FREE/BARGAIN - Mystery, Suspense, Thriller - 2016

[sufue]

Two holiday themed titles in the Meg Langslow series by Donna Andrews have dropped to $2.99 at Kindle US. Lots of the titles in this series have won/been finalists for a bunch of rewards. I have read many myself and quite enjoyed them.

Six Geese A-Slaying, #10
link: https://www.amazon.com/Six-Geese-Sla...dp/B003K154TS/

Spoiler:

Meg and Michael's house is serving as the marshaling point for the annual Caerphilly Christmas parade. The theme is "The Twelve Days of Christmas," and it features twelve drummers from the school marching band, eleven bagpipers, ten leaping lords costumed in medieval finery from the college drama department, etc. There are also assorted Christmas-themed floats, a live nativity scene on a flatbed truck, the Three Wise Men on Caerphilly zoo camels, and Santa Claus in a bright red horse-drawn sleigh (eight reindeer were beyond the zoo's scope).

Meg has been volunteered to organize the parade, which is to proceed from her house to the local campus, where Santa will take up residence to hear the Christmas wishes of the town's children. Of course, getting all the camels, pipers, leapers, and drummers in order is proving every bit as difficult as Meg feared it would be. Then her nephew Eric, wide-eyed and ashen-faced, whispers, "Meg, something's wrong with Santa."

The local curmudgeon, whose beard and belly made him a natural for the role, has been murdered. Now Meg and Chief Burke, who is playing one of the wise men, are faced with the two-fold mission of solving the murder and saving Christmas!

Readers can look forward to another zany Meg Langslow mystery---this one filled with outrageous Christmas spirit…and mayhem.

The Nightingale Before Christmas, #18
link: https://www.amazon.com/Nightingale-B...dp/B00IQOC3L6/

Spoiler:

As the holidays draw near in Caerphilly, Mother volunteers to take part in in a big Christmas-themed decorator show house—each room of a temporarily untenanted house is decorated to the hilt by a different decorator for the public to tour. Of course, Mother insists that Meg pitch in with the organization, and she finds herself surrounded by flamboyant personalities with massive egos clashing and feeling their professional reputations are at stake. Then the rooms start to be sabotaged, and an unfortunate designer turns up dead—making Mother a prime suspect. Can Meg catch the real killer in time to save Mother the indignity of arrest?

The brilliantly funny and talented Donna Andrews delivers another winner in the acclaimed avian-themed series that mystery readers have come to love. Cozies make excellent stocking-stuffers, and The Nightingale Before Christmas is guaranteed to put the "ho ho hos" into the holidays for the legions of fans hungry for another Christmas book featuring Meg Langslow. Donna has won many awards for this very popular series, and continues to come up with new hilarious adventures for her endearing heroine. The novel is full of superb screwball comedy as well as Donna's trademark crisp plotting, not to mention bushels of holiday cheer--it wouldn't be the most wonderful time of the year without it.

[sufue]

The Lord Peter Wimsey Mysteries omnibus has dropped to $1.99 at Kindle US, so if you didn't bite before at $2.99, maybe you'll want to now...

Originally Posted by sufue

The Open Road-published Lord Peter Wimsey Mysteries omnibus contains (big surprise) the first three titles in the Lord Peter/Harriet Vane series by Dorothy L. Sayers: Whose Body?, Clouds of Witness, and Unnatural Death. It has has dropped to $2.99 at Kindle US and Kobo US (couponable). I think some versions of some of these are PD in some countries, but in any case, $2.99 is a pretty good price for three classic titles, IMO.
Kindle US: https://www.amazon.com/Lord-Peter-Wi.../dp/B00GH2G8YM
Kobo US: {edited - not on sale at Kobo this time around}

{edited title no longer on sale}

And finally, since we are talking about Dorothy Sayers books, I'll note that A Treasury of Sayers Stories, which is exactly what it sounds like, a collection of 24 short stories (mostly Lord Peter, a few Montague Egg, fewer others), is a long-term $2.99 title at Kindle US.
link: https://www.amazon.com/Treasury-Saye.../dp/B00AF099FC

[sufue]

Higher Law Box Set, Volume 1 contains books 1-4 in the Mike Daley/Rosie Fernandez series by Sheldon Siegel. It is a US Kindle Countdown deal at $0.99 for about 6 3/4 more days. The four titles are: Special Circumstances, Incriminating Evidence, Criminal Intent, and Final Verdict. Many of this have been on sale/free individually in the past, so check carefully before you buy.

link: https://www.amazon.com/Higher-Law-Bo...dp/B00J1X0LVK/

Spoiler:

Meet Mike Daley. Ex-priest. Ex–public defender. Ex-husband. And as of yesterday, ex-partner in one of San Francisco's most prominent law firms. Today he's out on his own, setting up practice on the wrong side of town. Then his best friend and former colleague is charged with a brutal double murder, and Daley is instantly catapulted into a high-profile investigation involving the prestigious law firm that just booted him. So begins SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES, the first novel in Sheldon Siegel's critically acclaimed legal thriller series featuring Mike Daley and his law partner/ex-wife Rosie Fernandez. This NEW YORK TIMES Bestselling novel is included along with the next three books (also bestsellers!) in the Mike Daley/Rosie Fernandez series: INCRIMINATING EVIDENCE, CRIMINAL INTENT and FINAL VERDICT.

Start at the beginning with SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES and read all of the Mike Daley/Rosie Fernandez stories in order. You'll see why Sheldon Siegel's novels have sold millions of copies worldwide, and Mike Daley and Rosie Fernandez have been called two of the most beloved characters in contemporary crime fiction.

AMAZON readers love these books (each book has over 100 5-star reviews)

SPECIAL CIRCUMANSTANCES, 4.5/5 stars

INCRIMINATING EVIDENCE 4.4/5 stars

CRIMINAL INTENT 4.3/5 stars

FINAL VERDICT 4.5/5 stars

[sufue]

Last Call for Blackford Oakes is the 11th and final title in the Blackford “Blackie” Oakes series by William F Buckley. Even though I may not agree with his politics (which do bleed through), I still enjoyed several of the books in this series in DTB days. Last Call has dropped to $1.99 as part of Open Road's Early Bird daily deals. As an Early Bird deal it should be available at all the usual supect retailers, and couponable/VIPable at Kobo US. Here are a couple of links...

Kindle US link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01H13AUTO
Kobo US: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/las...lackford-oakes

Spoiler:

Debonair superspy Blackford Oakes takes on one last mission in the rollicking conclusion to a beloved espionage series by William F. Buckley.

Blackford “Blackie” Oakes is the greatest spy in American history, but he’s no longer allowed behind enemy lines. As the former director of covert operations for the CIA, he knows too much to risk falling into enemy hands. But something has come up that requires him to go farther behind the Iron Curtain than he ever has before—and if he’s captured, he’ll have no choice but to take his own life. But Blackie doesn’t mind; he’s always wanted a chance to die for his country.

Previously, a team of assassins had targeted Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev, and Blackie acted on secret orders from President Ronald Reagan himself to save the Russian’s life. Now, Gorbachev is in danger once again, and his death could reignite the Cold War just as it’s coming to a close. To avert World War III, Blackie infiltrates Moscow, where he comes face-to-face with the Soviets’ own master of espionage: notorious defector Harold Adrian Russell “Kim” Philby.

Witty and urbane, and featuring an unforgettable cast of characters both real and imagined, Last Call for Blackford Oakes is a delightful ending to one of the greatest espionage sagas in history.

[Little.Egret]

Originally Posted by maddz

Various Ed Mcbains in the 40 Kindle books for £1 sale on Amazon.co.uk:

{. . . }
(Someone asked up-thread about countdown deals on Amazon UK - no, we don't have them...)

Oh yes we do.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/kindle-coun...rd_i=341689031

Or click on Kindle Countdown Deals in left margin.

[Little.Egret]

Repeat from 2015

Free -The Inspector's Daughter (A Rose McQuinn Mystery No.1) (Rose McQuinn series) by Alanna Knight

'Rose McQuinn returns to Edinburgh from the American wild west of 1895. Her baby has died while her husband Danny, working with the Pinkerton’s Detective Agency in Arizona goes missing. She has little time to grieve before she unwittingly takes on a new career by agreeing to investigate the strange behaviour of the husband of her childhood friend Alice. But what appears to be an adulterous affair suggests something much more sinister - the brutal and still unsolved murder of a servant girl. Whatever heartbreak lies in store, Rose must discover the truth. From her home in Solomon’s Tower on Arthur’s Seat, aided by a wild deerhound, her first investigation puts her own life in deadly danger.'

Book 1 of 8 in Rose McQuinn series (8 Book Series)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005EM2ZCA/

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B005EM2ZCA/

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B005EM2ZCA/

[maddz]

Originally Posted by Little.Egret

Oh yes we do.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/kindle-coun...rd_i=341689031

Or click on Kindle Countdown Deals in left margin.

Oh, OK, I hadn't seen that link and searched for countdown deals. I have to say I'm not wildly impressed.

[sufue]

A Great Reckoning is the 12th and most recent (Aug, 2016) in Louise Penny's Armand Gamache series. Every title in this series so far has been a finalist for/won a bunch of awards. I've read and enjoyed all so far. So I am thrilled to see Reckoning drop to $2.99 at Kindle US as part of today's much-bigger-than-usual Kindle Daily Deal.

link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01BBXF0HC/

Spoiler:

Instant New York Times bestseller:

#1 in Hardcover Fiction
#1 in E-book Fiction
#1 in Combined Print and E-book Fiction

One of Publishers Weekly's best mysteries/thrillers of 2016

"Deep and grand and altogether extraordinary....Miraculous."
—The Washington Post

"Artful...Powerful...Magical."
- The New York Times Book Review

"Superb"
- People

“A Great Reckoning succeeds on every level."
—St. Louis Post-Dispatch

#1 New York Times bestselling author Louise Penny pulls back the layers to reveal a brilliant and emotionally powerful truth in her latest spellbinding novel.

When an intricate old map is found stuffed into the walls of the bistro in Three Pines, it at first seems no more than a curiosity. But the closer the villagers look, the stranger it becomes.
Given to Armand Gamache as a gift the first day of his new job, the map eventually leads him to shattering secrets. To an old friend and older adversary. It leads the former Chief of Homicide for the Sûreté du Québec to places even he is afraid to go. But must.

And there he finds four young cadets in the Sûreté academy, and a dead professor. And, with the body, a copy of the old, odd map.

Everywhere Gamache turns, he sees Amelia Choquet, one of the cadets. Tattooed and pierced. Guarded and angry. Amelia is more likely to be found on the other side of a police line-up. And yet she is in the academy. A protégée of the murdered professor.

The focus of the investigation soon turns to Gamache himself and his mysterious relationship with Amelia, and his possible involvement in the crime. The frantic search for answers takes the investigators back to Three Pines and a stained glass window with its own horrific secrets.

For both Amelia Choquet and Armand Gamache, the time has come for a great reckoning.

[sufue]

Journey to Munich is now $2.99 as part of Kindle US's bigger-than-usual Daily Deal today, so if you didn't buy before, this time the late bird gets the worm...

Originally Posted by sufue

Journey to Munich is the latest title in the Maisie Dobbs series by Jacqueline Winspear. It is a US Kindle Daily Deal today at $3.99. I'm usually complaining about $3.99 being my upper limit (and really even a bit high IMO) for backlist. OTOH, $3.99 for a 2016 title in a well established traditionally published series is a pretty good deal, again IMO

In any case...

link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0105TIXJA



BTW, if you are wiling to travel, a bunch of earlier Maisie Dobbs titles are still really inexpensive at Kobo India. See this previous post: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho....php?p=3286449

[sufue]

If the UK works like the US, there are often slim pickings in the Countdown deals, but occasionally previously DTB authors who have/regained e-rights will put their titles on Countdown (Julie Smith, Tony Dunbar, Marianna Heusler, Michaela Thompson/Mickey Friedman come to mind), and as mentioned up-thread, Endeavour Press makes good use of both freebies and Countdown, so if you like any of the authors that Endeavour is publishing/re-publishing, the Countdown can be fruitful from time to time. And Margery Allingham's US publishers have been cycling her titles through Countdown for a few months now, so that's been nice. I check every few days when the mood strikes me, with just a very quick buzz through...

Originally Posted by maddz

Oh, OK, I hadn't seen that link and searched for countdown deals. I have to say I'm not wildly impressed.

[maddz]

Trouble with many cheap US titles is that the UK rights are with a different publisher so aren't discounted in the UK. OpenRoad Media titles are a case in point - many UK rights are held by Gollancz so we don't get the deals. Only about 1 in 10 (if that) appear discounted in the UK.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by maddz

Trouble with many cheap US titles is that the UK rights are with a different publisher so aren't discounted in the UK. OpenRoad Media titles are a case in point - many UK rights are held by Gollancz so we don't get the deals. Only about 1 in 10 (if that) appear discounted in the UK.

Works the other way, too, of course . Gollancz publish a lot of books that aren't available at all as ebooks in the US. E.g. they had all of Gordon R. Dickson's books available years before they were released in the US.

[Little.Egret]

Originally Posted by maddz

Trouble with many cheap US titles is that the UK rights are with a different publisher so aren't discounted in the UK. OpenRoad Media titles are a case in point - many UK rights are held by Gollancz so we don't get the deals. Only about 1 in 10 (if that) appear discounted in the UK.

You are conflating two possibilities.

If UK rights are held by Gollancz you can't buy the ebook, deal or not. "Geographically restricted".

Open Road (say) has world rights so the ebooks are available in the UK but the pricing is different, special deals are only available in US or only US and Canada.

Occasional specials slip though it seems.

Thus Patricia C Wrede has multiple publishers, the Open Road reprint of Shadow Magic is $7.99 in US (specials down to $1.99)
In UK £7.79 or £10.79

I am using Luzme.com to check

[Loosheesh]

Originally Posted by sufue

A Great Reckoning is the 12th and most recent (Aug, 2016) in Louise Penny's Armand Gamache series. Every title in this series so far has been a finalist for/won a bunch of awards. I've read and enjoyed all so far. So I am thrilled to see Reckoning drop to $2.99 at Kindle US as part of today's much-bigger-than-usual Kindle Daily Deal.

link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01BBXF0HC/

Can't believe they've already discounted this one but I grabbed it fast. I'm current on the series except this one, and now I'm only missing to own The Nature of the Beast (patiently waiting for a drop to $2.99!) and The Hangman (hoping for $0.00), both of these I got from the library when I read them. This is one great series!

[sufue]

I've noticed a small trend for discounted most-recent titles, which trend I am very thankful for (pun intended).

In the last few weeks, most recent titles by JA Jance (Downfall), Sue Grafton (X), Elizabeth George (A Banquet of Consequences), and this one, have all dropped briefly to reasonable prices. I hope this trend continues!

Originally Posted by Loosheesh

Can't believe they've already discounted this one but I grabbed it fast. I'm current on the series except this one, and now I'm only missing to own The Nature of the Beast (patiently waiting for a drop to $2.99!) and The Hangman (hoping for $0.00), both of these I got from the library when I read them. This is one great series!