Unreliable Sources

Ep. #22 | The Lost Decade of Thrillers, Awards Season & Yesteryear

Welcome to Unreliable Sources—a quick hit of mystery, murder, and mayhem. In this episode, thriller author Mike Donohue runs through a bumper crop of awards news — ThrillerFest winners, Anthony nominations, the Capital Crime Fingerprint Award shortlists, and a belated Edgar catch-up. On the streaming front, the creator of Adolescence has a new limited series that won't help you sleep. He spotlights four new releases worth your TBR, then dives into the thrillers that quietly disappeared after Gone Girl hit and makes the case for why you should be reading them now. Books & Topics mentioned: – ThrillerFest 2026 winners [https://mysteryreadersinc.blogspot.com/2026/05/thrillerfest-2026.html] – 2026 Anthony Award nominations [https://wwwshotsmagcouk.blogspot.com/2026/05/anthony-award-nominations.html] – Capital Crime Fingerprint Award shortlists [https://therapsheet.blogspot.com/2026/05/fingered-for-favor.html] — voting open through May 30th – 2026 Edgar Award winners [https://therapsheet.blogspot.com/2026/04/basking-in-edgars-glory.html] – My Name Was Gerry Sass [https://amzn.to/4wDbtt0] by Tiffany Hanssen – The Anniversary [https://amzn.to/3Pjffa3] by Alex Finlay – The Last Mandarin [https://amzn.to/4wpe4GD] by Louise Penny & Mellissa Fung – Red Verdict [https://amzn.to/42s3Jw8] by James Comey – Forgotten thrillers of 2005–2015 [https://mikedonohuebooks.com/forgotten-thriller-books-2005-2015/] What I'm reading/watching: Mr. Whisper by Andrew Mayne, Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke (audio), Widow's Bay (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 [https://mikedonohuebooks.com] Until next time—stay sharp, follow the clues, and don't trust anyone who skips to the end.

Ep. #21 | How Bestselling Authors Build Suspense, Super Readers & Old Theakston

Welcome to Unreliable Sources—a quick hit of mystery, murder, and mayhem. In this episode, thriller author Mike Donohue celebrates Indie Bookstore Day, investigates the habits of people who read hundreds of books a year, and previews the stacked Theakston Crime Writing Festival lineup in Harrogate. On the adaptation front: talking sheep solve a murder (seriously), and Nicolas Cage goes noir as a 1930s Spider-Man P.I. He then breaks down how today's best thriller writers build suspense—and what readers can look for once they know the tricks, from the ticking clock to keeping the shark underwater. Books & topics mentioned: – Indie Bookstore Day & favorite mystery bookshops [https://modernmrsdarcy.com/favorite-indie-bookstores-around-the-world/] – Super-readers: the habits of people who read 100–600 books a year [https://lithub.com/what-are-the-routines-of-so-called-super-readers/] (Literary Hub) – Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival 2026 [https://wwwshotsmagcouk.blogspot.com/2026/04/theakston-old-peculier-crime-writing.html] — Harrogate, July 23–26 – The Sheep Detectives [https://deadline.com/2026/04/the-sheep-detectives-review-hugh-jackman-murder-mystery-1236873022/] (Amazon MGM, May 8) — Hugh Jackman, Bryan Cranston, Julia Louis-Dreyfus – Spider-Noir [https://deadline.com/2026/04/spider-noir-trailer-nicolas-cage-color-black-white-1236871399/] (Prime Video, May 27) — Nicolas Cage – A Violent Masterpiece [https://amzn.to/48qfGFZ] by Jordan Harper – How to Cheat Your Own Death [https://amzn.to/4cCdWMm] by Kristen Perrin – A Murder Most Camp [https://amzn.to/4e8NRph] by Nicolas DiDomizio – Sanctuary [https://amzn.to/3QBgp0T] by James Cleary – Suspense deep dive: Lee Child, Karin Slaughter, Gillian Flynn, Tess Gerritsen & more [https://mikedonohuebooks.com/how-to-build-suspense-thriller-authors/] What I'm reading/watching: Welcome to Cottonmouth [https://amzn.to/4mWNRuL] by Jay Bell, Finlay Donovan is Killing It [https://amzn.to/4ndZrSF] by Elle Cosimano (audio), Apex (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 [https://mikedonohuebooks.com] Until next time—stay sharp, follow the clues, and don't trust anyone who skips to the end.

Ep. #20 | 10 Great Crime Fiction Sequels, Easter Crime, and Revenge Prey

Welcome to Unreliable Sources—a quick hit of mystery, murder, and mayhem. In this episode, thriller author Mike Donohue covers the biggest author identity reveal in years, Norway's century-old Easter crime fiction obsession that will make you want to book a cabin immediately, and the London crime festival you should already have on your calendar. He then dives deep into the best crime and thriller sequels ever written—why book two is the hardest thing a series will ever do, and which ten sequels not only survived the test but redefined what their series was capable of being, from The Silence of the Lambs to Die Trying. Books & topics mentioned: – ⁠Freida McFadden identity reveal [https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/books/2026/04/08/freida-mcfadden-reveals-real-identity/89523398007/] ⁠– Norway's Påskekrim Easter crime fiction [https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20260330-the-easter-crime-wave-sweeping-norway] tradition ⁠– ⁠Capital Crime Festival 2026 [https://wwwshotsmagcouk.blogspot.com/2026/03/capital-crime-announces-full-programme.html], London⁠ – ⁠Dalziel and Pascoe BritBox reboo [https://variety.com/2026/tv/global/uk-crime-drama-dalziel-and-pascoe-rebooted-1236633014/]t [https://variety.com/2026/tv/global/uk-crime-drama-dalziel-and-pascoe-rebooted-1236633014/] ⁠ [https://variety.com/2026/tv/global/uk-crime-drama-dalziel-and-pascoe-rebooted-1236633014/]– ⁠Hope Rises [https://amzn.to/4tJZPtZ] by David Baldacci⁠ – ⁠Last One Out [https://amzn.to/4t3Jal8] by Jane Harper⁠ – ⁠Spies and Other Gods [https://amzn.to/3Oh0C6G] by James Wolff ⁠– ⁠The Children of Eve [https://amzn.to/4t9chn0] by John Connolly ⁠– ⁠Best crime fiction sequels deep dive [https://mikedonohuebooks.com/best-crime-fiction-sequels/] – What I'm reading/watching: ⁠Revenge Prey [https://amzn.to/4tkUNUX] by John Sandford⁠, ⁠Kill For Me, Kill For You [https://amzn.to/4szJ0Rx] by Stuart MacBride (audio)⁠, ⁠Crime 101 [https://amzn.to/4dMLOXO] (Amazon)⁠ 📚 Like twisty books and tense shows? Subscribe for bi-weekly episodes packed with killer reads, news, and sharp takes. 🌐 Learn more: ⁠https://mikedonohuebooks.com⁠ [https://mikedonohuebooks.com%E2%81%A0] Until next time—stay sharp, follow the clues, and don't trust anyone who skips to the end.

Ep. #19 | 5 Reacher-like Series, Sherlock Holmes, The Wicked Bible, and Dark Times

Welcome to Unreliable Sources—a quick hit of mystery, murder, and mayhem. In this episode, thriller author Mike Donohue covers the timeless appeal of Sherlock Holmes, Yale's fascinating new exhibition on five centuries of publishing typos (really), and the unlikely resurgence of Barnes & Noble. He then dives deep into the knight errant formula that makes Jack Reacher work—and spotlights five lone wolf thriller series that come closest to scratching that same itch. Books & topics mentioned:– The eternal appeal of Sherlock Holmes [https://www.npr.org/2026/03/28/nx-s1-5752248/what-explains-the-timeless-appeal-of-sherlock-holmes]– Yale's errata exhibition and the Wicked Bible of 1631 [https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/typos-have-plagued-us-for-centuries-just-ask-the-publishers-who-printed-the-seventh-commandment-as-thou-shalt-commit-adultery-in-1631-180988353/]– Barnes & Noble's brick-and-mortar comeback [https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/03/barnes-noble-popularity/686369/?gift=_IafWpl0wx3jc6w51_bJKpYCye-mcfWFUuimUFisRIA&utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share] – Film Noir quotes [https://nofilmschool.com/essential-film-noir-quotes]– The Keeper [https://amzn.to/4sOvTgm] by Tana French (final Cal Hooper novel)– Sorry for Your Loss [https://amzn.to/4s4zVjo] by Georgia McVeigh– Two Kinds of Stranger [https://amzn.to/4bWCrSL] by Steve Cavanagh (Eddie Flynn #9) – The Survivor [https://amzn.to/413ovS0] by Andrew Reid– Reacher deep dive [https://mikedonohuebooks.com/thrillers-like-jack-reacher/]: Peter Ash (Nick Petrie), Orphan X (Gregg Hurwitz), The Gray Man (Mark Greaney), Joe Pike (Robert Crais), Quinn Colson (Ace Atkins)– What I'm reading/watching: Dark Times [https://amzn.to/4rDS7jr] (Nick Petrie), Don't Let Him In [https://amzn.to/4bHRIrO] (Lisa Jewell — 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 [https://mikedonohuebooks.com%E2%81%A0] Until next time—stay sharp, follow the clues, and don't trust anyone who skips to the end.

Ep. #18 | 2025 Thrillers You Missed, London Book Fair, Hard Times & War Machine

Welcome to Unreliable Sources—a quick hit of mystery, murder, and mayhem. In this episode, thriller author Mike Donohue covers the biggest news out of the London Book Fair—including Idris Elba's splashy new MI6 thriller series—a cautionary tale about scammers impersonating authors to target aspiring writers, and a BookRiot list worth bookmarking for your next TBR emergency. He then dives into the best thriller books of 2025 that flew completely under the radar—six hidden gems that deserve a second look before they hit paperback. Books & topics mentioned: * London Book Fair 2026 wrap-up & Idris Elba's Exiles thriller deal [https://www.theguardian.com/books/2026/mar/16/london-book-fair-roundup-idris-elbas-thriller-deal-the-rise-of-romcom-and-fights-against-censorship] * A Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay — adaptation finally moving [https://bookriot.com/head-full-of-ghosts-adaptation/] * John Marrs on the author impersonation scam targeting writers [https://www.thebigthrill.org/2026/03/a-scammer-spent-six-weeks-pretending-to-be-me/] * BookRiot's Best Mystery & Thrillers of the Century So Far [https://bookriot.com/best-mystery-thriller-books-of-the-century-so-far/] * The Hiding Season [https://amzn.to/3NIWpbv] by Ava Glass * Everyone in This Bank is a Thief [https://amzn.to/4uxOnTm] by Benjamin Stevenson * Finlay Donovan Crosses the Line [https://amzn.to/4lu3NUu] by Elle Cosimano * Hard Times [https://amzn.to/4ltTU9s] by Jeff Boyd * Missed 2025 thrillers deep dive [https://mikedonohuebooks.com/missed-thriller-books-2025/]: Ruth, Run [https://amzn.to/4lEWXLZ] (Elizabeth Kaufman), The House on Buzzards Bay [https://amzn.to/4lKgsmG] (Dwyer Murphy), Leverage [https://amzn.to/3NekqXX](Amran Gowani), Crooks [https://amzn.to/41eLDwG](Lou Berney), Everybody Wants to Rule the World [https://www.amazon.com/Everybody-Wants-Rule-World-Novel-ebook/dp/B0DZ2YHC7X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=13930CJ62B9R4&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.69pzDcBsWgKiEJ3G9L7HDiKciQhFbNwqemR-4y8oMdg.WKo08qRGppNmtzWKzhUSdhG0oU-2HTRYNRwsOUnT9nw&dib_tag=se&keywords=everybody+wants+to+rule+the+world+ace+atkins&nsdOptOutParam=true&qid=1773940563&s=digital-text&sprefix=everybody+wants+to+rule+the+world+ace+atkin%2Cdigital-text%2C163&sr=1-1](Ace Atkins), The Living and the Dead [https://amzn.to/47aachZ](Christoffer Carlsson) * What I'm reading/watching: The Dark Time [https://amzn.to/40GEdlW] (Nick Petrie), The Guilty Sleep [https://amzn.to/3NBgZuh] (Jeremy Baker — audio), War Machine (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 [https://mikedonohuebooks.com%E2%81%A0] Until next time—stay sharp, follow the clues, and don't trust anyone who skips to the end.