Saturday, June 01, 2013

Firsts on the 1st: New Series Characters Being Introduced in June 2013 Mysteries

Mystery Books for June 2013 featuring New Series Characters

The Hidden Staircase Mystery Books recently updated its list of June 2013 hardcover mysteries as well as shelved new June paperbacks on The Mystery Bookshelf.

In this series of monthly posts, which we call Firsts on the 1st, we're introducing readers to new series characters who will make their mysterious American debut in print during June.

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The Square of Revenge by Pieter Aspe
Print and/or Kindle EditionKobo eBookApple iBook

Title: The Square of Revenge
Author: Pieter Aspe
Series Character: Inspector Van In
Formats: Hardcover and ebook

What we know about the character: Inspector Van In is a police officer in Bruges, Belgium, and was introduced in the 1995 mystery Het Vierkant van de Wraak; later in the series he is antiquarian bookseller.

His first case: The beautiful medieval architecture of Bruges belies the dark longings of her residents. When the wealthy and powerful Ludovic Degroof's jewelry store is broken into, nothing is stolen, but the jewels have been dissolved in jars if aqua regia, an acid so strong it can even melt gold. In the empty safe is a scrap of paper on which a strange square has been drawn.

At first, Inspector Van In pays little attention to the paper, focusing on the bizarre nature of the burglary. But when Degroof's offspring also receive letters with this same square, Van In and the beautiful new DA Hannelore Martens find themselves unraveling a complex web of enigmatic Latin phrase and a baroness' fallen family and Degroof's relationship with a hostage grandchild, ransomed for a priceless collection of art.

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Dead, Without a Stone to Tell It by Jen J. Danna and Ann Vanderlaan
Print and/or Kindle Edition

Title: Dead, Without a Stone to Tell It
Author: Jen J. Danna with Ann Vanderlaan
Series Character: Leigh Abbott and Matt Lowell
Formats: Hardcover and ebook

What we know about the characters: Leigh Abbott is a police trooper in Ontario; Matt Lowell is a forensic anthropologist.

Their first case: Leigh Abbott has been assigned a difficult challenge: solve a murder where the only evidence is a single bone. To identify the victim and find the killer she must join forces with Matt Lowell. Matt's initial refusal is only the first in a series of setbacks.

Matt and Leigh's skills and tenuous partnership are tested when the evidence leads them to a burial ground of unidentified victims where to their horror they stumble upon a freshly ravaged corpse. Before long the serial killer raises the stakes and Matt and Leigh find themselves marked as targets. Now they must stop the killer before they become the next victims.

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The Ides of April by Lindsey Davis
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Title: The Ides of April
Author: Lindsey Davis
Series Character: Flavia Albia
Formats: Hardcover and ebook

What we know about the character: Flavia Albia is the adopted daughter of Marcus Didius Falco, and also works as her father did as a private informer in Rome during the reign of Domitian (circa 85-90 AD).

Her first case: Flavia has taken up her father's profession. Only, now Rome is a more dangerous, mercurial place than it was back in dear old dad's day …

Flavia is the adopted daughter of Marcus Didius Falco and Helena Justina. From her mother, she learned how to blend in at all levels of society; from her father, she learned the tricks of their mutual professional trade. But her wits and (frequently) sharp tongue are hers alone.

Now, working as a private informer in Rome during the reign of Domitian, Flavia has taken over her father's old ramshackle digs at Fountain Court in the Surbura district, where she plies her trade with energy, determination, and the usual Falco luck. Recently hired to help investigate a fatal accident, she finds herself stuck with a truly awful person for a client and facing a well-heeled, well-connected opponent.

That is, until her client unexpectedly dies under what might be called "suspicious circumstances". While this is not a huge loss for society, it is a loss for Flavia Albia's pocket. Even worse, it's just one of a series of similar deaths for which she now finds herself under suspicion. Before things go from abysmal to worse, Flavia must sort out what is happening, and who is responsible.

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The Heist by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg
Print and/or Kindle EditionKobo eBookApple iBook

Title: The Heist
Author: Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg
Series Character: Kate O'Hare
Formats: Hardcover and ebook

What we know about the character: Special Agent Kate O'Hare is with the FBI.

Her first case: Kate O'Hare is known for her fierce dedication and discipline on the job, chasing down the world's most wanted criminals and putting them behind bars. Her boss thinks she is tenacious and ambitious; her friends think she is tough, stubborn, and maybe even a bit obsessed. And while Kate has made quite a name for herself for the past five years the only name she's cared about is Nicolas Fox — an international crook she wants in more ways than one.

Audacious, handsome, and dangerously charming, Nicolas Fox is a natural con man, notorious for running elaborate scams on very high-profile people. At first he did it for the money. Now he does it for the thrill. He knows that the FBI has been hot on his trail — particularly Kate O'Hare, who has been watching his every move. For Nick, there's no greater rush than being pursued by a beautiful woman … even one who aims to lock him up. But just when it seems that Nicolas Fox has been captured for good, he pulls off his greatest con of all: He convinces the FBI to offer him a job, working side by side with Special Agent Kate O'Hare.

Problem is, teaming up to stop a corrupt investment banker who's hiding on a private island in Indonesia is going to test O'Hare's patience and Fox's skill. Not to mention the skills of their ragtag team made up of flamboyant actors, wanted wheelmen, and Kate's dad. High-speed chases, pirates, and Toblerone bars are all in a day's work … if O'Hare and Fox don't kill each other first.

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The Hanging by Lotte Hammer and Soren Hammer
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Title: The Hanging
Author: Lotte Hammer and Soren Hammer
Series Character: Konrad Simonsen
Formats: Hardcover and ebook

What we know about the character: Chief Superintendent Konrad Simonsen leads the Homicide Division in Copenhagen.

His first case: One morning before school, two children find the naked bodies of five men hanging from the gym ceiling. The case leads detective Konrad Simonsen and his murder squad to the school janitor, who may know more about the killings than he is telling.

Soon, Simonsen realizes that each of the five murdered men had a dark and terrible secret in common. And when Simonsen's own daughter is targeted, he must race to find the culprit before his whole world is destroyed.

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The Summer of Dead Toys by Antonio Hill
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Title: The Summer of Dead Toys
Author: Antonio Hill
Series Character: Hector Salgado
Formats: Hardcover and ebook

What we know about the character: Inspector Hector Salgado is a transplanted Argentine living in Barcelona (Spain).

His first case: While working on human trafficking case, Salgado's violent temper got the best of him and he beat a suspect within an inch of his life. Ordered on probation, he fled to Argentina to cool off for a few months.

Now he's back in Barcelona and is eager for another big case. But his boss has other plans. He assigns Salgado to a routine accidental death: a college student fell from a balcony in one of Barcelona's ritzier neighborhoods. As Salgado begins to piece together the life and world of the victim, he realizes that his death was not all that simple: his teenage friends are either overly paranoid or deceptively calm, and drugs might be involved.

Hector begins to follow a trail that will lead him deep into the underbelly of Barcelona's high society where he'll come face-to-face with dangerous criminals, long-buried secrets, and, of course, his own past. But Hector thrives on pressure, and he lives for this kind of case — dark, violent, and seemingly unsolvable.

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Eternally 21 by Linda Joffe Hull
Print and/or Kindle EditionKobo eBook

Title: Eternally 21
Author: Linda Joffe Hull
Series Character: Mrs. Frugalicious, Shopping
Formats: Trade Paperback and ebook

What we know about the character: Maddie Michaels writes the "Mrs. Frugalicious" bargain hunter's blog.

Her first case: After Mr. Frank "Finance" Michaels loses the family's financial nest egg in a Ponzi scheme, his wife Maddie does whatever she can to help keep up the appearance that everything is financially fine. When she starts a bargain hunter's blog under the alias Mrs. Frugalicious, her website becomes a viral hit with a growing "frugarmy" of budget advice seekers.

While Maddie is researching "frugasm"-worthy deals on holiday shopping for teens, Eternally 21 store manager Laila DeSimone mistakenly accuses her of shoplifting. Then her day goes from bad to worse when Laila expires on the floor. Since Laila was a universally disliked manager, the murder suspect list is longer than Maddie's bargain spreadsheet. But when evidence points to Maddie as the prime suspect, she must track down the real culprit. Can she uncover the truth before police throw away her get-out-of-jail-free coupon for good?

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Blood Orange by Karen Keskinen
Print and/or Kindle EditionKobo eBookApple iBook

Title: Blood Orange
Author: Karen Keskinen
Series Character: Jaymie Zarlin
Formats: Hardcover and ebook

What we know about the character: Jaymie Zarlin is a private investigator in Santa Barbara, California.

Her first case: Jaymie Zarlin has built her fledgling agency on finding missing people. Still struggling with the death of her troubled brother, who died in police custody, Jaymie is determined to help others in similar situations find their way home. Homicides are not in her repertoire.

But when Lili Molina, a local teenager chosen for the coveted role of Daphne in the annual solstice parade, is murdered, Jaymie is urged to take on the case. Reluctant at first, she soon learns police are mishandling the investigation and can't refuse. In a town where some people are filthy rich and some are dirt poor, Jaymie finds herself slipping into the fault lines between privilege and race. Her investigation turns up an array of suspects, including con artists, spoiled rich kids, and an eccentric oil heiress. Jaymie must move fast to unravel a twisted conspiracy — before she becomes the next victim.

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Mayhem at the Orient Express by Kylie Logan
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Title: Mayhem at the Orient Express
Author: Kylie Logan
Series Character: League of Literary Ladies
Formats: Mass Market Paperback and ebook

What we know about the characters: The League of Literary Ladies is a book club of three squabbling ladies on South Bass, an island on Lake Erie.

Their first case: Most folks aren't forced by court order to attend a library-book discussion group, but that's just what happens to B and B proprietor and ex-Manhattanite Bea Cartwright, hippy cat lover Chandra Morrisey, and winery owner Kate Wilder after a small-town magistrate has had enough of their squabbling. South Bass, an island on Lake Erie, is home to an idyllic summer resort, but these three ladies keep disturbing the peace.

The initial book choice is Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express, and that sets their mouths to watering. The Orient Express is the island's newest Chinese restaurant. They might not agree about much, but the ladies all love the orange chicken on the menu. But their meal is spoiled when the restaurant's owner, Peter Chan, has the bad fortune of getting murdered. Now, with Christie as their inspiration, the League of Literary Ladies has a real mystery to solve … if they can somehow catch a killer without killing each other first.

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Looming Murder by Carol Ann Martin
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Title: Looming Murder
Author: Carol Ann Martin
Series Character: Della Wright, Weaving
Formats: Mass Market Paperback and ebook

What we know about the character: Della Wright owns Dream Weavers, a weaving studio in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Her first case: Della Wright has come to peaceful and picturesque Briar Hollow to realize her lifelong dream of owning a weaving studio. To promote her new business, Della is offering weaving workshops for all levels of ability. In her first class, she meets half a dozen of the town's colorful characters, who seem as eager to gossip as to learn how to work a loom.

But when a shady local businessman is found murdered, Briar Hollow suddenly appears a lot less idyllic. And when one of her weaving students is suspected of the crime, Della can't help getting entangled in the investigation — with some help from her criminologist friend, Matthew. But can she weave together clues as well as she weaves together yarn — and stop a killer from striking again?

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Corrupt Practices by Robert Rotstein
Print and/or Kindle EditionKobo eBookApple iBook

Title: Corrupt Practices
Author: Robert Rotstein
Series Character: Parker Stern
Formats: Trade Paperback and ebook

What we know about the character: Parker Stern is a trial attorney in Los Angeles.

His first case: A Los Angeles church, considered by some to be a powerful cult, charges Rich Baxter with embezzling millions. Rich reaches out to former colleague and star trial attorney Parker Stern to come to his defense. Parker despises the cult, but he hasn't entered a courtroom since developing severe stage fright after his mentor, Harmon Cherry, committed suicide. Rich claims that Cherry did not kill himself—he was murdered by someone connected to the church. At first, Parker doesn't believe it … until disturbing events force him to question what's really happening.

As the case takes an unexpected turn, Parker surprises himself and agrees to take on the church. But to represent his client and uncover the truth he must overcome his own long-buried secrets.

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A Dark Redemption by Stav Sherez
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Title: A Dark Redemption
Author: Stav Sherez
Series Character: Jack Carrigan and Geneva Miller
Formats: Trade Paperback and ebook

What we know about the characters: DI Jack Carrigan and DS Geneva Miller are police officers in London.

Her first case: Carrigan and Miller are assigned to investigate the brutal rape and murder of a young Ugandan student.

Plunged into an underworld of illegal immigrant communities, they discover that the murdered girl's studies at a London college may have threatened to reveal things that some people will go to any lengths to keep secret …

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A Diet to Die For by Sarah Steding
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Title: A Diet to Die For
Author: Sarah Steding
Series Character: Jen Stevens, Skinny
Formats: Mass Market Paperback and ebook

What we know about the character: Jen Stevens is a New York City event planner, whose work at the Yummy Channel constantly surrounds her with deep-fried, sugar-coated, chocolate-dipped temptation.

Her first case: Meet Jen Stevens — a hungry New York City event planner who's 31 years old, 30 pounds overweight, and flirting with disaster when it comes to sticking to her diet. Working for the food-centric Yummy Channel, it's hard to resist temptation. But when there's a crime for Jen to solve, it's easy as pie.

Baker extraordinaire Bess Brantwood is one of the Yummy Channel's brightest stars — and biggest divas. Despite the off-camera drama, Jen has to admit that Bess's chocolate buttercream cupcakes drizzled with caramel are simply to die for — and kill for, as it turns out — when Bess's body, like a baked good gone bad, is discovered … in a Dumpster.

Who iced the cupcake queen? Jen is determined to find out. With the help of her BFFs — fab foodblogger Gabby and lively life coach Elizabeth — she starts sifting for clues. She's got all the ingredients to solve the perfect crime, including one delectable detective, one divalicious diary, and enough industry rivals for a battle of the network stars. But is Jen prepared to risk her life as well as her waistline? No matter how you slice it, revenge is sweet — and loaded with carbs.

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Restrike by Reba White Williams
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Title: Restrike
Author: Reba White Williams
Series Character: Coleman and Dinah Green
Formats: Trade Paperback and ebook

What we know about the characters: Cousins Coleman and Dinah Greene have moved from North Carolina to New York after college to make their mark on the art world: Coleman is the editor of an influential arts magazine and Dinah is the owner of a print gallery in Greenwich Village.

Their first case: After cousins Coleman and Dinah Greene arrive in New York, their challenges mount as one of Coleman's writers is discovered selling story ideas to a competitor and The Greene Gallery is in the red because sales are down.

When billionaire Heyward Bain arrives with a glamorous assistant, announcing plans to fund a fine print museum, Coleman is intrigued and plans to get to know Bain and publish an article about him. Dinah hopes to sell him enough prints to save her gallery. At the same time, swindlers, attracted by Bain's lavish spending, invade the print world to grab some of his money.

When a print dealer dies in peculiar circumstances, Coleman is suspicious, but she can't persuade the NYPD crime investigator of a connection between the dealer's death and Bain's buying spree. After one of Coleman's editors is killed and Coleman is attacked, the police must acknowledge the connection, and Coleman becomes even more determined to discover the truth about Bain. In an unforgettable final scene, Coleman risks her life to expose the last deception threatening her, her friends, and the formerly tranquil print world.

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For a list of more hardcover mysteries scheduled for publication during June, please visit our New Mysteries home page. If you're interested in new paperbacks, visit The Mystery Bookshelf, where you can discover a library of new mysteries, also updated with June 2013 releases. See also our regularly updated eBook site for new mysteries, suspense novels and thrillers, MysterEbooks.com.

Please also 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.

A Conversation with Mystery Author Leslie Matthews Stanfield

Omnimystery News: Author Interview with Leslie Matthews Stanfield
with Leslie Matthews Stanfield

We are delighted to welcome mystery author Leslie Matthews Stanfield to Omnimystery News today, courtesy of Cozy Mystery Books Tours, which is coordinating her current book tour. We encourage you to visit all of the participating host sites; you can find her schedule here.

Leslie's first mystery in the "Madeline's Teahouse" series is Mr. Tea and the Traveling Teacup (Cozy Cat Press, September 2012 trade paperback and ebook formats).

We recently caught up with Leslie to talk about her series.

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Omnimystery News: Tell us why you opted to write a cozy mystery series.

Leslie Matthews Stanfield: I chose to have recurring characters because I love books that have characters I want to follow. I want my readers to wish the characters could be their neighbors. I am discovering that people can read a book as much for the characters as they do for the mystery. I am a huge Agatha Raisin fan and I cannot get enough of those characters.

I decided to write a cozy mystery series, as it gives readers some idea of what to expect. I think it is important for an author to develop characters over time. One of the biggest complaints I see among cozy mystery fans is the characters get stale.

OMN: Rewrite the book's synopsis as if you were tweeting it.

LMS: Two sisters turn their childhood home into a teahouse. It seems to be haunted. Their family, friends, and a psychic macaw help them dig into the past to discover who is reaching out to them and why.

OMN: Did you include any of your own background or experience into the storyline?

LMS: Well, I don't have a haunted teahouse, or a psychic macaw. I did spend time in Maine as a child. People who know me and have read the book say that they can hear me telling them the story. As a child, I loved to invent stories. My friends and I could do that for hours. So, I guess what I know is how to tell a good story. There is quite a bit of humor in my book and it reflects my sense of humor.

OMN: Tell us about your writing process.

LMS: I start with an idea. I spend time thinking about the who and why of the ending. I think of twists and turns to keep the readers guessing. Then I let the story develop.

OMN: What kind of research did you do for the book?

LMS: For this particular book, I was able to use the internet. I am one of those odd people that love research. I was probably the only person who wanted to cheer when college professors assigned a research paper. I am looking forward to doing more research in the future. Poisons might be a good topic for a mystery writer to research.

OMN: Where is the setting for the book?

LMS: My books are set in Maine, but the town is not named. I have a general area in mind and I try to stay to its geography and the local environment.

OMN: What books do you read for pleasure? Have any specific authors influenced how and what you write today?

LMS: My first introduction to cozy mysteries was a book called The Cat Who Came to Breakfast by Lilian Jackson Braun. I fell in love with the characters in that series. When Lilian Jackson Braun died, I felt a real sense of grief because the characters were gone as well.

My favorite author is M. C. Beaton and the Agatha Raisin series. I love the characters. If M. C. Beaton could write a book a day, I would find a way to read a book a day. I aspire to create characters that make people laugh out loud and touch their hearts at the same time. I know any time I pick up an Agatha Raisin book I will laugh out loud and have my heart touched by something Agatha does, thinks or says.

I also enjoy reading her Hamish Macbeth series. There are many other authors I enjoy such as: Katherine Hall Page, Caroline Hart, Dick Francis, Patricia Cornwell and Stuart Woods.

OMN: What is the best advice, or harshest criticism, you've received as an author?

LMS: Kathie Giorgio is an author of three amazing books. She is also my writing coach. She has given me more great advice than I can say. Perhaps the best advice is that an author is responsible for marketing her books. Even bigger publishers have shrinking budgets for publicizing books. Authors need to have a marketing plan. Kathie is always the first to read my books because she is also a terrific editor. She gives me excellent feedback. I can't really think of harsh criticism from a fellow author. I am sure that some will come from readers. Even the best authors have people that hate their books. It comes with the territory. My advice to aspiring authors is that they need to be ready to market their own books, and they cannot be discouraged when the inevitable criticism comes.

OMN: Suppose a film or television series were to be based on the "Madeline's Teahouse" characters. Would have have any suggestions for the producers?

LMS: This is a great question. Many people have told me they would love to see my characters on television or in a movie. My biggest concern is how to handle Mr. Tea. If not done right, he could come across looking cheesy. Remember the series Sabrina the Teenage Witch? Think how fake her cat was. I don't want that for Mr. Tea. I would want an active say in how things are handled. So often, good books are turned into lousy movies. I don't want that to happen. I feel an obligation to my readers to make sure they are entertained.

OMN: What kind of movies do you enjoy watching?

LMS: Oddly, I enjoy old Disney movies and classic movies such as My Fair Lady and Gigi. I also love Harry Potter. At the moment, I can't say that any of them inspired my books, but who knows what the future could hold.

OMN: When you're not writing, what could we find you doing? And might that appear in any of your books?

LMS: My favorite thing to do is listen to an audio books and knit. I haven't put knitting in my writing, yet. I don't know if I will. I may include crafters as characters, but I don't plan to develop a series around it.

OMN: What kinds of questions do you get from your readers?

LMS: My favorite question is when they ask when my next book is coming out! I have received many Facebook messages telling me that the reader loves my characters and wants to know when the next book will be out. How can an author not love a question like that?

OMN: Create a Top 5 list of a topic of your choosing.

LMS: Top 5 things not to take for granted:

1. Health;
2. Laughter;
3. Family;
4. Friends;
5. A job you love.

OMN: What's next for your?

LMS: I am aiming to have my second book out in the fall. I also have a few ideas for other cozy series.

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Leslie Matthews Stanfield Book Tour

Leslie Matthews Stanfield grew up in Delmar, New York, and credits her friends with developing her imagination. Leslie is a graduate of University of Hartford and recently received her Masters' degree from the University of Phoenix in Educational Leadership. She is a math tutor in a public school as well as the Christian Education Director of her church. She has four children and eight grandchildren and lives in Windsor Locks, Connecticut.

For more information about the author and her books, you can find her on Facebook.

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Mr. Tea and the Traveling Teacup by Leslie Matthews Stanfield

Mr. Tea and the Traveling Teacup
Leslie Matthews Stanfield
A Madeline's Teahouse Mystery (1st in series)

After the death of their mother, sisters Terry and Karen Sutter, turn their childhood home into a teahouse. It's a dream come true, but the dream begins to resemble a nightmare when teacups start crashing to the floor in the middle of the night. Could the teahouse be haunted?

There's a list of possible ghostly candidates: the prior owner who is rumored to have left behind a buried treasure, two spinster neighbors who disappeared without a trace over forty years ago, or perhaps it's Terry and Karen's own mother trying to communicate with them. Karen, the older sister, thinks running a haunted teahouse might be fun, until the sisters come home one night to find the attic stairs covered in a trail of what appears to be blood. Is it a ghost or a warning?

The teahouse's new mascot, a psychic macaw, may provide some unexpected clues, but the sisters will encounter many more surprises before they solve this mystery.

Amazon.com Print/Kindle Format(s)  BN.com Print/Nook Format(s)  iTunes iBook Format  Kobo eBook Format

Cole in the Country by Alan Tootill is Today's Fifth Featured Free MystereBook

Cole in the Country by Alan Tootill

MystereBooks is pleased to feature Cole in the Country by Alan Tootill as today's fifth free mystery ebook (A Martin Cole Mystery; Kindle format only).

This title was listed for free as of the date and time of this post, June 01, 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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Cole in the Country by Alan Tootill

Cole in the Country
Alan Tootill
A Martin Cole Mystery
Publisher: Alan Tootill

Things are not going well for Martin Cole. He is less than happy about his half-century approaching rapidly. More importantly, recently he lost his job, on top of that his wife Carol divorced him and threw him out of his London home.

So when his friend Nigel asks him to house-sit his Devon country cottage whilst Nigel takes an extended vacation, Martin jumps at the chance. But if Martin was expecting a quiet life he is in for a shock. Roselake seems peaceful at first glance, but soon Martin finds himself with serious problems. Wild women and raw home-distilled spirits he can cope with, but murder he finds hard to handle.

At times flippant, at times soul-searching, at times naif, Martin muddles through. Whether due to his intuition or just plain luck, Martin solves the Blackleigh murders. But not without pain to himself and others. And a little pleasure and a few laughs along the way.

Amazon Kindle Book

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.

Blood Echo by Melissa Simonson is Today's Fourth Featured Free MystereBook

Blood Echo by Melissa Simonson

MystereBooks is pleased to feature Blood Echo by Melissa Simonson as today's fourth free mystery ebook (A Suspense Thriller; Kindle format only).

This title was listed for free as of the date and time of this post, June 01, 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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Blood Echo by Melissa Simonson

Blood Echo
Melissa Simonson
A Suspense Thriller
Publisher: Red Adept Publishing

Obsession is the dark side of love …

Iris Avery and her best friend, Estella, spend their time drowning in the empty excesses indulged in by their crowd of Upper East Side snobs until Estella's sudden, shocking death.

Iris searches for answers in everything from philanthropy to hypnotherapy, feeling her existence is nothing more than a dark half-life full of guilt and repentance, but finds only endless questions. And several of them revolve around her when she discovers she's connected to a high-profile murder.

Later, Iris begins hearing Estella's voice whispering cryptic commentary in her head, and she can't help but wonder if the hypnotherapy has been helping or hurting. Is her friend trying to warn her about something?

Bizarre packages pile up on her doorstep, and their meaning is obvious: Iris's secrets aren't so secret after all.

Amazon Kindle Book

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.

Ashes to Ashes by Mary Monica Pulver is Today's Third Featured Free MystereBook

Ashes to Ashes by Mary Monica Pulver

MystereBooks is pleased to feature Ashes to Ashes by Mary Monica Pulver as today's third free mystery ebook (A Peter Brichter Mystery; Kindle format only).

This title was listed for free as of the date and time of this post, June 01, 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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Ashes to Ashes by Mary Monica Pulver

Ashes to Ashes
Mary Monica Pulver
A Peter Brichter Mystery
Publisher: FTL Publications

First published in hardcover by St. Martin's Press in 1988.

A body is found in "Crazy Dave" Wagner's appliance store after the store is destroyed by a fire. Detective Peter Brichter is called in because local organized crime is thought to be involved. Brichter consults arson investigator Captain Isaac (Zak) Kader, and other officers in the police department, but no matter how many suspects they interview, they seem no closer to solving the case.

Meanwhile, at home, Kori Brichter struggles with the right timing to tell Peter that she's pregnant, after they agreed they would not have children.

Amazon Kindle Book

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.

Eye Sleuth by Hazel Dawkins is Today's Second Featured Free MystereBook

Eye Sleuth by Hazel Dawkins

MystereBooks is pleased to feature Eye Sleuth by Hazel Dawkins as today's second free mystery ebook (A Dr. Yoko Kamimura Myster; Kindle format only).

This title was listed for free as of the date and time of this post, June 01, 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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Eye Sleuth by Hazel Dawkins

Eye Sleuth
Hazel Dawkins
A Dr. Yoko Kamimura Myster
Publisher: MurderProse.com

Dr. Yoko Kamimura's safe, predictable routine as a behavioral optometrist at the College of Optometry in New York is shattering. When the stranger who comes up to Yoko on East 23rd Street and warns her of danger is shot to death, safe and predictable switches to murder and mayhem. The very next day, there's a catastrophe at the iconic National Arts Club and Yoko's grandmother is left in a coma after a vicious attack.

Frustrated by the dismissive attitude of Detective Dan Riley at the 13th Precinct, Yoko vows to turn sleuth, but work and bizarre events keep her scrambling. Not even a prestigious conference 3,000 miles away in England in the tranquil coastal city of Bournemouth and a visit to Christchurch's 11th-century priory are havens for Yoko.

Now she is in the killer's cross-hairs and the chase is on … in and around the Gramercy Park area, sometimes at No 34, New York's first coop building, sometimes at the abandoned Quaker Meeting House and eventually at the famous Pete's Tavern.

Amazon Kindle Book

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.

Hotter than Helen! by Susan Wingate is Today's Featured Free MystereBook

Hotter than Helen! by Susan Wingate

MystereBooks is pleased to feature Hotter than Helen! by Susan Wingate as today's free mystery ebook (A Bobby's Diner Mystery; Kindle format only).

This title was listed for free as of the date and time of this post, June 01, 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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Hotter than Helen! by Susan Wingate

Hotter than Helen!
Susan Wingate
A Bobby's Diner Mystery
Publisher: Roberts Press

Running a diner isn't always a piece of cake. Now, operating Bobby's Diner with Roberta, Georgette Carlisle's old friend, Helen, comes back to town. Once again, Helen is attracted to Georgette's man. But Hawthorne Biggs isn't what he proclaims to be. When Helen goes missing, Georgette and Roberta jump into action. After braving separation, torture and near death, all seems lost.

Will Helen be the undoing of Bobby's Diner? Or will Georgette's beloved restaurant fall into the hands of unscrupulous businessmen?

Amazon Kindle Book

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.

Red Moon by Benjamin Percy is Today's Kindle Daily Deal

The Kindle Daily Deal

MystereBooks is pleased to feature Red Moon by Benjamin Percy as today's Amazon Kindle Daily Deal.

The deal price of $2.99 is valid only for today, Saturday, June 01, 2013.

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Red Moon by Benjamin Percy

Red Moon
Benjamin Percy
A Fantasy Thriller
Grand Central

They live among us. They are our neighbors, our mothers, our lovers. They change.

When government agents kick down Claire Forrester's front door and murder her parents, Claire realizes just how different she is. Patrick Gamble was nothing special until the day he got on a plane and hours later stepped off it, the only passenger left alive, a hero. Chase Williams has sworn to protect the people of the United States from the menace in their midst, but he is becoming the very thing he has promised to destroy.

So far, the threat has been controlled by laws and violence and drugs. But the night of the red moon is coming, when an unrecognizable world will emerge … and the battle for humanity will begin.

Amazon Kindle Daily Deal

Amazon Whispersync OfferClick on the Amazon button to see also the special Whispersync offer associated with this title.

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.

Today's Mystery and Suspense Update from Big Fish Games (130601)

Big Fish Games

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

• The New Release is Shiver: Moonlit Grove.

• The Daily Deal is Dark Dimensions: Wax Beauty, just $2.99 today only!

• The current Catch of the Week is Living Legends: Ice Rose, just $2.99 through Sunday, June 02, 2013 only.

• Today's Special Deal — Buy 1, Get 1 for $0.99, this weekend only! Select 2 or more games, apply the coupon code WEEKEND, and every other game in your cart should be marked $0.99. Collector's Editions excluded. Offer expires June 2nd, 2013 11:59:59 PM PT.

Visit the Omnimystery Entertainment Network for more games of mystery and suspense!

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Shiver: Moonlit Grove

Today's New Release is Shiver: Moonlit Grove

You owe everything to Rene Malot, the man who found you as a child and raised you as his own. So when he goes missing, you're elected by the district to take his place, following in his footsteps as a doctor. On the way to your new job, a wolf attacks your carriage, forcing you to flee for shelter in a nearby village. Something here is very wrong, but the villagers aren’t talking. As you discover their secrets, you might discover something about the foster father whom you've loved so dearly. You'll need all of your wits to survive the long night in this chilling Hidden Object Puzzle Adventure game.

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

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Dark Dimensions: Wax Beauty

Today's Daily Deal is Dark Dimensions: Wax Beauty

You've tracked down the latest Dark Dimension to Red Lake Falls, where a haunting beauty queen begs you to save the town but from whom? Is it her brother, last seen busting through a shop window in a jealous rage? Or his stalker girlfriend? The real villain in this thrilling Hidden Object Puzzle Adventure game just might shock you unless youre turned into wax first!

A sample version is available to download and play for free for one hour. You can purchase this game today only — Saturday, June 01, 2013 — for $2.99.

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Living Legends: Ice Rose

The current Catch of the Week is Living Legends: Ice Rose

Novelist Edward Grand has found evidence of a terrible tragedy in the city of Rosemount and sets off to investigate. Help Edward gather information for his new book and explore the Castle of Ice Queen in this incredible Hidden Object Puzzle Adventure game. Scour the frozen landscapes and thaw out important locations as you solve an intriguing mystery!

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, June 02, 2013.

Friday, May 31, 2013

New Trailer for Crime Thriller Prisoners

Prisoners (September 2013)

A new trailer has been released by the studio for the thriller Prisoners (embedded, below).

How far would you go to protect your child? Keller Dover (Hugh Jackman) is facing every parent's worst nightmare. His six-year-old daughter, Anna, is missing, together with her young friend, Joy, and as minutes turn to hours, panic sets in. The only lead is a dilapidated RV that had earlier been parked on their street. Heading the investigation, Detective Loki (Jake Gyllenhaal) arrests its driver, Alex Jones (Paul Dano), but a lack of evidence forces the only suspect's release.

Knowing his child's life is at stake, the frantic Dover decides he has no choice but to take matters into his own hands. The desperate father will do whatever it takes to find the girls, but in doing so, he may lose himself, begging the question: When do you cross the line between seeking justice and becoming a vigilante?

Directed by Denis Villeneuve from an original screenplay by Aaron Guzikowski, Prisoners opens in theaters September 20th, 2013.

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