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

– Super-readers: the habits of people who read 100–600 books a year (Literary Hub)

– Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival 2026 — Harrogate, July 23–26

– The Sheep Detectives (Amazon MGM, May 8) — Hugh Jackman, Bryan Cranston, Julia Louis-Dreyfus

– Spider-Noir (Prime Video, May 27) — Nicolas Cage

– A Violent Masterpiece by Jordan Harper

– How to Cheat Your Own Death by Kristen Perrin

– A Murder Most Camp by Nicolas DiDomizio

– Sanctuary by James Cleary

– Suspense deep dive: Lee Child, Karin Slaughter, Gillian Flynn, Tess Gerritsen & more

What I'm reading/watching:

Welcome to Cottonmouth by Jay Bell,

Finlay Donovan is Killing It 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

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 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

⁠– Norway's Påskekrim Easter crime fiction tradition

⁠– ⁠Capital Crime Festival 2026, London⁠

– ⁠Dalziel and Pascoe BritBox reboot

⁠– ⁠Hope Rises by David Baldacci⁠

– ⁠Last One Out by Jane Harper⁠

– ⁠Spies and Other Gods by James Wolff

⁠– ⁠The Children of Eve by John Connolly

⁠– ⁠Best crime fiction sequels deep dive

– What I'm reading/watching: ⁠Revenge Prey by John Sandford⁠, ⁠Kill For Me, Kill For You by Stuart MacBride (audio)⁠, ⁠Crime 101 (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

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 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– Yale's errata exhibition and the Wicked Bible of 1631– Barnes & Noble's brick-and-mortar comeback

– Film Noir quotes– The Keeper by Tana French (final Cal Hooper novel)– Sorry for Your Loss by Georgia McVeigh– Two Kinds of Stranger by Steve Cavanagh (Eddie Flynn #9)

– The Survivor by Andrew Reid– Reacher deep dive: 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 (Nick Petrie), Don't Let Him In (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

Until next time—stay sharp, follow the clues, and don't trust anyone who skips to the end.