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This purported thriller doesn't boast a single frame of originality but that isn't its biggest problem. No, that belongs to the direction and, to a lesser extent, the actors, who by and large seem to want to be anywhere other than in this film.
Read the full text of our review at Mr. E. Reviews The River Murders.
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Mr. E. Reviews is your source for mystery, suspense, thriller, and crime drama reviews of television and film.
Earlier this year we reported that ABC was developing a crime drama based on the character Mickey Haller, who was first featured in the novel The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly, which was adapted into a theatrical film that was released in March 2011.
Now we're learning that the studio is planning a sequel to the film. During an interview on CNBC this morning, Lionsgate Vice Chairman Michael Burns stated that in addition to the joint project with ABC, "we're going to do a sequel on Lincoln Lawyer as well."
Matthew McConaughey starred as Mickey Haller in the film, and it would be a real surprise — and no doubt something of a disappointment — if he didn't reprise his role. Connelly has written three subsequent series books to The Lincoln Lawyer, so there is plenty of material from which to write a sequel.
This is apparently really old news, but we didn't learn of it until we read of it on CriminalElement.com: Angelina Jolie has been cast as Kay Scarpetta in the film adaptation of Red Mist, the 19th mystery in this long-running series by Patricia Cornwell that hits bookstores today.
The author mentions the actress in a biography on her website: "In April 2009, Fox acquired the film rights to the Scarpetta novels, featuring Angelina Jolie as Dr. Kay Scarpetta." (The website is currently listed as "under construction", but you can see the text on a cached version of it.)
Production on the film is apparently in the very early stages, with a speculative date of release listed as 2013.
(Update: I guess we did know of it! Looking back through our posts, we found this entry from April 2009: Fox to Develop Patricia Cornwell's Kay Scarpetta Mysteries with Angelina Jolie in Lead Role.)
Read the full text of our review at Mysterious Reviews: A King's Ransom by Jude Watson.
A new international (French) trailer for the sci-fi thriller Lockout (Lock-Out) has been posted online; we've embedded it below.
The film stars Guy Pearce as a government agent wrongly convicted of espionage, who is offered a chance to clear his name if he can rescue the President's daughter (played by Maggie Grace). She, of course, happens to be trapped in an orbiting high-security prison taken over by violent inmates. (Sounds very Escape from New York-ish to us … not necessarily a bad thing as that is one terrific movie.)
Lockout is scheduled to be in US theaters on April 20th, 2012.
Not long after the Swedish-language film adaptations of Stieg Larrson's three crime thrillers collectively known as the "Millennium Trilogy" were released, the studio re-edited and extended them to air on Swedish television as a 6-part mini-series. This "extended edition" is now being released here in the US — in Swedish with English subtitles — on DVD and Blu-ray disc. Four discs are included with each set: three for each of the novel adaptations and a fourth with extra features.
The new mini-series footage — almost two hours in total over the films' combined length — allows for more in-depth character development and a somewhat longer unfolding of the plotlines.
This Dragon Tattoo Trilogy — it was simply titled Millennium in Sweden — was recently honored with an International Emmy for best TV Movie/Mini-Series.
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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Cowboys & Aliens (2011)
Film Synopsis (from the studio): 1873. Arizona Territory. A stranger (Daniel Craig) with no memory of his past stumbles into the hard desert town of Absolution. The only hint to his history is a mysterious shackle that encircles one wrist. What he discovers is that the people of Absolution don't welcome strangers, and nobody makes a move on its streets unless ordered to do so by the iron-fisted Colonel Dolarhyde (Harrison Ford). It's a town that lives in fear.
But Absolution is about to experience fear it can scarcely comprehend as the desolate city is attacked by marauders from the sky. Screaming down with breathtaking velocity and blinding lights to abduct the helpless one by one, these monsters challenge everything the residents have ever known.
Now, the stranger they rejected is their only hope for salvation. As this gunslinger slowly starts to remember who he is and where he's been, he realizes he holds a secret that could give the town a fighting chance against the alien force. With the help of the elusive traveler Ella (Olivia Wilde), he pulls together a posse comprised of former opponents—townsfolk, Dolarhyde and his boys, outlaws and Apache warriors … all in danger of annihilation. United against a common enemy, they will prepare for an epic showdown for survival.
Rated PG-13. 119 minutes.
Watch a trailer for the film below:
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The Debt (2011)
Film Synopsis (from the studio): The story begins in 1997, as shocking news reaches retired Mossad secret agents Rachel Singer (Helen Mirren) and Stephan Gold (Tom Wilkinson) about their former colleague David Peretz (Ciarán Hinds). All three have been venerated for decades by Israel because of the secret mission that they embarked on for their country back in 1965-1966, when the trio (portrayed, respectively, by Jessica Chastain, Marton Csokas, and Sam Worthington) tracked down Nazi war criminal Dieter Vogel (Jesper Christensen), the feared Surgeon of Birkenau, in East Berlin. While Rachel found herself grappling with romantic feelings during the mission, the net around Vogel was tightened by using her as bait.
At great risk, and at considerable personal cost, the team’s mission was accomplished … or was it?
Rated R. 113 minutes.
Watch a trailer for the film below:
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Point Blank (2010)
Film Synopsis (from the studio): Samuel Pierret (Gilles Lellouche) is a nurse working at a hospital when his pregnant wife (Elena Anaya) is kidnapped before his very eyes. Knocked unconscious, he comes to and discovers that a dangerous criminal named Hugo Sartet (Roschdy Zem) is responsible … and if he's ever to see his wife again, he must do Sartet's bidding. Samuel quickly finds himself pitted against rival gangsters and trigger-happy police in a deadly race to save the lives of his wife and unborn child.
Original title: À bout portant. Rated R. 84 minutes. In French with English subtitles.
Watch a trailer for the film below:
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 two made-for-television movies and one series season being released this week.
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A decade after Hart to Hart ended its series run, eight made-for-television movies starring Robert Wagner and Stefanie Powers as Jonathan and Jennifer Hart aired. Six of these have already been released and this week the final two are. (Technically they're being made available as manufacture-on-demand releases.)
Hart to Hart: Two Harts in 3/4 Time (on DVD) and has the couple in Montreal for the reading of the will of their dearly departed friend and confidant, Max, where they learn he has bequested them an antique clock. The clock holds secret documents which could incriminate an acquaintance of the Harts who find themselves caught in the middle of the mystery.
Hart to Hart: Harts in High Season (on DVD) has the Harts in Sydney, Australia to attend the Opera, where they also meet Elliot Manning with a view to buying his Wildlife Reserve. When Elliot fakes his own death, he manages to involve Jonathan and Jennifer in his "murder" and attempts to blackmail them for five million dollars cash.
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Thought a set of the entire series has already been released, the studio is continuing to release individual seasons of Law & Order.
This ninth season of the series — not quite the half-way point — is also the transition period for a number of the cast. It is the final season for Benjamin Bratt as Detective Reynaldo "Rey" Curtis and the first for Angie Harmon as Assistant District Attorney Abbie Carmichael (replacing Carey Lowell as ADA Jamie Ross). It is also the penultimate season for series regular — and last remaining of the original cast — Steven Hill, who plays District Attorney Adam Schiff.
Law & Order: Season Nine is available on DVD and consists of 23 episodes — including the season finale two-parter — that originally aired on NBC from September 1998 through May 1999. (Note: This season set does not include the made-for-television movie Exiled, which aired during the season. It is available separately.)
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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.
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:
A C E H K O S V W
The 5th Virgil Flowers mystery by John Sandford has this title (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!
The Nero Wolfe Society handed out its annual Nero Award last night at the Black Orchid Banquet in New York City.
The winner of this year's award for excellence in the mystery genre is Bury Your Dead by Louise Penny.
The author, who attended the event, wrote on her blog, "Very, very fun evening … and what a great honour."
MystereBooks is pleased to feature Stirred by Blake Crouch and J. A. Konrath as today's Amazon Kindle Daily Deal. The deal price of $0.99 is valid only for today, Sunday, December 04, 2011.
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Stirred by Blake Crouch and J. A. Konrath
A Jack Daniels Mystery
Thomas & Mercer
It's J. A. Konrath's greatest heroine versus Blake Crouch's greatest villain in this stunning conclusion to both Konrath's Lt. Jacqueline "Jack" Daniels thriller series and Crouch's Andrew Z. Thomas series. At present, only the ebook edition is available; The print edition of this book isn't published until February 2012.
About Stirred (from the publisher): Lt. Jacqueline "Jack" Daniels has seen humanity at its most depraved and terrifying. She's lost loved ones. Come close to death countless times. But she always manages to triumph over evil. Luther Kite is humanity at its most depraved and terrifying. He's committed unthinkable acts. Taken human life for the sheer pleasure of it. He is a monster among monsters, and no one has ever caught him. Each is the best at what they do. Peerless. Unmatched.
Until now …
In Luther's experience, people are weak. Even the strong and fearless break too easily. He wants a challenge, and sets his depraved sights on Jack. But with a baby on the way, Jack is at her most vulnerable. She's always been a fighter, but she's never had so much to fight for. So he's built something especially for Jack. His own, private ninth circle of hell - a nightmare world in a forgotten place, from which no one has ever escaped.
Only one can survive. And it won't be whom you think.
Important Note: Prices can and do change without prior notice, so please confirm the price of the book before completing your purchase.
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The casting is perfect, the storylines quite complicated … but in a good way. Based on three mysteries by Kate Atkinson, this is a must-see series for fans of crime fiction — and crime television.
Read the full text of our review at Mr. E. Reviews Case Histories.
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Mr. E. Reviews is your source for mystery, suspense, thriller, and crime drama reviews of television and film.
Read the full text of our review at Mysterious Reviews: The Sandburg Connection by Mark de Castrique.
MystereBooks is pleased to feature The Devil's Right Hand by J. D. Rhoades as today's third 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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The Devil's Right Hand by J. D. Rhoades
A Jack Keller Mystery
Smashwords
North Carolina bounty hunter Jake Keller is introduced in this first of four mysteries in this series.
About The Devil's Right Hand (from the publisher): Ex-cons DeWayne and Leonard thought it was a simple plan: Swipe the payroll from a local construction company and make off with easy cash. Pity they left the owner dead. Bigger pity is that the owner's son is a violent drug-dealer who's crazier than the low-caliber ex-cons he's vowed to nail--along with anyone else who gets in his way.
Bounty hunter and war vet Jack Keller is the perfect man for his job. With a brain full of combat nightmares, he's primed for every hunt, keen for the heady scent of gunfire, and high on the release each takedown brings. His new quarry is bail-jumper DeWayne, but even Keller isn't prepared for where this chase is going to take him.
Caught in a violent vendetta between two trigger-happy rednecks and a psycho blinded by rage, Keller's soon spiraling into a revenge plot set to explode in the North Carolina backwoods. Add to this murderous mix a local cop with his own agenda and his beautiful partner who's hot for men on the edge, and someone's bound to see hell before the night is over.
Important Note: Prices can and do change without prior notice, so please confirm the price of the book before completing your purchase.
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For more free mystery ebooks, visit our Free MystereBooks page.
MystereBooks is pleased to feature Catching Water in a Net by J. L. Abramo 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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Catching Water in a Net by J. L. Abramo
A Jake Diamond Mystery
Down and Out Books
This first in a series of three mysteries to feature San Francisco-based private investigator Jake Diamond was the winner of the 2000 Best Private Eye Novel Contest sponsored by the Private Eye Writers of America (PWA) and Minotaur Books (an imprint of St. Martin's Press).
About Catching Water in a Net (from the publisher): Jake Diamond is a hero who plays both sides of the Private Eye street. He is a careless dresser with a sloppy lifestyle and he couldn't keep his marriage from falling apart. But he also epitomizes the best of the modern shamus. He has the kinds of friends a man in his profession needs — jailbirds, mob bosses, and a cop who can surreptitiously run license plate numbers for him.
Jake has been down on his luck lately, barely making enough money to pay the bills and it looks like business might finally be picking up. A woman comes to his office begging him to find her missing husband who has been accused of murder. Jake remembers that his mentor Jimmy Pigeon always says "Whenever I'm asked to locate a missing spouse, the words 'no, but thanks for asking' always come to mind" and almost turns the case down, but then he learns that the murder victim was Jimmy Pigeon.
Determined to discover the identity of Pigeon's killer, Diamond scrambles between Los Angeles and San Francisco following leads that range from weak to delusional. With the help of his trusty and sarcastic assistant, Darlene Roman, compulsive gambler Vinnie "String" Stradivarius, and Italian-American "businessman" Joey Russo, Jake slowly uncovers the motives behind Pigeon's murder.
Important Note: Prices can and do change without prior notice, so please confirm the price of the book before completing your purchase.
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