Mystery Reads

FEATURED: Ravens Hill by Garth Pettersen

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About Ravens Hill:

When Harald, the second son of King Cnute, returns from fighting the king’s enemies in Northern Wales, he expects his life to return to normal⸺farming in the Midlands, overseeing his few tenants, evening walks with his beloved Selia⸺an idyllic life, far from the power-mongering of King Cnute’s court. But the king has other plans for Harald and his wife—he grants them a large landholding, a gift they cannot refuse.

On arriving at their new holding, Ravens Hill, Harald and Selia receive a tepid welcome⸺from belligerent housecarls, a conniving steward, an uncompromising abbess, bitter at not adding their estate to her abbey lands, a priest with roaming hands, and a grieving daughter of the previous landholder, who has entered the nunnery.

Harald and Selia wish to improve the lot of their tenant farmers but they face obstacles at every turn, and Harald’s generosity is seen as weakness. They also learn the lands come with an unexpected millstone—an unsolved murder.

And then the trouble begins.

Fans of Bernard Cornwell will love Ravens Hill—part of the award-winning Atheling Chronicles series.

Targeted Age Group: adult
Written by: garth pettersen

How to buy the book:
Buy the Book Here

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FEATURED: No Hill to Die On by Martin Roy Hill

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About No Hill to Die On:

Former war correspondent Peter Brandt’s childhood innocence died the day his older brother, Keith, died in Vietnam. Now, a quarter of a century later, Keith’s former fiancée, Rhonda White, comes back into Peter’s life with an incredible claim—Keith may still be alive.

Twenty-four hours later, police find Rhonda’s body floating in San Diego Bay. Is it murder or suicide?

Rhonda’s death and her claim about Peter’s brother set him on an investigation ranging from the beaches and foothills of Southern California to the mountains of Costa Rica. The deeper he digs, the more mysteries he finds: Marines who fought alongside Keith don’t remember how he died; a shady technology exporter bearing a doppelgänger resemblance to T.D., Keith’s best friend who also died in the same battle; a Navy investigator who covered up his probe of a major wartime black-market operation; and a Costa Rican cop who may more than he seems.

And then there are the big questions Peter isn’t sure he wants answered. Is Keith still alive? Did he desert the Marines and become part of the Vietnam underworld? And if he is still living, who did Peter’s family bury twenty-five years earlier?

Targeted Age Group: Teens
Written by: Martin Roy Hill

How to buy the book:
Buy the Book Here

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FEATURED: Easter Hair Hunt by Nancy J. Cohen

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As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Some of our posts include Amazon Affiliate links but not all of our posts do.

About Easter Hair Hunt:

Can a stylish sleuth pull a rabbit out of her hat to solve an Easter murder in this to-dye-for cozy mystery?

When hairstylist Marla Vail attends an Easter egg hunt at historic Tremayne Manor, she’s only there to fix hair for a client, Bonnie “Blinky” Morris. But when she’s asked to comb the grounds for leftover goodies, Marla discovers more than just a few dyed eggs. The dead man in the bunny suit is definitely not having a good hare day. And Blinky seems to have disappeared down a rabbit hole.

While trying to solve a murder, everyone needs a friend who’s all ears. For Marla, that’s her husband, homicide detective Dalton Vail. They make an egg-cellent team. Dalton isn’t the kind to leap to conclusions, but with his wife expecting their child and knowing Marla finds crime-solving to be irresistible, he worries about her running off on another hare-raising adventure.

Marla’s peeps are hoping for a happy ending, but she may have found a basketful of trouble this time. Can she crack the case before Blinky becomes the next victim? Recipes Included!

Readers’ Favorite Gold Medal Winner
Royal Palm Literary Awards Finalist
American Fiction Awards Finalist

“This story will fill your reading basket with entertainment, charming characters, plot twists, tasty recipes, and a cozy murder mystery to solve.” Thoughts in Progress

“I have truly enjoyed the books in this series. There is the perfect balance between family life and mystery along with a good dose of humor along the way.” Escape with Dollycas

“This story had me hopping from one clue to the next. If you’re looking for a fun Easter themed mystery, hop on down the bunny trail to your local bookstore and get your copy of Easter Hair Hunt!” Lisa K’s Book Reviews

Targeted Age Group: Adult
Written by: Nancy J. Cohen

How to buy the book:
Buy the Book Here

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FEATURED: The Third Estate Secrets of the Manor by D R Berlin

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As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Some of our posts include Amazon Affiliate links but not all of our posts do.

About Featured Book: The Third Estate Secrets of the Manor by D R Berlin

In a busy outdoor market, in broad daylight, an apparently ordinary woman is gunned down by a professional assassin. Twelve years later, the killer is back with a new target – and a mysteriously sinister employer…

What secrets could a father leave behind?
A gripping, high-stakes thriller that seamlessly blends espionage, mystery, and intense suspense, The Third Estate: Secrets of the Manor will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.

Sophie Allard, a promising jet pilot cadet at a prestigious military academy, finds her world shattered when she’s summoned to the Commander’s office with devastating news—her estranged father has died in a mysterious lab explosion at their family estate.

What begins as a routine investigation soon spirals into something far more dangerous.

As Sophie delves deeper into the secrets surrounding her father’s death, she uncovers hidden truths that threaten not only her career but her life. Unraveling a web of deception and betrayal, Sophie discovers that her father’s involvement with a powerful and shadowy organization—the Third Estate—could hold the key to both her survival and her downfall.

With an assassin hunting her every step and the enigmatic Grey Lady pulling the strings behind the scenes, Sophie must navigate a perilous landscape of secrets, lies, and danger.

This fast-paced thriller is perfect for fans of complex conspiracies, strong female protagonists, and unpredictable twists. If you love novels that combine action, suspense, and mystery, The Third Estate is your next must-read.

Will Sophie uncover the truth—before it’s too late?

This Thriller book is available in these Formats: eBook, Print

Buy Book Here.

Bodies to Die For by Lori Brand

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About Bodies to Die For:

Popular fitness influencer Gemma has transformed herself from a Before into an After, complete with washboard abs, thriving business, and gorgeous husband. But social media can be deceiving. Offline, the cutthroat world of bikini bodybuilding may just eat her alive. That’s if she’s not first devoured by the secret nemesis that lurks beneath her polished surface, waiting to destroy her.

Software engineer Ashley is fat and frustrated. Frustrated with failed diets. With a world that wants her to shrink. With biased doctors, online trolls, and even her own mother. Until Ashley falls in with a mysterious and radical sect of Fat Activists who are fighting back … by any means necessary. She’s never felt so alive, so full of purpose. She’ll do whatever it takes to ride this high, destroy Diet Culture, and win the approval of her charismatic leader.

Gemma and Ashley are on a collision course headed for the Olympia, the bodybuilding competition where futures are made. And lost. When Gemma’s toughest rival turns up dead, and more fitness girls fall like dominoes, it’s beginning to look like the body image war has gone too far.

With breakneck pace and keen insights, Bodies to Die For takes a hard look at social media, the $70 billion diet industry, and the war on women’s bodies—the wars we wage with each other, and with ourselves.

Written by: Lori Brand

How to buy the book:
Buy the Book Here

FEATURED: The Third Estate Secrets of the Manor by D R Berlin

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As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Some of our posts include Amazon Affiliate links but not all of our posts do.

About Featured Book: The Third Estate Secrets of the Manor by D R Berlin

What begins as a routine investigation soon spirals into something far more dangerous.

With an assassin hunting her every step and the enigmatic Grey Lady pulling the strings behind the scenes, Sophie must navigate a perilous landscape of secrets, lies, and danger.

Will Sophie uncover the truth—before it’s too late?

This YA book is available in these Formats: eBook, Print

Buy Book Here.

FEATURED: The Bone Trap by Tormod Cockburn

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As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Some of our posts include Amazon Affiliate links but not all of our posts do.

“
About Featured Book: The Bone Trap by Tormod Cockburn

Free on Amazon 19-23 Feb. With 1700 5-star reviews, ‘The Bone Trap’ kicks off a nine-book series. Reviewers say it’s a thrilling novel with a hint of the supernatural.
A struggling scientist holds a potential unicorn skull in his hands. If he proves it’s authentic, his career will soar. If he dies trying, he won’t be the first. Archaeologist, Gill McArdle is sucked into mystery amongst Scotland’s Western Isles.

This Mystery book is available in these Formats: eBook, Print, Audiobook

This book is in Kindle Unlimited!

Buy Book Here.“

Interview with: Mary Odile (M.O.) LeClair

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As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Some of our posts include Amazon Affiliate links but not all of our posts do.

Tell us about yourself.
I’m a 42 year-old Author/Director from Toronto, Ontario. I’m living in Hamilton, Ontario. I have an amazing husband named Adam, and we’ve been together for almost nine years, (coming up in August, 2025).

So far, I’ve written two mystery/suspense/psychological thriller fiction books. The first is ‘Concrete Jungle,’ which was released in in September, 2021. The second is ‘Sidewalk High.’ which was released in February, 2024. I’ve also directed both of the audiobooks for those books. The ‘Sidewalk High’ audiobook came out in February, 2024 and the ‘Concrete Jungle’ audiobook came out in June, 2024.

Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?
I was born and raised in the concrete jungle of east end Toronto/Scarborough, in Ontario, Canada. The fictional town in my books, is based off of Toronto, Ontario, where I grew up. I've called it 'Shady Acres.' It's a rough place, and everyone has a 'screwface.' Not knowing who to trust when I was growing up, really had an influence on the types of people I've chosen to include in my stories.

"In the end, we all become stories." Margaret Atwood

What was your journey to getting published like?
I began my own writing/production/publishing company, 'Room with a View Productions,' back in 2014. This, alongside Kindle Direct Publishing, is how I've published both of my books in the past, and how I will continue to do so in the future for my next two. My books are sold on Amazon and on Audible. They're available in eBook, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook versions.

What’s the best piece of feedback you’ve ever received?
One of the best book reviews I've ever received, was about my first book, 'Concrete Jungle.' Here it is:

"This is a bitter, brawling story of murder, corruption, and domestic abuse. Your imagery is vivid, and the picture is horrific. I could see the room, the people, and even the grit in the fingernails. This is very good."

It made me smile so big when I read it. I'm glad my book made this person think and feel this way, because it's what I was going for. It made my writing feel more authentic, real, and raw, when it was perceived the way that I intended it to be perceived.

What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
If you’re not sure what to write, just start writing. Just turning on the tap, will get the water flowing. Write first, edit second. First with your heart, then with your head. If you want to be a writer, you’ve just got to write.

February Giveaway!

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As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Some of our posts include Amazon Affiliate links but not all of our posts do.

It’s time for a giveaway! We will be giving away several different mystery packages that we will be physically mailing out, so unfortunately at this time it’s only open to those in the US.

Be sure to let us know your favorite genres, as the mystery packages will be based on the genres of our various sites. This is especially important since some of our authors have sent books to be included in the prizes and we want to best ensure that only those interested in them will receive them.

Giveaway will end at 11:59pm PST on February 28, 2025. Winners will be notified within 48 hours and will need to confirm their mailing address in order to receive the prizes.

Packages will include a variety of book-ish items, and in some cases, even a new book thanks to our generous authors that have provided us with copies to share with you.

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The Third Estate Secrets of the Manor by D R Berlin

By Mystery Reads Curator Leave a Comment

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Some of our posts include Amazon Affiliate links but not all of our posts do.

The Third Estate Secrets of the Manor by D R Berlin

What begins as a routine investigation soon spirals into something far more dangerous.

With an assassin hunting her every step and the enigmatic Grey Lady pulling the strings behind the scenes, Sophie must navigate a perilous landscape of secrets, lies, and danger.

Will Sophie uncover the truth—before it’s too late?