Ace of Spades
By: Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé
Release Date | June 1
Genre | Young Adult
Ace of Spades is Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé's debut novel delving into institutional racism within the Niveus Private Academy. Here, money fuels all and students excel at everything until now when an anonymous texter, coined Ace, brings two of Niveus's perfect students darkest secrets to light.
Devon, a talented musician who no longer can keep his head buried in practice when his private photos are released and Head Girl Chiamaka who gets what she wants except now, people know the price she's paid to get it. Ace is out to get them and they're planning something much more sinister than a simple high school game.
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Dead Dead Girls
By: Nekesa Afia
Release Date | June 1
Genre | Mystery
We need to preface that the cover screams 1920s, good thing that's when it's set. Dead Dead Girls is the first of the Harlem Renaissance Mystery series by Nekesa Afia and follows one young woman named Louise Lloyd, a survivor of a harrowing kidnapping ordeal from her teens that sent her on a path of normalcy, one she's happily succeeding at too. She works at a Café during the day and a speakeasy at night. Her friends may claim she's running from her past but Louise doesn't need to know that.
When a girl turns up dead in front of her place of work, Louise is forced to face reality; local black girls are being murdered and after a police altercation, she is given a choice: Solve the case or become an example. Louise takes the case soon looking to catch a killer and save herself in the process.
The Library of the Dead
By: TL Huchu
Release Date | June 1
Genre | Fantasy
The Library of the Dead is the first novel in the Edinburg Nights series by TL Huchu. It is a fantasy-based series calling on Zimbabwean magic and Scottish pragmatism to find a missing child.
Ropa is employed as a ghost talker bringing messages from the dead to the living. A simple enough job until she hears of somebody hurting children in her neck of the woods, taking joy and leaving their shells behind. Ropa feels obliged to investigate but what she learns will change her life.
The Box in the Woods
By: Maureen Johnson
Release Date | June 15
Genre | Young Adult
Stevie Bell is itching to catch another killer. She's solved the elusive Ellingham Academy mystery but she still wants more and when the owner of Sunny Pines, another site of infamous mystery, reaches out offering Stevie to visit and assist on a true crime podcast documenting the gruesome murder that took place - well, Stevie readily agrees.
Her only stipulation is her friends from Ellingham Academy come and with them in tow, they head out to Sunny Pines. When they arrive, it is clear that evil still lurks in the shadows and there is more to the case than any knew. It seems the camp is ready to make room for new victims.
Dude, I don't ever care what the plot is. I am so ready for another Truly Devious world-based novel. Yes. Yes. Yes.
Find the full review | HERE | for The Box in the Woods
The Maidens
By: Alex Michaelides
Release Date | June 15
Genre | Thriller
Combining Greek mythology, obsession, and murder - The Maidens creates a story you cannot tear yourself from. At Cambridge University, Fosca is an untouchable professor adored by staff and students alike except a former one whose certain he's a killer.
When a member of the Maidens, a secret society on campus, turns up dead, Mariana is certain Fosca's the killer and she's going to prove it.
A Psalm for the Wild-Built
By: Becky Chambers
Release Date | July 13
Genre | Science Fiction
What is this, another first in a series? A Psalm for the Wild-Built is the first in the Monk & Robot series written to provide readers hope for the future. Centuries have passed since robots gained self-awareness, put down their tools, and wandered into the wilderness never to be seen by humans again.
They have faded away, a tale now whispered around the campfire no longer believed to exist until one day, one turns up outside a tea monk's house asking him the question, "What do people need?" The robot cannot leave until the question is answered but, the answer depends on who is asked and monk and robot are going to need to ask it many times.
The Therapist
By: BA Paris
Release Date | July 13
Genre | Thriller
Alice and Leo have recently moved into a new house in a beautiful and exclusive community and to them, it all feels too wonderful to be true.
The purchase of their new home has finally fulfilled their dreams until Alice discovers the secrets lurking beneath the floorboards of their new home transforming their contentment into one of terror as Alice tries to discover what happened to the previous owner. Her neighbours are keeping secrets and their dream-like life soon becomes anything but.
The Book of Accidents
By: Chuck Wendig
Release Date | July 20
Genre | Horror
The Book of Accidents by Chuck Wendig follows Nathan and Maddie, a married couple who both hide a terrible past. Nathan grew up with an abusive father and Maddie saw something that still haunts her daily. They've moved back to their hometown bringing with them their son Oliver and soon, the past begins to repeat itself.
When their son meets a strange boy skilled in dark magic and brimming with secrets, Nathan and Maddie are put to the test against good and evil to fight for each other and perhaps the world.
For Your Own Good
By: Samantha Downing
Release Date | July 20
Genre | Mystery
The author of My Lovely Wife returns with a new novel tackling a prestigious private school with overzealous students, overbearing parents, and one individual who just wants them to learn.
Teddy Crutcher has won Teacher of the Year at Belmont Academy boasting to all his wife couldn't be more proud of him but, she hasn't been seen in a while. Teddy can't be bothered with a parent's death that's looking more like murder than an accident and he could care less about the student rummaging in his past.
All Teddy cares is that he pushes his students to fulfil their academic potential and all he needs to do that is for other people to stay out of his way. The terrible thing is, excellence sometimes comes at a cost.
Find the full review | HERE | for For Your Own Good
Notes from the Burning Age
By: Claire North
Release Date | July 20
Genre | Science Fiction
They'll Never Catch Us
By: Jessica Goodman
Release Date | July 27
Genre | Young Adult
Separated by only a year, Stella and Ellie could not be anymore different. Stella prefers to keep to herself, is driven to succeed, and adores running cross-country. Ellie, the other sister runs cross-country too but unlike Stella allows herself to have an outside life. She parties, she hangs out with friends, and she engages in other things than running. They are two different people who have finally found one thing in common - their new cross-country teammate, Mila.
Mila was top runner at her old school and both perceive her as a threat to their success. But Ellie is soon drawn by her personality eager to have a new friend after the turmoil in her past and Stella appreciates their compatibility.
The only issue is, the pressure is on and both must work harder than ever to beat Mila. Except one day Mila doesn't return from a run and all eyes are on them.
All's Well
By: Mona Awad
Release Date | August 3
Genre | Horror
All's Well by Mona Awad is a horror-filled book surrounding the production of the All's Well That Ends Well play by Shakespeare. Miranda Flitch is determined to put on the Shakespeare play that has helped her ignore how her life has transformed into a living hell. The play is a chance for redemption except its now all slipping away.
Then, Miranda meets three strange individuals promising her a future. One where life is put back on track and the show goes on, hopefully without any hiccups.
Dark Roads
By: Chevy Stevens
Release | August 3
Genre | Thriller
Cold Creek highway is a dangerous place. People have been warned about those that vanish on the road never to be seen again. A warning that Hailey McBridge is counting on, it's time for her to escape her living situation and the Cold Creek highway is the perfect alibi.
One year later, Beth arrives in Cold Creek to play tribute to the victims of the highway. It doesn't feel like a short memorial, the pain pushing down on her as Beth is still reeling from the murder of her sister, Amber, the summer before. Beth is hoping the memorial will bring peace and normalcy back to her life and ends up staying instead deciding to work at the same place Amber used to.
Beth soon connects to the world Amber once lived in further increasing her determination to find out who killed his sister. But, as she comes closer to the truth, she'll find out there is more than one liar in Cold Creek.
How We Fall Apart
By: Katie Zhao
Release Date | August 3
Genre | Young Adult
A combination of Crazy Rich Asians and One of Us Is Lying comes the novel How We Fall Apart by Katie Zhao. Jamie Ryan, Nancy's former best friend and top student at Sinclair prep is found dead. Even more shocking is that she and her best friends are the prime suspects thanks to an anonymous individual targeting them on social media.
They used to be best friends with Jamie, Nancy knew all of their darkest secrets but apparently so does the anonymous individual called "The Protector." Nancy and her three friends must find the true killer before The Protector exposes more than they are willing to lose and soon, Nancy realises her friends are keeping secrets from her again.
The Family Plot
By: Megan Collins
Release Date | August 17
Genre | Thriller
Twenty-six year old Dahlia Lighthouse was raised in seclusion isolated deep in the woods in her family's mansion by her true-crime obsessed parents. Now, she is struggling to live in the real world finding it tough to move on from the past, especially when part of her past is her brother's disappearance.
Returning to the mansion she has avoided for years to attend her father's funeral surrounded by family, a gruesome discovery occurs. In the family plot lays a body - her brother's.
Each member handles the revelation differently. Charlie is determined to create a family museum focusing on their research into murder victims. Dahlia's sister Tate is creating dioramas of crime scenes and her mother is descending into despair transforming into an unknown entity that Dahlia cannot recognise as the same woman who used to reenact murders for her children.
As Dahlia attempts to tackle her own pain, she realises the return is actually an opportunity to finally find out what happened to her twin buried in the family plot.
