This Week's Bestselling Mystery and Suspense Television and Film on Blu-ray Disc (120830)

Here is this week's list of the top bestselling mystery and suspense television and film Blu-ray discs available from Amazon.com.

We're using a script to embed an RSS feed from Amazon.com, which is frequently updated, 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.

Review: Designer Dirty Laundry by Diane Vallere

A Mysterious Review of …

Designer Dirty Laundry by Diane Vallere. A Samantha Kidd, Style and Error Mystery.

Review summary: This is a light, cozy-style mystery written in a breezy manner. The murder plot is nicely set up, the suspects all credibly drawn, and Samantha Kidd an engaging amateur sleuth. It's probably easy to tag this book as chick-lit, but — so much the better — it's more substantial than that. (Click here for text of full review.)

Our rating:

Designer Dirty Laundry
Diane Vallere
A Samantha Kidd, Style and Error Mystery
Polyester Press (June 2012)

Publisher synopsis: Samantha Kidd, ex-buyer turned Trend Specialist, designed her future with couture precision, but finding the Fashion Director's corpse on day one leaves her hanging by a thread. When the killer fabricates evidence that puts the cops on her hemline, she trades high fashion for dirty laundry and reveals a cast of characters out for blood. Now this flatfoot in heels must keep pace with a diabolical designer before she gets marked down for murder.

    

First Poster for Supernatural Thriller Barricade

The first poster for the supernatural thriller Barricade has been released by the studio (right; click for larger image). The tagline: "Lock your doors."

The film stars Eric McCormack as a psychiatrist seeking to find normalcy after the sudden passing of his wife, and takes his two kids to a remote cabin for healing and bonding. Their joy soon turns to despair when a freak winter storm cuts off all communications to the outside world and the father will stop at nothing to save them all from peril.

The film was completed over a year ago, and we're guessing is being released now in part due to the success of McCormack in his new TNT series, Perception.

Directed by Andrew Currie from a screenplay by Michaelbrent Collings, Barricade has a scheduled release date of September 25th, 2012 … which we're guessing will be limited. No mention of an available DVD date on Amazon though it can be saved on Netflix.

Today's Bestselling Free Kindle MystereBooks (120830)

Here is today's list of the Bestselling Free Kindle Crime Fiction: the top nine mysteries, novels of suspense, 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 click on the image to the right or use this link to see the relevant page on Amazon.com.

Deon Meyer Wins South African Booksellers Award

Last week, South African crime novelist Deon Meyer won this year's Nielsen Booksellers' Choice Award for his latest "Benny Griessel" thriller, 7 Dae. This is not a crime fiction award as such, but we wanted to recognize the author and his novel here.

Open only to South African authors who are published in South Africa, the winner is selected by local booksellers from a shortlist of titles.

7 Dae (translated into English as Seven Days) is officially published here in the US next week by Atlantic Monthly Press … but seems to be available to purchase now. Find more information about the book below.

(Hat tip to In Reference to Murder for alerting us to this news.)

— ♦ —

Seven Days
Deon Meyer
A Benny Griessel Mystery (3rd in series)

I'll shoot a policeman every day until you arrest the murderer of Hanneke Sloet.

Shortly after the South African Police Services receive this threatening email, a policeman is shot by a sniper and recovering alcoholic Benny Griessel is ordered to reopen the Sloet case.

Hanneke Sloet was a sensual and ambitious lawyer. At the time of her murder she was working on one of the biggest Black Empowerment deals in South African history. She was found dead in her luxury Cape Town apartment, a single stab wound to her chest.

After forty days, the trail has gone cold. The first investigation could find no motive and no leads, only a set of nude photographs, an ex-boyfriend with a rock-solid alibi, conniving attorneys and financial double-dealing.

Benny has to deal with immense pressure from his superiors, the media and the unfathomable sniper, whose emails keep coming and who won't stop shooting. And then there's Benny's love interest, former pop sensation Alexa Barnard, who is also trying to rebuild her life after the ravages of alcohol, and Benny has to make sure she stays sober for her comeback.

At the same time, Benny's feisty colleague, Captain Mbali Kaleni, is hunting the shooter, trying desperately to find what connects him to Hanneke Sloet.

Both Benny and Mbali are about to endure seven days of hell.

  

Please Welcome Novelist Jeffrey B. Burton

by Jeffrey B. Burton

We are delighted to welcome novelist Jeffrey B. Burton as our guest today.

Jeff's new thriller is The Chessman (MacAdam/Cage Publishing, May 2012 hardcover), featuring FBI Special Agent Drew Cady on the case of a serial killer … and you have a chance to win a copy of it, courtesy of the author; more details below.

We asked Jeff how he came to know Drew Cady.

— ◊ —

The tease on the inside cover of The Chessman reads: "Hidden forces are willing to kill any and all who stand in the way of untold billions. To toss the authorities off track, they borrow the modus operandi of a brutal serial killer — The Chessman — who stalked the corridors of power in Washington, D.C. some years earlier. The ruse is working brilliantly except for one minor detail. The real Chessman is not pleased — not pleased one iota — that someone has stolen his M.O. Enter Drew Cady, ex-FBI agent, who finds himself being sucked back into the very case that almost took his life, a case that crippled him both physically and emotionally. By capturing The Chessman and his blood-spattered copycat, Cady has a last shot at redemption. If he can find a way to survive, that is."

So, Jeff, you ask … how could you possibly have met your fictional FBI agent?

Photo provided courtesy of
Jeffrey B. Burton

Please permit me a flashback from the mid-1990s.

Back in that day I whiled away the hours as a trainer for a company that made litigation databases. Chances are my greasy fingerprints were all over any major lawsuit making the headlines. Best I bite my tongue as who knows how many confidentiality agreements I signed are still in effect. I trained staff on entering case data and then managed teams as they created the document abstracts that comprised the databases. Eventually, attorneys could search these databases and discover that a key player had been copied on a document proving that he/she was well aware of the existence of [REDACTED] and now their goose and that of their multi-billion dollar company was thoroughly cooked.

So imagine my surprise when an HR clerk, a spirited Greenbay Packer fan (who never let us forget it), called to inform me that an agent from the Federal Bureau of Investigation was in her office and needed to speak with yours truly.

"Is it about the hitchhiker?" I asked, thinking she was putting me on.

"He's here to ask you about a guy in your group."

"Um, okay," I mumbled, sensing that the HR clerk was serious, that an FBI agent was indeed in the room with her. "I'm on my way."

"And what's all that about a hitchhiker?"

"Never mind. I'll be right down."

It's not every day an FBI agent appears at your work requesting a chat. Sure enough, the Wisconsinite had been telling the truth, a man in a dark suit was waiting for me, standing, and holding a brief case. Now I'm a towering 5' 10", but this gentleman—early forties, brown hair, gray at the temples—had a good three inches on me. I took the agent to an empty break room where we sat down and he began to explain himself.

Turns out a staff member on my team had applied for an embassy position overseas. As such, the agent was performing a background check and needed to ask me, as the potential embassy worker's current supervisor, a series of questions. The agent proceeded to ask about the employee's social life, if the employee was into recreational drugs or drank too much, partied too hard—that sort of stuff. The worker in question had been in my group for under a month, so my answers were incantations of "Don't know. Sorry. Don't know." I explained to the agent how once the employee left at the end of the shift, I didn't see him again until the following morning.

The agent switched gears and began to ask specific questions about the employee's sex life, his sexual preferences, and his sexual habits. I believe the intent was to find out if there was anything that could open the potential embassy worker up to blackmail.

Squirming in my chair, I repeated my mantra. "Don't know. Sorry. Don't know." I informed the agent that I did not know the employee on a personal level, that we did not socialize, and that I was not the one to answer questions about his sex life. I came close to joking about my not having had sex with the employee, but kept my Tourette's in check.

Another thing I kept in check was my opinion about said employee. How shall I phrase this delicately so as not to offend? Said employee was a shit apple. His work product was good but with new hires, there's always something to be found. Plus it lets the newbies know that their work is being monitored. So the first—and only—time I sat down with him to walk through his feedback, he gave me nothing, no response, no nods of acknowledgement … nada. I began to wonder if had driven into the back of a snow plow or something, so I began to repeat the critique.

"Don't belabor the point," the employee cut me off mid-sentence, still stone-faced.

A light bulb clicked on over my head as we stared at one another in the ensuing silence. He was dicking with me—boring job, what the hell, might as well liven things up by jerking the supervisor's chain. After that bit of unpleasantness, I'd wait until the employee left for the restroom, and then I'd drop a feedback form on his desk and scamper back to the safety of my office.

Anyway, the FBI agent, watching me fidget, gave a shrug and mentioned that these were the questions he had to ask as part of the background check. Then he looked at me and said, "You don't like him, do you?"

I was stunned. The agent had somehow picked up on my genuine impression about the employee. And I got a hunch that there were not many ways a person could lie to this gentleman from the FBI and pull it off. I mumbled something to the effect of, "The guy's not the most cordial of sorts, but there have been no problems. I only know him on a superficial basis. His work has been fairly spotless."

You can probably tell that I was lobbying for the employee to get the embassy position — which he ultimately did — and not only because he'd be out of my hair, but, who knows, being a shit apple may be a cherished commodity in a setting like Beirut or Libya.

So let's flash forward to when I began writing The Chessman. The novel is about an intuitive FBI agent who's trying to claw his way out of the darkness and murk as the result of an investigation that went horribly south and it occurred to me who I wanted to model Special Agent Drew Cady after … the agent who came to visit me as part of a background check on a potential embassy employee all those years ago.

And that is exactly how I met my fictional FBI agent in real life.

— ◊ —

The stories of Jeffrey B. Burton have appeared in dozens of genre magazines (mystery, horror, sci-fi, literary). A collection of his short stories, Shadow Play, and a mystery novel, Sleuth Slayer, have previously been published.

Jeff is an Active member of the Mystery Writers of America (MWA) and the Horror Writers Association (HWA). He may be stalked at JeffreyBBurton.com.

— ◊ —

The Chessman
Jeffrey B. Burton
Publisher: MacAdam/Cage

Hidden forces are willing to kill any and all who stand in the way of untold billions. To toss the authorities off track, they borrow the modus operandi of a brutal serial killer — The Chessman — who stalked the corridors of power in Washington, D.C. some years earlier.

The ruse is working brilliantly except for one minor detail. The real Chessman is not pleased — not pleased one iota — that someone has stolen his M.O.

Enter Drew Cady, ex-FBI agent, who finds himself being sucked back into the very case that almost took his life, a case that crippled him both physically and emotionally. By capturing The Chessman and his blood-spattered copycat, Cady has a last shot at redemption.

If he can find a way to survive, that is.

      

For a chance to win a copy of The Chessman, courtesy of the author, visit Mystery Book Contests, click on the "Jeffrey B. Burton: The Chessman" contest link, enter your name, e-mail address, and this code — 4970 — for a chance to win! (One entry per person, US residents only; contest ends September 6th, 2012.)

Bigger Than Jesus by Robert Chazz Chute is Today's Second Featured Free MystereBook

MystereBooks is pleased to feature Bigger Than Jesus by Robert Chazz Chute 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.

— ♦ —

Bigger Than Jesus
Robert Chazz Chute
The Hit Man Series
Publisher: Ex Parte Press

Jesus Diaz is a hit man caught in the gears of The Machine. He craves the simple things: to escape New York with stolen mob money and to marry the lovely Lily. Not getting shot would be good, too.

Fast-paced and full of twists and deception, this is the crime novel that reads like a Coen brothers' movie: the wide and easy road out of town turns deadly. Murphy's Law will bring Jesus down long before the NYPD get a chance.

  

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.

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

Double Exposure by Jim Stinson is Today's Featured Free MystereBook

MystereBooks is pleased to feature Double Exposure by Jim Stinson 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.

— ♦ —

Double Exposure
Jim Stinson
A Stoney Winston Mystery
Publisher: Jim Stinson

First published in 1986 in hardcover by Scribner, this is the first mystery in this series.

Fighting for life at the bottom of the Hollywood food chain, Stoney Winston tangles with his sleazy boss, a brush fire, a porno operation, two murder victims, and some ladies who'd like to tangle with Stoney. When the dust settles, Stoney stands alone in the ruins, with little left but his self respect.

    

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.

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

Review: Not My Blood by Barbara Cleverly

A Mysterious Review of …

Not My Blood by Barbara Cleverly. A Joe Sandilands Mystery.

Review summary: This solidly plotted mystery contrasts the character strengths of Joe Sandilands and others involved in the investigation with the barbaric conduct of teachers, politicians, and even some parents. The academic setting in the rural countryside provides an atmospheric backdrop to the story, a singularly strong one indeed in this terrific series. (Click here for text of full review.)

Our rating:

Not My Blood
Barbara Cleverly
A Joe Sandilands Mystery
Soho Constable (August 2012)

Publisher synopsis: Scotland Yard Detective Joe Sandilands is caught off guard one night in 1933 by a phone call from a distressed boy named Jackie Drummond, who just might be the illegitimate son Joe never knew he had. Jackie is in trouble at his Sussex boarding school, where a teacher has been murdered. When Joe gets himself assigned to the investigation, he learns the boarding school case is more complicated than it appears: A frightening number of boys, all from wealthy families, have gone missing over the school’s history, and by some coincidence none of the families have followed up on their sons' whereabouts.

      

This Week's Bestselling Mystery and Suspense Television and Film on DVD (120829)

Here is this week's list of the top bestselling mystery and suspense television and film on DVD available from Amazon.com.

We're using a script to embed an RSS feed from Amazon.com, which is frequently updated, 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.

Death of a Carpet Dealer by Karin Wahlberg is Today's Second Featured Free MystereBook

MystereBooks is pleased to feature Death of a Carpet Dealer by Karin Wahlberg 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.

— ♦ —

Death of a Carpet Dealer
Karin Wahlberg
A Claes Claesson and Veronika Lundborg Mystery
Publisher: Stockholm Text

First published in Sweden in 2009 as Matthandlare Olssons Död, this is the 7th mystery in this series.

The brutal murder of a Swedish carpet dealer on a business trip to Turkey is the start of a story about an unknown daughter, an exclusive carpet and – as always when Karin Wahlberg writes – the everyday life and dreams of the people we meet in her stories.

  

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.

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

Today's Bestselling Free Kindle MystereBooks (120829)

Here is today's list of the Bestselling Free Kindle Crime Fiction: the top nine mysteries, novels of suspense, 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 click on the image to the right or use this link to see the relevant page on Amazon.com.

Criminal Element to Publish The Malfeasance Occasional, a Collection of Original Short Stories

The Criminal Element announced on its blog this morning that it will publish an e-collection of original short stories three times a year — with the stories coming from the public — called The Malfeasance Occasional … or The M.O. for short.

You can read all the details on their blog post, but here's a summary of the important dates:

September 7th: Site visitors vote on a cover for the inaugural issue, which has as its theme, "Girl Trouble".

September 26th: The site opens for submissions, 3000 to 6000 word stories that have not been published elsewhere. The window for submissions closes just a couple of weeks later, on October 10th.

October 31st: Authors are notified whether their story has been accepted for publication — and if so, will be paid $350 for a year's exclusive use after publication.

November 7th: The e-collection contents is announced.

December 6th: The first issue of The Malfeasance Occasional is available to purchase for $3.99.

Follow along as each milestone is reached on The Malfeasance Occasional feature page.

Winners of the 2012 Ned Kelly Awards Announced

The winners of the Ned Kelly Awards recognizing the best in Australian crime fiction and non-fiction were announced last night by the Crime Writers' Association of Australia at a ceremony during the Melbourne Writers Festival.

The winners are …

• Best Novel: Pig Boy by J. C. Burke (Random House)

• Best First Novel: The Cartographer by Peter Twohig (HarperCollins)

• Best True Crime: Sins of the Father by Eamonn Duff (Allen & Unwin)

• Best Short Story: "Summer of the 17th Poll" by A. J. Clifford

In addtion, a Lifetime Achievement Award was given to novelist Gabrielle Lord.

Please Welcome Novelist Christopher J. Ferguson

by Christopher J. Ferguson

We are delighted to welcome debut novelist Christopher J. Ferguson to Omnimystery News.

Chris's first thriller is Suicide Kings (L & L Dreamspell, May 2012 trade paperback and ebook formats).

Today Chris tells us about a trip to Florence, the setting for his new book, and its inspiration for the murder mystery storyline. And he has provided us with an excerpt from Suicide Kings, the first chapter titled "The End at the Beginning".

— ♦ —

Most writers get the question from time to time, "Where do you get your ideas?" That can be particularly true when your ideas tend to be dark, twisted, macabre and you, yourself seem to be an upstanding citizen, at least on the outside. The question seems tinged sometimes with a hint of suspicion as if you might have bodies buried under your crawlspace. As someone who tends to write often on the darker side of humanity, it's a question I get often.

Photo provided courtesy of
Christopher J. Ferguson

Truthfully, in most cases, by the time I've managed to write out a story, even a short story, I no longer remember where the idea came from, or how long I had it. My mind tends to be a constant maelstrom of potential story ideas. Most of them are very, very bad, insipid notions that deserve never to see the light of day. They percolate in a kind of primordial morass, gelling, evolving, most dying a natural death, but a precious few eventually emerging to see the light of day. The process tends to be both so slow and chaotic that it's difficult to pinpoint an exact point in time that an idea developed. Even as I write the story may evolve into what becomes the finished product.

With my first novel, Suicide Kings, things were different. I can pinpoint, at least to within a few days, the origin of the story. The novel represents a rare occasion when not only the writing of the story quickly followed the inception of the idea, but the motivation for writing it was something more than the typical issuance from that morass of ideas endlessly percolating.

As it happened I had the opportunity to go to Italy for an academic conference (I study the psychology of violence, appropriately enough). I was able to spend some time in Rome and some time in Florence, where the conference actually was. This was in late March. I also went alone, my wife and son staying in Texas while I travelled.

Like most Americans I had an image of Italy involving rolling hills of grapes and beaches warmed by a life-giving sun. So I put on my shorts and tee-shirt and bounded outside only to hit 45 degree weather which sent me scurrying inside for more reasonable clothing. Turns out Italy is rather cold and rainy in late March.

Florence, itself, is a city both dark and beautiful. Those who have been there will know what I'm speaking of. Particularly in the central, old parts of the city, the buildings haven't changed much in appearance in hundreds of years. Between the tall buildings and the tight streets, Florence has a looming presence. You can feel it's murderous history still alive within the pulsing veins of the city street.

Although I generally love to travel, in this weather, in the dark city, and away from my family I began to feel homesick. And so I began to think, "This would be a great city to get murdered in …"

That thought was the genesis of Suicide Kings, which is set in Renaissance Florence and follows the story of a young woman who learns her mother has been murdered and decides to find out who is responsible. What became ultimately the second and third chapter of the book were written right there in Florence (well part of the 3rd chapter in Heathrow airport on my way back). Florence might be a great city to be murdered in, but I managed to make it back. Not all have been so lucky …

— ♦ —

Firenze, February, 1497

 The sun filled the horizon with angry rays glinting across a thousand lethargic flakes of snow that flurried down from a passing bank of dark clouds. Diana Savrano held a hand over her eyes to shield them from the glare. Her eyes, rimmed with red, already stung. The new flakes made the going treacherous, her black boots unsuitable for the slippery stone streets.
 Late as usual. She'd found it difficult to dress herself, to hook the laces of her black dress, to adorn herself in such a dark and depressing garment. For such a complex article, she'd usually count on her mother's help. Though a young woman, she'd never quite managed the dexterity for the most complex formal garb and somehow the designers managed to make things ever more difficult. More hooks, more loops, more layers, more madness. Her mother would not offer her any assistance this evening. Isabella Savrano already waited at the Basilica of Saint Zenobius.
 Once, Diana had called out for her mother to help, forgetting her mother was gone. Frustration had reduced her to inaction, and for a while she could only stare at herself in the mirror. Finally she'd summoned up an absolute store of energy, and gotten herself dressed properly. By then the rest of the household had already gone. Her father had left behind one of their Swiss mercenaries as an escort. The young man had kept his eyes averted from her.
 Now she scurried along the city streets as quickly as she could. She did not want to keep her mother waiting any more than she already had. Other citizens parted way before her, a fury of black, black dress, black boots, black hair, pounding her way across the crowded streets and piazze. She must have made for quite an odd sight.
 Her breath came in rasps, and tears formed at the edge of her eyes, but these only froze into beads of ice, to drop away and mix with the snow. Behind her the Swiss mercenary kept pace easily, silent, watching, assuring she progressed to the Basilica unmolested.
 At last the building loomed into view, the great Basilica rising high above the surrounding buildings. The marbles and other stones around the outside were designed in such a way the edifice radiated a faint combination of light green and faint crimson hues, particularly in the fading light. The face consisted of so many statues, frescoes, gargoyles and etchings the building seemed almost coated in spines. Huge wooden doors promised mass inlet for the penitents of Firenze, although in practice only the smaller doors to the sides were ever actually opened.
 Diana chose one of those now. She burst into the church, huffing and puffing from exertion, eyes blinded by the oppressive dark within. She stopped short, realizing she'd made too much of an entrance. She wiped her eyes, gave them a moment to adjust.
 Candles struggled to light the interior of the Basilica. At the best of times, with midday sun streaming through the ungenerous stained glass windows, the nave felt cold and oppressive. Sculptures from the finest artistic talents of Firenze did little to assuage this atmosphere, for too often the themes of these sculptures focused on the suffering of martyrs and the ease with which life transitioned to death. Indeed most of the artwork in the church had been commissioned for the many tombs that lined the walls, the exalted dead of Firenze marking their passage with the finest, if morbid, decor.
 One of those tombs now sat open, the funerary plaque not yet hoisted into place. Before the black void waited an open casket. As Diana's eyes adjusted to the gloom, she could see a small congregation gathered around that casket. They turned to look as she entered. Most averted their eyes upon seeing who it was, no doubt made uncomfortable by the grief written on Diana's face. Her father watched her without expression. After a moment he turned back to two luminaries with whom he seemed engaged in discussion. The congregants near the tomb milled about, speaking, or sat quietly in prayer in the wooden pews set up near the tomb. Cardinal Michele Lajolo had been asked by her father to officiate at the service and he now stood off to one side, conversing quietly with several mourners.
 With a sinking heart, Diana realized she'd missed the service. Fresh tears filled her eyes and spilled over and down her cheeks. Could this day possibly get any worse? She must seem like such a horrible human being to the other mourners. And they were right. Her mother would be so disappointed in her.
 She sucked in a deep breath, one arm going defensively across her chest. She couldn't make eye contact with the others present, tried to imagine there were no others in the room besides her. The least she could do was move forward to the sarcophagus and pay her respects. She could spend a little time alone with the dead, ask her forgiveness.
 So she proceeded up the little impromptu aisle between the wooden pews, shivering in the cold. A nun stood as she moved past, a thin, sad bird of a woman. Their eyes locked for a moment, but it was the nun who looked away, seeming chastened somehow. Diana focused ahead, one small step after another, making her way forward to greet her mother who awaited her.
 When Diana's fingers touched her mother's she found them cold and waxy. They felt unreal. Much unreality needed to be made real tonight. Instead of sitting side-by-side as they always did, fingers entwined as they prayed together for a dead acquaintance, her mother tonight had awaited her with the greatest of patience. For her mother lay in the ornate sarcophagus in quiet repose, her fingers cold because no more warm blood flowed through them. Her mother was dead. And it just could not be so.
 "Mother?" Diana pleaded quietly, looking down into the sarcophagus. In death, Isabella Savrano wore the finest deep green dress with a string of diamonds around her neck. Her skin seemed the color of snow, set off against rivulets of dark hair, black with some strands of grey. Diana might have mistaken her for sleeping and hoped even now her quiet entreaty might awaken her from this deep slumber. A drop fell from Diana's cheek down onto Isabella's dress. A last gift from daughter to mother.
 Diana collapsed to her knees besides the casket, her legs unable to hold her upright any longer. A great sob burst from her chest, the reality of her mother's death inescapable. Never could Diana have believed this possible, even as Isabella Savrano had sickened with fever, Diana had believed fervently in her mother's immortality. She'd been wrong to believe.
 Diana sat arm in arm with death itself. Past marble images of angels, she reached her hand up and over the lid of a sarcophagus to stroke her mother's face. Her other hand held the rosary, fingers ticking off the prayers in deepest grief. Her mother's flesh drew warmth out of her.
 Behind her still was most of the funerary procession: the Cardinal Lajolo, her father Signore Savrano, dozens of others who blended together like ghostly strangers through blurry eyes. They gave her time to say goodbye to her mother before the tomb was sealed and Isabella Savrano vanished forever into the wall of the Basilica.
 God had taken her mother, stolen her. Her death had come during the bitterest days of winter and the cold had taken away her life. Now she was gone. The thought of it still came as a shock. It could not be possible, still so beautiful, now dead. Marsh fever had been the cause. The disease had come on quickly, progressed fast and ended in these unimaginable consequences. Diana could not fathom that her mother died so, taken in the prime of her life by the natural and loving hand of God.
 She wiped her eyes. Her breath trembled as she inhaled. Without her mother she felt lost.
 A presence loomed behind her, a dark shadow. Diana ignored it. Nothing anyone could want from her would be enough to pull her from this deepest moment of despair. Let them speak with her father, whatever they needed. A moment passed. The figure remained, felt more than seen. Diana remained turned away, forehead against the marble.
 A hand gently brushed her shoulder and she tensed. Still she didn't turn to look. Perhaps they'd leave if she didn't respond. Instead, fingers brushed her long hair aside from her right ear. She felt breath, warm and moist against her throat. Diana's fingers gripped the lid of the sarcophagus in surprise. Otherwise she froze, unable to move, unable to turn. She behaved like a child hiding under covers in hopes not to be seen by some imaginary witch. The person, whoever it was, seemed to hesitate. A heartbeat passed. At last came the fateful words, whispered in Diana's ear.
 "Your mother was murdered."

— ♦ —

Dr. Christopher J. Ferguson is an associate professor of clinical psychology and criminal justice at Texas A&M International University. He is department chair of Psychology and Communication and licensed as a psychologist in Texas. He was involved in organizing an amicus brief of scholars to the US Supreme Court during the Brown v EMA (2011) violent video game case in which California sought to ban the sale of violent games to minors but failed to provide evidence such games were harmful to minors. He has several published short stories in magazines such as Orion's Child, Nefarious, Midnight Horror, Blazing! Adventures, Stories That Lift and Fantasy Gazetteer, and is a regular contributor to Time.com.

He lives in Laredo, Texas with his wife and young son. You can learn more about the author and his book on his website, ChristopherJFerguson.com.

— ♦ —

Suicide Kings
Christopher J. Ferguson
Publisher: L & L Dreamspell

Dark secrets lead to murder. Can Diana avenge her mother's death before she becomes the next victim?

As a young woman in Florence, Diana Savrano's life is a privileged one of elegant balls, handsome suitors and frivolity. But the sudden death of her mother leaves her adrift and abandoned. As she sobs over her mother's casket, another member of the procession reveals the awful truth.

Before her last days, Diana's mother had joined a Luciferian cult. Despite knowing little beyond her pampered world, Diana determines to unmask those responsible for her mother's death.

But someone does not want such secrets revealed, and they are willing to send assassins to keep her silent. Paranoia and loneliness set in as even her closest friends reveal hidden agendas. Worst of all, the further she follows the intertwined threads, the closer they appear to lead to her own father.