Author: Jamie Canaves

Unusual Suspects

SADIE Author Has An Upcoming Crime Book!

Post author By Jamie Canaves
Post date May 21, 2020

Alaska School Board Rescinds Vote That Banned Books: Today In Books

Post author By Jamie Canaves
Post date May 21, 2020

First Ever Unabridged Audiobook Of Malcolm X’s Autobiography: Today In Books

Post author By Jamie Canaves
Post date May 20, 2020

Sponsored by Lucy Knisley’s Stepping Stones, from Random House Graphic.

First Ever Unabridged Audiobook Of Malcolm X’s Autobiography

El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz, iconic human rights activist commonly known as Malcolm X, was celebrated on May 19th, what would have been his 95th birthday (he was assassinated in 1965). And, for the first time ever, Audible will release an unabridged audio of The Autobiography of Malcolm X, which will be narrated by Laurence J. Fishburne III. And you can listen to an exclusive sneak peek audio clip!

Can’t Get Here Soon Enough

For fans of Elle Woods, brought to life by Reese Witherspoon in the film adaptation of Amanda Brown’s novel, we are getting more Elle! The third Legally Blonde film will be written by Mindy Kaling and Dan Goor, and Reese Witherspoon is signed on to star.

Hot Priest Reads Hopeful Poem

Here is actor Andrew Scott (“hot priest” on Amazon’s Fleabag) reading the poem Everything Is Going to Be All Right by Derek Mahon. The video was posted on Emilia Clarke’s Instagram page with the note, “Andrew has asked to dedicate this to Men Against Cancer Ireland.”

Today In Books

App Pairs Like-Minded Readers For Discussion: Today In Books

Post author By Jamie Canaves
Post date May 19, 2020

Sponsored by Write the World, publishers on Writers on Earth.

App Pairs Like-Minded Readers For Discussion

Want to discuss a recent read or have an in-depth discussion about a book? There’s an app for that! Carry A Book pairs people with similar reading tastes for possible meeting based on users’ current reads, favorite books, and location–bibliophiles can meet virtually now or in person after the pandemic. And while it may sound, or look, like a dating app for book lovers, they stress this is not a dating app. Okay, but it sounds like the start to a romance novel to me.

Bill Gates Has Another Reading List

Bill Gates has more books he’s recommending, this time 5 reads to tackle this summer. There’s a literary distraction (David Mitchell’s Cloud Atlas), a Disney memoir (Bob Iger’s The Ride Of A Lifetime), and three especially for our current times: a memoir about processing trauma (Edith Eva Eger’s The Choice); the economy (Abhijit V. Banerjee and Esther Duflo’s Good Economics for Hard Times); and a history of the influenza pandemic (John M. Barry’s The Great Influenza).

Bookstore Owner Keeps Filling LFL

Alissa Redmond, owner of South Main Book Company in Salisbury, N.C., has been keeping the Little Free Libraries in Rowan County stocked with books. The act started after she asked the school system how she could help, being that schools are closed during the pandemic, and they suggested filling the libraries for kids.

Unusual Suspects

Grief & Crime: Mysteries To Read After DEAD TO ME

Post author By Jamie Canaves
Post date May 19, 2020

Sponsored by The Girl Beneath the Sea by Andrew Mayne.

Stalked by an assassin, pitted against a ruthless cartel searching for a lost fortune, and under watch within her own ranks, Florida police diver Sloan McPherson must expose a killer before a growing conspiracy pulls her under. As she tries to stay steps ahead of her enemies, she must team up with an unlikely ally: a legendary DEA agent with ties to Sloan’s family’s notorious past. The truth lies beneath the murky waters. How deep is Sloan willing to dive? Read The Girl Beneath the Sea by bestselling author Andrew Mayne today.

Hello mystery fans! I really love the Netflix crime show Dead To Me, starring Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini, and, without giving any spoilers, the second season really feels like it dropped at a time when many viewers themselves are dealing with grief (related to “a collective loss of normalcy” caused by the pandemic).

There is something to be said for, at the very least, acknowledging grief, which is a strong theme in the dark comedy Dead To Me and why I took the major themes of the show (grief, found family, secrets) and found great crime books also exploring those things. For readers who are about to nope-nope-out because you’re only here for entertainment/escape to cope, don’t worry I have a fun book in here, and I promise the rest are not heavy books that will make you feel even more weighted than you may already feel. For spoiler reasons I won’t be focusing on the secrets in the books–but they are there…

Tuesday Mooney Talks to Ghosts by Kate Racculia: I’ll start with the fun book for those already hesitant about this theme. This is a great read for fans of puzzle books, pop-culture and literary references, and especially The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin.

Basically, a billionaire dies and sends a group of people on an Edgar Allan Poe treasure hunt through Boston. And one of the hunters is Tuesday Mooney, a loner whose childhood best friend disappeared, thought to have been murdered. Being that her mind has conjured up her friend as a “ghost” to cope and her teen neighbor (found family) is also grieving the death of her mother in a car accident there’s a lot of overlapping exploration with Dead to Me–plus dark humor. (TW depression/ parent death in recent past/ discussion about suicide/ past domestic and child abuse)

The Other Americans by Laila Lalami: This has quite a bit of overlap with Dead To Me in that both start with a hit-and-run and the fall out, including the grieving for a loved one. It explores the family’s grief, focused on the daughter and widow, and also the impact on the community as a witness to the crime is hesitant to come forward. You get multiple points of view, including those of a former cop and the detective working on the case, some found family, and difficult questions to ponder, making this a great followup read to the show. (TW addiction/ PTSD)

Alice's Island cover image Alice’s Island by Daniel Sánchez Arévalo: Alice Dupont is a pregnant mother to a six-year-old when her husband dies in a car accident. The problem–outside of being widowed–is that the car accident happened nowhere near where her husband had told her he’d be. This turns Alice into a dog with a bone, needing to know why he was somewhere else and what else she may not have known about her husband… I especially recommend this on audio. (TW past suicide mentioned/ anxiety attacks)

The Things She's Seen cover image The Things She’s Seen by Ambelin Kwaymullina, Ezekiel Kwaymullina: This is a beautiful and ultimately uplifting Australian book about family and friendship and the process of grief and moving forward. Beth Teller may be dead but her dad can still see her and speak to her, something that is not helping him move on from losing her. Beth decides the best way to help her father, a detective, is to help him with a current case of an unidentified body found in a fire at a children’s home where the caretakers are also missing. Enter Isobel Catching a witness they interview who poetically recounts her story. (TW there is nothing on page but alludes to child abuse.)

magic for liars cover image Magic for Liars by Sarah Gailey: This is a PI novel sprinkled with magic since it’s set at a magic school, but it’s very much grounded in our world. It’s about two estranged sisters, with a ton of baggage, who grew up divided by the fact that one was magic and the other was not. One now teaches at a school for magic–where a fellow colleague has been murdered–and the other is the detective investigating. Awkward family reunion to say the least! This one explores many aspects of grief including how when unprocessed it can consume a person. (TW cancer)

Browse all the books recommended in Unusual Suspects previous newsletters on this shelf. See 2020 upcoming releases. 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.

If a mystery fan forwarded this newsletter to you and you’d like your very own you can sign up here.

Today In Books

Senior Living Facility Needed Books & People Really Delivered!: Today In Books

Post author By Jamie Canaves
Post date May 18, 2020

Library Calls Older Patrons To Say Hi: Today In Books

Post author By Jamie Canaves
Post date May 16, 2020

Sponsored by Custom House Books, publisher of Catherine House by Elisabeth Thomas.

Library Calls Older Patrons To Say Hi

Libraries being closed during the pandemic hasn’t stopped them from finding ways to continue to help and reach out to their communities: Fort Worth Public Library’s staff is calling older patrons to check in on them. “Giving them someone to talk to, providing services beyond our four walls, providing them with online resources they can use while they’re sheltering in place,” Henderson said. “Just because we’re closed to the public right now doesn’t mean we have to stop the communication we have with them.”

Struggling Indie Asks For Help

People’s Co-op Bookstore, one of Canada’s oldest independent bookstores, is struggling to stay in business during the pandemic after having its doors closed for six weeks. “A GoFundMe page has been launched to help raise money for the bookstore, which had already been facing financial challenges prior to the pandemic, according to the fundraiser. ”

More Courtney Summers

Sadie was one of the best crime books of 2018 and now the author, Courtney Summers, is back with an upcoming thriller. You can check out the cover reveal for The Project, deets, and a chat with Summers: “My longtime readers should know that they’re in for a certain amount of devastation. And anyone who hasn’t read me, that’s something they can look forward to. [Laughs]”

Today In Books

Obamas Read To Us: Today In Books

Post author By Jamie Canaves
Post date May 15, 2020

Sponsored by our 1-year Kindle Unlimited subscription giveaway, courtesy of Macmillan’s eDeals Newsletter. Enter now!

Obamas Read To Us

I, for one, am not even close to being tired of people I admire, enjoy, and/or am entertained by taking time out to read to us. The latest to make my shoulders inch down some from my ears is Barack and Michelle Obama joining Chicago Public Library’s “Live from the Library” storytime to read Peter Reynolds’ The Word Collector. Just delightful.

Pen Pals Make A Comeback

Staying away from friends and family is part of the difficulty faced right now by everyone staying home to help slow the spread of COVID-19. And while many people are using video chats, texts, and calls, there’s something to be said for getting a nice handwritten letter–and not everyone has access to the Internet, especially with so many libraries closed. And that’s why many libraries have created pen pal programs in their communities!

Time For Sweet Tooth

The graphic novel Sweet Tooth is getting adapted by Netflix into an eight-episode series. The story, starring a part-deer part-boy character, will be produced by Robert Downey Jr. and Susan Downey and star Will Forte, James Brolin, Nonso Anozie, and Adeel Akhtar.

Another Awesome Disney+ Announcement

After many months of speculation, Rick Riordan has announced that Disney+ is developing his Percy Jackson series.

Unusual Suspects

British Spies Used Cupcake Recipe To Stop Terrorists

Post author By Jamie Canaves
Post date May 14, 2020

Sponsored by The audiobook edition of Brian Panowich's Hard Cash Valley.

In the audiobook of Hard Cash Valley, listeners return to McFalls County and Bull Mountain. In Brian Panowich’s latest masterful tale of Southern Noir, we meet Dane Kirby, a man no stranger to tragedy. A life-long resident and ex-arson investigator for McFalls County, Dane is called in to consult on a brutal murder in a Jacksonville, Florida, motel room. He and his FBI counterpart, Special Agent Roselita Velasquez, begin an investigation that leads them back to the criminal circles of his own backyard. Listen to the audiobook, read by Brian Troxell, to get sucked into this riveting web of secrets.

Hi mystery fans! I was able to roundup a good amount of interesting lists, articles, podcasts, and news I think you’d be interested in. Plus, I’ve got a completed series to watch and great Kindle deals.

From Book Riot And Around The Internet

a gentleman's murder 10 Mystery and Thriller Authors Like Agatha Christie

Rincey and Katie discuss the Edgar Award winners, Tana French’s new book and celebrate the 100th anniversary of the publication of The Mysterious Affair at Styles on the latest Read or Dead.

Poison is the Best Murder Weapon in Mysteries

Liberty and Vanessa discuss new releases, including A Deadly Inside Scoop by Abby Collette on the latest All The Books!

Land of Shadows cover image: sunrise LA city image blended into a dark street image with a silhouette of a person walking Rachel Howzell Hall and Alex Segura discuss diversity in crime fiction, what they admire most in crime novels, their participation as judges in the Eleanor Taylor Bland Crime Fiction Writers of Color Award, and more.

The cover for Fatal Fried Rice, Vivien Chien’s 7th Noodle Shop Mystery!

Val McDermid’s exclusive and gripping short story to inspire budding writers

The Origins of Scandinavian Noir

Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk is a Best Translated Books Award finalist!

The director of Suicide Squad is adapting yet another Harlan Coben novel for Netflix

How British Spies Used a Cupcake Recipe to Stop Terrorists

Why it’s so hard to read a book right now, explained by a neuroscientist

How much do you know about the true history of Scotland Yard?

Attica Locke, Joe Ide, David Baldacci, Scott Turow, Harlan Coben, Walter Mosley at Live Talks LA

Exclusive: This upcoming novel gives the domestic thriller a killer sci-fi twist

French serial-killer expert admits serial lies, including murder of imaginary wife

Enter to Win $50 to Your Favorite Independent Bookstore!

Enter to win a 1-year subscription to Kindle Unlimited!

Watch Now

Amazon Prime: So this is slightly outside of what I usually recommend here, but the entire series (5 seasons) of Orphan Black is now on Amazon Prime. Yes, it’s sci-fi but it’s also a great show for fans of thrillers, crime shows, and the mystery of who/what is behind all of this and why?! Tatiana Maslany is also ridiculously talented in playing so many parts and Helena is one of my all time favorite characters. While it wasn’t an adaptation there have been books, graphic novels, and even a coloring book based on the show.

Kindle Deals

My favorite Sherlock is on sale: A Study In Scarlet Women (The Lady Sherlock Series Book 1) by Sherry Thomas is $2.99! (Review) (TW rape–I think it’s past recounted)

For bibliophiles and nonviolent true crime fans: The Man Who Loved Books Too Much: The True Story of a Thief, a Detective, and a World of Literary Obsession by Allison Hoover Bartlett is $4.99! (Review)

If you’re looking for a return home mystery starring an FBI agent: Girls Like Us by Cristina Alger is $2.99! (Review) (TW addiction/ PTSD/ statutory rape/ suicide mention with detail)

Browse all the books recommended in Unusual Suspects previous newsletters on this shelf. See 2020 upcoming releases. 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.

If a mystery fan forwarded this newsletter to you and you’d like your very own you can sign up here.

Today In Books

INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE Returns: Today In Books

Post author By Jamie Canaves
Post date May 14, 2020

Sponsored by our Robyn Carr Prize Pack giveaway, courtesy of Harlequin.com. Enter now!

Interview with the Vampire Returns

Stock up on garlic and wooden stakes because Anne Rice’s The Vampire Chronicles series’ comprehensive rights have been bought by AMC Networks along with The Lives of the Mayfair Witches series. That means AMC now has 18 books worth of material to adapt to television. Always here for more witches and vampires.

Sandhya Menon Tackles Adult Romance

Favorite YA romance author Sandhya Menon has written a new romance with the target audience being adults! Make Up Break Up is set for an early 2021 release and follows rival app developers–one who deals in breakups and one in saving relationships. You can check out the cover and learn more about the leap from YA to Adult for this novel.

Calling Into Question The Pulitzer Prize For Biography

Benjamin Moser’s Sontag: Her Life and Work won the Pulitzer Prize for Biography, but questions and concern are being raised for two different reasons. One has been raised by many critics claiming that the main point he makes in Sontage “is at best a misapprehension of the notion of authorship, and at worst a calculated distortion of the facts meant to garner publicity.” Then there’s a long history of accusations that Moser steals ideas from women authors and translators and bullies them.