Hello mystery fans! Lately I have been doing a lot of bouncing from one streamer to another looking for things to watch instead of actually watching stuff as I do when I’m stressed. But I am watching the second season of Slow Horses on Apple TV+, which is fun yelling at the screen at all the things these terrible spies are doing wrong.
Reminder (from my other job — yes, I have the best job!): if you’re looking for the perfect Valentine’s gift for your bookish boo (or for yourself!), gift Tailored Book Recommendations!
Bookish Goods
Bookish Mousepad: Cottagecore Ghost by OpalandJuneShop
Ghost! Books! Flowers! I love this mousepad. ($16)
New Releases
Against the Currant by Olivia Matthews
If you’re looking to start a brand new cozy mystery series and love a bakery backdrop, here you go! Lyndsay Murray is working hard to open her bakery Spice Isle Bakery in Brooklyn NY. It’s a dream for Murray to open this bakery for her community and get to work with her family. Problem: Claudio Fabrizi, a fellow bakery owner, doesn’t want any competition. Naturally he ends up dead after a fight with Murray, leaving Murray with the task of having to prove her innocence!
All the Dangerous Things by Stacy Willingham
For fans of (fictional) missing child cases, insomniac leads, and fictional true crime podcasts. Mason Drake was taken from his crib one night while his parents slept in the room next door. One year later and there are no clues or leads to point to what happened to the toddler. His mother Isabelle, unable to sleep and desperate to get the case moving, agrees to an interview with a true crime podcast host. Except the interview makes Isabelle paranoid about her past and herself and her own memory…
I immediately got the audiobook for this one since I enjoyed Willingham’s previous A Flicker in the Dark.
Looking for more new releases? Check out our New Books newsletter!
Riot Recommendations
Shotgun Wedding will be streaming on Prime on January 27th and I can’t wait! Not only does the film have a great cast — Jennifer Lopez, Josh Duhamel, Jennifer Coolidge, Lenny Kravitz — it is also my favorite pairing of a romance with a thriller/crime. So as you can imagine: I’ve got two books for you that pair those two genres together — one is on the criminal caper side the other on the historical romance side.
Partners in Crime by Alisha Rai
For fans of second chance romance, exes forced to work together, and running from criminals. Mira Patel once briefly dated Naveen Desai after a matchmaking setup. But that’s in her past, at least it was until her aunt dies and Mira finds herself in Naveen’s office because he’s handling the estate. And then they’re kidnapped and on the run from — and towards — criminals while trying to figure out why Mira is being targeted, which leads to them trying to outsmart the criminals. If you’re looking for a fun read, grab this one! And for audiobook readers, Soneela Nankani and Shahjehan Khan are great narrators.
(TW recounts past alcoholism)
Hither, Page (Page & Sommers #1) by Cat Sebastian
For fans of sweet novels, historical mysteries, and slow-burn romance. Following WWII, James Sommers is a village doctor and Leo Page is a spy. The village is rocked by a violent death — Page is there on a mission to cover up a murder and Sommers finds himself attracted to this new stranger. But there’s a murder to solve, and Page’s entire life is built on hiding and not putting down roots. But, maybe…
News and Roundups
BBC acquires Magpie Murders and announces season 2 with Lesley Manville
Only Murders in the Building Adds Meryl Streep to Season 3 Cast
‘Eken Babu’ Writer Sujan Dasgupta Found Dead at His Flat; Police Initiates Probe
Retta-Led Crime Drama Pilot ‘Murder By the Book’ Picked Up at NBC
Censorship News (Get involved in your local library and school boards/meetings, vote against book banners trying to hold these positions, and actively fight book bans!)
Browse all the books recommended in Unusual Suspects previous newsletters on this shelf. See upcoming 2023 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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