The Bloody Ruin Asylum and Taproom by Seana KellyPublished by: NYLA
Publication Date: October 1st, 2024
Format: Kindle, 285 Pages
To Buy
The official patter:
"I'm Sam, the werewolf book nerd owner of The Slaughtered Lamb Bookstore & Bar. My husband, Master vampire Clive, has been asked to go to Budapest to interview for a position in the Guild, a council of thirteen vampires who advise the world's Masters. The competition for the recently vacated spot is fierce. I worry about Clive, as it quickly becomes apparent that the last person to hold the position didn't leave voluntarily.
Ever the supportive wife, I’m tagging along. I researched Budapest and had a long itinerary of things to do. That is, I did. When we arrive, we find out that the Guild headquarters is in the ruins of an abandoned insane asylum. Awesome. If there's one thing I love, it's being hounded by mentally unstable Hungarian ghosts.
Let's just say this isn't the romantic getaway I'd been hoping for. With Clive in top secret meetings and a bunch of creepy Renfields skulking around corners, nowhere is safe. I want to help Clive because I know he really wants the job, but the other Guild members are ancient and scary powerful. Between you and me, I thought Vlad would be taller."
Who's had this book preordered since April? That would be me.
How to Help a Hungry Werewolf by Charlotte SteinPublished by: St. Martin's Griffin
Publication Date: October 1st, 2024
Format: Paperback, 368 Pages
To Buy
The official patter:
"What We Do in the Shadows with the small town feels of Gilmore Girls in this swoon-worthy romance that will leave readers delightfully cozy and hungry for more.
When Cassandra Camberwell returns to her hometown of Hollow Brook to clear out her late grandmother's ramshackle old house, the last thing she expects is Seth Brubaker on her doorstep. Her former best friend was responsible for the worst moment of her high school life, and she can't imagine he wants to do anything but torment her all over again.
Until she unearths the real reason this annoyingly gorgeous beast of a man keeps hanging around: he's an actual werewolf, who's certain she's the witch that will ease his suffering. But Cassie just isn't sure if she can trust him again. So Seth offers a pact: he'll teach her all about her undiscovered magic, and she will brew the potions he needs. No feelings, no funny business, just a witch and a werewolf striking a deal.
Totally doable. Until they get hit with a do-or-die mating bond. And now the heat is rising, in between fights with formers bullies and encounters with talking raccoons. They just have to not give in. Unless giving in just might be the very thing they never knew they always wanted."
I was sold when I found out this is basically Gilmore Girls with werewolves.
The Crescent Moon Tearoom by Stacy SivinskiPublished by: Atria Books
Publication Date: October 1st, 2024
Format: Paperback, 336 Pages
To Buy
The official patter:
"An "impossibly endearing" (Sarah Penner, New York Times bestselling author) debut novel about three clairvoyant sisters who face an unexpected twist of Fate at the bottom of their own delicate porcelain cups.
Ever since the untimely death of their parents, Anne, Beatrix, and Violet Quigley have made a business of threading together the stories that rest in the swirls of ginger, cloves, and cardamon that lie at the bottom of their customers' cups. Their days at the teashop are filled with talk of butterflies and good fortune intertwined with the sound of cinnamon shortbread being snapped by laced fingers.
That is, until the Council of Witches comes calling with news that the city Diviner has lost her powers, and the sisters suddenly find themselves being pulled in different directions. As Anne's magic begins to develop beyond that of her sisters', Beatrix's writing attracts the attention of a publisher, and Violet is enchanted by the song of the circus - and perhaps a mischievous trapeze artist threatening to sweep her off her feet - it seems a family curse that threatens to separate the sisters is taking effect.
With dwindling time to rewrite their future and help three other witches challenge their own destinies, the Quigleys set out to bargain with Fate. But in focusing so closely on saving each other, will they lose sight of themselves?"
Can I just go live in this world?
Best Hex Ever by Nadia El-FassiPublished by: Dell
Publication Date: October 1st, 2024
Format: Paperback, 320 Pages
To Buy
The official patter:
"A kitchen witch with a penchant for baking and a (literally) cursed love life meets someone who's worth breaking a hex for in this enchanting romance debut written with a heap of spice and an equal measure of heart.
As a skilled kitchen witch, Dina Whitlock knows her way around a pastry recipe. In fact, she runs her very own London café, serving magic-infused treats to her loyal customers. She is not as much of an expert on romance, thanks to the hex hanging over her head. It's hard to fall in love when your partner is cursed with a string of bad luck. But who needs love when your best friend is getting married, right?
Scott Mason has returned from global travels thrilled to embark on his new role as a curator at the British Museum. Having left London two years ago to recover from a devastating breakup, Scott has missed out on a lot. With his best friend's wedding approaching, and Scott as best man, this is his chance to make up for lost time. Little does he expect to be enchanted by the magical maid of honor.
During a romantic weekend filled with a peculiar hedge maze, palm readings by candlelight, and a midnight Halloween ritual, there's no denying the chemistry between them. But the hex still holds, and Dina knows that Scott is in danger of more than just bad luck - because she's falling, hard. Will Dina be able to undo the hex before it's too late?"
I mean, who hasn't imagined falling for a member of the wedding party? This just has an extra dose of magic.
The Undead Complex by Courtney SmythPublished by: Titan Books (UK)
Publication Date: October 1st, 2024
Format: Paperback, 528 Pages
To Buy
The official patter:
"A witty, witchy fantasy murder mystery packed with ancient magic and fiendish puzzles. Mallory, Diana, Cornelia and Theodore are hired to solve a murder on a TV shoot by the victim herself. Perfect for fans of supernatural mysteries and cosy crime by authors such as Ben Aaronovitch, Josiah Bancroft and Tammie Painter.
Five months after they stopped The Whistler, business is booming for the Undetectables. Just not work that requires magical forensic investigators. So when Diana's ex asks them to solve a murder - her own - Diana, Mallory and Cornelia can't say no.
Going undercover to investigate the set of the TV show, Undead Complex, Diana returns to her life as a propmaker. But even the appearance of a genuine-article Francine Leon dollhouse leaves her feeling pulled down a path of crime-solving she doesn't want to walk forever.
Meanwhile, Theodore's coming apart at the seams - literally - and Mallory is running out of ways to help him. Especially as he seems to be keeping secrets from her.
As the clues - and the bodies - keep piling up, each one making less and less sense, the Undetectables find themselves in a race against time to find out what, exactly, the killer is up to - before the final cut."
I mean... I don't think I'd call Ben Aaronovitch cosy... And this reminds me more of Lockwood and Co....
Candle and Crow by Kevin HearnePublished by: Del Rey Books
Publication Date: October 1st, 2024
Format: Hardcover, 352 Pages
To Buy
The official patter:
"From the New York Times bestselling author of The Iron Druid Chronicles comes the final book in the "action-packed, enchantingly fun" (Booklist) Ink and Sigil series, as an ink-slinging wizard pursues the answer to a very personal mystery: Who cast a pair of curses on his head?
Al MacBharrais has a most unusual job: He's a practitioner of ink-and-sigil magic, tasked with keeping order among the gods and monsters that dwell hidden in the human world. But there's one supernatural mystery he's never been able to solve: Years ago, someone cast twin curses on him that killed off his apprentices and drove away loved ones who heard him speak, leaving him bereft and isolated.
But he's not quite alone: As Al works to solve this mystery, his friends draw him into their own eccentric dramas. Buck Foi the hobgoblin has been pondering his own legacy - and has a plan for a daring shenanigan that will make him the most celebrated hobgoblin of all. Nadia, goth queen and battle seer, is creating her own cult around a god who loves whisky and cheese.
And the Morrigan, a former Irish death goddess, has decided she wants not only to live as an ordinary woman but also to face the most perilous challenge of the mortal world: online dating.
Meanwhile, Al crosses paths with old friends and new - including some beloved Druids and their very good dogs - in his globe-trotting quest to solve the mystery of his curses. But he's pulled in so many different directions by his colleagues, a suspicious detective, and the whims of destructive gods that Al begins to wonder: Will he ever find time to write his own happy ending?"
Dammit, I wish this was coming out in the before times because Kevin Hearne's book tour looks amazing. Seriously, I'd totally go if it wasn't for Covid.
Casters and Crowns by Elizabeth LowhamPublished by: Shadow Mountain
Publication Date: October 1st, 2024
Format: Hardcover, 384 Pages
To Buy
The official patter:
"Cursed by magic, bound by mistakes, Princess Aria finds her destiny hinges on the mysterious Baron Reeves. Will love be enough to break the curse, or will war bring her kingdom to ruin? A new romantasy by Elizabeth Lowham.
When Crown Princess Aria sees her kingdom on the brink of war with the magic-wielding Casters, she takes it upon herself to speak with Widow Morton, the most dangerous Caster in the realm. If successful, Aria will not only ensure peace but also prove to her father that she is a worthy heir. But when her negotiations fail, Aria is dealt a terrible curse: Over the course of one hundred days, she will be unable to sleep, her body and mind doomed to waste away. And then the curse will pass to her sister, until every member of the king's line is dead.
Aria's best hope for breaking her curse is to seek help from another Caster - the handsome and charming Baron Reeves. He may be entitled to a place at the court, but as a magic user, can he truly be trusted? She vows to not be fooled by his dimpled smiles or his devotion to his brothers, but as she spends more time with him, she discovers that her heart has other ideas.
Baron has no desire to see the princess suffer - especially since she might be the key to changing the king's opinion on Casters - but he has secrets to protect and ghosts of his own. The last person he tried to save using his magic died, and he's not willing to risk harming someone he loves again.
As the curse continues its deadly countdown, both Aria and Baron must risk their lives and their hearts to save each other and unite a kingdom."
Damn. That is a damn wicked curse.
The Fate of Magic by Sara Raasch and Beth RevisPublished by: Sourcebooks Fire
Publication Date: October 1st, 2024
Format: Hardcover, 320 Pages
To Buy
The official patter:
"The breathtaking sequel to the instant New York Times bestseller Night of the Witch culminates with a sweeping romance and an epic battle to determine the fate of magic...and the world.
Fritzi is a champion. After escaping the clutches of Dieter Kirch, the sadistic leader of the witch hunters, Fritzi and Otto have taken refuge among the witches of the Black Forest. Fritzi is finally ready to assume her place on the council as the coven's goddess-chosen champion. Plagued by distrust and self-doubt, Fritzi throws herself into her duty to serve the goddesses...until she uncovers a powerful secret that could mean the very undoing of magic itself.
Otto is a warrior. He swears himself to Fritzi as her bonded protector, certain the peaceful unity of a witch and hunter will heal the wounds he helped make. But as the horrifying plot that threatens the Black Forest's magic comes to light, Otto will have to face both his past and what it means to bind himself to a magic he does not fully understand.
Shadows loom. Truths are revealed. And as dangers new and old arise, Fritzi and Otto must stand together against everything that threatens magic - even if the biggest threat might be the very bond they share."
Germanic witches for the win.
Now Comes the Mist by Julie C. DaoPublished by: Podium Publishing
Publication Date: October 1st, 2024
Format: Paperback, 304 Pages
To Buy
The official patter:
"Dracula's Lucy Westenra like you've never seen her before: In this retelling from critically acclaimed author Julie C. Dao, the perfect woman bites back.
Lucy Westenra is beautiful, rich, loved by three men - every inch a lady. But beneath this sparkling, flirtatious facade, she is fascinated by death, which has stalked her throughout her short life. For her, the dead do not slip away easily, as they do for her best friend, Mina; they linger.
When Lucy departs for Whitby, her nightly sleepwalks introduce her to the mysterious Vlad, who seems to see parts of her she has never let show before. Vlad makes her an offer: Every century, he seeks out the "perfect woman of the age," who embodies all the values of her society, to live with him in immortality - and Lucy could very well be this woman. For the first time, she feels herself able to share her darker side with someone. Thinking herself dreaming, she agrees to cheat death with him.
When Vlad finally appears in the light, it is aboard a ship covered in corpses. He toys with Lucy and mocks her in Mina's presence. And one night, he drains a corpse dry right before her eyes. He is a vampire, a monster ready to take her. He expects a good Victorian lady, appalled by his darkness, a victim. But Lucy is only enraptured. When Vlad reacts with violence, Lucy has no choice but to fight for her agency, even if it means giving up her humanity. And her tormentor will soon find she is no easy opponent...
The first book of a duology that retells Dracula from the point of view of Lucy Westenra, this Gothic romance is perfect for fans of Penny Dreadful and Danielle L. Jensen."
This Halloween season, more Lucy Westenra then you ever thought you needed! And yes, you did need it.
Northern Nights edited by Michael KellyPublished by: Undertow Publications
Publication Date: October 1st, 2024
Format: Paperback, 298 Pages
To Buy
The official patter:
"Something stirs in the boundless dark of the Canadian north. Listen. Can you hear it?
Northern Nights is an anthology of strange stories, featuring the dark dreams and feverish imaginations of Canada's finest speculative authors. Steel yourself for a journey through these northern nights.
Featuring all new original stories from Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Camilla Grudova, Premee Mohamed, David Demchuk, Senaa Ahmad, A.C. Wise, Naben Ruthnum, Simon Strantzas, Richard Gavin, Rich Larson, Hiron Ennes, Siobhan Carroll, Lynn Hutchinson Lee, Rory Say, David Nickle, Marc A. Godin, EC Dorgan, K.L. Schroeder, Nayani Jensen, and David Neil Lee."
Here for Hiron Ennes and Silvia Moreno-Garcia! And to discovering everyone else.
Coup de Grâce by Sofia AjramPublished by: Titan Books (UK)
Publication Date: October 1st, 2024
Format: Hardcover, 144 Pages
To Buy
The official patter:
"A mindbending and visceral experimental horror about a young man trapped in an infinite Montreal subway station, perfect for readers of Mark Z. Danielewski and Susanna Clarke.
Vicken has a plan: throw himself into the Saint Lawrence River in Montreal and end it all for good, believing it to be the only way out for him after a lifetime of depression and pain. But, stepping off the subway, he finds himself in an endless, looping station.
Determined to find a way out again, he starts to explore the rooms and corridors ahead of him. But no matter how many claustrophobic hallways or vast cathedral-esque rooms he passes through, the exit is nowhere in sight.
The more he explores his strange new prison, the more he becomes convinced that he hasn't been trapped there accidentally, and amongst the shadows and concrete, he comes to realise that he almost certainly is not alone. A terrifying psychological nightmare from a powerful new voice in horror."
I mean, I can see the Mark Z. Danielewski connection with House of Leaves, but Susanna Clarke?
I'll Be Waiting by Kelley ArmstrongPublished by: St. Martin's Press
Publication Date: October 1st, 2024
Format: Hardcover, 336 Pages
To Buy
The official patter:
"From New York Times Bestselling author Kelley Armstrong comes a spellbinding new tale of supernatural horror involving a haunted-house, seances, lost loved ones, and a sinister spirit out for blood...
Nicola Laughton never expected to see adulthood, being diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis as a child. Then medical advances let her live into her thirties and she met Anton, who taught her to dream of a future...together. Months after they married, Anton died in a horrible car crash, but lived long enough to utter five words to her, "I'll be waiting for you."
That final private moment became public when someone from the crash scene took it to the press - the terminally ill woman holding her dying husband as he promised to wait for her on the other side. Worse, that person claimed it wasn't Anton who said the words but his ghost, hovering over his body.
Since their story went public, Nicola has been hounded by spiritualists promising closure. In the hopes of stopping her downward spiral, friends and family find a reputable medium - a professor of parapsychology. For the séance, they rent the Lake Erie beach house that Anton's family once owned.
The medium barely has time to begin his work before things start happening. Locked doors mysteriously open. Clouds of insects engulf the house. Nicola hears footsteps and voices and the creak of an old dumbwaiter...in an empty shaft. Throughout it all she's haunted by nightmares of her past. Because, unbeknownst to the others, this isn't her first time contacting the dead. And Nicola isn't her real name.
That's when she finds the first body....
In this atmospheric, thrilling new ghost story, Kelley Armstrong's full talents are on display to thrill, chill and leave the reader guessing how Nicola escapes with her life - if she can."
This is just a book I'm dying to read, I'm dying for the cover to be art on my wall.
The House at Watch Hill by Karen Marie MoningPublished by: William Morrow and Company
Publication Date: October 1st, 2024
Format: Hardcover, 384 Pages
To Buy
The official patter:
"#1 New York Times bestselling author Karen Marie Moning is back with a gripping, imaginative, and seductive new series in which a young woman moves to Divinity, Louisiana, to inherit a large fortune and a Gothic mansion full of mysteries and ominous secrets...
Zo Grey is reeling from the sudden death of her mother when she receives a surprising call from an attorney in Divinity, Louisiana, with the news she has been left an inheritance by a distant relative, the terms of which he will only discuss in person. Destitute and alone, with nothing left to lose, Zo heads to Divinity and discovers she is the sole beneficiary of a huge fortune and a monstrosity of a house that sits ominously at the peak of Watch Hill - but she must live in it, alone, for three years before the house, or the money, is hers.
Met with this irresistible opportunity to finally build a future for herself, Zo puts aside her misgivings about the foreboding Gothic mansion and the strange circumstances, and moves in, where she is quickly met by a red-eyed Stygian owl and an impossibly sexy Scottish groundskeeper.
Her new home is full of countless secrets and mystifying riddles, with doors that go nowhere, others that are impossible to open, and a turret into which there is no visible means of ingress. And the townspeople are odd...
What Zo doesn't yet know is that her own roots lie in this very house and that in order to discover her true identity and awaken her dormant powers, she will have to face off against sinister forces she doesn't quite comprehend - or risk being consumed by them."
The real mystery though it a Scottish groundskeeper in Louisiana?
Secret Dead Men by Duane SwierczynskiPublished by: Titan Books (UK)
Publication Date: October 1st, 2024
Format: Paperback, 320 Pages
To Buy
The official patter:
"A smart-talking supernatural noir, full of twists and turns, delivered at a whipalong pace about a dead investigative-journalist-turned-soul-collector on the trail of his nemesis - nd murderer. Perfect for fans of Ben Aaranovitch and Richard Kadrey.
Del Farmer isn't your ordinary hardboiled private eye. Instead of collecting fingerprints or clues, he collects souls of the recently dead. His latest dead guy, Brad Larsen, might just be the key to destroying Farmer's long-time nemesis, The Association.
Of course, Farmer is sadly mistaken. An FBI agent unstuck in time is toying with him. A mysterious couple keeps trying to kill him. Another job - a mundane babysitting gig that pays the bills - is threatening to steer him way off course into a violent hell of sexual deceit, fractured identities, and cheap apartment toilets.
With only a head packed full of nagging ghosts, Farmer realises this case might just drive him out of his mind, literally."
A violent hell of sexual deceit? Isn't that the definition of Noir?
Model Home by Rivers SolomonPublished by: MCD
Publication Date: October 1st, 2024
Format: Hardcover, 304 Pages
To Buy
The official patter:
"Welcome to Rivers Solomon's dark and wondrous Model Home, a new kind of haunted-house novel.
The three Maxwell siblings keep their distance from the lily-white gated enclave outside Dallas where they grew up. When their family moved there, they were the only Black family in the neighborhood. The neighbors acted nice enough, but right away bad things, scary things - the strange and the unexplainable - began to happen in their house. Maybe it was some cosmic trial, a demonic rite of passage into the upper-middle class. Whatever it was, the Maxwells, steered by their formidable mother, stayed put, unwilling to abandon their home, terrors and trauma be damned.
As adults, the siblings could finally get away from the horrors of home, leaving their parents all alone in the house. But when news of their parents' death arrives, Ezri is forced to return to Texas with their sisters, Eve and Emanuelle, to reckon with their family's past and present, and to find out what happened while they were away. It was not a "natural" death for their parents...but was it supernatural?
Rivers Solomon turns the haunted-house story on its head, unearthing the dark legacies of segregation and racism in the suburban American South. Unbridled, raw, and daring, Model Home is the story of secret histories uncovered, and of a queer family battling for their right to live, grieve, and heal amid the terrors of contemporary American life."
Definitely a different kind of haunted house. I'm in.
Killer House Party by Lily AndersonPublished by: Henry Holt and Company
Publication Date: October 1st, 2024
Format: Hardcover, 304 Pages
To Buy
The official patter:
"From Printz Honor winning author Lily Anderson comes a young adult horror that follows Arden and her friends as their graduation party at an abandoned mansion turns into a bloody fight for survival.
Red Solo cups? Check. Snacks? Check. Abandoned mansion full of countless horrors that won't let you leave? Check.
The Deinhart Manor has been a looming shadow over town for as long as anyone can remember, and it's been abandoned for even longer. When the final Deinhart descendent passes, the huge Gothic manor is up for sale for the first time ever. Which means Arden can steal the keys from her mom's real estate office...It's time for a graduation party that no one will ever forget.
Arden and her friends each have different reasons for wanting to throw the party to end all parties. But when the manor doors bar everyone inside and the walls begin to bleed, all anyone wants to do is make it out alive."
I love that the house SO doesn't want to have a party thrown in it.
Society of Lies by Lauren Ling BrownPublished by: Bantam
Publication Date: October 1st, 2024
Format: Hardcover, 384 Pages
To Buy
The official patter:
"How far would you go to belong?
Maya has returned to Princeton for her college reunion - it's been a decade since she graduated, and she is looking forward to seeing old faces and reminiscing about her time there. This visit is special because Maya will also be attending the graduation of her little sister, Naomi.
But what should have been a dream weekend becomes Maya's worst nightmare when she receives the news that Naomi is dead. The police are calling it an accident, but Maya suspects that there is more to the story than they are letting on.
As Maya pieces together what happened in the months leading up to her sister's death, she begins to realize how much Naomi hid from her. Despite Maya's warnings, Naomi had joined Sterling Club, the most exclusive social club on campus - the same one Maya belonged to. And if she had to guess, Naomi was likely tapped for the secret society within it.
The more Maya uncovers, the more terrified she becomes that Naomi's decision to follow in her footsteps might have been what got her killed. Because Maya's time at Princeton wasn't as wonderful as she'd always made it seem - after all, her sister wasn't the first young woman to turn up dead. Now every clue is leading Maya back to the past...and to the secret she's kept all these years."
Oh, I need to know the secret that's MORE secret than the secret society!
Suggested in the Stars by Yoko TawadaPublished by: New Directions Publishing Corporation
Publication Date: October 1st, 2024
Format: Paperback, 224 Pages
To Buy
The official patter:
"It's hard to believe there could be a more enjoyable novel than Scattered All Over the Earth - Yoko Tawada's rollicking, touching, cheerfully dystopian novel about friendship and climate change - but surprising her readers is what Tawada does best: its sequel, Suggested in the Stars, delivers exploits even more poignant and shambolic.
As Hiruko - whose Land of Sushi has vanished into the sea and who is still searching for someone who speaks her mother tongue - and her new friends travel onward, they begin opening up to one another in new and extraordinary ways. They try to help their friend Susanoo regain his voice, both for his own good and so he can speak with Hiruko - and amid many often hilarious misunderstandings (some linguistic in nature) - they empower each other against despair. Coping with carbon footprint worries but looping singly and in pairs, they hitchhike, take late-night motorcycle rides, and hop on the train (learning about railway strikes but also packed-train-yoga) to convene in Copenhagen. There they find Susanoo in a strange hospital working with a scary speech-loss doctor. In the half-basement of this weird medical center (with strong echoes of Lars von Trier's 1990s TV series The Kingdom), they also find two special kids washing dishes. They discover magic radios, personality swaps, ship tickets delivered by a robot, and other gifts. But friendship - loaning one another the nerve and heart to keep going - sets them all (and the reader) to dreaming of something more...Suggested in the Stars delivers new delights, and Yoko Tawada's famed new trilogy will conclude in 2025 with Archipelago of the Sun, even if nobody will ever want this "strange, exquisite" (The New Yorker) trip to end."
Yeah, it is heard to believe someone found the first book enjoyable because it was literally one of the worst books I've ever read brimming with racism and trans hate.
Elevator in Sài Gòn by ThuânPublished by: New Directions Publishing Corporation
Publication Date: October 1st, 2024
Format: Paperback, 192 Pages
To Buy
The official patter:
"A young Vietnamese woman living in Paris travels back to Saigon for her estranged mother's funeral. Her brother had recently built a new house in Saigon, and staged a grotesquely lavish ceremony for their mother to inaugurate what was rumored to be the first elevator in a private home in the country. But shortly after the ceremony, in the middle of the night, their mother mysteriously fell down the elevator shaft, dying in an instant.
After the funeral, the daughter becomes increasingly fascinated with her family's history, and begins to investigate and track an enigmatic figure, Paul Polotsky, who emerges from her mother's notebook. Like an amateur sleuth, she trails Polotsky through the streets of Paris, sneaking behind him as he goes about his usual routines; meanwhile, she researches her mother's past - zigzagging across France and Asia - trying to find clues to the spiraling, deepening questions her mother left behind unanswered - and perhaps unanswerable.
Still banned in Vietnam, Elevator in Sài Gòn is a thrilling novel combining elements of the detective thriller, historical romance, postcolonial ghost story, and a biting satire of life in a communist state."
Yes, just so much yes.
The Mistletoe Mystery by Nita ProsePublished by: Ballantine Books
Publication Date: October 1st, 2024
Format: Hardcover, 128 Pages
To Buy
The official patter:
"Molly the Maid has a whole new mystery to solve in this heartwarming novella from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Maid and The Mystery Guest.
Molly Gray has always loved the holidays. When Molly was a child, her gran went to great lengths to make the season merry and bright, full of cherished traditions. The first few Christmases without Gran were hard on Molly, but this year, her beloved boyfriend and fellow festive spirit, Juan Manuel, is intent on making the season Molly's mofinst joyful yet.
But when a Secret Santa gift exchange at the Regency Grand Hotel raises questions about who Molly can and cannot trust, she dives headfirst into solving her most consequential - and personal - mystery yet. Molly has a bad feeling about things, and she starts to wonder: has she yet again mistaken a frog for a prince?
A heartwarming, magical story about the true spirit of the season, The Mistletoe Mystery reminds us that love is the greatest mystery of all."
Can we make it mandatory that series we love have to have Christmas novellas? Because that would really make my holiday season.
Rough Pages by Lev A.C. RosenPublished by: Forge
Publication Date: October 1st, 2024
Format: Hardcover, 272 Pages
To Buy
The official patter:
"Set in atmospheric 1950s San Francisco, Rough Pages asks who is allowed to tell their own stories, and how far would you go to seek out the truth.
Private Detective Evander "Andy" Mills has been drawn back to the Lavender House estate for a missing person case. Pat, the family butler, has been volunteering for a book service, one that specializes in mailing queer books to a carefully guarded list of subscribers. With bookseller Howard Salzberger gone suspiciously missing along with his address book, everyone on that list, including some of Andy's closest friends, is now in danger.
A search of Howard's bookstore reveals that someone wanted to stop him and his co-owner, Dorothea Lamb, from sending out their next book. The evidence points not just to the Feds, but to the Mafia, who would be happy to use the subscriber list for blackmail.
Andy has to maneuver through both the government and the criminal world, all while dealing with a nosy reporter who remembers him from his days as a police detective and wants to know why he's no longer a cop. With his own secrets closing in on him, can Andy find the list before all the lives on it are at risk?"
A wonderful mystery that is sadly still very timely.
Violet Kelly and the Jade Owl by Fiona BrittonPublished by: Allen and Unwin
Publication Date: October 1st, 2024
Format: Paperback, 296 Pages
To Buy
The official patter:
"An arch, out-of-the-box debut historical crime caper for fans of Phryne Fisher.
A centuries-old curse, a house of secrets and a young woman determined to find out the truth.
Sydney, 1930: In a well-heeled corner of Paddington, just a short distance from the razor gangs of Darlinghurst and Kings Cross, sits La Maison des Fleurs, an upscale brothel run by the indomitable Madame. The star of La Maison is Violet Kelly - beautiful, clever and determined to make something of herself in a world that has already taken so much.
When a former associate of Madame's emerges to claim a long-owed favor involving a kidnapped girl and an ancient curse, Violet is drawn into a risky game of cat and mouse that takes her from dangerous underworld dealings to raucous parties to untold stories about her own past, and, eventually, right into the heart of La Maison des Fleurs. But how much is she willing to risk to save her friends, her home and the life she's come to love? And will it be enough?
Violet Kelly is Agatha Christie with a Beretta tucked into her French lingerie."
A hooker with a good right hook?
Murder Among the Pyramids by Sara RosettPublished by: McGuffin Ink
Publication Date: October 1st, 2024
Format: Paperback, 318 Pages
To Buy
The official patter:
"Escape on an Egyptian Excursion to the Land of the Pyramids!
Tour highlights include: Hieroglyphics and high tea in the desert, followed by murder after sunset...
It's 1924 and Blix Windway has made a career out of her wanderlust, giving lectures to ladies' groups about everything from the flora of the American desert to the beauty of the Swiss Alps, but she needs new material for her talks.
She strikes what seems to be an ideal agreement with an eccentric older lady. Blix will be her travel companion during a journey to Egypt, helping to smooth the way through customs and coordinate sightseeing tours. The arrangement will provide Blix with the perfect opportunity to photograph the pyramids and gather material for her next lecture series. But they've barely left England before the trouble begins-rough seas and an attempted robbery. Then a murder occurs during a tour of the pyramids.
Despite the attempts of the British officials to sweep the death under the rug, Blix becomes increasingly convinced that one of their tour party is a murderer. Blix's search for the truth takes her from the posh sporting clubs and lavish gardens of Cairo to the narrow, twisting lanes of the city's centuries-old bazaar and the vast desert around the Giza Plateau. Can Blix unearth the truth before the killer makes this journey her last?
Join Blix on this classic murder mystery from Sara Rosett, author of the beloved High Society Lady Detective series."
I already have my signed copy preordered! I so can't wait to meet Blix!
Tomb of the Sun King by Jacquelyn BensonPublished by: Vaughan Woods Publishing
Publication Date: October 1st, 2024
Format: Paperback, 496 Pages
To Buy
The official patter:
"Respectable lady scholars shouldn't be dodging evildoers, escaping lost tombs, and chasing down magical artifacts.
Archivist and suffragette Ellie Mallory always dreamed of putting her scholarly skills to work in the ancient sands of Egypt. She never imagined she would be doing so in order to save an object of legendary power from a batch of ruthless villains.
Racing baddies to an arcanum of Biblical proportions is only one of Ellie's problems. Her hopelessly academic and perpetually mortified step-brother, Dr. Neil Fairfax, is about to learn that she's been gallivanting around the globe with his danger-magnet best friend, Adam Bates - the roguish surveyor for whom Ellie harbors increasingly complicated feelings. Add the petite and terrifyingly fearless Constance Tyrrell to the mix, and Ellie either has a crack team of artifact-saving experts on hand...or a recipe for disaster.
Together, they'll need to follow a trail of three-thousand-year-old clues from the necropolis of Saqqara to the temples of Luxor - and beyond, where the ruined capital of a heretic pharaoh hides a secret with the potential to upend history.
To keep an earth-shattering magic from falling into the wrong hands, Ellie will need to pull out all the stops, even if that means resorting to fisticuffs, ignoring proper archaeological processes...and solving one of Egypt's greatest mysteries.
Dive into Tomb of the Sun King now to experience the next action-packed historical fantasy adventure in the Raiders of the Arcana series!"
I'm just saying, a crack team can also be a recipe for disaster, it's not an either or situation.
Specters in the Glass House by Jaime Jo WrightPublished by: Bethany House Publishers
Publication Date: October 1st, 2024
Format: Paperback, 368 Pages
To Buy
The official patter:
"In 1921, Marian Arnold, the heiress to a brewing baron's empire, seeks solace in the glass butterfly house on her family's Wisconsin estate as Prohibition and the deaths of her parents cast a long shadow over her shrinking world. When Marian's sanctuary is invaded by nightmarish visions, she grapples with the line between hallucinations of things to come and malevolent forces at play in the present. With dead butterflies as the killer's ominous signature, murders unfold at a steady pace. Marian, fearful she might be next, enlists the help of her childhood friend Felix, a war veteran with his own haunted past.
In the present day, researcher Remy Shaw becomes entangled in an elderly biographer's quest to uncover the truth behind Marian Arnold's mysterious life and the unsolved murders linked to an infamous serial killer. Joined by Marian's great-great-grandson, can Remy expose the evil that lurks beneath broken wings? Or will the dark legacy surrounding the manor and its glass house destroy yet another generation?
Renowned as a "trailblazer extraordinaire" (Booklist) of inspirational dual-time suspense, award-winning author Jaime Jo Wright weaves a haunting tale of mystery, legacy, and the relentless pursuit of truth across two distinct eras."
I mean, Wisconsin and serial killers do go together...
Love and the Downfall of Society by Melinda CoppPublished by: Tiny Piano Press
Publication Date: October 1st, 2024
Format: Paperback, 280 Pages
To Buy
The official patter:
"After turning society upside down with her debut story, provincial Charlotte Deveraux arrives in Paris poised for literary stardom. She's not sure where her next rent payment will come from, but she's determined to make a name for herself as a respected writer in the cultural capital of the world.
Antoine de Larminet is the last surviving son of an aristocratic family. In line to inherit a title, he has promised his parents that he'll marry a peer and carry on the centuries-old tradition. He was raised in an antiquated world where love was often found outside of arranged society marriages. Even as the French aristocracy is losing relevance to modernity, Antoine never questioned this commitment to this family legacy - until his chance meeting with clever and beautiful Charlotte.
Their attraction is immediate, and the more they bump into each other at the clubs and salons of Paris, the stronger their attachment grows. But Antoine can't marry Charlotte because she's as proletarian as they come. And Charlotte will lose all credibility as a writer and social critic if she becomes the mistress of an aristocrat.
The world around them is changing, but if love is to win, one of them will have to give up everything they stand for."
I have a feeling that love can find a compromise...
Frostfire by Elly MacKayPublished by: Tundra Books (NY)
Publication Date: October 1st, 2024
Format: Hardcover, 44 Pages
To Buy
The official patter:
"Follow dragon-expert Miriam and curious Celeste on a magical winter's day walk through their garden, where a snow dragon just might be hiding! Elly MacKay's luminous artwork and sweet sibling story will cast a spell over readers of all ages in this playfully imaginative picture book that's perfect for fans of Frozen.
On a walk through a snow-covered garden, big sister Miriam claims to hear the sound of a snow dragon. Little sister Celeste has lots of questions: snow dragons are real? Where do they hide? What do they eat? And is that frost on the greenhouse windows or is it...frostfire?
Miriam seems to have an answer for everything about snow dragons. But when Celeste wanders off, she has a magical encounter that changes everything she thought she knew.
Told through gently playful dialogue and brought to life with spectacular works of paper diorama art, Elly Mackay's newest picture book is an enchanting wintertime adventure destined to become a classic seasonal fairy tale that readers will enjoy for years to come."
Oh my, so much to love here, foxes and dragons on a winters day!
Bowie by Martin PopoffPublished by: Motorbooks International
Publication Date: October 1st, 2024
Format: Hardcover, 208 Pages
To Buy
The official patter:
"This value-priced reissue of Bowie at 75 (2022) celebrates the beloved rock star with expert commentary, hundreds of images, and an illustrated gatefold timeline.
Hendrix, Joplin, Mercury...few rock artists garner as much adulation after passing as they did in life. In David Bowie, veteran rock journalist Martin Popoff examines the rocker's extraordinary life through the lens of 75 significant career achievements and life events, guiding you through all 27 studio albums, as well as a curated selection of earworm singles. But Popoff delves deeper to reveal the events that helped chart the course of Bowie's career:
-Guest appearances with artists like Iggy Pop, Lou Reed, Tina Turner, and Queen
-Key performances such as Live Aid
-Collaborations with an incredible roster of guitarists that included Mick Ronson, Adrian Belew, Robert Fripp, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Nile Rodgers, and Earl Slick
-Film and television roles
-Romance...and more.
From his eponymous 1967 debut LP and ending with Blackstar, released just two days before his death, Bowie is regarded as one of the most influential musicians and performers of the previous five decades, during which he constantly redefined himself. In examining 75 touchstones, Popoff gives you a unique view of Bowie's career arc from folkie to the breakthrough single "Space Oddity" to his flamboyant glam rock alter ego, Ziggy Stardust, and beyond.
Illustrated with live concert and candid offstage photography as well as memorabilia including gig posters, 7-inch picture sleeves, and more, this incredible package also includes a gatefold timeline, making for a stunning tribute to one of the most influential and admired stars in rock history."
Dammit. I miss David Bowie so much.
Crave by Maria LlovetPublished by: Image Comics
Publication Date: October 1st, 2024
Format: Paperback, 176 Pages
To Buy
The official patter:
"Black Mirror meets Eyes Wide Shut in this dark and sexy erotic thriller.
Crave, a mysterious app that promises to make your desires come true, spreads among the students of an elite university who use it as a hookup app. David, a top student, engages in a game of seduction with the unattainable Alexandra. But as requests to the app escalate and wreak havoc on campus, David and his friends' only chance to stop this spiral is to find out what really lies behind Crave.
In this dark, sexy mystery, writer/artist Maria Llovet (Luna, Faithless, Sandman Universe Thessaly) explores how we connect to the world and to others in the dawn of AI.
Collects Crave #1-#6"
I don't like AI at all, but I love stories about how AI can go evil.
The Lonesome Hunters Library Edition by Tyler CrookPublished by: Dark Horse Books
Publication Date: October 1st, 2024
Format: Hardcover, 240 Pages
To Buy
The official patter:
"From Russ Manning award-winning and Eisner-nominated Harrow County co-creator Tyler Crook comes this supernatural fantasy about loss, power, and destiny.
An old and out-of-practice monster hunter in hiding crosses paths with a young girl that forces him to confront these chaotic creatures. As the beasts invade their tenement, they set off on a supernatural road trip to stop these ancient evils in a story that explores the ways that youth informs adulthood and how early traumas can haunt us in old age.
Collects Lonesome Hunters series I and II together for the first time in a deluxe, library edition hardcover book with a dustjacket and a new cover."
The BEST part of the release is that it says "Volume One" which means at some point we're getting another arc in this wonderfully strange world that Tyler Crook has created.
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