There's a fresh batch of mysteries and thrillers books [1] coming your way this month, and trust us, the chill factor is high with these must reads. Among the most exciting thrillers hitting shelves in October [2] are new titles from fan-favourite writers like Louise Penny, C.J. Cooke, and Lisa Unger. But prepare to discover a few new authors to add to your favourites list as well. From a riveting novel that tackles the horror of complicity to the story of a young cop's dangerous journey into the dark heart of Los Angeles, October's best thriller and mystery books [3] will keep you up reading way past your bedtime.
Under Colour of Law by Aaron Philip Clark
Aaron Philip Clark's Under Colour of Law [4] tackles the debate surrounding police reform head on with a protagonist who hopes to change the system from the inside out. Unfortunately for Trevor "Finn" Finnegan, the corruption within the Los Angeles Police Department runs deeper than he ever imagined, and when a volatile case leads him deep within the city's underbelly, Finn's very life may be on the line.
Oct. 1
Last Girl Ghosted by Lisa Unger
The world of online dating is even scarier than usual in Lisa Unger's intense Last Girl Ghosted [5]. After forming an instant connection with a man she matches with on a dating app, a woman is astonished when he completely ghosts her. But that's only the beginning — she soon realises he's done this before, and the women in question have all disappeared.
Out Oct. 5
The Lighthouse Witches by C.J. Cooke
C.J. Cooke's The Lighthouse Witches [6] is an unnerving Gothic thriller designed to keep readers guessing. Twenty years after two sisters went missing on a Scottish island, one of them returns, but somehow, she's still a child. The third sister is sceptical, but she knows the only way to unravel the mystery is to return home and face the truth about what happened to her siblings.
Out Oct. 5
The Neighbour's Secret by L. Alison Heller
If you've been craving a Big Little Lies-esque thriller, then The Neighbour's Secret [7] by L. Alison Heller is sure to be one of your favourite reads this year. The story focuses on a book club populated by suburban moms who love to read mysteries and thrillers. But when increasingly violent acts of vandalism target the group's members, it becomes apparent their idyllic cul-de-sac isn't all that different from the dark stories they love reading so much.
Out Oct. 5
Reprieve by James Han Mattson
Destined to be one of the most talked-about books of the year, Reprieve [8] by James Han Mattson is a searing novel of suspense, horror, and class politics. In 1997, a disparate group of people attempt to navigate a full-contact haunted escape room in hopes of winning a cash prize. What begins as a night of controlled fun spirals out of control when someone is murdered, leaving the rest of the group to contemplate their complicity in the heinous act.
Out Oct. 5
No One Will Miss Her by Kat Rosenfield
No One Will Miss Her [9] by Kat Rosenfield is a thriller for the digital age. Narrated from beyond the grave by Lizzie, the most hated person in her small town, she recounts how her life became entangled with a famous influencer's and how their fateful meeting led to her untimely demise.
Out Oct. 12
Silverview by John Le Carré
John Le Carré died in December 2020, but the prolific author left behind one final novel, Silverview [10]. Like so many of his most famous works, Silverview takes readers inside a world of espionage and mystery. This time the focus is on Julian Lawndsley, a man who leaves behind his career to run a small bookshop, only to find he can't outrun his past.
Out Oct. 12
State of Terror by Hillary Rodham Clinton and Louise Penny
Bestselling authors Hillary Rodham Clinton and Louise Penny have combined their unique perspectives to serve up a Byzantine tale of political intrigue on a global scale in State of Terror [11]. When an untested secretary of state is confronted with an international conspiracy, she'll have to team up with a journalist and a foreign service officer to unravel the intricate plot that is unfolding around her.
Out Oct. 12
Litani by Jess Lourey
Inspired in part by the satanic panic of the '80s, Litani [12] by Jess Lourey is an eerie thriller about a 14-year-old girl named Frankie who moves to a small town where whispers of an event called "The Game" hint at something dark going on just below the surface. After a group of bullies invite her to join the mysterious event, Frankie becomes determined to discover what's really going on in her new hometown.
Out Oct. 19
As the Wicked Watch by Tamron Hall
Emmy Award-winning journalist Tamron Hall kicks off a new mystery series with As the Wicked Watch [13]. Crime reporter Jordan Manning's move to Chicago is meant to kick her career up a notch, but she soon becomes consumed with fighting for justice when she realises the deaths of two Black women that most of the media would rather ignore are actually connected.
Out Oct. 26
Fan Club by Erin Mayer
Celebrity obsession becomes deadly in Fan Club [14] by Erin Mayer. When a disillusioned millennial finds a sense of purpose within a group of fans devoted to tracking every move a famous pop star makes, she soon realises there is something sinister lurking beneath the club's obsessive love for the celeb.
Out Oct. 26
Lemon by Kwon Yeo-sun
Lemon [15] by Kwon Yeo-sun is an evocative crime novel that's as much about exploring privilege and trauma as it as about solving the central mystery. Seventeen years after the death of high school student Kim Hae-on, the case has gone cold. But while the rest of the world has moved on, her younger sister can't stop searching for answers.
Out Oct. 26
These Silent Woods by Kimi Cunningham Grant
In These Silent Woods [16] by Kimi Cunningham Grant, a father will do anything to preserve his life with his daughter — even if it means they have to live in total isolation. For eight years, the father and daughter have lived in a house in the woods with no electricity and minimal interaction with the outside world, but when a new person shows up in the area, their carefully constructed life is in danger of falling apart.
Out Oct. 26