FREE/BARGAIN - Mystery, Suspense, Thriller - 2015

[sufue]

Secrets is the 4th in the Jules Poiret series by Frank Howell Evans. This early 1900's series supposedly was inspired by Sherlock Holmes, and supposedly in turn inspired Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot. The book description on Amazon US is succinct:

Inspector Watkins asks detective Jules Poiret to help him find a compromising letter, which was stolen by a blackmailer.

It's free on Amazon US, at least, for who knows how long.

link: http://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Jules-...dp/B00KWLYD2I/


NOTE: This, like many (all?) of these Frank Howell Evans "books" is quite short - Amazon lists it at 19 pages...

[Mort1997]

Free today on Amazon UK - Confession by Nicholas Rhea

'Detective Superintendent Mark Pemberton is the first on the scene as he witnesses a fatal car accident. In the victim’s last living moments he makes a confession that sets Pemberton’s senses on full alert. James Browning admits murdering a woman and despairs of his action with the words ‘she did not deserve it’. When a prostitute’s corpse is discovered in the woods in Penthorne a few days later it seems impossible not to connect the two incidents. As Pemberton realises the body is mysteriously missing its shoes he remembers the chain of abusive murders performed by a killer nicknamed the ‘Sandal Strangler’. Could he have accidentally stumbled upon the path of this mass murderer? '


UK
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Confession-N...ndeavour+press

US
http://www.amazon.com/Confession-Nic...ndeavour+press

Au
http://www.amazon.com.au/Confession-...ndeavour+press

Can
http://www.amazon.ca/Confession-Nich...ndeavour+press

[Mort1997]

Free today on Amazon UK - Nobody Cared for Kate by Gene Thompson

'Kate Mulvaney: eccentric, miserly and stinking rich. Although she is disliked by all her famous Hollywood relatives, it is her money that bankrolls them. So why was she murdered by one while travelling through France? Dade Cooley, Kate’s 60-year-old San Francisco lawyer, arrives on the scene to put his amateur detective skills to use. With the help of his astute wife Ellen, he discovers the motive is linked to a ruby worth a cool ten million dollars. Seven suspects for the murder emerge, from Kate’s sister Maggie, a movie star desperate for a role, to her husband George, the sole heir to her wealth.
As Dade gets closer to the truth two more brutal deaths occur within the family. He must act quickly before there is more bloodshed! '


UK
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nobody-Cared...ndeavour+press

US
http://www.amazon.com/Nobody-Cared-K...ndeavour+press

Au
http://www.amazon.com.au/Nobody-Care...ndeavour+press

Can
http://www.amazon.ca/Nobody-Cared-Ka...ndeavour+press

[Dr. Drib]

Doggone those stinking rich!

They're always up to no good!

[sufue]

Five titles in the Inspector Littlejohn series by George Bellairs (pen name for Harold Blundell) are on US Kindle Countdown at $0.99 for about one more day before going up to $2.99.

Bellairs was a profilic writer, and produced a huge number of titles in the Littlejohn series from the 1940's to the 1980's. These five seem to be from the late 50's and early 60's.

Death Treads Softly: http://www.amazon.com/Treads-Softly-...dp/B00XUJL6V0/

Spoiler:

Set in the haunting and picturesque Isle of Man, Finlo Crennell, ex-harbourmaster of Castletown, has been missing for a week before he is found by the police wandering in London, suffering from loss of memory. He is escorted back to the Island by Chief Inspector Littlejohn, of Scotland Yard, but is unable to throw any light on how he came to be in London or what he has been doing. Within twenty-four hours, Crennell is found murdered - shot through the head. Littlejohn is called in to investigate not only Crennell's murder, but also that of Charles Cribbin, a bankrupt farmer, whose body is found in a desolate ruined house on the moors. This all provides the Chief Inspector with a most baffling case.

Corpse At The Carnival: http://www.amazon.com/Corpse-Carniva...dp/B00XUJKQE8/

Spoiler:

In the wake of the carnival crowd, as it swept down the promenade, they found - with a knife-thrust in his back - the body of an elderly man, the man they all knew as Uncle Fred. And that was about all they did know about him. But somebody meant to kill him. Superintendent Littlejohn was flying in on the plane from Dublin when the blow was struck, and the local C.I.D. wasted no time in engaging his unofficial help. Under Littlejohn's questioning layer after layer of the strange life of Uncle Fred gradually peeled away.

Death Of A Tin God: http://www.amazon.com/Death-Mystery-...dp/B00XUJK88M/

Spoiler:

Superintendent Little John of Scotland Yard becomes involved in the murder of a famous film-star on location on the Isle of Man. The case not only concerns life in the fantastic atmosphere of the film world, but of high finance and the tycoons who manipulate it, as well. The threads of this strange affair are intentional and stretch from Dublin to London and thence to the Riviera, where Littlejohn again co-operates with his old friend, inspector Dorange, of the Surété at Nice. They find themselves within an inch of death before they finally wind-up the case.

The Cursing Stones Murder: http://www.amazon.com/Cursing-Stones...dp/B00XUJKPQM/

Spoiler:

While scallop dredging off the Isle of Man, the Manx Shearwater drags up the body of Cedric Levis, a philanderer with an unsavoury reputation. Chief Inspector Littlejohn of Scotland Yard is invited by his old friend Archdeacon Kinrade to spend a holiday on the Island with him to investigate unofficially the occurrences at Cursing Stones. In collaboration with the local police, he does so, and finds the case to be the strangest he has ever been called upon to solve.

The Tormentors: http://www.amazon.com/Tormentors-Mys...dp/B00XUIJ91A/

Spoiler:

A teddy-boy is arrested after violently robbing an old man of his wallet; the victim is found stabbed in an alley in Douglas. The Manx police, anxious that the case shall not rest on circumstantial evidence alone, enlist the help of Superintendent Littlejohn of Scotland Yard, who is staying at Grenaby with his old friend the Archdeacon of Man. The murdered man is a prominent figure in Manx life and a member of an old and distinguished family, the Croakes, of Balla-croake. The investigation moves rapidly from the teddy-boy shouting his innocence, to a pub called the Bishop's Arms, In Douglas, which harbours some shady characters. Thence to the old mansion of Ballacroake, with its queer group of family occupants, a ghost, burglars, and a sad story of hopeless love. At times, the case seems like an insoluble mix-up but eventually the Superintendent finds the answer and the culprit is properly dealt with.

[Mort1997]

Free today on Amazon UK -Three Sisters: A British Mystery (Emily Castles Mysteries Book 1) by Helen Smith


' Three Sisters introduces twenty-six-year-old amateur sleuth Emily Castles in this entertaining new mystery series from bestselling British author Helen Smith.

Emily receives an invitation to a party in a large house at the end of her street, hosted by a mysterious troupe of circus performers. She accepts, despite her misgivings, because her dog has died and she needs cheering up. But when she witnesses a murder in the midst of the surreal entertainment, no one will believe what she has seen. Is Emily befuddled with grief at the loss of her pet? Or has something wicked happened in plain sight of all the party-goers? Emily and her eccentric neighbours attempt to discover the truth in a charming story that will have you giggling at every funny line. '

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Three-Sister...362247031_f_52

[TrevorViking]

^ Thanks!
http://www.amazon.com/Three-Sisters-...2?tag=mr061-21

[Fbone]

White Corridor: A Peculiar Crimes Unit Mystery (Bryant & May series Book 5) by Christopher Fowler is $1.99 everywhere for the next few days.

http://smile.amazon.com/White-Corrid...stopher+fowler

[sufue]

Preaching to the Corpse is the 2nd in the Advice Column mystery series by Roberta Isleib. It's on US Kindle Countdown right now, going up from $0.99 to $1.99 in about 2 hours, no idea how long it will stay at $1.99 before going back up to $3.99.

link: http://www.amazon.com/Preaching-Corp...dp/B00OPEQ9UW/

Spoiler:

In book two of this suspenseful mystery series, it’s Christmas time in picture-postcard perfect Guilford, Connecticut, but someone’s taking the joy out of the season--with murder.

Psychologist and advice columnist Dr. Rebecca Butterman is drawn into a deadly mystery after receiving a midnight plea from the minister at her church. He's in custody after going to a fellow parishioner's home and finding her dead. The minister begs Rebecca to fill in for the murdered woman, the leader of a search committee charged with finding a new assistant pastor after the previous assistant left in a rush. Rebecca learns that the committee was divided--has someone tried to eliminate the competition? She puts her analytical skills to work to do her own search--for a killer--all while resisting the urge to break the seventh commandment with a very married detective, and praying she's not the next victim.

The first book in the series is available through KU, as is this one, for those of you with KU subscriptions.

[Mort1997]

Free on Amazon UK - Night Watchman (The Tubby Dubonnet Series Book 8) by Tony Dunbar

'SOME MEAN-ASS CHICKENS COME HOME TO ROOST...
In this EIGHTH entry in the Tubby Dubonnet series, the laid-back New Orleans lawyer finds himself caught in a twisted trip down memory lane, distracted by a luscious new love, and, as usual, surrounded by screwball denizens of everybody's favorite city. But he's also caught in someone's crosshairs, and so are half the cast of crazies and screwballs. Which makes for a delicious mix of danger and humor (with a dash of romance!), best consumed with a tall cold one and a bag of Zapp's Spicy Cajun Crawtators.
When in the 1970s a young war protester is killed in broad daylight on Canal Street, it appears that his murder will be forgotten, a back page story lost in the big news of an especially violent era. But a youthful Tubby chanced to see it happen, and the tragic event's haunted him throughout his life. Decades later, an established (but not exactly driven) lawyer, yet successful enough to have time on his hands, Tubby decides to conduct his own investigation into the forgotten crime. He quickly stirs up a hornets’ nest of far-reaching political feuds, police corruption, government agents, and old men with secrets to hide.
But as in all Tubby Dubonnet novels, the plot takes a backseat to local color, colorful characters, odes to fine food, wry observations, and a whole lot of humor. It's a little like spending a weekend in da Big Easy, dawlin'--complete with three well-chosen meals a day!'

UK
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Night-Watchm..._341689031_f_1

US
http://www.amazon.com/Night-Watchman..._341689031_f_1

[bfisher]

Originally Posted by Mort1997

Free on Amazon UK - Night Watchman (The Tubby Dubonnet Series Book 8) by Tony Dunbar

'SOME MEAN-ASS CHICKENS COME HOME TO ROOST...
In this EIGHTH entry in the Tubby Dubonnet series, the laid-back New Orleans lawyer finds himself caught in a twisted trip down memory lane, distracted by a luscious new love, and, as usual, surrounded by screwball denizens of everybody's favorite city. But he's also caught in someone's crosshairs, and so are half the cast of crazies and screwballs. Which makes for a delicious mix of danger and humor (with a dash of romance!), best consumed with a tall cold one and a bag of Zapp's Spicy Cajun Crawtators.
When in the 1970s a young war protester is killed in broad daylight on Canal Street, it appears that his murder will be forgotten, a back page story lost in the big news of an especially violent era. But a youthful Tubby chanced to see it happen, and the tragic event's haunted him throughout his life. Decades later, an established (but not exactly driven) lawyer, yet successful enough to have time on his hands, Tubby decides to conduct his own investigation into the forgotten crime. He quickly stirs up a hornets’ nest of far-reaching political feuds, police corruption, government agents, and old men with secrets to hide.
But as in all Tubby Dubonnet novels, the plot takes a backseat to local color, colorful characters, odes to fine food, wry observations, and a whole lot of humor. It's a little like spending a weekend in da Big Easy, dawlin'--complete with three well-chosen meals a day!'

UK
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Night-Watchm..._341689031_f_1

US
http://www.amazon.com/Night-Watchman..._341689031_f_1

Thanks for the heads-up, Mort1997, same deal at Amazon Canada
http://www.amazon.ca/Night-Watchman-.../dp/B00XTMHH16

[Fbone]

Bone Wires by Michael Shean is FREE on Amazon today. Curiosity Quills Press 2012. GR 4.04

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...al-text&sr=1-3

[GA Russell]

I would like to remind you of an item you have probably seen - The Dashiell Hammett Megapack (only 99 cents!!!).

I leisurely read it over the past two weeks, and enjoyed every story very much even though I had read every one many years ago.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DIHBJ16

[sufue]

Face Value is the first in the Richard Patton series by Roger Ormerod, and is at $0.99 for about 2 1/4 more days before going up to $3.99.

This has been free or on countdown before, but apparently has been relisted or changed so that my previous purchase, at least is not showing up - if you tend to buy these sorts of books, check carefully to make sure you don't already have this title.

link: http://www.amazon.com/Face-Value-Rog...dp/B014FJI4RC/

Spoiler:

With three days left until he retires, Detective Inspector Richard Patton doesn't want any more big cases.

Amelia Trowbridge reports her husband missing, and his car is soon discovered.

A burned out car in a ravine should be the perfect way to while away his last days in the force.

After all, there isn't even any proof of a crime.

But strange things begin to turn up.

A threatening message written on the window of convicted rapist Clive Kendall, recently released from prison.

A sinister bearded doll hanging from the branches outside.

When a mutilated body is found in a remote cottage, DI Patton knows his last days of work will be anything but dull.

Who is the dead man?

And where is the missing husband of Amelia Trowbridge, owner of the burned out car?

Will DI Patton discover the truth behind the hanging doll murder?

And can he take anything anyone tells him at Face Value?

'Face Value' is an expertly plotted crime thriller from a master storyteller.

Praise for Roger Ormerod:

"A gripping tale, packed with clues, red herrings, and emotional conflict." - Bradford Telegraph and Argus

"An altogether taut piece of excitement" - The Journal (Newcastle)

"Eclectic, underrated Ormerod can be relied upon to come up with the startling goods" - Sunday Times

"I am glad to announce that the detective novel is still alive and well in Mr Ormerod's skilful hands" - The Spectator

"Fast-moving, with well-orchestrated jiggery-pokery; not unlike an early Dick Francis in tone and method" - Times Literary Supplement

Roger Ormerod worked as a civil servant and as a Social Security inspector - backgrounds which he made full use of in his fiction, as he did with his hobbies of painting and photography.

Published as 'The Hanging Doll Murder' by Scribner in 1984.

[sufue]

An Accidental Shroud is the 7th (per SYKM) or 8th (per Amazon) in the Inspector Gil Mayo series by Marjorie Eccles. It's on US Kindle Countdown at $0.99 for about 3 1/4 more days before going up to $3.99.

This has been free or on countdown before, but apparently has been relisted or changed so that my previous purchase, at least is not showing up - if you tend to buy these sorts of books, check carefully to make sure you don't already have this title.

link: http://www.amazon.com/Accidental-Shr...dp/B01417MBTU/

Spoiler:

When the body of local jeweller Nigel Fontenoy is discovered at the back entrance of a grimy pub Detective Chief Inspector Gil Mayo and Detective Inspector Abigail Moon believe it is an easy case.

His body was taken there in a truck belonging to his cousin's building site.

Surely he must be murderer?

After all, Fontenoy's cousin, Jake Wilding, was heavily in debt to the dead man and cannot account satisfactorily for his whereabouts on the night of the murder.

But it turns out the case is not what it seems.

Wilding finally names his alibi — his ex-wife who abandoned him and their baby son — and claims that Fontenoy was pressurizing him to act as a go-between with her for possession of some unnamed object... or information.

In her attempts to unravel the increasingly tangled web of family relationships, Abigail Moon comes to realize that in this mystery, as soon as one thing is gained, another is lost — including a priceless art treasure.

'An Accidental Shroud' is an expertly plotted detective mystery that is perfect for fans of Peter James and Ian Rankin.

Praise for Majorie Eccles:

‘Eccles produces smoothly flowing prose and an atmospheric setting’ - Publishers Weekly

‘A tidy plot’ - Mail on Sunday

‘Superior police procedural’ - Sunday Telegraph

MARJORIE ECCLES lived for many years in the Midlands, where her crime novels are set.

‘An Accidental Shroud’ is her eighth crime novel to feature Detective Chief Inspector Gil Mayo.