Hi mystery fans! I watched the adaptation of Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret (Starz) this weekend: I really enjoyed it, felt super old that Rachel McAdams is now playing mom roles, and spent some time discussing how some things surrounding puberty don’t change, and others have drastically changed thanks to things like the entire internet.
I have the best job that matches people with what they want to read more of through TBR, so if you want to give it a try, here’s a thing about it: Autumn is here, which means it’s time to curl up with a great read and get cozy—whatever your version of cozy looks like. Whether it’s romance, creepy reads, modern classics, or escapist reads you crave, TBR can help you find the perfect books for your fall reading, with options curated to your specific reading tastes.
Bookish Goods
Grim reaper reading sticker by LorelaiMarketWonders
At least when you’re a skeleton, you can stay up all night playing this game ––I assume. ($4)
New Releases
Murder by Degrees by Ritu Mukerji
For fans of historical mysteries (Philadelphia, 1875), amateur sleuths, and doctor leads!
Dr. Lydia Weston has her schedule full as she helped create a low-cost clinic for the working class where she treats patients, and she’s also a teacher for future doctors at the Woman’s Medical College. After a patient of Weston’s goes missing, and an unidentifiable body with the patient’s diary is found, Weston ends up assisting with the autopsy and then the detectives on the case. But will what she knows about her patient help solve the case, and do they, in fact, have the correct body?
Lay Them to Rest: On the Road with the Cold Case Investigators Who Identify the Nameless by Laurah Norton
For readers of forensic science, cold cases, and true crime.
Norton is the host of the podcast The Fall Line, which focuses on cases that haven’t gotten much attention, centering minority communities in Georgia. In Lay Me To Rest, she takes a deep dive not only into cold cases, but into the unidentified dead cold cases specifically, and the forensic science/tools for identification throughout history up until the newest generation of the science.
Looking for more new releases? Check out our New Books newsletter!
Riot Recommendations
Casey McQuiston (Red, White and Royal Blue) announced their next book publishing in 2024(!), so I decided to go back to my fun game of looking at crime releases to be super excited for in 2024, along with the author’s current work that you can read now!
Under Lock & Skeleton Key (Secret Staircase Mystery, #1) by Gigi Pandian
For fans of fun murder mysteries, amateur sleuths, family mysteries, food, and intricate puzzle mysteries!
Tempest Raj has lost her career as a magician with a Las Vegas show, so naturally, she returns to live in a tree house at her family’s home. Her father, who builds intricate hidden spaces in people’s homes, has offered her a spot on his crew. Except, instead of working on a new fun project, a dead body is discovered in a wall, and it looks just like Tempest… Guess who will go from magician to amateur sleuth?
(TW brief mention of past suicide assumption, detail/ past domestic violence mentions/ stalker)
The second book, The Raven Thief, is out now. The third book, A Midnight Puzzle, will be released in March 2024.
The Initial Insult (The Initial Insult, #1) by Mindy McGinnis
For fans of dark YA and revenge!
Tress Montor is filled with a lot of anger: her parents disappeared; she’s been shunned by her town as she lives and works with her grandfather at an animal attraction with dangerous wild animals; she’s certain her once best friend fed her dog to her alligator, graffitied her home, and knows what happened to her parents. So what’s a girl to do? Take some inspiration from Edgar Allan Poe’s The Cask of Amontillado and slowly brick her best friend into a wall in order to force a confession out of her. I know!
McGinnis’s next psychological YA mystery, Under This Red Rock, will be released in March 2024.
News And Roundups
Tiffany D. Jackson announced her next YA thriller, The Scammer, coming in 2025!
Critics At Large podcast: Spies, Sex, and John le Carré
Suspect Arrested in Connection to Several Illinois Library Bomb Threats
Anatomy of a Fall Is the Year’s Most Gripping Murder Mystery
10 Underrated Japanese Crime Dramas
Travel Books: 5 Cozy Mystery Series To Satisfy Your Wanderlust
These ‘Final Girl’ horror films will get you in the spooky spirit
What Else Do Parents Who Believe Librarians Should Be Prosecuted for Library Materials Think?
Halloween Tote Bags To Put A Spell On Your Books
Scholastic Offers Option to Exclude Diverse Books from Book Fairs
Browse all the books recommended in Unusual Suspects previous newsletters on this shelf. See 2023 releases and upcoming 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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