MystereBooks: What It Was by George Pelecanos

MystereBooks is pleased to feature What It Was by George Pelecanos, published just this week and currently available at a very special price (ebook editions only).

The publisher — Hachette Book Group — has set the price of this ebook at $0.99 as of the date and time of this post. Prices are subject to change without notice. The price displayed on the vendor website at the time of purchase will be the price paid for the book. Please confirm the price of the book before completing your transaction.

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What It Was by George Pelecanos
A Derek Strange Mystery
Publisher: Reagan Arthur Books

About What It Was (from the publisher): Washington, D.C., 1972. Derek Strange has left the police department and set up shop as a private investigator. His former partner, Frank "Hound Dog" Vaughn, is still on the force. When a young woman comes to Strange asking for his help recovering a cheap ring she claims has sentimental value, the case leads him onto Vaughn's turf, where a local drug addict's been murdered, shot point-blank in his apartment. Soon both men are on the trail of a ruthless killer: Red Fury, so called for his looks and the car his girlfriend drives, but a name that fits his personality all too well. Red Fury doesn't have a retirement plan, as Vaughn points out — he doesn't care who he has to cross, or kill, to get what he wants. As the violence escalates and the stakes get higher, Strange and Vaughn know the only way to catch their man is to do it their own way.

Important Note: This ebook was priced at $0.99 on the date and time of this post. Prices can and do change without prior notice. Please confirm the price of the book before completing your purchase.

Download Link(s):

Amazon Kindle Edition Download Link.

B&N Nook Book Download Link.

Kobo eBook Download Link.

Apple iBook Download Link (via iTunes).

First Clues, Mysteries for Kids: New Titles for February 2012

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 February 2012, listed in approximate order of reading level, from books for younger readers to books for teens.

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The Astro Outlaw 
David A. Kelly
The Ballpark Mysteries

Houston, we have a problem! Before a game at the Astros' ballpark, Mike and Kate get to meet astronaut commander Nick Rice at the nearby Houston Space Center. He's planning to display a very rare moonrock at an autographing event later. But just before the event, a nefarious outlaw knocks out the commander and steals the moonrock! Can Mike and Kate figure out who did it … when their only clue is a broken green feather?

The Astro Outlaw includes a fun fact page about the Houston Astros stadium with trivia about the train on the outfield wall and the homerun gas pump.

The Ballpark Mysteries are recommended for readers aged 7 to 9.

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The Legend of Diamond Lil 
Doreen Cronin
A J. J. Tully Mystery

After his last run-in with Vince the Funnel and the mystery of the missing chicks, J. J. the search-and-rescue dog is ready for some much-needed R & R. But just when he thinks he has everything under control, there’s a new problem to worry about: Diamond Lil, a shiny new dog who’s taken up residence next door. Suddenly Moosh and her chicks are spending an awful lot of time with their fancy friend, talking about weird things like fluffy feathers and good posture. And Lil’s not the only new kid cramping J. J.’s style. There’s a possum loose, and it’s up to J. J. to keep everyone safe. But the questions keep piling up. Is Lil all that she seems? And how does the possum keep finding her way to the chicken coop?

This J. J. Tully mystery is recommended for readers aged 7 to 9.

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Mr. and Mrs. Bunny: Detectives Extraordinaire! 
Polly Horvath

Meet a girl whose parents have been kidnapped by disreputable foxes, and a pair of detectives that also happen to be bunnies!

When Madeline gets home from school one afternoon to discover that her parents have gone missing, she sets off to find them.

So begins a once-in-a-lifetime adventure involving a cast of quirky and unforgettable characters. There's Mr. and Mrs. Bunny, who drive a smart car, wear fedoras, and hate marmots; the Marmot, who loves garlic bread and is a brilliant translator; and many others.

This hilarious chapter book mystery is recommended for readers aged 7 to 9.

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The Case of the Loose-Toothed Shark 
Nancy Krulik
A Jack Gets a Clue Mystery

When a giant shark tooth fossil went missing during my little sister Mia's birthday party at the aquarium, I found myself in really deep water — the aquarium staff accused me of stealing it! No way would I steal something, even if it was a cool fossil. What I could do, though, was talk to the animals at the aquarium to find out who the real thief was. My brainiac detective partner Elizabeth and I would have to work fast to clear my name before the end of the day!

The Jack Gets a Clue mysteries are recommended for readers aged 7 to 9.

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The Case of the Ruby Slippers 
Martha Freeman
A First Kids Mystery

Aunt Jen, the official White House hostess, is being thrown a surprise party with a Wizard of Oz theme, but when a box arrives from the Smithsonian, the slippers that Judy Garland wore in the movie aren't in it! Never fear, First Kids Cammie and Tess are on the case!

White House dog Hooligan finds one slipper, but no one knows where or how. A surprising revelation reveals the thief's identity.

This First Kids mystery is recommended for readers aged 10 to 12.

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The Case of the Deadly Desperados 
Caroline Lawrence
A P. K. Pinkerton Western Mystery

When twelve-year-old P. K. (Pinky) Pinkerton's foster parents are murdered by Whittlin' Walt and his gang of ruthless desperados, Pinky goes on the run. He's forced into hiding with Ma's priceless last possession: the deed to a large amount of land and silver mines in the Nevada Mountains. But relying on disguises will only keep Pinky hidden for so long, and the desperados are quickly closing in …

This first mystery in a new series is recommended for readers aged 10 to 12.

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The Fourth Stall Part II
Chris Rylander

The life of crime is good. Mac has taken down legendary high school crime boss Staples, business has been booming, and Mac and Vince are getting ready for middle school baseball tryouts. But this can’t last. Mac has always tried to keep his friends close and his enemies closer. But what happens when you can’t tell the difference?

This dilemma walks into the fourth stall in the form of Trixie Von Parkway—an eighth grader with a mean look and an even meaner predicament. The new science teacher is terrorizing her, and she needs Mac to get him off her back. Seems simple enough, but as Mac starts to dig deeper, he finds even more trouble brewing at his school, including a new administrator bent on destroying his business, and indications that Trixie isn’t who she claims to be. In the past, the worst thing that could have happened to Mac was that he might lose a little money, maybe catch a beating. In The Fourth Stall Part II, though, there’s going to be much more on the line than that.

This middle school "crime novel" is recommended for readers aged 10 to 12.

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The Hidden Gold 
Sarah M. Buckey
The American Girl Mysteries

Marie-Grace can't wait to begin her journey up the Mississippi River with her father. The steamboat they're traveling on is the biggest and fanciest boat Marie-Grace has ever seen. It's crowded with all sorts of interesting passengers, including Wilhelmina Newman, a girl her age. Wilhelmina is traveling alone, and she's carrying a secret in one of her trunks — clues to hidden Gold Rush treasure. Marie-Grace and Wilhelmina have to unravel the clues to find the gold — and they're not the only ones looking for it!

An illustrated "Looking Back" essay provides facts about the 1850s.

The American Girl Mysteries are recommended for readers aged 10 to 12.

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The Crystal Ball 
Jacqueline Greene
The American Girl Mysteries

Rebecca and her neighbor, Mr. Rossi, seem to be having bad luck. When Mr. Rossi sprains his wrist, Rebecca takes over the care and feeding of his pigeons — and discovers a strange black pigeon with an eerie message warning Mr. Rossi of danger. Where did the pigeon come from, and what sort of danger is lurking? Is Rebecca herself now in danger as well? Only a visit to a fortune teller will reveal the truth!

The American Girl Mysteries are recommended for readers aged 10 to 12.

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The Cameo Necklace 
Evelyn Coleman
The American Girl Mysteries

As Cécile exits a crowded showboat after enjoying a lavish Floating Circus, she stumbles — and when she gets up, she realizes that the cameo necklace she borrowed from her aunt is no longer on her neck. Knowing that the necklace was the last gift Tante Tay's husband gave her before he died, Cécile is desperate to find it. As she tracks down the people in the crowd who were near her when she fell, her search takes her into many corners of New Orleans, from a society tea party to the crowded French Market, even the dangerous cypress swamps … and deep into secrets she never imagined!

An illustrated "Looking Back" essay provides facts about the 1850s.

The American Girl Mysteries are recommended for readers aged 10 to 12.

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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).

The Rock 'n' Roll Detective's Greatest Hits by Raymond Benson is Today's Featured Free MystereBook

MystereBooks is pleased to feature The Rock 'n' Roll Detective's Greatest Hits by Raymond Benson as today's free mystery ebook.

This title was listed as free as of the date and time of this post. Prices are subject to change without notice. The price displayed on the vendor website at the time of purchase will be the price paid for the book. Please confirm the price of the book before completing your transaction.

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The Rock 'n' Roll Detective's Greatest Hits by Raymond Benson
The Spike Berenger Mysteries
Publisher: Crossroad Press

Raymond Benson is the author of several James Bond thrillers and several books in Tom Clancy's "Splinter Cell" series (as written by David Michaels).

About The Rock 'n' Roll Detective's Greatest Hits (from the publisher): This collection contains the two Spike Berenger mysteries — A Hard Day's Death and Dark Side of the Morgue — plus the short story "On the Threshold of a Death".

In A Hard Day's Death, Spike Berenger and his team, Rockin' Security, must find out who killed the aging rock star Peter Flame … was it his ex-wife? A former bandmate? A religious cult that had become Flame's groupies? A member of one of the mysterious rock 'n' roll gangs terrorizing New York? With so many potential suspects and so many possible motives, only a rock 'n' roll insider like Spike could hope to wade through the rumors and the legends and find the cold hard facts … and a cold-blooded killer.

In Dark Side of the Morgue, The Rockin' Security team is called into action in Chicago, where musicians of progressive rock bands are being murdered — one by one. As Spike and his partner, Suzanne, investigate the case, they find that no one wants to talk. As Spike digs deeper, he begins to unearth a lode of deadly secrets involving sex, psychedelic drugs, and, of course, rock 'n' roll. And it isn't long before the private detective becomes a pawn in a very dangerous game.

Important Note: This book was listed for free on the date and time of this post. Prices can and do change without prior notice. 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.

New Poster, Release Date for The Raven

Relativity Media released a new poster for its Edgar Allan Poe thriller The Raven (right; click for larger version) while simultaneously delaying the release of the film by a month. This poster's tagline: "The only one who can stop a serial killer is the man who inspired him."

When a mother and daughter are found brutally murdered in 19th century Baltimore, Detective Emmett Fields (Luke Evans) makes a startling discovery: the crime resembles a fictional murder described in gory detail in the local newspaper — part of a collection of stories penned by struggling writer and social pariah Edgar Allan Poe (played by John Cusack). But even as Poe is questioned by police, another grisly murder occurs, also inspired by a popular Poe story.

Realizing a serial killer is on the loose using Poe's writings as the backdrop for his bloody rampage, Fields enlists the author's help in stopping the attacks. But when it appears someone close to Poe may become the murderer's next victim, the stakes become even higher and the inventor of the detective story calls on his own powers of deduction to try to solve the case before it's too late.

The Raven is now scheduled to open in US theaters April 27th, 2012. Watch a trailer (from last year) for the film below.

The Mystery Bookshelf: Detective Inspector Huss by Helene Tursten, an Irene Huss 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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Detective Inspector Huss by Helene Tursten
An Irene Huss Mystery (1st in series)
Soho Crime (Trade Paperback)
Publication Date: January 2012
ISBN-13: 978-1-61695-111-5

About Detective Inspector Huss (from the publisher): Inspector Irene Huss, stationed in Göteborg, is called through the rain-drenched wintry streets to the scene of an apparent suicide. The dead man landed on the sidewalk in front of his luxurious duplex apartment. He was a wealthy financier connected, through an old-boys' network, with the first families of Sweden. But the "Society Suicide" turns out to have been a carefully plotted murder. As more murders ensue, she tangles with street gang members, skinheads, immigrants and neo-Nazis — a cross-section of Sweden’s disaffected — in order to catch the killer.

Originally published in Sweden in 1998 under the title Den krossade tanghästen.

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About the author: Helene Tursten was a nurse and a dentist before she turned to writing. She is the author of eight books in this series — the first three of which have been translated into English. She was born in Göteborg, where she now lives with her husband and daughter.

 Crime novels by Helene Tursten reviewed by Mysterious Reviews: The Glass Devil (2007).

Purchase Options for Detective Inspector Huss:

Telemystery Pilots: NBC Orders Chicago Fire; CBS Orders Golden Boy

NBC has ordered to pilot Chicago Fire, an action drama co-written by crime novelists Derek Haas (the "Silver Bear" thrillers) and Michael Brandt, who have together written a number film and television screenplays including 3:10 to Yuma, Wanted, and The Double.

There's not much known about the storyline other than it revolves around the men and women of the Chicago Fire Department.

In other recent prime time crime pilot news, CBS has ordered Golden Boy, about one cop's rise from officer to detective to Police Commissioner. The pilot will be written and produced by Nicholas Wootton (NYPD Blue, Law & Order, Prison Break).

Academy Award Nominations for Mystery, Suspense and Thriller Films

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced this morning the nominations for the 84th Annual Academy Awards.

Naturally, we first scanned the list to see what mystery, suspense and thriller films made the list. There weren't all that many. We've listed below what we found; your list may differ depending on what films you consider to be mystery, suspense and thriller.

Alphabetically by Category:

• Actor in a Leading Role: Gary Oldman in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
• Actress in a Leading Role: Rooney Mara in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
• Art Direction: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
• Cinematography: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
• Costume Design: Anonymous
• Film Editing: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
• Makeup: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
• Sound Editing: Drive
• Sound Editing: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
• Visual Effects: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
• Writing (Adapted Screenplay): Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy by Bridget O'Connor and Peter Straughan
• Writing (Original Screenplay): Margin Call by J. C. Chandor

Alphabetically by Film:

• Anonymous: Costume Design
• Drive: Sound Edition
• The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo: Actress in a Leading Role (Rooney Mara); Cinematography; Film Editing; Sound Editing
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2: Art Direction; Makeup; Visual Effects
• Margin Call: Writing (Original Screenplay)
• Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy: Actor in a Leading Role (Gary Oldman); Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

The winners will be announced in a televised ceremony on Sunday, February 26th.

Review: Stealing Magic by Marianne Malone

Read the full text of our review at Mysterious Reviews: Stealing Magic by Marianne Malone.

New Poster, Trailer for Indie Thriller Brake

A new poster (right; click for larger version) and trailer (below) for the indie thriller Brake has been released by IFC Films.

Stephen Dorff stars as Secret Service Agent Jeremy Reins, who is held captive in the trunk of a car by a terrorist group and is used as a pawn in their plot while a clock ticks down to an unknown catastrophic event.

The film, directed by Gabe Torres (Hardcover Mysteries, Murder by the Book) from a screenplay by Timothy Mannnion, also stars Tom Berenger, Chyler Leigh, and J. R. Bourne.

Brake opens in limited release on March 23rd, 2012.

Production Update on Total Recall from its Director

A week or so ago Sony Pictures released a synopsis of its remake of Total Recall, offering little in the way of saying what might be new or different about this new film (as compared to, say, the original).

Over the weekend the film's director, Len Wiseman, had a bit more to say about it, suggesting it may be less of a remake of the 1990 sci-fi thriller and more of a new interpretation of the original source material, the short story "We Can Remember It For You Wholesale".

"[G]oing back into the Philip K. Dick story, you realize there is so much to be discussed about the dual stories," Wiseman said. "There's the reality story and there's the fantasy element. They're running parallel together, so you always have to keep those two alive. That's the inherent nature of the concept and what makes the concept so cool. … [T]he dual nature of the story was the best thing about this."

He had this to say about where he is in the production: "I'm very close to handing over my cut. It's going really well. The combination of mystery and emotion and action, it's coming together. Colin [Farrell] is a large part of that and I'm really happy with him."

Total Recall — which stars Colin Farrell as factory worker Douglas Quaid, who finds himself on the run from police when a mind-trip goes wrong — opens in theaters August 3rd, 2012.

(Related article: SuperHeroHype.com.)

Telemystery: Guido Brunetti and Maria Wern, New This Week on DVD

Telemystery is 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.

Earlier today we profiled two US television series being released this week. In this post, we're taking a look at two European series also coming out on DVD this week.

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Uwe Kockisch stars as Venetian police detective Guido Brunetti in The Commissario Guido Brunetti Mysteries, adapted from the crime novels by Donna Leon.

Two DVD sets are being released this week.

The Commissario Guido Brunetti Mysteries: Episodes 9 and 10 (available on DVD) includes "Doctored Evidence" and "Uniform Justice". We haven't seen these episodes, but have read the 2004 book Doctored Evidence, one of the superb entries in this long running mystery series.

The Commissario Guido Brunetti Mysteries: Episodes 11 and 12 (available on DVD) includes "Death in a Strange Country" and "A Sea of Troubles".

The episodes on these DVDs are in German with English subtitles.

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Eva Röse stars as Detective Inspector Maria Wern in Maria Wern, a series of Swedish-language adaptations of the series crime novels by Anna Jansson. (To our knowledge, none of this author's books have been translated into English.)

Two DVD sets are being released this week.

Maria Wern: Episodes 1-3 (available on DVD) includes "The Speechless God", "All the Tranquil Dead", and "Dreams from Snow", which we believe actually aired as the second season of the series in Sweden in 2010. (The first season was a 4-part adaptation of Främmande fågel, "Strange Bird".)

Maria Wern: Episodes 4-7 (available on DVD) includes "May Death Sleep", "Black Butterfly", "Boy Missing", and "Not Even the Past", which we believe were released as theatrical films in 2011.

The episodes on these DVDs are in Swedish with English subtitles.

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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.

Review: Behind the Redwood Door by John M. Daniel

Read the full text of our review at Mysterious Reviews: Behind the Redwood Door by John M. Daniel.

2012 Newbery Medal Awarded to Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos

The 2012 Newbery Medal, awarded annually by the American Library Association for the most distinguished American children's book published the previous year, has been given to Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos.

Described as being "entirely true and wildly fictional", this book isn't a young adult suspense novel per se … but there is clearly an element of mystery in the narrative. The publisher offers this by way of introduction: "Endlessly surprising, this sly, sharp-edged narrative is the author at his very best, making readers laugh out loud at the most unexpected things in a dead-funny depiction of growing up in a slightly off-kilter place where the past is present, the present is confusing, and the future is completely up in the air."

Set during the summer of 1962, a kid named Jack Gantos has his plans for vacation excitement shot down when he is "grounded for life" by his feuding parents. But plenty of excitement (and shocks) are coming Jack's way once his mom loans him out to help a fiesty old neighbor with a most unusual chore — typewriting obituaries filled with stories about the people who founded his utopian town. As one obituary leads to another, Jack is launced on a strange adventure involving molten wax, Eleanor Roosevelt, twisted promises, a homemade airplane, Girl Scout cookies, a man on a trike, a dancing plague, voices from the past, Hells Angels … and possibly murder.

Telemystery: Kojak and Mannix, New 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 season and one made-for-television movie collection being released this week.

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Telly Savalas stars as the tough, lollipop-toting NYPD homicide detective Theo "Who loves ya, baby?" Kojak in Kojak, a series that aired for five seasons on CBS between 1973 and 1978.

Seven made-for-television movies — 1985, 1987, two in 1989, and three in 1990 — featuring the character were made after the crime drama ended its series television run. Kojak: The Complete Movie Collection includes all seven of these movies plus the previously unreleased pilot — "The Marcus-Nelson Murders" that originally aired in 1973 and earned series creator Abby Mann an Emmy for Outstanding Writing — on a 4-disc DVD set.

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Mike Connors stars as a hard-boiled Los Angeles private investigator Joe Mannix in Mannix, a crime drama that aired on CBS for eight seasons, from 1967 through 1975.

Widely recognized at the time for being the most violent weekly series on network television — cable television, as we know it today, didn't exist yet — Mannix constantly defied rules and regulations and was able to take a flurry of fist fights, high-speed car chases and bullet wounds in stride.

Mannix: Season Six is available on DVD and consists of episodes that originally aired from September 1972 through March 1973.

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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.

Secrets to Die For by L. J. Sellers is Today's Fourth Featured Free MystereBook

MystereBooks is pleased to feature Secrets to Die For by L. J. Sellers as today's fourth free mystery ebook.

This title was listed as free as of the date and time of this post. Prices are subject to change without notice. The price displayed on the vendor website at the time of purchase will be the price paid for the book. Please confirm the price of the book before completing your transaction.

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Secrets to Die For by L. J. Sellers
A Wade Jackson Mystery
Publisher: Spellbinder Press

This is the first mystery in this series featuring the Eugene (Oregon) homicide detective.

About Secrets to Die For (from the publisher): When social worker Raina Hughes visits the home of a young boy she’s been assigned to monitor, things quickly turn ugly. Later, when she’s found brutally murdered, Jackson thinks it's an open-and-shut case against the boy's ex-con father. Complications develop when new evidence points to a serial rapist who’s becoming more violent with each attack. Raina’s lover, Jamie, knows what the rape victims have in common, but won’t tell for fear of revealing her own secrets. When Jamie disappears, Jackson must uncover the truth in time to save her.

Important Note: This book was listed for free on the date and time of this post. Prices can and do change without prior notice. 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.