New Hardcover Mysteries for March 2013

The Hidden Staircase Mystery Books has updated its list of new hardcover mysteries with books scheduled for publication in March 2013. Please note that some titles may publish early, and may already be available, and some may be delayed, published at a later date.

Below we're listing those authors with returning series characters, new series characters, and non-series or stand-alone mysteries in separate sections. All titles are available on our March new mystery books page, which will become the default home page for the site on March 1st.

• Authors with mysteries featuring returning series characters (in italics) this month:

M. C. Beaton (Hamish Macbeth, 29th) —  Cara Black (Aimée Leduc, 13th) —  Rhys Bowen (Molly Murphy, 12th) —  C. J. Box (Joe Pickett, 13th) —  Maureen Carter (Sarah Quinn, 3rd) —  Laura Childs (Theodosia Browning, Tea Shop, 14th) —  Clive Cussler and Justin Scott (Isaac Bell, 6th) —  Hilary Davidson (Lily Moore, 3rd) —  Paul Doherty (Brother Athelstan, 12th) —  Philip Donlay (Donovan Nash, 3rd) —  Ake Edwardson (Erik Winter, 7th) —  Tricia Fields (Josie Gray, 2nd) —  Elly Griffiths (Ruth Galloway, 5th) —  Elizabeth Gunn (Jake Hines, 9th) —  C. S. Harris (Sebastian St. Cyr, 8th) —  Charlaine Harris (Aurora Teagarden, 8th) —  Erin Hart (Nora Gavin and Cormac Maguire, 4th) —  Veronica Heley (Abbot Agency, 6th) —  Graham Ison (Brock and Poole, 12th) —  Quintin Jardine (Primavera Blackstone, 4th) —  K. J. Larsen (Cat DeLuca, 3rd) —  Owen Laukkanen (Kirk Stevens and Carla Windermere, 2nd) —  Donna Leon (Guido Brunetti, 22nd) —  James Lilliefors (Mallory Brothers, 2nd) —  Bruce Macbain (Plinius Secundus, 2nd) —  G. A. McKevett (Savannah Reid, 18th) —  Kyle Mills (Robert Ludlum's Covert One Thrillers, 10th) —  Kristina Ohlsson (Fredrika Bergman, 2nd) —  Brad Parks (Carter Ross, 4th) —  Joel C. Rosenberg (David Shirazi, 3rd) —  Kirk Russell (Ben Raveneau, 3rd) —  Fay Sampson (Suzie Fewings, Genealogical, 5th) —  Sally Spencer (Monika Paniatowski, 6th) —  Jon Stock (Daniel Marchant, 3rd) —  James Thompson (Kari Vaara, 4th) —  Randy Wayne White (Doc Ford, 20th) —  Tina Whittle (Tai Randolph, 3rd) —  Jacqueline Winspear (Maisie Dobbs, 10th)

• Authors with mysteries introducing characters in a new series (in italics) this month:

D. A. Mishani (Avraham Avraham) —  Carolyn Mulford (Phoenix Smith and Annalynn Carr Keyser, Show Me) —  John Pilkington (Martin Barbeck) —  Linda S. Reilly (Apple Mariani) —  Lis Wiehl and April Henry (Mia Quinn) —  Robert Wilson (Charles Boxer)

• Authors with non-series or stand-alone crime novels this month:

Jake Arnott —  Jo Bannister —  H. Lee Barnes —  Nancy Bilyeau —  Harlan Coben —  Warren Fahy —  Poppy Gee —  Patrick Gooch —  Heather Graham —  Dana Haynes —  Peter Higgins —  Ann Hood —  A. L. Kennedy —  David Kirk —  William Kent Krueger —  Fiorella De Maria —  Robert Masello —  Becky Masterman —  Ruth Ozeki —  Thomas Perry —  Julia Pomeroy —  Andrew Pyper —  Kit Reed —  Jeremy Robinson —  Gary Ruffin —  Alexander Soderberg —  Al Stevens —  Antal Szerb —  James M. Tabor —  Danielle Trussoni

For more information on any of these titles, please visit the March new mysteries page on our website. If you're interested in new paperbacks, visit The Mystery Bookshelf where you can discover a library of new mystery, suspense and thriller books, also updated with March 2013 releases.

Please visit the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books where we are committed to providing readers and collectors of mystery books with the best and most current information about their favorite authors, titles, and series.

Miscue by Glen C. Allison is Today's Fifth Featured Free MystereBook

MystereBooks is pleased to feature Miscue by Glen C. Allison as today's fifth free mystery ebook (The Forte Suspense Series; Kobo and iTunes formats).

This title was listed for free as of the date and time of this post, February 25, 2013 at 7:50 AM ET. 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.

For a summary of all of today's featured titles, plus any that may have appeared before and are repeat freebies, visit our Free MystereBooks page. This page is updated daily, typically by 8 AM ET.

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Miscue
Glen C. Allison
The Forte Suspense Series
Publisher: Yoke Press

An abortion doctor has been murdered in the Garden District. To be honest, that news ordinarily wouldn't bother Al Forte, a former SEAL. He has has hands full just staying clean and sober. But when the doctor's young daughter is kidnapped by the killer, it gets Forte's attention.

The trail leads Forte from the Big Easy to the Belize island of Ambergris Cay with more twists than a swamp moccasin. In the end, what he discovers threatens to crash his day-by-day stability once again.

    

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.

Flight To Avoid by Larry Long is Today's Fourth Featured Free MystereBook

MystereBooks is pleased to feature Flight To Avoid by Larry Long as today's fourth free mystery ebook (A Kurt McBride Mystery; iTunes format only).

This title was listed for free as of the date and time of this post, February 25, 2013 at 7:40 AM ET. 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.

For a summary of all of today's featured titles, plus any that may have appeared before and are repeat freebies, visit our Free MystereBooks page. This page is updated daily, typically by 8 AM ET.

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Flight To Avoid
Larry Long
A Kurt McBride Mystery
Publisher: StoneThread Publishing

Chicago Assistant Prosecutor Kurt McBride knows the fate of law enforcers in prison. So when he finds himself accused of murder, he must take flight. With false identification and altered appearance, he finds refuge amidst the small, year-round population of Washington Island, Wisconsin.

He meets and forges a relationship with a young woman to whom he confesses his true identity. He gains credibility and respect from neighbors. He solves a local murder case. He stays under the radar of the authorities.

Then Chicago police uncover more damning evidence against him, the FBI is called in and searchers converge on Northeast Wisconsin. Cornered, Kurt and his new lover must sneak back into Chicago and, under the noses of the very people who most want him captured, search for his wife’s real killer.

  

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.

The Marathon Murders by Chester D. Campbell is Today's Third Featured Free MystereBook

MystereBooks is pleased to feature The Marathon Murders by Chester D. Campbell as today's third free mystery ebook (A Greg McKenzie Mystery; Kindle format only).

This title was listed for free as of the date and time of this post, February 25, 2013 at 7:30 AM ET. 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.

For a summary of all of today's featured titles, plus any that may have appeared before and are repeat freebies, visit our Free MystereBooks page. This page is updated daily, typically by 8 AM ET.

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The Marathon Murders
Chester D. Campbell
A Greg McKenzie Mystery
Publisher: Night Shadows Press

Greg and Jill take on what appears to be a 90-year-old murder case, dragging them into a present-day conspiracy filled with chicanery in circles of power and chaos created by a frenzied killer.

It starts with a stash of yellowed records found during restoration of the long-defunct Marathon Motor Works' buildings in Nashville. The documents vanish, and the construction foreman who had them is murdered. The McKenzies' clients, Col. Warren Jarvis (who first appeared in Secret of the Scroll) and his girlfriend, Kelli Kane, believe the records would shed light on the fate of her great-great-grandfather. A Marathon officer who disappeared in 1914, he was accused of embezzlement and later found dead. More murders occur, appearing aimed at suppressing the secret behind the missing records.

It's a tale of greed, misplaced pride, family loyalty, and the unpredictable violence of an irrational mind.

Read our review of The Marathon Murders by Chester D. Campbell.

  

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.

Secrets by Aris Whittier is Today's Second Featured Free MystereBook

MystereBooks is pleased to feature Secrets by Aris Whittier as today's second free mystery ebook (A Novel of Romantic Suspense; Kindle format only).

This title was listed for free as of the date and time of this post, February 25, 2013 at 7:20 AM ET. 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.

For a summary of all of today's featured titles, plus any that may have appeared before and are repeat freebies, visit our Free MystereBooks page. This page is updated daily, typically by 8 AM ET.

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Secrets
Aris Whittier
A Novel of Romantic Suspense
Publisher: Aris Whittier

Ashley Dawson has a gift — she can communicate with spirits. Her life profoundly changes when she is urged and guided, by a spirit, to the house of Nathaniel Marshall — a man who doesn't believe Ashley's bizarre accusations and makes no attempt to hide it.

When Nathaniel discovers a cunning man who disappears as quickly as he appears is stalking Ashley, his fear for her safety consumes him. Their terror is taken to a new level when several murders throughout the city surface.

  

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.

White Tiger by Stephen Knight and Derek Paterson is Today's Featured Free MystereBook

MystereBooks is pleased to feature White Tiger by Stephen Knight and Derek Paterson as today's free mystery ebook (An Action Thriller; Kindle format only).

This title was listed for free as of the date and time of this post, February 25, 2013 at 7:10 AM ET. 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.

For a summary of all of today's featured titles, plus any that may have appeared before and are repeat freebies, visit our Free MystereBooks page. This page is updated daily, typically by 8 AM ET.

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White Tiger
Stephen Knight and Derek Paterson
An Action Thriller
Publisher: Stephen Knight and Derek Paterson

International security consultant Jerry Manning has a lucrative sideline: he kills people for the Chinese Mob, so quickly and so effectively using his martial art skills that the Chinese call him the White Tiger, a nickname born out of respect — and fear.

When wealthy Chinese businessman James Lin's son is brutally murdered in a San Francisco penthouse where he was sexing a beautiful actress, Manning is hired to fly back to the States to help track down the killer. But closely guarded family secrets are reluctantly dragged into the light. Lin's older son was also recently murdered in Shanghai, with the same M.O., suggesting that the real target was always James Lin, and that the killer is an assassin with skills every bit as deadly as Manning's.

S.F.P.D. detectives determined to uncover the truth behind the murder are on a crash course with Manning, blocking his view as the elusive assassin slashes her way through Lin's defenses, intent upon exacting old-fashioned blood vengeance upon her hated victim, whose past crimes have finally caught up with him.

  

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.

The Perfect Assassin by Ward Larsen is Today's Kindle Daily Deal

MystereBooks is pleased to feature The Perfect Assassin by Ward Larsen as today's Amazon Kindle Daily Deal.

The deal price of $1.99 is valid only for today, Monday, February 25, 2013.

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The Perfect Assassin
Ward Larsen
Oceanview Publishing

One perfect shot will change the course of history …

Christine Palmer, a young American doctor sailing solo across the Atlantic, makes an incredible discovery — a man narrowly clinging to his life in the frigid waters. But there is much more to this desperate survivor than meets the eye.

David Slaton is a Kidon — a highly-trained, highly-precise, and highly-dangerous assassin. The Kidon is both the hunter and the hunted, and he and Christine are in grave danger. Will they win in this race against time?

Important Note: This book was listed at the price mentioned above 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.

Mystery Godoku Puzzle for February 25, 2013

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!).

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This week's letters and mystery clue:

A C D G I L N R Y

Set in Egypt, M. M. Tawfik's second novel features this titular avatar (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!

Today's Mystery and Suspense Update from Big Fish Games (130225)

Here is today's mystery and suspense update from Big Fish Games …

• The New Release is The Keepers: The Order's Last Secret (Collector's Edition).

• The current Catch of the Week is Shadow Wolf Mysteries: Bane of the Family, just $2.99 through Sunday, March 03, 2013 only.

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Today's New Release is The Keepers: The Order's Last Secret (Collector's Edition)

The Order of the Keepers has been like your second family, ever since you discovered it tied to your own past. But when you’re summoned to Spain to investigate a dead archaeologist, you’re swept into a confrontation with ancient evil forces that have been waiting five-hundred years for revenge. Explore the colorful streets of Seville, Spain, gathering clues that span across the eras of history. Who killed Pedro Alvarez? What’s inside the box he unearthed? Uncover the truth in this exciting Hidden-Object Puzzle Adventure game.

This is a special Collector's Edition release full of exclusive extras you won't find in the standard version, including: Bonus Chapter; Mini-games and videos; Wallpapers and Music; and Concept Art gallery.

A sample version is available to download and play for free for one hour.

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The current Catch of the Week is Shadow Wolf Mysteries: Bane of the Family

Return to the De la Fer estate to help the count unravel the curse that has been passed down through his family! Tackle this challenging Hidden Object Puzzle Adventure game and track down an all new werewolf that is wreaking havoc on the town. Can you break the curse and save the family?

A sample version is available to download and play for free for one hour. You can purchase this game at the special price of $2.99 through Sunday, March 03, 2013.

MystereBooks: Whiskey Rebellion by Liliana Hart, Now at a Special Price

MystereBooks is pleased to feature Whiskey Rebellion by Liliana Hart, now available at a special price, courtesy of the author, Liliana Hart.

The ebook format of this title was priced at $0.99 from the listed vendors (below) as of the date and time of this post (02/24/2013 at 3:30 PM ET). 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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Whiskey Rebellion by Liliana Hart
An Addison Holmes Mystery (1st)
Publisher: Liliana Hart

My name is Addison Holmes, and I teach history at James Madison High School in Whiskey Bayou, Georgia. You might be under the assumption that my life went to the dogs when my fiancé left me at the altar for the home economics teacher, or when I got notice that my apartment building was going to be condemned, or even when I was desperate enough to strip to my unmentionables to earn some extra cash so I could buy a house. The truth is that I'm pretty much used to disasters following me around on a daily basis, but I could have gone without finding my principal dead in the parking lot of a seedy gentlemen's club.

After the initial shock of finding my first dead body, which included throwing back shots of Jack Daniels like it was water, I decided to take stock of my life. I was in a desperate situation and if the school board ever found out I'd been a stripper, even a bad stripper, I'd be jobless as well as fiancé-less and homeless. Fortunately, I had a friend who felt sorry enough for me to give me a job doing some surveillance work at her detective agency. And it didn't bother me one bit that it was the equivalent of a pity fuck. Money is money, and I was about to be homeless. Not to mention the fact that I was now able to stick my nose into other people's business for a good cause, find a murderer and pick up helpful tips from an incredibly attractive detective.

      

Important Note: This book was listed at the above mentioned price 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.

Mr. E. Reviews The Cold Light of Day

Purchase/Rental Option(s)

With a better screenplay, this action thriller might not be as forgettable as it is. But even a poor script can often be doctored up to look good … though not in this case. Poor camera-work and lots of continuity issues mar the production. But it's Henry Cavill's star turn that is probably most disappointing; his failure to engage the viewer in his predicament and his overall lack of screen presence weaken further still an already weak film.

Read the full text of our review at Mr. E. Reviews The Cold Light of Day.

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

Today's Bestselling Free Kindle MystereBooks (130224)

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; as an alternative, you can click on the image to the right or use this link to see the relevant page on Amazon.com, which includes a list of both the Top 100 Paid and Top 100 Free Kindle Mysteries and Thrillers.

This Week's Amazon TV Deal of the Week: Pretty Little Liars, Season 2

This week's Amazon TV Deal of the Week are single season DVD sets for four series, only one of which has elements of mystery and suspense …

• Pretty Little Liars (Season Two)

Based on the best-selling books by Sara Shepard, Pretty Little Liars returns for another suspenseful season.

In season one, as four 16-year-old girlfriends — Aria, Hanna, Spencer and Emily — dealt with the aftermath of their best friend Alison's mysterious death, they believed their secrets were safe forever. Yet they began to receive threatening messages from someone named "A" who seemed to know their most private details — threatening everything they held dear in their picturesque suburban community.

The drama continues as season two begins moments after the explosive season one finale. The girls are the talk of the town — and not in a good way. Whoever said that change is good has never visited Rosewood, PA … or come across four pretty little liars.

This week only, save 75% on Pretty Little Liars: The Complete Second Season. Offer ends March 2nd, 2013.

Alaska Virgin Air by Izzy Ballard is Today's Fourth Featured Free MystereBook

MystereBooks is pleased to feature Alaska Virgin Air by Izzy Ballard as today's fourth free mystery ebook (An Abigail Vertuccio Mystery; Kindle, Kobo, and iTunes formats).

This title was listed for free as of the date and time of this post, February 24, 2013 at 7:40 AM ET. 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.

For a summary of all of today's featured titles, plus any that may have appeared before and are repeat freebies, visit our Free MystereBooks page. This page is updated daily, typically by 8 AM ET.

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Alaska Virgin Air
Izzy Ballard
An Abigail Vertuccio Mystery
Publisher: 40 Below Ink

Abigail Vertuccio has three goals in life. One. Don't let people find out about her infuriating habit of seeing the future. Two. Stop seeing the future. Three. Get as far away from Fairbanks, Alaska as she can. She thought she'd succeeded when she hopped in her ancient motor home, Big Ellie, and hit the road. Only now she's back — Grandma's orders — to help run the family rural air service, Alaska Virgin Air.

Home only a week, Abbey stumbles onto a plot to destroy the family business. Never one to leave matters to the experts, she and two of her zanier friends orchestrate a counter-attack of stakeouts and spying that has even the Alaska State Troopers rolling in the aisles. Despite all her efforts, she's batting zero on the spy front. Someone's trying to kill her. As if that isn't bad enough, things with her ex are alternately heating up and scaring the hell out of her.

At this point, she has only one question. What are the chances she'll end up in someone's bed, married again, or just plain dead? Okay. Two questions. What the hell good is being clairvoyant if it never seems to work when she really, really wants it to?

      

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.

Game 7: Deadball by Allen Schatz is Today's Third Featured Free MystereBook

MystereBooks is pleased to feature Game 7: Dead Ball by Allen Schatz as today's third free mystery ebook (A Marshall Connors Mystery; Kindle and iTunes formats).

This title was listed for free as of the date and time of this post, February 24, 2013 at 7:30 AM ET. 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.

For a summary of all of today's featured titles, plus any that may have appeared before and are repeat freebies, visit our Free MystereBooks page. This page is updated daily, typically by 8 AM ET.

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Game 7: Dead Ball
Allen Schatz
A Marshall Connors Mystery
Publisher: Allen Schatz

Secrets, lies, and revenge provide the sparks that ignite a fiery collision between past and present …

A puzzle takes shape as baseball's World Series unfolds, but the pieces don't fit: a string of missing women, strange threats, gambling problems, kidnappings, and relationships long dormant are all somehow connected, but Marshall Connors — major league umpire — may run out of time before he can solve the mystery.

Marshall's season has ended and he is looking forward to post-season plans that include time in Florida, first helping his mentor teach an umpire training class, followed by a lot of sun. Those plans are cut short when Marshall is given a surprise assignment to work the World Series as crew chief, but the real reason is not discovered until he is neck-deep in trouble.

The sudden change in plans rekindles a relationship with the O'Hara family — Terry, major league pitcher and Game 1 starter in the Series, Michael, Terry's father and former major leaguer, and Samantha, Terry's mother and Michael's ex-wife — but Marshall quickly realizes some things truly are better left alone.

    

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.