Tribute of Death (Aztec mystery) by Simon Levack is $0.99 at Amazon

sufue · 02-20-2012, 12:03 PM

I suspect this may be a pricing error, since this book is $9.99 at BN right now, and doesn't seem to be even available at all at Kobo or BonBoard, at least in the US.

According to the description, Tribute of Death is the fourth book in Levack's Aztec mystery series, which I suspect is more popular in the UK than the US, as historical mysteries seem to be. I picked up the first two in the series in DTB during a business trip to the UK many years ago, and enjoyed them. So, I'm happy to find the fourth book for $0.99, at least for now.

I haven't had a chance to read this one yet, but the first two books are a bit bloody in places, when some of the Aztec rituals are being described. There's a good mystery plot in each, though, too, and the blood doesn't seem to be gratuitous. They're definitely not cozies, but if you like historical mysteries, and don't mind a bit of grit, you may like this series. I've enjoyed some of the general background I picked up from the books when I've had a chance to visit Mexico City and some of its surrounding archaeological sites too.

I already bought it, and checked my receipt, and it did come through at $0.99, so the price is valid, at least for now: Monday morning, Feb 20, US Pacific time.

koland · 02-20-2012, 12:37 PM

Self-pub. $9.99 is probably the mistake (or delusional). Link for those interested.

http://www.amazon.com/Tribute-Death-.../dp/B004P5NRK6

sufue · 02-20-2012, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by koland

Self-pub. $9.99 is probably the mistake (or delusional). Link for those interested.

http://www.amazon.com/Tribute-Death-.../dp/B004P5NRK6

This one is self-pub, but the first three were published in DTB by Simon & Schuster UK, and the first one (reading off the cover of my DTB copy) won the Debut Dagger award of the UK Crime Writers' Association. So, maybe not totally delusional...maybe just exploring alternate pathways???

I won't know if the writing & story are as good/professional as the first two until I read this one, but I'll come back and update when I have.

koland · 02-20-2012, 01:54 PM

The first two are in the Kindle store from Macmillan at $6.99. Third is missing (so far), so rights may be tied up.

at 99 cents, he should get a lot of traction; he can probably price from 2.99 to 4.99 and do well, but not at 9.99

sufue · 02-20-2012, 03:06 PM

I saw the first two also, but $6.99 is too steep for me to just replace DTB I already own. I wish they had the third one in e-book, since I like to read in order when I can, although I hate to buy agency e-books, and so buy very very few. Having now been reminded of the series, I may just have to give in and buy the third one in used DTB.

I agree - $0.99 for the fourth book should get him some sales, and $9.99 won't get many. Oh well, I'll update once I've had a chance to read a bit of the fourth one, maybe sometime tonight.

caleb72 · 02-20-2012, 07:34 PM

I have the first in paperback which I picked up in a bargain bin. Thought it was really interesting. Unfortunately only this latest one is available as ebook in Australia (sigh).

I picked it up though so thanks for the heads up.

sufue · 02-21-2012, 11:35 AM

I did read a few chapters of Tribute of Death last night and the writing style, story, and level of background info seem pretty similar to the first two Simon & Schuster published ones that I have in DTB. I'm enjoying the book so far.

The production was a little sloppy though. There are enough typos that I've noticed them, but not enough to ruin the story for me, although, of course, YMMV depending on how sensitive you are to this sort of thing. The typos actually looked more like errors from converting to e-book format (words run together, part of a line missing, etc.) than real typos, and I think the book doesn't need an editor as much as just a good proof-reader. And, of course, I've also seen worse from some of the "established" publishers

I did take a look at the author's website and blog, and apparently he has not been able to find a publisher for this fourth one, or a possible fifth one, so that's why he's trying the self-pub route. He mentions this one on sale at Amazon for $0.99, so that's apparently not a pricing error, and Koland is probably right that the $9.99 at B&N is the error.

Anyway, if you like this sort of thing (non-cozy historical mysteries with a fair amount of background) you will probably like this series, and if you don't you won't. And you can try one out, even if it's not the first one, for a cheap price.

02-20-2012, 12:03 PM	#1
sufue lost in my e-reader... Posts: 8,126 Karma: 63035952 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: sunny southern California, USA Device: Android phone, Sony T1, Nook ST Glowlight, Galaxy Tab 7 Plus	Tribute of Death (Aztec mystery) by Simon Levack is $0.99 at Amazon I suspect this may be a pricing error, since this book is $9.99 at BN right now, and doesn't seem to be even available at all at Kobo or BonBoard, at least in the US. According to the description, Tribute of Death is the fourth book in Levack's Aztec mystery series, which I suspect is more popular in the UK than the US, as historical mysteries seem to be. I picked up the first two in the series in DTB during a business trip to the UK many years ago, and enjoyed them. So, I'm happy to find the fourth book for $0.99, at least for now. I haven't had a chance to read this one yet, but the first two books are a bit bloody in places, when some of the Aztec rituals are being described. There's a good mystery plot in each, though, too, and the blood doesn't seem to be gratuitous. They're definitely not cozies, but if you like historical mysteries, and don't mind a bit of grit, you may like this series. I've enjoyed some of the general background I picked up from the books when I've had a chance to visit Mexico City and some of its surrounding archaeological sites too. I already bought it, and checked my receipt, and it did come through at $0.99, so the price is valid, at least for now: Monday morning, Feb 20, US Pacific time.

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02-20-2012, 12:37 PM	#2
koland Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,560 Karma: 8033155 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: TN, USA Device: kindle(all), nook, nookcolor, Sony, Kobo, epic, iphone, iPad, pc	Self-pub. $9.99 is probably the mistake (or delusional). Link for those interested. http://www.amazon.com/Tribute-Death-.../dp/B004P5NRK6

02-20-2012, 01:54 PM	#4
koland Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,560 Karma: 8033155 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: TN, USA Device: kindle(all), nook, nookcolor, Sony, Kobo, epic, iphone, iPad, pc	The first two are in the Kindle store from Macmillan at $6.99. Third is missing (so far), so rights may be tied up. at 99 cents, he should get a lot of traction; he can probably price from 2.99 to 4.99 and do well, but not at 9.99

02-20-2012, 03:06 PM	#5
sufue lost in my e-reader... Posts: 8,126 Karma: 63035952 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: sunny southern California, USA Device: Android phone, Sony T1, Nook ST Glowlight, Galaxy Tab 7 Plus	I saw the first two also, but $6.99 is too steep for me to just replace DTB I already own. I wish they had the third one in e-book, since I like to read in order when I can, although I hate to buy agency e-books, and so buy very very few. Having now been reminded of the series, I may just have to give in and buy the third one in used DTB. I agree - $0.99 for the fourth book should get him some sales, and $9.99 won't get many. Oh well, I'll update once I've had a chance to read a bit of the fourth one, maybe sometime tonight.

02-20-2012, 07:34 PM	#6
caleb72 Indie Advocate Posts: 2,863 Karma: 18794463 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Melbourne, Australia Device: Kindle	I have the first in paperback which I picked up in a bargain bin. Thought it was really interesting. Unfortunately only this latest one is available as ebook in Australia (sigh). I picked it up though so thanks for the heads up.

02-21-2012, 11:35 AM	#7
sufue lost in my e-reader... Posts: 8,126 Karma: 63035952 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: sunny southern California, USA Device: Android phone, Sony T1, Nook ST Glowlight, Galaxy Tab 7 Plus	I did read a few chapters of Tribute of Death last night and the writing style, story, and level of background info seem pretty similar to the first two Simon & Schuster published ones that I have in DTB. I'm enjoying the book so far. The production was a little sloppy though. There are enough typos that I've noticed them, but not enough to ruin the story for me, although, of course, YMMV depending on how sensitive you are to this sort of thing. The typos actually looked more like errors from converting to e-book format (words run together, part of a line missing, etc.) than real typos, and I think the book doesn't need an editor as much as just a good proof-reader. And, of course, I've also seen worse from some of the "established" publishers I did take a look at the author's website and blog, and apparently he has not been able to find a publisher for this fourth one, or a possible fifth one, so that's why he's trying the self-pub route. He mentions this one on sale at Amazon for $0.99, so that's apparently not a pricing error, and Koland is probably right that the $9.99 at B&N is the error. Anyway, if you like this sort of thing (non-cozy historical mysteries with a fair amount of background) you will probably like this series, and if you don't you won't. And you can try one out, even if it's not the first one, for a cheap price.

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