Like mystery? Here's one written by 26 authors (double book giveaway)

Philadelphia-area author Lisa Scottoline is one of 26 writers who collaborated on "No Rest for the Dead: A Novel," a soon-to-be-released mystery (Touchstone Hardcover/Simon & Schuster, July 5, 2011, $24.99, 252 pp.) All proceeds from this thriller (with the exception of contributor expenses) are being donated to an extremely worthy cause - the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

In a manner similar to that icebreaker in which one person would start a story and each person in the circle would add a sentence and continue on until the story took on a life of its own, this novel - a serial novel - was written chapter by chapter by the 26 authors. Each numbered chapter is attributed to the author of that particular chapter. With 31 total chapters, some of the writers penned more than one.

According to the publisher, this is the first time such a large number of bestselling authors have been involved in a single project. The full list of authors is:

Jeff Abbott
Lori Armstrong
Sandra Brown
Thomas Cook
Jeffery Deaver
Diana Gabaldon
Tess Gerritsen
Andrew F. Gulli (also an editor of the novel)
Peter James
J.A. Jance
Faye Kellerman
Raymond Khoury
John Lescroart
Jeff Lindsay
Gayle Lynds
Phillip Margolin
Alexander McCall Smith
Michael Palmer
T. Jefferson Parker
Matthew Pearl
Kathy Reichs
Marcus Sakey
Jonathan Santlofer
Lisa Scottoline
R. L. Stine
Marcia Talley

Edited by brother and sister team Andrew F. and Lamie J. Gulli, the novel includes an introduction by author David Baldacci.

The following description of "No Rest for the Dead: A Novel" was provided by Touchstone:

When Christopher Thomas, a ruthless curator at San Francisco's McFall Art Museum, is murdered and his decaying body is found in an iron maiden in a Berlin museum, his wife, Rosemary, is the primary suspect, and she is tried, convicted and executed. Ten years later, Jon Nunn, the detective who cracked the case, is convinced that the wrong person was put to death. In the years since the case was closed, he's discovered a web of deceit and betrayal surrounding the Thomases that could implicate any number of people in the crime. With the help of the dead woman's friend, he plans to gather everyone who was there the night Christopher died and finally uncover the truth, suspect by suspect. Solving this case may be Nunn's last chance for redemption … but the shadowy forces behind Christopher's death will stop at nothing to silence the past forever.

I have two copies of this brand new book, courtesy of Touchstone, that I'd love to share with two readers. Simply comment on my blog and/or e-mail me at mkaras@pottsmerc.com with your mailing address and I will throw your name in a hat to win the book. Entries must be received before 3 p.m. on Friday, July 2, to be considered. (random drawing). Rest assured, there is no tomfoolery on my part w/ your contact info.... Your address won't be given out to another soul. I just want to know where to send your book, if you're selected.

Also: If you happen to be in New York: The Center for Fiction, 17 E. 47th St, New York, NY 10017 is holding a reception where you can meet a number of the contributors to "No Rest for the Dead" on Friday, July 8, at 7 p.m. Cost is $8, with proceeds going to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. The authors scheduled for this event include: R.L. Stine, Diana Gabladon, Jeffery Deaver, Gayle Lynds, Michael Palmer, Peter James, Marcia Talley, John Lescroart, Jonathan Santlofer, and Andrew F. Gulli.

Learn more about the novel at www.norestforthedead.com

To learn more about the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, or make a direct donation, click here.