Quiver by Holly Luhning is Today's Amazon Kindle Daily Deal

MystereBooks is pleased to feature Quiver by Holly Luhning as today's Amazon Kindle Daily Deal. The deal price of $1.99 is valid only for today, Tuesday, March 06, 2012.

— ◊ —

Quiver by Holly Luhning
Publisher: Pegasus

A masterful debut thriller about the original female Dracula and an underground gothic cult reenacting her ritualized killings in present day London.

About Quiver (from the publisher): In sixteenth-century Hungary, Countess Elizabeth Bathory tortured and killed over six hundred servant girls in order to bathe in their blood. She believed this practice would keep her skin youthful and her beauty immortal.

Quiver tells the story of Danica, a forensic psychologist who works at a former insane asylum-turned-forensic hospital. One of Danica’s mental patients is Malcolm Foster, who is imprisoned for murdering a fourteen-year-old girl. Foster is a menacing but fascinating patient and Danica begins to suspect that Foster may have been the head of a Gothic cabal idolizing Bathory. Her peers dismiss her discoveries, while disturbing incidents begin following her home from work.

Soon after her arrival in London, Danica receives a mysterious note from Maria, a seductive archivist with whom Danica has had an intriguing and complicated past. Maria claims she has Bathory’s diaries that chronicle her relentless torture of young women. As Maria increasingly insinuates herself into Danica’s life, soon Danica is in too deep to notice that Maria’s motivations are far from selfless; in fact, they may just cost Danica her life.

Important Note: Amazon.com updates its Kindle book deal every day at approximately midnight PT. The title referenced above is available at a discounted price for Tuesday, March 06, 2012 only.

Download Link(s):

Amazon Kindle Daily Deal.

Director Hired for Film Adaptation of Carpe Demon by Julie Kenner

It was back in May 2010 that we last reported on the film adaptation of Carpe Demon, the first mystery in the Kate Connor, Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom series by Julie Kenner.

Today we're learning that a screenplay has been written — by Dan Hagerman and Kevin Hagerman — and that Andre Øvredal (TrollHunter) will direct.

Carpe Demon introduces Kate Connor, a woman who put her career aside to raise kids in the suburbs. She hasn't, for instance, hunted a demon in ages.

That must be why she missed the one wandering through the pet food aisle of the San Diablo WalMart. Unfortunately, he managed to catch her attention an hour later — when he crashed into the Connor house, intent on killing her.

Now Kate has to clean up the mess in her kitchen, dispose of a dead demon, and pull together a dinner party that will get her husband elected to County Attorney — all without arousing her family's suspicion. Worse yet, it seems the dead demon didn't come alone …

It's time for Kate Connor to go back to work.

The fifth, and most recent, book in the series is Demon Ex Machina, which was published in 2009.

(Related article: Empire.)

Screenwriter Hired for Film Adaptation of The Expats by Chris Pavone

CBS Films is quickly moving forward with its film adaptation of The Expats by Chris Pavone, hiring Alex Holmes (House of Saddam) to write the screenplay. The studio optioned the book, which is published tomorrow, last month.

The book's storyline follows Kate Moore, a working mother struggling to make ends meet, to raise children, to keep a spark in her marriage … and to maintain an increasingly unbearable life-defining secret. So when her husband is offered a lucrative job in Luxembourg, she jumps at the chance to leave behind her double-life, to start anew.

She begins to reinvent herself as an expat, finding her way in a language she doesn't speak, doing the housewifely things she's never before done — play dates and coffee mornings, daily cooking and never-ending laundry. Meanwhile, her husband works incessantly, at a job Kate has never understood, for a banking client she's not allowed to know. He's becoming distant and evasive; she's getting lonely and bored.

Then another American couple arrives. Kate soon becomes suspicious that these people are not who they say they are, and she's terrified that her own past is catching up to her. So Kate begins to dig, to peel back the layers of deception that surround her. She discovers fake offices and shell corporations and a hidden gun, a mysterious farmhouse and numbered accounts with bewildering sums of money, and finally unravels the mind-boggling long-play con that threatens her family, her marriage, and her life.

(Related article: The Hollywood Reporter.)

Cogan's Trade Film Adaptation Now Titled Killing Them Softly

We actually haven't heard much recently about the film adaptation of Cogan's Trade by George V. Higgins. The film stars Brad Pitt as Jackie Cogan, a mob enforcer called in when a high-stakes card game under the protection of the Mob is taken.

But the film apparently has a new title; Variety reporter Jeff Sneider tweeted last night, "Mini-scoop: The Brad Pitt pic Cogan's Trade has been retitled Killing Them Softly."

Hmm ... kind of an odd choice, in our opinion. It's not as if Cogan's Trade is a common film title. Maybe that's why they pay the film producers the big bucks, to make important decisions like this!

Cogan's Trade … err, Killing Them Softly … opens in theaters September 21st, 2012.

Mr. E. Reviews The Son of No One

Purchase/Rental Option(s)

This film is a near-to-complete miss on several levels … which is really discouraging as it boasts a stellar cast and a strong premise. The director/screenwriter seems to have been far too focused on individual elements of the film that were not important to the story to the detriment of the film as a whole.

Read the full text of our review at Mr. E. Reviews The Son of No One.

— ◊ —

Mr. E. Reviews is your source for mystery, suspense, thriller, and crime drama reviews of television and film.

Warner Bros. Shelves Quean Pilot Project for CBS

Scarcely a month after CBS ordered a pilot for a crime drama titled Quean, Warner Bros. has shut down production.

The series premise was described as a tattooed female computer hacker, who helps the Oakland (CA) police solve crimes. If the character sounds familiar, it should: it is a clone of Lisbeth Salander in "The Millennium Trilogy" by Stieg Larsson.

Apparently Sony Pictures, which holds the US rights to the adaptations of Larsson's books, took exception to the description and threatened to take legal action. Even after an extensive rewrite of the pilot's script and a modification of the character herself, the studio decided it was still too much of a risk to move forward with the project.

From our summary last month of the prime time crime pilots in development, CBS still has several others from which to choose for a series commitment.

(Related article: The Hollywood Reporter.)

Enter to Win a Free Copy of Clawback by Mike Cooper

Last week we published our review of Clawback by Mike Cooper, calling it a "highly entertaining" financial-action thriller that "races along at a relentless pace."

Today, we're pleased to announce that our readers can enter to win a free copy of the book, courtesy of the Penguin Group.

Simply visit Mystery Book Contests and click on the Mike Cooper: Clawback link. Provide your name, e-mail address, and this code — 7913 — to enter. (One entry per person or e-mail address; US residents only. This contest ends March 12th, 2012.)

Telemystery: Six Crime Drama Series Seasons, 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 six series being released this week.

— ◊ —

Adapted from the crime novels by Lynda La Plante, Above Suspicion is both the title of this series of adaptations and of the first novel in the series of Anna Travis mysteries.

Kelly Reilly stars as Anna Travis, who, as a rookie detective, wears the wrong shoes, throws up at a crime scene, and faints at a postmortem. Does she have what it takes to succeed in what is still mostly a man's world?

The series also stars Ciarán Hinds as Anna's brusque boss, Detective Chief Inspector James Langton, whose interest in his new charge quickly turns personal.

Above Suspicion: Set 1: Above Suspicion is available on DVD and consists of the two-part episode that originally aired in the UK on ITV in January 2009.

— ◊ —

Based on characters created by crime novelist Reginald Hill, Dalziel and Pascoe stars Warren Clarke as Detective Superintendent Andy Dalziel and Colin Buchanan as Detective Inspector Peter Pascoe in this long-running BBC series featuring the Yorkshire police officers.

Dalziel and Pascoe: Season Five is available on DVD and consists of four episodes — "A Sweeter Lazarus", "Cunning Old Fox", "Foreign Bodies", and "Above the Law"; all are original screenplays, and not adapted from any of Hill's novels — that originally aired during July 2000.

— ◊ —

Summers span decades. Winters can last a lifetime. And the struggle for the Iron Throne has begun.

It will stretch from the south, where heat breeds plots, lusts and intrigues; to the vast and savage eastern lands; and all the way to the frozen north, where an 800-foot wall of ice protects the kingdom from the dark forces that lie beyond. Kings and queens, knights and renegades, liars, lords, and honest men, all will play the Game of Thrones.

Adapted from the novels in fantasy series "A Song of Ice and Fire" by George R. R. Martin, this first season generally follows the storyline in the first book, A Game of Thrones.

Game of Thrones: Season One is available on DVD and Blu-ray disc and consists of episodes that originally aired on HBO from April through June 2011. The second season premieres on April 1st, 2012.

— ◊ —

Martin Shaw stars Judge John Deed in this British legal drama that aired for six seasons on BBC.

Judge John Deed: Season Five, Episodes 1-4 is available on DVD and consists of the first four episodes of this six episode season that originally aired in the UK during January 2006.

No official reason has been given for excluding the final two episodes — "One Angry Man" and "Heart of Darkness" — thought it has been suggested that these episodes feature public safety information that may be unreliable and/or inaccurate.

— ◊ —

The activities of the counter-terrorism division of the British Security Service are depicted in MI-5, which airs as Spooks in the UK.

The series has typically featured a large ensemble cast and multi-episode storylines. In this season, former Russian spy Ilya Gavrik (Jonathan Hyde) proposes a strategic partnership between Russia and the UK. But someone within the organization is determined to prevent this from happening.

MI-5 (Spooks): Volume Ten — its final season — is available on DVD and consists of episodes that originally aired during September and October, 2011.

— ◊ —

David Suchet stars as Agatha Christie's inimitable private detective Hercule Poirot in Poirot.

Over the years, the episodes in this series have been released on DVD, though not always in a logical manner. Acorn Media has decided to wipe the slate clean and reissue all the episodes, in their original broadcast order, and remastered.

Poirot: Series Three is available on DVD and Blu-ray disc and consists of 1 episode that originally aired on ITV in September 1990 — this is actually the last episode of the second season, which was not included on the previous set — and 10 episodes that aired from January through March 1991.

— ◊ —

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: Bloodland by Alan Glynn

Read our … Review of Bloodland by Alan Glynn. Picador Trade Paperback, January 2012.

Available to purchase from …

The List by J. A. Konrath is Today's Second Featured Free MystereBook

MystereBooks is pleased to feature The List by J. A. Konrath as today's second 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.

— ◊ —

The List by J. A. Konrath
Publisher: CreateSpace

This stand-alone technothriller is by the author of the Jacqueline "Jack" Daniels mysteries.

About The List (from the publisher): A group of ten people each have tattoos of numbers on the bottoms their feet … and don't know why. One of them, a Chicago Homicide cop named Tom Mankowski, has had one of these strange tattoos since birth. When he investigates a violent murder and discovers the victim also has a tattooed number, it sets the ball rolling for an adventure of historic proportions.

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.

Flat Crazy by Ben Rehder is Today's Featured Free MystereBook

MystereBooks is pleased to feature Flat Crazy by Ben Rehder 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.

— ◊ —

Flat Crazy by Ben Rehder
A John Marlin, Blanco County Mystery
Publisher: Minotaur Books/CreateSpace

This is the third comic crime novel to feature the Texas game warden.

About Flat Crazy (from the publisher): Some kind of unidentified wild creature is on the loose in Blanco County, and, over the protests of sensible game warden John Marlin, the local population has convinced itself that they're dealing with a mythical beast called a chupacabra. Of course it doesn't help Marlin's cause when a dead body turns up with a suspicious fang-like wound in its neck …

Then things really get out of hand: tabloid news programs invade Blanco, good ol' boys Red O'Brien and Billy Don Craddock develop a cockamamie get-rich-quick scheme involving the animal, and everyone is a little surprised at the booming population of voluptuous Chinese dwarfs who've turned up in town.

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.

Dead is the New Black by Marlene Perez is Today's Amazon Kindle Daily Deal

MystereBooks is pleased to feature Dead is the New Black by Marlene Perez as today's Amazon Kindle Daily Deal. The deal price of $0.99 is valid only for today, Monday, March 05, 2012.

— ◊ —

Dead is the New Black by Marlene Perez
A Giordano Sisters Mystery
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

This middle-school mystery — the first of five to date in the series — introduces Rose and Daisy Giordano.

About Dead is the New Black (from the publisher): Welcome to Nightshade, California — a small town full of secrets. It’s home to the psychic Giordano sisters, who have a way of getting mixed up in mysteries. During their investigations, they run across everything from pom-pom-shaking vampires to shape-shifting boyfriends to a clue-spewing jukebox. With their psychic powers and some sisterly support, they can crack any case!

Teenage girls are being mysteriously attacked all over town, including at Nightshade High School, where Daisy Giordano is a junior. When Daisy discovers that a vampire may be the culprit, she can’t help but suspect head cheerleader Samantha Devereaux, who returned from summer break with a new “look.” Samantha appears a little … well, dead, and all the most popular kids at school are copying her style.

Is looking dead just another fashion trend for Samantha, or is there something more sinister going on? To find out, Daisy joins the cheerleading squad.

Important Note: Amazon.com updates its Kindle book deal every day at approximately midnight PT. The title referenced above is available at a discounted price for Monday, March 05, 2012 only.

Download Link(s):

Amazon Kindle Daily Deal.

Mystery Godoku Puzzle for March 05, 2012

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!).

— ◊ —

This week's letters and mystery clue:

A D E H K N O S W

Joel Goldman introduced ex-FBI Agent Jack Davis in this 2008 thriller (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!

March 2012 Selection of Amazon Kindle Books Priced $3.99 or less

Every month, Amazon selects 100 Kindle books and prices them at $3.99 or less. We've scoured through the March selection and picked out the really important ones — crime fiction, mystery/suspense novels and thrillers — and listed them below. Click on the title for more information or to purchase.

Important Note: The prices listed are only available through the month of March 2012 and may change without prior notice. Please confirm the price of book before completing your purchase.

$1.99 titles …

• The Past Came Hunting by Donnell Ann Bell.
• As the Crow Dies by Ken Casper.
• Flying Blind by Max Allan Collins. A Nathan Heller Mystery (10th in series).
• No Way Out by Joel Goldman. A Jack Davis Mystery (3rd in series).
• Death by the Glass by Nadia Gordon. A Sunny McCoskey Mystery (2nd in series).
• The Savage Day by Jack Higgins. A Simon Vaughn Thriller.
• Girl's Best Friend by Leslie Margolis. A Maggie Brooklyn Mystery (1st in series).
• Into Thin Air by Thomas Zigal. A Kurt Muller Mystery (1st in series).

$2.99 titles …

• Deadly Appraisal by Jane K. Cleland. A Josie Prescott, Antiques Mystery (2nd in series).
• Patient Zero by Jonathan Maberry. A Joe Ledger Mystery (1st in series).
• Out of the Deep I Cry by Julia Spencer-Fleming. A Clare Fergusson and Russ Van Alstyne Mystery (3rd in series).
• A Little Death in Dexie by Lisa Turner. A Billy Able Mystery (1st in series).

indicates a review is available on Mysterious Reviews. Click on the icon to visit the review page.

Mr. E. Reviews Midsomer Murders Set 19

Purchase/Rental Option(s)

This crime drama is one of the few series that manages to stay fresh season after season even though the principal characters do not (often) change, the supporting cast in each episode is different yet somehow familiar, and the storylines manage to explore new facets of a murder mystery while basically confined to the same environment. One of the episodes in this set introduces Barnaby's replacement after the current season, his cousin DCI John Barnaby.

Read the full text of our review at Mr. E. Reviews Midsomer Murders Set 19.

— ◊ —

Mr. E. Reviews is your source for mystery, suspense, thriller, and crime drama reviews of television and film.