Hello mystery fans! I’ve got revenge, secret society, and a great thriller for you this week!
Sponsored by SCOUT PRESS
The author of the bestselling novel The Party—lauded as “tense and riveting” by New York Times bestselling author Megan Miranda—returns with a chilling new domestic drama about two women whose deep friendship is threatened by dark, long-buried secrets.
Fantastic Japanese Crime! (TW: suicide talk and thoughts/ child death/ child abuse)
Confessions by Kanae Minato, Stephen Snyder (Translation): I couldn’t stop listening to this audiobook, which had excellent narrators! I’m not going to give a lot away on this one because it is a hell of a ride and I don’t want to spoil any of it. It starts with a teacher addressing her seventh grade class on her last day teaching. She has a story to tell, about her daughter’s death… From there, the novel rotates through a few characters telling their story in regards to that day in the classroom and the death of the teacher’s daughter. This novel stays away from cheap thrills, or tricking the audience for shock value sake, and instead takes a dark dive into exploring many things with grief and revenge at the core. You’re gonna want to strap yourself in for this ride.
Page-Turner Prep School With A Secret Society (TW: suicide/ domestic abuse/ rape)
All These Beautiful Strangers by Elizabeth Klehfoth: I read this one in two sittings because it had so much catnip for me: secret society, past mystery, coming-of-age, everyone’s secrets are gonna get dragged into the light! Seventeen-year-old Charlie is attending a New England prep school and has just been tapped to be hazed into a secret society that is known for basically running the school. As she tries to get a handle on the things this society is pressuring her to do, she’s also trying to solve the mystery of what happened to her mother when she disappeared years before. Having been left with a workaholic father, who always feels arms-distance away, and her closest family relationship a male cousin, also a classmate, it’s interesting to see her struggle against the influences they’ve had on her as she does her best to come into her own person. If you’re looking for a book to toss into a beach bag this summer I’d go with this one, which I could not put down.
Great Thriller! (TW: PTSD/ suicide)
Some Die Nameless by Wallace Stroby: You know those action/thriller movies where a group of friends from the past suddenly find themselves being picked off one by one in the present? This is kind of that in book form! But add to the main dude being hunted a journalist struggling at a downsizing newspaper who accidentally stumbles into his troubles and danger. I really liked the balance of good, developed characters with tense action scenes, and the dives into political unrest, and the struggles in print vs digital journalism for newspapers.
Remember we’re giving away $500 of the year’s best YA fiction and nonfiction so far (with a few great mysteries on the list!)
Recent Releases
Watch the Girls by Jennifer Wolfe (A good non-horror book for horror fans that takes a hard look at our treatment of girls/women especially in the spotlight.) (TW: eating disorder/ suicide attempt mentioned/ rape/ self-harm/ gaslighting)
The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager (From the author of Final Girls, a past and present mystery set at a camp.) (TW: suicide attempt)
Nancy Drew #2 by Kelly Thompson, Jenn St-Onge (I’m loving this modern Nancy Drew series already!)
Caged by Ellison Cooper (Currently Reading: Super good so far dark FBI serial killer novel.)
The Fifth To Die (4MK Thriller #2) by J.D. Barker (Currently Reading: The followup to the horror-ish thriller I really liked, The Fourth Monkey (Review), which starts off where the first one left off.)
Her Pretty Face by Robyn Harding (TBR)
Hope Never Dies by Andrew Shaffery (TBR: A buddy mystery starring President Obama and Vice President Biden!)
I’m Not Missing by Carrie Fountain (This was a really good coming-of-age story that had a mystery thread running throughout the background.)
Name of the Dog (A Lefty Mendieta Investigation # 3) by Élmer Mendoza, Mark Fried (Translator) (TBR)
Browse all the books recommended in Unusual Suspects previous newsletters on this shelf. And here’s an Unusual Suspects Pinterest board.
Until next time, keep investigating! And in the meantime come talk books with me on Twitter, Instagram, and Litsy–you can find me under Jamie Canaves.
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