Category: Unusual Suspects

Hi mystery fans!

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Today’s newsletter is sponsored by our $250 All the Books Barnes and Noble gift card giveaway!

Enter to win a $250 gift card to Barnes and Noble in support of our All the Books! podcast. Click here for more info.

 

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From Book Riot And Around The Internet

In super awesome: Courtney Summers annotated Sadie‘s most highlighted passages by Kindle readers on Goodreads.

13 Bookish Film Noir for Noirvember

Quiz: How Well Do You Actually Remember The Movie Clue?

9 New Mystery & Thriller Novels To Read When The Weather Is Terrible

12 Books to Read If You Loved ‘The Hate U Give’

18 of the Best True Crime Podcasts for Mystery Readers

Adaptations And News

Stephen King’s The Colorado Kid will be back in print for the first time in 10 years with a brand-new illustrated edition.

Excerpt and cover reveal for the 5th book in the Pete Fernandez PI series: Miami Midnight.

Riley Sager revealed the cover for his next thriller (July 2019): Lock Every Door.

From Publishers Lunch: “NYT bestselling author of Girl Waits With Gun Amy Stewart’s books six and seven in the Kopp Sisters series, based on the real-life adventures of Constance, Norma, and Fleurette during World War I and the 1920s, again to Nicole Angeloro at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, in a two-book deal, by Michelle Tessler at Tessler Literary Agency (NA).”

Watch Now

Now In Theaters: The continuation of the Millennium series (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) has released the latest adaptation, The Girl in the Spider’s Web, with Claire Foy playing Lisbeth. Watch the trailer.

Now In Theaters: I had no idea–or totally forgot–that Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly are in a ridiculous new Sherlock adaptation: Holmes & Watson. Watch the trailer.

Kindle Deals

Secrets, Lies, & Crawfish Pies (A Romaine Wilder Mystery Book 1) is a fun, new cozy mystery series and you can read the first now for $4.99 before the second releases in December. (Review)

Sarah Pinborough (the author of Behind Her Eyes) has a supernatural-whodunit mystery series and the first book, Mayhem (A Dr. Bond Victorian Forensics mystery), is $3.49

Browse all the books recommended in Unusual Suspects previous newsletters on this shelf. And here’s an Unusual Suspects Pinterest board.

Until next time, keep investigating! And in the meantime, come talk books with me on Twitter, Instagram, and Litsy–you can find me under Jamie Canaves.

If a mystery fan forwarded this newsletter to you and you’d like your very own you can sign up here.

Hello mystery fans! I have a lyrical crime novel, a nonfiction about psychopaths, and a bunch of new releases for you this week!

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Today’s Unusual Suspects is sponsored by In Too Deep by Lynn H. Blackburn and Revell Books, a Division of Baker Publishing Group

How do you choose between loyalty and the truth? When the Carrington County Sheriff’s Office dive team is called in to recover a body from a submerged car, they aren’t prepared to find an encrypted laptop–or an unsettling connection between investigator Adam Campbell and the dead accountant. Adam turns to his friend Dr. Sabrina Fleming to recover the files from the laptop. But the deeper they dig, the deadlier the investigation becomes. When evidence implicates members of Adam’s own family, he and Sabrina will have to risk everything to solve the case. The truth could set hundreds free–but someone is willing to do whatever it takes to silence anyone who threatens to reveal their secrets.

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Not A Word Out Of Place!

Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds: A lyrical, imaginative, crime novel with a gut-punch. Reynolds takes a tragedy we’ve become far too accustomed to hearing about, and spins a story in a unique and very effective way. Fifteen-year-old Will’s brother Shawn was just murdered, and Will grew up where everyone knows there are 3 rules: No crying; No snitching; You always seek revenge. He’s managed the first two and is now on an elevator with a gun, ready to accomplish number 3. But this is kind of like Boyz N the Hood meets A Christmas Carol because that short elevator ride down is going to have a different person connected to Shawn, or him, get on at every floor. This has won a ton of awards and came with a lot of hype, and it delivered! It’s written in verse but please don’t be afraid if you don’t like poetry, this is very accessible and readable–it’s just written in a way that makes the story sound lyrical. And the audiobook is narrated by Jason Reynolds which is *chef’s kiss.*

Well This Was Interesting And Scary In A Way I Didn’t Imagine (TW in some way for everything)

The Psychopath Test by Jon Ronson: I’ve read about so many fictional psychopaths that I thought it was definitely time to finally read this nonfiction book where Ronson seeks out to learn about, and meets with a bunch of, psychopaths. The book has a bit of everything including history of psychiatry (UK), experiments done over the years, Ronson meeting with psychopaths, his meeting with Scientologists, a look at children being wrongly diagnosed with mental illnesses and so much more. For me, the terrifying bit wasn’t the “Is your neighbor a serial killer?” But the thought of what happens when CEOs, politicians, people in prominent positions that are driving our economy/society are actual psychopaths?! Because psychopaths aren’t necessarily killers/violent but the checklist suddenly made a lot of things *gestures wildly at news * become clearer–including how anyone can believe for instance that a mass shooting was a government hoax. It was also fascinating, and pretty scary, to see Ronson keep falling for psychopath’s tricks to convince him they weren’t psychopaths. Totally recommend the audiobook if you’re a listener.

Recent Releases

The Best Bad Things by Katrina Carrasco (TBR: historical mystery–I’m kind of obsessed with the cover.)

Lost Lake (Detective Gemma Monroe #3) by Emily Littlejohn (Currently Reading: Procedural, 3 campers report the 4th person missing…)

Little White Lies (Debutantes #1) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (TBR: YA mystery that sounds like it’d be an awesome Freeform show.)

An Elderly Lady is Up to No Good by Helene Tursten, Marlaine Delargy (Translator) (TBR: Swedish short story mysteries all centering Maud, an 88-year-old “woman with no family, no friends, and…no qualms about a little murder.”)

Ways to Hide in Winter by Sarah St. Vincent (TBR: Suspense set in an isolated corner of Pennsylvania’s Blue Ridge Mountains.)

The Feral Detective by Jonathan Lethem (TBR: Detective novel with an odd pairing searching for a missing woman.)

Harvest of Secrets (Wine Country Mysteries #9) by Ellen Crosby (Cozy mystery series)

Lark! The Herald Angels Sing (Meg Langslow #24) by Donna Andrews (Cozy mystery series)

An Unexplained Death: The True Story of a Body at the Belvedere by Mikita Brottman (TBR: True crime) (TW suicide)

A Dangerous Duet by Karen Odden (Historical mystery)

Browse all the books recommended in Unusual Suspects previous newsletters on this shelf. And here’s an Unusual Suspects Pinterest board.

Until next time, keep investigating! And in the meantime, come talk books with me on Twitter, Instagram, and Litsy–you can find me under Jamie Canaves.

If a mystery fan forwarded this newsletter to you and you’d like your very own you can sign up here.

Hello mystery fans! We have made it to November and I have already had my first pecan pie! Hope you’re having lovely weather, have a great book, and get to solve a mystery.

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Today’s newsletter is sponsored by our $250 All the Books Barnes and Noble gift card giveaway!

Enter to win a $250 gift card to Barnes and Noble in support of our All the Books! podcast. Click here for more info.

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From Book Riot And Around The Internet

Rincey and Katie talk news, what they’re reading, and upcoming mysteries they’re excited about on Read or Dead!

8 of the Best Historical Mysteries

The Best Places To Find Indie Mysteries

10 Supernatural Mystery & Thriller Novels That Are Perfect For Fall

Mystery Novels and Thrillers for Horror Fans

7 Unreliable Books With Narrators Who Love to Keep You Guessing

Adaptations And News

Best Books of 2018 Goodreads Choice Awards are here. Lots of great choices for Best Mystery & Thrillers–super thrilled to see The Widows of Malabar Hill and a few of my favorites from this year!

Curious about who’s joining the Veronica Mars revival on Hulu? Here’s what is known so far.

Leonardo DiCaprio will star and Martin Scorsese will direct the adaptation of David Grann’s true crime Killers of the Flower Moon.

Next on my podcast list is Lethal Lit: A Tig Torres Mystery. Alex Segura & Monica Gallagher wrote the six-part YA mystery podcast that follows Tig Torres, a teen detective, investigating the Lit Killer murders.

True Crime

Remains at Vatican property probed for links to 35-year-old mystery

Sundance Now Partners On Major Scandinavian True Crime Series ‘The Oslo Killing’

Death Becomes Us festival brings a true-crime wave to D.C.

‘Welcome To Murdertown’: Investigation Discovery Orders Small-Town True Crime Doc From Britespark

Kindle Deals

A Beautiful Poison by Lydia Kang is .99 cents and I just bought that so fast! It’s historical mystery and she wrote The Impossible Girl which I enjoyed so much so I’m excited!

She Rides Shotgun by Jordan Harper is $1.99! This is one of my favorite crime novels so anytime I see it at a ridiculous price I’m going to put it here. (Review)

Browse all the books recommended in Unusual Suspects previous newsletters on this shelf. And here’s an Unusual Suspects Pinterest board.

Until next time, keep investigating! And in the meantime, come talk books with me on Twitter, Instagram, and Litsy–you can find me under Jamie Canaves.

If a mystery fan forwarded this newsletter to you and you’d like your very own you can sign up here.

Hi mystery fans!

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Sponsored by Vesuvian Books

Sixteen-year-old Jamie McGuiness’s sister is dead. Sinking into a deep depression, he frequents the lighthouse where her body was discovered, unaware of the sinister forces surrounding him. When an angry spirit latches onto Jamie, he’s led down a dark and twisted path, one that uncovers old family secrets, destroying everything Jamie ever believed in. Caught between the world of the living and the vengeful dead, Jamie fights the pull of the other side. It’s up to Jamie to settle old scores or no one will rest in peace — but, first, he has to survive.

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Japanese Crime! (TW suicide/ child death/ attempted rape/ eating disorder)

The Lady Killer by Masako Togawa, Simon Grove (Translation): Another great Japanese crime novel! First, I’ll say that if you enjoy Japanese crime novels pick this one up without knowing anything. If you need to know what you’re getting into: It’s set in Tokyo in the ’60s and is written almost in three parts. The beginning is following a cad, Ichiro Honda, who “hunts” women. That’s his term for going out at night to find a woman he can “finesse” into sleeping with him. He even keeps a diary of his “hunts.” If you’re not already rolling your eyes let me just drop the nugget that he’s married and his wife has no idea about this. The second part of the novel follows Honda’s appeal lawyer, after Honda is convicted of murdering women he had one night stands with, as he tries to piece together if the police have the right man. And then the third part, well that shows you how all the puzzle pieces of this mystery go together. This was interesting, and a bit banana pants, and a great read. I could tell you a lot more but what would be the fun in that?!

Another Great Nonviolent True Crime

The Dinosaur Artist: Obsession, Betrayal, and the Quest for Earth’s Ultimate Trophy by Paige Williams: I keep accidentally calling this book the “dinosaur hunter” because in a way it feels that way. People go hunting for dinosaur bones, unearth them, put them together and sell them. The problem is, who do the dinosaur bones really belong to? The book starts with an auction for a Tyrannosaurus skeleton that sells for a million dollars. A million! That NY sale, by a Florida man, alerts the Mongolian government. And so the question is who do dinosaur bones (fossils) belong to, who gets to keep them, and should anyone be allowed to sell them? Like The Feather Thief and Bad Blood this is another super interesting nonfiction book that is a serious page-turner. It follows a bunch of really interesting people, all somehow connected with “dinosaur hunting,” the community of scientist trying to stop this, and it also takes mini history tours through Mongolia. I really hope this trend of nonviolent true crime, and narrative nonfiction, continues because I need more!

Recently Released

The Truth About Aaron: My Journey to Understand My Brother by Jonathan Hernández (TBR: true crime memoir) (TW suicide)

Alice Isn’t Dead by Joseph Fink (TBR: The horror mystery podcast is now a book. A truck driver is searching across the US for her missing wife.)

Find Me Gone by Sarah Meuleman (TBR: Past and present mystery.)

Dark Sacred Night (Renée Ballard #2) by Michael Connelly (Harry Bosch and Connelly’s new Detective Ballard team up.) (Don’t know the TW)

The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks, Sarah Pekkanen (Paperback) (Psychological thriller) (TW gaslighting/ suicide / domestic abuse)

Sometimes I Lie by Alice Feeney (Paperback) (Psychological thriller) (Don’t know the TW)

And don’t forget we have a custom book stamp giveaway because who doesn’t want to stamp all their books?!

Browse all the books recommended in Unusual Suspects previous newsletters on this shelf. And here’s an Unusual Suspects Pinterest board.

Until next time, keep investigating! And in the meantime, come talk books with me on Twitter, Instagram, and Litsy–you can find me under Jamie Canaves.

If a mystery fan forwarded this newsletter to you and you’d like your very own you can sign up here.

Hello mystery fans!

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Sponsored by Vesuvian Books

Break a mirror. Walk under a ladder. Step on a crack. Innocent childhood superstitions … But someone at the Trask Academy of Performing Arts is taking things one step further when the campus is rocked with the deaths of some of its star students. Senior Layna Curtis realizes the random, accidental deaths of her friends aren’t random—or accidents—at all. Someone has taken childhood games too far, using the idea of superstitions to dispose of classmates. As Layna tries to convince people of her theory, she uncovers that each escalating, gruesome murder leads closer to its final victim: her.

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From Book Riot And Around The Internet

Rincey has some mystery comfort reads!

He Read/She Read: Thoughts on Media Analysis and Sherlock Holmes

A Definitive Ranking of Agatha Christie Movies

Tana French’s New Thriller Looks At What Happens When White Men Lose Their Privilege (mild spoilers)

“If The Hate U Give featured more than one use of that word, the movie would be in jeopardy of losing the PG-13 rating that Tillman and his distributor, 20th Century Fox, had hoped to earn, and teenagers who treasured the book might be barred from seeing the adaptation.”

If you’re in London there is a super cool 90 minute immersive Sherlock escape game.

Giveaway: And don’t forget to enter our giveaway for a custom book stamp for your personal library!

True Crime

Robert Durst Murder Trial Seeks Ryan Gosling Movie Screening To Convict Heir

Amanda Knox Has A Brand New Gig: True Crime Podcast Host

‘In My Father’s House’ Explores How Crime Spreads Through Generations

Kindle Deals

Name Of The Dog (Lefty Mendieta #3) by Elmer Mendoza is $2.99 (Rincey discussed it on Read or Dead.)

Marcia Clark’s Samantha Birkman series is $1.99 each if you like mysteries starring lawyers! Blood Defense; Moral Defense; Snap Judgement. (Review) (TW it’s been too long but I want to say an educated guess would be rape.)

Audiobooks On Hoopla! (Hoopla is a fantastic app that many libraries use, which has no holds and everyone is picking from the same catalog regardless of your library!)

The first 3 books in Ausma Zehanat Khan’s fantastic Rachel Getty & Esa Khattak series are available! It’s technically set in Canada, following two detectives, but the series travels the world dealing with important social issues. (I don’t remember specific trigger warnings but the series deals with tough topics.)

Browse all the books recommended in Unusual Suspects previous newsletters on this shelf. And here’s an Unusual Suspects Pinterest board.

Until next time, keep investigating! And in the meantime, come talk books with me on Twitter, Instagram, and Litsy–you can find me under Jamie Canaves.

If a mystery fan forwarded this newsletter to you and you’d like your very own you can sign up here.

Hello mystery fans! This week I have for you three very different backlist titles that have great audiobook narrators.

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Sponsored by The Kingfisher Secret from McClelland & Stewart

October 2016: In America, the election is a few weeks away. Journalist Grace Elliott has just landed a scoop that she believes will make her career. A porn star is willing to talk about her affair with the man some hope and many fear will become the next president of the United States. But no one will touch it. Not even Grace’s boss, the right-wing publisher of America’s leading tabloid. Instead, Grace is sent to Europe where she discovers a story so big, so explosive that it could decide the American election and launch a new Cold War. As long as she can stay alive long enough to tell it.

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Smart and Entertaining Cozy Crime I Should Have Read Years Ago (TW rape mentioned/ alcoholism/ suicide)

Blanche on the Lam (Blanche White #1) by Barbara Neely: This is one of those series that was groundbreaking at the time it first published (early ’90s) but doesn’t read outdated. It is literally what the title states–Blanche White is on the lam! She’s a middle-aged African-American housekeeper who after some issues with an employer ends up going on the lam. But soon she’s “employed” again as she pretends to be a white family’s housekeeper while she figures out her next move. Except, she picked the wrong family to pretend to be the housekeeper with… I loved Blanche so much, she’s open, and insightful–especially a keen observer when it comes to race and class issues–and ends up making a great amateur sleuth. For fans of having the mystery on the first page, the actual murder mystery doesn’t start until halfway through, the first half of the novel is a crime novel where Blanche is on the run while planning how to get out of her trouble. I’m really looking forward to the rest of the series and loved the audiobook narrator Lisa Reneé Pitts.

For Tana French Fans! (TW rape/ suicide)

The End of the Wasp Season (Alex Morrow #2) by Denise Mina: This series has an excellent balance for me between procedural solving the case, character focus, and it also follows the criminals. Plus, the lead is a Scottish detective with a criminal family she needs to hide and, in this book, is pregnant. I really like being in Morrow’s head as she’s both sensitive and tough and very intuitive. It’s also interesting to watch her try to solve the case of a woman beaten to death while having to prove that a woman being pregnant doesn’t suddenly make her useless. If you’re a fan of procedurals, character driven novels, and getting behind the “why” people do things, I really recommend Denise Mina. If you’re an audibook listener I really enjoyed having Jane MacFarlan in my ears.

Delightful!

Beastly Bones (Jackaby #2) by William Ritter: This series is such a treat and I love it to pieces. Imagine if Sherlock had a young woman assistant who had run away from home to join a dinosaur dig. Then add in some “fantastic beasts” and you have this highly entertaining series. Abigail Rook and her boss Jackaby have their hands full with shape shifting monsters that can look like wittle innocent kittens, and recently discovered dinosaur bones that have been stolen! Fun and delightful, if you have yet to discover this series do yourself a kindness and get on that! Also the narrator, Nicola Barber, has the loveliest most soothing voice if that’s what you like in audiobooks.

Recent Releases

Dead Ringer by Kate Kessler (Currently reading: FBI agent/serial killer.)

The Midnight Witness by Sara Blaedel (TBR: A Danish author I always pick up.)

Pulse by Michael Harvey (TBR: 1970s detective mystery set in Boston.)

Black Diamond Fall by Joseph Olshan (On my TBR after reading this article.)

Paper Gods by Goldie Taylor (TBR: Political thriller I’m looking forward to reading.)

Go to My Grave by Catriona McPherson (TBR: Sounds like a for-Clue-fans read.) (TW child sexual assault)

And don’t forget we have a custom book stamp giveaway because who doesn’t want to stamp all their books?!

Browse all the books recommended in Unusual Suspects previous newsletters on this shelf. And here’s an Unusual Suspects Pinterest board.

Until next time, keep investigating! And in the meantime, come talk books with me on Twitter, Instagram, and Litsy–you can find me under Jamie Canaves.

If a mystery fan forwarded this newsletter to you and you’d like your very own you can sign up here.

Hi mystery fans! Hope you get to relax this weekend and read a good book! Or solve a great mystery!

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Sponsored by Easy Prey by Catherine Lo, from Amulet Books and PiqueBeyond

Only three students had access to a teacher’s racy photos before they went viral. There’s Mouse, a brainy overachiever so desperate to get into MIT that he would do almost anything, legal or not. There’s Drew, the star athlete with a history of passing private photos around. And there’s Jenna, a good girl turned rebel after her own pictures made the rounds last year. All three deny leaking the photos, but someone has to take the fall.

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From Book Riot And Around The Internet

Rincey and Katie are back with a new Read or Dead with news, new releases, and a couple books for Hispanic Heritage Month!

Alice and Kim did a True Crime bonanza episode of For Real!

My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite is the #1 November 2018 LibraryReads pick! Check out the rest of the list.

Straight White Male Writers and Mid-Range Jumpers

Cover Face-Off: Need to Know by Karen Cleveland

The Orchid Thief author Susan Orlean’s Library-Themed Reading Recommendations

12 of our favorite thriller writers on what you need to read this season

For Your Consideration: Dev Patel as James Bond (Has my vote!)

Giveaway: And don’t forget to enter our giveaway for a custom book stamp for your personal library!

Adaptations And News

Next fall we get a romantic murder-mystery series set in 19th century New Orleans by Renée Ahdieh and yes, please, thank you!

Here’s more info about Tiffany D Jackson’s upcoming Let Me Hear A Rhyme plus an excerpt! I loved Allegedly and Monday’s Not Coming so I’m really looking forward to this one.

True Crime

This Amazing True-Crime Story Involves Bees, Thieves, and Almonds

“Last Seen” Surpasses 1 Million Downloads In Less Than Three Weeks

‘The Library Book’ By Susan Orlean Is Both A Riveting True Crime Exploration And A Love Letter To Libraries

Kindle Deals

The Possessions by Sara Flannery Murphy is $1.99 and perfect for fans of thrillers that want a little weird/creepy thrown in the mix! (Review) (Sorry, I don’t remember trigger warnings.)

Mycroft Holmes by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Anna Waterhouse is $1.99!!

My Weekend Reading Will Be

I just got my hands on Sandhya Menon’s upcoming There’s Something About Sweetie (that scream that cracked the earth was me getting this rom-com galley). And I can’t put down The Lies We Told by Camilla Way and Liane Moriarty’s upcoming Nine Perfect Strangers. Basically, I’m putting a Do Not Disturb sign up this weekend so I can just read!

Browse all the books recommended in Unusual Suspects previous newsletters on this shelf. And here’s an Unusual Suspects Pinterest board.

Until next time, keep investigating! And in the meantime, come talk books with me on Twitter, Instagram, and Litsy–you can find me under Jamie Canaves.

If a mystery fan forwarded this newsletter to you and you’d like your very own you can sign up here.

Hello mystery fans! I’ve recently gotten my hands on some advanced copies for upcoming sequels, so I thought I’d talk a bit about the first books in the series so you can read them in time for the sequels. Yay more mysteries!

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Sponsored by the Verity Kent Mysteries by Anna Lee Huber

This stylish, atmospheric mystery is set in Britain just after WWI and stars Verity Kent, a brilliant and indomitable former Secret Service agent. Now in the shadow of The Great War, many look to the spirit world for answers, and Verity is convinced by a friend to attend a séance. When a medium channels the spirit of a woman Verity once worked with in the Secret Service, she must uncover the source of the spiritualist’s top secret revelation…With a compelling mystery and intriguing characters, fans of The Bletchley Circle, Grantchester and The Imitation Game won’t want to put this one down!

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August Snow by Stephen Mack Jones (Sorry, I don’t remember if there were trigger warnings.): This was a great mystery starring an ex-marine/ex-cop who won a gigantic wrongfully-dismissed lawsuit against the police department and returns to Mexicantown, Detroit, his hometown. In the first book, August Snow ends up taking a case he’d declined after the “client”–who wanted him to investigate her investment bank–ends up dead. What I especially liked about the book was the balance of real life characters and the ethnically diverse community with Hollywood style action movie shoot-’em-up scenes. The FBI/cyber crime scenes weren’t always plausible but who cares because fun action movie! The sequel, Lives Laid Away, puts Snow on a case again, except this time it’s the Coroner on the case, an old friend, who slips him the photo of the victim pulled from the Detroit River in hopes Snow will get someone in Mexicantown to identify her.

The Widows of Malabar Hill by Sujata Massey (TW domestic violence): If you still haven’t read this wonderful historical mystery you’re going to want to get on that so you can cheer excitedly with me for the sequel! The first follows a bit of a before and after timeline as Perveen Mistry works for her father’s law firm in 1921 Bombay, India. She’s one of the first female lawyers and ends up unable to let go of what seems like a simple case of three widows signing away their inheritance. But really why would widows do that? Perveen can’t let it go and soon is investigating… This was one of the best mysteries released in 2018 and I’m looking forward to the sequel, The Satapur Moonstone, being a best in 2019 as it introduces Satapur’s royal family. Only Perveen’s council can be called upon because the maharanis live in purdah and do not speak to men.

Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson: This was a delightful mystery set in an elite school, Ellingham Academy, that is modern but full of nods to classic mysteries. Stevie Bell is excited to start her first year since she’s determined to solve the 1930s case involving the school founder’s kidnapped wife and daughter. But Stevie is in for a shock when there’s a recent murder that also needs solving! I’m super glad the sequel, The Vanishing Stairs, will be releasing in January because the first book leaves you on a cliffhanger, and I had not been warned and was not thrilled I had to wait an entire year standing on that cliff!

Auntie Poldi and the Sicilian Lions by Mario Giordano, John Brownjohn (Translator) (Sorry, I don’t remember if there were trigger warnings.): This was utterly delightful for two reasons: the way the story is told and Poldi’s character. Poldi is a Bavarian widow living in Sicily and her nephew, an aspiring writer visiting, narrates the story. Poldi is telling him the story as it happens, giving it this fun element like The Princess Bride where the story is interrupted sometimes in a comical way so that the nephew can talk about his failed writing attempts and so he and Poldi can quibble. Poldi is a speaks-her-mind-drinks-too-much-if-you’re-in-her-way-move-quickly fantastic character who is determined to solve a murder in a place she doesn’t know that well and I absolutely adored her. The story works for cozy mystery fans as it was more that pace. I’m really looking forward to finding out what Poldi gets herself into in the March release of Auntie Poldi and the Vineyards of Etna.

Recent Releases

The Craftsman by Sharon Bolton (TBR: This looks like a dark thriller and perfect mood reading this month.)

Shell Game (V.I. Warshawski #19) by Sara Paretsky (TBR: My next procedural.)

And don’t forget to enter our giveaway for a custom book stamp for your personal library!

Browse all the books recommended in Unusual Suspects previous newsletters on this shelf. And here’s an Unusual Suspects Pinterest board.

Until next time, keep investigating! And in the meantime, come talk books with me on Twitter, Instagram, and Litsy–you can find me under Jamie Canaves.

If a mystery fan forwarded this newsletter to you and you’d like your very own you can sign up here.

Hello mystery fans! So Netflix has a new buddy cop type show starring Tony Danza and Josh Groban–yes, the popera singer. I’ve seen the first two episodes and they’re entertaining and didn’t have violence towards women. So if you need a break from dark crime check out the first two episodes of The Good Cop.

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Sponsored by Flatiron Books, publishers of Good Me Bad Me, now in paperback by Ali Land.

When your mother is a serial killer, how far does the apple really fall from the tree? Good Me Bad Me is a dark and compelling psychological thriller.

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From Book Riot and Around The Internet

A wonderful interview with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as he Dives Back Into Mystery with Mycroft And Sherlock

Came across this delightful podcast episode where a married couple discuss their mystery likes and dislikes and rec a bunch of books for fall reading: Mystery Recommendations for October, sassy lady detectives vs. macho man investigators 

How Does ‘Killing Eve’ The Book End? It’s A Lot Different To What You Saw On TV (Obviously spoilers!)

The 5 Best L.A. Crime Novels: Nonfiction

Highly Recommended: Pastry Murder Mysteries Inside best-selling author Joanne Fluke’s addictive book series, where food is the main character

Rincey makes the argument that mystery books should be less than 400 pages and girl, same!

Can you solve the mystery of the missing opera diva?

Giveaway: Remember to enter our giveaway for a custom book stamp for all your book stamping needs!

Adaptations And News

Here’s the trailer for AMC’s six-part miniseries of John le Carré’s The Little Drummer Girl. It premieres November 19th and stars Florence Pugh, Alexander Skarsgård, and Michael Shannon.

We’re getting a fourth Veronica Speedwell Mystery!

And now Armie Hammer has signed on to Agatha Christie’s Death on the Nile adaptation.

Kindle Deals

The Child by Fiona Barton is a very good book that is $1.99!! (Review) (TW rape)

From my TBR list the first in a series of funny, cozy historical mysteries is $1.99: A Quiet Life in the Country (A Lady Hardcastle Mystery #1) by T E Kinsey

And if you’re looking for an 80% character driven novel that focuses on the politics between police and media in Japan which ends with a twist you won’t see coming and like a thriller in the last 20%: Six Four by Hideo Yokoyama, Jonathan Lloyd-Davies (Translation) is $3.99!!

Browse all the books recommended in Unusual Suspects previous newsletters on this shelf. And here’s an Unusual Suspects Pinterest board.

Until next time, keep investigating! And in the meantime, come talk books with me on Twitter, Instagram, and Litsy–you can find me under Jamie Canaves.

If a mystery fan forwarded this newsletter to you and you’d like your very own you can sign up here.

Hi mystery fans! I have a character driven murder mystery, the new Tana French, and a psychological suspense perfect for fans of Gillian Flynn–or just dark mysteries.

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Sponsored by Vesuvian Books

Beau Devereaux is the only child of a powerful family. Handsome. Charming. Intelligent. The “prince” of St. Benedict is the ultimate catch. He is also a psychopath. A dirty family secret buried for years, Beau’s evil grows unchecked. In the shadows of the ruined St. Francis Abbey, he commits unspeakable acts. Senior year, Beau sets his sights on his girlfriend’s twin sister, Leslie. Everything he wants but cannot have, she will be his ultimate prize. As the victim toll mounts, it becomes clear someone must stop Beau Devereaux. And that someone will pay with their life.

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A Murder Mystery That Questions Where The Line Of Good Versus Bad Is

The Night in Question by Nic Joseph: Paula is struggling. Her husband was in an accident and while he has adjusted to his new normal Paula has not. The doctor has her convinced that they should try an experimental surgery in Europe. Keith has made it very clear that because they can’t even come close to affording the $200,000 bill it is not something on the table to discuss. But Paula can’t let it go. She thinks it will help but since she can’t possibly come up with that much money working as a waitress and a rideshare driver (think Uber) she finds herself blackmailing a recent passenger. But the further she gets into this, and the more desperate she feels, the more out of control everything gets. And then there’s a murder. And Paula thinks the man she blackmailed is the murderer, but how does she explain that to the police without implicating herself for blackmail? Joseph does a great job of spinning out a character who has convinced themselves that it’s all worth it because their intentions are good. I also really loved the detective, who gets a few interesting chapters between Paula’s, and hope to see her again in another book. If you’re a bit exhausted at the moment from the over-the-top unrealistic thrillers this is a great read.

*Muppet Arms* The New Tana French Is Finally Here! (TW suicide/ rape)

The Witch Elm by Tana French: To answer the first question that everyone keeps asking me: This is a standalone novel. It is not a part of the Dublin Murder squad series. The Witch Elm is a slowburn suspense that you will deeply sink into. It is perfect for book clubs because there is a lot to analyze and discuss–starting with French’s brilliant choice for the main character–but it is also readable for just the ride of the mystery. It starts with Toby, a young man who has a good life. Pretty much always has. But after a mistake at work, and an assault, his life dramatically changes and he decides to recover at his uncle’s home. The home he spent plenty of time at as a kid. The home where a skeleton is discovered… If you like character driven mysteries don’t miss this one. French is an absolutely excellent crime writer who creates incredibly real characters while plunging you deep into their lives and stories. You won’t even realize you’re on a hell of a ride until the drop is below you…

For Gillian Flynn Fans! (TW alcoholism/ pedophile/ animal cruelty)

When You Find Me by P. J. Vernon: Gray Godfrey may have taken her husbands name but she’ll always be socialite Gray King–especially, when visiting the family estate in South Carolina. Not only is she not thrilled about having her husband drag her back home for the holidays, he’s now monitoring her drinking and behavior. And there’s nothing she needs more at all times then a drink. When Gray wakes up alone with no memory of the previous night, she soon discovers that her husband is missing. And her mama is immediately controlling the situation as always. Making a difficult missing person’s case even more difficult is the assigned detective’s aunt being the housekeeper who took down Gray’s father’s election run years before. The Kings run everything in this town, Gray can’t stop drinking, her sister can only cover for her so much, and her mama seems to care more about appearances than finding Paul. Then a stranger leaves a message claiming to know where Paul is… A psychological suspense I inhaled in two sittings that left me looking forward to Vernon’s next work because that was a hell of a debut!

Recent Releases

Mycroft and Sherlock by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Anna Waterhouse

Wrecked (IQ #3) by Joe Ide (TBR: Awesome East Long Beach PI series)

The Lies We Told by Camilla Way (Liberty’s Book Of The Month pick)

99 Ways to Die (A Taipei Night Market #3) by Ed Lin (Mystery series starring Jing-nan that revolve around Taipei’s night market.)

Bird, Bath, and Beyond (An Agent to the Paws Mystery #2) by E.J. Copperman (TBR: Funny cozy mystery with a cover I’m in love with.)

The Clockmaker’s Daughter by Kate Morton (TBR: Historical mystery that plays out over generations.)

The Stranger by Melanie Raabe, Imogen Taylor (Translator) (TBR: Thriller about a missing husband and a stranger who pretends to be him seven years later, threatening the wife if she exposes him!)

Good Me Bad Me by Ali Land (Paperback) (Review) (TW date rape)

Sleep No More: Six Murderous Tales by P. D. James (Paperback)

And don’t forget to enter our giveaway for a custom book stamp for your personal library. Stamp all the books!

Browse all the books recommended in Unusual Suspects previous newsletters on this shelf. And here’s an Unusual Suspects Pinterest board.

Until next time, keep investigating! And in the meantime, come talk books with me on Twitter, Instagram, and Litsy–you can find me under Jamie Canaves.

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