Canada's CTV Orders New Crime Drama, Motive

In news from our neighbor to the north, CTV announced today that it has ordered a procedural crime drama with the working title of Motive.

Each of the thirteen episodes opens not only revealing the victim of a murder but also the identity of the killer. A Vancouver homicide detective then begins to piece together clues to solve the crime. As the mystery unfolds, the viewer navigates the twisted and complicated maze of each murder and solves the puzzle alongside the detective and her team.

Motive is expected to premiere later this year. And with the increasing number of series that cross the border in each direction every year, it wouldn't be surprising for those of us in the US to see it sometime next year.

(Source: Press release.)

Review: Lehrter Station by David Downing

We've just published our Review of Lehrter Station by David Downing. A John Russell Mystery. Soho Press Hardcover, May 2012.

Our rating:

Available to purchase from …

Today's Bestselling Free Kindle MystereBooks (120531)

Here is today's list of the top bestselling free Kindle mysteries, suspense novels and thrillers.

We're using a script to embed an RSS feed from Amazon.com, which is updated hourly, but if you cannot see the box below — or have scripts blocked — you can use this link to see the relevant page on Amazon.com.

Gabriella Pierce's Second 666 Park Avenue Novel at a Special eBook Price

Earlier this week we mentioned that the ebook edition of 666 Park Avenue by Gabrella Pierce, which is serving as the inspiration for the new ABC supernatural drama to air this fall, was available for just 99 cents. (It still is!)

Now we're seeing that HarperCollins has priced the second ebook in the series, The Dark Glamour, also at 99 cents. (Here are links to the Kindle, Nook, and iTunes versions.) This is almost certainly a short-term promotional price, so please confirm the price of the book before completing your transaction. 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.

Jane Boyle has married her prince charming and moved into his upper east side castle — but she didn't get her fairy-tale ending

It's hard to live happily ever after when you discover your demanding and controlling mother-in-law is literally a witch, determined to steal the magical powers you didn't even know you had. Jane narrowly avoided Lynne Doran's clutches when she escaped on her wedding day, and has been hiding out in New York City. But she can't hide forever.

When Jane learns of the one thing Lynne wants most, she sets out to provide it, hoping her good turn will persuade her mother-in-law to stop hunting her. Unfortunately, Jane's daring plan will send her right back into the witches' den — the Doran clan's multistory town house on Park Avenue. But thanks to a tricky spell, blond architect Jane will be transformed into Ella, a dark beauty with a whole new look … and all of Jane's budding powers. Though the stakes are life or death, nobody said "Ella" couldn't have a little fun along the way, too.

Please Welcome Mystery Author Jorge E. Goyanes

We are delighted to welcome mystery author Jorge E. Goyanes as our guest blogger today.

Jorge's new crime novel is Miami Beat (Ampersand Editions, April 2012 trade paperback and ebook editions) introducing Cuban-American private investigator Jose Castillo.

Today Jorge tells us how a cynical, cigar-smoking car guy became a published author.

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There are quite a few reasons why I decided to write a book.

Last year, during the week between Christmas and New Year's, my wife made the suggestion that since I write a car advice column for our hometown newspaper, The Lake Worth Herald, and I write a political blog for a digital/online magazine, Arketipo187.com (and wasn't getting paid for either), that I should write a book and maybe I could make some money from that.

Photo provided courtesy of
Jorge E. Goyanes

So I started writing the book that week and finished it in the last week of February of this year.

I thought I had been writing a lot until my editor checked the word count and Miami Beat was just under 30,000 words, so the first installment in the Jose Castillo mystery series (I'm already pretty deep into the second) is a novella rather than a novel. The second installment is already proving to be much longer — in fact, my editor may have to trim it a bit.

I have always read that you should write about what you know, so I made my main character, Jose Castillo, a restorer of classic cars (I own a Goodyear Independent Dealer and have worked on cars for most of my adult life) and a smartass (which I happen to be). I also made my character a Cuban-American that was raised in Miami, the same as I was.

I tried to portray the point of view of those from my generation who assimilated into the United States but kept one foot planted in the traditions of their parents' homeland. It was also very important to me that I give an insider's view of Miami and South Beach and its international flavor.

My main goal is that a book and series like mine bring the same enjoyment and entertaining escape that I experience when reading John D. MacDonald's Travis McGee stories or a Spenser book from Robert B. Parker.

As far as the publishing tightrope goes, it was fairly easy for me to navigate since my daughter Ily Goyanes is a published writer and editor and had just launched a publishing house. I'm pretty fortunate that getting published was a fairly painless procedure as I've heard quite the opposite from my writer friends.

All the reviews that Miami Beat has been receiving have been positive and all clamoring for the same — more Jose Castillo adventures and longer books. I am answering both calls and hope that readers enjoy each new installment as much as they have enjoyed the first (and as much as I enjoy writing them).

— ◊ —

Much like his wise-cracking, fictional private eye, Jose Castillo, Jorge Goyanes also owns a car repair shop, enjoys a good cigar and relies on the common sense of the love of his life, Kat. When he isn't writing about Jose's latest adventure or behind the counter at Car Clinic, he can be found on the greens of his local golf course or writing his political column for Arketipo 187 Magazine (Arketipo187.com). For more information, visit his website at JorgeGoyanes.com.

— ◊ —

About Miami Beat:

Jose Castillo is a cynical, wise-cracking Cuban-American who restores classic cars. He's also a private eye whose sarcastic ways sometimes get him into trouble. One day in the process of installing a four-barrel carburetor on a 1965 Mustang, into his shop walks trouble — in the shape of a mysterious, beautiful woman surrounded by an entourage of goons. Mrs. Santana is the wife of one of Miami's most well-known, successful and untouchable mobsters and she wants to avail herself of Jose's services. What starts out as a job mediating a multi-million dollar casino land deal rapidly escalates into a case involving deceit, betrayal, blackmail and even two of Jose's long estranged relatives. With the help of his fiancée Kat and best friend/police detective Nate, he hopes to untangle the mess quickly so he can enjoy a stiff drink and a fat stogie, but when things get hotter than usual in tropical Miami and a murder is committed, Jose has no choice but to keep his Glock close and his enemies closer. There's no telling who you can trust when the temperature rises in Miami Beat.

Freezing Point by Karen Dionne is Today's Second Featured Free MystereBook

MystereBooks is pleased to feature Freezing Point by Karen Dionne 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.

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Freezing Point by Karen Dionne
Publisher: Pinnacle Books

In our review of the author's debut eco-thriller, we said, "The characters could easily have been caricatures but are not, and are portrayed as sincerely believing that their approach is best," and concluding that the book "is a fast-paced novel with some thought-provoking themes."

About Freezing Point (from the publisher): As he faces the frozen behemoth of a giant iceberg, environmental activist Ben Maki sees Earth’s future. Clean drinking water for millions, waiting to be tapped from the polar ice. The Soldyne Corporation backs Ben’s grand philanthropic vision for a better today—while making its own plans for a very profitable tomorrow.

Rebecca Sweet lives for the cause—an eco-terrorist who will do whatever she must to protect the earth. And Ben Maki’s ideas have set her on the path to war …

All of them will be drawn into a battle between hope and helplessness, power and pride. But they are about to discover that deep within the ice waits an enemy more deadly than any could imagine—an apocalyptic horror mankind may not survive.

Read our review of Freezing Point by Karen Dionne.

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 Kindle Edition Download Link.

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

Hanging by a Thread by Craig Odanovich is Today's Featured Free MystereBook

MystereBooks is pleased to feature Hanging by a Thread by Craig Odanovich 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.

— ◊ —

Hanging by a Thread by Craig Odanovich
A Black Widow Trainer Thriller
Publisher: Live Oak Book Company

This is the third and final entry in this trilogy featuring the high-priced personal trainer and escort.

About Hanging by a Thread (from the publisher): Primed and ready for another big adventure, Misty heads to Las Vegas to train Salvatore, a high-powered casino owner. Much to her chagrin, Misty’s friends talk her in to taking on an apprentice, Monique, who wants to learn the ins and outs of being a Black Widow Trainer. Misty’s rival both in physical ability and allure, Monique is trouble from the get-go, vexing Misty every step of the way. And when Salvatore’s sadistic side rears its ugly head, Misty wonders what she has gotten herself into. If it weren’t for her temporary bodyguard, Thor, her new romantic acquaintance, Gary, and the helpful hands of her masseur, Esteban, Misty wouldn’t know which way to turn.

In a move unprecedented in Misty’s career, she breaks her contract with Salvatore, and he vows to hunt her down. She and Monique hide out in the beautiful Virgin Islands, where they reunite with Captain Kev and Miniature Mike, two memorable clients from Misty’s Alaska adventure. Suddenly they find themselves embroiled in a situation even more harrowing than the one they escaped.

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 Kindle Edition Download Link.

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

Mysterious Press Publishes 13 New eBook Editions of Mignon G. Eberhart Novels

Mignon G. Eberhart is often considered one of the founders of the modern romantic suspense novel, and this week, Mysterious Press is publishing new ebook editions of 13 of her novels. Many of her books feature strong, female lead characters in exotic locations. Indeed, her first book preceded the publication of Agatha Christie's first Miss Marple novel.

Between 1935 and 1945, eight of Eberhart's many novels and short stories were adapted into feature films. And in 1971 she was recognized with the Mystery Writers of America Grand Master Award.

Here are the books being published this week (with their original publication date): Fair Warning (1936), Danger in the Dark (1937), Hasty Wedding (1938, which was made into the 1945 film Three's a Crowd), The Chiffon Scarf (1939), The Hangman's Whip (1940), Wolf in Man's Clothing (1942), Another Woman's House (1947), House of Storm (1949), Enemy in the House (1962), Call After Midnight (1964), Escape the Night (1944), Postmark Murder (1956), and the short story collection The Cases of Susan Dare.

Use this link to see a list of all 13 titles on Amazon.com.

Snow White & the Huntsman Opens in Theaters Friday, June 1st

Snow White & the Huntsman. Opens in theaters June 01, 2012.

Snow White (Kristen Stewart), an astoundingly beautiful young woman, is in love with Prince Charmant (Sam Claflin), who has been long enchanted by Snow White's beauty and power. When the evil queen, Ravenna (Charlize Theron), learns Snow White is the fairest in the land — even fairer than the queen herself — she sends Eric, a huntsman (Chris Hemsworth), to kill Snow White.

Eric's beloved wife, Sara, was killed by the White Wolf, and he spends his days drinking heavily and searching tirelessly for her killer. When he later discovers that the White Wolf works for Ravenna, he redirects his focus: he becomes Snow White's protector and mentor, and they train together to defeat the evil queen.

Directed by Rupert Sanders from an original screenplay by Evan Daugherty.

Running time: 127 minutes Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, and brief sensuality.

Watch a trailer for the film below:

Review: Shore Excursion by Marie Moore

We've just published our Review of Shore Excursion by Marie Moore. A Sidney Marsh Mystery. Camel Press Trade Paperback, March 2012.

Our rating:

Available to purchase from …

Today's Bestselling Free Kindle MystereBooks (120530)

Here is today's list of the top bestselling free Kindle mysteries, suspense novels and thrillers.

We're using a script to embed an RSS feed from Amazon.com, which is updated hourly, but if you cannot see the box below — or have scripts blocked — you can use this link to see the relevant page on Amazon.com.

Hard Case Crime to Publish New Stephen King Novel

In a press release today, Hard Case Crime announced that it would publish a new Stephen King book in June 2013.

Titled Joyland, the story is set in a small-town North Carolina amusement park in 1973 and tells of the summer in which college student Devin Jones comes to work as a carny and confronts the legacy of a vicious murder, the fate of a dying child, and the ways both will change his life forever.

"I love crime, I love mysteries, and I love ghosts," said the author. "That combo made Hard Case Crime the perfect venue for this book, which is one of my favorites. I also loved the paperbacks I grew up with as a kid, and for that reason, we're going to hold off on e-publishing this one for the time being. Joyland will be coming out in paperback, and folks who want to read it will have to buy the actual book."

King's previous novella for Hard Case Crime, The Colorado Kid, is the inspiration for the SyFy original drama Haven.

Hallmark Channel Developing Drama based on Debbie Macombers Cedar Cove Novels

Hallmark Channel is developing its first scripted drama based on the novels in the "Cedar Cove" series by Debbie Macomber.

The first of the 12 books in the series is 16 Lighthouse Road. (There is also a novella, a Christmas short story, and a cookbook.) Macomber has said that the fictitious town is based on her very own hometown of Port Orchard, Washington, located on the Kitsap Peninsula.

The books — and, to be sure, we'd be hard pressed to categorize them collectively as suspense novels, though there are some elements of mystery in some of the plotlines — are all written from the perspective of a different character. The pilot for the potential television series, however, will star Andie MacDowell, who will presumably play a recurring character in the series (if it gets that far).

Production starts next month from a script written by Bruce Graham.

For those who may be interested in Cedar Cove and its books, Macomber has created a website featuring all there is to see and do in the seaside town.

(Related article: The Hollywood Reporter.)

Please Welcome Crime Novelist Paul D. Marks

We are thrilled to welcome crime novelist Paul D. Marks as our guest blogger today.

Paul's new mystery, White Heat (Timeless Skies Publishing, April 2012 trade paperback and ebook editions), introduces Los Angeles private investigators Duke Rogers and Jack Riggs.

Today Paul tells us that time waits for no one — not him or his characters. And he's also giving one of our readers the opportunity to win a copy of his book; details below.

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I often write about characters who have outlived their era one way or another. The world is changing around them and they're having a hard time dealing with some or all of those changes. And P.I.s Duke Rogers and Jack Riggs, the main characters in my new award-winning novel White Heat — set during the 1992 "Rodney King" riots in LA — are no exception. Their all too human weaknesses are tested during the course of the story.

Photo provided courtesy of
Paul D. Marks

The genesis for the story is, of course, in the 1992 LA riots. But also the case of Rebecca Schaeffer, an actress who was on the road to success in Hollywood and who was killed by an obsessive fan-stalker.

White Heat begins where the "Rodney King" riots leave off. Nominally a mystery-thriller, on a deeper level it's about race and racism. And it takes a harsh and hard look at that topic, sometimes so much so that it might make the reader uncomfortable. P.I. Duke Rogers finds himself in a racially charged situation. The case might have to wait … The immediate problem: getting out of South Central Los Angeles in one piece, during the 1992 "Rodney King" riots – and that's just the beginning of his problems.

Duke inadvertently helps a client find an old "friend," Teddie Matson, an up and coming African-American actress. When the client's friend is murdered Duke knows who did it. Guilt overwhelms him and he takes it upon himself to find the killer, his client. This leads him into South Central Los Angeles in April of 1992, just as the L.A. riots ignite. And while he tries to track down the killer he must also deal with the racism of his partner, Jack, and from the dead woman's brother, Warren. He must also confront his own possible latent racism — even as he's in an interracial relationship with the murder victim's sister. All of this while riots burn around them. The question becomes how do Duke and Jack deal with the inferno erupting around them and the inferno raging inside them as they see their city burn to the ground.

The novel works on two levels, that of the plot and of the characters, of course. And the two detectives, Duke and Jack, are men who grew up in one world/era but are living in another. I suppose that can be said of all of us at any time. But Jack, especially, sees the world changing around him in a variety of ways that are hard for him to accept, particularly the demographic changes in Los Angeles. He lets his frustration out in a stream of racial invective — not so unlike a lot people. Duke doesn't want to be like Jack but he does see some of himself in his partner — though he tries hard not to let that side win. To use a silly example, it's almost like in those old cartoons where you have an angel on one shoulder and a devil on the other and each is trying to win you over. Duke wants to be on the side of the angels, but like all of us, he's only human – all too human. So he must fight this side of his nature.

Again, in Broken Windows, the upcoming sequel to White Heat, Duke and Jack are out of their comfort zone when they have to deal with the whole illegal alien (to them), undocumented worker (to others) issue. This time around, Duke and Jack are after the killer of an illegal immigrant/undocumented worker and must again deal with the changing demographics of Southern California. The culture, the look, the sounds of the city are changing – and they feel out of place, strangers in their own land, in the town they grew up in. That said, Jack, even hardcore as he is, develops a relationship with Marisol, an illegal, whose brother he and Duke are trying to find. But the point is that they must again overcome their own weaknesses to hopefully do the right thing.

The world changes around us. We try to adapt. But sometimes it's changing so fast that our poor little human psyches can't keep up. This is what happens to Duke and Jack, and I'm sure to many of us in real life. It's not that we don't want to change. It's simply that things are happening so fast. So sometimes we do or say something against our better natures. The struggle for Duke and Jack is to sometimes act against their baser natures and do what's right — that's the struggle they face in both White Heat and Broken Windows. And what do we do in real life? If someone cuts us off who's different from us? Do we yell F-ing fill-in-the-blank? We might. But if that person were in a house on fire, would we run in to save them? We might do that too. That's the dilemma in a more simplistic way that Jack and Duke and Warren face.
Duke and Jack are thrown into situations that test their characters. So the question becomes, will they do the right thing, Jack in particular? Even if it goes against some of who they are? It's the devil and angel on each shoulder, pulling and tugging. I know what Duke and Jack have done. I know what I've done in situations that have tested me. What would you do?

— ◊ —

Paul D. Marks is the author of over thirty published short stories in a variety genres, ranging from noir to straight mystery, satire to serious fiction. His work has received praise, including awards from Glimmer Train, The Lorian Hemingway International Short Story Competition, SouthWest Writers, and more. His work has appeared in various anthologies and magazines, including Dime, the Deadly Ink 2010 Short Story Collection, Murder in La La Land, Murder Across the Map, LAndmarked for Murder, Hardboiled magazine and more. He has also published numerous magazine/periodical articles as well as having done film work. He is also the last person to have shot on the fabled MGM backlot before it bit the dust to make way for housing. For more about the author, visit his website at PaulDMarks.com.

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About White Heat:

P.I. Duke Rogers finds himself in a racially charged situation. The case might have to wait … The immediate problem: getting out of South Central Los Angeles in one piece during the 1992 Rodney King riots and that's just the beginning of his problems.

Private investigator Duke Rogers finds an old "friend" for a client. The client's "friend," an up and coming black actress, ends up dead. Duke knows his client did it. Now, feeling guilty, he wants to find the client/killer. He starts his mission by going to the dead actress' family in South Central L.A. — and while there the Rodney King riots ignite.

And while he tries to track down the killer he must also deal with the racism of his partner, Jack, and from the dead woman's brother, Warren. He must also confront his own possible latent racism — even as he's in an interracial relationship with the murder victim's dead woman's sister.

For a chance to win a copy of White Heat, courtesy of the author, visit Mystery Book Contests, click on the "Paul D. Marks: White Heat" contest link, enter your name, e-mail address, and this code (4419) for a chance to win! (One entry per person; contest ends June 6th, 2012.)

Anne Holt's Hanne Wilhelmsen Mysteries to be Adapted for Television

Norwegian crime novelist Anne Holt's "Hanne Wilhelmsen" mysteries are being developed for television.

The retired Oslo police inspector was introduced in the 1993 novel Blind Goddess, one of only two in the series (of eight to date) that has been translated into English. (The other is the most recent, 1222, originally published in 2007.)

The project is in its early stages, and no network has been identified.

Holt is the author of another crime novel series featuring Johanne Vik and Adam Stubø, with three of its five books (to date) having been translated into English.