Thriller
The rook : a novel
O'Malley, Daniel.
SCIENCE FICTION O'Malley, Daniel
Fantasy, Mystery, Science Fiction, Thriller
In this supernatural spy thriller, Myfanwy Thomas - a woman with amnesia - discovers she's a high-ranking member of a secret British organization called the Chequy, which is dedicated to protecting the world from supernatural threats. She must uncover a traitor within the Chequy who stole her memories, all while battling dangerous supernatural entities and navigating her own newly acquired, and potentially deadly, ability.
None shall sleep
Marney, Ellie, author.
YOUNG ADULT FICTION Marney Ellie
Horror, Mystery, Thriller, Young Adult
Eighteen-year-olds Emma Lewis and Travis Bell, recruited by the FBI to interview juvenile serial killers, must turn to a notorious teenage sociopath to help track down a new murderer.
(For those who miss "Hannibal") You probably thought I was going to suggest "Red Dragon" (the inspiration for the show), but instead I'm going to step outside the box. Ellie Marney's novel is basically the young adult version of "The Silence of the Lambs," but with a fresh take that still delivers on murder with a side of sophistication. If you loved "Hannibal's" blend of criminal profiling, characters with depth, and a sense of foreboding, this one absolutely deserves a spot on your TBR! -Madison C
The gone world
Sweterlitsch, Tom, author.
SCIENCE FICTION Sweterlitsch, Tom
Horror, Mystery, Science Fiction, Thriller
Time-travel secret agent Shannon Moss visits future time periods for clues about a Navy SEAL astronaut's murdered family and the disappearance of his teenage daughter, a case that is complicated by the SEAL's and Shannon's own impact on the timeline.
(For those who miss "The OA") If "The OA" left you craving stories that bend time, blur reality, and explore the soul without offering easy answers, Tom Sweterlitsch's novel is your next must-read. With time travel and alternative realities, philosophical and psychological depth, and cosmic stakes, "The Gone World" delivers a mind-expanding thriller that captures all the elements that made "The OA" so unforgettable. -Madison C
These silent woods : a novel
Grant, Kimi Cunningham, author.
FICTION Grant Kimi
Mystery, Thriller
No electricity, no family, no connection to the outside world. For eight years, Cooper and his young daughter, Finch, have lived in isolation in a remote cabin in the northern Appalachian woods. And that's exactly the way Cooper wants it, because he's got a lot to hide. Finch has been raised on the books filling the cabin's shelves and the beautiful but brutal code of life in the wilderness. But she's starting to push back against their sheltered life. The only people who know they exist are Scotland, an overly friendly hermit with murky intentions, and Cooper's old friend, Jake, who visits each winter to bring them supplies. But this year, Jake doesn't show up, setting off an irreversible chain of events that reveals just how precarious their situation really is.
(Into the Woods I Go!) Are you hoping to mix some mystery with your forested getaway? Kimi Cunningham Grant's novel invites you into a secluded cabin deep in the woods, where the very silence hides secrets. Suspenseful and heartfelt, "These Silent Woods" is full of slow-building tension and an atmospheric setting that's perfect for those who love a little shadow in their sunshiny vacations. -Madison C
Strange pictures
Uketsu, author.
FICTION Uketsu
Horror, Mystery, Thriller
An exploration of the macabre, where the seemingly mundane takes on a terrifying significance. A pregnant woman's sketches on a seemingly innocuous blog conceal a chilling warning. A child's picture of his home contains a dark secret message. A sketch made by a murder victim in his final moments leads an amateur sleuth down a rabbithole that will reveal a horrifying reality. Structured around these nine childlike drawings, each holding a disturbing clue, Uketsu invites readers to piece together the mystery behind each and the over-arching backstory that connects them all.
As the saying goes, "a picture is worth a thousand words." In this horror read, a series of seemingly innocent pictures may lead to each character's undoing. This immersive read expertly draws in readers to piece together one chilling puzzle after another. -Madison C
Senseless
Malfi, Ronald Damien, author.
FICTION Malfi Ronald
Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Detective Renney sees similarities between a dead woman in the LA desert and a prior murder; Maureen is unsettled by fiancé Greg's son Landon, who may be tied to the murder; and Toby, self-proclaimed Human Fly, obsesses over a woman with rattlesnake teeth in this thriller.
This Ronald Malfi read is perfect for those seeking a psychological horror that leaves them chilled to the bone. This character-driven novel intricately weaves multiple story lines, while exploring the terrifying cost of trying to forget past deeds - and what happens when the past refuses to stay buried. -Madison C
When the Wolf Comes Home.
Cassidy, Nat.
"One night, Jess, a struggling actress, finds a five-year-old runaway hiding in the bushes outside her apartment. After a violent, bloody encounter with the boy's father, she and the boy find themselves running for their lives. As they attempt to evade the boy's increasingly desperate father, horrifying incidents of butchery follow them. At first, Jess thinks she understands what they're up against, but she's about to learn there's more to these surreal and grisly events than she could've ever imagined. And that when the wolf finally comes home, none will be spared."
If you're in the mood for classic monster horrors, this is the book for you. Not only does Nat Cassidy deliver on a novelized creature feature, but also offers readers a deep exploration of family bonds and grief navigation. -Madison C
The September house
Orlando, Carissa, author.
FICTION Orlando Carissa
Horror, Thriller
You can survive anything. That's what Margaret tells herself when the walls of her house start to drip blood every September. She's learned how to live with it...and the other terrifying apparitions that have made the sprawling Victorian house she and her husband bought four years ago turn from a dream home into a living nightmare. But she can outlast all of it. Hal felt differently, though. Her husband couldn't take the hauntings anymore, and he left. But now he's not returning calls, and their daughter Katherine arrives, intent on looking for her missing father, convinced something grim has happened to him. With every desperate attempt Katherine makes at finding Hal, the hauntings at the September House grow more harrowing, because there are some secrets the house needs to keep.
What would you endure to stay in your dream home? In this thrilling psychological horror debut, we're introduced to Margaret, a woman determined to stay in her perfect abode...even if it kills her. -Madison C
Reckless girls
Rachel Hawkins
FICTION Hawkins Rachel
Fiction, Thriller, Suspense
When Lux McAllister and her boyfriend, Nico, are hired to sail two women to a remote island in the South Pacific, it seems like the opportunity of a lifetime. Stuck in a dead-end job in Hawaii, and longing to travel the world after a family tragedy, Lux is eager to climb on board The Susannah and set out on an adventure. She's also quick to bond with their passengers, college best friends Brittany and Amma. The two women say they want to travel off the beaten path. But like Lux, they may have other reasons to be seeking an escape. Shimmering on the horizon after days at sea, Meroe Island is every bit the paradise the foursome expects, despite a mysterious history of shipwrecks, cannibalism, and even rumors of murder. But what they don't expect is to discover another boat already anchored off Meroe's sandy beaches. The owners of the Azure Sky, Jake and Eliza, are a true golden couple: gorgeous, laidback, and if their sleek catamaran and well-stocked bar are any indication, rich. Now a party of six, the new friends settle in to experience life on an exotic island, and the serenity of being completely off the grid. Lux hasn't felt like she truly belonged anywhere in years, yet here on Meroe, with these fellow free spirits, she finally has a sense of peace. But with the arrival of a skeevy stranger sailing alone in pursuit of a darker kind of good time, the balance of the group is disrupted. Soon, cracks begin to emerge: it seems that Brittany and Amma haven't been completely honest with Lux about their pasts--and perhaps not even with each other. And though Jake and Eliza seem like the perfect pair, the rocky history of their relationship begins to resurface, and their reasons for sailing to Meroe might not be as innocent as they first appeared. When it becomes clear that the group is even more cut off from civilization than they initially thought, it starts to feel like the island itself is closing in on them. And when one person goes missing, and another turns up dead, Lux begins to wonder if any of them are going to make it off the island alive"--
I really enjoyed Hawkins' novel The Villa, so I picked this up to take on vacation...it turned out to be a perfectly good beach-read! A group of twenty- to thirty-somethings find themselves on a small, uninhabited island for a spot of remote relaxation, but of course, things go awry when an uninvited guest gets their guard up and their imaginations going. That's not all, though--there are some weird dynamics going on in the background for each of our islanders, personal traumas and fears, that make for unique interactions and hidden motives. There's nothing ground-breaking going on here, but if you want a solid thriller with a great location, and some better-than-average thinking about what it means to live in the aftermath of major change and life interruptions, this book will do nicely! -Candice
Don't forget the girl : a novel
Rebecca McKanna
FICTION Mckanna Rebecca
Thriller, Suspense
"We never remember the dead girls. We never forget the killers. Twelve years ago, 18-year-old University of Iowa freshman Abby Hartmann disappeared. Now, Jon Allan Blue, the serial killer suspected of her murder, is about to be executed. Abby's best friends, Bree and Chelsea, watch as Abby's memory is unearthed and overshadowed by Blue and his flashier crimes. The friends, estranged in the wake of Abby's disappearance, and suffering from years of unvoiced resentments, must reunite when a high-profile podcast dedicates its next season to Blue's murders. Tense and introspective, Don't Forget the Girl is an astonishing debut thriller that mines the complexities of friendship and the secrets between us that we may take to the grave"--
I thought this a better-than-average serial killer story that has some realistic characterizations of secrets and insecurities of young adult girls. I love that it's set in Iowa City, and you can tell that the author actually experienced college at the University of Iowa. -Mari
(For those who miss "Inside Job") If you miss "Inside Job's" chaotic energy, satirical bite, and wild deep dive into conspiracy theories, Daniel O'Malley's novel will be sure to fill the void. With dark humor, a secret supernatural government agency, and just enough absurdity to make you question if anything is real, "The Rook" is will satisfy any "Inside Job" fan left adrift! -Madison C