If you’re a fan of thrillers, action, and PIs ,this is your month for adaptations! There’s a Texas-set thriller moved to Australia for the series adaptation, the return of a hot-mess South Florida PI, a Reacher spinoff, and the best disaster spies ever!
Last Seen (Apple TV, September 9)
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The Dispatcher by Ryan David JahnRyan David Jahn’s The Dispatcher is an action-packed thriller that follows Ian Hunt, a police dispatcher in Texas whose daughter disappeared almost a decade ago. He’s just finally agreed to have a funeral for her when he gets a call at work from someone claiming to be his daughter, who has just escaped her kidnapper. The Apple TV adaptation is a six-episode thriller set in Australia, with Patrick Brammall as Ian. The series will begin streaming on September 9th with the finale airing on October 7th. |
R.J. Decker (ABC / Hulu, September 15)
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Double Whammy by Carl HiaasenCarl Hiaasen—known for his comedic Florida-set mysteries—has been on an adaptation ride as of late: first Apple TV adapted Bad Monkey into a series, then ABC adapted his 1980s series (Double Whammy) about an ex-con/news-photographer turned hot mess PI. Season 2 of RJ Decker will premiere Tuesday, September 15, at 10/9c on ABC (episodes will then stream on Hulu). If you want to catch up before the return, season 1 is on Hulu. Bonus book recommendation: If you’re looking for more photographer leads in crime novels, Ramona Emerson’s dark series follows a forensic photographer literally haunted by a ghost. It begins with Shutter. |
Neagley (Amazon Prime, September 16)
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Zero Margin by Lee Child and Yasmin AngoeReacher—an adaptation from Lee Child’s thriller series— was so successful on Amazon Prime that there is now a spinoff series and a forthcoming new novel written by Lee Child and Yasmin Angoe. The spinoff series premieres on September 16th on Amazon Prime and follows Frances Neagley, Jack Reacher’s former military protege who is now a Chicago PI. |
Slow Horses (Apple TV, September 16)
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Joe Country by Mick HerronSpeaking of thrillers with action, Slow Horses is back! This hilarious, action-filled series is adapted from Mick Herron’s Slough House series. It centers a group of spies who have been kicked out of MI5—at different times for various reasons (all deserved)—and Jackson Lamb (Gary Oldman) is very grumpily in charge of them. The six-episode sixth season (based on Joe Country and Slough House) returns on Apple TV September 16th and runs through October 21st. Bonus book recommendation: If you love a group of people working together, pick up Cheryl A. Head’s Bury Me When I’m Dead, which follows 3 PIs and their show tune-singing office manager. RELATED STORIES |
Browse the books recommended in Unusual Suspects’ previous newsletters on this shelf and see 2026 and 2027 releases! Until next time, come talk books with me on Bluesky, Goodreads, Litsy, and Multitudes Contained.
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