FREE/BARGAIN - Mystery, Suspense, Thriller - 2016

[Lynx-lynx]

Originally Posted by sufue

A Fatal Waltz is the third in the Lady Emily series by Tasha Alexander. It has dropped to $0.99 at Kindle US, no idea why or for how long.

link: https://www.amazon.com/Fatal-Waltz-Lady-Emily-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B000YJ67TK/

Thank you for this recommendation Sufue , I've read book 1 and really enjoyed it. Fortunately my local library has the books 1 to 4 omnibus, so I've borrowed that.

[Lynx-lynx]

Kobo South Africa has two of Tasha Alexander's Lady Emily series short stories for R24.15 (+ tax of 3.38, total R27.53). So that's AUD2.28, and probably under USD2.

Star of the East (2014)
Blurb:

Spoiler:

Emily and Colin Hargreaves make it a rule to spend as little time as possible with her parents in Kent, but are unable to refuse Lady Catherine Bromley's invitation to join them for a pre-Christmas party that includes the family of Ala Kapur Singh, a powerful Punjabi maharaja who has come to England after receiving the Order of the Star of India.

Lady Bromley, quite taken with the exotic beauty and spectacular jewels of the maharani and her daughter, Sunita, throws herself with abandon into her own version of Indian culture, planning a feast she is certain will be more spectacular than any seen on the sub-continent.

When a priceless diamond maang tika and a simple gold bangle disappear from Sunita's room, a diplomatic incident seems imminent, particularly after the maang tika turns up in Emily's possession.

Emily may have what appears to be the more valuable of the two pieces, but the maang tika cannot be worn without the bangle, upon which is engraved the words necessary to ward off a curse placed on the set five hundred years ago by a princess forced to forsake the man she loved.

Sunita must wear the maang tika at her wedding but cannot do so without the bangle. Can Emily convince the maharaja that she is not a thief? And, more important, can she and Colin find the bangle?

That Silent Night (2015)
blurb:

Spoiler:

In this new short story from Tasha Alexander, Lady Emily and her dashing husband Colin are spending a few days in London, doing some last-minute Christmas shopping and making the most of the time alone, when they find themselves in the middle of an unexpected mystery.

The couple is just getting cozy, not at all bothered by the storm outside. But when Lady Emily looks out the window to see a woman standing in the blowing snow, without a coat, an eerie feeling falls over her, and she rushes out to help, only to find that the woman has disappeared.

Colin is convinced her eyes were playing tricks on her, but Emily is haunted by the woman's image. Clearly, there is something spooky afoot, and she is determined to get to the bottom of it. . . .

Edit
I've just realised that both these short stories are also at Kobo US & CA for USD1.99 and CAD1.99

Edit 2
Both these short stories are EPUB3 if that is of concern to anyone.

[Little.Egret]

Endeavour Books

Crime's Masquerader by Angus MacVicar

It is a wild winter's night on the west coast of Scotland and Dr. Peter Montgomery's nerves are jumping.

Ten miles away, on the heavily guarded research laboratory of Colt Island, a man is lying with a bullet in his shoulder and a shroud of secrecy surrounding him.
When Peter is called upon in the middle of the night to perform a secret operation, he is immediately drawn to accepting the very generous offer.
Curious, amoral and motivated by greed, the doctor blindly accepts.
However, upon arriving at the island, built by the celebrated philanthropist Sir Neville Raymond, Peter realizes that appearances aren't always what they seem.
He soon finds himself embroiled in a mystery of murder and deception that stretches far beyond the quiet seaside village.

Angus MacVicar was a prolific and much loved Scottish writer specialising in crime thrillers, science fiction and autobiography.


Dig Two Graves by Edwin Alexander

Private investigator Al Hershey gets more than he bargained for when fellow Vietnam veteran Greg Baum, now a big player in the world of aeronautics, calls in a favour.
He asks him to check out a prospective business partner, an enigmatic Asian property tycoon now enjoying life in America.
It turns out there's considerably more than meets the eye to Donald Quang, a man set to unveil the new HQ of the Vietnamese-American Friendship Association, alongside President Ronald Reagan.
But it turns out that Hershey isn't the only one the Asian tycoon's tail.
British SAS soldier and trained killer, Jack Mitchell, also has a keen interest in Quang.

Edwin Alexander is also is the author of Theft of the Master - another Hershey novel

See all

https://www.amazon.com/s/?url=search...sher=endeavour

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?url=sear...sher=endeavour
https://www.amazon.ca/s/?url=search-...sher=endeavour

[sufue]

The Emerald Scepter is a non-series title by Paul Kemprecos. It has dropped to $1.99 at Kindle US.

I have quite enjoyed Kemprecos' Aristotle Plato "Soc" Socarides series, but this looks more conspiracy thriller-ish than mystery-ish, so not sure if I will give this one a try - conspiracy thrillers are usually not to my personal taste. BTW, the titles in the "Soc" series are all available at a reasonable (IMO) $3.99 for backlist titles, or available to read free via KU if you have that.

Anyway, here's the info on The Emerald Scepter:

link: https://www.amazon.com/Emerald-Scept.../dp/B00LXG9QGO

Spoiler:

Something bad happened to Matinicus “Matt” Hawkins in Afghanistan.
The ex-SEAL was grievously wounded in an ambush that killed men under his command and almost ended his life. When he pushed for an investigation, he was kicked out of the Navy with a psychiatric discharge. The doctors put his shattered leg back together, but the bitterness destroyed his marriage.

Five years later, Hawkins is jerked out of his tranquil life as a designer of undersea robots. A super-secret government group wants him to go back to Afghanistan on a strange and dangerous mission.

A Georgetown University historian has unearthed evidence that could lead to the fabulous treasure of Prester John, a legendary Christian ruler of an eastern empire.

The historian has disappeared, and the government wants Hawkins to track down the treasure as a matter of national security. The centerpiece of the trove, an emerald-encrusted gold scepter, is the linchpin in the Prophet's Necklace, code-name for a plot that is intended to kill more people than the attack on the Twin Towers and rally others to the terrorist cause.

Hawkins sees his mission to foil the plot as an opportunity to search for answers. He pulls together an eclectic team that includes his ex-wife, a former comrade-in-arms and a mentally unstable computer whiz.

Backed by his unlikely team, Hawkins will travel thousands of miles and hundreds of years on an amazing time-space odyssey. He’ll face off against a cold-blooded killer. Probe the underwater secrets of an ancient tomb. Navigate the treacherous stands of an unimaginable conspiracy. And in the process, will discover that there are treasures even more valuable than gold.

[sufue]

One non-series title and two compilations of short stories by Simon Wood have all dropped recently to $1.99 at Kindle US...no idea why or for how long.

We All Fall Down
link: https://www.amazon.com/All-Fall-Down.../dp/B007GFGTIY

Spoiler:

Hayden Duke just landed a coveted contract gig with Marin Design Engineering, largely thanks to his old friend, Shane Fallon. Shane had drifted away in recent years, only to resurface with a dream job for Hayden. The gig seems like a cinch until Hayden discovers that a key designer on the top-secret project has just committed suicide by walking straight into the ocean.

The dream job becomes a nightmare when Shane takes his own life in a seemingly drug induced stupor. The only clue to Shane’s death is an e-mail with an encrypted file he sends to Hayden. It’s a file people would kill to possess.

The police already suspect Hayden in the death—because of a bogus drug charge from the past—and finding anyone to trust seems impossible. Now Hayden’s got to risk losing everything…before he loses his life.

From the author of Paying the Piper and Accidents Waiting to Happen, We All Fall Down is the latest installment of Simon Wood’s pedal-to-the-metal thriller catalog.

Asking for Trouble
link: https://www.amazon.com/Asking-Troubl.../dp/B007GFGQZK

Spoiler:

Not every crime is committed with intent, but each has one thing in common: the guilty party was asking for trouble.

In “Making Ends Meet,” Richard can’t stand the idea of supporting his deadbeat in-laws anymore, so he decides to remove them from his life—permanently. Matt is ready to reform his brawling ways, but the group he joins doesn’t turn out to be a typical 12-step program, in “The Taskmasters.” “Protecting the Innocent” features Nick, who fails to heed the warnings of his girlfriend’s possessive brother. And with “A Gun in the House,” Leah refuses to move from her beloved home, leading to protective measures with disastrous results. These and six others send out the invitation for disaster—one that’s gladly accepted.

The ten taut tales in this collection from award-winning crime-fiction author Simon Wood are rife with good intentions gone bad—and bad intentions gone worse. Filled with jaw-dropping twists and turns, Asking for Trouble is a wild ride that will leave readers clamoring for more.

Dragged into Darkness
link: https://www.amazon.com/Dragged-Into-.../dp/B007GFGR36

Spoiler:

People spend their entire lives staving off the dark—but no matter the measures taken, black paths and shadowy pits lurk in the unlikeliest of places, waiting to pull the unwary into the depths of despair.

These eleven tales offer a morbid sampling of the many forms and fashions of terror—from the subtle prickling of neck hairs at the kiss of a ghostly breeze to the raw-throated screams and feverish clawing of a desperate fight for survival.

Witness eleven people torn from their ordinary lives and cast into twisted realities that test their sanity, faith, and very will to live…

A pilot must land a crippled aircraft on an impossible runway…

A doctor feels far too much sympathy for his deformed patients…

A schoolgirl’s secret contract could cost her mother’s soul…

A woman whose pack-rat obsessions hide the obscene…

For these and seven others, the darkness comes from within and without, subtle, deadly…and relentless.

[sufue]

Two Inspector Ghote titles and two non-series titles from HRF Keating are on US Kindle Countdown, at $0.99 for about one more day before going up to $1.99 for an unknown amount of time.

Inspector Ghote's Good Crusade, #2
link: https://www.amazon.com/Inspector-Gho.../dp/B00HRCC9YY

Spoiler:

This was no ordinary Bombay murder, for the arsenic victim was Frank Masters, American millionaire and philanthropist. The case was bound to attract much public attention. But, hounded by his superiors, Inspector Ghote finds that his demands for evidence and facts are met with nothing but confusing lies and bewildering evasions..

Doing Wrong, #21
link: https://www.amazon.com/Doing-Wrong-I.../dp/B00G9A5154

Spoiler:

Inspector Ghote is sent from Bombay to Banares to investigate the peculiar circumstances surrounding Mrs. Shoba Popatkar's murder - a beloved national figure, known throughout the sub-continent for her lifelong commitment to virtuous causes. He feels only too keenly the official pressure to come up with a simple solution. Can he manage to satisfy both his superiors and his own need to discover the whole truth? Certainly, there are frustrating obstacles blocking his path as he doggedly makes his way through the throngs of the city's narrow lanes seeking the killer, not the least of which are the uncooperative local police officials.

Death of a Fat God, non-series
link: https://www.amazon.com/Death-Fat-God.../dp/B00CQ75UIW

Spoiler:

By the time you’ve finished this book you’ll have got to know as exotic a collection of characters as ever trod an opera stage, gave forth with an aria, or trampled hard on each other’s egos. And you’ll have had the opportunity of matching your wits against those of Superintendent Pryde, C.I.D., as he struggles to solve a murder that almost any of the cast might have committed.

A Rush on the Ultimate, non-series
link: https://www.amazon.com/Rush-Ultimate.../dp/B00CQ75QGI

Spoiler:

To all appearances, Humphrey Boddershaw, the amiable headmaster of Ambrose House Preparatory School for Boys is a man with hardly a care - or an enemy - in the world. How deceptive appearances prove to be when a house party assembles at Ambrose House early in September for a week of croquet matches. One of the guests, Cicely Ravell, makes no secret of the fact that she finds her host to be a violent and wicked man. The local police superintendent reports there is a convict on the loose who has an old score to settle with Humphrey. Then, one night at dinner, Humphrey's own niece threatens to kill him. Still, it gives everyone something of a start when Humphrey Boddershaw is found murdered. And something of a jolt as they begin to realize that someone staying at Ambrose House is quite probably a murderer.

[ATDrake]

In Canada at Kobo (presumably matched at other Canadian retailers), a number of titles are going dirt-cheap as part of the Victoria Day long weekend sale, still good for the next couple of hours (sometimes Kobo has a nasty habit of expiring sale prices an hour or two before midnight Eastern Time, though). These are really good prices, especially if you like Scandinavian crime.

A number of titles by Sweden's Liza Marklund are just $1.99 each from Random House Canada. This is pretty much the lowest I've ever seen them, and I will be buying the lot shortly.

Norway's Jo Nesbø has two of the latest of his crime thrillers for $4.99, and an omnibus edition of three of his Harry Hole novels (#7-9, IIRC), for just $4.99 (regularly somewhere in the $25 range). ETA: I should note that the omnibus, which I bought and read years ago when last it was on sale at this price, is a good jumping-on point for the series, as the books immediately prior wrapped up a significant story-arc, and the first book in the omnibus starts a new direction for the character and introduces new characters to his supporting cast. Also, FWIW, I didn't find Blood on Snow, 1st novel of the new series, all that compelling when I read it from the library and would personally wait for an even lower price, but maybe the 2nd is better.

Sweden's Lars Kepler has several titles in the Joona Linna series at $2.99-$4.99. (The omnibus edition of the #1-3 has previously been on sale, so you may need to check your records.)

There's also some of Alan Bradley's Flavia de Luce series at $2.99 each, and Linwood Barclay at $3.99, and some Maureen Jennings (author of the Murdoch Mysteries series that the popular TV show is based upon) and Peter Robinson et al. at $4.99 or less.

Linkage: Page-turning thrillers & mysteries

Also, for the Francophones, Kobo Canada has a sale (not limited to the long weekend, as far as I can tell, but probably just until the end of the month), on French-language mystery/thrillers, both native and translated. I'll note that it includes titles by Sweden's Vivica Sten and Spain's Antonio Garrido at a significant discount. These authors' particular sale books have been published in English translation by Amazon's AmazonCrossing imprint, in case you wanted to pick up some language-practice fodder at a low cost.

Linkage: Polars en promo à plus de 50% de rabais!

[sufue]

Thanks for the heads up! FYI, as of 5 am US Pacific time on May 24, these prices seemed to still be available - I picked up a couple of the Alan Bradley/Flavia de Luce titles at $2.99, and one of the Liza Marklund titles at $1.99. Also Gail Bowen's next-to-latest, 12 Rose Street, at $4.99.

Originally Posted by ATDrake

In Canada at Kobo (presumably matched at other Canadian retailers), a number of titles are going dirt-cheap as part of the Victoria Day long weekend sale, still good for the next couple of hours (sometimes Kobo has a nasty habit of expiring sale prices an hour or two before midnight Eastern Time, though). These are really good prices, especially if you like Scandinavian crime.

A number of titles by Sweden's Liza Marklund are just $1.99 each from Random House Canada. This is pretty much the lowest I've ever seen them, and I will be buying the lot shortly.

Norway's Jo Nesbø has two of the latest of his crime thrillers for $4.99, and an omnibus edition of three of his Harry Hole novels (#7-9, IIRC), for just $4.99 (regularly somewhere in the $25 range). ETA: I should note that the omnibus, which I bought and read years ago when last it was on sale at this price, is a good jumping-on point for the series, as the books immediately prior wrapped up a significant story-arc, and the first book in the omnibus starts a new direction for the character and introduces new characters to his supporting cast. Also, FWIW, I didn't find Blood on Snow, 1st novel of the new series, all that compelling when I read it from the library and would personally wait for an even lower price, but maybe the 2nd is better.

Sweden's Lars Kepler has several titles in the Joona Linna series at $2.99-$4.99. (The omnibus edition of the #1-3 has previously been on sale, so you may need to check your records.)

There's also some of Alan Bradley's Flavia de Luce series at $2.99 each, and Linwood Barclay at $3.99, and some Maureen Jennings (author of the Murdoch Mysteries series that the popular TV show is based upon) and Peter Robinson et al. at $4.99 or less.

Linkage: Page-turning thrillers & mysteries

Also, for the Francophones, Kobo Canada has a sale (not limited to the long weekend, as far as I can tell, but probably just until the end of the month), on French-language mystery/thrillers, both native and translated. I'll note that it includes titles by Sweden's Vivica Sten and Spain's Antonio Garrido at a significant discount. These authors' particular sale books have been published in English translation by Amazon's AmazonCrossing imprint, in case you wanted to pick up some language-practice fodder at a low cost.

Linkage: Polars en promo à plus de 50% de rabais!

[sufue]

For the Love of Old Bones is a collection of historical mystery short stories by Michael Jecks, who is also the author of the Knights Templar series. It seems to go up and down in price quite a bit, but has dropped to $0.99 at Kindle US - no idea why or for how long.

link: https://www.amazon.com/Love-Old-Bone.../dp/B01C8WSPM2

Spoiler:

Death and deceit stalk the bleak moorlands of medieval Devonshire in this captivating collection of short stories from the acclaimed author Michael Jecks.

THE CORONER’S TALE
In the remote Devonshire town of Crediton, a young girl is found dead in an alleyway, raped and murdered. As the local Bailiff and a visiting knight investigate the crime, it comes to light that the bailiff holds an incriminating secret – one that has the potential to place this agent of the government on the wrong side of the law.

FOR THE LOVE OF OLD BONES
A group of monks journeying from Launceston Abbey across the wild wastelands of Dartmoor are waylaid by brigands. During the brawl, their abbot is put to death at the blade of a knife, but the murderer neglected to steal his money filled purse. When the local bailiff discovers that the group are conducting a holy relic overseas to France, he begins to suspect that there are murkier motivations at play.

THE AMOROUS ARMOURER
A blacksmith is found dead in his lodgings, the door locked from the inside. As the town’s meticulously minded bailiff goes about his investigation, a veritable rogue’s gallery of culprits drift in and out of focus - but the guilty party is the least suspect of all.

A CLERICAL ERROR
One of the king’s forresters lies dead in a gully on the moor, his head smashed in with a rock, and the only witness to the murder being the forrester’s loyal mastiff, who stands vigil over his master’s body. As the list of suspects increases with every local rivalry which comes to light, the outcome of the case will surprise all involved.

DANCE OF DEATH
1348, the year of the Great Death. Refugees flood into the city of Exeter from the plague-ravaged countryside surrounding the city. A man and a young boy from the village of Rookford arrive separately, yet both share knowledge of a horrifying secret and come to the realisation that even in these times of turmoil, the past is inescapable.

[sufue]

Simon Said, the first in the Prof Simon Shaw series by Sarah Shaber (lots of alliteration there ), is currently free at Kindle US.

link: https://www.amazon.com/Simon-Said-Pr.../dp/B004RJ9G0U

Spoiler:

Winner of the Malice Domestic/St. Martin's Press Best First Traditional Mystery Award

Completely reformatted.

Forensic historian Simon Shaw likes his murders old and cold, and his first case fits the bill. An archeologist friend has found a skeleton with a bullet hole in its skull under historic Bloodworth House, and Simon investigates with his usual doggedness until he discovers that the corpse is Anne Bloodworth, an heiress who disappeared in 1926. Shaw feels compelled to find out who killed her. But this turns out to be more than an academic exercise when someone who wants to hide past secrets tries to murder him!


"Shaber charms us with her personable prof and her warm, vibrant portrait of small-town Southern life." -New York Times Book Review

“A most auspicious introduction.”--The Washington Times

“Sarah Shaber takes modern Southern Life and gives it a slow-roasting in this gently mocking tale of past murder in present-day Raleigh. Spiced with old-timey prejudices and up-to-date neuroses, and served with a generous helping of Southern–fried academia, this is a perfectly delicious book!”
-Margaret Maron, Author of the Deborah Knott Mystery Series

And if you like the first one, the other four titles in this series have recently dropped to $0.99 at Kindle US, no idea why or for how long. I'm in a hurry and don't have time for all the individual blurbs and links, but here's a price-ascending link that shows all five - the free first title and the other four.

link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/search/?sea...price-asc-rank

[badgoodDeb]

Looks like fun!

[piperclassique]

For the love of old bones is on Amazon UK for 0.99. Good find, Suefue

[cromag]

Originally Posted by sufue

Simon Said, the first in the Prof Simon Shaw series by Sarah Shaber (lots of alliteration there ), is currently free at Kindle US.

link: https://www.amazon.com/Simon-Said-Pr.../dp/B004RJ9G0U



And if you like the first one, the other four titles in this series have recently dropped to $0.99 at Kindle US, no idea why or for how long. I'm in a hurry and don't have time for all the individual blurbs and links, but here's a price-ascending link that shows all five - the free first title and the other four.

link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/search/?sea...price-asc-rank

Thanks! I had the first three and enjoyed them. Now I've got 4 and 5.

[Little.Egret]

Originally Posted by sufue

Simon Said, the first in the Prof Simon Shaw series by Sarah Shaber (lots of alliteration there ), is currently free at Kindle US.

link: https://www.amazon.com/Simon-Said-Pr.../dp/B004RJ9G0U



And if you like the first one, the other four titles in this series have recently dropped to $0.99 at Kindle US,

Also free and £0.99 in UK

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B004RJ9G0U/

Book 1 of 5 in https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/...ies_rw_dp_labf

[sufue]

Service for Two is the third in the Pennyfoot Hotel series by Kate Kingsbury. It is free right now at Kindle US. I'm posting from my phone, so no blurb, but here's the link.

https://www.amazon.com/Service-Penny.../dp/B009ZLEE3Y

EDIT - Now at a computer, here's the blurb:

Spoiler:

The Pennyfoot hides many secrets and its downstairs staff keeps a tight lip, even when the Edwardian aristocrats are spotted dallying with damsels in the boudoirs, or gambling in the forbidden card rooms hidden below the floorboards. Should now and then one of the hotel guests fall prey to a dastardly murderer, however, it is up to Cecily Sinclair to restore order before Scotland Yard steps in and shuts down her infamous seaside hotel.

SERVICE FOR TWO

The whole village of Badger’s End mourns the death of their beloved doctor. Imagine their shock and horror at the funeral when the open casket reveals a stranger’s murdered body. ho is the victim, who killed him and most important of all, where is the doctor’s body? When it’s discovered that the victim had connections to the Pennyfoot, Cecily must find all the answers.