Unusual Suspects

A Romantic One Last Heist, New Mystery Adaptation to Stream, Halloween Cozy and More Mysteries!

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Jamie Canaves

Contributing Editor

Jamie Canavés is the Tailored Book Recommendations coordinator and Unusual Suspects mystery newsletter writer–in case you’re wondering what you do with a Liberal Arts degree. She’s never met a beach she didn’t like, always says yes to dessert, loves ‘80s nostalgia, all forms of entertainment, and can hold a conversation using only gifs. You can definitely talk books with her on Litsy and Goodreads. Depending on social media’s stability maybe also Twitter and Bluesky.

Before I dive into your bi-weekly mystery goodness, which includes new releases and news, I have a new mystery adaptation for you to watch. The BBC Three’s adaptation of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder will be streaming on Netflix starting August 1st. You can watch the trailer for the series here.

Bookish Goods

yard sign with a profile of a person's head with books filling in the hair and text saying "vote to ban guns not books!"

Ban guns not books Yard Sign by MostlyHarmlessThings

A yard sign, and reminder that local elections are also super important—you may have August primaries to vote in. ($35)

New Releases

cover of Jewel Me Twice

Jewel Me Twice by Charish Reid

For fans of second chance romance + one last heist!

CeCe St. Pierre and Magnus Larsson were once lovers and partners-in-heist. But that was in the past, before a job gone wrong, and they haven’t seen each other in five years. Until CeCe’s mentor dies leaving instructions for one last heist that assembles a crew putting Cece and Magnus back together doing what they do best. Bonus: European road trip!

cover image for Chaos at the Lazy Bones Bookshop

Chaos at the Lazy Bones Bookshop (Halloween Bookshop Mystery #1) by Emmeline Duncan

For fans of cozy mysteries, bookshops, and a Halloween-themed town setting.

Elyan Hollow, Oregon is a small town that has a year-round Halloween theme—packing my bags right now! Resident Bailey Briggs’ has her life full: she’s running Lazy Bones Books, working on a graphic novel, and in charge of the Spooky Season Literary Festival. So of course, she now has to solve a murder on top of all of that! Tip: you don’t have to wait until spooky season to enjoy the theme, especially if you’re melting in summer heat and want an escape.

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.

Riot Recommendations

A thing I do as a treat for myself is pre-buy things I know very little about but am very excited about. Once I order it, my terrible memory forgets it so when it arrives on my doorstep (in the future) it’s always a fun surprise. Here are my two last prebuys!

cover image for I'm the Grim Reaper vol 1

I’m the Grim Reaper, Vol. 1 Graveweaver

All I know, and why I immediately pre-bought this manga: a woman sent to hell gets sent back to earth under the condition that she kills a sinner per day to avoid her own ninth circle of hell.

cover image for Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees

Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees, Vol 1 by Patrick Horvath, Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou (Letterer)

All I know, and why I immediately pre-bought this graphic novel: “Dexter meets Richard Scarry’s Busy, Busy Town” (!!) where a small town serial killer has one rule—never kill in her own town.

News and Roundups

Browse the books recommended in Unusual Suspects’ previous newsletters on this shelf. See upcoming 2024 releases and mysteries from 2023. 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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