Hi, mystery fans! During a little time off I read some upcoming 2024 releases —The Pairing by Casey McQuiston and The Husbands by Holly Gramazio — and is it too soon to start listing favorite 2024 books?
Are you looking for the perfect gift for that bookish special someone in your life this holiday season? Tailored Book Recommendations is here to help! Here at TBR, we pair our customers with a professional book nerd (aka bibliologist) who just gets them. They fill out a survey and then sit back and relax as we pick books just for them. We’ve got three levels — recs-only, paperback, and hardcover — and you can gift a full year or one time, so there are options for every budget! Get all the details at mybtro.com/gift.
Bookish Goods
Set of 3 Reading Animal Wall Art by Art LakelzDecor
Animals like to read too! (unframed starting at $25)
New Releases
Sniffing Out Murder by Kallie E. Benjamin
For fans of cozy mysteries and doggos!
Priscilla Cummings is a former teacher now finding success as an author. So life should be great, except she uncovers the mean girl from her childhood — who grew up to marry her high school crush — dead. And because it’s a cozy, Pris is the prime suspect! Pris and her pooch Bailey are going to have to get to cracking this case!
The Lace Widow by Mollie Ann Cox
For fans of historical mysteries!
Following real-life history, Eliza Hamilton is widowed after Aaron Burr kills Alexander Hamilton in a duel in 1804 (Anyone else singing songs from Hamilton?!). In this fictional book, John Van Der Gloss was a friend of Hamilton’s, and following his death, Eliza watched his body, throat slit, pulled from the North River. Eliza and Hamilton’s son, having fought with Gloss, becomes a suspect, leading Eliza to get to sleuthing!
Looking for more new releases? Check out our New Books newsletter!
Riot Recommendations
Here are two of my favorite reads of the year that have flown under the radar — a thing that happens at no fault of the author or book quality.
The Nigerwife by Vanessa Walters
For fans of missing person cases, armchair travel, dual narrators, past and present stories that collide, and books set for adaptation!
Nigerwives are a group of foreign women who are married to Nigerian men. A group Nicole Oruwari — a British woman of Jamaican descent — joined when she moved to Lagos, Nigeria, after marrying Tonye. Except she’s now missing following a boat trip. Nicole’s aunt who raised her, Claudine, travels to Lagos to get answers about what happened to her niece. But Claudine does not find a group of people concerned and searching for Nicole — and is most shocked that Tonye is already preparing to marry someone else…
What I enjoyed the most: life in Lagos with contrasting views between Nicole, Claudine, and the Nigerwives.
The audiobook has two great narrators: Dami Olukoya and Debra Michaels.
(TW mentions of partner abuse, domestic abuse scene/ briefly mentions past suicide, no detail/ mentions past addiction, overdose/ past child sexual abuse)
Bianca Torre Is Afraid of Everything by Justine Pucella Winans
For fans of amateur teen sleuths!
While Bianca Torre lives with a list of anxieties and questions their gender, they join a bird-watching group. Which ultimately leads to them witnessing a neighbor’s murder (bird watching, people watching — potayto, potahto)! So when the police wrongly label the crime a suicide, Bianca is joined by their fellow animal-loving friend to solve the murder!
What I enjoyed the most: Bianca’s character, the friendship, and fun level — including the right level of ridiculous ending.
(TW suicide assumed in murder case/ anxiety, fears, panic attack/ animal cruelty, bird)
News and Roundups
Annette Bening Returns to TV With Sam Neill in First Apples Never Fall Images
The Guardian: Best crime and thrillers of 2023
This is the Word of the Year, According to Oxford
Lucy Lawless’ My Life Is Murder Renewed for Season 4 at Acorn TV
32 Detective TV Shows You May Have Forgotten About
Killing Eve ended with Villanelle’s death. This is why I’m bringing her back to life
Gay detectives, sexy neighbors & more 2023 hidden gems to stream this weekend
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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