Opening That Could Be In OCEAN’S ELEVEN 🔪

Hello mystery fans! I have officially entered the stage of having no clue what day or time it ever is, no matter how many times I look at the calendar/clock. But it is always time for me to talk books, especially the mystery kind, so let’s do that. I have a really entertaining historical mystery, an awesome narrative nonviolent true crime, and a mother daughter suspense.

The Silence of Bones by June Hur: I get a lot of requests from readers looking for historical fiction that isn’t set in WWII or Europe (because that market is saturated), so here you go! This is a highly enjoyable mystery set in 1800, Joseon Korean dynastic kingdom. Seol has had a pretty rough life, orphaned as a child and now sent by her older sister to the capital with the mission of finding her older brother’s grave, while being trained as a police damo. She’s basically an indentured servant to the Capital Police Bureau because Confucius’s law doesn’t allow men to touch women they aren’t directly related to. So Seol arrests women and touches dead women’s bodies on murder cases.

She’s scrappy, sensitive, and a quick learner, which is why Inspector Han forms a friendship with her and helps her learn to solve cases. But soon she’s questioning whether Han is involved in the murder of a woman… This has a great lead character and setting while delving into Korean history, including the persecution of Catholics, and I really hope this becomes a series. (TW past suicides mentioned, detail/ mentions public groping/ torture/ past child murder mentioned/ dog killed, skippable)

The Falcon Thief: A True Tale of Adventure, Treachery, and the Hunt for the Perfect Bird by Joshua Hammer: If you enjoyed The Feather Thief this is a must-read. Also, this is a great read for fans of narrative nonfiction, nonviolent true crime, adventure, and nature. Look, I know this sounds boring like The Feather Thief and Bad Blood because, whatever, how exciting is bird stealing or a Silicon Valley startup? SO VERY MUCH when the stories are kind of bonkers. And in the case of The Falcon Thief you get adventure stories, and an opening that could be in Ocean’s Eleven–if they were after falcon eggs–and really interesting animal facts, and history. Plus, it’s all narrated like a fantastic story taking you into the world of rare egg smuggling (after being stolen from nests!), falconry, the UK’s National Wildlife Crime Unit, and plenty of finger pointing “it wasn’t me, they’re lying.” If you’re a fan of being told a story and British narrators, go with the audiobook. (TW talks of past crime cases that include suicide, detail; rape, no detail; child deaths, no detail/ some animal harm, but I’d say more what you find in animal documentaries)

Darling Rose Gold by Stephanie Wrobel: This is one of those novels I recommend knowing as little as possible about beforehand for full suspense effect. If you still want to know what it’s about, then read on.

It’s told in alternating points of view between mother and daughter: Rose Gold Watts, a young woman, is picking up her mom, Patty Watts, from prison after her five year sentence. Patty was found guilty of making Rose Gold sick all her life and Rose Gold’s testimony put her mom in prison. But Patty doesn’t understand why Rose Gold lied and the few people in Rose Gold’s life don’t understand why she’d forgive her mother and give her another chance. Who, if anyone, is lying? Are they rebuilding their relationship? Or are they trying to pull one over on the other?… Highly recommend the audiobook, which has two narrators and really sinks you into each character’s thoughts and actions. (TW alludes to attempted suicide/ past suicide, brief detail/ disordered eating/ talk of past PTSD, addiction, miscarriage/ child abuse)

Recent Releases

No Going Back (Nora Watts #3) by Sheena Kamal: A great PI series with thriller scenes and endings!  (Review for 1st book in series.)

Death of an American Beauty (A Jane Prescott Novel Book 3) by Mariah Fredericks: Historical mystery series with a great lead (a lady’s maid) and interesting historical moments in early 1900s NY. (Review for first book in series.)

 

Miracle Creek by Angie Kim (Paperback): Mystery + family drama + court room drama! (Review) (TW child abuse/ suicide/ sexual assault)

Girls Like Us by Cristina Alger (Paperback): Return home, murder mystery I hope becomes a series! (Review) (TW addiction/ PTSD/ statutory rape/ suicide mention, detail)

Conviction by Denise Mina (Paperback): What if you were listening to a true crime podcast and realized you once knew the accused?! (Review) (TW suicide, suicidal thoughts/ eating disorder/ rape/ addiction/ animal cruelty)

Browse all the books recommended in Unusual Suspects previous newsletters on this shelf. See 2020 upcoming releases. An Unusual Suspects Pinterest board. Get Tailored Book Recommendations!

Until next time, keep investigating! In the meantime, come talk books with me on Twitter, Instagram, and Litsy–you can find me under Jamie Canavés.

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