Welcome to Unreliable Sources—a quick hit of mystery, murder, and mayhem.

In this episode, thriller author Mike Donohue covers Goodreads' mid-year most-read list and what it reveals about where genre readers are right now, Anna Kendrick finally taking the director's chair on The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, and a feel-good story about authors opening bookstores for all the wrong (right) reasons.

He then dives deep into why the private investigator is having its best decade in years—and why the new wave of PI fiction looks nothing like Philip Marlowe.

Books & topics mentioned:

– Goodreads Most-Read List 2026

– Authors opening bookstores

– A professional book reader for Hollywood

– A River Red with Blood by John Connolly (Charlie Parker #23)

– Red Sheet by James Ellroy (Freddy Otash #3)

– You First by Caroline Kepnes (You series #5)

– The Clock House Murders by Yukito Ayatsuji

– The Dogwalker's Detective Agency by Michael Hogan

– PI revival deep dive

What I'm reading/watching:

The Curator (M.W. Craven),

The Man Who Came Uptown (George Pelecanos — audio)

Hidden Fury by Mike Donohue (Marti #4 — June 26th)

📚 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.