Hello, mystery fans! If you’re a fan of dark-ish comedies, a bit of WTF is going on, and deadly games, watch the new Hulu film Self Reliance, starring Jake Johnson and Anna Kendrick.
2024 is the tenth year of the Read Harder Challenge! Join us as we make our way through 24 tasks meant to expand our reading horizons and diversify our TBRs. To get book recommendations for each task, sign up for the Read Harder newsletter. We’ll also keep you informed about other cool reading challenges, readathons, and more across the bookish internet. If you become a paid subscriber, you get even more recommendations plus community features, where you can connect with a community of passionate, like-minded readers in a cozy and supportive corner of the internet. Sign up today!
Bookish Goods
Valentine Sticker Sheet for Book Lovers by HMPaperStudio
If you put stickers in your Valentine cards or just love book lover and kitten-themed stickers, here’s a sweet set. ($3)
New Releases
The Perfect Affair by Angela Henry
For fans of domestic thrillers and “did he or didn’t he” mysteries!
Paige and Aaron Nichols hit a big rough patch in their marriage when Paige correctly accuses Aaron of having an affair with a coworker. He promises he’ll end it and work on their marriage, except what happens next is that the coworker comes forward with information that could get Aaron fired, and then she disappears, leaving Aaron as the prime suspect…
The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins
For fans of alternating POV (including letters!), returning home to an estate, family fortunes, murder, and secrets!
Ruby McTavish, who is famous for surviving a childhood kidnapping, died a decade ago. Her fortune, including a family estate, was all left to her son Camden. He hasn’t wanted anything to do with it, now living with his wife in California and making a living as a teacher. But the past comes for everybody, and Camden finally relents and returns home to North Carolina to finally deal with his mother’s will. What could go wrong?!
Looking for more new releases? Check out our New Books newsletter!
Riot Recommendations
Here are two books if you’re looking for some humor in your reading while also offering a mystery!
To Have and to Heist by Sara Desai
For fans of a rom-com meets crime — heist in this case — who love Jennifer Crusie (Getting Rid of Bradley)!
Simi Chopra may not be living her best life right now, but that isn’t going to stop her from being there for her bestie, who just got scammed and is now suspected of stealing a diamond necklace. No worries, jewel thief Jack can solve all their problems by helping them steal the necklace back. The catch? Simi and her bestie have to put together a crew to pull off a heist during a wedding. Will this be amateur hour, or will they pull this off?
Soneela Nankani has great humor timing in her narration of the audiobook!
Auntie Poldi and the Sicilian Lions by Mario Giordano, translated by J. Maxwell Brownjohn
For fans of the way The Princess Bride is narrated and older women speaking their minds while solving crimes!
Auntie Poldi is a Bavarian widow in her 60s who has just moved to Sicily. With her nephew visiting, she narrates to him the story — and the story breaks are for them to quibble and for him to lament on his writing career — where her handyman goes missing and Poldi puts herself on the case! Poldi marches to the beat of her own drum, does as she pleases, and makes for a fun lead in this series which currently has four translated releases.
News and Roundups
This is what your favourite book genre says about you
Apple TV Plus has a brand-new crime thriller — and it’s a must-watch
How a Sherlock Holmes obsession and personal loss informed Issa López’s True Detective
Readers’ Most Anticipated Mysteries & Thrillers of 2024
Why Armando Lucas Correa Went From Historical Fiction to Writing a Thriller
Guy Ritchie’s The Gentlemen Is Getting the Franchise Treatment
One Piece Creator Spotlights Detective Conan With Anniversary Tribute
Browse the books recommended in Unusual Suspects’ previous newsletters on this shelf. See upcoming 2024 releases and mysteries from 2023. 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 Bluesky, Twitter, Instagram, Goodreads, and Litsy — you can find me under Jamie Canavés.
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