Books for the Dead of Summer
It may be the dead of summer, but our TBR piles are alive with heart-pounding horror and edge-of-your-seat mysteries & thrillers. Scroll if you dare.
Heart-Pounding Horror:
The Devil by Name: A Novel by Keith Rossen
No one expected the apocalypse would be broadcast via phone call. But in this chilling sequel to Fever House, anyone who managed to survive that doomsday call has a harrowing answer to the question, “Where were you when the Message came through?”
“Fever House and The Devil by Name are exciting, suspenseful, horrifying, and written at a flurry-of-punches pace. Read them now and you can thank me later.”—Stephen King
“This is an absolute skull-cracker of a novel, presenting what may be one of the most unique takes on the end of the world I’ve ever seen. It somehow manages to hit even harder than Fever House.”—Chuck Wendig, author of Black River Orchard and The Book of Accidents
Available September 10th in Hardcover, eBook, and Audio Editions.
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William: A Novel by Mason Coile
Psychological horror meets cyber noir in this delicious one-sitting read—a haunted house story in which the haunting is by AI.
“A deliciously terrifying book about creation and its false promise of control, William exposes the harrowing consequences of playing god. Coile demolishes the idea that our homes and identities are safe in a fully automated world. I dare you to read this in more than one sitting.”—Ling Ling Huang, author of Natural Beauty
Available September 10th in Hardcover, eBook, and Audio Editions.
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The Empusium: A Novel by Olga Tokarczuk
The Nobelist’s latest masterwork, set in a sanitarium on the eve of World War I, probes the horrors that lie beneath our most hallowed ideas. A century after the publication of The Magic Mountain, Olga Tokarczuk revisits Thomas Mann territory and lays claim to it, with signature boldness, inventiveness, humor, and bravura.
“Reckons with some of the major intellectual questions of the 20th century while simultaneously spinning a mysterious—and spooky—web of intrigue and suspense. A crucial addition to Tokarczuk’s oeuvre.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review
“Historical fiction threaded through with a playful kind of literary horror, The Empusium . . . is in part a wry response to Thomas Mann’s classic The Magic Mountain, blending high philosophy with dark comedy, strange folklore, and hallucinogenic liquors.”—Goodreads, “Most Anticipated Books of the Fall”
Available September 24th in Hardcover, eBook, Audio, and Large Print Editions.
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The Dissonance: A Novel by Shaun Hamill
From the acclaimed author of A Cosmology of Monsters(“I loved it”—Stephen King) comes an epic contemporary fantasy, a mixture of The Magicians and It: a story of dark magic, terrible mistakes, and second chances.
“Pure magic. A novel that sparks with wonder, heartbreak, and hope. Wildly endearing and compulsively readable, with an immersive, richly drawn world and vibrant characters you’ll never forget. The truths within—about friendship, about pain, about growing up and making mistakes— are beautiful and absolute. A masterpiece.”—Rachel Harrison, national bestselling author of Black Sheep and Such Sharp Teeth
Available in Hardcover, eBook, and Audio Editions.
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So Thirsty: A Novel by Rachel Harrison
*A LibraryReads Hall of Fame Pick*
A woman must learn to take life by the throat after a night out leads to irrevocable changes in this juicy, thrilling novel from the USA Today bestselling author of Such Sharp Teeth and Black Sheep.
“Dysfunctionally adorable (and terrifying) vampire hijinks meets the complexities of female friendship and aging? Yes, please. So Thirsty takes mid-thirties ennui and adds teeth, charm, and a beating heart (of borrowed blood). Another winner from Harrison!”—Kiersten White, #1 NYT Bestselling Author of Lucy Undying: A Dracula Novel
“So Thirsty is the gory, sharp, and darkly comedic vampire novel of my wildest nightmares. I devoured it.”—Alexis Henderson author of An Academy for Liars
Available September 10th in Hardcover, eBook, and Audio Editions.
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Tiny Threads: A Novel by Lilliam Rivera
A young woman gets her dream job working for a famous designer—and discovers the dark side of the glamorous world of fashion—in this gorgeously sinister novel of supernatural suspense.
“A shimmering supernatural thriller that interrogates the world of fashion through a sharp, critical eye . . . I couldn’t put it down.”—Sarah Rose Etter, author of RIPE and The Book of X
“Tiny Threads is a chilling and compelling tale of a young woman trying to find herself even as she’s desperate to shed her past. Beneath the novel’s irresistible world of fashion and style—and beyond the sinister, supernatural plot twists—lies a story of erasure and grief that won’t soon let you go. Lilliam Rivera’s work will haunt you.”—Edan Lepucki, New York Times bestselling author of California
Available September 24th in Hardcover, eBook, and Audio Editions.
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The Unmothers: A Novel by Leslie J. Anderson
In this raw and lyrical folk horror novel, a journalist sent to a small town begins to unravel a dark secret that the women of the town have been keeping for generations.
“At the crossroads of True Detective and Emma Donoghue’s The Wonder, this equine Wicker Man manifests a mood equal parts majestic and terrifying, tragic and sublime.”—Clay McLeod Chapman, author of What Kind of Mother and Ghost Eaters
“Absolutely stunning. Leslie J. Anderson arrives on the horror scene with an atmospheric folk tale brimming with horrors both real-world and horrifyingly ‘other’ . . . The Unmothers is a masterpiece in slow-dripping tension that had me desperately turning the pages long into the night.”—Josh Winning, author of Heads Will Roll
Available in Trade Paperback and eBook Editions.
Heads Will Roll: A Novel by Josh Winning
Willow’s worst nightmare was being canceled. But the shadows in the woods of Camp Castaway might destroy more than her reputation.
“Taking an axe to smart phones, celebrity, and cancel culture, Heads Will Roll is a slasher that is both bloody and uplifting. And fun! Every copy should come with a bucket of popcorn.”—Gus Moreno, author of This Thing Between Us
“I really enjoyed the way Heads Will Roll plays with all the horror/slasher tropes, while also taking aim at the pitfalls of social media and cancel culture. A whole lot of bloody fun with a serious message at its heart.”—C.J. Tudor, author of The Gathering
Available in Hardcover, eBook, and Audio Editions.
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The Haunting of Moscow House: A Novel by Olesya Salnikova Gilmore
In this elegant gothic horror tale set in post-revolutionary Russia, two formerly aristocratic sisters race to uncover their family’s long-buried secrets in a house haunted by a past dangerous—and deadly—to remember.
“With graceful, captivating prose, Gilmore weaves a haunting tale of post-revolutionary Russia, about confronting the ghosts of a painful past to find hope for the future. Eerie and atmospheric, romantic and heartrending, The Haunting of Moscow House is a gorgeous historical gothic.”—Rachel Harrison, national bestselling author of Black Sheep
Available September 3rd in Hardcover, eBook, and Audio Editions.
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Blood Like Mine: A Novel by Stuart Neville
In LA Times Book Prizewinner Stuart Neville’s daring foray into horror fiction, a mother takes desperate measures to protect her daughter in a sinister, blood-chilling highway pursuit across the Southwest.
“Stuart Neville at his very, very best—this book grabs your heart and doesn’t let go.”—Ruth Ware, New York Times bestselling author of The Woman in Cabin 10
“Beautiful and dark as all hell. Poignant. Nightmarish . . . Original, terrifying and horrifically tense. This book is your next obsession (and Neville might well be Stephen King’s rightful heir).”—Will Dean, author of The Last Thing to Burn
Available in Hardcover and eBook Editions.
Someone in the Attic: A Novel by Andrea Mara
From a #1 internationally bestselling author comes an atmospheric, chilling novel about a family who thinks there’s someone hiding in their attic.
You thought you were home alone.
“Does for bathtubs what Psycho did for showers. A thriller honed to a fine point, sharp and keen and piercing; it’s darkly comic, too, and uncommonly observant.”—A. J. Finn, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Woman in the Window
“As if attics weren’t creepy enough already, this book will leave you scared of the slightest overhead squeak. Someone in the Attic augments its horrifying premise with shocking twists, complicated friendships and dark secrets. Highly recommended!”—Ana Reyes, New York Timesbestselling author of The House in the Pines
Available in Hardcover, eBook, and Audio Editions.
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We Solve Murders: A Novel by Richard Osman
*A LibraryReads Hall of Fame Pick*
From the #1 bestselling author of The Thursday Murder Club Series comes a brand new mystery, an iconic new detective duo, and a thrilling new murder to solve . . .
“Madcap fun, with an entertaining new cast of characters and Osman’s trademark wit. Delightful!”—Shari Lapena, New York Times bestselling author of The Couple Next Door
“Osman introduces another lovable group of unwitting investigators . . . As in Osman’s other series, they cross paths with a variety of people—including drug-dealing politicians, customs agents, and social media influencers—who may or may not be inclined to help them, and watching the unlikely threesome charm each other and (almost) everyone they meet is a delight . . . Osman fans will be glad to hop on that private jet and go along for the ride.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review
Available September 17th in Hardcover, eBook, Audio, and Large Print Editions.
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Where They Last Saw Her: A Novel by Marcie R. Rendon
From the award-winning author of the Cash Blackbear series comes a compelling novel of a Native American woman who learns of the disappearance of one of her own and decides enough is enough.
“Rendon masterfully navigates the histories of trauma and brutality that continue to exist within our Native communities, laying bare the truths of colonial violence and the continuing need for closure and justice in our homelands.”—Ramona Emerson, author of Shutter
“An expert and uncompromising storyteller, Marcie Rendon aims her extraordinary powers on a no-holds barred story that will devastate and enrage you—and renew your belief in the power of community and the strength in women’s hearts. Where They Last Saw Her is unmissable.”—Katie Gutierrez, bestselling author of More Than You’ll Ever Know
Available September 3rd in Hardcover, eBook, Audio, and Large Print Editions.
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The Trap: A Novel by Ava Glass
British spy Emma Makepeace races against the clock to stop the Russians from carrying out a high-profile assassination in this gripping thriller from the author of Alias Emma.
“Emma Makepeace is a worthy heir to the James Bond mantle.”—James Patterson
“Totally addictive . . . Alias Emma is that perfect combination of exciting new character, explosive action scenes, and a thrilling cat-and-mouse chase through the streets of London. Once you start reading, you won’t stop.”—Lisa Gardner
Available September 3rd in Trade Paperback, Hardcover, eBook, and Audio Editions.
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After Oz: A Novel by Gordon McAlpine
*A LibraryReads Pick*
This gripping and emotionally riveting tale is a dark and timely retelling of The Wizard of Oz, where one little girl is forced to face head on the prejudices of the Midwest in the late nineteenth century.
“Gordon McAlpine tugs threads from Baum’s fantasy and weaves not only a compelling murder mystery, but an acid-etched portrait of a time and place and the people dwelling there. He proves himself once again to be a master of mystery, history, and elegant prose. Prepare to turn pages.”—Steve Goble, author of the Ed Runyon detective novels
Available in Hardcover and eBook Editions.