Filming for The Bourne Legacy — sans Bourne — is underway, and USA Today has the first photo of Jeremy Renner as the film's lead character Aaron Cross.
Plot details for the film are all but unknown, but what is known is that the screenplay is not adapted from any of the "Bourne" books, originally written by Robert Ludlum but now written by Eric Van Lustbader. It's a little confusing since the fourth book in the series, published in 2004, is also titled The Bourne Legacy. Aaron Cross is a contemporary of Jason Bourne and the storyline reportedly takes place in the same general universe.
The Bourne Legacy — the fourth in the film franchise — opens in theaters August 3rd, 2012.
(Related article: USA Today.)
Friday, January 06, 2012
Jeremy Renner as Aaron Cross in The Bourne Legacy
Deadly Currents by Beth Groundwater is Today's Amazon Kindle Daily Deal
MystereBooks is pleased to feature Deadly Currents by Beth Groundwater as today's Amazon Kindle Daily Deal. The deal price of $0.99 is valid only for today, Friday, January 06, 2012.
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Deadly Currents by Beth Groundwater
A Mandy Turner Mystery
Midnight Ink
River ranger Mandy Tanner is introduced in this first of a series of white water adventures.
About Deadly Currents (from the publisher): The Arkansas River, heart and soul of Salida, Colorado, fuels the small town’s economy and thrums in the blood of river ranger Mandy Tanner. When a whitewater rafting accident occurs, she deftly executes a rescue, but a man dies anyway. Turns out, it wasn’t the rapids that killed him—he was murdered. Tom King was a rich land developer with bitter business rivals, who cheated on his wife, refused to support his kayak-obsessed son, and infuriated environmentalists.
Mandy’s world is upended again when tragedy strikes closer to home. Suspicious that the most recent death is connected to Tom King’s murder, Mandy goes on an emotionally turbulent quest for the truth—and ends up in dangerous waters.
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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Mystery Bestsellers for the Week Ending January 06, 2012
A list of the top 15 mystery hardcover bestsellers for the week ending January 6th, 2012 has been posted by the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books.
The new year starts where the previous year ended, with last week's top bestseller —Death Comes to Pemberley, a stand-alone novel by P. D. James — retaining its spot at the top this week.
One new title debuts.
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Coming in at number 12 is the second mystery in the "Private" series, #1 Suspect by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro.
Since former Marine Jack Morgan started Private, it has become the world's most effective investigation firm — sought out by the famous and the powerful to discreetly handle their most intimate problems. Private's investigators are the smartest, the fastest, and the most technologically advanced in the world — and they always uncover the truth.
When his former lover is found murdered in Jack Morgan's bed, he is instantly the number one suspect. While Jack is under police investigation, the mob strong-arms him into recovering $30 million in stolen pharmaceuticals for them. And the beautiful manager of a luxury hotel chain persuades him to quietly investigate a string of murders at her properties.
While Jack is fighting for his life, one of his most trusted colleagues threatens to leave Private, and Jack realizes he is confronting the cleverest and most powerful enemies ever.
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.
Thursday, January 05, 2012
Filmmaker Chris Columbus to Co-Author Middle-Grade Fantasy/Thriller Trilogy
HarperCollins Children's Books announced today that filmmaker Chris Columbus — who produced and directed the first two "Harry Potter" films as well as Percy Jackson the Olympians: The Lightning Thief — will team up with young adult author Ned Vizinni to write a trilogy of middle-school thrillers.
The series involves a San Francisco family that has to downsize when the father loses his job. They move into a home built 100 years earlier by a fantasy writer named Kristoff, where the siblings find themselves on a journey to retrieve a book of untold power.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Columbus talks about the origin of the series:
At one point, I started it as a screenplay, so there were about fifty pages of a screenplay that would become the first seven or eight chapters of the book. Then I thought, "Maybe it'd work as a television pilot," and I immediately discarded that idea because this is something that would be prohibitively expensive for television. Then I put it away and I didn't think about it, but it was always coming back to me at some point or another. Finally, I thought maybe this would work as a young adult novel for no other reason except I really wanted to see it to its conclusion.
The first book in the "House of Secrets" trilogy is scheduled for publication in Spring 2013.
(Related article: EW.com.)
New Trailer for Indie Crime Thriller Thin Ice
A trailer for the indie crime thriller Thin Ice has been released; we've embedded it below.
Filmed from an original screenplay by Jill Sprecher — who also directed — and her sister Karen Sprecher, Thin Ice debuted last year at Sundance with the title The Convincer.
Greg Kinnear stars as Mickey Prohaska, who devises a scheme to steal a rare violin from an old man unaware of its value. Things go awry — as they often do — when the small-time ex-con he hires to help him kills someone in the process.
Thin Ice is scheduled for a limited theatrical release on February 17th, 2012 … though we suspect it will be direct-to-DVD for most of us.
The Mystery Bookshelf: A Gentleman of Fortune by Anna Dean, a Miss Dido Kent Mystery
The Mystery Bookshelf, where you can discover a world of mystery and suspense, is pleased to feature a new crime novel we recently received from the publisher.
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A Gentleman of Fortune by Anna Dean
A Miss Dido Kent Mystery (2nd in series)
Minotaur Books (Trade Paperback)
Publication Date: January 2012
ISBN-13: 978-1-250-00382-9
About A Gentleman of Fortune (from the publisher): The second installment in Anna Dean's charming mystery series finds Miss Dido Kent vacationing at her cousin Flora's. When Flora's neighbor passes away, Dido can't help but sense something is amiss. While she is ideally placed to observe the reaction of the community, her suitor, Mr. William Lomax, feels otherwise. Dido won't be stopped, however, and as she learns more about the dirty dealings among the upper classes of Surrey, she brings more to light than even she could have imagined.
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About the author: Anna Dean set about writing at the age of five under the impression that everyone was taught to do so in order to pen books. By the time she discovered her mistake, the habit was too deeply ingrained to give up. She resides in the Lake District of England. To learn more about the author and her historical mysteries, visit her website at AnnaDean.co.uk.
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BBC America to Premiere Copper in Summer 2012
Last July BBC America announced its first scripted series, the crime drama Copper. At the time, there wasn't much information about the series available, but now (via a press release yesterday) there's a more complete description of the series, including an estimated premiere date (Summer 2012).
Set in the 1860s, most of the action will take place in the teeming Irish immigrant neighborhood of Five Points, but the series will also frequent the Upper East Side/Fifth Avenue mansions of the aristocracy and the emerging neighborhood of Harlem founded by New York’s burgeoning black population. Storylines relating to the Civil War will permeate the series while also exploring themes of power, politics and race in a country and community wrestling with rapid social change.
Kevin Corcoran played by Tom Weston-Jones stars as Kevin Corcoran, a rugged and confident Irish cop who patrols the streets of Five Points and tries to follow his moral compass despite the blunt realities facing his turbulent community. The cast also includes Kyle Schmid as his friend and Civil War compatriot Morehouse, the son of a wealthy New York industrialist residing on Fifth Avenue; and Freeman, another veteran, a black physician/forensics expert who lives in Harlem and is not afraid to question white authority. The three men share a secret from their experience on the battlefield that will link their lives forever.
Simon & Schuster to Publish Don Winslow's Savages Prequel This August
Last June we reported that crime novelist Don Winslow was writing a prequel to his 2010 novel Savages, which has been adapted into a film of the same title, directed by Oliver Stone.
Yesterday, Simon & Schuster announced that the prequel, The Kings of Cool, will be published this August, just prior to the film's release.
Winslow reaches back in time to tell the story of how Ben, Chon, and O became the people they are. Spanning from 1960s Southern California to the recent past, it is a tale of family in all its forms — fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, friends and lovers. As the younger generation does battle with a cabal of drug dealers and crooked cops, they come to learn that their future is inextricably linked with their parents' history. A series of breakneck twists and turns puts the two generations on a collision course, culminating in a stunning showdown that will ultimately force Ben, Chon, and O to choose between their real families and their love for each other.
Savages — the film — opens in theaters in September 2012. It stars Aaron Johnson, Taylor Kitsch, and Blake Lively as, respectively, Ben, Chon and O, together with co-stars John Travolta, Salma Hayek, Uma Thurman, and Benicio Del Toro (to name just a few). Ben and Chon are reaping significant profits from their Laguna Beach-based marijuana operation, with Chon eliminating any competition that challenged them. But now they may have come up against something that they can't handle — the Mexican Baja Cartel wants in, and sends them the message that a "no" is unacceptable. When they refuse to back down, the cartel escalates its threat, kidnapping Ophelia, the boys' playmate and confidante. O's abduction sets off a dizzying array of ingenious negotiations and gripping plot twists as the young men learn the costs of freedom and the price of one amazing high.
OMN Welcomes Timothy M. Brenner, Author of Luminaries
Omnimystery News is pleased to welcome Timothy M. Brenner, whose debut mystery is Luminaries (CreateSpace, June 2011 Trade Paperback and eBook editions).
Today Timothy gives us the origin to, and background for, the characters and storyline of the book.
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Johnny Depp. That's right, it all started with an article on Johnny Depp. I was looking through online articles, wasting time when I should have been working, and I came across an interesting article that mentioned Johnny Depp felt that he was the reincarnation of Harry Houdini. I've since searched for the article and have come up with bubkis. So I can't swear by the voracity of the claim. Still, this is what inspired me to research Harry Houdini.
Photo provided courtesy of
Timothy M. Brenner
As I was researching Houdini, I came across a very interesting tidbit of information. Harry Houdini and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle were at one time friends. The author most famous for the Sherlock Holmes books was a staunch believer in the occult. In real life, mind you, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle accused Harry Houdini of having supernatural powers. Houdini was famous for debunking supposed mystics and mediums, and challenged anyone to prove that supernatural powers existed. Conan Doyle believed that Houdini was using his own superior powers to override other psychic's powers, rendering them powerless, and in doing so debunking them. When Houdini caught wind of Conan Doyle's accusations, the two had a falling out.
I was writing screenplays at the time, mostly for the enjoyment of it, with the hope and intention of seeing a screenplay come to life on the silver screen. I read another article mentioning that it is much easier to get a book published than it is to have a screenplay made into a movie. I thought it might be interesting to write a novel, have my book published, base a screenplay on it, find an agent and see my movie made. So two-and-a-half years ago I started in on what has now become the book Luminaries.
My thinking process was this: how do I make a story about two bickering old farts into something that people might enjoy reading? I ran with the idea of Harry Houdini actually having psychic powers, and decided it'd be interesting if Sir Arthur Conan Doyle had them as well. I felt that the duo should be a trio: enter Orson Welles. The enigmatic actor, writer, director, magician … he was everything that Houdini and Conan Doyle were and more. There was just one problem with matching these three up. Houdini died around the time that Orson Welles was a teenager, and Conan Doyle followed suit not many years later. I decided to go ahead and fudge the timeline a bit, and set the story around 1932.
What powers do I give these chaps? Harry Houdini's power seemed the most obvious: telekinesis. For those at home who are unfamiliar with what telekinesis is, it's the ability to move objects with one's mind. It would explain Houdini's ability to escape from any bond, to perform amazing feats of prestidigitation, to cheat death time and time again. Perfect.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's power was a little more subtle. He wrote some of the most influential detective novels in history, so it stood to reason that he'd need a power that matched his real life gifts. Conan Doyle would have the ability to touch objects in order to "read" them. It would give him psychic flashed on who had handled the object, and what they were doing at the time. Two down, one to go.
Orson Welles, an amazing magician in his own right, was also known for a radio program called War of the Worlds, where people tuned in and actually believed it to be a live broadcast of a real alien invasion. Panic spread despite a disclaimer at the beginning of the broadcast about it being a work of fiction. Telepathy. Mental telepathy, or the ability to read and alter people's thoughts made perfect sense, and explained just how he managed to convince so many people that the broadcast was real.
I needed an antagonist. I'm going to leave the name a mystery, as I don't want to give away too much of the book. Suffice it to say the "bad guy" used their own psychic powers to kill a string of people, one being of British nobility. This is the catalyst for the story; why Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is tasked by the British government with organizing a team of psychics to track down the killer.
I spent a year writing the first draft, working nights, weekends, and lunch breaks on it. I spent the next year revising it, trying to perfect it. Six months ago I published it. I'm currently working on a sequel, although I don't believe it will take as long to write. I researched and researched to make the story as accurate as possible, despite taking great liberties with some of the historical events and timelines. I wrote this book with the reader in mind, hoping to entertain, enlighten and engage.
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Timothy M. Brenner was born and resides in Oregon, not far from the coast, which is his primary inspiration for writing. Tim is also a software/web developer who in his spare-spare time. Among his many interests are drawing, painting, woodworking, audio design, cooking, wine and movies. Tim earned a degree in Computer Science from Portland State University, where he also studied Art.In addition to his novel Luminaries, he has written two-and-a-half screenplays, the half being the most interesting, Mummies vs. Zombies, which he based an unreleased video game on.
For more information about the author, visit his website at TimothyMBrenner.com.
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About Luminaries:
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is requested by the British Government to form a team of psychics capable of tracking down a serial killer, who murdered a member of the British Royal Family. Conan Doyle, who has the ability to touch objects and ascertain their history, travels to the United States to enlist the aid of his longtime friend Harry Houdini, a master of telekinesis, and new-found acquaintance Orson Welles, who is gifted with the power of mental telepathy. Even though Conan Doyle and Houdini have a bitter history, they put aside their differences and work together for the greater good, but not without friction.
Luminaries is an alternate history mystery-thriller set in the early 1930s, and combines elements of the supernatural, suspense, intrigue and adventure into a story about the importance of friendship. The next book in the series is tentatively titled Luminaries: Black Dragon.
Wednesday, January 04, 2012
The Mystery Bookshelf: The Judgment of Caesar by Steven Saylor, a Gordianus the Finder, Roma sub Rosa Mystery
The Mystery Bookshelf, where you can discover a world of mystery and suspense, is pleased to feature a new crime novel we recently received from the publisher.
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The Judgment of Caesar by Steven Saylor
A Gordianus the Finder, Roma sub Rosa Mystery (10th in series)
Minotaur Books (Trade Paperback)
Publication Date: January 2012
ISBN-13: 978-0-312-58245-6
About The Judgment of Caesar (from the publisher): Gordianus the Finder and his ailing wife Bethesda travel to Egypt — Bethesda's homeland — seeking a cure for her enduring, mysterious illness. They arrive as the Civil War between Caesar and Pompey is reaching its conclusion on its shores. Captured by Pompey, but rescued by Ptolemy's men who kill Pompey for Caesar, Gordianus is caught in the middle of the struggle between Ptolemy and his sister Cleopatra, Caesar's seduction by Cleopatra, and the dying days of the Roman Republic. When his wife disappears into the Nile, never to resurface, Gordianus must uncover the truth behind a series of mysterious occurrences if he is to find out what has happened to his wife, now presumed dead.
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About the author: Steven was born in Texas in 1956 and graduated from the University of Texas at Austin, where he studied history and Classics. He divides his time between homes in Berkeley, California, and Austin, Texas. To learn more about the author and his books, visit his website at StevenSaylor.com.
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Review: A Vine in the Blood by Leighton Gage
Read the full text of our review at Mysterious Reviews: A Vine in the Blood by Leighton Gage.
Easy Innocence by Libby Fischer Hellmann is Today's Third Featured Free MystereBook
MystereBooks is pleased to feature Easy Innocence by Libby Fischer Hellmann as today's third free mystery ebook. We don't know how long it will be offered at this special price (typically for a limited time only or 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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Easy Innocence by Libby Fischer Hellmann
A Georgia Davis Mystery
Publisher: Bleak House/Libby Fischer Hellmann
Chicago private investigator Georgia Davis is introduced in this new series by the author of the Ellie Foreman mysteries.
About Easy Innocence (from the publisher): When pretty, smart Sara Long is found bludgeoned to death, it's easy to blame the man with the bat. But Georgia Davis — former cop and newly-minted PI — is hired to look into the incident at the behest of the accused's sister, and what she finds hints at a much different, much darker answer. It seems the privileged, preppy schoolgirls on Chicago's North Shore have learned just how much their innocence is worth to hot-under-the-collar businessmen. But while these girls can pay for Prada pricetags, they don't realize that their new business venture may end up costing them more than they can afford.
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):
For more free mystery ebooks, visit our Free MystereBooks page.
Buck Fever by Ben Rehder is Today's Second Featured Free MystereBook
MystereBooks is pleased to feature Buck Fever by Ben Rehder as today's second free mystery ebook. We don't know how long it will be offered at this special price (typically for a limited time only or 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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Buck Fever by Ben Rehder
A John Marlin Mystery
Publisher: Minotaur Books/CreateSpace
Texas game warden John Marlin is introduced in this first book of the Blanco County mystery series.
About Buck Fever (from the publisher): Blanco County, Texas: It's the week before deer hunting season, as close to a statewide holiday as you get in Texas, and the locals are getting restless. Game Warden John Marlin has his hands full with poaching complaints coming in faster than he can write out-of-season tickets. Then a call of a different sort comes in. A man dressed up in some sort of deer costume has been shot at the Circle S ranch, and witnesses are reporting a massive wild-eyed buck prancing about the pasture in a lovesick frenzy. Marlin's seen a lot in his years, but this is wilder than he could have imagined: the man in the deer suit is a good friend, and the whacked-out whitetail isn't exactly a stranger either. It's the beginning of a mad, frantic weekend in Blanco County, one that will see a few more men shot, an invasion by Colombians with more than hunting on their minds, and damn near the end of Marlin's life.
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):
For more free mystery ebooks, visit our Free MystereBooks page.
The Dead Man by Joel Goldman is Today's Featured Free MystereBook
MystereBooks is pleased to feature The Dead Man by Joel Goldman as today's free mystery ebook. We don't know how long it will be offered at this special price (typically for a limited time only or 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 Dead Man by Joel Goldman
A Jack Davis Thriller
Publisher: Pinnacle
This is the second book (of three to date) to feature ex-FBI agent Jack Davis.
About The Dead Man (from the publisher): Billionaire Milo Harper wants Jack Davis' help. People in Harper's study of the human brain are starting to die exactly as they have dreamed they would die. Harper hires Jack to find out why their nightmares are coming true and protect his foundation. But when Jack investigates, he crosses paths with a serial killer inside one of the most advanced research facilities in the world. For Jack, the case will shatter illusions, raise ghosts, and take him onto both sides of the law and into the path of a murderer's terrifying rage.
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):
For more free mystery ebooks, visit our Free MystereBooks page.
Tuesday, January 03, 2012
The Mystery Bookshelf: The Second Son by Jonathan Rabb, a Nikolai Hoffner Mystery
The Mystery Bookshelf, where you can discover a world of mystery and suspense, is pleased to feature a new crime novel we recently received from the publisher.
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The Second Son by Jonathan Rabb
A Nikolai Hoffner Mystery (3rd in series)
Picador (Trade Paperback)
Publication Date: January 2012
ISBN-13: 978-1-250-00238-9
About The Second Son (from the publisher): On the eve of Hitler’s Olympics, Chief Inspector Nikolai Hoffner, a half-Jew, has been forced out of the Kriminalpolizei. Yet his career is the least of his worries. His son Georg is missing, swept up in the sudden outbreak of the Spanish Civil War. Hoffner has already lost his elder son to the Nazis. But Georg is not what he appears to be, and Hoffner is determined to save the one son he can. In the spirit of Joseph Kanon and Alan Furst, Jonathan Rabb has delivered another darkly compelling and atmospheric work.
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About the author: Jonathan Rabb is a professor of writing at the Savannah College of Art and Design. The first book in this series, Rosa, won the Dashiell Hammett prize at the Spanish Semana Negra Festival in 2006. He currently lives in Savannah with his wife and children.
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