This Month’s Top Book Picks

1. The Forgotten Manuscript
A Morgan Jameson Mystery, Book 1
by Sandra Wach
Published by Hemlock & Ivy, Est. 1924
A chilling discovery in an English manor sets the stage for this suspenseful debut—equal parts brains, beauty, and danger. The book that started it all.

2. The Witch Elm
by Tana French
Published by Viking Press
Dark, introspective, and intricately written—French delivers a psychological mystery that lingers long after the final page.

3. The Madness of Crowds
by Louise Penny
Published by Minotaur Books
Chief Inspector Gamache is back in this timely and thought-provoking mystery set in the quiet village of Three Pines—with secrets hiding in plain sight.

4. The Thursday Murder Club
by Richard Osman
Published by Pamela Dorman Books / Viking
A delightful twist on the classic whodunit, featuring four retirement home residents solving crimes between tea and scones.

5. The Last House on Needless Street
by Catriona Ward
Published by Tor Nightfire
Mind-bending, gothic, and gorgeously written—nothing is what it seems in this haunting psychological thriller.

This Month’s Top Watches

Elegant suspense and cinematic twists—best served with a splash of vermouth.

1. Rebecca
Streaming on Netflix
A modern reimagining of Daphne du Maurier’s gothic classic—moody, glamorous, and soaked in secrets. Perfect for fans of hidden pasts and haunted hearts.

2. Knives Out
Available on Amazon Prime Video
A sharp, stylish whodunit with a killer cast. Think Clue, but with better tailoring and even juicier family drama.

3. Magpie Murders
Streaming on PBS Masterpiece / Amazon Prime Video
A mystery within a mystery—when a bestselling author dies before finishing his final book, secrets from the story (and his life) begin to unravel.

4. A Haunting in Venice
Streaming on Hulu / Amazon Prime Video
Kenneth Branagh returns as Hercule Poirot in this atmospheric adaptation of Agatha Christie’s Hallowe’en Party. Supernatural vibes meet classic deduction in a fog-soaked Venice.

5. The Pale Blue Eye
Streaming on Netflix
A brooding gothic mystery starring Christian Bale and a fictional young Edgar Allan Poe. Cold, cerebral, and full of buried truths.

Meet “Wicket”, our reader’s lounge hedgehog—curator of comfort, cocktails, and cunning mysteries.

He never misses cocktail hour, always finishes the book before the twist, and insists that mysteries are best served with brie and bourbon. You’ll find him here each month with a favorite pick or tip worth toasting to.