Hello mystery fans! Did I immediately press play on The Out-Laws (Netflix) solely because it starred Ellen Barkin and Pierce Brosnan as bank robbers? Yes. Did I end up laughing a lot at the most ridiculous scenarios? Also, yes.
What do S.A. Cosby, Khaled Hosseini, Sarah Bakewell, and Yahdon Israel have in common? They’ve been guests on Book Riot’s newest podcast, First Edition where BookRiot.com co-founder Jeff O’Neal explores the wide bookish world. Subscribe to hear them and stay to hear Book Riot’s editors pick the “it” book of the month.
Bookish Goods
Personalised Book Journal by MarthaBrook
If you’re looking for a reading journal to keep track of your reading, here’s a nice one that comes in two colors and you can have your initials added. ($35)
New Releases
The Centre by Ayesha Manazir Siddiqi
For fans of speculative fiction, dark academia, dark comedies, and that “something is not right about the place I just joined” vibe.
Anisa Ellahi works in London mostly subtitling Bollywood films, but her dream is to be a literary translator of important works. That’s how she ends up at an institution that cuts you off from others for an intensive program that promises fluency in any language in 10 days. But certainly there will be a cost…
Windfall by Wendy Corsi Staub
For fans of reunited friends and missing persons cases.
Three college friends have found themselves drifting apart over the years so it’s time for a fun trip to reunite, which becomes a lucky trip when they win a billion-dollar lottery. But things stop being lucky when they find themselves in a secluded mansion belonging to a wealth manager…
For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.
Riot Recommendations
Here are two series with not a ton of books out yet that will have a new release in 2024, giving you plenty of time to catch up!
The Jigsaw Man (Inspector Anjelica Henley, #1) by Nadine Matheson
For fans of British police procedurals, fictional serial killers, and thrillers!
DI Angelica Henley was injured on her last case so her husband doesn’t want her to go back to work. But there’s an active serial killer somehow killing in the same way as a serial killer already in prison, so Henley is back and having to get to know a new partner.
(TW side character with early onset dementia/ mentions flasher case/ past rape case discussed, detail/ past suicide discussed, not detailed/ mentions suicide cases, brief detail/ panic attacks/ PTSD/ attempted rape)
The third title, The Kill List, is listed to publish in April 2024.
Finlay Donovan Is Killing It (Finlay Donovan #1) by Elle Cosimano
This is a fun series I think fans of humorous characters like Stephanie Plum will enjoy.
Finlay Donovan manages to accidentally stumble into becoming a hitwoman thanks to having a lousy ex, two young children, and a way past-due manuscript. Watching her and her babysitter’s friendship evolve over the series as they continue their “Whoopsie we crimed again” journey is a delight.
(TW date raper/ stalker)
The fourth title, Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice, is listed to publish in March 2024.
News and Roundups
Harlan Coben’s Shelter Trailer Lays Out a Series of Interwoven and Dangerous Mysteries
Everything to know about the star-studded film adaptation of Killers of the Flower Moon
The Guardian: The best recent crime and thriller writing – review roundup
The Afterparty creators dare you to try and solve its mystery before its detectives
Liberty and Vanessa chatted new book releases on All The Books! including The Mistress of Bhatia House by Sujata Massey and The Centre by Ayesha Manazir Siddiqi.
5 Mystery Novels by Black Authors That Will Satisfy Your Inner Sleuth
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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