Monday, March 31, 2014

Please Welcome Back Author Stephen Foehr

Omnimystery News: Guest Post by Stephen Foehr
with Stephen Foehr

We are delighted to welcome back author Stephen Foehr to Omnimystery News.

Stephen first visited with us last week when we discussed his new mystery novel Water War: Snake Valley Okies vs. Las Vegas (Jiri Vanek Publishing; January 2014 trade paperback and ebook formats).

We asked Stephen to follow up on one of our questions and give us the backstory on how he came up with the idea for his book.

— ♦ —

Stephen Foehr
Photo provided courtesy of
Stephen Foehr

To start a new book I asked myself, What am I curious about? The big curiosity of my recent novel, Water War: Snake Valley Okies vs Las Vegas, is the increasing scarcity of water as a trigger of conflict.

I found the real case of Las Vegas proposing a 285-mile pipeline to the Snake Valley Aquifer and the local ranchers' 19-year-long battle to stop the project. Las Vegas wanted the water to supply new urban growth; the lost of water from the aquifer was a threat to the ranchers' heritage and way of life.

So I narrowed the globe water conflicts to a local conflict in a real setting between the ranchers (Individual) and the city (Greater Authority). The big questions included; What right does the Greater Authority have to destroy or seriously compromise for its own benefit the quality of life guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution?; At what point are citizens required to push back and how to do that?; And what, given the realpolitik, might be the outcome? The characters responded within this action framework. I also threw in the issue of love for a personal perspective.

I don't work from an outline. For me, an outline is a bit too mechanical of a process where the author predetermines to some extent the characters. I let my characters be formed by the story as it develops. This is a double-edge sword: often I have no idea what will happen next so the writing becomes a bit of a slog as I feel my way forward, and I'm open to surprise and wonderment about "where did that come from!"

The plot is a puzzle to be solved by creating problems and solutions for the characters. I sort of know where I want the story to go, although I don't know details or the actual ending. I sort of know what I want the characters to represent, but they must reveal that within the context of the story. Once I have these two things, I stumble forward.

My primary interest is the personal lives of the characters and how they react in situations, particularly situations where vulnerability and courage intersect. In my novel, this happens in the context of love and physical courage while scared to death and taking morally right action that could very well endanger the characters' safety, love ones and way of life.

You cannot have courage without vulnerability, but what does that really mean? How does that play out? Writing fiction is a crash course in discovering what I think I know, what I don't know, and how shallow is my understanding. This process of self-mining is the real value of writing.

I do in-depth research on the place and issues in the story. In this, I work as a journalist. But what fascinates me about fiction writing is that I must employ the tools and skills of an actor to bring the characters to life, of a musician to hear the rhythms and patterns in sentences and paragraphs, of a painter to make the scenes visible and of a film director to make it all work together. With each book I become increasingly humble in face of the task.

In writing, and life, I use two guiding principles: Just concentrate on not making the lazy move. (Morton Feldman, composer) and advice by Samuel Becket: Try again. Fail again. Fail better.

— ♦ —

In his career, Stephen Foehr has been a newspaper reporter, an editor, a freelance writer and an author. This background has given him experience working as a staff member and as an independent contractor capable of conceiving, executing and delivering on deadline the articles assigned to him or ones he conceived.

For more information about the author and his work, please visit his website at StephenFoehr.com or find him on Facebook.

— ♦ —

Water War: Snake Valley Okies vs. Las Vegas by Stephen Foehr

Water War: Snake Valley Okies vs. Las Vegas
Stephen Foehr
A Mystery Novel

Water is the life blood the individual rancher’s way of life; Las Vegas wants the water for development to expand its tax base. Stet, leader of the ranchers, embodies Old West values and uses high-tech methods to stop the pipeline to the aquifer. The Lounge Lizards, two Las Vegas cops, try to remove Stet as the opposition leader by framing him for a car bombing and a murder.

While on the lam hiding out in "safe ranches", Stet and his wife Ali find new and creative ways to say I love you without using the word love.

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

The Owner by Shane Simpson is Today's Fourth Featured Free MystereBook

The Owner by Shane Simpson

MystereBooks is pleased to feature The Owner by Shane Simpson as today's fourth free mystery ebook (An Albert Pabek Thriller; Kindle format only).

This title was listed for free as of the date and time of this post, March 31, 2014 at 7:15 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.

— ♦ —

The Owner by Shane Simpson

The Owner
Shane Simpson
An Albert Pabek Thriller
Publisher: Shane Simpson Books

Aboard his technologically advanced 60 foot sailboat yacht, Albert Pabek sails under the Golden Gate Bridge. He drops a large, mysterious container overboard and watches as it sinks to the bottom of the San Francisco Bay.

Albert's revenge is now underway. He has three days to destroy the life of one man — multibillionaire, Karl Remons, the owner of Remons Global — the man who killed his father sixteen years earlier. Karl Remons is a murderer, swindler, womanizer, and money launderer. He will do anything, to anyone, at anytime. No one can stop him.

Albert had five years to prepare. Now, he must execute the plan. On the first day of summer, he will meet the man who killed his father, telling him — "I am the new owner."

The plan immediately goes awry. A new friend betrays Albert. Two manufacturing plants explode within moments of each other — one in Detroit, Michigan and another in Oakland, California. Someone dies. World Auto attempts a hostile takeover. Albert is taken hostage. Someone else dies. The black helicopter disappears. Then, there's the Homeland Security fiasco.

Success was unlikely. He knew that beforehand.

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.

Hang a Crooked Number by Matthew Callan is Today's Third Featured Free MystereBook

Hang a Crooked Number by Matthew Callan

MystereBooks is pleased to feature Hang a Crooked Number by Matthew Callan as today's third free mystery ebook (A Novel of Suspense; Kindle format only).

This title was listed for free as of the date and time of this post, March 31, 2014 at 7:00 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.

— ♦ —

Hang a Crooked Number by Matthew Callan

Hang a Crooked Number
Matthew Callan
A Novel of Suspense
Publisher: Matthew Callan

Backstop lives a double life, and both are crumbling. He is a minor league catcher and an operative in training for The Moe Berg Society, a secret intelligence group that uses baseball as a front for its spy work. The mysterious disappearance of Backstop's fellow trainee, Mark, has plunged him into a career-threatening slump. He gets one last chance at redemption when his handler asks him to investigate a connection between rumors of a mole and The Scouts, a faction of old-school spies hell-bent on seizing leadership of The Society.

Backstop's mission is complicated by his new roommate, The Swing, an aging slugger working on a major league comeback, and by Brooke, a tenacious reporter who suspects Backstop holds the key to her investigation into Mark's disappearance.

With one eye on his plummeting batting average and the other on the mounting casualties of his mission, Backstop attempts to unravel a conspiracy that could change the game forever before he unravels himself.

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.

The Case of the Secret Admirer by Sandra Ross is Today's Second Featured Free MystereBook

The Case of the Secret Admirer by Sandra Ross

MystereBooks is pleased to feature The Case of the Secret Admirer by Sandra Ross as today's second free mystery ebook (An Eve Snow, Psychic PI Mystery; Kindle format only).

This title was listed for free as of the date and time of this post, March 31, 2014 at 6:45 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.

— ♦ —

The Case of the Secret Admirer by Sandra Ross

The Case of the Secret Admirer
Sandra Ross
An Eve Snow, Psychic PI Mystery
Publisher: Publications Circulations

Eve is doing just fine until the day that Hunter Vale walks back into her life. After helping him find and recover his kidnapped niece, they also recovered their lost relationship after a woman in their past played with them to break them apart. Now, they are planning a wedding while Hunter tries to know more about her job so he can help her — try to save her some trouble. It is not easy to protect a stubborn woman, especially when she can melt him with a single look.

But someone who calls himself the Secret Admirer is murdering young women in Jewel Bay in the most horrific ways imaginable. Eve's friend, Det. Chad Morrison, is stumped and asks Eve to help with the investigation. Chad knows about Eve's gift, he hoped she can help him find the killer before he kills again.

Eve is most willing to help after finding out that the victims were here former friends. As she and Chad raced to find the killer and save the next victim in time, she noticed her abilities getting stronger. But the Secret Admirer has its eyes on Eve, and she might not live long enough to observe her stronger abilities, or to live in a happily ever after with Hunter.

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.

Devil's Due by Robert Stanek is Today's Featured Free MystereBook

Devil's Due by Robert Stanek

MystereBooks is pleased to feature Devil's Due by Robert Stanek as today's free mystery ebook (The Cards in the Deck Series; Kindle format only).

This title was listed for free as of the date and time of this post, March 31, 2014 at 6:30 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.

— ♦ —

Devil's Due by Robert Stanek

Devil's Due
Robert Stanek
The Cards in the Deck Series
Publisher: Rogue Operative Publishing

Still a man on the outside looking in, Scott Evers is working security onboard the Sea Shepherd, an Island class vessel performing fishery protection patrols in the Mediterranean Sea. No, Scott Evers hasn't become an environmentalist. He's about as far from the pie-in-the-sky happy people he has sworn to protect as any person could ever be. But he's got a job to do. Namely, to keep the yuppies from doing stupid things that will get them killed.

With tensions heating up in the Mediterranean Sea and with terrorists afoot, Scott's an instant away from everything going as terribly wrong as he fears. When the dust clears, his world will never be the same again.

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.

The Whole Enchilada by Diane Mott Davidson is Today's Kobo Daily Deal

Kobo Daily Deal

MystereBooks is pleased to feature The Whole Enchilada by Diane Mott Davidson as today's Kobo Daily Deal.

The deal price of $1.99 is valid only for today, Monday, March 31, 2014.

Note: The price has been matched by Amazon.com for today only.

— ♦ —

The Whole Enchilada by Diane Mott Davidson

The Whole Enchilada
Diane Mott Davidson
A Goldy Schulz Mystery
William Morrow

Goldy Schulz knows her food is to die for, but she never expects one of her best friends to actually keel over when she's leaving a birthday party Goldy has catered. At first, everyone assumes that all the fun and excitement of the party, not to mention the rich fare, did her in.

But what looks like a coronary turns out to be a generous serving of cold-blooded murder. And the clever culprit is just getting cooking.

When a colleague — a woman who resembles Goldy — is stabbed, and Goldy is attacked outside her house, it becomes clear that the popular caterer is the main course on a killer menu. With time running out, Goldy must roll up her sleeves, sharpen her knives, and make a meal out of a devious murderer, before that killer can serve her up cold.

Buy from Kobo  Buy from Amazon.com

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.

Turn To Stone by Brian Freeman is Today's Nook Daily Find

Nook Daily Find

MystereBooks is pleased to feature Turn To Stone by Brian Freeman as today's Nook Daily Find.

The deal price of $1.99 is valid only for today, Monday, March 31, 2014.

Note: The price has been matched by Amazon.com for today only.

— ♦ —

Turn To Stone by Brian Freeman

Turn To Stone
Brian Freeman
A Jonathan Stride Novella
Quercus

Driving home to Minnesota one night after a long road trip, Duluth detective Jonathan Stride stops by the small Wisconsin town where his mother is buried to pay a visit to her grave. As he walks through the cemetery, a local sheriff's car pulls up and an officer steps out, pulls out his gun, and takes his own life before Stride even has time to react.

After giving his statement to the police, Stride is asked to unofficially investigate the reason behind the suicide by the officer's young widow — a woman who several years earlier had become famous as the survivor of a horrific kidnapping — and to clear out of town as soon as possible by the sheriff, who is up for reelection.

Against his better instincts, Stride becomes enmeshed in a gruesome and suspenseful search for a local killer who knows things no one alive should know — and who may kill again to keep it that way.

Buy from Barnes & Noble  Buy from Amazon.com

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.

Technomancer by B. V. Larson is Today's Supernatural Thriller Kindle Daily Deal

Supernatural Thriller Kindle Daily Deal

MystereBooks is pleased to feature Technomancer by B. V. Larson as today's Supernatural Thriller Kindle Daily Deal.

The deal price of $0.99 is valid only for today, Monday, March 31, 2014.

— ♦ —

Technomancer by B. V. Larson

Technomancer
B. V. Larson
The Unspeakable Things Series
47North

When Quentin Draith wakes up in a private sanatorium, he has no memory of who he is or how he received the injuries riddling his body. All he knows is that he has to get out, away from the drugs being pumped into him and back to the real world to search for answers. His first question: How did his friend Tony's internal organs fill with sand, killing him in a Las Vegas car crash?

After a narrow escape, he tracks down the basic facts: he is an investigator and blogger specializing in the supernatural — which is a good thing, because Quentin's life is getting stranger by the minute. It seems he is one of a special breed, a person with unusual powers. He's also the prime suspect in a string of murders linked by a series of seemingly mundane objects. The deeper he digs and the harder he works to clear his name, the more Quentin realizes that some truths are better off staying buried …

Buy from Amazon.com

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.

Scream For Me by Cynthia Eden is Today's Romantic Suspense Kindle Daily Deal

Romantic Suspense Kindle Daily Deal

MystereBooks is pleased to feature Scream For Me by Cynthia Eden as today's Romantic Suspense Kindle Daily Deal.

The deal price of $1.99 is valid only for today, Monday, March 31, 2014.

— ♦ —

Scream For Me by Cynthia Eden

Scream For Me
Cynthia Eden
A Novel of the Night Hunter
Montlake Romance

Nothing is deeper than the desire they can't fight — or deadlier than the evil they can't escape …

They were only supposed to have a professional relationship, but FBI agent Kyle McKenzie has been fantasizing about his sexy partner, Cadence Hollow, from the moment they first met. It takes the darkest case of their careers to finally bring their hidden desire bubbling to the surface. Once they're in each other's arms, though, they swear that nothing short of death will part them. The Night Hunter — a cunning stalker whose four-state, fifteen-year abduction spree began in Paradox, Alabama, with Kyle's sister — may be only too happy to oblige.

In the small town, Kyle must confront the painful past he's been hiding from Cadence. Kyle vows to put the Hunter behind bars … or in the ground. But the one thing that obsesses Kyle more than his sister's grim fate — his furious love for Cadence — is the weapon the Hunter will use to lure his pursuers into the mouth of a murderous trap.

Buy from Amazon.com

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.

Mystery Godoku Puzzle for March 31, 2014

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!).

— ◊ —

Mystery Godoku Puzzle for March 31, 2014

This week's letters and mystery clue:

A B C K L N O T Y

He is the author of crime thrillers featuring former journalist Gus Dury (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 (140331)

Big Fish Games

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

• The New Release is True Fear: Forsaken Souls.

• The Daily Deal is The Saint: Abyss of Despair, just $2.99 today only!

• The current Catch of the Week is Botanica: Into the Unknown, just $2.99 through Sunday, April 07, 2014 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!

— ♦ —

True Fear: Forsaken Souls

The New Release today is True Fear: Forsaken Souls

What if everything you knew about your life, everything your family ever told you, turned out to be a lie? A strange midnight visitor could change your life forever. Find out the truth about your past in this chillingly exciting Hidden Object Puzzle game! Warning: This is an intense psychological thriller intended for mature audiences.

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

Also available for this game:

— ♦ —

The Saint: Abyss of Despair

Today's Daily Deal is The Saint: Abyss of Despair

An ex-priest, who believes the Evil One lives in him, becomes entangled in a nightmare scenario when he travels to Africa to investigate an alleged demonic possession. Guide this tortured soul as he works feverishly to solve a horrifying supernatural mystery and save the life of an innocent child! Compelling and highly playable, this game will draw you in with its intense opening monologue and hold you in its grip until you've experienced every breathtaking moment!

A sample version is available to download and play for free for one hour. You can purchase this game today only — Monday, March 31, 2014 — for $2.99.

— ♦ —

Botanica: Into the Unknown

The current Catch of the Week is Botanica: Into the Unknown

You are Dr. Ellie Wright, a botanist stranded on a strange planet called Botanica. Full of curious creatures and exotic landscapes, Botanica is like nothing you've ever seen! Test your wits as you navigate through lush forests, steampunk villages, and more. But danger lurks at every corner; make both friends and enemies as you try to outsmart the cunning Queen Kassandra. Can you survive Botanica and find your way back home?

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, April 07, 2014.

Also available for this game:

Sunday, March 30, 2014

A New MystereBook: Fraudsters by Gordon Hopkins

New MystereBooks (Mystery eBooks)

Here is a mystery, suspense, or thriller ebook that we recently found by sleuthing (as it were) through new or recently reissued titles from independent publishers during March 2014 priced $4.99 or less …

Fraudsters by Gordon Hopkins introduces insurance investigator Gil DiMauro.

— ♦ —

Fraudsters by Gordon Hopkins

Fraudsters by Gordon Hopkins
A Gil DiMauro Mystery
Publisher: Gordon Hopkins
Publication Date: March 28, 2014
Price: $3.99 (as of 03/30/14 04:30 PM ET)

 "Never trust a cop. That is my number one rule."
 "Didn’t you used to be a cop?" I asked.
 "Damn right. Best there was. I conned a lot of idiots into trusting me and every one of them regretted it."

Gil DiMauro is the best Insurance Investigator there is. He is also the least motivated. He doesn't care if his company loses thousands in bogus insurance claims. He doesn't even care that his boss thinks he's an idiot. The only thing he really cares about escaping Hartford, Connecticut (not to mention his never-say-ex girlfriend) and returning to his home town of San Francisco.

He becomes more motivated when a coworker is murdered and Gil becomes the prime suspect. He swears he never even met the dead woman but the police say otherwise. His investigation leads him to a conspiracy right under his nose, a conspiracy where insurance fraud and murder are just the tip of the iceberg.

Amazon Kindle Book

Important Note: This book was listed for the price indicated on the date and time as shown. Prices can and do change without prior notice. Please confirm the price of the book before completing your purchase.

The Berkeley Square Affair by Teresa Grant, New in Bookstores in March 2014

The Mystery Bookshelf (

Today's featured paperback original mystery title, scheduled to be published during March 2014 by Kensington, is The Berkeley Square Affair by Teresa Grant.

For a list of more new paperback mysteries, thrillers, and novels of suspense published this month, visit our Mystery Bookshelf page for March 2014. For hardcover titles, visit New Mysteries for a selection of books published during March 2014.

— ♦ —

The Berkeley Square Affair by Teresa Grant

The Berkeley Square Affair
Teresa Grant
Series: A Malcolm and Suzanne Rannoch Mystery

A stolen treasure may hold the secret to a ghastly crime …

Ensconced in the comfort of their elegant home in London's Berkeley Square, Malcolm and Suzanne Rannoch are no longer subject to the perilous life of intrigue they led during the Napoleonic Wars. Once an Intelligence Agent, Malcolm is now a Member of Parliament, and Suzanne is one of the city's most sought-after hostesses. But a late-night visit from a friend who's been robbed may lure them back into the dangerous world they thought they'd left behind.

Playwright Simon Tanner had in his possession what may be a lost version of Hamlet, and the thieves were prepared to kill for it. But the Rannochs suspect there's more at stake than a literary gem — for the play may conceal the identity of a Bonapartist spy — along with secrets that could force Malcolm and Suzanne to abandon their newfound peace and confront their own dark past.

The Berkeley Square Affair by Teresa Grant, Amazon Kindle format  The Berkeley Square Affair by Teresa Grant, Nook format  The Berkeley Square Affair by Teresa Grant, iTune iBook format  The Berkeley Square Affair by Teresa Grant, Kobo format

Omnimystery Blog Archive

Total Pageviews (last 30 days)

Omnimystery News
Original Content Copyright © 2022 — Omnimystery, a Family of Mystery Websites — All Rights Reserved
Guest Post Content (if present) Copyright © 2022 — Contributing Author — All Rights Reserved