FREE/BARGAIN — Mystery, Suspense & Thrillers

[ReadingManiac]

Ghostly Secrets up for free on Amazon. A collection of haunted house mysteries. I haven't read it yet but there are a lot of good reviews.

https://www.amazon.com/Ghostly-Secre.../dp/B0797KWCM3

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by ReadingManiac

Ghostly Secrets up for free on Amazon. A collection of haunted house mysteries. I haven't read it yet but there are a lot of good reviews.

https://www.amazon.com/Ghostly-Secre.../dp/B0797KWCM3

That cover image is identical to the one for Marian Babson's Murder on a Mystery Tour. Doesn't give me a lot of confidence in the freebie.

[sufue]

A couple of titles in the much nominated/awarded Inspector Banks series by Peter Robinson have dropped to £1.89 at Kindle UK.

Cold is the Grave, #11

Spoiler:

Cold is the Grave is the eleventh novel in Peter Robinson's Inspector Banks series, following on from In A Dry Season.

Detective Chief Inspector Alan Banks has reached a turning point. With his wife now living with another man in London and his career in the doldrums thanks to Chief Constable Riddle, it is time to ring the changes. Perhaps a move to the National Crime Squad? Perhaps a second chance with Sandra? But then late one night he is summoned to Riddle's house - and his plans take a surprising new turn. For the Chief Constable's sixteen-year-old daughter Emily has run away and for once Riddle wants Banks to use his unorthodox methods to find her without fuss.

Playing with Fire, #14

Spoiler:

Playing With Fire is the fourteenth novel in Peter Robinson's Inspector Banks series, following on from The Summer That Never Was.

In the early hours of a cold January morning, two narrow boats catch fire on the dead-end stretch of the Eastvale canal. When signs of accelerant are found at the scene, DCI Banks and DI Annie Cabbot are summoned. But by the time they arrive, only the smouldering wreckage is left, and human remains have been found on both boats.

The evidence points towards a deliberate attack. But who was the intended victim? Was it Tina, the sixteen-year-old who had been living a drug-fuelled existence with her boyfriend? Or was it Tom, the mysterious, lonely artist?

As Banks makes his enquiries, it appears that a number of people are acting suspiciously: the interfering 'lock-keeper', Tina's cold-hearted step-father, the wily local art dealer, even Tina's boyfriend . . .

Then the arsonist strikes again, and Banks's powers of investigation are tested to the limit . . .

link for both: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/search/?...&price=189-189

[sufue]

Nine Lessons is the most recent (2017) in Nicola Upson's series featuring Josephine Tey as the protagonist. It has dropped to £2.37 at Kindle UK, not bad for a most-recent-in-series. FWIW the blurb claims that it was chosen by Publishers Weekly as one of the Best Books of 2017 - no idea if this means much or not.

link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nine-Lesson...dp/B074GDVMX3/

Spoiler:

Chosen by Publishers Weekly as one of the Best Books of 2017

Josephine Tey is in Cambridge, a town gripped by fear and suspicion as a serial rapist stalks the streets, and in the shadow of King's College Chapel, Detective Chief Inspector Archie Penrose faces some of the most horrific and audacious murders of his career.

The seventh novel in Nicola Upson's highly praised series featuring Josephine Tey takes the reader on a journey from 1930s Cambridge to the bleak and desolate Suffolk coast - a journey which will ultimately leave Archie's and Josephine's lives changed forever.

I also noticed that the first title in the series, An Expert in Murder, is only £0.98, so if you want to try the first one first, it won't cost you much .

link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Expert-Murd...dp/B002RI9ZU4/

Spoiler:

An Expert in Murder is the first in a new series that features Golden Age crime writer Josephine Tey as its lead character, placing her in the richly-peopled world of 1930s theatre which formed the other half of her writing life. It's March 1934, and Tey is travelling from Scotland to London to celebrate what should be the triumphant final week of her celebrated play, Richard of Bordeaux. However, a seemingly senseless murder puts her reputation, and even her life, under threat. An Expert in Murder is both a tribute to one of the most enduringly popular writers of crime and an atmospheric detective novel in its own right.

[sufue]

Murder in an Irish Village is the first in the Irish Village series by Carlene O'Connor. It is a US Kindle Daily Deal at $1.99; also matched at Kobo.

Kindle US: https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Irish-...dp/B00Y6RC1SC/
Kobo US: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/mur...-irish-village

Spoiler:

A little slice of Heaven on the Emerald Isle…

In the small village of Kilbane, County Cork, Ireland, Naomi’s Bistro has always been a warm and welcoming spot to visit with neighbors, enjoy some brown bread and tea, and get the local gossip. Nowadays twenty-two-year-old Siobhán O’Sullivan runs the family bistro named for her mother, along with her five siblings, after the death of their parents in a car crash almost a year ago.

It’s been a rough year for the O’Sullivans, but it’s about to get rougher. One morning, as they’re opening the bistro, they discover a man seated at a table, dressed in a suit as if for his own funeral, a pair of hot pink barber scissors protruding from his chest.

With the local garda suspecting the O’Sullivans, and their business in danger of being shunned—murder tends to spoil the appetite—it’s up to feisty redheaded Siobhán to solve the crime and save her beloved brood.

[sufue]

As Death Draws Near is the most recent (until this coming March) in the Lady Darby series by Anna Lee Huber. It has dropped to $1.99 at Kindle and Kobo US.

Kindle US: https://www.amazon.com/Death-Draws-N...dp/B016JPTK2I/
Kobo US: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/as-death-draws-near

Spoiler:

In this historical mystery from the national bestselling author of A Brush with Shadows, Lady Kiera Darby and Sebastian Gage get tangled in a dangerous web of religious and political intrigue.

July 1831. In the midst of their idyllic honeymoon in England’s Lake District, Kiera and Gage’s seclusion is soon interrupted by a missive from her new father-in-law. A deadly incident involving a distant relative of the Duke of Wellington has taken place at an abbey south of Dublin, Ireland, and he insists that Kiera and Gage look into the matter.

Intent on discovering what kind of monster could murder a woman of the cloth, the couple travel to Rathfarnham Abbey school. Soon a second nun is slain in broad daylight near a classroom full of young girls. With the sinful killer growing bolder, the mother superior would like to send the students home, but the growing civil unrest in Ireland would make the journey treacherous.

Before long, Kiera starts to suspect that some of the girls may be hiding a sinister secret. With the killer poised to strike yet again, Kiera and Gage must make haste and unmask the fiend, before their matrimonial bliss comes to an untimely end...

[sufue]

A whole bunch of Open Road price drops at Kindle and Kobo US -
couponable/VIPable at Kobo. Prices all $1.99 unless otherwise indicated. I don't have time for blurbs, but here are links:

Betrayal, by Clare Francis
Kindle US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BD0GO4G
Kobo US: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/betrayal-140

The Sonny Baca Novels: Zia Summer, Rio Grande Fall, Shaman Winter, and Jemez Spring, by Rudolfo Anaya, $4.99
Kindle US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M1D5N82
Kobo US: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-sonny-baca-novels

Slight Mourning, by Catherine Aird (one of my really really favorite authors)
Kindle US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00USNENPW
Kobo US: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/slight-mourning

The Tenth Commandment, by Lawrence Sanders
Kindle US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B4V7SUY
Kobo US: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-tenth-commandment

A Great Day for the Deadly, by Jane Haddam
Kindle US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BERBN0O
Kobo US: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/a-g...for-the-deadly

Why Me?, by Donald E. Westlake
Kindle US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005UK7TH2
Kobo US: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/why-me-9

The Winston Affair, by Howard Fast
Kindle US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006GKVZES
Kobo US: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-winston-affair

A Hard Light, by Wendy Hornsby
Kindle US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00658EQDI
Kobo US: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/a-hard-light

Suspicion of Deceit, by Barbara Parker
Kindle US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00J90C6ZO
Kobo US: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/suspicion-of-deceit-1

The Dragon's Teeth, by Ellery Queen
Kindle US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00Z8POLE8
Kobo US: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-dragon-s-teeth-1

The Four False Weapons, by John Dickson Carr
Kindle US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ISH779E
Kobo US: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the...alse-weapons-2

[maddz]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Good news! I'm seven chapters into the first one and it's looking really good.

I’m about at the same place too but I’m not sure if I like them; I’m finding the writing style a bit staccato and abrupt. It may be a translation issue - I had the same problem (but worse) with Valerio Massimo Manfredi (to the extent I gave up on his books).

[badgoodDeb]

Originally Posted by sufue

Murder in an Irish Village is the first in the Irish Village series by Carlene O'Connor. It is a US Kindle Daily Deal at $1.99; also matched at Kobo.

Kindle US: https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Irish-...dp/B00Y6RC1SC/
Kobo US: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/mur...-irish-village

If I’m not mistaken, this is also in Audible’s sale on “all of last year’s sale books”. (Books of the month or some such.) I think I picked this up as an audio book, though I haven’t touched it yet. Yes, it’s in my Audible list.

[sufue]

Titles in Tony Dunbar's Tubby Dubonnet go on sale/free a lot, but if you haven't picked up all of the first five yet, there is an omnibus of the first five titles free right now at Kindle US. Titles include:

• Crooked Man
• City of Beads
• Trick Question
• Shelter from the Storm
• The Crime Czar

link: https://www.amazon.com/Tubby-Dubonne...dp/B01DDXP70I/

[sufue]

Several titles in the Aurora Teagarden series by Charlaine Harris, perhaps better known for her Sookie Stackhouse series, have dropped in price a bit at Kindle US. I think most of these are part of the US Kindle Monthly sale, so presumably ending soon.

Some of these have been on sale for $0.99 in the past, though, so check carefully before you buy. Also, you might want to wait on some of the others to see if they eventually go on sale for $0.99 too. YMMV...

A Bone to Pick, #2, $1.84
link: https://www.amazon.com/Bone-Pick-Aur...dp/B01JGYTMEK/

Spoiler:

After attending three weddings in less than a year, including her ex-boyfriend’s, Aurora Teagarden feels stuck in a rut. Then Jane Engle, an elderly member of the recently disbanded Real Murders club, dies and unexpectedly leaves her house and considerable estate to Roe But Roe soon realizes that her inheritance includes a tangled mystery in need of unravelling.

Her new home comes with a surprise: a human skull concealed inside a window seat. Was Jane a killer? Hoping to put her fears to rest, Roe hides the skull and secretly begins investigating the most likely suspects, her new neighbors. Sleuthing is easier said than done while dodging questions from both her new love interest and her discerning police detective ex. But there’s an unsolved murder, and Roe’s determined to identify both the victim and the murderer before it happens again.

With a plucky, charming main character, the clever second installment of the Aurora Teagarden mystery series from #1 New York Times bestselling author Charlaine Harris is a delightful mystery that will keep readers guessing to the end. Real Murders, A Bone to Pick, Three Bedrooms, One Corpse and the rest of the Aurora Teagarden mysteries have been adapted into film for Hallmark Movies & Mysteries.

Three Bedrooms, One Corpse, $1.84
link: https://www.amazon.com/Three-Bedroom...dp/B01JGY1TQE/

Spoiler:

After inheriting a modest fortune, Aurora Teagarden decides to try her hand at being a real estate agent, working at her mother’s agency. Her first assignment is to show a local mansion to dashing newcomer Martin Bartell. But when they discover the body of a rival real estate agent in the master bedroom, Roe quickly realizes her new profession is more dangerous -- and exciting -- that she ever imagined.

Roe begins her own investigation of the murder, even as sparks fly between her and Bartel. When a second real estate agent is found murdered, Roe suspects the killer may be closer than she thought. She will have to use her natural sleuthing skills to unmask the murderer before another empty house for sale becomes a crime scene.

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Charlaine Harris comes an unforgettable cast of charming characters and an intriguing puzzle to solve. Real Murders, A Bone to Pick, Three Bedrooms, One Corpse and the rest of the Aurora Teagarden mysteries have been adapted into film for Hallmark Movies & Mysteries.

Dead Over Heels, #5, $3.02
link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01JGX74DM/

Spoiler:

Aurora Teagarden surprises even herself with how quickly she’s settled in to domestic bliss with her new husband, Martin. But when the body of Roe’s nemesis, Detective Jack Burns, drops from an airplane to land in her yard, Roe once more finds herself involved in a mysterious death.

It isn’t long before Roe realizes that strange things are happening to those around her, including anonymous “gifts” appearing at her home. Suspecting that everything is somehow related, Roe digs for her own answers before someone else winds up dead. She’ll have to investigate everyone she knows, and the truth she uncovers will change her life forever.

#1 New York Times bestselling author Charlaine Harris is back with another delightful whodunit and a cast of memorable characters. The Aurora Teagarden mysteries have been adapted into film for Hallmark Movies & Mysteries.

Poppy Done to Death, #8, $2.88
link: https://www.amazon.com/Poppy-Done-De...dp/B01JGYTEAM/

Spoiler:

Aurora Teagarden, mild-mannered librarian, has spent her entire life in the same small Georgia town. Along with her sister-in-law Poppy, Roe has finally earned a coveted spot in the Uppity Women, an exclusive group that does more than flower arranging. But Poppy is a no-show on their induction day. Roe stops by Poppy’s house to find out why and is shocked to discover Poppy dead on the kitchen floor, and it’s not by accident. There’s no lack of suspects, since both Poppy and her husband were unfaithful. Even the detective in charge of the case, Roe’s former lover Arthur Smith, has a past with Poppy.

As if that weren’t enough, Roe has rekindled a relationship with another old flame and things are moving fast, with plans to meet his mother at Thanksgiving. She’s also acquired an unexpected house guest: her half-brother, who’s run away from his parents’ home in California. Balancing her personal life while looking into Poppy’s murder isn’t easy, but Roe is determined to give it -- and Poppy -- her best effort. And when Roe discovers that the crime scene has been ransacked, she knows someone is desperate to hide a secret. Roe will have to dig through Poppy’s life to uncover the truth and bring the killer to justice.

Poppy Done to Death is the engaging eighth installment of the Aurora Teagarden mysteries by #1 New York Times bestselling author Charlaine Harris. The series has been adapted into film for Hallmark Movies & Mysteries.

Finally, I don't think the first title is part of the sale, but it's not too badly priced at $2.99 if you prefer to try the first one first...
Real Murders
link: https://www.amazon.com/Real-Murders-...dp/B01JHHGE9C/

Spoiler:

Aurora Teagarden, small town librarian and true crime buff, is looking forward to the monthly meeting of the Real Murders Society, a group of fellow crime enthusiasts who share a unique interest in historical murders. The Society meetings are the highlight of Roe’s social life in sleepy Lawrenceville, Georgia, and she’s ready for a quiet night of discussion, coffee, and cookies. But after she finds the body of a Society member in a staged crime scene eerily similar to the one the group was supposed to discuss that very night, Roe finds herself at the center of a murderous story of her own.

As the killer strikes again, it’s obvious that members of the Real Murders Society have become targets of a knowledgeable copycat. With the help of handsome police detective Arthur Smith and the town’s dashing new resident, mystery novelist Robin Crusoe, it’s up to Roe to discover if the murderer is one of the group’s own and to piece the perplexing puzzle together before another body appears.

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Charlaine Harris, this first book in the Aurora Teagarden mystery series combines the excitement of solving the crime and the charm of Southern hospitality. Real Murders, A Bone to Pick, Three Bedrooms, One Corpse and the rest of the Aurora Teagarden mysteries have been adapted into film for Hallmark Movies & Mysteries.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by sufue

A Hard Light, by Wendy Hornsby
Kindle US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00658EQDI
Kobo US: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/a-hard-light

Hey, I used to know Wendy! A friend was married to her son. I had to help her move once.

It was nice to see her name pop-up again.

[GeoffR]

Peter May's Coffin Road is free at Australian / New Zealand retailers (normally $11.99 / $13.99)

[sufue]

The Headhunter's Daughter is the 2nd in the Amanda Brown/Belgian Congo series by Tamar Myers. It has dropped to $1.99 at Kindle and Kobo US.

Kindle US: https://www.amazon.com/Headhunters-D...dp/B004EBT7KK/
Kobo US: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the...ter-s-daughter

Spoiler:

Tamar Myers returns to Africa in The Headhunter’s Daughter, the second book in her wonderful mystery series set in the Belgian Congo in the mid-twentieth century—a riveting and atmospheric follow-up to The Witchdoctor’s Wife. Raised in the Congo herself, the child of missionaries, Myers uses her intimate knowledge of the people, the culture, and the landscape to add richness to this stunning story of an abandoned infant raised by a tribe of headhunters—a masterful mystery that fans of Alexander McCall Smith and The #1 Ladies’ Detective Agency will adore.

[sufue]

The Drinking Gourd is the penultimate (for now, at least) title in the Benjamin January series by Barbara Hambly. It has dropped to $1.99 at Kindle US.

link: https://www.amazon.com/Drinking-Gour...dp/B01FHNMM64/

Spoiler:

Benjamin January investigates the murder of a ‘conductor’ of the Underground Railway, helping slaves to freedom.

Benjamin January is called up to Vicksburg, deep in cotton-plantation country, to help a wounded “conductor” of the Underground Railroad – the secret network of safe-houses that guide escaping slaves to freedom. When the chief “conductor” of the “station” is found murdered, Jubal Cain – the coordinator of the whole Railroad system in Mississippi – is accused of the crime. Since Cain can’t expose the nature of his involvement in the railroad, January has to step in and find the true killer, before their covers are blown.

As January probes into the murky labyrinth of slaves, slave-holders, the fugitives who follow the “drinking gourd” north to freedom and those who help them on their way, he discovers that there is more to the situation than meets the eye, and that sometimes there are no easy answers.