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)

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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Books & topics mentioned:– Unpublished Elmore Leonard novella "Picket Line" discovered in USC archives– Raymond Chandler's previously unseen story– Boston as crime fiction setting (Robert Parker,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.

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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 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.

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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 runs through the week’s crime-fiction headlines — from the Obamas’ Higher Ground picking up S.A. Cosby’s All the Sinners Bleed for Netflix and flags a slate of late-summer adaptations. He also spotlights new releases, dives into how 1970s crime fiction reshaped the genre (Travis McGee, Matthew Scudder, Spenser, and the 87th Precinct), and shares what he’s been reading and watching.

Books & topics mentioned:
– All the Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby
– She Rides Shotgun by Jordan Harper
– WSJ: 25 Best Mystery Novels of the Past 25 Years list
– Sheepdogs by Jordan Snowden
– Mississippi Blue 42 by Eli Cranor
– Departure 37 by Michael Koryta (writing as Scott Carson)
– Mrs. Christie at the Mystery Guild Library by Amanda Chapman
– 1970s crime fiction primer & five essentials: The Deep Blue Good-by (John D. MacDonald), The Sins of the Fathers (Lawrence Block), Cotton Comes to Harlem (Chester Himes), Promised Land (Robert B. Parker), Ten Plus One (Ed McBain)
– What I’m reading/watching: King of Ashes (S.A. Cosby), Joe Country (Mick Herron — audio), Smoke (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 back to Unreliable Sources—a quick hit of mystery, murder, and mayhem. In this in-between mini episode, thriller author Mike Donohue runs through the variety pack of crime fiction that he is planning to read during his August holidays.

Books mentioned:

- Killing Moon by Jo Nesbo

- King of Ashes by S.A. Cosby

- The Woman in Suite 11 by Ruth Ware

- Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson

- City of Dreams by Don Winslow

- Death at the White Hart by Chris Chibnall

- The Frozen People by Elly Griffiths

📚 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 back to Unreliable Sources—a quick hit of mystery, murder, and mayhem. In this episode, thriller author Mike Donohue dives into the world of Elmore Leonard, spurred by a revealing New Yorker profile and the new biography Cooler Than Cool.

Plus: new books to watch, adaptation buzz, and crime fiction news you might have missed.

Books & topics mentioned:
– Cooler Than Cool by C.M. Kushin
– “Elmore Leonard's Perfect Pitch” by Anthony Lane (The New Yorker, July 2025)
– Get Shorty, Out of Sight, Rum Punch, Glitz, LaBrava
– Florida Palms by Joe Pan
– Pariah by Dan Fesperman
– The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
– Killer on the Road / The Babysitter Lives by Stephen Graham Jones
– Hard Town by Adam Plantinga
– The Man Made of Smoke by Alex North
– Murderbot on 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, and don’t trust anyone who skips to the end.