FREE/BARGAIN - Mystery, Suspense, Thriller - 2015

[sufue]

The Fires of the Gods is the 8th in the Sugawara no Akitada historical (11th century Japan) mystery series by I. J. Parker. It's on US Kindle Countdown at $0.99 for about 5 1/2 more days before going up to $6.99. I have read most of the titles in this series, and quite like them...

link: http://www.amazon.com/Fires-Gods-Aki.../dp/B0083D2400

Spoiler:

THE FIRES OF THE GODS

The capital is plagued by unexplained fires, and panic threatens to break out, but Akitada has his own problems to worry about. His ailing wife expects a child and he loses his job to a political appointee. When he tries to confront the nobleman who is responsible for his dismissal, he ends up suspected of his murder. With no income and a growing family to support, Akitada desperately plunges into the investigation of this crime and a search for a missing youth, while Tora tracks a gang of young arsonists. These seemingly unrelated cases converge, and before Akitada can uncover the sinister plot behind the fires, he almost loses his own life and those of his wife and newborn child.

[Fbone]

Playing God (Joe Burgess #1) by Kate Flora is FREE at most retailers. Originally pubbed in 2006 by Five Star. GR rating 3.58.

http://smile.amazon.com/Playing-God-...ds=playing+god

https://play.google.com/store/books/...d=PCEkBQAAQBAJ

[ATDrake]

Free from the author via KDP Select @ Amazon:

Convenience Boy & Other Stories of Japan by Agatha Award-winner Sujata Massey, a mini-collection of mystery shorts tying into said award-winning Rei Shimura series starring a Japanese-American antiques dealer in Tokyo, whose novels have been published by HarperCollins & Severn House.

In this mini-book of short stories, Rei Shimura solves 3 very different mysteries. The title story, "The Convenience Boy," tests Japanese romantic rituals in an unexpectedly humorous way. "Junior High Samurai" sends Rei back to her teaching roots as she becomes entwined in a bullying incident. "The Deepest Blue" is a poignant exploration of the conflict between family love and ambition. This 50-page trilogy is a must for anyone who wants everything related to Rei Shimura.

Free again from the author via KDP Select @ Amazon: (linkage for the lot)

Czechmate, A Time to Die, and The Dongola Script by Larry Johns, assorted espionage & action adventure thrillers set in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and WWII Asia-Pacific, originally out from UK publisher Robert Hale in 1980 & 1981, respectively. Johns also offers a more recently-written Cold War espionage thriller, if you're interested.

(for The Dongola Script, which looks like the most interesting of the lot) A group of archaeologists, sifting through burial mounds in Saudi Arabia, make a discovery that threatens to tear the Middle East apart. As the ripples of greed, intrigue and murder extend outwards to engulf the rest of the world the polyglot team of diggers vanish behind a curtain of lies and double-cross. Jackie Ryderbeit is pitched into the maelstrom in an effort to quell the rising storm. The fate of the archaeologists slowly becomes apparent, which only serves to lead Ryderbeit further and further away from the truth. Friend becomes enemy, and enemy becomes friend, as the story unfolds beneath the white-hot sun. But truth is always stranger than fiction, as Ryderbeit discovers to his cost.

Free again from the author via KDP Select @ Amazon:

Sloane Hall by Libby Sternberg, her gender-flipped 1920s Hollywood take on Jane Eyre, originally out from Five Star in 2010. Sternberg also writes under the pseudonym Libby Malin for Sourcebooks.

In 1920s Hollywood, young John Doyle learns the craft of cinematography when a stupid mistake costs him his job. On a tip, he heads to Sloane Hall, the estate of a famous silent screen actress, Pauline Sloane, where he lands a position as chauffeur. Sloane Hall first offers him peace as he enjoys the bounty of the luxurious home, then unrest as its beautiful namesake returns and starts preparing for her first talking picture. Despite his best efforts to resist, John falls hopelessly in love with his employer. His future brightens, however, when she appears to return his affection, leading to plans for a secret wedding—until other awful secrets intrude, leading to heartbreak and separation. A story of obsession and forgiveness, Libby Sternberg’s Sloane Hall was inspired by Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre. It is a wonderful companion book to that classic. Some strong language in this book, however.

Free again from the author via KDP Select @ Amazon:

The Millenium Man by Kim Kinrade, a hidden identity mystery thriller originally out from Alberta-based small press Picasso Publications in 1999.

Indicted for murder in one of the worst crimes against the Northwest Mounted Police in their storied history 16 year-old Harley Melanson escapes to join the Canadian army, which is heading off to fight in the mud of Flanders during World War I. Behind him is Robert DeWolfe, an inspector with the newly-formed Royal Canadian Mounted Police, who is one step behind him in, what eventually turns out to be, an 84 year chase.

While eluding the police inspector, Melanson becomes a fighter pilot, flying in four conflicts and meeting heroes and villains along the way such as Billy Bishop, Will Barker, Hermann Göring, Sir Arthur Currie, Benito Mussolini, Joseph Stalin, German flying ace, Adolph Galland, Ernest Hemingway and Winston Churchill.

Now masquerading as Brian Shelby, a 99 year-old Halifax multi-millionaire whose fortune was made in the aviation field, Harley is visited by members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Justice Department who mean to find out if the Order of Canada recipient is really a war hero, or a fugitive “cop-killer.”

[sufue]

Some new Endeavour Press US Kindle Countdown deals - all except one are at $0.99 for about 6 1/2 more days before going up to $3.99.

Blackstone and the Rendezvous with Death is the first title in the Sam Blackstone series by Sally Spencer (pen name for Alan Rustage)
link: http://www.amazon.com/Blackstone-Ren.../dp/B00LG0SVNG

Spoiler:

The body of a young man fished out of the Thames is of little interest to Londoners caught up in the excitement of Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

Yet to Inspector Sam Blackstone, the case is as puzzling as any he has ever come across.

Why should a corpse dressed the in rags of a commoner have the face of a gentleman?

And if this man does belong to noble stock, why has no one come forward to claim the body?

As his investigation proceeds, Blackstone finds himself entering the world of the aristocracy—in which the presence of an ordinary policeman is far from welcome—and tramping the dangerous streets of London's Little Russia—where English law and order are not welcome.

Death seems to stalk him, and as each new clue leads to nothing more than a new murder, Blackstone comes to realize that he is caught up in what may turn out to be the most horrendous crime of the century…

Blackstone and the Rendezvous with Death is an expertly plotted Victorian mystery that will keep readers guessing to the last page.

Praise for Sally Spencer:

“Spencer's finest hour: a tightly plotted puzzler with surprises at every turn” Kirkus Reviews

“Spencer is an accomplished craftsman who serves up a good puzzle and deftly solves it with intelligence and insight” Publishers Weekly

“Characters are diverse, intriguing, and believable . . . plots never fail to surprise; and the procedural details are grittily realistic” Kirkus Reviews

Sally Spencer worked as a teacher both in England and Iran - where she witnessed the fall of the Shah. She now writes full time.

Missing, Presumed Dead is the second in the Percy Peach/Lucy Blake series by J.M. Gregson
link: http://www.amazon.com/Missing-Presum.../dp/B00OK7PB94

Spoiler:

Detective Inspector ‘Percy’ Peach is not a natural sportsman.

However, as chance would have it, a recent discovery at his local club might just allow for his other talents to come to the fore.

A body has been found on the golf course.

It is that of a pregnant young woman, killed by strangulation.

Upon examining the body, they make a troubling discovery.

Her corpse has been there approximately two years.

Peach is given the case, but along with a cold trail, he must contend with his new sidekick, one DS Blake, as well as Tommy Tucker, his snobbish superior.

From the girl’s grieving parents to her former flames, everyone seems to know more about this case than they are letting on.

As the suspect list lengthens, Peach realises that the killer might be closer to home than he first thought…

'Missing, Presumed Dead' is the next thrilling installment to the DI Percy Peach series.

Praise for J M Gregson:

‘Begins with quiet observation before pouncing to murderous effect’ - Sunday Express

‘A chilling story that never flags from start to finish’ - Bolton Evening News

James Michael Gregson taught for twenty-seven years in schools, colleges and universities before concentrating on full-time writing. He has written books on subjects as diverse as golf and Shakespeare. His other crime novels include ‘Bring Forth Your Dead’, ‘Dead on Course’, ‘Making a Killing’, ‘Stranglehold’ and ‘Body Politic’.

Fear for Frances is a non-series title by Veronica Heley.
link: http://www.amazon.com/Fear-Frances-V.../dp/B00QKEIS40

Spoiler:

1881.

Frances Chard is as sensible as she is beautiful.

She does not believe in ghosts or curses, but when she became governess at Broome Court, she meets people who believed in both.

The new Lord Broome was a soldier who had recently been wounded in South Africa.

Returning to his native land, he was attacked, robbed, and brought back to the Court to die.

His family quarrelled over his will, and he was neglected by his servants.

It was hinted to Frances that Lord Broome had murdered his mistress the last time he had been home, and that the sooner he died the better.

Yet when chance took Frances to the sickroom, she found much to puzzle her.

Was Lord Broome really the villain he was made out to be?

Or was he the victim of a plot to rob him of his good name, his fortune and his life…?

As Frances strives to get nearer to the truth, she begins to fear that her life might be in grave danger too …

Praise for Veronica Heley:

‘An ingenious series debut…the cast of outrageous characters compliments a complex mystery.’ - Publishers Weekly

'Clever clueing and a shocking solution place what would otherwise have been a routine cozy above the competition.' - Kirkus Reviews

‘a winner that will appeal to fans of British cosies.’ - Library Journal

Veronica Heley has been writing for over 40 years and has written more than 70 books. Her titles include ‘Scream for Sarah’, ‘Sue for Mercy’ and ‘Cry For Kit’.

Time to Kill is the first in the David Mallin/George Coe series by Roger Ormerod
link: http://www.amazon.com/Time-Kill-Roge.../dp/B00O4FFAG6

Spoiler:

When Detective Sergeant Dave Mallin is invited for a few frames of snooker, he wasn’t expecting to be playing Eldon Kyle.

Kyle was the man who had threatened Both Mallin and his colleague Geoff Forbes with murder.

But his opponent is more deadly than even Mallin could have guessed.

And when Geoff is killed in the very same building, it seems Mallin has given Kyle a firm alibi.

Soon Geoff's wife Elsa is under threat as well.

And Mallin himself may be implicated.

Mallin must fight to prove his innocence and to find the real killer in this atmospheric crime thriller, which is perfect for fans of Peter James and Peter Robinson.

Praise for Roger Ormerod:

"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 skillful 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 (1920-2005) was a prolific writer of ingenious and densely plotted crime novels - some 35 in all - which were published in the UK and the USA. He lived in Wolverhampton and amongst other things worked as a civil servant and as a Social Security inspector – backgrounds which he made full use of in his fiction.

Farewell Gesture is a non-series title by Roger Ormerod
link: http://www.amazon.com/Farewell-Gestu.../dp/B00R6NSNPI

Spoiler:

Paul Manson hadn’t meant to kill his father. He’d just lost control

Now, back out in the world after four years in Gartree prison, Manson has information which could prevent a very different kind of crime – a cold-blooded, contract killing.

Tracking down the target, a young woman named Philomena Wise, he delays passing on his warning with fatal results: Philomena is found dead, strangled with her own scarf.

Dismayed by his failure, Manson catches the first train to the scene of the crime.

But what he finds only lands him in the middle of a tangled web of crossed wires, fake identities and mixed motives.

When another murder takes place a few days later, Manson realises he needs to find out what’s going on, and not just for his own curiosity’s sake: a convicted killer and a stranger in town, he’s now the prime suspect for both killings.

‘Farewell Gesture’ is a fast-paced crime thriller that will grip readers from the first page to the last.

Praise for Roger Ormerod:

"Fast moving... not unlike an early Dick Francis in tone and method." -Times Literary Supplement

"The British author is famous for never repeating himself in over twenty-five superb novels...At his best here...Ormerod's swift, tense adventure, enhanced by ironic humor and a touching love affair, makes a can’t-fail attraction for mystery buffs." - Publishers Weekly

Roger Ormerod lives in Wolverhampton, England, and he is the author of more than twenty novels of suspense. He entered the Civil Service in 1937, serving ten years in the county courts. He has also worked as a Social Security inspector, postman, and production control officer in a heavy industry factory. In recent years, he has devoted himself to his flourishing career as a novelist and to his photography and painting. He is the author of books including ‘Death of an Innocent’, ‘The Night She Died’ and ‘A Shot at Nothing’.

Dark Pursuits is an omnibus of Jonathan Harker thrillers (which seem to be thrillers with some paranormal - but I haven't read any) by Tony Evans. It contains Devil May Care, The Deadly Curse, and Legacy of Evil. It is at $1.99 for about 6 1/2 more days before going up to $4.99.
link: http://www.amazon.com/Dark-Pursuits-.../dp/B00LMEGSJU

Spoiler:

After the dramatic destruction of Count Dracula, Jonathan Harker has settled down to a quiet life as a junior partner in a law firm. But his reputation is about to catch up with him.

As word of his abilities spreads, clients are turning to him for help with problems which appear to have an involvement in the supernatural.

This omnibus collects the first three of Harker’s mysterious cases.

‘Devil May Care’

Harker’s first case takes him to Cornwall, where the Haywood family are worried about the imminent marriage of their daughter Flora to the elusive Sir Owen Velland. Sir Owen had been recently widowed under very suspicious circumstances and rumours are circulating in the small Cornish town that his unnatural powers and abilities may have some involvement with devil worship. Are these rumours just idle gossip? Or is there a dark truth behind what people are saying?

‘The Deadly Curse’

A series of strange and gruesome killings are taking place across London. They seem to be connected to a collection of Ancient Egyptian artefacts, originally buried in the tomb of Pharaoh Karnos II. Aided by Egyptologist Sarah Wilton, Harker and his friends must carry out their own careful investigations into the murders. Can Jonathan Harker solve this terrifying mystery? Or will he too fall prey to The Deadly Curse?

‘Legacy of Evil’

Jonathan and Mina must return to Transylvania. Jonathan is being sent to oversee the sale of the Davila Estate in Eastern Europe to Lord Tavistock. With reassurance from Van Helsing the Harkers are sure that the threat from Count Dracula is no more. And yet, when they arrive they begin to hear whispers of a new malevolence. Did their adventures 5 years ago break the curse? Or has Dracula returned in a new Legacy of Evil?

‘Dark Pursuits’ sees the return of Jonathan Harker, the hero of Bram Stoker's classic 'Dracula', in a chilling new historical mystery series.

'A brilliant recreation of one of the great characters of English fiction.' - Robert Foster, best-selling author of 'The Lunar Code'.

Tony Evans is a full-time writer. His other publications include the Hester Lynton Mystery series and adaptations of classic novels [for the “Real Reads” series]. He lives with his wife in the Yorkshire Dales.

[Fbone]

Free novella/short story on Amazon. The Last Page by Libby Fischer Hellmann , David J. Walker. She was prev pubbed by Berkeley and Poisoned Pen Press.

http://smile.amazon.com/Last-Page-Li...s=the+last+pae

[ATDrake]

Free from the author via KDP Select @ Amazon:

The Silent War by Larry Johns, a WWII-set espionage action adventure thriller with apparently some cryptoanalysis and a daring prison breakout in the plot, originally out from UK publisher Robert Hale in 1981.

In Europe, the Germans are still totally unaware that the allies have broken the complicated ENIGMA code, whilst in the Far East theatre, where the Japanese are using their own version of the ENIGMA code, an intercepted communication leads Brigadier Donald Reisman, head of British Intelligence in Calcutta, to the damning conclusion that the war’s most closely guarded secret is no longer secure.

Can he afford to test his theory when, to do so, he must open Pandora’s box? And can he afford not to?

One way or the other he must act - and quickly! Lives are at stake. Future campaigns are at stake. For without the ENIGMA secret the already hard- pressed allied armies are in danger of being swept further and further westward. Reisman’s eventual decision leads his team back into Japanese occupied Burma in an effort to free from a prison camp the one man who can answer the burning question.

ETA: free again from the author via KDP Select @ Amazon:

The October Five by "Thomas Fincham", which seems to be the new experimental marketing pseudonym of Nigerian-Canadian (IIRC) author Mobashar Qureshi (SYKM), a murder mystery originally out from Canadian small publisher Mercury Press in 2009 under the Qureshi name, and put him in Quill & Quire's (a literary/publishing magazine akin to Publishers Weekly) Top 10 Writers of the Year to Watch list or somesuch.

A Plumber, an Electrician, a Caretaker, a Locksmith, and a Butcher.

What do these men have in common?

Veteran Detective Karl Whaler is thrown into an investigation that may be the strangest and most dangerous of his career, involving the brutal murder of a young man. Unknown to him, five individuals have secretly met in a room for decades. When another victim is found, Whaler is forced to make a decision that will change his life forever.

[sufue]

The Julius Katz Collection by Dave Zeltserman is pretty much what it says - a collection of Julius Katz and Archie stories, including a never-before published novella, Julius Katz and the Case of a Sliced Ham. Most or all of the stories have been published before in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine. Some of the stories can also be found in other e-book collections.

It's a US Kindle Countdown deal at $0.99 for about 5 more days before going up to $4.99. Zeltserman's blog says this is the only time this year this collection will be on sale.

I've read a bunch of the Julius and Archie stories and books, have quite enjoyed them all, and wish there were more, so am glad to see that there is a never-before published novella in this one.

The stories in this collection are:

Julius Katz, winner of the Shamus and Derringer awards
Archie's Been Framed, winner of Ellery Queen's Readers Choice Award
One Angry Julius and Eleven Befuddled Jurors
Archie Solves the Case, winner of Ellery Queen's Readers Choice Award
Julius Katz and a Tangled Webb
Julius Accused
Julius Katz and the Case of a Sliced Ham

link: http://www.amazon.com/Julius-Katz-Co...dp/1502706733/

Spoiler:

The Julius Katz detective stories have been a favorite among mystery fans since first appearing on the pages of Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine in 2009, winning a Shamus, Derringer, and two Ellery Queen Readers Choice awards. JULIUS KATZ introduced readers to Boston's most brilliant, eccentric, and possibly laziest detective, as well as his sidekick, Archie, a tiny marvel of computer technology with the heart and soul of a hard-boiled PI.

If you haven't had a chance to meet Julius and Archie yet, now's your chance to get caught up in these clever, funny, and very unusual mystery stories as this collection contains the first six Julius Katz mysteries originally published in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, as well as an original novella, JULIUS KATZ AND THE CASE OF A SLICED HAM.

[dwig]

The Lisbon Portfolio (The Henry White Portfolios Book 1) by Kirk Tuck is free at Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00L1WNKUS/

The Lisbon Portfolio is an action-adventure story in which our hero, photographer Henry White, is drawn into a web of corporate intrigue and murder while on assignment for a major, multi-national corporation in Lisbon, Portugal in 1999. Henry White doesn't know who to trust in this action packed and richly textured tale of spies and meeting planners. From the Russian Mafia to the CIA to a Chinese organization that specializes in stealing technology secrets, the bad guys are thick on the ground and Henry has to depend on his previous years of experience working as an intelligence researcher, under cover as a corporate photographer, to make it out of Lisbon alive----and to save the world from an invention that may unlock the frightening promise of making miniature nuclear bombs.

[mitford13]

Excellent deal on Amazon - all three volumes of Michael Dobbs's House of Cards series for $3.82:

The House of Cards Complete Trilogy: House of Cards, To Play the King, The Final Cut

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...cm_cd_asin_lnk

[Lynx-lynx]

Kobo CA 'Bestselling Mysteries from $0.99' (majority priced at $2.99)

Some of the authors are:
Martin Walker
Mo Hayder
Stuart MacBride
Val McDermid
Michael Dobbs
Dennis Lehane
Andrew Taylor
Charles Todd
etc

[Lynx-lynx]

Kobo US has 'Save on these great mystery titles' priced from .99 to $9.99, with the bulk at $1.99.

Some of the same authors as above, but also some different eg Agatha Christie, Hallie Ephron etc

[peachiekene]

Originally Posted by Lynx-lynx

Kobo US has 'Save on these great mystery titles' priced from .99 to $9.99, with the bulk at $1.99.

Some of the same authors as above, but also some different eg Agatha Christie, Hallie Ephron etc

A lot appear to be Open Road titles which are couponable

[ATDrake]

Free from the author via KDP Select @ Amazon:

The Final Analysis by real-life English pathologist and apparent write-what-you-know-proponent Keith McCarthy (SYKM, Wikipedia), 3rd in his Eisenmorger Forensic Mysteries series starring, you guessed it, an English pathologist, this installment originally out from Constable (of Constable & Robinson, some sort of Penguin or Hachette imprint, IIRC) in 2005.

This is a forensic thriller starring John Eisenmenger, his partner, Helena Flemming, and police officer Beverley Wharton. It is about a series of gruesome murders that Beverley Wharton was convinced were done by Melkior Pendred, a mortuary technician with mental problems. But Melkior can't have done a sixth murder, which gives her rival, Chief Inspector Homer, just the opportunity he needs: he always thought the real killer was Martin, Melkior's twin brother...

Then there is another murder. Beverley enlists the help of John Eisenmenger to prove that this is more than just another case of misjustice.

But Martin is a strange man as Helena Flemming, his solicitor, soon discovers, and she has problems of her own, having just discovered that she has a breast lump. John and Beverley soon discover that the deaths are due to something far more complex than a disturbed man's madness; Helena, though, soon discovers that danger can come from more than one direction.

[Hampshire Nanny]

Originally Posted by ATDrake

Free from the author via KDP Select @ Amazon:

The Final Analysis by real-life English pathologist and apparent write-what-you-know-proponent Keith McCarthy (SYKM, Wikipedia), 3rd in his Eisenmorger Forensic Mysteries series starring, you guessed it, an English pathologist, this installment originally out from Constable (of Constable & Robinson, some sort of Penguin or Hachette imprint, IIRC) in 2005.

And the first book in the series, A Feast of Carrion is also free at Amazon US. (There are 2 Kindle editions of this book -- the other one is $2.99.) And book 2, The Silent Sleep of the Dying can be purchased for $0.99.

[itisbomb]

The Burning Room (A Harry Bosch Novel)
by Michael Connelly

is $3.99 at Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Burning-Room-H...+room+connelly

Below is tha blurb:
In the LAPD's Open-Unsolved Unit, not many murder victims die almost a decade after the crime. So when a man succumbs to complications from being shot by a stray bullet ten years earlier, Bosch catches a case in which the body is still fresh, but any other evidence is virtually nonexistent.

Now Bosch and his new partner, rookie Detective Lucia Soto, are tasked with solving what turns out to be a highly charged, politically sensitive case. Starting with the bullet that's been lodged for years in the victim's spine, they must pull new leads from years-old information, which soon reveals that this shooting may have been anything but random.