First Clues, Mysteries for Kids: New Titles for August 2011

First Clues: Mysteries for Kids is pleased to announce a selection of new mystery, suspense and thriller books (including series books) scheduled for publication during August 2011, listed in approximate order of reading level, from books for younger readers to books for teens.

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The Clue in the Clubhouse 
Jeanne Betancourt
A Pony Mystery (2nd in series)

Penny, Tina, and Tom get permission to make the old shed into their clubhouse. After they clean it up, Tina and Tom's mom comes to them with a mystery: where did she lose her keys? With a few clues, and some help from Pepper, Penny's pony, they solve the mystery!

The Scholastic Reader Level 3 Pony Mysteries are recommended for readers aged 4 to 6.

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The Bicycle Thief 
Franklin W. Dixon
A Hardy Boys Secret Files Mystery (6th in series)

It's time for the annual Junior Bike Race in Bayport, and Frank and Joe are the top contenders. Midway through the race, Frank runs over a nail and blows a tire. It seems as if the day couldn't get worse -- until Frank's bicycle goes missing!

Bayport's leading bully, Adam Ackerman, seems to be the prime suspect. But when he proves that he wasn't the bicycle thief, everyone turns out to be a potential culprit -- even Mr. Mack's dog, Lucy! Can Frank and Joe crack the case and bring Frank's bicycle home?

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

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The Medusa Plot 
Gordon Korman
A 39 Clues Cahills vs. Verspers Mystery (1st in series)

Thirteen-year-old Dan Cahill and his older sister, Amy, thought they belonged to the world's most powerful family. They thought the hunt for 39 Clues leading to the source of that power was over. They even thought they'd won. But Amy and Dan were wrong.

One by one, distress calls start coming in from around the globe. Cahills are being kidnapped by a shadowy group known only as the Vespers. Now Amy and Dan have only days to fulfill a bizarre ransom request or their captured friends will start dying. Amy and Dan don't know what the Vespers want or how to stop them. Only one thing is clear. The Vespers are playing to win, and if they get their hands on the Clues ... the world will be their next hostage.

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

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The Bridge to Never Land 
Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson

Aidan and Sarah cooper have no idea what they're getting into one afternoon when they discover a mysterious coded document in a secret compartment of an antique English desk their father recently bought at an auction. Something about the document seems familiar to Sarah, and that night she realizes what it is: the document seems to be referring to some books she has read—the Starcatchers series, about the origin of Peter Pan. But how could that be? The document seems far older than the books. And of course, the books are just stories.

Curious, Sarah and Aidan begin to decipher the mysterious document. At first it's a game—unraveling the mystery piece by piece, each piece leading them to a new, deeper puzzle. But soon the game turns strange—and scary. Pursued by a being that can take any form and will stop at nothing to get what it wants from them, Aidan and Sarah embark on a desperate, thrilling quest for help—a quest that leads them to some unforgettable people in some unlikely places, including one that's not supposed to exist at all.

This thriller is recommended for readers aged 10 to 12.

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Clocks and Robbers 
Dan Poblocki
The Mysterious Four (2nd in series)

Moon Hollow's town library is a favorite spot for the Mysterious Four. But when the strange, masonic glyphs that decorate the building prove to be a secret code, they discover there's more than books hidden away inside.

Embarking on a treasure hunt, Viola, Sylvester, Rosie, and Woodrow must run a gauntlet of mysteries and puzzles -- and readers are invited to guess alongside them with every new clue they uncover.

Each book comes with an exclusive code so that readers can download a FREE copy of the e-book ... which includes an extra mystery unavailable anywhere else!

The Mysterious Four books are recommended for readers aged 10 to 12.

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Eddie: The Lost Youth of Edgar Allan Poe 
Scott Gustafson

When young Eddie is falsely accused of destroying the Judge's chicken coop, his adopted parents give him two days to find the true culprit. Guided by logic, but entranced by the poetry of the paranormal, Eddie seeks to solve the mystery, along the way meeting Captain Mephisto, a darkly unusual magician. With help from his Raven and the prodding of a mischievous imp, McCobber, it is no wonder that Eddie grows up to become a master of the macabre.

This book is recommended for readers aged 10 to 12.

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The Black Heart Crypt 
Chris Grabenstein
A Haunted Mystery (4th in series)

Halloween is nearing, the one day of the year when the ghostly plane is close enough to the human plane to allow mischief and mayhem. But the ghosts who have their eye on Zack aren't thinking mischief, they are thinking murder. Zack must once again do battle with malevolent spirits. And with his usual pluck, and the assistance of three dotty aunts, he must save his town from a 200-year-old threat.

The Haunted Mysteries are recommended for readers aged 10 to 12.

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The Ride That Was Really Haunted 
Steve Brezenoff
A Field Trip Mystery (5th in series)

The trip to the amusement park should be fun. But when Samantha "Sam" Archer and her friends try out the Haunted House ride, things go terribly wrong!

Three other titles in this series are also being released this month: The Symphony That Was Silent, The Cave That Shouldn't Collapse, and The Seals That Wouldn't Swim.

The books in the Field Trip mystery series are recommended for readers aged 10 to 12.

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The Family Hitchcock 
Mark Levin and Jennifer Flackett

Finances are tight for the Hitchcock family this year, which means no summer vacation! But siblings Maddy and Benji are secretly delighted to escape the annual torturous ritual of family bonding. Then Dad announces big news: a cost-effective weeklong house swap in Paris, trading places with a French family named the Vadims.

But instead of a relaxing European vacation, it quickly becomes clear that something is very off about this house swap. The facts about the Vadims don't quite add up. Then threatening characters start showing up, demanding a mysterious object. Soon the Hitchcocks are caught in a whirl of intrigue and running for their lives through the streets and over the rooftops of Paris, without even knowing why.

This book is recommended for readers aged 10 to 12.

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The Ho Ho Ho Mystery 
Bob Burke
A Third Pig Detective Agency Mystery (2nd in series)

When Father Christmas goes missing on Christmas Eve eve, Mrs. Christmas calls on Harry Pigg to track him down. What follows is another hardboiled caper featuring fairy tale villains, plenty of red herrings, a few close shaves, a couple of punch ups, and a very clever twist. Aided and abetted by his sidekicks Jack Horner and the genie from the lamp, Harry tries to save Christmas before time runs out. If only he didn't have to deal with those annoying elves.

Though written for readers aged 13 and older, adults will also appreciate the humor in the books of this series.

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First Clues: Mysteries for Kids is your source for information on over 200 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).

ITV Recommissions Four Crime Dramas

ITV announced today the renewal of four of its series. All of these are crime dramas (or at least crime drama-ish).

Based on the novels by crime novelist Ann Cleeves, Vera is returning for a second season. The series stars Brenda Blethyn as Detective Chief Inspector Vera Stanhope. Four new 120-minute episodes will be produced.

A second season of Scott & Bailey has also been ordered, starring (respectively) Suranne Jones and Lesley Sharp as DC Rachel Bailey and DC Janet Scott, members of Syndicate 9, a Major Incident Team within the Manchester Metropolitan Police, who are tasked with tracking down killers. Eight episodes will be produced.

Originally airing earlier this year as a two-part adaptation of Point of Rescue by Sophie Hannah, Case Sensitive will return with a two-part adaptation of the author's The Other Half Lives. The drama stars Olivia Williams in the lead role as DS Charlie Zailer and Darren Boyd as DC Siimon Waterhouse.

Kidnap & Rescue has also been renewed with three 60-minute episodes of the series. Trevor Eve stars as international hostage negotiator Dominic King. The new season will shift the action from South Africa to Kashmir, where Dominic finds himself embroiled in another terrifying situation.

(Source: ITV Press Release)

Hostage in Havana by Noel Hynd is Today's Featured Free MystereBook

MystereBooks is pleased to feature Hostage in Havana by Noel Hynd as today's free mystery ebook. 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 we urge you to download it while it is still available for free.

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Hostage in Havana by Noel Hynd
The Cuban Trilogy (1st in series)
Zondervan

Though marketed as the first book in the "Cuban Trilogy", the lead character, US Treasury Agent Alexandra LaDuca was also featured in the "Russian Trilogy" of political international thrillers, which was published in 2008/2009.

About Hostage in Havana (from the publisher): U.S. Treasury Agent Alexandra LaDuca leaves her Manhattan home on an illegal mission to Cuba that could cost her everything. At stake? Her life ... and the solution to a decades-old mystery, the recovery of a large amount of cash, and the return of an expatriate American fugitive to the United States.

After slipping into the country on a small boat, Alex makes her way to Havana. Accompanying her is the attractive but dangerous Paul Guarneri, a Cuban-born exile who lives in the gray areas of the law. Together, they plunge into intrigue and danger in a climate of political repression and organized crime. Without the support of the United States, Alex must navigate Cuban police, saboteurs, pro-Castro security forces, and a formidable network of those loyal to the American underworld.

Bullets fly as allies become traitors and enemies become unexpected friends.

Important Note: Prices can and do change without prior notice, so please confirm the price of the book before completing your purchase.

Download Link(s):

B&N Free Nook Book Download Link.

Review: Shadows on the Sand by Gayle Roper

Shadows on the Sand by Gayle Roper. A Seaside Mystery with Carrie Carter. Multnomah Books Trade Paperback, July 2011.

Though a pleasant enough read, there isn't much depth or substance to this Christian romantic suspense novel. The café setting in a small coastal community, however, has appeal as do the lead characters of Carrie Carter and Greg Barnes.

Read the full text of our review at Mysterious Reviews: Shadows on the Sand by Gayle Roper.

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Mystery and Suspense Films, New This Week on DVD (110726)

Checking through our list of films currently scheduled for release this week on DVD and/or Blu-ray disc, shown below are those that fall into the mystery, suspense, thriller and adventure categories.

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Purchase/Rental Options

Source Code (2011)

When soldier Captain Colter Stevens (Jake Gyllenhaal) wakes up in the body of an unknown man, he discovers he’s part of an experimental government program called the “Source Code” that enables him to cross over into another man's identity in the last 8 minutes of his life. Armed with the task of identifying the bomber of a Chicago commuter train, Colter must re-live the incident over and over again, gathering clues until he can solve the mystery and prevent an even deadlier second terrorist attack. (PG-13; 93 minutes)

New Hardcover Mysteries for August 2011

The Hidden Staircase Mystery Books has updated its list of new hardcover mysteries with books scheduled for publication in August 2011. 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 August new mystery books page, which will become the default home page for the site on August 1st).

• Authors with mysteries featuring returning series characters, in italics) this month:

Jane A. Adams (Rina Martin, 5th) — Ray Banks (Cal Innes, 4th) — Sara Blaedel (Louise Rick, 2nd) — Alison Bruce (Gary Goodhew, 3rd) — Judy Clemens (Casey Maldonado, Grim Reaper, 3rd) — Max Allan Collins (Nathan Heller, 15th) — Susan Conant (Holly Winter, 19th) — Cleo Coyle (Clare Cosi, Coffeehouse, 10th) — Ellen Crosby (Lucie Montgomery, Wine Country, 6th) — Mary Daheim (Bed-and-Breakfast, 26th) — Garry Disher (Wyatt, 7th) — Carole Nelson Douglas (Midnight Louie, 23rd) — Anthony Eglin (Lawrence Kingston, English Garden, 5th) — Gerald Elias (Daniel Jacobus, 3rd) — Kjell Eriksson (Ann Lindell, 4th) — Chris Ewan (Good Thief's Guide, 4th) — Duncan Falconer (John Stratton, 7th) — Irene Fleming (Emily Weiss, 2nd) — Karin Fossum (Konrad Sejer, 9th) — Sara Fraser (Thomas Potts, 4th) — Kathleen George (Richard Christie, 5th) — David L. Golemon (Event Group, 6th) — W. E. B. Griffin and William E. Butterworth I (Honor Bound, 6th) — Jane Haddam (Gregor Demarkian, 26th) — Michael Jecks (Knights Templar, Medieval West Country, 30th) — Darynda Jones (Charlotte Davidson, 2nd) — Christobel Kent (Sandro Cellini, 3rd) — Tracy Kiely (Elizabeth Parker, 3rd) — William Kent Krueger (Cork O'Connor, 11th) — David Levien (Frank Behr, 3rd) — Laura Levine (Jaine Austen (10th) — Scott MacKay (Clyde Deacon, 2nd) — Elizabeth C. Main (Jane Serrano, 2nd) — Catriona McPherson (Dandy Gilver, 5th) — Louise Penny (Armand Gamache, 7th) — Anne Perry (William Monk, 17th) — David Poyer (Dan Lenson, 13th) — Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child (Pendergast, 11th) — Kathy Reichs (Temperance Brennan, 14th) — Stella Rimington (Liz Carlyle, 5th) — Jeff Shelby (Noah Braddock, 3rd) — Jeffrey S. Stephens (Jordan Sandor, 2nd) — Marcia Talley (Hannah Ives, 10th) — Charles Todd (Bess Crawford, 3rd) — Peter Tonkin (Richard Mariner, 24th) — Martin Walker (Bruno, Chief of Police, 3rd) — Matthew Williams (Vince Marshall, 2nd) — Don Winslow (Boone Daniels, 2nd).

• Authors with mysteries introducing characters, in italics) in a new series this month:

Jussi Adler-Olsen (Carl Mørck, Department Q) — Matthew Dunn (Will Cochrane) — Merry Jones (Harper Jennings) — Tammy Kaehler (Kate Reilly, Racing) — Eileen Key (Maggie Price, Plants Alive!) — M. J. McGrath (Edie Kiglatuk) — George P. Pelecanos (Spero Lucas) — Michael Ridpath (Magnus Jonson) — Amanda Kyle Williams (Keye Street).

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

Neil Abramson — Toby Ball — Jo Bannister — Linwood Barclay — C. J. Box — Jane Casey — Ernest Cline — F. G. Cottam — Vanessa Diffenbaugh — Joe Domenici — Tess Gerritsen — Robert Gleason — J. L. Hammer — Gerald Hammond — Patti Callahan Henry — Reginald Hill — Gordon Jenkinson — John Larison — Deborah Lawrenson — Laura Lippman — Tom MacDonald — Carole Marshall — Glenn Meade — Carson Morton — James Patterson and Marshall Karp — Ulrich Peltzer — Daniel Polansky — Gordon Reece — Sebastian Rotella — Brandi Lynn Ryder — James Sallis — Moacyr Scliar — Sarah R. Shaber — Alex Shakar — Lisa Unger — Jesmyn Ward — Kate White — Austin Wright — Thomas W. Young.

For more information on any of these titles, please visit the August 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 mystery, suspense and thriller books, also updated with August 2011 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.

Telemystery: The Fall of Sam Axe (Burn Notice), This Week on DVD

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

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Bruce Campbell stars as Sam Axe in a feature-length adventure from the secret files of Burn Notice.

On his final mission as a Navy Seal Commander, Sam is sent deep into the jungles of South America where a deadly terrorist organization threatens innocent lives. But when Sam discovers that he is merely a pawn in a far-reaching and diabolical plot he must fight to stay alive long enough to stop the real terroristsat any cost.

Packed with gritty thrills and wry humor this never-before-seen extended cut of The Fall of Sam Axe is action on the cutting edge!

Burn Notice: The Fall of Sam Axe is available on DVD, Blu-ray Disc, and to download from iTunes (click on the icons above for more details). It originally aired on USA Network on April 17th, 2011.

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Visit the Telemystery website to discover more television mystery series currently available on and coming soon to DVD, Blu-ray disc, or video on demand.

Mystery Godoku Puzzle for July 25, 2011

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!).

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This week's letters and mystery clue:

F I N O P R T U Y

This is the title of John Maxwell’s debut novel featuring a 20-something guitarist held captive on a remote island (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!

Review: Highway 61 by David Housewright

Highway 61 by David Housewright. A Rushmore McKenzie Mystery. Minotaur Books Hardcover, June 2011.

A "badger game" is just the start to an investigation that expands into multiple crimes outlined in this somewhat unevenly executed mystery, one that starts strong and ends with a lot of action, but spends much of the middle restlessly moving sideways rather than pushing forward.

Read the full text of our review at Mysterious Reviews: Highway 61 by David Housewright.

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