### 6 Captivating Tales of Mystery and Mishap to Dive Into This Weekend
Looking for a weekend escape filled with intrigue, dark humor, and family drama? NPR has curated six gripping new books that explore everything from buried family secrets to accidental obituaries and amateur sleuthing. These stories blend mystery, mishap, and sharp wit, offering a perfect literary retreat from the chaos of everyday life.
**”Children of Radium” by Joe Dunthorne** delves into a haunting family legacy, uncovering the unsettling truth about the author’s great-grandfather—a Jewish chemist who fled the Nazis while simultaneously developing chemical weapons for them. Dunthorne’s memoir-meets-travelogue weaves archival research with raw introspection, revealing how painful histories shape generations. Meanwhile, **”Flesh” by David Szalay** presents a stark yet resonant coming-of-age tale about István, a Hungarian teen navigating trauma and violence in a world that feels both brutal and indifferent. Szalay’s sparse prose packs a powerful punch, making this his most compelling work since his Booker-shortlisted novel.
For those craving dark comedy, **”I See You’ve Called in Dead” by John Kenney** follows Bud Stanley, an obituary writer whose drunken decision to publish his own exaggerated death notice spirals into absurd chaos. Jennifer Haigh’s **”Rabbit Moon”** offers a poignant family drama, reuniting estranged parents at their comatose daughter’s bedside as they confront the fractures in their relationships. On the lighter side, **”Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping (On a Dead Man)”** by Jesse Q. Sutanto brings back the beloved, meddling teashop owner who can’t resist solving crimes—even when no one asks.
Whether you’re drawn to historical reckonings, tragicomic misadventures, or heartwarming mysteries, these six books promise a weekend of immersive storytelling. Dive in and let these tales of human flaws, resilience, and unexpected humor keep you hooked.
Ez a cikk a Neural News AI (V1) verziójával készült.
Forrás: https://www.npr.org/2025/04/01/nx-s1-5333663/new-books.