Hello, mystery fans! I am very excited that the horror comedy Lisa Frankenstein is streaming on Peacock. Now I just have to find the time to sit down in peace and watch it.
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Bookish Goods
Cozy Murder Book Club Sticker by LittleCrayonCompany
Here’s a cute sticker for fans of cozy mysteries. ($4)
New Releases
The Murder of Mr. Ma by John Shen Yen Nee, SJ Rozan
For fans of historical murder mysteries, action, humor, and Sherlock Holmes-inspired duos!
A series of events — including Lao being asked to impersonate a missing man at a jail and causing a riot — results in academic Lao She, who teaches Chinese at a university, being partnered up with Judge Dee Ren Jie to solve a murder. Store owner Ma Za Ren was killed with one of the swords from his own store, and it’s only the beginning of the murders! Pick this up for the murder mystery, action, and adventure!
Molten Death by Leslie Karst
For fans of Hawai’i-set murder mysteries and amateur sleuths!
Valerie Corbin is a retired caterer who was recently in a car accident that killed her brother. To help her grieving process and her marriage, she goes on vacation to Hawai’i with her wife, Kristen. The vacation turns murder mystery when Valerie swears she sees a man’s leg right before a volcano’s lava covers it. Kristen might not believe Valerie saw this, but it won’t stop Valerie from investigating!
Looking for more new releases? Check out our New Books newsletter!
Riot Recommendations
Here are two great backlist titles!
These Silent Woods by Kimi Cunningham Grant
For fans of remote off-the-grid settings, suspense, atmospheric writing, and character-driven narrative!
Cooper and his eight-year-old daughter Finch live in the Appalachian woods, with only two people knowing where they are: a nosy neighbor Cooper wants nothing to do with and a friend who once a year brings them provisions. They’re delicately structured life begins to unravel when Cooper’s friend doesn’t show up with this year’s necessary supplies and the woman they spotted in the woods disappears…
(TW PTSD/ fat shaming/ panic attack/ animal deaths, killings related to survival)
The Last Place You Look (Roxane Weary #1) by Kristen Lepionka
For fans of rooting for a hot mess PI who is genuinely trying, mysteries about reopened solved murder cases, and thriller endings!
Roxane Weary is currently grieving, drinking too much, and in a messy relationship. So she takes on a difficult, nearly impossible case: a man on death row’s sister is certain that the teenage girl he’s accused of murdering, whose body was never found, just walked down the street in front of her. Weary has a lot to contend with, starting with her deceased dad having been a cop and no one on the force wanting her near this case…
This is a great series that brings the mysteries while also taking you on a journey as Weary gets her life in order.
(sorry, I didn’t keep notes on TWs back when I read this)
News and Roundups
9 Fun Murder Mysteries You Should Be Reading
Congratulations to the 2024 Lammy Finalists!
A Simple Favor 2 to Reunite Anna Kendrick, Blake Lively, and Director Paul Feig
Every Tom Ripley Movie, Ranked
25 Books Every Agatha Christie Fan Needs To Read
Netflix set for a murder mystery series by the queen of the genre
‘I will defeat Richard Osman!’: Holly Jackson on being Britain’s top-selling female crime author
Don Winslow retires from writing, releases final novel before pivoting to politics
Will Trent EP talks the chances of Mark-Paul Gosselaar’s return to Will Trent
Uzo Aduba Reveals What It’s Like Working with Shonda Rhimes on New Netflix Murder Mystery Series
Parish Premiere: Giancarlo Esposito Exorcises His Demons for a Story He ‘Needed to Tell’
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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