By Anais Aguilera, Sophie Poirier, Olivia Paris and Katie Norris
Autumn is on its way, and this issue’s lineup reflects the changing weather. Take a pick from mysteries, dark academia and thrillers galore.
Amazon
Breaking into Amazon’s top ten this week is The God of the Woods by Liz Moore. Deep in the Adirondack mountains, the wealthy Van Laar family is best known as the owners of a classic American summer camp. They’re also known for the mysterious disappearance of their son from the camp fourteen years ago – and when their daughter, Barbara, similarly goes missing from her bunk, the case is cracked wide open. Something is happening at the camp – but what could it be?
With autumn just around the corner, many readers are looking for something witchy and mysterious: Abigail Rose-Marie’s debut novel, The Moonflowers, fits the bill. When Tig returns to her rural hometown after being commissioned to paint a portrait of her late grandfather, she sets out to find people who knew the man better than she did. Who she isn’t expecting to connect with is Eloise, the woman who murdered her grandfather. Not only does Tig have to finish her painting, but she must also reckon with the complex mysteries of her family tree and secrets kept for generations.
WHSmith
Summer mysteries are still popular going into September, and Our Holiday by Louise Candlish is a great one. Pine Ridge is a perfect holiday haven for Charlotte, Perry, Amy and Linus, the four of whom gather often to enjoy the sun and a glass of wine. Petty crime in the area puts a damper on their idealistic summer, but when things quickly escalate into something much more serious, they may have to fear for their lives.
Looking for a different type of mystery? John Grisham has yet another bestseller with, The Exchange, a 2023 release that is climbing back up the charts. Mitch McDeere is living the good life as a big-time lawyer in New York City – but his past entanglements with the mob are always looming behind him. When he finds himself working on a dangerous hostage situation in Libya, he realises this case isn’t just business: it is personal, and he is no longer safe.
Waterstones
Currently on Waterstones’ fiction bestseller list, Alex Michaelides’ The Fury, takes the top spot. The thriller sees a reclusive ex-movie star, Lana Farrar, invite her friends on a sun-bleached holiday to a Greek island, which ends in murder. Told through the mysterious voice of Eliot Chase, he re-tells the story and guides the reader through its many twists and turns. The narrative voice of The Fury is unique and invites you into the arms of an old friend, offering you a tantalising depiction of a murder mystery.
Another fiction bestseller to note is Miye Lee’s DallerGut Dream Department Store (translated by Sandy Joosun Lee). Lee’s fantasy fiction is perfect for anyone looking to escape normalcy. The book details how sleepy animals and humans visit the store to purchase a dream, with each floor being dedicated to a special kind of dream: from nostalgic ones about your childhood, food and nightmares. When one of the most expensive dreams gets stolen, new-hire Penny must discover what happened to it.
Social Media
This month Lauren Roberts’ new release, Powerless, has been gaining a lot of attention. Following the success of Powerless, Roberts' sequel has been fuelling fans' desires for the fantasy/romance saga to continue. Will this series be on your list this summer?
It seems that there is romance in the air on BookTok at the moment as Sarah J. Maas’ popular series, A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) is also seeing a surge of popularity. Readers have taken to redesigning covers, creating fan art and depicting the vivid worlds she has created to show their support and enjoyment of the series.
Noteworthy Author
This issue, the spotlight goes to Alexis Henderson. With September quickly approaching, this author, with her penchant for gothic horror, is perfect to pick up as the weather cools down. In her own words, Henderson is “a dark, speculative fiction author who loves writing stories about complicated, intense and sometimes violent women.” Her debut novel, The Year of the Witching, was nominated for best horror and best debut novel in the 2020 Goodreads Choice Awards. Her second novel, House of Hunger, following a bloodmaid thrust into the depths of a secretive court, was no less a success. Now, Henderson is set to publish a new novel titled An Academy for Liars, this 17 September. The novel follows a girl named Lennon Carter who gains entrance to a prestigious school of magic where things are darker than they seem. Readers should keep their eye out for this new addition to the dark academia hall of fame this fall.
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