Games of Mystery: L.A. Noire for Windows PC

The innovative interactive crime drama L.A. Noire, introduced earlier this year for PlayStation3 and Xbox 360, is now being made available for Windows PC.

L.A. Noire: The Complete Edition is a dark and violent thriller set against the backdrop of 1940's Los Angeles, where you play newly-minted officer Cole Phelps, who embarks on a desperate search for truth in a city where everyone has something to hide. Utilizing revolutionary new facial animation technology, this crime drama blends the breathtaking action of chases and shootouts with true detective work to deliver an unprecedented interactive experience.

Featuring the groundbreaking performance capture technology called MotionScan^®, the game lets players analyze every subtle nuance of an actor's performance. Using real-life interrogation techniques combined with classic action elements enables players to truly explore what it means to be a detective in 1940's Los Angeles.

L.A. Noire: The Complete Edition is scheduled to be released for Windows PCs on Tuesday, November 8th, 2011. Also available for release on the same day is the PC download version.

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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!

Review: The More the Terrier by Linda O. Johnston

Read the full text of our review at Mysterious Reviews: The More the Terrier by Linda O. Johnston.

No Wind of Blame by Georgette Heyer is Today's Barnes&Noble Nook Daily Find

MystereBooks is pleased to feature No Wind of Blame by Georgette Heyer as today's Barnes&Noble Nook Daily Find. The deal price of $3.50 is valid only for today, Sunday, November 06, 2011.

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No Wind of Blame by Georgette Heyer
An Inspector Hemingway Mystery
Sourcebooks

Georgette Heyer was already a popular author of romance and historical fiction when she began writing crime thrillers in the 1930s. She created two series characters, Inspector (later Superintendent) Hannasyde and Sergeant (later Inspector) Hemingway. No Wind of Blame is the first mystery in the latter series, first published in 1939.

About No Wind of Blame (from the publisher): Tragedy befalls the Carter family following an eventful visit from a Russian prince and a scandalous blackmail letter. The murder of Wally Carter is a bewildering mystery — how does one shoot a man crossing a narrow bridge without being near the murder weapon when it is fired? The analytical Inspector Hemingway reveals his unnerving talent for solving a fiendish problem.

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 Nook Daily Find 11/06/2011 Download Link.

CSI Complete Series DVD Sets are Amazon's Gold Box Deals for November 6th, 2011

Amazon's Gold Box Deals of the Day for Sunday, November 6th, 2011 are the complete series DVDs (to date) for all three CSI crime dramas.

Today only, each complete series set is priced at 62% off list.

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Seasons 1 to 11

CSI: Miami Seasons 1 to 9

CSI: NY Seasons 1 to 7

Review: The Rōnin's Mistress by Laura Joh Rowland

Read the full text of our review at Mysterious Reviews: The Rōnin's Mistress by Laura Joh Rowland.

Winners of the 2011 Galaxy National Book Awards Announced

Last night the Galaxy National Book Awards were handed out in a ceremony honoring all sectors of the book business in Britain.

The winner of the Crime & Thriller of the Year Award went to S. J. Watson for his debut novel Before I Go To Sleep, which was also the winner of the CWA John Creasey New Blood Dagger Award last month.

Deadly Blessings by Julie Hyzy is Today's Second Featured Free MystereBook

MystereBooks is pleased to feature Deadly Blessings by Julie Hyzy as today's second 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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Deadly Blessings by Julie Hyzy
An Alex St. James Mystery (1st in series)
Five Star/Smashwords

Julie Hyzy is also the author of two other mystery series: the "White House Chef" mysteries with Olivia Paras and another featuring museum curator Grace Wheaton.

About Deadly Blessings (from the publisher): Chicago news researcher Alex St. James is preparing to interview a young Polish immigrant — pregnant by a Catholic priest — when the woman is found murdered. Alex investigates, making enemies of powerful people in the Chicago Archdiocese. Unless she backs away from the story, the next thing Alex might hear are her own Last Rites …

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.

Apple Free iBook Download Link (via iTunes).

Smashwords Free Book Download Link.

For more free mystery ebooks, visit our Free MystereBooks page.

Double Exposure by Michael Lister is Today's Featured Free MystereBook

MystereBooks is pleased to feature Double Exposure by Michael Lister 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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Double Exposure by Michael Lister
Non-Series
Tyrus Books

Michael Lister is the author of two mystery series, both set in Florida. This is his first stand-alone thriller.

About Double Exposure (from the publisher): One fateful fall evening, as the sun sinks and the darkness expands, wildlife photographer Remington James ventures deep into the river swamp to try out some new equipment and check his camera traps.

While checking his camera traps, scanning the eerie images of overexposed deer and bats and foxes, Remington comes across the most haunting images of his life — the frame-by-frame capture of a shocking crime. By exposing the criminal, Remington has exposed himself to danger, even possible extinction. Hunted like an animal by the predator and his psychotic friends, Remington must do two things: make it through the night and make it to the river — and the odds of doing either are slim to none.

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):

Amazon Free Kindle Edition Download Link.

For more free mystery ebooks, visit our Free MystereBooks page.

Scholastic Announces The Hunger Games Tribute Guide

Scholastic has announced that it will publish a new guide to The Hunger Games.

The Hunger Games Tribute Guide is a comprehensive guide to the 24 Tributes participating in Panem's 74th annual Hunger Games. Readers follow the Tributes' journey from the Reaping to the Games, with a look at all the highlights along the way — the Tribute Parade, the stations of the Training Center, the interviews, and more.

The book, which is scheduled to be published on March 23rd, 2012, will include exclusive information about the Tributes’ strengths and weaknesses, their weapons of choice, and their experience in the Capitol before entering the arena.

This is the fourth book associated with the film adaptation of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. The others are The Hunger Games: Movie Tie-In Edition (to be published February 7th, 2012), The Hunger Games: Official Illustrated Movie Companion (also February 7th, 2012) and The World of The Hunger Games (March 23rd, 2012, the same date as the film is released).

(Source: Press release.)

Mark Harmon Stars as Lucas Davenport in Certain Prey, This Sunday on USA

This Sunday, November 6th at 9 PM (ET/PT), USA Network premieres the made-for-television adaptation of John Sandford's Certain Prey.

Mark Harmon stars as Minneapolis Deputy Police Chief Lucas Davenport, who doesn't really need his job; he could have retired long ago with the money he made designing computer simulations. But Davenport loves what he does just as much as he loves nice suits, fast cars and women.

When a cop is shot after witnessing the murder of the wife of a local real estate lawyer, Davenport is called to the scene. The cops quickly zero in on the husband as the prime suspect until a team of FBI agents descends on Minneapolis with evidence linking the crime to elusive hit woman Clara Rinker (Tatiana Maslany).

Taking charge of the investigation, Davenport suspects that Clara is not working alone and sets his sights on Carmel Loan (Lola Glaudini), a high-powered attorney with an intense obsession for the real estate lawyer. As Carmel and Clara try to cover up their crimes, the body count grows and Davenport does what he does best — break all of the rules to nab this deadly duo.

Certain Prey, the 10th mystery in this long-running series by Sandford, was originally published in 1999.

New Blade Runner Film Likely to be a Sequel

Last August we reported that Ridley Scott would be directing a new "Blade Runner" film. Warner Bros. had acquired the rights to do anything but remake the 1982 original, and at the time it was not yet decided whether the new film would be a prequel or a sequel.

Now we're learning — from Ridley Scott himself — that it will likely be a sequel.

In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, the director says, "I think I'm close to finding a writer that might be able to help me deliver; we're quite a long way in, actually."

He also adds that there will be a new cast of characters, so don't expect to see Harrison Ford reprise his role as Rick Deckard.

Review: Murder in Burnt Orange by Jeanne M. Dams

Read the full text of our review at Mysterious Reviews: Murder in Burnt Orange by Jeanne M. Dams.

New Poster for Heist Thriller Now You See Me

We're fans of heist thrillers and Now You See Me from Summit Entertainment looks particularly exciting. A new poster — the first, we think, and more concept art than anything else — has just been released for the film (right; click for larger version) even though it doesn't hit theaters until January 2013. The film's tagline: "4 amazing magicians. 3 impossible heists. 1 billion dollars. This is no illusion."

Here's the film's premise: The Four Horsemen, a magic super-group led by the charismatic Atlas (Jesse Eisenberg), perform a pair of high-tech magic shows, first astonishing audiences by robbing a bank on another continent, and then exposing a white-collar criminal and funneling his millions into the audience members’ bank accounts.

FBI Special Agent Dylan (Mark Ruffalo) is determined to make the magicians pay for their crimes — and to stop them before they pull off what promises to be an even more audacious heist. But he’s forced to partner with Alma (Melanie Laurent), an Interpol detective about whom he is instantly suspicious. Out of desperation he turns to Thaddeus (Morgan Freeman), a famed magic debunker, who claims the bank heist was accomplished using disguises and video trickery. One thing Dylan and Alma agree on is that the Horsemen must have an outside point person, and that finding him (or her) is key to ending the magicians’ crime spree. Could it be Thaddeus? Or Alma? Or could it really be … magic?

As pressure mounts and the world awaits the Horsemen’s spectacular final trick, Dylan and Alma race to find an answer. But it soon becomes painfully clear that staying one step ahead of these masters of illusion is beyond the skills of any one man — or woman.

In addition to the actors mentioned above, Now You See Me also stars Dave Franco, Isla Fisher, Woody Harrelson, and Michael Caine.

Mystery Bestsellers for the Week Ending November 04, 2011

A list of the top 15 mystery hardcover bestsellers for the week ending November 4th, 2011 has been posted by the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books.

Last week's featured title, The Litigators by John Grisham, moves solidly into second place this week, but Lee Child's Jack Reacher thriller The Affair retains the top spot by a comfortable margin. One new title enters the list this week.

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David Baldacci introduces a potential new series character in Zero Day, which debuts in the 10th spot this week.

John Puller is a combat veteran and the best military investigator in the U.S. Army's Criminal Investigative Division. His father was an Army fighting legend, and his brother is serving a life sentence for treason in a federal military prison. Puller has an indomitable spirit and an unstoppable drive to find the truth.

Now, Puller is called out on a case in a remote, rural area in West Virginia coal country far from any military outpost. Someone has stumbled onto a brutal crime scene, a family slaughtered. The local homicide detective, a headstrong woman with personal demons of her own, joins forces with Puller in the investigation. As Puller digs through deception after deception, he realizes that absolutely nothing he's seen in this small town, and no one in it, are what they seem. Facing a potential conspiracy that reaches far beyond the hills of West Virginia, he is one man on the hunt for justice against an overwhelming force.

Purchase Options:

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For more mystery books news, 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.

Review: Darkness All Around by Doug Magee

Read the full text of our review at Mysterious Reviews: Darkness All Around by Doug Magee.