Hi mystery fans! I have an upcoming newbie PI from one of my favorite authors, a no longer newbie PI from a favorite series, and a dysfunctional family that takes readers on a hell of a road trip.
And Now She’s Gone by Rachel Howzell Hall: Here’s a September release I very much enjoyed, and in the meantime if you’ve yet to read Rachel Howzell Hall you should really get on that. She has a great modern Agatha Christie retelling with They All Fall Down (Review) and one of my favorite detective series Land of Shadows (Review).
And Now She’s Gone is especially a must-read for fans of Detective Elouise Norton’s series. But rather than a police procedural we have a newbie PI, Grayson Sykes, who is given her first solo PI case: a doctor who wants proof of his ex-girlfriend being alive and his dog returned. But if Sykes was hoping to get an easy case to help her learn the ropes of the job, she’s seriously out of luck. The doctor seems less concerned for his ex’s wellbeing, there’s accusations of abuse, and every single step Sykes takes into this investigation gets more complicated and feels less real.
Sykes is a bit of a mysterious character, with a difficult past, who unfolds as the case does, creating a mystery where the reader also never feels like they have a solid footing–which I love. She’s trying her best to establish a new life through work and trying to find a found family, even if she keeps people at bay. If you like complicated cases, and characters, this one’s for you! (TW suicide attempt, past suicide, detail/ partner abuse, on page/ addiction/ past cancer death/ stalking/ mentions past rape, no detail/ homophobia scene, slut/ past miscarriage/ mentions case about investigating person’s birth gender)
Once You Go This Far (Roxane Weary #4) by Kristen Lepionka: Weary is my favorite hot mess PI, but honestly she’s not much of a hot mess anymore. Her evolution from the start of the series (grieving her dad, toxic relationship, drinking too much…) to now has been an exercise in how hard it is to change, but how wanting to and taking steps to will certainly work to get you there. She still, however, has not figured out how not to get her current case dropping massive danger at her door–which as a thriller fan I’m grateful for (sorry, Weary!).
This time around a case of a woman who fell while hiking makes her question if she’s being warned off when her hotel room is broken into and someone dies where her PI office is. There’s a cult-y religion, an ex-cop ex-husband, a scared teen in the wind, a grieving exhausted new mom client, a women’s health group, and more questions and mysteries than answers–but Weary doesn’t ever give up! (TW past suicide mention, detail/ past domestic abuse, not graphic)
He Started It by Samantha Downing: The beauty of this book for me was that I had no idea where it was going, or how it was a thriller when I started, which is a thing I love and rarely get to experience. Basically, I got on one ride and found myself on a totally different ride, to my delight. Three Morgan siblings–Beth, Portia, and Eddie–are set to inherit a 3+ million inheritance after their grandfather’s death. Of course there’s a catch!
This dysfunctional family needs to recreate the road trip they took as children with their grandfather. Doesn’t sound so hard. Except: they are all basically estranged–plus, Beth’s husband and Eddie’s wife have tagged along; there is a stipulation in the will that if anyone gets jailed, deviates, or doesn’t complete the original trip they all get zip, nada, nothing; their grandfather is once again on the trip–as ashes they can’t lose; they’re all a-holes. What could go wrong?! Not only are we treated to the current road trip from hell–seriously, they’re all having marital and/or personal problems, are liars, and are filled with secrets, so make popcorn for the family drama–but we also get to learn about the original road trip taken, which holds the key to why they’re currently recreating it… Strap in and enjoy! (TW past partner abuse discussed discussions of molestation, not detailed or graphic)
Browse all the books recommended in Unusual Suspects previous newsletters on this shelf. See 2020 upcoming releases and 2021. An Unusual Suspects Pinterest board. Get Tailored Book Recommendations!
Until next time, keep investigating! In the meantime, come talk books with me on Twitter, Instagram, and Litsy–you can find me under Jamie Canavés.
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Grown
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