It’s time for links and news that mystery fans should have on their radar!
007 Has No Love For “Algorithm-centric Amazon”
Let’s start with the current world theme of billionaires being on everyone’s shitlist! Apparently, the reason we have yet to hear the news for an upcoming James Bond film is that, in 2022, Amazon bought Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, which included the Bond film rights, and Barbara Broccoli, the franchise producer, doesn’t want to work with Amazon. “She has told friends she doesn’t trust algorithm-centric Amazon with a character she helped to mythologize through big-screen storytelling and gut instinct.” Here for creatives standing their ground against non-creatives.
But The Actual Setting Is A Major Point of The Series
Unintentionally continuing the money vs creatives theme: Apple TV’s adaptation of Carl Hiaasen’s Bad Monkey got renewed for a second season which is actually great news, especially in the current landscape of everything getting cancelled before it can find an audience. The head-scratcher part, however, is that it will no longer film in Miami. The setting is actually the point of the books, and there are already enough things “set in Miami/South Florida” with mountains in the background and absolutely zero 305 flavor. So, while I hope they find a clever way to make this work, this news is a big bummer, and once again, money is being used to make a bad decision.
When SVU Turns Your Assault Into An Episode
(TW sexual assault) I’ve always gotten an ick feeling (at the very least) from books and other media fictionalizing real crimes without the victim’s consent. So my brain did a record-scratch pause when I saw this headline: I Was Sexually Assaulted. It Made the News. Then Came the SVU Episode.
Hard Agree!
The Black List started in 2005, highlighting the most popular screenplays that had yet to be produced. At the end of 2024 (which was just a blink away but feels like another lifetime!), they released an “Adaptation List to spotlight the novels that industry insiders most want to see adapted for the screen,” and the list is honestly filled with so many books that should already be in production! (Here’s the pdf link with all the pretty book covers and summaries.) Tip: This is an excellent TBR list if you’re ever looking for your next read.
You Had Me At…
“Based on several years of reporting, the series follows Farrow as he sets out to vet a political lead and instead stumbles into a series of cold cases…” That’s all I need to know in order to be all in with wanting to listen to Ronan Farrow’s upcoming Audible podcast Not a Very Good Murderer.
Will Trent Is Back!
I am still making my way through season 2 so I only skimmed this to avoid spoilers, but Will Trent is back! The series based on Karin Slaughter’s Will Trent novels returns for season 3 with Ramon Rodriguez’s character ditching the suits and Gina Rodriguez joining as a district attorney. I’m excited!
Browse the books recommended in Unusual Suspects’ previous newsletters on this shelf. See upcoming 2025 releases, and mysteries from 2024 and 2023. Check out this Unusual Suspects Pinterest board and get Tailored Book Recommendations! Until next time, keep investigating! In the meantime, come talk books with me on Bluesky, Goodreads, Litsy, and Substack.
If a mystery fan forwarded this newsletter to you or you read it on bookriot.com and you’d like to get it right in your inbox, you can sign up here.