cold parlor, a room in which Susanna swears she sees ghosts. Is she losing her mind, or being lured into the tragedy of the manor's previous owner? Fascinated by clues to the past, Susanna is unaware that danger has followed her to Snowhedge. Suddenly there's nowhere to hide from an enemy intent on murderous vengeance—and who vows that this time, there will be no escape.

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Murder at St. Polycarp by Marianna Heusler
Non-series

When seventh-grade teacher Mildred Pinkerton is found dead before first period, it's another headache for St. Polycarp's beleaguered principal, Father Felix. Especially when two teachers suspect Mildred was murdered. They've got an empty bottle of pills and a motive: Miss Pinkerton was suspicious of something—or someone—rotten at the school.

The victim had requested a meeting to discuss an important matter. Instead, she ended up facedown in her morning coffee. Searching for clues, Julia Hopwood and Amelia Johnston try to connect a series of strange events. The cookie sale money is missing; there's a suspicious new math teacher; and another teacher is hiding a criminal past. When a second death occurs, it's clear a killer plans to teach a lesson in murder that St. Polycarp won't soon forget.

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Jilted by Death by Lynette Hall Hampton
A Willa Hinshaw Mystery (1st in series)

Happy with her new position as associate minister at the First United Methodist Church, Willa Hinshaw is ready for her first wedding in Liverpool, North Carolina. Unfortunately, the groom is left standing at the altar. The bride, Lee Ann Poole, eloped with a local mechanic, much to the dismay of her wealthy parents.

Soon afterward, Lee Ann calls from a motel, asking for Willa's help. But before the minister can learn what's going on, the newlywed couple's blood-stained car is discovered abandoned. When the jilted groom is found stabbed in his office, Willa realizes Lee Ann is in desperate trouble. To find the bride before it's too late, Willa counts on her calm strength to lead her in the right direction. Unfortunately, a killer is ready and waiting …

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If you enjoy the books in this series, you can join Worldwide Mystery and get 2 free books plus 2 free gifts just for giving the automatic program a try. Accepting your two free Worldwide Mystery 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 three additional Worldwide Mystery 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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