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I look forward to the annual Read Harder list as much as I look forward to the Most Anticipated and Best Of lists. So, as a fun treat, I picked three non-mystery prompts from the 2026 Read Harder Challenge list and found mystery book suggestions. Bonus: each is a great book, whether you’re doing the Read Harder Challenge or not!
Enter for a chance to snag a brand-new Kindle Paperwhite for carrying a pocketful of stories wherever your holidays may take you.
Read a novel with a main character who uses they/them pronouns
Bianca Torre Is Afraid of Everything by Justine Pucella Winans
The title of this book is pretty accurate considering how many things make Bianca Torre anxious. As a 16-year-old riddled with fears, who finds themselves having feelings about their gender, Bianca turns to birding and joins a bird-watching group. That’s how they witness their neighbor’s murder (through binoculars!) and realize that the police are getting the case wrong. So they have to investigate, with their best friend of course!
Read a YA book by a Latine author
Untraceable (The Factory #2) by Aya de León
I chose the second in the series because it’s YA, and the first book, Undercover Latina (also recommend), is middle grade. However, each of the books in the series is set in the same world and spy agency, but since they have a different family in each book, they read as standalones.
In Untraceable, 15-year-old Amani Kendall has a lot on her plate: her scientist dad is away on a work trip when he disappears, she’s forced to go to a new school, and her house burns down, moving her and her mom in with Sister Niema. As if all that wasn’t enough, she has to use a new identity because her mom says they’re in danger, but Amani is sure her mom isn’t telling her the entire truth…
You can read about Aya de León’s heritage in the KQED interview ‘We Are Black. We Just Speak Spanish’: Why Some Afro Latinos Want More Visibility During Black History Month.
Read a book featured on a “best book covers” list
While We Were Burning by Sara Koffi
I spotted not one, not two, but three mystery titles on Print’s 100 of the Best Book Covers of 2024, so you have choices!
If you’re in the mood for domestic suspense, pick up While We Were Burning by Sara Koffi.
If you’re in the mood for a past and present, family drama mystery that tips towards literary, pick up The God of the Woods by Liz Moore.
If you’re in the mood for the missing childhood friend cold case trope, pick up Middle of the Night by Riley Sager.
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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