Categories
Unusual Suspects

The Best Recent Crime and Thriller Writing

Hello mystery fans! I just looked up my primary mail-in ballot and it is now marked as officially received and counted which is a relief. My current K-drama escape is My Love From the Star and my current audiobook is the adorable Never Been Kissed by Tomothy Janovsky. Now on to the mysteries!

Bookish Goods

grey tshirt with black text saying "unreliable narrator"

Unreliable Narrator Bookish Tee by MileLongTBRboutique

Conversation starter for sure. $22

New Releases

cover image for Three Assassins

Three Assassins by Kōtarō Isaka, Sam Malissa (Translator)

I’ve mentioned quite a few times over the years how translated mysteries usually don’t get translated in order that they were originally published in their country. And here we are again. Bullet Train came out last year (and is currently an adapted film starring Brad Pitt) and now we are getting the previous book in the series. The good news, if you’re confused, is it doesn’t really matter unless your brain screams at you for reading out of order because they read as standalones. Here we have a revenge novel. Suzuki’s wife was murdered so he decides to infiltrate the gang responsible for her murder. Except he’ll be up against three assassins with unique killing methods… My goal continues to be to read as many translated crime books as I can.

cover image for A Killing In Costume

A Killing in Costumes (A Hollywood Treasures Mystery #1) by Zac Bissonnette

And a new cozy mystery series! Jay Allan and Cindy Cooper were once married and stars, until they publicly came out and lost their careers. Now they’re divorced, best friends, and running a movie memorabilia business. So it’s a dream–and a very needed win for their flailing business–when a former star is now ready to sell her huge collection. But they’re not the only buyers in line and their competition ends up dead with Jay and Cindy the suspects… If you love going into subcultures (film buffs, memorabilia collectors) and love a pair of sleuths, this one is for you.

Looking for more new releases? Check out our New Books newsletter!

Riot Recommendations

This round I have for you two favorite books that tell their tales through multiple points of view with wildly different tones. The first book explores grief and the second is darkly funny with bite.

The Other Americans cover image

The Other Americans by Laila Lalami

Driss Guerraoui is killed in a hit-and-run. We watch the effects of the crime from the point of view of his daughter, Nora and his wife, Maryam. We get to know a witness to the hit-and-run, whose wife wants him to come forward but because he is undocumented thinks it is too big a risk. There’s a police officer who is not assigned to the case but is part of Nora’s past, and hopefully future. Then there’s the detective assigned to the case. It’s a great book that looks at family and grief and community and second chances. Bonus: the audiobook has a great multicast.

(TW addiction/ PTSD)

cover image For Your Own Good

For Your Own Good by Samantha Downing

This is a twisty revenge story not like you’re used to. I loved watching how this unfolded and kind of want to get on this ride again. It starts with an English Lit teacher at an academy, Teddy Crutcher. He thinks he’s doing the world a service through his secret wars with students, teachers, and parents where he corrects or punishes their behavior. You see, he’s certain the world would be a better place if people just acted the way he wants–he always knows better. But then someone dies on school grounds and lives begin to unravel… If your idea of a beach read is getting wholly sucked into a bonkers story that never stops, here you go.

(TW past suicide mentioned, brief detail/ diet culture)

News and Roundups

cover image for You're Invited

Liberty and Vanessa chat new releases including You’re Invited by Amanda Jayatissa, Three Assassins by Kotaro Isaka, Sam Malissa (translator), and Kirk Wallace Johnson’s The Fishermen and the Dragon and The Feather Thief on the latest All The Books!

On Her Shelf: ‘Alias Emma’ Author on British Intelligence, the Spy Who Fooled Her and the Best Thriller She’s Read Lately

These 7 must-watch Apple TV Plus shows have 90% or higher on Rotten Tomatoes

The best recent crime and thriller writing – review roundup

Censorship News

South Carolina Senator Demands Book Removal; Threatens Public Library Jobs and Funding

Library Defunded for Having LGBTQ Books Raises 50k+ In Donations

A Template for Talking with School and Library Boards About Book Bans: Book Censorship News, August 5, 2022

Browse all the books recommended in Unusual Suspects previous newsletters on this shelf. See upcoming 2022 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.

If a mystery fan forwarded this newsletter to you and you’d like your very own, you can sign up here.