Author: Jamie Canaves

If you’re wondering how you know the author’s name, it’s because she’s had “controversial” and “Tiger mom” attached to her name since she published a parenting memoir in 2011. In 2019, she made headlines when her daughter got a clerkship under Brett Kavanaugh less than a year after Chua defended him in a Wall Street Journal op-ed.

Her latest release is great for fans of historical fic, past and present mysteries, and procedurals!

Homicide Detective Al Sullivan is drinking in the bar of the Claremont Hotel in 1944 Berkley, California, when a presidential candidate is murdered upstairs. The case is immediately complicated because it draws in a wealthy family, the grandmother a socialite. Not only are two of her granddaughters on the suspect list, but years ago, her third granddaughter, Iris, died in this hotel at the age of 11 while playing hide n’ seek. Sullivan is going to have to navigate politics, his personal life as a caretaker for his younger sister, and the long tangled webs of the wealthy Bainbridge family to solve the most recent murder–all while trying to figure out if it ties to Iris’ death a decade before.

I was totally absorbed with this one, especially the bits of California history and following the lead detective who, while biracial, navigates a world of privilege because he passes as white.

If you go with the audiobook format, you get multiple narrators (Robb Moreira, Suzanne Toren, Tim Campbell), and there’s a bonus chat with Amy Chua on how the book came to be.

(TW child murder/ mentions past suicide attempt and suicides, detail/ brief mention past lynching/ mentions past assumed statutory/ mentions postpartum/ mentions past antisemitic attack/ farm animal butchering/ mentions of historical sex trafficking/ brief testimony of past rapes, including children/ past institutionalization/ suicide, partly on page, detail)

For fans of YA, teams of amateur sleuths creating a PI team, fictional true crime podcasts, and past and present mysteries!

Iris Blackthorn is on a serious deadline: she’s very close to turning 18 and the detective on her sister Stella’s missing person case has warned her the second she’s an adult, she will be prosecuted if she keeps investigating her sister’s year ago disappearance. So Iris, and her two friends who make up their amateur detective agency, are on the case. That’s all complicated enough–especially since Iris isn’t being totally forthcoming with her team–when another girl goes missing. This time it’s Iris’ ex girlfriend who just happened to be hosting a true crime podcast about Stella…

If you’re looking for a sapphic YA mystery with found family and hard lessons learned, grab this one.

(Tw questions parental emotional abuse, no details/ alcoholism, including parent in past/ mentions statutory involving teacher)

For fans of historical mysteries!

This is a great historical mystery series that starts with Captain Jim Agnihotri solving a murder mystery and meeting and falling in love with Lady Diana Framji (Murder in Old Bombay), then the newlyweds move to America with Jim teaching Diana how to sleuth and her having to find him after he goes missing (Peril at the Exposition).

The third book sets readers in 1894, and Jim and Diana are on a ship to England. They meet Don Juan Nepomuceno, but he’s murdered onboard. That leaves six days until the ship docks to solve this murder…

For fans of a fictional horror podcast and murder mystery!

Tinsel Monroe has the dream job without the dream life: she hosts a horror podcast she loves, but it’s for awful pay and a terrible time slot so as much as she loves it, it’s just a strain on her life. That is until there is a live on-air murder and people start getting murdered in historic film locations, drawing Tinsel and her sister into the investigation…

For fans of neighborhood social thrillers, current topics, and endings with a legal courtroom case.

I have learned that regardless of what you think you’re getting into with a thriller by Kia Abdullah (Take it Back; Next of Kin), it will be way more in-depth, nuanced, and more importantly, shift the ground out from underneath the reader at least once.

This time around we have Salma and Bilal Khatun moving to a new neighborhood with their son Zain. Zain had an incident in college and Salma and Bilal are in the process of closing the family restaurant so this move to a new neighborhood is meant as a fresh start, even if they’re concerned about the cost now. Upon arrival Zain puts up a BLM poster and Salma witnesses their new neighbor deface it. From there the two families are caught in an escalation of emotions, racism, and retaliations all the while their teenage sons form a friendship and work on an app together. It’s an unflinching look at the high cost of bigotry and division.

(TW ableism / miscarriage)

For fans of fictional serial killers, slasher films, high body counts, and October-y mood reads!

Dearie and Cole are gay best friends and whew is that friendship going to be put through the wringer when an inactive serial killer becomes active again and fingers point at Dearie and Cole! Mr. Sandman killed lonely people decades ago and he’s suddenly resurrected – or inspired a copycat – at Stone Grove High in Arizona. This time around the lead-up note telling you you’re going to die comes via text and the targets are members of the school’s Queer Club.

You’ll get to know Dearie and Cole in alternating chapters as they navigate being teenagers, their friendship, loves, and relationships all while trying to prove they are not the killers by having to solve who actually is. Oh, and most importantly: staying alive.

This book is fun with a lot of tropes, characters to root for, and others to root for their demise. It has different personalities and senses of humor, including funny cattiness, and it’s my favorite blend of murder mystery + horror slasher film. I’ve read all of Adam Sass’ novels (Surrender Your Sons; The 99 Boyfriends of Micah Summers) so far and continue to look forward to what comes next.

(TW emotional partner abuse)

If you’re looking for an outside-the-box true crime + memoir I highly recommend this one.

It is impossible to categorize this book, which is one of my favorite things about it, and the same can be said about the author, Myriam Gurba. It’s a memoir of sorts, with stories from her life and family, including her grandfather’s life as a publicist and her prima’s childhood abuse that led to her joining a gang. But it’s also a true crime book and a book on history that dives into the actual heart of the events, crimes, and criminals, focusing on the victims and society. It’s a spotlight on the very title word, creep(s), and how we create them, allow them, defend them. The book is an essay collection, but again can’t be categorized easily as such because there is play with the narrative and structure in itself.

I was a huge fan of her previous genre-bending memoir Mean, so I ran to this one and once again continue to love her work, infused with her dark humor and observational insight mixed with research. She narrates the audiobook, and while I love hearing work in the author’s own voice, I can also see this being a book readers will want to highlight or mark with sticky notes in a print/ebook copy. I may have almost burned dinner while pausing the audiobook to go jot down a line that has since stayed with me: “The living expect a lot from dead women.”

(TWs she talks about so many stories, cases, and histories that it’s easiest to just say everything, though I’ll note it never feels gratuitous or graphic for the sake of being.)

For fans of coastal town settings, murder mysteries, and three generations of amateur sleuths!

It’s a big month for fall mystery books and book clubs: GMA chose Happiness Falls and Reese’s Book Club chose Mother-Daughter Murder Night.

Lana Rubicon is an LA businesswoman currently living in a coastal town with her daughter and granddaughter following a cancer diagnosis. She’s obviously not thrilled about all the life changes but finds herself less bored when her granddaughter finds a body. Lana may have seen something important to the investigation and it’s time for this family to start sleuthing in order to solve a murder, dredge up small-town secrets, and save themselves.

For fans of dark academia, social thrillers, and paranormal!

Leon has recently disappeared from the expensive Nithercott School as Ife Adebola begins attending on a scholarship. She soon learns about the rumor that the Changing Man must once again be at it. Adebola isn’t here for myths but it isn’t long before another student, Malika, disappears only to… return changed. Is there something to the rumors about the Changing Man or is something else going on in this school?

It may not technically be fall until Sept 23rd, and it certainly isn’t anywhere near fall in weather where I’m at, but I just started the audiobook on this one for some vibes and I’m loving the dual narration by Afolabi Alli and Fola Evans-Akingbola.

For fans of past murder mysteries, a ghostly detective partner, and fun reads!

Claire is a medium. At least it’s how she makes money, thanks to the fact that a ghost follows her everywhere she goes. The ghost is Sophie, who is perpetually a teenager, exactly as she was when Claire last saw her during their childhood. They were best friends, and still are, although it’s a bit difficult at times seeing as Claire has now grown into an adult and Sophie has stayed the teenager she was when she died. No one knows, including Sophie, what happened to her. Claire ended up punished for trying to tell people that she knew Sophie was, in fact, dead since everyone was holding out hope that Sophie was alive somewhere.

This is their current dynamic when Claire (and Sophie) end up performing a seance in an old English countryside manor for an 80-year-old grandmother’s birthday party, where the woman ends up dead. Her ghost wants Claire to know she wasn’t murdered, but she is certain one of her family members did murder someone else whose ghost is also in the house. That’s when Claire and Sophie set out to solve the mystery and figure out who in this family they can and can’t trust…

If you’re looking for a funny amateur sleuth team mystery set in a small English town, pick this one up! I got sucked right into this world–and especially Claire and Sophie’s banter– listening to the audiobook narrated by Sophie Roberts.

For fans of missing persons cases with the investigator tied to one of the cases, procedurals, and Native American leads.

Eva “Lightning Dance” Duran is a sheriff’s deputy whose best friend, Paloma, is one of four women who have gone missing from Taos Pueblo reservation. Because Duran doesn’t feel like her own department is doing enough, she teams up with Cruz “Wolf Song” Romero, a friend and tribal police officer. They’re up against a lot, including time, when the missing women begin to turn up dead. Can Duran save Paloma in time?

For fans of small town procedurals, family drama, and murder mysteries.

There are days where I randomly grab a book and see where the journey takes me, which I did with this one. It’s why I didn’t realize it was a sequel (it gives you the info you need from the first book, I was never lost) and am now planning on reading the first since I enjoyed this one quite a bit.

Deputy Ben Packard recently moved to a small Minnesota town and took on the role of active Sheriff due to the Sheriff being diagnosed with cancer. He’s not thrilled about the Sheriff part, because of politics and he feels like he has a social target on his back as an openly gay deputy. But soon he has to decide, while being begged by others, if he’s willing to run for Sheriff to take the job full-time. It’s all going on while he has a complicated murder investigation that is full of family drama—like you could put this family on a reality show!

Bill Sandersen was murdered in his home while his wife slept in her separate room. His wife was his first real girlfriend, who he broke up with years ago to marry her sister instead. Bill was divorced from the sister and married to the original sister (I know!). Obviously the sisters don’t like each other, neither does the third sister who wants nothing to do with these two–or the emotionally abusive mom they blame for all their problems. As you can imagine, Bill had plenty of people who wanted him dead, including a business partner he stole money from. So Packard has plenty of work between his professional life of deciding if he wants to be Sheriff and this case with a long list of suspects…

I did the audioook format and enjoyed Linda Jones’ narration, even if at first I briefly wondered why a male narrator wasn’t picked since the lead is a dude. Maybe because there were a lot of supporting characters that are women? Anyhoo, if you’re an audiobook listener, it’s a good pick!

(TW talk of past suicide, detail/ alcoholism/ former Sheriff dies of cancer/ mentions past overdose, not deadly/ parent with dementia/ past child abuse case recounted, emotional child abuse/ fatphobia)

The author of Miracle Creek is back with a new book for fans of a missing person mystery, family drama, and a dive into what happiness means.

Mia Parkson and her two siblings are staying in her parent’s home (COVID lockdown). After her youngest brother Eugene goes for a walk with their dad, he returns alone. It appears that something has happened to their father, but because Eugene is nonverbal, he does not recount the day’s events. While her father’s notes might lead Mia to conclude he’s behind his own disappearance, the police start to look at Eugene.

I’ve been rec’d this a lot by fellow reviewers and the only reason I haven’t gotten to it yet is because I wanted to go with the audiobook format. If you like reading the buzzy books, this one appears to be one for this fall.

For fans of family reunions and resort settings where one person is murdered…

Over winter break, the Mayweathers find themselves united in Cancún, Mexico thanks to an engagement. Except this forced week of family fun is filled with secrets and a murder that places everyone on the suspect list… This is giving me vibes for fans of The White Lotus who are impatiently waiting for a new season.

For fans of historical mystery series!

Lena Aldridge recently traveled from London to NY (finding her first mystery!) and is now settling into Harlem in 1936. Her life is in turmoil: her Broadway gig is no longer an option, her father died, and she’s staying with friends of a man she’s only just met. To complicate things even more, Lena finds herself thrust into her own family’s mysteries along with the case of the woman who fell (?) or was shoved (?) off the building where Lena now lives…

If you want to start at the beginning, pick up Miss Aldridge Regrets!

For fans of assassin stories, and two POVs by strangers whose lives will careen towards each other!

We start with a sniper shooting at a university and then follow two women connected to the event. Julia Bennett is a college professor whose daughter was shot (lived) and ex-husband’s new wife was shot (died). Julia reacts quickly, the first to realize there are shots being fired, which later brings questions from police as to why she was so alert. It ultimately dredges up her childhood trauma of coming home to find her parents murdered. Ren Petrovic is a pregnant contract killer, married to a contract killer, and the daughter of a contract killer. She has strict rules, though: she only kills people who deserve it. She thought her husband was on the same page, but is now questioning the shooting and the stories he’s telling her…

I loved the way this one unfolded! Pick it up if you want to be fully absorbed by a mystery with some contract killers.

The audiobook is narrated by Megan Tusing, who I enjoyed having in my ears while I did chores.

(TW brief mentions of past domestic abuse/ stories of past addict/ recounts past attempted sexual assault)

For fans of twisty psychological thrillers!

This starts with a self-diagnosed sociopath, Jane, who is constantly annoyed with her husband and still obsessed with her first friend, Thalia, from when she studied creative writing at Oxford. Back then, someone died, and the students left. But even that isn’t enough of a reason for Jane to explain why she’s never heard from Thalia again. That is until now, when she sees Thalia is a popular author and will be at a convention. Now Jane will do anything to get to talk to Thalia…

I continue to be a big fan of Sutanto’s, who has a range from dark-ish and twisty to cozy and fun, and always delivers an entertaining read. In this case, I love that we start in one place, get plunged into a character’s intense thoughts, and then…(like I would ever spoil a book!)

(TW quick cancer mentions/ quick diet culture, disorder eating mention/ brief recounts attempted sexual assault/ social anxiety)

For fans of quozy mystery series!

Ben Rosencrantz hits many of the loved cozy mystery tropes: he’s returned to his hometown in Utah after big city life as a university professor and a divorce; is back to care for an ailing parent; takes over a business (boardgames); gets accused of murder and must put on his amateur sleuth cap; and experiences a sweet romance. The murder part: an obnoxious person who tried to sell Ben a rare game (the inspiration for Monopoly!) is found dead behind Ben’s store, and Ben ends up with a bag full of cash! The romance part: Ezra McCaslin is the flower shop owner and hits it off with Ben. The two team up to solve this murder and keep Ben out of jail!

If you’re looking for a cozy mystery with humor, a sweet love story, and like board games, start this new series by our very own Book Riot contributor CJ Connor. And for audiobook listeners, the narrator, Robert Mac Minshew, is the author’s husband!

For fans of noir anthologies!

This is a great way to find new (to you) great writers in the crime genre. I love short story collections for when I want to read but only have small bursts of time. This collection, as the title makes very clear, focuses on Cleveland, Ohio, as the setting written by a bunch of great authors. “Cleveland is a working-class town, though its great institutions were founded by twentieth-century robber barons and magnates…”

For fans of amateur, elderly sleuths, translated novels, and quirkiness — it opens with a turtle finding a dead body!

Sunset Hall is a home in the English countryside where elderly residents, including Agnes Sharp, live. When a police officer visits and they learn of the dead body next door, they must remain cool, calm, and collected since they themselves are housing a dead body…And that’s how they set out to find the killer of the new dead body in order to pin their dead body on.