That is an version of The Surprise Reader, a publication during which our editors advocate a set of tales to spark your curiosity and fill you with delight. Join right here to get it each Saturday morning.
The kayaker who went lacking—and stayed lacking for thus lengthy that rescue groups had been at a loss. The seemingly good man who conned ladies—and was dropped at justice by his personal victims. The next tales pack a double punch, beginning with a mysterious circumstance and tracing the story to locations unknown and sudden. Right this moment, sit again and discover 5 gripping reads that aren’t what they appear.
The Lacking Kayaker
By Jamie Thompson
What occurred to Ryan Borgwardt?
The Excellent Man Who Wasn’t
By Rachel Monroe
For years, he used faux identities to allure ladies out of a whole lot of 1000’s of {dollars}. Then his victims banded collectively to take him down. (From 2018)
The Con Man Who Grew to become a True-Crime Author
By Rachel Monroe
In his outdated life, Matthew Cox informed tales to rip-off his manner into thousands and thousands of {dollars}. Now he’s making an attempt to make it by promoting tales which might be true. (From 2019)
Nonetheless Curious?
Different Diversions
PS
I just lately requested readers to share a photograph of one thing that sparks their sense of awe on the earth. Charles H., 68, from Sizzling Springs, Arkansas, shared this picture from “early within the morning in August 2025 as I used to be leaving Guymon, Okla., driving by way of the Okla. panhandle to hike Black Mesa. Photographs of the moon by no means appear to seize the awe, however I took this picture anyhow and was stunned later to see the halo of a cloud.”
I’ll proceed to characteristic your responses within the coming weeks.
— Isabel
