From two Best of 2025 mystery lists to a roundup of locked-room mysteries by a crime writer, I’ve got your roundup of recent things for mystery fans to know!
One Battle After Another chat
Two of my favorite podcast hosts were guest hosts on another podcast and had a great chat about the film One Battle After Another (inspired by Thomas Pynchon’s Vineland). You can listen to Traci Thomas (host of The Stacks) talk to Zach Stafford (Vibe Check cohost with Saeed Jones) about the recent viral articles about the film One Battle After Another.
Sounds like a streamer to know
This is my first time hearing about the streamer MHz Choice, which sounds like a great choice (heh) for fans of international mystery and crime shows. It will be where you can watch Erica, the French-language, six-episode adaptation of the Swedish mystery books The Ice Princess, The Preacher, and The Stonecutter by Camilla Läckberg. You can find out more about the adaptation via Deadline, and if you’re interested in the streamer, I did some quick poking around, and they have an entire “based on books” section that is $7.99 a month.
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The Rainmaker renewed at USA Network
John Grisham’s novel The Rainmaker from the ‘90s got new life in the USA Network series of the same name. If you’re a fan of past shows on USA, it’s their winning formula of an underdog fighting for justice. And now the legal drama will fight another day, with the show being renewed for a second season. If you don’t have cable or the USA Network, you can stream the first season on Peacock.
Harlan Coben may be the new Stephen King of adaptations
Next year is bringing more Coben adaptations. Netflix will premiere its Run Away series, based on the same-titled book, in January. The eight-episode thriller stars James Nesbitt, Ruth Jones, Minnie Driver, and Alfred Enoch. The Hollywood Reporter has some first-look images.
Calling all locked-room mystery fans
Hank Phillippi Ryan wrote about the beloved locked-room mystery trope and shared seven books to read for The New York Times!
Agatha Christie, but as Mr Men and Little Misses
My childhood heart exploded reading this BBC announcement: “In a first for Agatha Christie, four of the crime novelist’s famous mysteries are being adapted for children – with the help of the Mr Men and Little Misses. The illustrated books, aimed at pre-school and primary age children, will feature Christie detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple working alongside Roger Hargreaves’s much-loved children’s characters.” I want the t-shirts and stickers now!
The Best Of 2025 Lists Have Begun
- Barnes & Noble has 19 categories this year for their Best of 2025 picks, and of course, there is a Mystery & Thriller list.
- Publishers Weekly has 13 categories, including a Top 10, and 12 mystery/thrillers they selected as their Best of 2025.
Browse the books recommended in Unusual Suspects’ previous newsletters on this shelf, and see 2025 and 2026 releases! Until next time, come talk books with me on Bluesky, Goodreads, Litsy, and Multitudes Contained.
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