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Unusual Suspects

The Ethics of True-Crime TV

Hello mystery fans! I have said it is the wrong day every day this week so let’s hope it finally really is Friday. In the land of mysteries, we’ve got new releases, backlist mysteries with coming-of-age stories, and news!

Bookish Goods

candle in a dark jar with a label saying 221b Baker ST and a sketch of the street

221b Baker Street Candle by AARKAORIGINS

For Sherlock and candle fans, a two in one. ($10)

New Releases

cover image for Bad Kids

Bad Kids by Zijin Chen, translated by Michelle Deeter

This Chinese crime novel is one of my favorite reads of the year and perfect for fans of dark Japanese crime novels. The audiobook is available in the U.S. and Jason Vu does a great narration between adults and teens. If you read print/digital it’s available in the UK now, and in those formats in the U.S. in the summer of 2023. (I don’t understand publishing!)

It’s the story of three young teenagers who become friends, starting with two who’ve run away from an orphanage. There’s an accidental murder of a sibling and separately an unintended recording of a man murdering his in-laws. The latter leads the kids to blackmail the man starting off a game of wits and crime for money, control, freedom, and getting away with murder!

(TW brief domestic abuse, mention of child abuse/briefly mentions rape, not detailed/mentions past child sexual abuse/police discussions of child sexual assault)

cover image for Deadly Triangle

Deadly Triangle: The Famous Architect, His Wife, Their Chauffeur, and Murder Most Foul by Susan Goldenberg

For true-crime readers of historical cases — in this case (heh) one that was sensationalized. Set in British Columbia and England, it’s the case of a murdered architect and the trial of his much younger wife and the even much younger wife’s lover (17) who was the chauffeur, both of which plead guilty in order to say the other was innocent.

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

Riot Recommendations

Here are two mysteries for fans of coming-of-age stories where the MCs are coming into adulthood.

Patron Saints Of Nothing cover image

Patron Saints of Nothing by Randy Ribay

High school senior Jay Reguero learns that his cousin Jun, who lives in the Philippines, was murdered because of the country’s war on drugs. Feeling guilty that he’d recently stopped corresponding with his cousin, he spends his spring break visiting his family in the Philippines in order to really investigate his cousin’s death. While the mystery thread of what happened to Jun runs throughout, the book is also about Jay’s struggle with identity, culture, and finding his way and place when his roots sometimes feel conflicting to his current life. It’s a great read and I highly recommend going with the audiobook format narrated by Ramón de Ocampo.

(TW addiction/discussions of sex trafficking/past rape, not detailed)

The Hollow Inside cover image

The Hollow Inside by Brooke Lauren Davis

It’s a crime that this book is under the radar! This is a revenge tale told in past and present format starring a mother daughter duo — with the mother sending the daughter to rob houses and help her enact her revenge. Nina returns to the town she grew up in with her daughter Phoenix — except no one is to know Nina is there and Phoenix is to take another identity in order to infiltrate Ellis Bowman’s family so Nina can finally get her revenge…

(TW domestic abuse, not graphic nor on page but a “fleeing” scene/statutory rape/brief mention of past suicide, detail/side character with terminal cancer)

News and roundups

Book Cover for All her little secrets by wanda morris, red-tinted photo close up of a Black woman wearing sunglasses

Emmy Winning Actor Uzo Aduba to Star in All Her Little Secrets Limited Series

Atlantic dives in for Murali’s ‘super smart’ début novel

The ethics of true-crime TV: What Ron Goldman’s sister wants Dahmer viewers to know

Henry Cavill on why he returned as Sherlock in Enola Holmes 2

Amazon Changes Kindle eBook Return Policy, Ends Lending Between Kindle Users, and More

New Releases Tuesday: The Best Books Out This Week

Liberty and Tirzah discuss new releases including Lavender House by Lev AC Rosen on the latest All The Books!

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.

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