Sponsored by Never Saw Me Coming by Vera Kurian, from Park Row Books.
It would be easy to underestimate Chloe… She’s a freshman honor student, a legging-wearing hot girl next door, who also happens to be a psychopath. She spends her time on yogalates, frat parties and plotting to kill Will Bachman, a childhood friend who grievously wronged her. Chloe is one of seven students who are part of an unusual clinical study of psychopaths—students like herself who lack empathy and can’t comprehend emotions like fear or guilt. When one of the students in the study is murdered, a dangerous game of cat and mouse begins, and Chloe goes from hunter to prey.
Hello mystery fans! I’ve found that I often hear people say they don’t like cozies because they are too slow in pacing. I feel that like all subgenres and genres, as long as the thing you don’t like about a book isn’t the rule of the genre (if you don’t like a happily ever after, you probably shouldn’t read romance), there is going to be a huge range of types to chose from within that genre. So I have two fast-paced cozies for you. They exist!
A Spell for Trouble (An Enchanted Bay Mystery #1) by Esme Addison
This is the start to a cozy mystery series that has a sprinkling of magic. While it’s perfect to read at any time, if you’re looking for a cozy to slide into fall with, here you go.
After her mother passed, Alexandra Daniels was raised by her father in NY and was forbidden from visiting her family in a seaside North Carolina town. Now that her father has passed, she decides to finally visit them. Not only is she going to learn about her family–descendants from mermaids that are now human with some magical powers!–and work in their herbal apothecary, but she’s also going to learn how to investigate a murder. I mean what else would you do when your aunt is arrested for the poisoning murder of a customer who she JUST fought with?!
You get family, folklore, some magic, town secrets, rivalries, a very good doggo, and a murder-mystery! And the sequel, A Hex For Danger, is already out.
Much Ado about Nauticaling (Whit and Whiskers Mystery #1) by Gabby Allan
Whitney Dagner spent summers in Santa Catalina Island with her grandparents as a child and has just moved to the island to join her brother Nick in running the family tourism business. And she’s greeted by two things: the discovery of the dead body of Catalina’s Person of the Year award recipient and her brother being the number one suspect.
When Nick runs from the police and hides, Whitney decides it’s up to her to figure out who is responsible–surely, don’t call me Shirley, her brother can’t be responsible–in order to clear his name. But between the business of their tourist boat, running the gift shop, her grandmother’s shenanigans, her ex-boyfriend, and a town filled with lively characters and tourists, many things are sure to get in her way.
If you like a bit of humor, family, misdirection, non-talking animal friends that sometimes go along for the fun, pick up this new cozy series starter.
From The Book Riot Crime Vault
Thriller vs. Horror: Your Guide
Browse all the books recommended in Unusual Suspects previous newsletters on this shelf. See upcoming 2021 releases. Check out this Unusual Suspects Pinterest board and get Tailored Book Recommendations!
Until next time, keep investigating! In the meantime, come talk books with me on Twitter, Instagram, Goodreads, and Litsy–you can find me under Jamie Canavés.
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