This month’s selection of thrillers promises to engage readers with plots that pivot on unexpected twists and deeply hidden secrets, reports BritPanorama. From the tension of suburban neighbourhoods to the isolation of remote getaways, the narratives share a common thread: an impending sense of calamity.
The Barbecue at No 9 by Jennie Godfrey
On a sun-soaked day in 1985, neighbours gather to watch Live Aid, and long-buried secrets begin to unravel. Godfrey’s latest offering captures both warmth and suspense, paralleling her acclaimed debut, The List of Suspicious Things.
Hutchinson Heinemann, £16.99
Witch Trial by Harriet Tyce
When an 18-year-old girl’s body is discovered in an Edinburgh park, her closest friends face intense scrutiny. Tyce, also known for her role on The Traitors, delves into the volatile realms of teenage alliances, social media gossip, and moral outrage, creating a tense thriller.
Wildfire, £18.99
A Bad, Bad Place by Frances Crawford
This debut novel, inspired by Crawford’s upbringing in Glasgow, examines the aftermath of a 1979 murder and its impact on a community. Seen through the eyes of a perceptive 12-year-old and her terrified grandmother, the narrative explores themes of memory and silence with profound emotional depth.
Bantam, £16.99
The Weekend by T M Logan
A group of friends find themselves in the Yorkshire Dales, only to be drawn into a dilemma after discovering a bag of cash. While initially planning to report it to the police, a storm alters their course. Logan’s skillful narrative reveals festering resentments and the complexities of friendship.
Zaffre, £16.99
Adrift by Will Dean
In this claustrophobic thriller, a mother and her young son are trapped on a canal boat with a dangerous man. Dean crafts an intense story that weaves together themes of resilience and control under pressure, fostering suspense with each page.
Hodder & Stoughton, £22
The Exes by Leodora Darlington
Natalie confronts a troubling pattern: all her former partners are deceased. As her marriage begins to fray, she must face her own potential for violence in this captivating and darkly humorous psychological thriller.
Michael Joseph, £16.99
Nowhere Burning by Catriona Ward
Set in the Colorado mountains, the fictional town of Nowhere serves as a haunting sanctuary for runaway children, rich with a dark history. This novel blends fairytale elements with horror, offering a compelling exploration of non-traditional familial bonds.
Viper, £16.99
The Pie & Mash Detective Agency by J D Brinkworth
When a local schoolteacher’s girlfriend mysteriously disappears—a recurring theme linked to women sharing the same name—two amateur sleuths embark on a whimsical investigation. This lighthearted yet eerie tale nods to the cosy crime genre.
£16.99, Century
Greedy by Callie Kazumi
A gambling addict becomes the private chef for a reclusive billionaire, exposing her to a world where debt and desire become entangled. This novel captivates with its unsettling exploration of consumption and dread.
Century, £16.99
The Killing Time by Elly Griffiths
In this imaginative sequel to The Frozen People, Detective Ali Dawson juggles cold cases and personal loss while exploring a present-day murder linked to a psychic medium, risking a perilous journey to Victorian London.
Quercus, £22
He’s the Devil by Tobi Coventry
A young man’s life spirals into chaos with the arrival of a new flatmate, leading to an exploration of millennial anxieties and self-identity in this outrageous but engaging tale.
Fourth Estate, £16.99
Underdogs by Stephen Leather
A former SAS soldier, now homeless and deaf, unwittingly enters a dangerous conspiracy in a gritty thriller that examines themes of survival and perseverance.
Macmillan, £20
Warning Signs by Tracy Sierra
A literary thriller explores a 12-year-old boy’s struggle to survive on a reckless ski trip with his harsh father, revealing that danger often lurks closer than expected.
Viking, £18.99
The Shadow Carver by Nadine Matheson
DI Henley investigates the murder of a convicted criminal marked by a signature style. This fast-paced procedural delves into complex narratives of justice and morality.
HQ, £20
