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

In this episode, thriller author Mike Donohue explores the harsh economics of indie bookshops (and why we still dream of owning one), celebrates classic crime stories entering the public domain, and shares exciting adaptation news for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and Jonathan Kellerman's Alex Delaware novels.

He spotlights new releases including Alice Feeney's mind-bending identity thriller and Matthew Quirk's action-packed espionage tale, then dives deep into the Boston-LA noir divide—comparing two giants of American crime fiction, Michael Connelly and Dennis Lehane, and revealing how geography shapes everything from detective archetypes to the darkness we fear.

Books & topics mentioned:– Bookshop economics & the romantic dream of opening one (Financial Times)– The quest to digitize all human knowledge (Asterisk Magazine)– Nine classic crime stories entering public domain 2026 (CrimeReads)– The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series adaptation (Sky)– Alex Delaware series development (Amazon)– The Infamous Gilberts by Angela Tomaski– My Husband's Wife by Alice Feeney– The Method by Matthew Quirk– Such a Clever Girl by Darby Kane

Michael Connelly vs Dennis Lehane deep dive: Harry Bosch, Patrick Kenzie, and the geography of American noir

What I'm reading/watching: Exit Strategy (Lee Child/Andrew Child), Alone by Lisa Gardner (audio), The Rip (Affleck-Damon), STEAL (Sophie Turner - Prime Video)

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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 encouraging reading habit data proving mysteries and thrillers still dominate, the most borrowed library books of 2025, and the massive wave of crime fiction adaptations hitting screens in 2026.

He spotlights stormy new releases from Rachel Hawkins, Lucy Clarke, and Lori Rader-Day then dives deep into a problem plaguing modern thriller writers: has technology killed the MacGuffin? From dead phone batteries to cloud storage, Mike explores why Hitchcock's favorite plot device doesn't work anymore—and how the best writers are adapting to a world where everything is backed up, tracked, and instantly shareable.

Books & topics mentioned:

– ⁠American reading habits: mysteries & thrillers still winning⁠– ⁠Most borrowed library books of 2025 (NPR)⁠– 2026 adaptations: ⁠Crime 101 (Don Winslow/Chris Hemsworth)⁠, ⁠Scarpetta (Patricia Cornwell/Nicole Kidman/Amazon Prime)⁠, ⁠The Seven Dials Mystery (Agatha Christie/Netflix)⁠, ⁠His and Hers (Alice Feeney/Netflix)⁠– ⁠2026 Lefty Award nominees announced⁠– ⁠Wreck Your Heart by Lori Rader-Day⁠– ⁠Wildwood by Amy Pease⁠– ⁠The Storm by Rachel Hawkins⁠– ⁠The Castaways by Lucy Clarke⁠– ⁠The MacGuffin's death: technology vs. thriller plots⁠

– What I'm reading/watching: ⁠

The Puppet Show (M.W. Craven)⁠, ⁠Alone (Lisa Gardner — audio)⁠, ⁠Caught Stealing

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

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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 slow death of mass market paperbacks, unpacks why certain books become overnight blockbusters, and celebrates the eclectic 2026 Tournament of Books shortlist that doesn't shy away from genre fiction.

He spotlights new releases perfect for winter reading, then dives deep into holiday book gifting—breaking down five distinct reader types and exactly which thrillers to gift each one. Because the best gifts show you know the person, not just the bestseller lists.

Books & topics mentioned:– ⁠Tournament of Books 2026 shortlist⁠ – ⁠The slow death of mass market paperbacks⁠ (Publishers Weekly)– ⁠Dungeon Crawler Carl phenomenon⁠: how books become blockbusters overnight (New York Times)– ⁠Why some books become blockbusters overnight⁠ (The Guardian)– ⁠Agatha Christie adaptation⁠ from The End of the F***ing World director

New releases:– ⁠The Red Scare⁠ by Con Lehane– ⁠The Quiet Mother⁠ by Arnaldur Indridason (Detective Konrad #3)– ⁠Cape Fever⁠ by Nadia Davids– ⁠Murder in Manhattan⁠ by Julie Mulhern

Holiday book gifting deep dive:Five reader types and their perfect matches—⁠The Purist⁠ (Tana French, Mick Herron), ⁠The Speed Reader⁠ (Freida McFadden, Riley Sager), ⁠The Sophisticate⁠ (Louise Penny, Kate Atkinson), ⁠The Genre Tourist⁠ (Richard Osman, Ruth Ware), ⁠The Collector⁠ (special editions, signed copies). Plus: matching books to moments and the secret weapon that makes any book gift personal.

What I'm reading/watching:⁠Black Summer⁠ (M.W. Craven), ⁠Nash Falls⁠ (David Baldacci), ⁠Pluribus⁠ (Vince Gilligan — Apple TV+), ⁠Knives Out 3: Wake Up Dead Man⁠ (Netflix)

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

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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 celebrates the enduring magic of used bookstores, profiles Manhattan's legendary Argosy Books (still run by three sisters in their 80s and 90s), explores the fascinating origins behind this year's Booker Prize shortlist, and pays tribute to country noir master Daniel Woodrell.

He spotlights new releases from Ace Atkins and Val McDermid, then dives deep into why epic thrillers over 500 pages are worth the commitment.

Books & topics mentioned:

– Why used bookstores still matter (Reactor Magazine)

– Argosy Book Store's 100th anniversary (New York Times)

– Booker Prize 2025: the origins of the shortlisted novels

– Kay Scarpetta series coming to Prime Video with Nicole Kidman

New releases:

– Everybody Wants to Rule the World by Ace Atkins

– Silent Bones by Val McDermid

– The Library of Fates by Margot Harrison

– Dead Ringer by Chris Hauty

Epic thrillers deep dive:

The Secret History (Donna Tartt), The Alienist (Caleb Carr), The Power of the Dog (Don Winslow), The Given Day (Dennis Lehane), The Ink Black Heart (Robert Galbraith) — plus 11/22/63 (Stephen King), The Passage (Justin Cronin), American Tabloid (James Ellroy)

What I'm reading/watching:

Tripwire (Lee Child), Nash Falls (David Baldacci), This Book Will Bury Me (Ashley Winstead — audio), Stranger Things final season, Pluribus (Vince Gilligan)

📚 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 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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.