Hello mystery fans! Did I watch the Red, White, and Royal Blue (Prime) adaptation more than once because I am always a sucker for a really good romcom? Of course I did! And I balanced it with some fun mystery by finally getting around to watching the first season of The After Party (Apple TV+).
Are you a velocireader? If so Book Riot’s New Release Index will keep you in the know about all the latest books. New books for days! Subscribe today — you won’t be able to read them all, but it’s fun to try!
Bookish Goods
New Releases
Goodbye Earl by Leesa Cross-Smith
For fans of friends getting together to conspire to kill an abuser.
This is 100% on my TBR because I have been a huge fan of The Chicks since the late ’90s, and clearly this book is inspired by their hit song “Goodbye Earl.” So, yes: this novel imagines a group of friends, an abusive partner, and a plot to get together to kill the abuser…
Now excuse me while I go listen to The Chicks’ albums starting with Wide Open Spaces.
The Blonde Identity by Ally Carter
For fans of road trips, spies, mistaken identity, and romcoms!
I love books that blend together a ton of tropes and genres that I love, so the second I found out about this book (a day before I wrote this), I added this to the top of my TBR.
Imagining waking up in Paris with absolutely no memory and finding a gorgeous man telling you you’re in danger and have to run. Turns out you’re the identical twin of a spy and your twin’s attackers are now after you!
For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.
Riot Recommendations
There continues to be a lot of talk about studios lately with the ongoing writers and actors strike (K-Dramas have entered the chat) where workers are asking for new fair contracts. There’s also a lot of talk about what feels like turmoil in the streaming world. So I found two mystery books dealing with the industry: one follows a past film producer, the other a current film editor.
Complicit by Winnie M Li
For fans of stories where the past is slowly being revealed and a look at how rape culture sneaks up on you when an industry is steeped in it.
Sarah Lai’s current life is far from where she started and intended: after being an up-and-coming Hollywood producer, she now teaches film at a small college. But a journalist has questions regarding someone she once worked with and Lai may finally be ready to tell her story.
You get a deep dive into the filmmaking process while also looking at how we’re taught to ignore the red flags concerning rape culture, with the majority of anything that could be graphic kept off-page.
(TW conversations about teen with eating disorder/ attempted sexual assault on page/ rumors, accusations, assumptions of sexual assault)
Pretty as a Picture by Elizabeth Little
For fans of past murder mysteries and isolated island settings!
Marissa Dahl is working on a film off the coast of Delaware as an editor but this film set has a lot of problems, including accidents, scandals, and a lot of the crew being fired. And did I mention the subject of this film is based on a real-life murder case? That’s how Marissa finds herself entangled with teenage girls set out to solve the real case, which may still have a killer on the loose…
News and Roundups
‘This is it’: Steve Martin reveals plans to step away from film and TV after current project
20 Books Like Only Murders in the Building
Publishing scammers are using AI to scale their grifts
ReadForMaui: Join the Maui Relief Effort Readathon!
Brave Books’ Storytime to Become Annual Event, But Was It Even Successful?
WATCH: Did you just say ‘wig’? This whodunit set at a hairdressing competition is for the gays
Browse all the books recommended in Unusual Suspects previous newsletters on this shelf. See upcoming 2023 releases and 2024 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 Bluesky, Twitter, Instagram, Goodreads, and Litsy — you can find me under Jamie Canavés.
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