Welcome to Unreliable Sources—a quick hit of mystery, murder, and mayhem. In this episode, thriller author Mike Donohue examines year-end "best of 2025" lists from Barnes & Noble, Publisher's Weekly, and Esquire, reports on the Baker & Taylor bankruptcy crisis threatening library book access nationwide, and explores the complicated ethics of posthumous manuscripts.

He then dives deep into five forgotten mystery authors who deserve rediscovery—brilliant mid-century writers who dominated bestseller lists and won major awards but somehow vanished from literary memory.

Books & topics mentioned:– Year-end lists: ⁠B&N Best Mystery & Thriller 2025⁠, ⁠Publisher's Weekly Best Books⁠, ⁠Esquire Best Books 2025⁠– ⁠Baker & Taylor bankruptcy and library impact (404 Media)⁠– ⁠Posthumous manuscripts ethics (Town & Country)⁠– ⁠Exit Strategy by Lee Child/Andrew Child⁠– ⁠Wild Instinct by T. Jefferson Parker⁠– ⁠King's Ransom by Janet Evanovich⁠– ⁠The Sunshine Man by Emma Stonex⁠– Five forgotten mystery authors: ⁠Phantom Lady (Cornell Woolrich)⁠, ⁠Beast in View (Margaret Millar)⁠, ⁠The Blank Wall (Elisabeth Sanxay Holding)⁠, ⁠Home Sweet Homicide (Craig Rice)⁠, ⁠The Hours Before Dawn (Celia Fremlin)⁠– What I'm reading/watching: ⁠Shifty's Boys (Chris Offutt)⁠, ⁠Sleep No More (P.D. James — audio)⁠, ⁠Pluribus (Apple TV+)⁠

📚 Like twisty books and tense shows? Subscribe for bi-weekly episodes packed with killer reads, news, and sharp takes.

🌐 Learn more: ⁠https://mikedonohuebooks.com⁠

Until next time—stay sharp, follow the clues, and don't trust anyone who skips to the end.

Welcome to Unreliable Sources—a quick hit of mystery, murder, and mayhem. In this episode, thriller author Mike Donohue covers a real-life rare books heist that reads like fiction, updates on Miami Vice and Bosch adaptations, and spotlights massive fall releases from Joe Hill, Louise Penny, and John Grisham.

He then dives deep into why horror mystery thriller mashups are so addictive—exploring the psychology behind books that make you think and scream simultaneously, from The Silence of the Lambs to Mexican Gothic.

Books & topics mentioned:– The Pushkin Job: international rare books heist– 2025 Petrona Award winner: The Clues in the Fjord by Satu Rämö– Miami Vice feature film & Bosch prequel series Start of Watch– King Sorrow by Joe Hill– The Black Wolf by Louise Penny– The Last Death of the Year by Sophie Hannah (Hercule Poirot)– The Widow by John Grisham– Wild Animal by Joel Dicker– Horror mystery thriller deep dive– What I'm reading/watching: Proving Ground (Michael Connelly), The Wasp Trap (Mark Edwards — audio), A Man on the Inside Season 2 (Netflix)

📚 Like twisty books and tense shows? Subscribe for bi-weekly episodes packed with killer reads, news, and sharp takes.

🌐 Learn more: https://mikedonohuebooks.com

Until next time—stay sharp, follow the clues, and don't trust anyone who skips to the end.

Welcome to Unreliable Sources—a quick hit of mystery, murder, and mayhem. In this episode, thriller author Mike Donohue covers the latest crime-fiction headlines—including Vince Gilligan's mysterious new Pluribus series, casting updates for Netflix's All the Sinners Bleed, and the rise of book bikes bringing literature to communities.

He spotlights compelling new releases ranging from psychological thrillers to horror-tinged mysteries, then takes a deep dive into the divide between American and European crime fiction—exploring how geography shapes our understanding of evil, justice, and what keeps us up at night.

Books & topics mentioned:

– Vince Gilligan's Pluribus (Apple TV+)

– Book bikes expanding access (Publishers Weekly)

– All the Sinners Bleed adaptation casting

– Keep This For Me by Jennifer Fawcett

– The Hitchhikers by Chevy Stevens

– Darker Days by Thomas Olde Heuvelt (Out Oct 28)

– Guilty by Definition by Susie Dent

– Remain by Nicholas Sparks with M. Night Shyamalan

Blog post about American and European crime fiction.

What I'm reading/watching: To Catch a Storm (Mindy Mejia), Not Quite Dead Yet (Holly Jackson — audio),

Play Dirty (Amazon Prime)

📚 Like twisty books and tense shows? Subscribe for bi-weekly episodes packed with killer reads, news, and sharp takes.

🌐 Learn more: ⁠https://mikedonohuebooks.com⁠

Until next time—stay sharp, follow the clues, and don't trust anyone who skips to the end.

Welcome to Unreliable Sources—a quick hit of mystery, murder, and mayhem. In this episode, thriller author Mike Donohue explores why Boston makes the perfect crime fiction setting, celebrates major literary discoveries, and examines new books analyzing Hitchcock's thriller masterpieces.

He spotlights fresh releases, then takes a deep dive into our complicated fascination with serial killer fiction—exploring the psychology, ethics, and evolution of the subgenre.

Books & topics mentioned:– Unpublished Elmore Leonard novella "Picket Line" discovered in USC archives– Raymond Chandler's previously unseen story– Boston as crime fiction setting (Robert Parker, Dennis Lehane, Chuck Hogan)– New Hitchcock books: Criss-Cross (Stephen Rebello)

Rear Window (Jennifer O'Callaghan)

– The Librarians by Sherry Thomas– What About the Bodies by Ken Jaworowski– The Impossible Fortune by Richard Osman (Thursday Murder Club #5)– The Killer Question by Janice Hallett

– Serial killer fiction deep dive: Thomas Harris, Tana French, Chelsea Cain– Recommended reads: The Poet (Michael Connelly),

My Sister, the Serial Killer (Oyinkan Braithwaite),

In the Woods (Tana French),

Alex North novels

– Reading/watching: Hard as Nails (Dan Simmons), The Absent One (Jussi Adler-Olsen — audio), Slow Horses (Apple TV)

📚 Like twisty books and tense shows? Subscribe for bi-weekly episodes packed with killer reads, news, and sharp takes.

🌐 Learn more: ⁠https://mikedonohuebooks.com⁠

Until next time—stay sharp, follow the clues, and don't trust anyone who skips to the end.

Welcome to Unreliable Sources—a quick hit of mystery, murder, and mayhem.

In this episode, thriller author Mike Donohue explores the death of narrative podcasts (RIP Serial), examines the beautiful hellscape that is Goodreads, and covers Bouchercon 2025 highlights including Anthony Award winners. He also spotlights new fall releases, dives into how Hitchcock's suspense techniques still influence modern thriller writers, and shares what he's been reading and watching.

Books & topics mentioned: Rolling Stone on narrative podcasts' demise – Slate's Goodreads deep dive – Bouchercon 2025 New Orleans recap

The God of the Woods (Liz Moore), You Know What You Did (K.T. Nguyen) – Barry Award winner: Ordinary Bear (C.B. Bernard) – The Whisper Place by Mindy Mejia – The Wasp Trap by Mark Edwards – Fiend by Alma Katsu – Fall adaptations: The Girlfriend (Amazon Prime), Highest 2 Lowest (Apple TV), The Man in My Basement (Hulu) – The Frozen People (Elly Griffiths), She Rides Shotgun (Jordan Harper — audio)

📚 Like twisty books and tense shows? Subscribe for bi-weekly episodes packed with killer reads, news, and sharp takes.

🌐 Learn more: ⁠https://mikedonohuebooks.com⁠

Until next time—stay sharp, follow the clues, and don't trust anyone who skips to the end.

Welcome to Unreliable Sources—a quick hit of mystery, murder, and mayhem.

In this episode, thriller author Mike Donohue explores the cozy crime revival led by Richard Osman's Thursday Murder Club, checks out international award news from New Zealand's Ngaio Marsh Awards, and dives into the wild world of modern book clubs—from Bad Bitch Book Club summer camps to audiobook walking groups. He spotlights recent new releases including a massive Stephen King tribute anthology, takes a deep dive into thriller tropes we love to hate, and shares what he's been reading and watching.

Books & topics mentioned: – 2025 Ngaio Marsh Awards finalists: Return To Blood (Michael Bennett), A Divine Fury (DV Bishop), Woman, Missing (Sherryl Clark) – Richard Osman's Thursday Murder Club Netflix adaptation – Bad Bitch Book Club summer camp & Book It Around D.C. walking club – The End of the World As We Know It – Forget Me Not by Stacy Willingham – Apostle's Cove by William Kent Krueger – The Secret of Secrets by Dan Brown – Clown Town by Mick Herron

What I'm reading/watching: Sheepdogs (Jordan Ackerman), With a Vengeance (Riley Sager — audio), None of This Is True (Lisa Jewell — audio), A Man on the Inside (Netflix)

📚 Like twisty books and tense shows? Subscribe for bi-weekly episodes packed with killer reads, news, and sharp takes.

🌐 Learn more: ⁠https://mikedonohuebooks.com⁠

Until next time—stay sharp, follow the clues, and don't trust anyone who skips to the end.

Welcome to Unreliable Sources—a quick hit of mystery, murder, and mayhem. In this episode, thriller author Mike Donohue covers fall's most anticipated crime fiction releases, disappointing news from the AP, and international award recognition. He spotlights new releases including a time-loop Japanese mystery, takes a deep dive into Canadian crime fiction beyond Louise Penny, and shares what he's been reading and watching.

Books & topics mentioned: Fall anticipations: Cursed Daughters by Oyinkan Braithwaite, The Intruder by Freida McFadden, Forget Me Not by Stacy Willingham, The Impossible Fortune by Richard Osman, The Widow by John Grisham – Five Found Dead by Sulari Gentill – Hatchet Girls by Joe Lansdale – The Diary of Lies by Philip Miller – The Man Who Died Seven Times by Yasuhiko Nishizawa

Canadian crime fiction tour: Louise Penny, Linwood Barclay, Giles Blunt, Roxanne Bouchard, Maureen Jennings, Anthony Bidulka, Brenda Chapman, Scott Young.

What I'm reading/watching: Fade Away (Harlan Coben), Don't Let the Devil Ride (Ace Atkins — audio), Dept Q Season 2 announcement.

📚 Like twisty books and tense shows? Subscribe for bi-weekly episodes packed with killer reads, news, and sharp takes.

🌐 Learn more: ⁠https://mikedonohuebooks.com⁠

Until next time—stay sharp, follow the clues, and don't trust anyone who skips to the end.