Update Consent

Best New Mystery and Thriller Books of May 2021

May's 12 Best Thriller and Mystery Books Will Take You From Scotland to the Supreme Court

May 4 2021

As POPSUGAR editors, we independently select and write about stuff we love and think you'll like too. If you buy a product we have recommended, we may receive affiliate commission, which in turn supports our work.

As evidenced by the sheer amount of must-read thrillers and mysteries hitting shelves this May, thriller season is officially in full swing. From the latest release from The Flight Attendant author Chris Bohjalian to a new book destined to give you major Desperate Housewives vibes, this month is full of gripping and unique tales of secrets, murders, and betrayals. Whether you're in the mood for an enthralling courtroom drama or a book that will transport you to the past, we've got you covered. The 12 thrillers and mysteries on this list are a varied bunch, and there's something that's sure to please every kind of suspense-lover out there.

Image Source: Amazon

1. Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Manansala

Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Manansala is the first book in a new food-centric cosy mystery series. The series kicks off with Lila Macapagal returning home after a bad breakup to save her family's restaurant. However, things take a turn when her food-critic ex dies shortly after the two of them argue, making Lila the number one suspect in the eyes of the police.

Out May 4

Image Source: Amazon.com

2. Hour of the Witch by Chris Bohjalian

Chris Bohjalian's latest thriller is a nail-biting historical novel about a woman whose quest for a divorce in 1662 Boston might just end with her being branded a witch. In Hour of the Witch, 24-year-old Mary Deerfield is desperate to escape her violent husband, Thomas. But in the New World, where every woman is under suspicion of being a witch, her desire to escape her marriage may end up sending her to the gallows if she isn't careful.

Out May 4

Image Source: Amazon.com

3. Leda and the Swan by Anna Caritj

On Halloween night, one girl goes missing, sparking an obsessive need to find her in another young woman in Anna Caritj's Leda and the Swan. Leda's Halloween night begins with flirting and the promise of fun, but when she wakes up in her crush's dorm the next morning, she has little recollection of the previous night's events. What she does remember is talking to one of her fellow students who was dressed as a swan — a student who is now being reported missing.

Out May 4

Image Source: Amazon.com

4. The Secret Talker by Geling Yan

An emotional affair leads to a dangerous investigation in The Secret Talker by Geling Yan. From the outside, Hongmei's marriage to her husband, Glen, seems perfect, but the truth is they barely speak to each other anymore, which makes the flirty emails she's receiving from a secret admirer all the more alluring. However, once she begins spilling secrets about her time as a military intelligence officer in training in China, she realises she has no choice but to track down the identity of the person she's been talking to online.

Out May 4

Image Source: Amazon.com

Watch This!

Pop Quiz

Watch the Cast of Fear Street Play a Creepy Game of Horror Movie "Would You Rather"

5. Find You First by Linwood Barclay

Find You First by Linwood Barclay is a chilling story about a man in a race against time to warn his biological children that he may have passed on a terminal disease to them. Two decades before he became a tech millionaire, Miles Cookson donated his sperm to make ends meet, and as a result, he has nine biological children he has never met. When he learns he doesn't have long to live, he decides to track down all nine of his children to warn them he may have passed on the disease and to give them his fortune — but just as he connects with his filmmaker daughter, Chloe, the other children begin disappearing as if they never existed at all.

Out May 11

Image Source: Amazon.com

6. The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz

After the release of a well-reviewed first book, Jacob Finch Bonner's career as a writer falters, prompting him to become a teacher in Jean Hanff Korelitz's twisty novel The Plot. Due to his own brush with fame, Jacob is sceptical when one of his student's brags about his grand idea for a book, but then Jacob hears the proposed plot and realises the young man is on the verge of superstardom in the literary field. Naturally, when his student turns up dead, Jacob decides to steal the book and publish it himself, but his newfound fame is threatened when someone from his student's past sends him a note revealing they know he's a liar.

Out May 11

Image Source: Amazon.com

7. While Justice Sleeps by Stacey Abrams

Bestselling author and national leader Stacey Abrams's latest book, While Justice Sleeps, is a taut thriller set within the halls of the Supreme Court. When Justice Howard Wynn, who is notorious for his swing vote, slips into a coma, his law clerk Avery Keene becomes his legal guardian and power of attorney. As a result, she becomes privy to his research into the proposed merger of an American biotech company and an Indian genetics firm that connects to a conspiracy that runs straight through the heart of Washington.

Out May 11

Image Source: Amazon.com

8. The First Day of Spring by Nancy Tucker

The First Day of Spring by Nancy Tucker is a difficult read at times, but this debut is too original to be missed. The story follows a woman named Chrissie, who, at the age of 8, killed one of her playmates. Now, two decades later, she's living under an assumed name in hopes of giving her daughter the childhood she never had, but no matter how far she runs, Chrissie can't escape her past.

Out May 18

Image Source: Amazon.com

9. The Hunting Wives by May Cobb

In The Hunting Wives by May Cobb, a woman named Sophie O'Neill moves from Chicago to a small town in Texas with her husband and son. Soon, she falls in with a clique of women who love martinis and target practice. But there's more to the Hunting Wives than just sharing drinks and gossip — these women can be deadly, as Sophie finds out firsthand when a teenage girl is discovered dead in the woods.

Out May 18

Image Source: Amazon.com

10. Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica

Bestselling author Mary Kubica's latest thriller, Local Woman Missing, will chill you to the bone. Two women and a little girl go missing just days apart in a small community, but the case quickly goes cold. Then, 11 years later, Delilah, who was just 6 when she disappeared, returns with a shocking story about where she has been all these years.

Out May 18

Image Source: Amazon.com

11. Madam by Phoebe Wynne

Madam by Phoebe Wynne is a modern Gothic tale set at an elite boarding school for girls that has been open for 150 years. As the first new hire in more than a decade, Rose is shocked to discover just how antiquated the school's practices are, but her shock quickly turns to dread when she begins digging into the past of her predecessor.

Out May 18

Image Source: Amazon.com

12. Unsettled Ground by Claire Fuller

Unsettled Ground by Claire Fuller is a story of family secrets and resiliency set against the backdrop of the English countryside. Twins Jeanie and Julius have lived alone with their mother, Dot, for 51 years. Together, the trio create a safe haven for themselves far removed from the rest of the world, but when Dot dies, reality comes crashing in and forces them to confront their mother's secrets as they search for somewhere to call home.

Out May 18

Image Source: Amazon.com

Want More?

POPSUGAR Would Like To Send You Push Notifications.