I recently watched Black Doves (Netflix) and Mr. & Mr. Smith (Prime) and loved both series. While I excitedly await their next seasons, I thought I’d recommend books to read if you also enjoyed the shows—and if you’ve yet to watch them, here’s your nudge to!
Black Doves is a British spy thriller starring Keira Knightley (Pirates of the Caribbean, Pride & Prejudice), Ben Whishaw (Paddington Bear), and Sarah Lancashire (Julia, Happy Valley) in which Knightley’s character works for a secret organization that takes jobs from the highest bidder.
Okay, that’s the zero reveals summary if you don’t want any reveals skip the next bit: she’s married to a government official and reports back everything she learns from him to the organization. But when the man she’s having an affair with is murdered, Knightley, her family, and all her secrets are in danger (Trailer).
Mr. & Mrs. Smith is a secret agent domestic thriller starring Maya Erskine (Plus One, Pen15) and Donald Glover (Atlanta, Community), with a slew of wonderful guest appearances! Erskine and Glover play the Jane and John Smith characters who are strangers put together by a mysterious organization to live as a married couple and complete assignments sent their way (kill, interrogate, deliver a package, etc.). Their new job leads to them always being in danger while questioning if they really are the right fit for this job. So far as I can tell it has mostly nothing in common with the same-titled film. (Trailer)
My favorite thing about both shows was the balance of focusing on (unraveling) character relationships while having action, thrills, twists, and suspense, which is what I kept in mind overall when selecting the books below.
There are a bunch of specific details each book has that are spoilers, so you’ll know them when you see them, but my lips are sealed for now.
A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage by Asia Mackay
Both shows have a focus on marriage—both are technically not 100% real marriages, although in one show only one person knows of the deception—and this book, while they don’t work for an organization, is about two married killers trying to figure out suburban life and work-life balance. They’re not on the same page, nor are they communicating well with the other about it!
Need to Know by Karen Cleveland
Gonna do this one in two parts because the book summary doesn’t give away a “reveal,” but I need to in order to explain my picking it. So, first I’ll do a summary without it and then the summary with an early reveal.
Vivian Miller is a CIA analyst with four kids—one with a serious heart condition—who comes across information on the computer of a possible Russian agent, which throws her entire life into an “omg, what do I do?!” mode.
The reveal early in the book but not in the book summary: a picture of her husband is the information found, which, like one the above shows, is all about the deception of a normal home life if one person isn’t being honest about what they do…
My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing
This isn’t about spies or working for an organization, but it really lends itself in tone to Mr. & Mrs. Smith, and in the balance of living a perfectly ordinary domestic life while also just secretly murdering people like Black Doves. Narrated by the nameless husband, we learn he and his wife have been married for 15 years, have two kids, and are now fighting boredom by killing…
Browse the books recommended in Unusual Suspects’ previous newsletters on this shelf. See upcoming 2025 releases, and mysteries from 2024 and 2023. Check out this Unusual Suspects Pinterest board and get Tailored Book Recommendations! Until next time, keep investigating! In the meantime, come talk books with me on Bluesky, Goodreads, Litsy, and Substack.
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