All Booked | Back on the Thriller Train
The original version of this newsletter was sent out on Tuesday, January 16
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Hello, book lovelies!
I have been on a reading kick lately. I’m not sure if it’s the new year energy or the fact that I’m intentionally keeping my calendar blank this month, but I’ve been flying through books. I’m currently on my fourth book of the year, and I’ve loved everything I’ve picked up so far. If you’ve been with me for a couple of years now, you will know that I used to read (almost) exclusively mysteries and thrillers. When my daughter was born, I took a break from reading those types of books and gravitated toward lighter genres like cozy mysteries, contemporary, and romance. Well, some of you may be happy to learn that I have been dipping my toe back into the thriller and mystery world. In fact, it’s all I’ve been reading as of late. I’m still reading a range of mystery and thrillers from light and cozy to dark and (sometimes) scary. Below, you will find the three books I’ve read so far this year in order of the lightest to heaviest.
I am a big believer in going into a book knowing as little as possible. I try not to read too much of the synopses or reviews, since most of them over-share. My pitches below are short and sweet just for that reason.
Grab a cup of tea and settle in for one of the loveliest stories I’ve read in a while.
Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto was such a delight to read. It made me feel all the emotions. I guessed half of the reveal, which in my world is the perfect scenario, because it means I was on the right track but I was also surprised.
In this book, we follow Vera Wong, an older woman who runs a less-than-popular tea shop. One morning, Vera comes down from her living quarters and finds a dead body in her tea shop. In her eyes, the police are useless, and so she sets off to find the murderer on her own. On her journey, Vera develops friendships and finds purpose in her life again.
Getting a little bit darker, up next we have The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill. This book ended up taking a totally different direction that I was expecting. We follow Winifred (Freddie), who is at the Boston Public Library working on her novel when she hears a scream. While waiting for the all-clear, Freddie and the three strangers sitting at her table strike up a conversation. Friendships are made, but little do they know, one of them is a murderer.
This book had me guessing and guessing until the very end. I liked the reveal and found the journey of getting there enjoyable.
Finally, the darkest and possibly my favorite one on the list is Dark Corners by Megan Goldin. I talked about this book as an anticipated read about a year ago, and I finally picked it up. Megan Goldin wrote one of my favorite thrillers of all time, The Night Swim. Dark Corners is the next installment in the series, although I don’t think you need to have read The Night Swim to enjoy Dark Corners.
In Dark Corners, we follow Rachel Krall, who is the host of a true crime podcast while she gets pulled in to help with an FBI investigation. I really don’t want to say any more than that. If you love true crime and podcasts, the audiobook is a must!
As always, I would love to hear from you. What have you been reading this year? Do you have any mystery or thriller recommendations for me? Let me know!
Your smitten bookworm, Emily
UPCOMING BOOK EVENTS
Below, you will find a few bookish events coming up in Santa Barbara. If you are hosting a bookish event in Santa Barbara, be sure to submit the event to our online events calendar.
Book Talk with Local Author Arwen Mohun
Wednesday, January 17, 6pm | Chaucer’s Books
Local Author Book Talk with Joshua Schimel
Thursday, January 18, 6pm | Chaucer’s Books
Mama’s Love Language Book Reading
Saturday, January 20, 3pm | Tecolote Book Shop
Can We Talk with the Animals, Especially Dolphins?
Saturday, January 20, 3pm | Tecolote Book Shop
Local Kids’ Book Author Reading
Sunday, January 21, 3pm | Chaucer’s Books
Book Signing with Local Author Dr. Bella DePaulo
Tuesday, January 23, 6pm | Chaucer’s Books
LOCAL BOOK SPOTLIGHT
We at the Independent get many books sent to us by local authors, sometimes too many! It’s practically impossible for us to read and review them all, but just because we are busy bees does not mean that they aren’t worth the attention. In an attempt to not completely drop the ball, we have compiled a list of books here that have a local spin. They are all either written by a local author, feature someone in our community, or have another tie to Santa Barbara. I urge you to look through this list. Perhaps you will find your new favorite read!
The following are the most recent titles that have been sent to us. Click here for a more comprehensive list.
Anyone But Me by Bruce Kirkpatrick
If you are a local author and would like us to feature your book in this section, please email allbooked@independent.com with the subject line “Local Author Spotlight.”
Premier Events
Sun, Oct 13
3:00 PM
Santa Barbara
Sing For Justice benefiting the Immigrant Legal Defense Center (ILDC)
Wed, Oct 23
7:00 PM
Santa Barbara
El Cachivache at SOhO Immersive Tango Experience
Fri, Oct 25
7:00 PM
Santa Barbara
Tibetan “Goddess of Song” Yungchen Lhamo Concert
Fri, Oct 11
7:00 PM
Carpinteria
VINTAGE HITCHCOCK: A LIVE RADIO PLAY
Fri, Oct 11
8:00 PM
Santa Barbara
Intocable
Sat, Oct 12
11:00 AM
Santa Barbara
Latinx Voter’s Forum
Sat, Oct 12
2:00 PM
Santa Barbara
Teen Clothing Swap
Sat, Oct 12
3:00 PM
Santa Barbara
4XSB: Ball and Sultan—Good-Time Acoustic Blues
Sat, Oct 12
7:00 PM
Santa Barbara
Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood: Asking for Trouble
Sat, Oct 12
8:00 PM
Santa Barbara
Star Party at the SBMNH
Sat, Oct 12
9:00 PM
Santa Barbara
Film Screening: “The Babadook”
Sun, Oct 13
1:00 AM
Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara Jazz Society: Erich Harrington
Sun, Oct 13
11:00 AM
Santa Barbara
15th Asian American Neighborhood Festival
Sun, Oct 13 3:00 PM
Santa Barbara
Sing For Justice benefiting the Immigrant Legal Defense Center (ILDC)
Wed, Oct 23 7:00 PM
Santa Barbara
El Cachivache at SOhO Immersive Tango Experience
Fri, Oct 25 7:00 PM
Santa Barbara
Tibetan “Goddess of Song” Yungchen Lhamo Concert
Fri, Oct 11 7:00 PM
Carpinteria
VINTAGE HITCHCOCK: A LIVE RADIO PLAY
Fri, Oct 11 8:00 PM
Santa Barbara
Intocable
Sat, Oct 12 11:00 AM
Santa Barbara
Latinx Voter’s Forum
Sat, Oct 12 2:00 PM
Santa Barbara
Teen Clothing Swap
Sat, Oct 12 3:00 PM
Santa Barbara
4XSB: Ball and Sultan—Good-Time Acoustic Blues
Sat, Oct 12 7:00 PM
Santa Barbara
Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood: Asking for Trouble
Sat, Oct 12 8:00 PM
Santa Barbara
Star Party at the SBMNH
Sat, Oct 12 9:00 PM
Santa Barbara
Film Screening: “The Babadook”
Sun, Oct 13 1:00 AM
Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara Jazz Society: Erich Harrington
Sun, Oct 13 11:00 AM
Santa Barbara
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