Jul 29, 2026 · 5 min listen · Last updated July 29, 2026
From storyflo. This is your daily audio brief. Here are today's top 10 true crime stories. Let's get into it. First, from CrimeReads (Literary Hub). Lauren Nossett on the Rise of Novels Centering Female Musicians and Rule-Breakers. Over the past decade, the female musician novel has emerged as a growing subgenre of contemporary fiction.
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Lauren Nossett on the Rise of Novels Centering Female Musicians and Rule-Breakers
Over the past decade, the female musician novel has emerged as a growing subgenre of contemporary fiction. These novels often feature loud and uninhibited protagonists who live out their emotional journeys on stage in all their messy, vulnerable glories. The appeal of these popstar protagonists may seem self-evident in today's attention-driven economy, but it's also a reaction against the conformity and self-censorship created by influencer culture.
For readers who've seen too many filtered photos and curated narratives, a protagonist putting her heart on display and figuring out who she is in real time is appealing. The rise of the female musician novel also coincides with a time when women are facing restrictions on their bodily autonomy, voting access, and freedom from unchecked abuse.
These fictional female musicians are rulebreakers who critique racism, the status quo, and the exploitation of women through their performances. They're often badgered by industry professionals but ultimately have a take-no-shit attitude awarded to them by their success. The novel form allows readers to experience the behind-the-scenes struggles and triumphs of these characters, making them relatable and aspirational.
Some notable examples of this subgenre include Taylor Jenkins Reid's Daisy Jones & the Six, Dawnie Walton's The Final Revival of Opal & Nev, and Ashley Winstead's The Future Saints. These novels offer a unique blend of music, drama, and social commentary that resonates with readers in an era when individuality and self-expression are under threat.
What Crime Novels Would the Greatest Women Pilots of All Time Enjoy Reading?
Imagine you're sitting with Mary Wine and Cindy Dees, two authors who've written over 200 novels in various genres. They've written a book called Where the Skies Begin, which tells the true story of the first-ever National Women's Air Race in 1929. These women pilots were pioneers who broke every rule society had, and researching their stories led the authors to think about what crime novels these mavericks of aviation would enjoy reading.
Amelia Earhart, the famous aviator who vanished over the Pacific, would have loved Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None. This classic whodunit novel features ten strangers on an island with no way off, and a killer that no one can identify. Earhart knew what it felt like to disappear into the sky, and Christie's masterpiece captures the terror of unsolved mysteries.
Bessie Coleman, the first African American and Native American woman to fly, would have identified with Walter Mosley's Devil in a Blue Dress. This novel features a detective who navigates a stacked system in 1940s Los Angeles, solving crimes with calm, furious competence. Coleman's own experiences as a pioneering aviator would have resonated with Mosley's protagonist.
Harriet Quimby, a journalist and screenwriter who earned her pilot's license in 1911, would have appreciated Caleb Carr's The Alienist. This novel is set in 1890s New York, where a journalist and a criminal psychologist team up to hunt a serial killer. Quimby's sharp observational skills would have made her a fan of Carr's meticulous storytelling.
Amy Johnson, a British aviator who flew solo from England to Australia in 1930, would have been devastated by Elizabeth Wein's Code Name Verity. This novel tells the story of a female WWII pilot and spy captured by the Nazis, and features two timelines that explore the sacrifices women make for each other and for something larger than themselves. Johnson's own mysterious death in 1941 would have made her a fan of Wein's heart-wrenching novel.
Sabiha Gökçen, the world's first female combat pilot, would have felt at home in Jason Goodwin's The Janissary Tree. This novel unfolds in the Ottoman world of her grandfather's generation, featuring palace intrigue, military conspiracies, and ancient tensions between tradition and modernity. Gökçen's own experiences as a pioneering aviator would have made her a fan of Goodwin's intricate storytelling.
Jacqueline Cochran, a legendary pilot who broke the sound barrier and ran the WASP program during WWII, would have admired Frederick Forsyth's The Day of the Jackal. This thriller features a meticulous and relentless account of a professional assassin's plan to kill Charles de Gaulle, executed with technical exactitude. Cochran's own precision and skill as a pilot would have made her a fan of Forsyth's masterclass in execution.
Jerrie Mock, the first woman to fly solo around the world in 1964, would have identified with Liane Moriarty's Big Little Lies. This novel explores the gap between how the world sees suburban women and what those women are actually made of. Mock's own experiences as a pioneering aviator would have made her a fan of Moriarty's nuanced storytelling.
Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman in space, would have recognized the suffocating bureaucratic logic of Tom Rob Smith's Child 44. This novel is set in Stalinist Soviet Russia, where an MGB officer investigates a series of child murders in a country that has officially declared crime doesn't exist. Tereshkova's own experiences as a pioneering astronaut would have made her a fan of Smith's intricate
I’ve been diving into the world of funny whodunits lately, and it’s wild how the two blend so naturally. The author’s own Hu Done It series shows that perfectly: three women discover they’re all dating the same guy, end up with his dead body, and suddenly find themselves at the top of the suspect list. In the sequel the same crew, fresh off solving their ex‑boyfriend’s murder, have to protect a mortal enemy from a new killing plot. The humor comes from the way new clues drop—think half‑naked walk‑ins and accidental eavesdropping on a boyfriend’s bedroom talk—so the tension feels fresh and funny at the same time.
What makes that mix click is how laughter eases the darker crime vibe. The author points out that humor is a coping tool, giving readers a breather between the suspense. That balance fuels the whole list they’ve compiled of standout humorous mysteries, each offering its own brand of chuckles and intrigue.
First up is Birdie Horne’s Don’t Cross Mo Ellery, where a down‑on‑her‑luck crossing guard becomes the only one convinced her nemesis was murdered, and the story barrels forward with nonstop laughs. Jo Firestone’s Murder on Sex Island drops a reality‑TV cast member into a murder mystery, with the undercover investigator Luella delivering punchy jokes and a twisty ending—plus a sequel to keep the giggles going. Emma Mills gives us Rachel West and the Fallen Starlet, a celebrity‑gossip‑styled romp where the protagonist knows her famous friend didn’t die of an overdose, and the banter feels like reading a glossy magazine.
Mia P Manansala’s Death in the Cards follows a high‑school tarot reader teaming up with a client’s sister, delivering a voice that sticks with you and witty dialogue that feels like family chatter. Erica Hendry’s Let’s Not Go Overboard Here has a pop‑culture‑savvy heroine on a yacht, mixing humor with a tender look at grief while she tries to prove a murder nobody else believes. Finally, Jilly Gagnon’s Cards on the Table brings two witchy sisters into a magical mystery, sprinkling one‑liners throughout a plot that blends suspense, romance, and family drama.
All in all, the takeaway is that a good laugh can sit right next to a good clue. Whether you’re after a full‑on comedy or something subtler, these titles prove that mystery doesn’t have to be grim—there’s plenty of room for snark, sarcasm, and outright silliness while the puzzle pieces fall into place.
PREGNANT MOM, 21, CHASED THRU HOUSE, SLICED OPEN FOR BABY: KILLER’S WHINY RANTS FROM JAIL
PREGNANT MOM, 21, CHASED THRU HOUSE, SLICED OPEN FOR BABY: KILLER’S WHINY RANTS FROM JAIL by Angelica Martinez July 6, 2026 Womb-stealer Taylor Parker whines from behind bars. Nancy Grace has the latest. Share Tweet Womb-stealer Taylor Parker whines from behind bars. Nancy Grace has the latest.
Timeline: Investigating the death of designer Sylvie Cachay
Timeline: Investigating the death of designer Sylvie Cachay
Sylvie Cachay was found dead in an overflowing bathtub at the exclusive Soho House in New York City on Dec. 9, 2010. A water leak at the hotel gave away a timeline that may have revealed her killer.
Sylvie was an aspiring designer who moved to New York City with dreams of a successful career in fashion.
Sylvie Cachay
In 2006, amid widespread praise, Sylvie launched a stylish swimwear line called Syla. She was determined to become a household name.
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Latest
U.S.
Iran War
Fauci Hearing
World
Politics
Entertainment
HealthWatch
MoneyWatch
Crime
Space
Sports
Brand Studio
The Free Press
Local News
Atlanta
Baltimore
Bay Area
Boston
Chicago
Colorado
Detroit
Los Angeles
Miami
Minnesota
New York
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
Sacramento
Texas
Live
CBS News 24/7
Baltimore
Bay Area
Boston
Chicago
Colorado
Detroit
Los Angeles
Miami
Minnesota
New York
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
Sacramento
Texas
48 Hours
60 Minutes
Shows
48 Hours
60 Minutes
CBS Evening News
CBS Mornings
CBS Morning News
CBS Reports
CBS Saturday Morning
The Daily Report
The Dish
Face the Nation
Su
Where's Maya Millete? Family, friends continue search for missing California mom
Maya Millete's family and friends continue the search for missing mom: "I want her to be found"
This article was originally published on Feb. 18, 2022. It was updated on July 18, 2026.
Maya Millete, a young wife and mother of three disappeared from her Southern California home in January 2021. From almost the beginning, Maya's family and friends grew suspicious of her husband Larry. Investigators say the couple had been having marital troubles and shortly before Maya's disappearance, Larry had been contacting spellcasters to have a hex put on his wife so that she would stay in the marriage.
Police say husband asked spellcasters to hex his now missing wife
Police say husband asked spellcasters to hex his wife before she disappeared
Case update: On July 9, 2026, a jury found Larry Millete guilty of first-degree murder in the death of Maya Millete.
Friends, colleagues and family of Maya Millete knew that it was unusual behavior for her to just disappear, but that is what happened in January 2021, just days before her eldest daughter's birthday. Her husband Larry offered investigators and her family various stories of why Maya was gone.
Timeline: The disappearance of Maya Millete
This article was originally published on Feb. 18, 2022.
Maya Millete, 39, went missing in January 2021. What was happening between her and her husband before she disappeared and what does spellcasting have to do with it?
January 7, 2021: Maya Millete last seen
Mother of three, Maya (May) Millete was 39 when she was last seen on surveillance video arriving at her home in Chula Vista, California.
January 8-9, 2021: Where's Maya?
Maya's husband of 21 years, Larry Millete, was the last person to see Maya.