Hello mystery fans! To all who celebrate: happy Heartstopper season 2 (Netflix)! In case you’re wondering what I’m inhaling this weekend.
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Bookish Goods
Reading With My Gnomies Sticker by stuckonstickerss
If it makes me laugh you have to see it — them’s the rules! ($6)
New Releases
Evergreen (Japantown Mystery #2) Naomi Hirahara
For fans of historical mysteries!
In the first book, Clark & Division, Aki Ito’s family was resettled by the government in 1944 to Chicago after being released from Manzanar detention center, and Aki ended up looking into her sister’s mysterious death. Now, two years later, Aki and her family are being permitted to return to their home state of California. Aki is married and working as a nurse’s aide when she finds herself once again looking into a mystery. It starts with a question of elder abuse that leads her to her husband’s best friend…
One Night by Georgina Cross
For fans of remote mysteries, past murder mysteries, stories that take place in a short window of time, and “do you choose revenge?” narratives.
Ten years ago after Meghan Chisholm died, her boyfriend was arrested but always swore his innocence. Now he’s finished his sentence and invitations have been sent to Meghan’s family to meet at an isolated home in Oregon. When they arrive, and a storm traps them with no power or cell service, they learn that Meghan’s boyfriend has been dragged there and they get to decide what to do with him…
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Riot Recommendations
Let’s start a new month with some paperback releases for fans of that format — and in a happy coincidence, we have an assassins theme!
Three Assassins by Kōtarō Isaka, Sam Malissa (Translator)
For fans of Japanese crime novels!
You may have heard of the thriller film, Bullet Train which was an adaptation of the book of the same title. While technically the second book in this series, it was translated to English first followed by Three Assassins last year. So what I’m saying is that if you’re a completionist or like things in the original order start here! But, the books can be read as standalones.
You follow three assassins — The Cicada, The Pusher, The Whale — and Suzuki, who is determined to infiltrate the crime gang and exact revenge. He was a teacher, but now he’s decided to follow no rules or laws as he seeks revenge for his wife’s murder.
Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn
If you want a fun, ladies-kicking-ass mystery!
In the ’70s Billie, Mary Alice, Helen, and Natalie were recruited into an organization as assassins. In the present the women are now in their 60s and on a cruise celebrating retirement — except they discover they are now on the receiving end of a hit. Good thing they’ve been trained well and aren’t going down without a hell of a fight!
News and Roundups
The Whitehead manifesto — how Colson Whitehead continues to explore history through propulsive heist narratives that go far beyond crimes and cover-ups.
There’s a new imprint called Marvel Crime and I’m super excited because Lisa Jewell will write a story starring Jessica Jones! S.A. Crosby will write a story starring Luke Cage! Alex Segura will write a story starring Daredevil! Read all about it: Hyperion Avenue to Debut New Marvel Crime Series
A Haunting in Venice poster assembles its cast of suspects
374 Books Flagged to Potentially Be Banned by Iowa School District
76 New Mystery Books That’ll Have You on the Edge of Your Seat
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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