We're not sure what's going on this month, but basically all of your favourite thriller and mystery writers [1] have new books out. Among the best thriller reads of July are books by Megan Miranda, Karin Slaughter, Samantha Downing, and Shari Lapena. There's also a novel about a race against time to stop a devastating plane crash and a mystery with a true-crime podcast element. With so many enthralling mysteries and thrillers [2] to choose from this July, your beach bag is going to be overflowing, and so is your TBR — but hey, that's not exactly a bad thing, right?
The 22 Murders of Madison May by Max Barry
The 22 Murders of Madison May [4] by Max Barry is not your typical thriller. This fast-paced story tracks a serial killer across time and space as he kills the same women over and over again. However, what the killer hasn't realised yet is that an intrepid journalist named Felicity Staples is on his trail — even though pursuing the truth means leaving the only reality she's ever known behind.
Out July 6
Falling by T.J. Newman
If you're looking for a summer thriller that will get your heart pounding, then Falling [5] by T.J. Newman is the book for you. Set aboard a plane piloted by a man whose family has been kidnapped, the lives of 144 passengers hang in the balance as the pilot must decide between crashing the plane to save his family, or landing it safely knowing his family will be murdered if he does so.
Out July 6
The Grandmother Plot by Caroline B. Cooney
Bestselling author Caroline B. Cooney has been perfecting the fine art of thriller writing for decades now, and her latest novel, The Grandmother Plot [6], will grip you from page one. When a murder occurs in his grandmother's nursing home, a man named Freddy becomes frightened that his grandma could be next — which would result in his income being cut off and the police nosing around where they don't belong. And he simply can't have that.
Out July 6
The Lost Girls by Jessica Chiarella
More than 20 years after her sister's mysterious disappearance, Marti's life is still devoted to finding her via her hit true crime podcast in Jessica Chiarella's twisty The Lost Girls [7]. But when a woman reaches out to Marti about a case that could be connected to her sister, she begins to fear the answers she might finally find.
Out July 6
The Temple House Vanishing by Rachel Donohue
Rachel Donahue's Gothic-tinged mystery The Temple House Vanishing [8] will keep you guessing until the last page. Told through alternating viewpoints, the novel explores the disappearance of a student and teacher from an elite and remote boarding school. And yes, this one will leave you guessing right up until the last page.
Out July 6
Such a Quiet Place by Megan Miranda
Megan Miranda's latest domestic thriller, Such a Quiet Place [9], takes place in a tight-knit community that's rocked by a murder. When the woman accused of the crime returns to Hollow's Edge as if nothing ever happened, neighbours begin turning on neighbours in this unsettling story of a neighbourhood on the brink of chaos.
Out July 13
The Therapist by B.A. Paris
The Therapist [10] by B.A. Paris follows a young couple as they move into the perfect gated community only to discover that something terrible happened in their new house. Now, Alice can't quit digging into the life of the therapist who lived there before them, even though her neighbours would much rather forget the past.
Out July 13
False Witness by Karin Slaughter
Defence attorney Leigh's life seems to be perfect from the outside in Karin Slaughter's False Witness [11]. But there's a darkness in her past that's just waiting to be exposed by her new client — a man she has no choice but to defend if she wants to protect herself and her little sister.
Out July 20
For Your Own Good by Samantha Downing
A teacher only wants what's best for his students in Samantha Downing's pitch black satirical thriller For Your Own Good [12]. As Teacher of the Year, Teddy believes it's his responsibility to guide his students through the world, even if that means defying their snobbish parents or teaching them a few hard life lessons along the way. Everything he does is for their own good, after all.
Out July 20
Just One Look by Lindsay Cameron
What begins as a bit of snooping turns into a dangerous obsession in Just One Look [13] by Lindsay Cameron. With her life falling apart around her, Cassie takes a temp job sorting through a large corporation's emails. Among the emails is a private correspondence between a seemingly perfect wife and husband, who Cassie can't stop herself from fixating on.
Out July 27
Not a Happy Family by Shari Lapena
An Easter dinner turns deadly in Not a Happy Family [14] by Shari Lapena. When Fred and Sheila Merton are brutally murdered, their adult children appear to be heartbroken. But appearances can be deceiving, and it's entirely possible one of them is responsible for the death of their parents.
Out July 27