FREE/BARGAIN — Mystery, Suspense & Thrillers

[sufue]

The Empire of Night is the third in the Christopher Marlowe Cobb series by Robert Olen Butler. I had never heard of this series until the first title, The Hot Country, went on sale back in 2017, and I read it mostly because it was set in such an unusual setting - the Mexico Civil War/1914. I really liked that one, so am glad to see Empire drop to $1.99 at Kindle US - probably due to a new title out this month...

link: https://www.amazon.com/Empire-Night-...dp/B00JLQ4O4C/

Spoiler:

In the first two books of his acclaimed Christopher Marlowe Cobb series, The Hot Country and The Star of Istanbul, Pulitzer Prize winner Robert Olen Butler captured the hearts of historical crime fiction fans with the artfulness of his World War I settings and his charismatic leading man, a Chicago journalist recruited by American intelligence.

In The Empire of Night, it is 1915, and President Woodrow Wilson is still assessing the war's threat to the United States. After proving himself during the Lusitania mission, Kit is now a full-blown spy, working undercover in a castle on the Kentish coast owned by a suspected British government mole named Sir Albert Stockman. And Kit is again thrown together with a female spy—his own mother, the beautiful and mercurial Isabel Cobb, who also happens to be a world-famous stage actress. Starring in a touring production of Hamlet, Isabel's offstage role is to keep tabs on the supposed mole, an ardent fan of hers, while Kit tries to figure out Stockman's secret agenda. Following his mother and her escort from the relative safety of Britain into the lion's den of Berlin, Kit must remain in character, even under the very nose of the Kaiser.

[sufue]

Two Barbara Nadel titles have dropped to £1.99 at Kindle UK.

Arabesk, Inspector Ikmen, #3
link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B005DXP79I

Spoiler:

Inspector Ikmen and Inspector Suleyman return in Arabesk, Barbara Nadel's third novel in the gripping Inspector Ikmen series. Perfect for fans of Jason Goodwin and Adrian Magson.

'The delight of the Nadel book is the sense of being taken beneath the surface of an ancient city which most visitors see for a few days at most' - Independent

When the wife of one of Istanbul's best known popular singers is found dead and his baby daughter missing, the newly promoted Inspector Suleyman, scion of one of Turkey's most aristocratic families, finds himself plunged into the magnificently vulgar, overblown world of Arabesk music, dominated by an ageing star, the monstrous chanteuse, Tansu.

After the Mourning, Francis Hancock, #2
link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B005FVM0TI

Spoiler:

After the Mourning is the second novel in the acclaimed Francis Hancock World War Two crime series by Barbara Nadel. Perfect for fans of Martin Walker and Maureen Jennings.

'The denouement is exciting... the atmosphere of a city under nightly bombardment is very well portrayed and I'm looking forward to the next book' - Sunday Telegraph

Undertaker Francis Hancock has seen the worst that humanity can do to itself. Why then does the murder of a young gypsy girl in Epping Forest move him so much? Travellers, gypsies, the homeless, deserters and German spies inhabit this stretch of open ground that was once her home. Francis knows it's not wise to delve into this human melting pot, but he is drawn to the exotic customs of the gypsies, their music and magic. But as he investigates the girl's murder further, the death toll rises and Francis uncovers a much bigger conspiracy, at the heart of which lies something even Adolf Hitler is prepared to kill for...

[rhari79]

Originally Posted by MickeyC

Free on Amazon the seven book set of mysteries by Dev Haskell

https://www.amazon.com/Dev-Haskell-B...ll+box+set+1-7

Currently the box set 8-14 are free on various Amazon sites:

https://www.amazon.com/Dev-Haskell-B.../dp/B07FN3HSW6

[sufue]

Silver City Scandal is the 9th in the Keith Calder series by Gerald Hammond. It is free right now at Kindle US.

link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GBWLDXB

Spoiler:

The silver city is Aberdeen, capital of the North Sea oil industry, and it is here that Keith Calder is summoned to give evidence in the trial of Hugh Donald for murder...

Keith’s ballistic evidence proves unexpected and the result is that peculiarly Scottish verdict – Not Proven.

But ‘Not Proven’ is a long way from ‘Not Guilty’. Hugh Donald is employed by one of the giants in the oil industry. His position, in which he holds the financial power to make or break contractors, is one which demands trust. Hugh Donald and his employers are jointly determined that his name must be cleared.

Donald and his solicitor, Jeremy Prather, persuade Keith to reinvestigate in the hope of finding the real killer. The evidence is months old, but they have two starting points: the substitution of another gun in place of the murder weapon and the conviction that the motive is connected to Donald’s working life.

Will they be able to unravel the crime?

As we have come to expect from Gerald Hammond, this is a whodunnit of ingenuity and tension with Keith Calder’s own particular brand of humour.

[sufue]

Hard-Boiled Chicks: Three Kickass Female Detectives is a collection of three titles by Julie Smith. It is free right now at Kindle US. Titles include: Crescent City Connection, Louisiana Lament, and Other People's Skeletons.

link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079MDL9WL

Spoiler:

Forget hard-boiled dicks, fellas... it's hard-boiled chicks in this tough-as-nails anthology featuring a trio of badass leading ladies.

Hard-Boiled Chicks is a collection of the grittiest, edgiest, and darkest mysteries award-winning Julie Smith has to offer.

These stories highlight cold-blooded cop killing and civilian justice gone awry, murder staged as an overdose on New Orleans' streets, and the discovery of a party girl's body in her own gaudy pool. Not for the faint of heart, these hard-as-nails mystery novels chronicle three celebrated female sleuths at their most thick-skinned--and will leave readers steeped in realism... and shivering.
CRESCENT CITY CONNECTION
“If it’s gritty realism you’re craving, gently simmered with spicy suspense and marvelously memorable characters, Smith is the perfect New Orleans tour guide.” —The Jackson Clarion-Ledger

Sure, New Orleans is known for corruption, but suddenly the good guys get a break—an honest police chief. And then someone guns him down. When a terrifying organization called The Jury takes out the cop-killer, Detective Skip Langdon’s on the case. But no one cares! After all, the guy was a cop-killer. Skip cares really a lot—because she suspects The Jury’s the brainchild of her old nemesis, self-described preacher Errol Jacomine.


LOUISIANA LAMENT

"From biker bar to college campus, the chase is on ... readers will remain hooked until the killer's comeuppance in the clever conclusion." -Publisher's Weekly

One stormy day Talba gets an emergency call from Janessa, the sister she barely knows, and arrives to find a body floating in a swimming pool—the mortal husk of Allyson Brown, known in New Orleans literary circles as the Girl Gatsby. Like Gatsby, Allyson was one of those mysterious rich people who move to town, give amazing parties, and seem made of moonbeams. Investigating, Talba finds the reality behind the Gatsby glamour.

OTHER PEOPLE'S SKELETONS

Secrets spill out of these pages like hornets out of a nest, each with its own distinct sting, as author Smith weaves a thrill-packed and complicated San Francisco mystery that’s as much about how little we know about our nearest and dearest as it is about whodunit.

Rebecca’s shocked when Chris Nicholson, her glamorous law partner, is arrested for murder--but not nearly so shocked as when she discovers Chris can’t come up with an alibi. What she was doing, Chris says, involves a secret so damaging she’d be drummed out of San Francisco legal circles if anyone knew. All she’ll say is what her secret isn’t--crime, drugs, sex, alcohol, addiction, illness (mental or otherwise), or an eating disorder. So what’s left? Sure enough, when Rebecca uncovers it, her world tilts on its axis.

Editor's note: These are complete novels. None is the first in the series--they chosen for their grit and street-savvy. But no problem--none of the series need to be read in order.

[sufue]

A bunch of titles (16) in the Constable Nick series by Nicholas Rhea have dropped to $0.99 at Kindle US.

Link for them all: https://www.amazon.com/gp/search/?se...price-asc-rank

[sufue]

Dark Vineyard is the second in the excellent (IMO) Bruno, Chief of Police series by Martin Walker. It has dropped to £0.99 at Kindle UK.

link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B004EYT57W

Spoiler:

Industrial sabotage spills over into murder. Bruno, chief of police must balance tradition and progress while bringing a killer to justice in the second instalment in this mouthwatering series of mysteries.

Just before dawn one summer morning Bruno is summoned by the wail of the siren in the little town of St Denis in the Périgord. A fire is raging in a local barn and spreading to the surrounding fields. When Bruno arrives at the scene, the smell of petrol leaves no doubt: it was arson. The barn belongs to an agricultural research company experimenting with genetically modified crops - an unpopular move in deeply traditional St Denis.

Meanwhile, a Californian producer wants to set up a wine-making business in the valley. Despite the money and jobs this would bring, many fear it would destroy their town. When a violent death follows the crop burning, it looks as though someone is prepared to do anything to stop the scheme. Bruno will have to draw on all his local knowledge to reach the truth.

[Little.Egret]

Originally Posted by sufue

Silver City Scandal is the 9th in the Keith Calder series by Gerald Hammond. It is free right now at Kindle US.

link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GBWLDXB

UK etc too

link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07GBWLDXB

[rbruce1314]

Originally Posted by sufue

Silver City Scandal is the 9th in the Keith Calder series by Gerald Hammond. It is free right now at Kindle US.

link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GBWLDXB

Nice - a series I'm into. From the blurb it looks like it's the last in series (published 1986)

UK as well:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07GBWLDXB?tag=mr060-20

Thanks.

EDIT Just been on Goodreads and the blurb is wrong: they think there were 23!!!!!

[soulfuldog]

Couple of the excellent Inspector Gamache series (books 1 & 12) on offer in UK

A Great Reckoning, Louise Penny - 99p
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01DM0JH30/
https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/a-great-reckoning-1

Still Life, Louise Penny - £2.99
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004TL27PM/
https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/still-life-4

[melmac]

Six novels from the Tom Thorne series by Mark Billingham are 99p today only, sorry for lack of proper links as I'm not in the right region Amazon is not playing ball but hopefully, you'll find them here

Mark Billingham Kindle edition sorted by price

amazon Uk always seems to have good crimebook deals constantly jealous downunder

[sufue]

Today's Kindle Daily Deal is six titles by Michael Connelly for $2.99 to $4.99 each.

• The Late Show, Renée Ballard, $4.99
• The Black Echo, Harry Bosch, $2.99
• A Darkness More than Night, Terry McCaleb & Harry Bosch, $3.99
• City of Bones, Harry Bosch, $2.99
• Trunk Music, Harry Bosch, $2.99
• Angels Flight, Harry Bosch, $2.99

link to the deal page: https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=s9_acsd..._i=11552285011

[sufue]

Hardcore Twenty-Four is (obviously) the 24th, and most recent (until November), in the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich. It is $2.99 today as a BN US Daily Find, matched at Kindle US. Not matched, as of now at least, at Kobo US.

BN: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/har...780399179204#/
Kindle US: https://www.amazon.com/Hardcore-Twen...dp/B01N3KJB3E/

Spoiler:

Janet Evanovich’s #1 New York Times bestselling sensation Stephanie Plum returns in her twenty-forth thriller as mutilated corpses litter the streets of New Jersey...

Trouble comes in bunches for Stephanie Plum. First, professional grave robber and semi-professional loon, Simon Diggery, won’t let her take him in until she agrees to care for his boa constrictor, Ethel. Stephanie’s main qualification for babysitting an extremely large snake is that she owns a stun gun—whether that’s for use on the wandering serpent or the petrified neighbors remains to be seen.

Events take a dark turn when headless bodies start appearing across town. At first, it’s just corpses from a funeral home and the morgue that have had the heads removed. But when a homeless man is murdered and dumped behind a church Stephanie knows that she’s the only one with a prayer of catching this killer.

If all that’s not enough, Diesel’s back in town. The 6-foot-tall, blonde-haired hunk is a man who accepts no limits—that includes locked doors, closed windows and underwear. Trenton’s hottest cop, Joe Morelli isn’t pleased at this unexpected arrival nor is Ranger, the high-powered security consultant who has his own plans for Stephanie.

As usual Jersey’s favorite bounty hunter is stuck in the middle with more questions than answers. What’s the deal with Grandma Mazur’s latest online paramour? Who is behind the startling epidemic of mutilated corpses? And is the enigmatic Diesel’s sudden appearance a coincidence or the cause of recent deadly events?

[sufue]

Now £1.01 at Kindle UK. Link below is still good.

Originally Posted by sufue

At the Dying of the Year is the fifth in the Richard Nottingham series by Chris Nickson. It has dropped to £1.12 at Kindle UK.

link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dying-Year-...dp/B00CH0YTCQ/

[sufue]

Aunt Dimity and the Widow's Curse is the next to most recent (2017) in the Aunt Dimity series by Nancy Atherton. It has dropped to $1.99 at Kindle and Kobo US. Titles in this series don't go on sale very often, so grab it if you want it!

Kindle US: https://www.amazon.com/Aunt-Dimity-W...dp/B01KGZVWTG/
Kobo US: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/aun...-widow-s-curse

Spoiler:

Nancy Atherton's twenty-second cozy mystery in the beloved, nationally bestselling Aunt Dimity series.

It's early April in the small English village of Finch. Lori Shepherd's husband and sons are spending Easter break camping, and Lori is perfectly happy to be left at home with Bess, spared a week of roughing it with a curious toddler. The two attend a village events committee meeting and Lori is astonished when the elderly, soft-spoken widow Mrs. Annabelle Craven stands to make an announcement: she's decided to hold a quilting bee in the old schoolhouse.

At the quilting bee, Lori ends up seated beside Mrs. Craven, delighted at the opportunity to learn more about her neighbor's life in the village of Old Cowerton. But dear, sweet Mrs. Craven's stories reveal a startling secret about her first husband's death.

With Aunt Dimity's advice, Lori sets out to learn the truth about what the residents of Old Cowerton refer to as the "widow's curse"--and the deeper she digs, the more horrifying the tale becomes, until she discovers the most astounding revelation of all.

Watch out for Atherton's latest, Aunt Dimity and the King's Ransom, coming out in July 2018!