by Matt Lubbers-Moore
I published Murder and Mayhem: An Annotated Bibliography of Gay and Queer Males in Mystery, 1909-2018 in February of 2020. Since the publication, I have been adding to the file for a second edition release hopefully in 2024, however, as I have been a working nomad jumping from computer station to computer station, I had everything saved on a USB. As many of you have guessed, there has been an issue with my USB, and I have lost all of the additions I have made since 2020. Yes, I should have been saving into a cloud. Yes, I should have been saving backups. Yes, I tried a lot of different ways to recover the file, but to no avail.
This means I get to start over from 2020, and although it is annoying, it isn’t the end of the world. Although it did take me a couple months to finally tell someone about it because my heart was broken. So let this be a reminder to academics, students, writers, and everyone else, backup those work in progresses now. You’ll thank me later.
Upcoming Queer Mysteries for August 2022!
Corgi Crisis by Molly Maple (cozy)
Out August 2, 2022, Mary E. Twomey, LLC
When Hannah Hart goes to the grocery store in the small town where she lives with her eccentric aunt, the last thing she expects to find is a dead body. With her sweet toy Pomeranian by her side, Hannah takes in a curious Corgi who saw more details to the murder than any human might catch. Hannah knows that if she doesn’t get to the bottom of who murdered Hank, the small-town killer will strike again.
Into the Black by Brian Work (fantasy)
Out August 2, 2022
Sydney always wanted more from life than working on his father’s ranch. He grew up idolizing his mother, a former bandit turned sheriff, even though he didn’t inherit any of her fighting skills. But when an old family friend needs a spy inside the Petrichor Martial Academy, Sydney finds himself in over his head unraveling a conspiracy to eradicate Nasan’s magical races. While Sydney struggles to survive his classes, Lanei, an aspiring knight, has her past threatened to come to light. When a student is murdered, all signs point to Lanei.
A Killing in Costumes by Zac Bissonette (cozy)
Out August 9, 2022, Crooked Lane Books
Jay Allan and Cindy Cooper were soap opera stars in the late ’90s, a wholesome young husband-and-wife duo who combined musical talent with humor and charisma. When the truth about their sexual orientations came to light, their marriage and TV careers ended, but decades later they have remained friends. Together, they open Palm Springs’ chicest movie memorabilia store, Hooray for Hollywood, but no customers and dwindling finances spell trouble. A Hail Mary arrives in the form of Yana Tosh, a ninety-year-old diva of the silver screen who has amassed a valuable collection of costumes and props and is looking to sell. But first, Jay and Cindy have to beat their competition, a vice president from a mega-auction house with ten times their resources. And when he winds up dead, they become prime suspects in the murder.
A Lesson in Vengeance by Victoria Lee (YA fantasy)
Out August 9, 2022, Delacorte Press
Felicity Morrow is back at the Dalloway School. Perched in the Catskill Mountains, the centuries-old, ivy-covered campus was home until the tragic death of her girlfriend. Now, after a year away, she’s returned to finish high school. She even has her old room in Godwin House, the exclusive dormitory rumored to be haunted by the spirits of five Dalloway students—girls some say were witches. The Dalloway Five all died mysteriously, one after another, right on Godwin grounds.
Be Kind, My Neighbor by Yugo Limbo (graphic novel)
Out August 10, 2022, Silver Sprocket
It’s 1973, the town of Baths, cozy middle-of-nowhere American heartland. Traveling musician Wegg rolls in, content to busk for a beat and be on his merry way once more. That is, until he meets Mr. Neighbor, the disarmingly sweet man made of cloth who offers him company and a place to stay. As the two grow closer, they click together just right, each harmonizing with the other’s most secret self. Yet their growing romance is haunted by uncertainty and mystery…There’s the town itself, plagued by repeated, ritualistic murders by the elusive Baths Heartbreaker. Then there’s Neighbor, whose cheerful demeanor never falters, but who disappears like clockwork every month. And Wegg, who lives as though he’s on borrowed time?what exactly is he afraid will catch up to him?
Death at the Deep Dive by Josh Lanyon (cozy)
Out August 14, 2022, JustJoshin Publishing, Inc.
When Pirate Cove’s mystery bookstore owner and sometimes-amateur sleuth Ellery Page discovers a vintage diving collection bag full of antique gold coins tucked away for safekeeping in the stockroom of The Crow’s Nest, it sets off a series of increasingly dangerous events, culminating in meeting Police Chief Jack Carson’s parents. Book seven in the series.
Ultimate Blue by Abigail Padgett (amateur sleuth)
Out August 16, 2022, Bywater Books
For Blue McCarron a part-time job teaching Social Psychology at a private university in nearby San Diego provides at least the appearance of a life. But when Lupe, an unfriendly colleague invites her to a Mexican rock concert, everything in Blue’s life begins to shift. And when the gorgeous rock star is kidnapped and the campus is blanketed with flyers calling for the death of a young, gay Spanish professor, Blue finds herself in the middle of a brand new mystery?who is behind the paper threats? Third book in the series.
Nine Stones by Samuel Spano (graphic novel)
Out August 23, 2022, Behemoth Comics
Disturbing dreams shake Alistair “Allie” Jacobi’s nights. But his daytime life is not much better. His father, the boss of a criminal organization, has decided that it’s time for his son to gain experience in the underworld. So Allie, nineteen, finds himself doing an “internship” in a convenience store run by the man who, under the cover of home deliveries, is selling drugs to the entire city. To teach him the “job” is Christopher, an older guy. The bond created between the two of them will give life to dark presences and disturbing and enigmatic premonitions.
Best Years of Your Life by Jen Craven (thriller)
Out August 29, 2022, Jen Craven
Married college professors Christine and Joss thought they had it all: jobs they love, a beloved daughter, and most of all, each other. That is, until Joss’s research pulls her further and further away. Lonely and seeking the emotional connection she once shared with her wife, Christine forms a friendship with a student that quickly walks the line of right and wrong. Eighteen-year-old Abbie is an outcast desperate to fit in. When the most popular girl on campus suddenly befriends her, Abbie can’t believe her luck. But the friendship comes with strings attached—stealing exams from her mom’s computer for the in-crowd. Soon, both mom and daughter are in deep, and everything’s on the line.
Other Releases:
Hot Lips by Tara Lain (an mm romance mystery) out August 9, 2022
These Fleeting Shadows by Kate Alice Marshall (YA fantasy) out August 9, 2022
It Will Come Back by B. H. Lynn (a mm romance mystery) out August 11, 2022
Eternal Order by T. A. Berkeley (science fiction) out August 15, 2022
Charlie’s Doctor by Jocelynn Drake (mm espionage) out August 19, 2022
Blind Suspicion by Stacy Lynn Miller (mm mystery) out August 23, 2022
The Girls are Never Gone by Sarah Glenn Marsh (YA supernatural) out August 23, 2022
His Lordship’s Return by Samantha SoRelle (mm mystery) out August 23, 2022
Temptation’s Tango by Annabella Stone (mm military) out August 30, 2022
Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & mystery short stories in our mystery section. And join our mystery Facebook group to keep up with everything mystery we post, and have a chance at some extra giveaways. Be sure to check out our new mystery podcast too with mystery short stories, and first chapters read by local actors. A new episode went up this week.
Click on this link to take you to Mysterious Galaxy’s website where you can purchase many of these books & a portion will go to help support KRL:
Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.
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