Readers' 54 Most Anticipated Summer Mysteries & Thrillers
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A dead scientist on a utopian island surrounded by lethal fog. A former NBA player who may be the victim of a serial killer. An ancient pagan entity preying on oblivious rich people.
This is but a sampling of the story hooks on offer this summer in the mystery and thriller section. As part of our big Summer Reading package, we’ve sorted through the genre stacks to compile this preview of upcoming titles. These books were selected by monitoring early reader reviews and crunching the numbers on which titles are on the Read or Want to Read shelves of Goodreads members. And what did we find? Criminals! Investigators! Protagonists making dubious choices concerning kitchen knives and locked staircases!
All the books listed below are slated to be published between May and late August. We’ve sorted by month, but you can click through the cover art for each book to get exact publication dates, further details, and the occasional review from advance readers.
Some of the familiar names publishing this summer include John Grisham, Ruth Ware, Freida McFadden, Akwaeke Emezi, Riley Sager, Liz Moore, Alex Finlay, and Lucy Foley. Also: the latest in Katharine Schellman’s Jazz Age mystery series featuring uncommonly cool cover art.
As always, if you find any interesting leads, feel free to add them to your Want to Read shelf. Happy summer reading, crime fighters!
May
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Law
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May 15, 2024 03:03AM
![Law](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1663675779p1/156286696.jpg)
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![Riana](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1713232471p1/170454180.jpg)
![Shannon](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1602788678p1/4321592.jpg)
I have seen many good reviews of that one! Will add to TBR!
![Kimberly Sneed](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1658946451p1/57302257.jpg)
![Christie](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1720367226p1/173957555.jpg)
![leah angela](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1707021840p1/173423711.jpg)
![Meredith Stone](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1675520732p1/5076461.jpg)
I didn't know she was accused of this, but that's interesting. I agree that her books can be underwhelming. I've chosen not to read anymore of her books for that reason. I've read 2 I think and I was disappointed with them both.
![Eva Cmak](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1718089228p1/112734825.jpg)
I didn't know she was accused of this,..."
I cannot understand all the hype that this author has. Do you have a good thriller recommendation? I love a good psychological one
![Janet Martin](https://cdn.statically.io/img/s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/f_25x33-d79c46f9428d2aea1444d67c091766a6.png)
I don't know about the plagiarism, but that book was not particularly original. Without knowing the specifics of this charge, I have to say that using someone else's plot is not plagiarism. One must actually copy text from another work, and even then the copied text must be from a work still under copyright protection. Plots do not qualify for copyright protection. Although I thought she wrote some decent books early in her publishing career, I thought The Teacher was a dog--predictable and boring with unlikable characters. Several other recent books were not very good, either. That one was my last McFadden. She's off my list of writers to read.
![Sean](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1514726269p1/28064184.jpg)
![Rebekah McArthur](https://cdn.statically.io/img/s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_25x33-ccd24e68f4773d33a41ce08c3a34892e.png)
It really all depends on your preference. In my opinion, I loved her books. I've read all of them, and a good few are sitting in my favourites. Not all books you read are going to be epic story lines. If the plot catches your interest, give it a quick read to see if you get into it. If not, move on to the next. But I try not to get so invested in the author.
![Barbara](https://cdn.statically.io/img/s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_25x33-ccd24e68f4773d33a41ce08c3a34892e.png)
I didn't know she was..."
The Kind Worth Killing by Steve Cavanagh and What Happened to Nina were my favorites so far this year. Do not pay attention to the cover of What Happened to Nina. It's God-awful. It desperately needs a new cover. Fantastic books, both!
![Barbara](https://cdn.statically.io/img/s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_25x33-ccd24e68f4773d33a41ce08c3a34892e.png)
I didn't know she was..."
I've read The Coworker and The Teacher and Freida is just not for me. Very juvenile writing and just not enjoyable. I don't know about the plagiarism accusations, but the claim is that The Wife Upstairs is very similar to Verity and The Housemaid is like the Last Mrs. Parrish.
![Lisa](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1671768855p1/4913184.jpg)
![Tiffany](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1719721525p1/54981049.jpg)
![Terry](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1694471350p1/38721247.jpg)
I didn't know she was..."
Try Tana French. Way more detailed and interesting stories.
![Anna Battista](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1687058165p1/94118965.jpg)
![Maria](https://cdn.statically.io/img/s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_25x33-ccd24e68f4773d33a41ce08c3a34892e.png)