Nancy Drew Games: Buy Two, Get One Free!

Go undercover with Nancy Drew and get a free game!

For a limited time only, when you purchase three Nancy Drew Games from Amazon.com, you get the lowest priced game free.

Use this link to visit the promotion page.

Two New Games of Mystery to Download from AVG

Games of Mystery is pleased to announce this week's new mystery and suspense casual and adventure games available for immediate download from Amazon Video Games.

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

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Paige Harper and the Tome of Mystery

Late one night, Paige Harper stumbles upon a secret library and becomes trapped within a magic book. Her only way out is to travel through the seven timeless stories contained in the tome, but they are all out of place. Help Paige sort out these classics and put them back on their rightful paths by searching for hidden objects in unique 3D scenes. Get Romeo and Juliet to fall in love, beat Long John Silver to the treasure in Treasure Island, join Robin Hood's band of merry men, and more. Can you reveal the secrets of this mysterious tome and save Paige?

ESRB Rating: Not Specified.

Windows Vista/XP (186 MB download).

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Haunted Manor: Lord of Mirrors

Help Stan Riddle escape the Haunted Manor! After being trapped by the Lord of Mirrors, Stan needs you to guide him to safety! Use your hidden object skills to find valuable items and piece together perplexing puzzles. Discover why a beautiful mansion has been abandoned and what caused the owner to disappear. Come up with a clever escape plan to reach your friends.

ESRB Rating: Not Specified.

Windows Vista/XP (243 MB download).

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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!

Inspector Lewis in The Quality of Mercy, Tomorrow Sunday, August 15th, on PBS

Tomorrow, Sunday August 15th, the second of three encore episodes from Series II of Inspector Lewis airs on PBS's Masterpiece Mystery! In two weeks, the premiere episode of seven new episodes of the third series airs.

In an episode titled "The Quality of Mercy" (check your local listings for times) a student production of The Merchant of Venice takes a real-life deadly turn when a cast member is killed using a prop knife. Apart from the jealous ensemble cast who can't even muster fake tears over the loss of their colleague, there is an audience of suspects to consider — a career con man, an egotistical television personality and a young man who just might have killed to get a part in the play. DI Lewis (Kevin Whately) and DS Hathaway (Laurence Fox) [of the Thames Valley Police] methodically try to make sense of the murderous plot, but before they do, another death occurs with a Shakespearean sensibility. As the final act is about to unfold, the case takes an intensely personal turn for Lewis, bringing back traumatic memories and invoking a lesson in mercy.

Inspector Lewis is a spin-off of the long-running Inspector Morse mysteries, based on characters created by crime novelist Colin Dexter.

Inspector Lewis: Series Two is also available on DVD from Telemystery.

Nominations for Inaugural Ngaio Marsh Award Announced

Mystery Fanfare is reporting that the finalists for a new mystery award, the Ngaio Marsh Award for Best Crime Novel, have been announced. The award, named after the renown New Zealand crime novelist, will be given for the best crime, mystery, or thriller novel written by a New Zealand citizen or resident and published in New Zealand in 2009. The nominees are:

◊ Cut and Run by Alix Bosco (Penguin)
◊ Burial by Neil Cross (Simon & Schuster)
◊ Containment by Vanda Symon (Penguin)

The winner will be announced at a ceremony at the conclusion of the “Setting the Stage for Murder” event on September 10th.

Twentynine Palms by Daniel Pyne (Book Review)

Twentynine Palms by Daniel Pyne. Non-series. Counterpoint Trade Paperback, June 2010.

After underemployed actor Jack Baylor breaks off an affair with his best friend's wife, he runs off to the California desert community of Twentynine Palms ... only to be drawn into a missing persons investigation in which the local police consider him the prime suspect, in Twentynine Palms, a novel of suspense by Daniel Pyne.

Read the full text of our review at Mysterious Reviews: Twentynine Palms by Daniel Pyne.

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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.

Reviews of Mystery and Suspense Books for Kids, New This Week on Book Trends (100814)

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

Storm Warning by Linda Sue Park. The 9th and penultimate book in The 39 Clues series, recommended for readers aged 10 to 12. Lexile measure: 630L. Reviewed by a 6th grade teacher, who writes, "The storyline is suspenseful, and clues are embedded in the series through a cryptogram of sorts. Readers of all ages will find enjoyment in The 39 Clues series, and Storm Warning is no exception."

Conspiracy 365: August by Gabrielle Lord. The eighth thriller in the Conspiracy 365 series, recommended for readers aged 10 to 12. Lexile measure: 730L. Reviewed by a 6th grade teacher, who writes, "August is one of the most exciting books in the Conspiracy 365 series. Readers know something is up, but we’re only getting ever to slightly closer to an explanation. There are only four more months left for Cal to figure out the conspiracy that surrounds him. Undoubtedly September will be no less exciting."

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

Mystic Diary: Haunted Island, a New Game of Mystery and Adventure from BFG

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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Stop a magician’s ghost and free the trapped souls haunting the Black Woods! Communicate with a trapped ghost, the magician’s very own brother, as he guides you through the manor. Follow Victor’s clues and stop the disturbed Gustav as quickly as you can! Solve cryptic puzzles and put together bizarre machines to unlock the secrets of the house in this incredible hidden object puzzle adventure game!

See also the first game in the series, Mystic Diary: Lost Brother.

Also available: Mystic Diary: Haunted Island Strategy Guide and Mystic Diary: Haunted Island Game Walkthrough.

Mystic Diary: Haunted Island may be downloaded and purchased for $6.99 with a Big Fish Game Club membership. A demonstration version (125.19 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!

New Poster Released for The Town, based on Prince of Thieves by Chuck Hogan

About a month ago, a new trailer for The Town, an adaptation of the crime novel Prince of Thieves by Chuck Hogan, was released. Now the first poster is available, with the tagline "Welcome to the bank robbery capital of America."

The Town stars Ben Affleck as Doug MacRay, the leader of a ruthless gang of bank robbers, who falls for a hostage he took on their last job -- only she doesn't know he was involved (masks and costumes, as can be seen from the poster, being a big part of their operation).

The Town will be in theaters September 17th.

Nominations for 2010 Shamus Awards Announced

The Rap Sheet has a list of this year's Shamus Award nominees. The Shamus Award is given annually by the Private Eye Writers of America to honor excellence in the private investigator genre. The winner will be announced at this year's Bouchercon in October. (For novels, the private eye is indicated by parentheses.)

Best PI Hardcover
◊ The Silent Hour by Michael Koryta (Lincoln Perry)
◊ Where the Dead Lay by David Levien (Frank Behr)
◊ Locked In by Marcia Muller (Sharon McCone)
◊ Schemers by Bill Pronzini (Nameless Detective)
◊ My Soul to Take by Yrsa Sigurdardottir (Thora Gudmundsdottir)

Best First PI Novel:
◊ Loser's Town by Daniel Depp (David Spandau)
◊ The Last Gig by Norman Green (Alessandra Al Martillo)
◊ The Good Son by Russel D. McLean (J. McNee)
◊ Faces of the Gone by Brad Parks (Carter Ross)
◊ Chinatown Angel by A. E. Roman (Chico Santana)

Best PI Paperback Original:
◊ Dark Side of the Morgue by Raymond Benson (Spike Berenger)
◊ Sinner's Ball by Ira Berkowitz (Jackson Steeg)
◊ Red Blooded Murder by Laura Caldwell (Izzy McNeil)
◊ Vengeance Road by Rick Mofina (Jack Gannon)
◊ Body Blows by Marc Strange (Joe Grundy)

Best PI Short Story:
◊ "The Dark Island" (Boston Noir) by Brendan DuBois
◊ "Deadline Edition" (Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine) by S. L. Franklin
◊ "Blazin' on Broadway" (Phoenix Noir) by Gary Phillips
◊ "Suicide Bonds" (Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine) by Tim L. Williams
◊ "Julius Katz" (Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine) by Dave Zeltserman

Mystery Bestsellers for August 13, 2010

A list of the top 15 mystery hardcover bestsellers for the week ending August 13th, 2010 has been posted on the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books website.

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson remains at the top of the list for the umpteenth week. A book that debuted just off the list last week moves into the top 15 this week.

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Moving from 22 to 14 is Burn, the 16th mystery in the Anna Pigeon series by Nevada Barr.

A Ranger with the National Park Service, Anna is newly married but on administrative leave from her job as she recovers from the traumas of the past couple of months. While the physical wounds have healed, the emotional ones are still healing. With her new husband back at work, Anna decides to go and stay with an old friend from the Park Service, Geneva, who works as a singer at the New Orleans Jazz NHP. She isn’t in town long before she crosses paths with a tenant of Geneva’s, a creepy guy named Jordan. She discovers what seems to be an attempt to place a curse on her—a gruesomely killed pigeon marked with runic symbols; and begins to slowly find traces of very dark doings in the heart of post-Katrina New Orleans. Tied up in all of this is Jordan, who is not at all what he appears to be; a fugitive mother accused of killing her husband and daughters in a fire; and faint whispers of unpleasant goings-on in the heart of the slowly recovering city.

Now it will take all of Anna’s skills learned in the untamed outdoors to navigate the urban jungle in which she finds herself, to uncover the threads that connect these seemingly disparate people, and to rescue the most vulnerable of creatures from the most savage of animals.

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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.

Cast Announced for BBC Adaptation of The Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber

In other BBC news, the cast of the upcoming made-for-television adaptation of the 2002 novel The Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber has been announced, and includes Romola Garai, Chris O'Dowd, Gillian Anderson, and Richard E. Grant.

Described as an "intimate psychological thriller [that] lifts the lid on the darker side of Victorian London revealing a world seething with vitality, sexuality, ambition and emotion", principal photography has begun on the 4-episode mini-series. No air date was announced.

BBC Series Sherlock to Air on Masterpiece Mystery!, Will Also Return for Second Season

The Daily Mail is reporting that the new BBC series Sherlock, a contemporary take on the classic characters created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, will be back for a second season. The first season of just three episodes recently concluded to high ratings.

Separately, the BBC America blog reports that this first season of Sherlock will be coming to PBS's Masterpiece Mystery! starting October 24th, with a DVD to be released soon thereafter. All good news for those of us in the US who are intrigued by, and looking forward to watching, this series!

Shaolin Mystery: Tale of the Jade Dragon Staff, a New Hidden Object Adventure Game from BFG

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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Travel across ancient China and help Yu as she searches for the mythical Jade Dragon Staff. Save your wrongly imprisoned friend in this fun and exciting hidden object puzzle adventure game. Explore fantastic locations, meet monks, speak to spirits, and much more as you embark on this epic adventure through beautiful China.

Also available: Shaolin Mystery: Tale of the Jade Dragon Staff Strategy Guide and Shaolin Mystery: Tale of the Jade Dragon Staff Game Walkthrough.

Shaolin Mystery: Tale of the Jade Dragon Staff may be downloaded and purchased for $6.99 with a Big Fish Game Club membership. A demonstration version (233.52 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!

AMC Picks Up Crime Drama based on Danish Suspense Series Forbrydelsen

Back in January, we reported that AMC TV had ordered a pilot for a crime drama based on the Danish suspense television series Forbrydelsen. The Hollywood Reporter is now reporting that the cable network has given the green light for 13 one-hour episodes with a premiere date in 2011. Originally titled The Killing, the series will ultimately be given a new name.

Set in Seattle, the series plotline ties together three distinct stories about a single murder and the detectives assigned to the case. As disagreements arise about the best course of action, they chase down a variety of leads and suspects. Along the way there are major repercussions for the victim's family, the detectives, the suspects, and the local politicians connected to the case.

Production is expected to begin in Vancouver this fall.

Diane Lane to Star in Film Adaptation of Every Secret Thing by Laura Lippman

Deadline: New York is reporting that Diane Lane is will star as the detective trying to unravel the mystery behind what happened when two 11-year-old girls snatch a baby -- and after seven years in juvenile prison, they're released and another child disappears -- in the film adaptation of Laura Lippman's 2003 stand-alone thriller Every Secret Thing. Producer Frances McDormand, who originally optioned the book, the screenplay of which is written by Nicole Holofcener, is searching for a director.