FREE/BARGAIN — Mystery, Suspense & Thrillers

[GA Russell]

What kind of stories did Anthony Boucher write?

Are they whodunnits in the Agatha Christie vein?

[issybird]

Originally Posted by GA Russell

What kind of stories did Anthony Boucher write?

Are they whodunnits in the Agatha Christie vein?

He’s in the Golden Age vein, but I think he’s a better writer than Christie. And American, so much less of the vicarage flavor. Fun fact: Boucher rhymes with croucher.

[GA Russell]

Originally Posted by issybird

He’s in the Golden Age vein, but I think he’s a better writer than Christie. And American, so much less of the vicarage flavor. Fun fact: Boucher rhymes with croucher.

Thanks issy!

[Tarana]

Haven't read this author, but somewhat popular. Bookstore cozy.
A Stocking Full of Murder By Lynn Cahoon $.99 Amazon, Kobo and B&N

Again, haven't read this popular author. Historical cozy. 3 stories
Lady Julia Grey Mystery Collection: Volume 1 By Deanna Raybourn $1.99 Amazon,Kobo and B&N

Mystery Writers of America Anthology of short stories (previous ones have been good). Sue Grafton, Lee Child, Jeffery Deaver among others.
Deadly Anniversaries By Collected Authors $1.99 Amazon, Kobo and B&N

Dangerous Minds By Janet Evanovich $2.99 Amazon, Kobo and B&N

I like this author, but she is hit or miss.
Lost Girls By Celina Grace FREE Amazon only

[sufue]

A couple of years later, free again at Kindle US, and also at Kindle UK.
Link below is still good for the US, here's for the UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Man-Condemn...dp/B07F43X77F/

Originally Posted by sufue

A Man Condemned is the 12th in the C.I.D. Room serie by Roderic Jeffries. It is free right now at Kindle US.

link: https://www.amazon.com/Man-Condemned...dp/B07F43X77F/

[sufue]

I have read the first two titles in NL Holmes' Empire at Twilight series, and really liked them because they are set in the kingdoms/empires that the ancient Egyptians used to fight: the Hittites, the Mittanis, the Assyrians, etc. For some reason (probably because the historical record is so good ???), most historical mysteries set in the ancient eastern Mediterranean seem to have the Egyptians as protagonists, fighting the evil Hittites, Mittanis, etc. So, it was fun to read books set from the other viewpoint! And, since the author is a professional archeologist with a PhD from Bryn Mawr, there's a pretty good chance she gets some stuff right.

With that said, Holmes' titles are published by Wayback Press, which I don't know anything about, and the two I've read so far are just a smidge less tight (for lack of a better word) than something you might find from a better known press. Not big grammar errors or crazy typos, just a slight lack of sharpness. I'm such a historical mystery junkie that I wasn't bothered, and quite enjoyed them, but YMMV. So be forewarned, and skip the rest of this post if you are very sensitive to non-traditionally pubbed stuff.

OTOH, the reason I've gone to such lengths to describe these is that the first book in Holmes' other series, the Lord Hani series, is free right now at Kindle US and UK. Unlike the Empire at Twilight series, this series IS set in ancient Egypt, in Akhenaten's time. I've not read any of the Lord Hani books yet, so I can't comment on them. But if you want to give the series a try, free is free, and if you don't like it, you can stop reading...

Bird in a Snare, Lord Hani #1, by NL Holmes
Kindle US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08682L3NC
Kindle UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08682L3NC

Spoiler:

When Hani, an Egyptian diplomat under Akhenaten, is sent to investigate the murder of a useful bandit leader in Syria, he encounters corruption, tangled relationships, and yet more murder. His investigation is complicated by the new king’s religious reforms, which have struck Hani’s own family to the core. Hani’s mission is to amass enough evidence for his superiors to prosecute the wrongdoers despite the king’s protection—but not just every superior can be trusted. And maybe not even the king!

[sufue]

Now $1.99 at Kindle and Kobo US.

Kindle US: https://www.amazon.com/Body-Train-Ka...dp/B07NTYRV8K/
Kindle US/Smile: https://smile.amazon.com/Body-Train-...dp/B07NTYRV8K/
Kobo US: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-body-on-the-train

Originally Posted by sufue

A few most-recent-in-series titles at Kindle UK for good prices...

The Body on the Train, Kate Shackleton #11, 2019, by Frances Brody, £0.99: https://smile.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07QYTRR24

{edit other books}

[sufue]

Three titles in the Pierre Chambrun series by Hugh Pentecost are $1.99 at Kindle and Kobo US, and also discountable at Kobo. Some have been on sale before, and these are Open Road/Mysterious Press titles, so check carefully before you buy! I read a bunch of these back in DTB days, and liked them, although I'm not really quite sure why. I think I liked the idea of the Beaumont Hotel as a city unto itself, or something ???

Birthday, Deathday, #8
Kindle US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0096LJP00
Kindle US/Smile: https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B0096LJP00
Kobo US: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/birthday-deathday

Walking Dead Man, #9
Kindle US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0096M15RA
Kindle US/Smile: https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B0096M15RA
Kobo US: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/walking-dead-man

Time of Terror, #11
Kindle US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FPX9DZU
Kindle US/Smile: https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00FPX9DZU
Kobo US: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/time-of-terror

[sufue]

Two titles in the Christopher (Kit) Marlowe series by MJ Trow have dropped to $1.99 at Kindle and Kobo US, and discountable at Kobo. And, while checking out the series, I noticed that the first title seems to be sort of permanently $2.99 at Kindle US, so it's inexpensive to check out the series if you like to read in order...

Dark Entry, #1
Kindle US: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005WTP1MG

Scorpions' Nest, #4
Kindle US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BKWM1SQ
Kobo US: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/scorpions-nest-1

Crimson Rose, #5
Kindle US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FFYW7FM
Kobo US: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/crimson-rose-2

[sufue]

A bunch more Felony & Mayhem price drops to $1.99 today, enough that I'm not going to provide links for them individually, but am just going to give you a price-sorted link to F&M Press titles, so the $1.99 ones appear up front.

Authors and titles include:

• Vintage Murder, Roderick Alleyn #5, by Ngaio Marsh
• Singing in the Shrouds, Roderick Alleyn #20, by Ngaio Marsh
• Shadow Play, Mak Chik Maryam#1, by Barbara Ismail (features a Malaysian "Miss Marple", sounds a bit like Ovidia Yu's Aunty Lee books ???)
• The 9 Dark Hours, by Lenore Glen Offord
• Jack & Susan in 1953, Jack & Susan #3, by Michael McDowell
• The Second-Last Woman in England, by Maggie Joel
• A Willing Victim, Ted Stratton #4, by Laura Wilson
• Arrow Pointing Nowhere, Henry Gamadge #7,by Elizabeth Daly
• The Dragon Murder Case, Philo Vance #7, by S.S. Van Dine (public domain if you live in Canada, or other countries with similar copyright)
• A Cruel Necessity, John Grey #1, by L.C. Tyler
• A Masterpiece of Corruption, John Grey #2, by L.C. Tyler
• Cobalt, Valentine & Lovelace#2, by Nathan Aldyne
• The Bohemian Girl, Denton #2, by Kenneth Cameron
• The Backward Boy, Denton #5, by Kenneth Cameron

Most of these should also be on sale at Kobo US, and F&M is discountable at Kobo, but I don't have time to check all these right now - you'll have to do that yourself.

Several of these have been on sale before, but F&M is a lot better than Open Road about not creating new editions all over the place, so they should show up as purchased. Still you will probably want to check before buying. And, the link should be good anytime for F&M Press authors/titles, so you can do your own checking later on if you have a favorite F&M author or two...

link: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Felony+an...1&ref=sr_adv_b

[Tarana]

The Corpse in Oozak’s Pond By Charlotte MacLeod $.99 Amazon, Kobo and B&N Edgar Award nominee

The Devil and the Dark Water By Stuart Turton $1.99 Amazon, Kobo and B&N
Author also wrote The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle

The Last Widow By Karin Slaughter $2.99 Amazon, Kobo and B&N

[Mort1997]

Free on Amazon UK today- Maxwell's Inspection (Mad Max Book 9) by M J Trow

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Maxwells-In...BPP7ZMFCGEE9J2

Spoiler:

School can be murder…

There comes a time in every teacher's life when he must face his nemesis - the four-yearly Ofsted inspection. The team arrives at Leighford High one glorious summer and proceeds to stick its collective nose into various classrooms, including that of Head of Sixth Form, Peter Maxwell.

Just when the atmosphere at the High School has become decidedly fraught, one of the inspectors is found stabbed to death and the shadow of suspicion falls upon Headteacher, James Diamond. Aided by his inside informant, DS Jacquie Carpenter, Maxwell sets out to prove that his colleague is innocent.

And the only way to do it is to take on the inspectors one by one...

[sufue]

Originally Posted by Mort1997

Free on Amazon UK today- Maxwell's Inspection (Mad Max Book 9) by M J Trow

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Maxwells-In...BPP7ZMFCGEE9J2

Spoiler:

School can be murder…

There comes a time in every teacher's life when he must face his nemesis - the four-yearly Ofsted inspection. The team arrives at Leighford High one glorious summer and proceeds to stick its collective nose into various classrooms, including that of Head of Sixth Form, Peter Maxwell.

Just when the atmosphere at the High School has become decidedly fraught, one of the inspectors is found stabbed to death and the shadow of suspicion falls upon Headteacher, James Diamond. Aided by his inside informant, DS Jacquie Carpenter, Maxwell sets out to prove that his colleague is innocent.

And the only way to do it is to take on the inspectors one by one...

And in the US: https://smile.amazon.com/Maxwells-In...dp/B08NVW3GZ5/

[Tarana]

McNally’s Luck By Lawrence Sanders $.99 Amazon, Kobo and B&N
I'm a fan of this cozy series featuring a playboy sleuth in Palm Beach. 1st book of series.

Clouds of Witness By Dorothy L. Sayers $.99 Amazon, Kobo and B&N
Lord Peter Wimsey's brother is arrested for murder! British cozy

The Wicked Girls By Alex Marwood $1.99 Amazon, Kobo and B&N
Don't know author but this won an Edgar Award

[Tarana]

Truth and Justice By Fern Michaels $.99 Amazon, Kobo and B&N

The Good Liar By Nicholas Searle $1.99 Amazon, Kobo and B&N
Inspired film of same name starring Helen Mirren and Ian McKellen.

Tripwire By Lee Child $1.99 Amazon, Kobo and B&N
Jack Reacher series.