Congratulations to the Giveaway Winner!

 

A big thank you to everyone who took the time to enter my giveaway. I always wish I were independently wealthy and able to give you all copies of the books I give away. I also want to thank you for the kind words in your emails even though all I ask for is your name and mailing address. You just keep giving me reasons to keep on blogging.

Once again, Denis and his magic cowboy hat are responsible for choosing the winner. Drum roll, please...

 

 

Congratulations to Annette D. from North Dakota, the winner of Marple: Twelve New Mysteries! 

 

The book will be on its way to you by Tuesday at the latest. Happy Reading!

 

 

Congratulations to the Giveaway Winner!

 

A big thank you to everyone who took the time to enter my giveaway. I always love sharing my books-- especially when they're one of my "Best Reads."

 

 

Congratulations to Kathy D. of New York, the winner of Michael Bennett's Better the Blood! 

 

The book will be on its way to you by Tuesday at the latest. Happy Reading!

Giveaway: Michael Bennett's Better the Blood!

 

Back in February, I reviewed Māori writer Michael Bennett's Better the Blood as one of my Best Reads of 2023. My gently read copy of the book, purchased from The Poisoned Pen, has been sitting on my desk ever since. I think it's more than ready to be given away, don't you? I have a feeling that some of you armchair traveling sleuths who read my blog would like to solve a crime in New Zealand.

 

 

Would you like to read this book?

 

Here's the synopsis of Better the Blood to refresh your memory:

 

"A tenacious Māori detective, Hana Westerman juggles single motherhood, endemic prejudice, and the pressures of her career in Auckland CIB. Led to a crime scene by a mysterious video, she discovers a man ritualistically hanging in a secret room and a puzzling inward-curving inscription. Delving into the investigation after a second, apparently unrelated, death, she uncovers a chilling connection to an historic crime: 160 years before, during the brutal and bloody British colonization of New Zealand, a troop of colonial soldiers unjustly executed a Māori Chief.

Hana realizes that the murders are utu—the Māori tradition of rebalancing for the crime committed eight generations ago. There were six soldiers in the British troop, and since descendants of two of the soldiers have been killed, four more potential murders remain. Hana is thus hunting New Zealand’s first serial killer.

The pursuit soon becomes frighteningly personal, recalling the painful event, two decades before, when Hana, then a new cop, was part of a police team sent to end by force a land rights occupation by indigenous peoples on the same ancestral mountain where the Chief was killed, calling once more into question her loyalty to her roots. Worse still, a genealogical link to the British soldiers brings the case terrifyingly close to Hana’s own family. Twisty and thought-provoking, Better the Blood is the debut of a remarkable new talent in crime fiction." 

 

 

Now let's get down to the basics!

 

 

~~~ What You'll Win ~~~

One gently read hardcover edition of Michael Bennett's Better the Blood.

 

~~~ Who's Eligible ~~~

Due to the high cost of postage, only those of you who live in the U.S. are eligible to enter and win this book. 

~~~ The Rules ~~~

• Send an email to kittlingbooks(at)gmail(dot)com.
• The subject header of your email must read BENNETT GIVEAWAY.
• The body of your email must contain your name and mailing address.
• Get your entries to me no later than noon, Saturday, April 29, 2023.

 

The winners will be announced Saturday evening, April 29, 2023, and the book will be in the mail to the winner by the following Tuesday at the latest. 

Now it's time to fill my inbox with entries! Good Luck!

 

Giveaway Winners!

 

 

I was happy to see so much interest in winning one of my two copies of Elly Griffiths' The Last Remains. I wish I could send a copy to everyone who entered, but I haven't won the lottery yet.

 

The two names Denis chose out of his Santa cowboy hat are...

 

 

Carole W. from California and Ann E. of Kentucky

 

 

Congratulations! Your books will be on the way to you by Tuesday at the latest, which means that you should get them before the book is officially released here in the US. Enjoy!

 

There will be another book giveaway next month, so stay tuned!

Win One of Two Copies of Elly Griffiths' The Last Remains!

 

I just looked, and it's been almost two years since my last giveaway. Shame on me! Yes, I've been distracted for quite some time, but you'd think I'd notice books starting to pile up on my desk.

I don't know how I did it, but I managed to buy TWO copies of Elly Griffiths' latest (and last?) Dr. Ruth Galloway mystery, The Last Remains, from Amazon UK. If you are a faithful reader of Kittling: Books, you know that The Last Remains made my Best Reads of 2023 list last week.

 

How would you like to win one of them? I thought so! Keep reading to find out what you have to do.

 

 

 

Two copies, two winners!

 

 

~~~ What Two People Will Win ~~~

One of two hardcover UK editions of Elly Griffiths' The Last Remains.

 

 

~~~ Who's Eligible ~~~

Due to the high cost of postage, only those of you who live in the U.S. are eligible to enter and win this book. 

~~~ The Rules ~~~

• Send an email to kittlingbooks(at)gmail(dot)com.
• The subject header of your email must read GRIFFITHS GIVEAWAY.
• The body of your email must contain your name and mailing address.
• Get your entries to me no later than noon, Saturday, March 18, 2023.
• Only one entry per person.
  

 

If the subject header and the body of the email contain all the required information, you will receive an "I got it!" email within 24 hours. If you don't get that email, feel free to try again.

The winners will be announced Saturday evening, March 18, 2023, and the books will be in the mail to the winners by the following Tuesday at the latest. 

Now it's time to fill my inbox with entries! Good Luck!

Giveaway Winners!

 

 

 

A big thank you goes out to everyone who entered to win one of the four books in this giveaway. There are only three winners to announce because evidently no one wanted a signed copy of Riley Sager's Survive the Night. It's rather disappointing, but I'll just include that book in a stack going to the residents at a nearby nursing home.

Who are the three winners? I'm glad you asked!

Tom M. from Maryland will be receiving a copy of Martin Walker's The Coldest Case.

Kate L. from North Carolina won Suburban Dicks by Fabian Nicieza.

Judy L. from Wisconsin won S.A. Cosby's Razorblade Tears. 

I'll start getting all three books ready, and they'll be in the mail to Tom, Kate, and Judy by the end of the week.

Congratulations, you three!

A Quadruple Threat Giveaway: Walker, Sager, Nicieza & Cosby

 

I happened to look up at the shelf above my desk, and I spied four special mysteries. Just sitting there. Looking lost and lonesome. So you know what that means, don't you? Of course, you do. It means I'm having a giveaway. And instead of a one-book-at-a-time giveaway, I'm giving them away all at once.

 

Let's take a look at the books I'm giving away to four lucky winners.

 

 

 

The Giveaway Prizes

• One gently read hardcover copy of The Coldest Case by Martin Walker with a protective mylar cover on the dust jacket. This is the only book that's not autographed, but it does include a postcard containing a mouth-watering recipe fresh from Martin Walker and Bruno. Clicking on the link will take you to my review of the book.
  
• One autographed, gently read hardcover copy of Survive the Night by Riley Sager with a protective mylar cover on the dust jacket. Clicking on the link will take you to my review of the book.
• One autographed, gently read hardcover copy of Fabian Nicieza's Suburban Dicks with a protective mylar cover on the dust jacket. Clicking on the link will take you to my review of the book. 
• One autographed, gently read hardcover copy of S.A. Cosby's Razorblade Tears with a protective mylar cover on the dust jacket. My review of the book will be up tomorrow, but clicking on the link will take you to Amazon and a synopsis of the book.

 

Good lineup of prizes, eh? Now let's see how you can win one of them.

 

How to Win, or The Rules

• There will be four separate drawings for these books, with one winner for each book.
  
• Send an email to kittlingbooks(at)gmail(dot)com. One email per book.
  
• If you want to win The Coldest Case, the subject header of your email must read WALKER GIVEAWAY.
• If you want to win Survive the Night, the subject header of your email must read SAGER GIVEAWAY.
• If you want to win Suburban Dicks, the subject header of your email must read NICIEZA GIVEAWAY.
• If you want to win Razorblade Tears, the subject header of your email must read COSBY GIVEAWAY.
  
• You may enter to win all four books, but you will have to send four separate emails, one for each title.
• The body of your email must contain your name and mailing address.
• Due to the cost of postage, only entries from the U.S. will be accepted. Sorry!
  
• Get your entries to me no later than noon, Sunday, September 26, 2021.

 

The winners will be announced Sunday afternoon, September 26, 2021, and the books will be in the mail to all the winners by the end of the week.

Now it's time to fill my inbox with entries! Enter to win a book by a favorite author. Enter to win a book you'd like to sample. It only costs you an email. Good Luck!

Congratulations to the Winner!

 

 

First of all, a big thank you to everyone who entered to win the copy of William Shaw's The Trawlerman. You know how to keep a person busy!

Denis (my official number picker) has done his job, and it's time to announce the winner. Drumroll, please!

Congratulations, Lisa P. from Washington! I'm getting your new book packaged and it will be in the mail to you on Tuesday. Happy Reading!

Win a Copy of William Shaw's The Trawlerman!

 

William Shaw's Alexandra Cupidi police procedural series set in the marshlands of southeastern England is one of my top recommendations for crime fiction lovers. Setting... story... characters... this is a series to sink into and savor. 

The latest book in the series, The Trawlerman, for some reason is difficult to find here in the US, and when I learned that, I knew I had to give away my gently read UK copy so another fan would have a chance to enjoy it, too. Here's more about the book:

Synopsis:

"The naked corpses of Aylmer and Mary Younis are discovered in their home. The only clues are a note written in blood and an eerie report of two spectral figures departing the crime scene. Officer Jill Ferriter is charged with investigating the murders while her colleague Alex Cupidi is on leave, recovering from post-traumatic stress.

The dead couple had made investments in a green reforestry scheme in Guatemala, resulting in the loss of all their savings. What is more disturbing is that Cupidi and Ferriter's disgraced former colleague and friend Bill South is also on the list of investors and the Younis's were not the only losers.

Despite being in counselling and receiving official warnings to stay away from police work Cupidi finds herself dragged into the case and begins to trawl among the secrets and lies that are held in the fishing community of Folkestone. Desperate to exonerate South she finds herself murderously compromised when personal relationships cloud her judgement."

Now it's time to get down to the basics!

 

~~~ What You'll Win ~~~

One hardcover UK edition of William Shaw's The Trawlerman.

 

~~~ Who's Eligible ~~~

Due to the high cost of postage, only those of you who live in the U.S. are eligible to enter and win this book. 

~~~ The Rules ~~~

• Send an email to kittlingbooks(at)gmail(dot)com.
• The subject header of your email must read SHAW GIVEAWAY.
• The body of your email must contain your name and mailing address.
• Get your entries to me no later than noon, Sunday, July 4, 2021.

 

The winners will be announced Sunday evening, July 4, 2021, and the book will be in the mail to the winner by Tuesday at the latest. 

Now it's time to fill my inbox with entries! Good Luck!

The Winner of A Peculiar Combination!

 

I want to give a big thank you to everyone who entered to win an autographed copy of Ashley Weaver's first Electra McDonnell mystery A Peculiar Combination. You certainly kept me hopping! 

Now it's time to announce the winner.

Congratulations to Libby D. from Florida! I'm getting your book ready for the mail, and it will be posted by Tuesday at the very latest.

Win an Autographed Copy of A Peculiar Combination!

 

 

A couple of weeks ago, I reviewed Ashley Weaver's first Electra McDonnell mystery, A Peculiar Combination, which is set during World War II. You can check out my review if you'd like to know what I thought of the book. Just click on the book title.

 

Well, I happen to have an autographed copy of the book and what better thing to do with it than give it away to one of my readers? I knew you'd agree! 

 

~~~ What You'll Win ~~~

One autographed hardcover copy of Ashley Weaver's A Peculiar Combination which has a protective mylar cover on the dust jacket.

 

~~~ Who's Eligible ~~~

Due to the high cost of postage, only those of you who live in the U.S. are eligible to enter and win this book. 

~~~ The Rules ~~~

• Send an email to kittlingbooks(at)gmail(dot)com.
• The subject header of your email must read WEAVER GIVEAWAY.
• The body of your email must contain your name and mailing address.
• Get your entries to me no later than noon, Sunday, June 20, 2021.

 

The winners will be announced Sunday evening, June 20, 2021, and the book will be in the mail to the winner by Tuesday at the latest. 

Now it's time to fill my inbox with entries! Good Luck!

Congratulations to the Giveaway Winners!

 

Congratulations to my two giveaway winners! 

 

Diana M. from Illinois has won the autographed copy of And Now She's Gone. 

Nan D. from Alabama has won the autographed copy of We Begin at the End.

The books will be on their way to you two shortly. Happy Reading!

A "Twofer" Giveaway: We Begin at the End & And Now She's Gone!

 

You know me. I like to share the wealth, so when I suddenly realized that I had two excellent books sitting on my desk, my first thought was GIVEWAY! And since there were two books, I thought I'd give both books away at the same time instead of conducting two separate giveaways. Yes, I'm feeling lazy. Here are the two books I'm giving away.

 

The Giveaway Prizes

• One autographed, gently read hardcover copy of Chris Whitaker's We Begin at the End with a protective mylar cover on the dust jacket. The autograph is on a separate bookplate. Here is my review of the book, and if you click on the book title, you will be taken to Amazon where you can read the synopsis.
• One autographed, gently read hardcover copy of Rachel Howzell Hall's And Now She's Gone with a protective mylar cover on the dust jacket. Here is my review of the book, and if you click on the book title, you will be taken to Amazon where you can read the synopsis.

How to Win, or The Rules

• There will be two separate drawings for these books, with one winner receiving We Begin at the End and the second winner receiving And Now She's Gone.
• Send an email to kittlingbooks(at)gmail(dot)com. One email per book.
  
• If you want to win We Begin at the End, the subject header of your email must read WHITAKER GIVEAWAY.
• If you want to win And Now She's Gone, the subject header of your email must read HALL GIVEAWAY.
• You may enter to win both books, but you will have to send two separate emails, one for each giveaway.
• The body of your email must contain your name and mailing address.
• Due to the cost of postage, only entries from the U.S. will be accepted. Sorry!
  
• Get your entries to me no later than noon, Sunday, May 30, 2021.

The winners will be announced Sunday evening, May 30, 2021, and the books will be in the mail to them by Tuesday at the latest. 

Now it's time to fill my inbox with entries! Good Luck!

Congratulations to the Winner!

 

Congratulations to Evelyn L. from Missouri! She's the winner of an autographed copy of Elly Griffiths' The Postscript Murders. 

 

I've got the book packaged, and it will be on its way to you bright and early Monday, Ev. Enjoy!

Win an Autographed Copy of Elly Griffiths' The Postscript Murders!

I haven't had a giveaway so far this year, and it's high time I did something about that, isn't it?

 

How would you like to win an autographed UK hardcover copy of Elly Griffiths' The Postscript Murders, fresh from The Poisoned Pen? I thought so! Let me tell the uninitiated more about the book before I talk about how you can win it. 

If you click on the book title above, you'll be directed to my review of the book, but here's a photo and the synopsis:

"The death of a ninety-year-old woman with a heart condition should absolutely not be suspicious. DS Harbinder Kaur certainly sees nothing to concern her in carer Natalka's account of Peggy Smith's death.

But when Natalka reveals that Peggy lied about her heart condition and that she had been sure someone was following her...

And that Peggy Smith had been a 'murder consultant' who plotted deaths for authors, and knew more about murder than anyone has any right to...

And when clearing out Peggy's flat ends in Natalka being held at gunpoint by a masked figure...

Well then DS Harbinder Kaur thinks that maybe there is no such thing as an unsuspicious death after all.

From the sleepy seaside town of Shoreham to the granite streets of Aberdeen, The Postscript Murders is a literary mystery for fans of Anthony Horowitz, Agatha Christie and anyone who's ever wondered just how authors think up such realistic crimes..."

 

 

~~~What You Will Win~~~

One autographed hardcover UK edition of Elly Griffiths' The Postscript Murders. It has a protective mylar cover on the dust jacket, was purchased from The Poisoned Pen Bookstore, and has been gently read once (by Yours Truly). You can see it in the photo above.

Now for the rules of the giveaway...

 

 

~~~The Rules~~~

1. To be entered in the drawing, send an email to kittlingbooks(at)gmail(dot)com.
2. The subject line of your email must read Postscript Giveaway.
3. The body of your email must have your name and mailing address.
4. Send your entries to me by noon, Sunday, March 28, 2021.
5. Due to the high cost of postage, this giveaway is open to US residents only.

 

 

~~~The Small Print~~~

Very Important: If your emails are missing any of the required information, i.e., the correct subject line and your name and mailing address, you will not be entered to win. How do you know if you've been entered? If you have not received an email from me within 24 hours which says, "Your entry has been received. Good Luck!" you'll know something went wrong. That's okay. Try again.

 

 

The winner will be notified by email, and the announcement will be made here on Kittling: Books on Sunday, March 28, 2021. The book will go out in the mail the very next day.

Now it's time for all of you to fill up my inbox with entries! 

Start Spring with a new mystery to read!

Congratulations to the Winner of Murder in Old Bombay!

 

Here's a big thank you to all those who entered my giveaway for an autographed copy of Nev March's Murder in Old Bombay. I know that many people don't blog much at this time of year because they're too busy or they think everyone else is too busy to read their posts. This is good thinking for the most part, but I thought that since 2020 has gone out of its way to be different, it wouldn't hurt to have a giveaway and see what happened. Besides, what could be better than getting a new book for the New Year?

My magic number picker (Denis) has made his decision, and the winner of Murder in Old Bombay is Hattie from Tennessee. Congratulations! Your book will be on its way shortly.

Win an Autographed Copy of Nev March's Murder in Old Bombay!

 

 

I have one last giveaway for 2020, a year which has needed all the help it can get in the way of good things happening.

This time I'm giving away an autographed copy of Nev March's Murder in Old Bombay which I purchased from one of the best independent bookstores in the USA, The Poisoned Pen.

 

 

Here's the synopsis of the book:

"In 1892, Bombay is the center of British India. Nearby, Captain Jim Agnihotri lies in Poona military hospital recovering from a skirmish on the wild northern frontier, with little to do but re-read the tales of his idol, Sherlock Holmes, and browse the daily papers. The case that catches Captain Jim's attention is being called the crime of the century: Two women fell from the busy university’s clock tower in broad daylight. Moved by Adi, the widower of one of the victims ― his certainty that his wife and sister did not commit suicide ― Captain Jim approaches the Parsee family and is hired to investigate what happened that terrible afternoon.

But in a land of divided loyalties, asking questions is dangerous. Captain Jim's investigation disturbs the shadows that seem to follow the Framji family and triggers an ominous chain of events. And when lively Lady Diana Framji joins the hunt for her sisters’ attackers, Captain Jim’s heart isn’t safe, either.

Based on a true story, and set against the vibrant backdrop of colonial India, Nev March's Minotaur Books/Mystery Writers of America First Crime Novel Award-winning lyrical debut, Murder in Old Bombay, brings this tumultuous historical age to life."

 

~~~What You Will Win~~~

One autographed hardcover edition of Nev March's Murder in Old Bombay. It has a protective mylar cover on the dust jacket, and is fresh from The Poisoned Pen Bookstore. You can see it in the photo above along with a few of my holiday decorations (which are not included).

Now for the rules of the giveaway...

 

 

~~~The Rules~~~

1. To be entered in the drawing, send an email to kittlingbooks(at)gmail(dot)com.
2. The subject line of your email must read Bombay Giveaway.
3. The body of your email must have your name and mailing address.
4. Send your entries to me by noon, Sunday, December 27, 2020.
5. Due to the high cost of postage, this giveaway is open to US residents only.

 

 

~~~The Small Print~~~

Very Important: If your emails are missing any of the required information, i.e., the correct subject line and your name and mailing address, you will not be entered to win. How do you know if you've been entered? If you have not received an email from me within 24 hours which says, "Your entry has been received. Good Luck!" you'll know something went wrong. That's okay. Try again!

 

 

The winner will be notified by email, and the announcement will be made here on Kittling: Books on Monday, December 28, 2020. The book will go out in the mail the very next day.

Now it's time for all of you to fill up my inbox with entries! Start the New Year out right-- with a new mystery to read!

The Winner of Christmas Is Murder!

 

 

Thank you, everyone, for filling my inbox with entries for the autographed copy of Val McDermid's Christmas Is Murder! It's always interesting to see how the names of the entries change from book to book depending on the person's reading tastes. As usual, the week flew by, and now it's time to announce the winner.

 

Congratulations to Jenny from Louisiana! Christmas Is Murder will be on its way to you shortly.

Win an Autographed Copy of Val McDermid's Christmas Is Murder!

 

 

It's been a long, long time since this has happened: I wound up with two copies of the same book. Instead of returning the duplicate, I decided to give it away to one of you. Hopefully, the winner will receive it before Christmas.

This time I'm giving away an autographed copy of Val McDermid's short story anthology Christmas Is Murder. The hardcover book has a mylar cover protecting the dust jacket, and the autograph page is a tip-in-- a page that is printed separately from the main text of the book, but attached to the book. Let's tell you more about this collection of tales.

 

"The Queen of Crime Val McDermid is a master of the dark and sinister story, and these powers are demonstrated in full force in Christmas is Murder, a festive collection of chilling tales.

From an irresponsible baron whose body is discovered beneath a silver birch tree, to an author who is haunted by the spiteful presence of a jealous writing partner, the characters McDermid conjures are enigmatic and dangerous, never above suspicion.

Follow Tony Hill and Carol Jordan as they track a deadly killer who is preparing to strike on Christmas Day, and lose yourself in a festive exclusive - a recently unearthed case for a classic detective duo, set as the lights are going out across Europe.

These evocative, atmospheric tales will shock and delight. This is the perfect book to curl up with as the frosty winter draws in and each night gets darker than the last, written by one of our greatest living crime writers."

McDermid is one of my favorite writers, and I'm going to enjoy sitting by the fire with a mug of tea and my copy of this book!

~~~What You Will Win~~~

One autographed hardcover edition of Val McDermid's Christmas Is Murder. It has a protective mylar cover on the dust jacket, and is fresh from The Poisoned Pen Bookstore. You can see it in the photo above.

Now for the rules of the giveaway...

 

 

~~~The Rules~~~

1. To be entered in the drawing, send an email to kittlingbooks(at)gmail(dot)com.
2. The subject line of your email must read McDermid Giveaway.
3. The body of your email must have your name and mailing address.
4. Send your entries to me by noon, Sunday, December 13, 2020.
5. Due to the high cost of postage, this giveaway is open to US residents only.

 

~~~The Small Print~~~

Very Important: If your emails are missing any of the required information, i.e., the correct subject line and your name and mailing address, you will not be entered to win. How do you know if you've been entered? If you have not received an email from me within 24 hours which says, "Your entry has been received. Good Luck!" you'll know something went wrong. That's okay. Try again!

 

 

The winner will be notified by email, and the announcement will be made here on Kittling: Books on Monday, December 14, 2020. The book will go out in the mail the very next day.

Now it's time for all of you to fill up my inbox with entries! Treat yourself to a good book!

The Winner of the Home Before Dark Giveaway!

 

Thank you, everyone, for filling my inbox with entries for the autographed copy of Riley Sager's Home Before Dark! The week flew by, and now it's time to announce the winner.

Congratulations to Lynn from Wisconsin! Home Before Dark will be on its way to you shortly.