Categories
Unusual Suspects

Mixed-Genre Mystery Recommendations

Hello fellow mystery lovers! This week I’m recommending some great genre-mixed mysteries. I pretty much read every genre, and since mystery has always been my favorite, I love when they mingle. I’ve found it’s also a great way to expand your reading into other genres and to be able to read the same book with someone who doesn’t necessarily read the genre(s) you love. It’s like a middle ground that lets you explore a bit of more than one thing.

Sponsored by Haven by Mary Lindsey

Rain Ryland has never belonged anywhere. He’s used to people judging him for his rough background, his intimidating size, and now, his orphan status. He’s always been on the outside, looking in, and he’s fine with that. Until he moves to New Wurzburg and meets Friederike Burkhart.

Freddie isn’t like normal teen girls, though. And someone wants her dead for it. Freddie warns he’d better stay far away if he wants to stay alive, but Rain’s never been good at running from trouble. For the first time, Rain has something worth fighting for, worth living for. Worth dying for.

Fantasy Meets Historical Fiction Mystery:

Jackaby (Jackaby #1) by William Ritter: Think Sherlock with a female assistant and throw in some critters like Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Abigail Rook, the narrator, has run off to be an Archeologist (how dare that woman not be a proper lady!) but when her dreams don’t pan out she finds herself working with Jackaby, a socially oblivious investigator. While Jackaby may not be super observant of social behavior, he is skillful in spotting nonhuman creatures–now if he can only convince others. Rook and Jackaby make a great team. Theirs is a serial killer mystery, and it’s fun. If fantasy isn’t usually your jam, this is set in Victorian England with only sporadic creatures so it’s a great toe-in-the-water step into fantasy without feeling overwhelmed. It’s also the first in a series of four, so you can binge the whole thing: Beastly Bones; Ghostly Echoes; The Dire King. (And those covers are gorgeous!)

Chick Lit Meets Mystery:

Getting Rid of Bradley by Jennifer Crusie: When Chick Lit exploded onto the scene, I read it all. ALL. It was generally funny, fun, and centered around women, and I devoured it like candy. This book has managed to stay on my bookshelves since the ’90s–I’m an old–and I decided to give it a reread. It was as delightful as I remembered it–which honestly is all I remembered because my memory is terrible. Lucy Savage is divorcing her husband, and good riddance. Except getting rid of Bradley (ha!) isn’t solving any of her problems: her I’ll-be-a-fabulous-blonde has turned her hair funky colors; there seems to be a mix-up with Bradley’s identity; two cops keep bothering her; and it looks like someone is trying to kill her. Turns out one of those cops, the one that looks like a bad boy, has some serious sparks with Savage which is only going to get further ignited as she’s under his protection. OhMy! I know Chick Lit gets a bad rap–as things women like tend to–but this book is fun, and ridiculous, and at the core a mystery about who Bradley is, where he went, and why someone is suddenly trying to kill Lucy Savage.

Science-Fiction Meets Mystery/Thriller:

Sleeping Giants (Themis Files #1) by Sylvain Neuvel: This novel is amazing and if you’re an audiobook reader it’s a must in audio–all the narrators are fantastic. Told mostly through interviews and journal entries we get the story of Rose Franklin who as a child was ridding her bike and came across a giant metal hand. Think of discovering a gigantic dinosaur bone except metal and ohmygod what! Almost twenty years later there is still not much known about this metal hand, nor where it came from. But people want, and need, to know, including Franklin, who is a physicist in charge of cracking the mystery of the hand. Everything about this book is built on not only the mystery of what and from where, but you don’t even know who the “investigators” are, which also becomes a part of the mystery. It’s a page-turning Sci-Fi mystery/thriller that is a hell of a ride. And since it’s set in the U.S. and doesn’t have the world building of a lot of Sci-Fi, it’s a great place to start if you’re overwhelmed by the genre.

Crime Meets Romance (Trigger Warning: Sexual/Domestic Abuse):

Uptown Thief (Justice Huslers #1) by Aya de León: A fellow Rioter had recommended this and I’m so glad he did. This is a mashup crime novel and romance. It isn’t a puzzle mystery type book, instead you follow criminals. But not your everyday criminals, these are women who are running a women’s health clinic in NY for underprivileged women. But you need money to keep a clinic open and funding just isn’t enough. So Marisol Rivera creates a down-low escort service that targets CEOs that want to donate to the clinic. Except she’s targeting human garbage CEOs so her and her crew can rob them. Girls gotta do what a girls gotta do to keep helping her community… As for the romance: Rivera may finally get a shot at a real relationship when a now ex-cop she grew up with starts circling her orbit. There’s also a really nice relationship between two of the clinic workers. Also, plenty of criminal activity–including some hold-your-breath-they’re-going-to-get-caught moments.

Links to Click:

Book Riot is giving away $500 to a bookstore of your choosing–ermergerd that’s SO MANY BOOKS!

A murderer helped make the Oxford English Dictionary.

Winnie M Li’s Dark Chapter has won the 2017 Not the Booker prize. (Review)

An interview (via live chat) with Tess Gerritsen, author of Rizzoli & Isles series and a ton of books.

Sarah Blaedel’s Louise Rick series is being adapted into a TV series.

Milwaukeeans: Murder and Mayhem on Nov. 4th

Now in Paperback:

Tell the Truth Shame the Devil by Melina Marchetta (Review)

Everything You Want Me To Be by Mindy Mejia (Review)

Fields Where They Lay (Junior Bender #6) by Timothy Hallinan

The Last Day of Emily Lindsey by Nic Joseph (Review)

Thrice the Brinded Cat Hath Mew’d (Flavia de Luce #8) by Alan Bradley

 

Recent Release Kindle Deal!

Are You Sleeping by Kathleen Barber is $2.99 (Review)

 

 

Browse all the books recommended in Unusual Suspects previous newsletters on this shelf. And if you like to put a pin in things here’s an Unusual Suspects board.

Until next time, keep investigating! And in the meantime come talk books with me on Twitter, Instagram, and Litsy–you can find me under Jamie Canaves.

Categories
Today In Books

Anne Frank’s Diary Read to Soccer Fans: Today in Books

Sections Of Anne Frank’s Diary To Be Read To Italian League Fans

Passages from Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl will be read aloud to fans of the professional Italian sports club, Lazio. The Italian football federation announced plans for the pre-match readings in response to antisemitic acts performed by the fans. These blindingly insensitive and racist acts include defacing Stadio Olimpico with antisemitic graffiti and stickers showing images of Frank wearing a rival jersey. Lazio’s president has also announced an annual trip to Auschwitz with young fans who have a history of antisemitic behavior.

Harper Lee’s Letters Are Up For Auction

A lot of 38 handwritten letters by Harper Lee are being auctioned for a minimum bid of $10,000. Lee wrote the letters between 2005-2010 to her friend Felice Itzkoff who died in 2011. The letters include Lee’s thoughts on Barack Obama’s inauguration day, the memorial service for the screenwriter of To Kill a Mockingbird‘s film adaptation, and aging. The auction ends October 26.

Episodes of Fear and Loathing

Hunter S. Thompson’s antics are getting a television series. Davey Holmes, showrunner for the Get Shorty series, is reportedly helming MGM Television’s new series on the gonzo journalist. The show is currently titled Fear and Loathing, but it’s still in early development–too soon to know anything about casting. You know there are some actors out there who can’t wait to pull a Johnny Depp.

Thank you to The Infinite Now by Mindy Tarquini for sponsoring today’s newsletter.

In flu-ravaged 1918 Philadelphia, Fiora Vicente, the freshly orphaned and forward-thinking daughter of the local fortune teller, has goals. She has ambitions. But when faced with a future she hasn’t planned, she has second thoughts–and casts her community into a stagnant bubble of time.

Inside the bubble, life among Fiora’s superstitious neighbors continues, but nothing progresses, swamped by a steady stream of unspent seconds. As the pressure builds Fiora realizes she must find the courage to collapse the bubble–or risk trapping her dreams in an unbearable, unyielding, and infinite Now.

Perfect for fans of The Night Circus, The Infinite Now is a quirky and unique fantasy read.

Categories
In The Club

In The Club Oct 25

Welcome back to In The Club, a newsletter of resources to keep your book group well-met and well-read. Let’s dive in.

This newsletter is sponsored by Renegades by Marissa Meyer.

Renegades by Marissa MeyerSecret Identities.
Extraordinary Powers.
She wants vengeance. He wants justice.

The Renegades are a syndicate of prodigies—humans with extraordinary abilities—who emerged from the ruins of a crumbled society and established peace and order where chaos reigned. As champions of justice, they remain a symbol of hope and courage to everyone . . . except the villains they once overthrew.

Nova has a reason to hate the Renegades, and she is on a mission for vengeance. As she gets closer to her target, she meets Adrian, a Renegade boy who believes in justice—and in Nova. But Nova’s allegiance is to the villains who have the power to end them both.

Today’s Spooktober link: horror books for when you prefer less sunshine in your reading. I myself am a total wimp but I hear tell some folks like to be scared out of their gourds, so godspeed!

Take this poll with your group: do you read like other readers? You might be surprised at some of the answers that come up!

You know what makes for great discussions? Books with inventive narrative structures! Here’s a list, and it’s one I love because many of these books are new to me! A Visit From the Goon Squad is definitely a book-group must, though; you’re guaranteed arguments about character, the use of PowerPoint, and much more.

Speaking of novels with different structures, how about trying a novel in verse? Whatever your group’s familiarity with poetry, we’ve got a list of works that should work for you. I love these in particular because they’re good for young adults as well as grown-ups; if you’ve got a group of teens, try ’em out!

We could all probably use some more stories of togetherness: here are great books from the past year about female friendships.

Spotlight on: The 2017 Man Booker Award

And this year’s Man Booker Award goes to …. drumroll … Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders! There are a few interesting things about this year’s award beyond the choice of book. Let’s dig in a little, shall we?

The Man Booker (which is a prize for the best novel in the English language for the given year) was opened up to include American novels in 2014, and many have argued that it has since become too dominated by American works — including Ron Charles of the Washington Post.

Related: Paul Beatty was the first American to win the Man Booker, for The Sellout.

Want to know more about Saunders as a writer? Here’s an illustrated look at his work and development as an author on Signature Reads.

Who has influenced Saunders? He talked to the Center for Fiction about how Hemingway made him a reader.

For my audiobook fans: the audio of Lincoln in the Bardo had a bonkers extended cast. There’s a lot of discussion fodder right there in terms of narrator choice, not to mention the perennial audio vs. print debate.

And that’s a wrap: Happy discussing! If you’re interested in more science fiction and fantasy talk, you can catch me and my co-host Sharifah on the SFF Yeah! podcast. For many many more book recommendations (including the occasional book club question!) you can find me on the Get Booked podcast with the inimitable Amanda.

Your fellow booknerd,
Jenn

More Resources: 
– Our Book Group In A Box guide
– List your group on the Book Group Resources page

Categories
Giveaways

Win a Copy of THE PERFECT NANNY by Leila Slimani!

We have 10 copies of The Perfect Nanny by Leila Slimani to give away to 10 Riot readers!

Here’s what it’s all about:

When Myriam decides to return to work after having children, she and her husband look for the perfect nanny for their two young children. They never dreamed they would find Louise: a quiet, polite, devoted woman who sings to the children, cleans the family’s chic apartment in Paris’s upscale tenth arrondissement, and stays late without complaint. But as the couple and the nanny become more dependent on one another, jealousy, resentment, and suspicions mount, shattering the idyllic tableau. Building tension with every page, The Perfect Nanny is a riveting, bravely observed exploration of power, class, race, domesticity, and motherhood.

Go here to enter for a chance to win, or just click the cover image below. Good luck!

Categories
Riot Rundown

102417-Libby-Riot-Rundown

Today’s Riot Rundown is sponsored by Overdrive.

Meet Libby, a new app built with love for readers to discover and enjoy eBooks and audiobooks from your library. Created by OverDrive and inspired by library users, Libby was designed to get people reading as quickly and seamlessly as possible. Libby is a one-tap reading app for your library who is a good friend always ready to go to the library with you. One-tap to borrow, one-tap to read, and one-tap to return to your library or bookshelf to begin your next great book.

Categories
Today In Books

Was Pablo Neruda Assassinated? Today in Books

Was Pablo Neruda Assassinated?

An international group of forensic experts concluded that Pablo Neruda’s official cause of death is incorrect–he did not die of cancer. Instead, after inspecting samples from the prolific Chilean poet’s exhumed remains, they have determined that the actual cause was related to an infection. The experts have said they “can’t exclude nor affirm the natural or violent cause of Pablo Neruda’s death.” But the discovery is already stirring up old questions about whether Neruda was assassinated in his hospital bed, by way of an injection of a mystery substance, as both his nephew and personal assistant attested.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Throws Literary Shade

Newsweek wrote about Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s new short story–namely, how it paints the first lady as a casual racist, reluctant wife of the president, and as being envious of Michelle Obama. In the story, “Mrs T” keeps a folder full of pictures of Obama on her laptop. The Americanah author wrote the story for T, The New York Times’ style magazine. Janelle Asked to the Bedroom follows a pre-election short story about Mrs T titled, The Arrangements.

Indigenous Representation On The Thor: Ragnarok Set

The Mary Sue wrote up a piece about all the ways Taika Waititi pushed for indigenous representation on the Thor: Ragnarok set. Waititi, who’s directing the film, is Māori. From shadowing opportunities for indigenous filmmakers to an opening Karakia ceremony to avoiding appropriation, Waititi did the good work for better representation and inclusion. The piece pointed out how rare it is for a movie to be turned over to an indigenous director.

Thank you to 36 Questions That Changed My Mind About You by Vicki Grant, for sponsoring today’s newsletter.

Inspired by the real psychology study popularized by the New York Times and its “Modern Love” column, this contemporary YA is full of humor and heart. It explores the interactions between Hildy and Paul, two random strangers in a university psychology study, when they ask each other the 36 questions that are engineered to make them fall in love. Told in the language of modern romance–texting, Q&A, IM–and punctuated by Paul’s sketches, this clever high-concept YA will leave you searching for your own stranger to ask the 36 questions. Maybe you’ll even fall in love.

Categories
New Books

A True American Hero, Joe Hill’s Latest, and More New Books

Hello, book lovers! Who’s reading something good this week? I read a bunch of rad things during the Dewey’s Readathon on Saturday, and have a bunch more stuff lined up for this week. I CANNOT GET ENOUGH. I have a few awesome books for you below and you can hear about several more great books on this week’s episode of the All the Books! Rebecca and I talked about a few amazing books we loved, including Long Way Down, River of Consciousness, Ghosts of the Tsunami, and more.

Sponsored by Life Detonated by Kathleen Murray Moran

The gripping true story of Kathleen Murray, a young mother whose life was changed on September 11, 1976 when her husband, a NYPD bomb disposal expert, was killed by a terrorist’s bomb. It details her journey out of poverty, and her own determination to take care of her two young sons as she starts over.

AND OHHHHH! Did you know we’re giving away $500 to the bookstore of your choice? Click here to enter!

strange weatherStrange Weather: Four Short Novels by Joe Hill

What’s better than one new Joe Hill book? Four new Joe Hill books! Okay, they’re more like novellas, but still. Snapshot is about a spooky camera; nails fall from the sky in Rain; a parachute jumper is stranded in the sky in Aloft; and a security guard carries out an unfortunately increasingly common 21st century scene in Loaded. Each of these is a creepy, horrifying delight, sure to upset and surprise you.

The River of Consciousness bump: 20th Century Ghosts by Joe Hill

an american familyAn American Family: A Memoir of Hope and Sacrifice by Khizr Khan

You may recognize Khan: He and his wife appeared at the DNC in 2016 to say a few words about the loss of their son, an American soldier. The experience of losing a loved one in service of the country is sadly something a lot of families have been through, but Khan’s appearance brought more attention, both positive and horrible. This is his story, from his family’s immigration from Pakistan to the United States, to his Army captain son and the grief caused by his devastating death. Khan shows what it is to make sacrifices for your country and what it means to be a real patriot.

Backlist bump: The Constitution of the United States by Delegates of the Constitutional Convention

the tethered mageThe Tethered Mage (Swords and Fire) by Melissa Caruso

The first in an exciting new fantasy series! Okay, I don’t actually know if the other books will be exciting, but this one certainly is! It’s about magic – and the control of magic. Zaira has lived her whole life on the streets, hiding her abilities away from those who would imprison her. But hers is a dangerous magic, and her seemingly fated meeting with a falconer might be the catalyst that drags them into an all-out war. Lying, and double-crossing, and assassination attempts, oh my! What fun!

Backlist bump: Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

That’s it for me today – time to get back to reading! If you want to learn more about books new and old (and see lots of pictures of my cats, Millay and Steinbeck), or tell me about books you’re reading, or books you think I should read (I HEART RECOMMENDATIONS!), you can find me on Twitter at MissLiberty, on Instagram at FranzenComesAlive, or Litsy under ‘Liberty’!

Stay rad,

Liberty

Categories
The Goods

Pint Glasses & Coasters promo

Pick your next read and pour yourself a cold one. Buy 2 pint glasses, get a coaster set 50% off. Cheers to books!

Categories
Riot Rundown

102217-SymphonyForTheDevil-Riot-Rundown

Today’s Riot Rundown is sponsored by Symphony for the Devil by Billy Flounder.

Travus Dean resumes work at a progressive political magazine. When his protégé loses control and kills his best friend at a rage music concert, Travus seeks to exonerate him believing that the music is spiked with a sophisticated technology. His only allies seem to be end timers and conspiracy mongers. As his theory turns to reality, the forces behind Rage USA close in and use Travus as a pawn to bring rage to its ultimate conclusion.
A humorous conspiracy thriller that depicts the downfall of democracy by democracy.

Categories
Today In Books

Alt-Right Activists Harass California Bookstore: Today in Books

 

Alt-Right Activists Harass California Bookstore

A group of alt-right activists began harassing Revolution Books in Berkeley, California last month after a night in which they stormed the bookstore. Since then, they have staged a harassment campaign in which the store has been receiving more than 60 harassment phone calls a day and other online abuse. Store manager Reiko Redmonde said that the campaign will not jeopardize the store’s future: “We’re not going anywhere. We are needed now more than ever.”

Ric Burns to Direct Documentary about Oliver Sacks

If there is a Mount Rushmore of science writers, Oliver Sacks is certainly on it. His last book is being published posthumously this month, and we got news this week that a feature-length documentary about him called Oliver Sacks: His Own Life is in the making. The film is being produced by Paul G. Allen’s Vulcan Productions and will draw from more than 80 hours of footage from the last months of Dr. Sacks’ life. This is going to be fascinating.

More than 750,000 Self-Published Books Appeared in 2016

Bowker has reported that more than 3/4 of a million self-published books were issued ISBNs last year (ISBNs are unique identifier numbers for books). This was 8% more than last year, and interestingly there were fewer ISBNs for ebooks with the gain coming exclusively from print books. Not to mention that selling digital copies of books directly doesn’t require ISBNs, so I wouldn’t be surprised if there were more than a million books self-published in total.

 

We’re giving away $500 to spend at the bookstore of your choice! Click here, or on the image below to enter: