Monday, July 01, 2013

Please Welcome Robert J. Ray, Author of the Murdock Mystery Series

Omnimystery News: Guest Post by Robert J. Ray
with Robert J. Ray

We are delighted to welcome mystery author Robert J. Ray to Omnimystery News, courtesy of Partners in Crime Tours, which is coordinating his current book tour. We encourage you to visit all of the participating host sites; you can find his schedule here.

After a long absense, Robert's series character Matt Murdock returns in Murdock Tackles Taos (Camel Press; June 2013 trade paperback and ebook formats).

A popular and widely read expert on writing and writing techniques, Robert is sharing with us today some advice on the importance of feedback and how to get it.

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Robert J. Ray
Photo provided courtesy of
Robert J. Ray

Congratulations. Your rewrite is done and you feel good about the manuscript. The story is solid, the subplots writhe like snakes under the surface, which is glassy-smooth. Now you're smelling money, you're tasting the tang of writerly fame. You want action. So you print the manuscript, find a literary agent on Google Search, and then you mail the manuscript off.

But wait! Before you send off your pages, get some feedback. The writing business is crazy. The worst mistake you can make is sending off a half-baked product.

So what is feedback?

Feedback comes when you hand your work to someone else and say, Can you please give me some feedback? When you ask for feedback, you give up control. Time to relax, pull out your trusty ballpoint, and take notes. Feedback opens up the manuscript, rips holes in the fabric of your prose. Better to sew up the holes now, before you send off the manuscript to an agent. There are four ways to get feedback:

1. Scene Performance. For feedback on a scene, recruit a group of friends — actors are better at scene performance than writers — and assign roles. Assign one reader for each character; assign one reader to read the narration (action and description). Keep yourself out of the scene-read. Your job is to listen, to take notes, to view your work from a perspective not your own. Use a timer on each scene. If a scene runs long, you'll know to cut. If a scene is too short, you might merge it with another scene.

Don't interrupt the reading with helpful hints to the readers. Surrender your words and see what happens. Take notes and let yourself sweat. Button your lip and learn fast.

Pay attention to your emotions — awe, horror, shame, nausea, joy, the taste of greatness, a whiff of fame — during the read. When the reading is over, ask for feedback from your cast. Author restraint is the big secret here. Keep the lines of communication open. You asked for feedback. Write down everything and don't try to fix anything until you have your notes typed and printed. Let the notes cool. Read them over. Find a spot where readers had trouble, where they ran into a roadblock or ran off the tracks. Find those pages in your manuscript and deploy Operation Ratio.

Don't fret about the work. Instead, use your tools. You started this rewrite with an empty tool kit. Your toolkit now bristles with writerly tools. Hang tight, keep writing. Let your left brain editor locate the problems. Let your unconscious do the fix.

2. Cold Read. Read with a friend across a table. Keep the page count low — 5-8 pages per session is max — and then you find a neutral zone like a coffee house and you sit across the table from your friend. There are two copies of the work. One for you, one for your friend. When you read, alternate paragraphs. When you come to dialogue, alternate voices. The balance is better if your friend also has pages that need reading. Take the mind off your sweat by listening to your friend's voice. Where does it hesitate? Where does it sound bored? Where does it have trouble with a word or a sentence?

When the reading is done, ask your friend for feedback. Where did it slow down? How do I fix it? Help me with that word on page 3.

3. Single Reader Alone. Here's where you ask a reader to read your manuscript and offer suggestions for making it better. You hand over the pages and wait. You bite your nails when you should be doing writing practice. You wonder what's gone wrong. Is the book any good? What will my friend say? Be careful with your pages. Find a reader who can see deep into structure and story.

4. Critique Group. Here's where you sit in a circle with a roomful of writers. Some groups listen while the author reads aloud. Some groups want copies of the work distributed earlier, to give people time to read and ponder. Other groups want the pages at the same time as the meeting. Reading aloud is better here. Everyone gets up to speed on the same words. Much less confusion. Some people read fast; some read slow. With an oral read, there's less focus on line-editing.

Warning to the sensitive: Critique groups are really dangerous. If you are fragile, stay away. If your manuscript is unwieldy, think twice. You need rules for behavior. If the group is big — six or more — then you'll need a time-limit for each critique. If there are wide gaps in skill-levels, don't bite your lip. Instead, do lots of deep breathing.

To get the most from a critique group, take notes and say nothing. Keep your lip zipped. Don't try to defend your work. If it hums, most people will hear the hum. If it needs work, use the tools. Thank the group for its insight.

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Robert J. Ray is a writer/teacher. A native of Texas, Ray holds a Ph.D. from the University of Texas, Austin and is the author of several reference books in "The Weekend Novelist" series.

For more information about Ray and his work, visit his author page on the Camel Press website or find him on Facebook.

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Murdock Tackles Taos by Robert J. Ray

Murdock Tackles Taos
Robert J. Ray
A Matt Murdock Murder Mystery

Weary but wise private-eye Matt Murdock is back, and he has met his match — a vital and attractive writer and cop's daughter, Helene Steinbeck.

Helene is hiking in the hills of Taos when she happens upon the corpse of a young woman downed by an arrow. Murdock appears on the horizon just in time to prevent a team of archers from using Helene as target practice. Murdock has been scouring Angel Mountain and vicinity for evidence that will help him discover the whereabouts of Barbi Bellini, the missing daughter of a friend. Now that Helene has stumbled onto the scene, she has no choice but to join Murdock in his search for answers.

Drawn to the detective's integrity and quiet strength, she becomes both his apprentice and his lover. Their quest leads them to a cult of locals whose charismatic leader believes the "weak" are fair game. But this unholy brotherhood is just the poisonous tip of the arrow. The hunters have forged deadly alliances with the rich and powerful of Taos.

Who can Helene and Murdock trust? Will they be able to outthink — and outrun — their many adversaries?

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Immaculate Deception by Leighton Rockafellow is Today's Third Featured Free MystereBook

Immaculate Deception by Leighton Rockafellow

MystereBooks is pleased to feature Immaculate Deception by Leighton Rockafellow as today's third free mystery ebook (A Legal Thriller; Kindle format only).

This title was listed for free as of the date and time of this post, July 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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Immaculate Deception by Leighton Rockafellow

Immaculate Deception
Leighton Rockafellow
A Legal Thriller
Publisher: Wheatmark

Attorney Larry Ross has made a name for himself by getting a not-guilty verdict in an impossible first-degree murder case and driving a major automobile manufacturer to its knees in the process. On the heels of his success, Larry and his new partner, Bill Wilson, find themselves embroiled in cases filled with mystery, intrigue, conflict, and deceit.

Larry is working on a huge claim against another auto manufacturer. Matters grow complicated when his expert witness is murdered and a string of similar murders across the county is discovered. Lead homicide detective, Greg Kelly, is charged with the task of finding the killer and bringing the masterminds to justice.

Meanwhile, Bill takes on the sheriff of Pima County in a "case that can't be won". Bill must prevail in the Supreme Court of Arizona before he can even go to trial. Can Bill and Larry overcome insurmountable odds to ensure that their grieving clients receive justice?

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.

An Unlikely Hero by Tierney James is Today's Second Featured Free MystereBook

An Unlikely Hero by Tierney James

MystereBooks is pleased to feature An Unlikely Hero by Tierney James as today's second free mystery ebook (A Suspense Thriller; Kindle format only).

This title was listed for free as of the date and time of this post, July 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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An Unlikely Hero by Tierney James

An Unlikely Hero
Tierney James
A Suspense Thriller
Publisher: CreateSpace

Tessa Scott is living the American dream - big house, successful husband, and three beautiful children. No one would suspect a Libyan terrorist is at work nearby. When Tessa sends her family on vacation after another fight with her husband, she is expecting a relaxing week of solitude. Instead she is confronted with a bomb in her backyard, and the terrorist group who are looking for it. Tessa survives only due to the entrance of Captain Chase Hunter, a man who seems just as dangerous as the terrorists. Unsure who she can trust, Tessa is drawn into his secret world of terrorists and national security. Powerless to resist Tessa is forced to survive the unthinkable, from confronting perilous brushes with death to becoming a sitting duck for men who are out to savage the world as we know it.

Meanwhile, the self-possessed Captain Hunter finds that Tessa Scott is affecting him in a way he thought no woman could. The two are forced into a complicated partnership as they work together to unravel a terrorist plot that will affect thousands of people. The stakes are raised when Tessa discovers that her family is in danger from the same terrorists. Will Captain Hunter save them, or is he looking to Tessa to save him?

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.

Parallax View by Allan Leverone is Today's Featured Free MystereBook

Parallax View by Allan Leverone

MystereBooks is pleased to feature Parallax View by Allan Leverone as today's free mystery ebook (A Tracie Tanner Thriller; Kindle format only).

This title was listed for free as of the date and time of this post, July 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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Parallax View by Allan Leverone

Parallax View
Allan Leverone
A Tracie Tanner Thriller
Publisher: Rock Bottom Books

It's spring, 1987, late in the Cold War, and CIA clandestine operations agent Tracie Tanner is tasked with what should be a relatively simple mission: deliver a secret communique from Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev to U.S. President Ronald Reagan.

After smuggling the document out of East Germany, Tracie believes she is in the clear. She's wrong. A shadowy cabal is work, people who will stop at nothing to prevent the explosive information contained in the letter from reaching the White House.

Soon, Tanner is knee-deep in airplane crashes and murder, paired up with a young Maine air traffic controller and on the run for their lives, unsure who she can trust at CIA, but committed to completing her mission, no matter the cost …

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.

Mystery Godoku Puzzle for July 01, 2013

Mystery Godoku

A new 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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Mystery Godoku Puzzle for July 01, 2013

This week's letters and mystery clue:

A E G J L N S T U

He is the author of the Evelyn Morgan mystery series (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 (130701)

Big Fish Games

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

• The New Release is Dark Dimensions: City of Ash.

• The Daily Deal is Night in the Opera, just $2.99 today only!

• The current Catch of the Week is Secrets of the Seas: Flying Dutchman, just $2.99 through Sunday, July 07, 2013 only.

• Today's Special Deal — It is Bonus Punch Monday! Receive a BONUS PUNCH with every game purchase, only on Mondays.

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

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Dark Dimensions: City of Ash

Today's New Release is Dark Dimensions: City of Ash

You've been studying the supernatural phenomenon known as dark dimensions since you were very young, hoping that they will eventually lead you to your missing family, but nothing has prepared you for the danger that awaits you in Phoenix Hill, California. Once a prosperous mining town in the 1950s, a volcanic eruption changed everything. Now its citizens are trapped as spirits of ash, unable to move on. Can you uncover the tragedy that caused this dark dimension to appear? While most of the inhabitants are friendly, one fiery ghost will do anything to stop you. Volcanic tremors are rumbling beneath your feet. Will the volcano erupt again? Watch your step in thi sizzling Hidden Object Puzzle Adventure game.

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

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Night in the Opera

Today's Daily Deal is Night in the Opera

Follow the path of a mad killer in this thrilling Hidden Object Puzzle Adventure game. An envious alchemist devises a mystical musical instrument capable of drawing the last breath of his victims. There are many clues and suspects, but only the most inquisitive will discover the incredible truth. Do you have what it takes to stop the killer before he strikes again?

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

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Secrets of the Seas: Flying Dutchman

The current Catch of the Week is Secrets of the Seas: Flying Dutchman

Uncover the sea secrets of the Flying Dutchman by finding hidden objects and solving adventuresome puzzles in this oceanic hidden object puzzle adventure game!

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, July 07, 2013.

Sunday, June 30, 2013

Mr. E. Reviews Broken City

Broken City (DVD Cover)
Purchase/Rental Option(s)
Broken City on DVDBroken City on Blu-ray DiscBroken City on Amazon Instant VideoBroken City on iTunes

Set (for the most part) in the final days of a campaign for the election of a New York City mayor, this pseudo-political thriller disappoints in part because of a weak script, which takes far too many shortcuts. But it's the odd casting of a nearly incomprehensible Russell Crowe struggling with an American accent as the incumbent mayor that is most distracting here.

Read the full text of our review at Mr. E. Reviews Broken City.

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

Elements of a Kill, an Inupiat Eskimo Mystery by Christopher Lane, Now at a Special Price

Elements of a Kill by Christopher Lane

MystereBooks is pleased to feature Elements of a Kill by Christopher Lane, now available at a special price, courtesy of the publisher, Avon.

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 (06/30/2013 at 12:30 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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Elements of a Kill by Christopher Lane

Elements of a Kill by Christopher Lane
An Inupiat Eskimo Mystery
Publisher: Avon

A mysterious ritual murder at a remote Alaskan oil rig brings an Inupiat Eskimo police detective back to the land of his People to catch a killer, and save his own hide.

Police Detective Ray Attla, an Inupiat Eskimo, is spending a few days with his grandfather on the reservation when he's called into the icy Alaskan wilderness to investigate a death at an isolated oil rig. The killing has all the marks of a ritual murder, and Ray must confront the traditions of his People to catch a killer — before he too becomes a victim.

Amazon Kindle Book

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.

Law of Attraction, a Novel of Suspense by Allison Leotta, Now at a Special Price

Law of Attraction by Allison Leotta

MystereBooks is pleased to feature Law of Attraction by Allison Leotta, now available at a special price, courtesy of the publisher, Touchstone.

The ebook format of this title was priced at $2.99 from the listed vendors (below) as of the date and time of this post (06/30/2013 at 11:30 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.

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Law of Attraction by Allison Leotta

Law of Attraction by Allison Leotta
A Novel of Suspense
Publisher: Touchstone

As a newly minted Assistant U.S. Attorney in Washington, D.C., Anna Curtis has already developed thick skin to deal with the brutality she encounters with her daily stack of domestic violence cases. Yet when Laprea Johnson walks into Anna's life — battered by her boyfriend on the morning after Valentine's Day — there's something about this particular case that Anna can't quite shake, something that reminds the prosecutor of her own troubled past.

At the trial, Laprea makes a last-minute reversal, lying on the witness stand to free her boy-friend. Shortly after he is freed, Anna is horrified to hear that Laprea's body has been found in a trash heap. Hastily assigned to prosecute the murder case alongside intimidating chief homicide prosecutor Jack Bailey, Anna's heart sinks when she learns that her own boyfriend, public defender Nick Wagner, is representing the accused.

Torn between bringing the killer to justice and saving her personal life, Anna makes a series of choices that jeopardizes her career, her relationships, and her very life as she uncovers the shocking truth behind the murder.

Amazon Kindle Book  Apple iBook  Kobo eBook

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 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.

First Clues, Mysteries for Kids: New Titles for July 2013

Find mystery books for the young sleuth in your family at First Clues, Mysteries for Kids

First Clues: Mysteries for Kids is pleased to announce a selection of new mystery, suspense and thriller books (including series titles) scheduled for publication during July 2013, listed in approximate order of reading level, from books for younger readers to books for teens and young adults.

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The Case of the Missing Donut by Alison McGhee

The Case of the Missing Donut
Alison McGhee

This entertaining mystery is recommended for readers aged 4 to 6.

More information about the book

The sheriff and his deputy dog have been charged with a mission: to bring a dozen donuts home safely. All seems to be going well until the young sheriff peeks inside the box to check on the tasty treats. They're practically calling his name, and in the blink of an eye (and with just a few nibbles), a donut disappears! Wherever could that missing donut be? Luckily, this is one mystery the sheriff and his deputy are sure to bring to a close.

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The King of Scotland's Sword by Steve Stevenson

The King of Scotland's Sword
Steve Stevenson
Agatha: Girl of Mystery

This third book in the series is recommended for readers aged 7 to 9.

More information about the book

Rumors of ancient curses and mischievous ghosts surround the disappearance of a priceless sword said to belong to the legendary Scottish King, Robert the Bruce. Determined to solve the case of this missing relic, Agatha packs her kit and heads to the Highlands!

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Cooking Camp Disaster by Carolyn Keene

Cooking Camp Disaster
Carolyn Keene
Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew

Featuring a younger Nancy Drew and friends, this series book is recommended for readers aged 7 to 9.

More information about the book

Nancy, Bess, and George are excited to be spending some of their summer at Kid Kuisine, a cooking camp where they are going to learn how to make delicious treats from Chef Giorgio. At the end of the camp, they will be cooking for their families — and someone will win Best Chef!

But after a few days, it's clear that one of their fellow campers is not as excited as they are. From salty brownies to super-spicy pizza, things are not as yummy as they should be: Someone is sabotaging the food. Could it be the stuck-up Jeremy, who is intent on winning Best Chef? Or the chef's assistant, who might have hidden motives of her own? It's up to the Clue Crew to figure out who's ruining the recipes — and everyone's appetite!

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Diamonds Are a Thief's Best Friend by Hope McLean

Diamonds Are a Thief's Best Friend
Hope McLean
Jewel Society

This second in a four-book series of heist adventures is recommended for readers aged 7 to 9.

More information about the book

Still smarting after their last run-in with the Rivals, the Jewels focus on their upcoming trip to the Big Apple. But the girls can't stop thinking about the cryptic letter they found, describing not one, but four precious gems that now need their protection!

Even more confusing, the Jewels start receiving anonymous notes, one of which claims the Rivals will try to steal a diamond during their trip to New York City! But which one is it? Finding the right diamond in New York is like looking for a needle in a haystack.

The Jewels get to work, using all their expertise to unravel the mystery of the secret letter and outsmart the Rivals, as a furious game of cat and mouse ensues across New York City. Will the Rivals rule again? Or can the Jewels conquer in quiz bowl AND stop a crime?

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The Mouse with the Question Mark Tail by Richard Peck

The Mouse with the Question Mark Tail
Richard Peck

This stand-alone historical adventure mystery is recommended for readers aged 7 to 9.

More information about the book

The smallest mouse in London's Royal Mews is such a little mystery that he hasn't even a name. And who were his parents? His Aunt Marigold, Head Needlemouse, sews him a uniform and sends him off to be educated at the Royal Mews Mouse Academy. There he's called "Mouse Minor" (though it's not quite a name), and he doesn't make a success of school. Soon he's running for his life, looking high and low through the grand precincts of Buckingham Palace to find out who he is and who he might become.

Queen Victoria ought to be able to help him, if she can communicate with mice. She is all-seeing, after all, and her powers are unexplainable. But from her, Mouse Minor learns only that you do not get all your answers from the first asking. And so his voyage of self-discovery takes him onward, to strange and wonderful places.

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The Hypnotists by Gordon Korman

The Hypnotists
Gordon Korman
Hypnotists

This first book in a new series is recommended for readers aged 10 to 12.

More information about the book

Jackson Opus has always been persuasive, but he doesn't know that he's descended from the two most powerful hypnotist bloodlines on the planet. He's excited to be accepted into a special program at the Sentia Institute — but when he realizes he's in over his head, Jackson will have to find a way to use his powers to save his friends, his parents, and his government.

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Rules for Ghosting by A. J. Paquette

Rules for Ghosting
A. J. Paquette

This stand-alone mystery is recommended for readers aged 10 to 12.

More information about the book

Twelve-year-old Dahlia has always lived at Silverton Manor-having spent fifty years as its resident ghost. When Oliver Day and his family show up as house-sitters the day Mrs. Tibbs, a Liberator sent by the Spectral Investigative Council, arrives to teach Dahlia the proper rules for ghosting, Dahlia can't wait to make new friends.

But the unscrupulous ghost hunter, Rank Wiley, and the crooked town councilman, Jock Rutabartle, plan to rid Silverton Manor of its ghosts and sell it to the highest bidder. With her home and friendships at stake Dahlia may have to break the rules of ghosting as quickly as she learns them to solve the mystery of her death and save the manor.

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First Clues: Mysteries for Kids is your source for information on over 200 mystery series for children and young adults, where each series is conveniently listed under four different age categories (New Sleuths, ages 4 to 6; Future Sleuths, ages 7 to 9; Junior Sleuths, ages 10 to 12; and Apprentice Sleuths, ages 13 and older).

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