You Love an Action-Adventure Romance

Want to go behind the scenes at a news room or are looking for English murder

Hi friends,

Welcome to May! Last week, I caught

Tayla Burney

interviewing Sophie Gilbert about her new book Girl on Girl, a dissection of late 90s/early 2000s culture. It’s a brilliant book and an important addition to the growing “wronged women of the 90s” subgenre. Expect to see it in a future newsletter.

And, now, what to read if…

You’re Psyched Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves are Reuniting

Raiders of the Lost Heart by Jo Segura

I was delighted to learn that “Speed” stars Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves are reuniting for a “romantic thriller.” (“Speed” is a perfect movie. Fight me.) If you, like me, are hoping this ushers in another era of 90’s-style action-adventure romcoms, you need to read Jo Segura’s Raiders of the Lost Heart.

Dr. Socorro “Corrie” Mejía finally has the opportunity she’s dreamed of for years — leading an archeological dig deep in the Mexican jungle to search for the long-lost remains of her ancestor Chimalli, an ancient warrior of the Aztec empire. The only problems is that when she arrives on site, Corrie learns she’s not running the excavation: Her nemesis Dr. Ford Matthews is. Ford’s been one-upping her since their grad school days and now he’s leading the expedition that should be hers, as the world’s leading expert on Chimalli.

Corrie begrudgingly agrees to stick around, and as the pair grow closer to the find-of-a-lifetime, sparks fly between them. After all, there’s a thin line between love and hate.

Fans of “The Mummy” or anyone who wanted a stronger romantic arc in “Indiana Jones” won’t want to miss Raiders of the Lost Heart. The two leads have chemistry that crackles on the page and Segura excellently balances the romance and the adventure. A perfect choice as we head into beach read season.

You Always Want the Inside Scoop

Bad City by Paul Pringle

In March 2016, LA Times journalist Paul Pringle received the type of tip reporters long for: A young woman passed out in a hotel room surrounded by drug paraphernalia and her older male companion — the dean of the University of Southern California’s medical school — was reluctant to call the authorities. Pringle, a longtime reporter, figured it would take a few weeks, at most, to confirm.

Instead, Pringle and his colleagues uncovered two overlapping scandals at USC that had been systematically covered up for years. As they reported, though, they were shocked to learn that the paper’s management wasn’t excited about their scoop. Leaders were concerned about upsetting one of the paper’s largest advertisers, and the business side of the newspaper began to intervene in editorial decisions.

Bad City is a real-life L.A. noir story that feels ever more relevant in a world where the news billionaires make is reported in outlets they own. As Pulitzer-winning reporter Katie Benner wrote in The New York Times review, “Pringle’s fast-paced book is a master class in investigative journalism, explaining how a reporter wrestles information and documents from reluctant sources and government officials.” Anyone who devoured Ronan Farrow’s Catch and Kill will want to check this one out.

You Want a Spot of Murder

The Murders in Great Diddling by Katarina Bivald

There are countless English countryside murder mysteries but somehow finding one that hits all the right notes can still be challenging. Katarina Bivald’s The Murders in Great Diddling is a strong addition to the subgenre, complete with a charming small village, quirky characters and a crumbling grand manor.

Author Berit Gardner, struggling with a case of writer’s block after her last novel became a surprise success, moved to Great Diddling because she could “feel” stories in the village. Her instinct is proven correct when an explosion at a garden party kills the nephew of Great Diddling’s grand dame. Berit, sensing an opportunity to uncover stories, throws herself into the investigation, surfacing secrets and befriending the inspector assigned to the murder.

I would happily attend Great Diddling’s book and murder festival, if only to hang out with Berit and the other villagers. The mystery is well-plotted, the setting appropriately charming and the denouement a surprise. A great option for anyone who loved The Three Dahlias.

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