Showing posts with label Jennifer Lynn Barnes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jennifer Lynn Barnes. Show all posts

Monday, November 2, 2026

Tuesday Tomorrow

Numb Were the Beadsman's Fingers by Alan Bradley
Published by: Bantam
Publication Date: November 3rd, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 256 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A nun's corpse leads beloved amateur sleuth Flavia de Luce to uncover decades-old secrets in this charming final novel in the New York Times bestselling series.

In the cloisters of Golgotha House, a mere binocular's-squint away from Buckshaw, a nun lies dead. When her fellow sisters prepare her corpse for burial, they discover that their companion has been living a shocking lie for years. The truth about her past, and the dark reasons she harbored for escaping it, are impossible to fathom.

Charged with cracking this mystery is the firm of Arthur W. Dogger and Associates (Discreet investigations) - consisting, of course, of the inimitable young Flavia de Luce and her faithful partner-in-detection Dogger.

Working under the eye of a glowering Mother Superior, Flavia and Dogger must uncover a decades-old crime and a secret that lies an ocean away - along with a trail of deception that lies closer to home."

Yet another stunning book in Alan Bradley's series. I'm so sad it's the last, but in his afterward it felt like the end and a fitting goodbye and then he died while I was reading it. He will forever remain a favorite author of mine.

Nightingale Hall by Rachel Burton
Published by: Boldwood Books Ltd
Publication Date: November 3rd, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 282 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Discover a BRAND NEW gorgeous, enchanting historical read from the BESTSELLING author of The Butterfly Garden, Rachel Burton.

In the storeroom of a North London gallery sits a picture shrouded in mystery. The old painting, of a grand house beneath a luminous moon, was the final work of a rising young artist who was poised for stardom...until they vanished without a trace.

2019: Still grieving the loss of her beloved grandmother, Rosie has let her world grow small. But when she discovers a postcard of the painting tucked inside her grandmother's unfinished book, Rosie realises the artwork may be hiding a secret much closer to home.

1969: Lex Cooper has talent, ambition and a dazzling future in the artworld ahead. But one heartbreaking decision threatens everything Lex has worked for, and the painting that was set to make them famous, could well prove Lex's undoing...

As Rosie follows the trail Lex left behind, she uncovers a story of love, loss and reinvention - and a truth that will change everything."

And then Lovejoy arrives and solves it all! Perhaps I shouldn't have watched ALL of Lovejoy this year, because I now think he's the answer to a lot of problems.

Web of Ink by Rebecca Connolly
Published by: Shadow Mountain
Publication Date: November 3rd, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 304 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"In 1920s London, "Lady Detective" Maud West enlists newly published Agatha Christie to covertly investigate a dangerous mystery, propelling the unlikely duo through mounting threats and blackmail in a quest to deliver justice.

In early 1920s London, Maud West has gained a public reputation as "London's Lady Detective," though the title is largely of her own making. Her self-written newspaper accounts bring her notoriety, but not the professional respect she craves. Instead of high-profile investigations, she is routinely assigned divorce work, missing persons, and blackmail - cases that rarely challenge her talents or elevate her status. When a frightened woman comes to her office claiming she is being stalked by a strange man, Maud senses a rare opportunity to prove her skill. As she digs deeper, she discovers that her client's troubles are tied to a clandestine gang operating within the city. The threats quickly escalate, and soon Maud herself becomes a target.

Elsewhere in London, Agatha Christie is both a new mother and a rising author, thrilled to see her first detective novel in print. Yet she hungers to observe a real investigation firsthand. Maud West's exploits in the newspapers captivate her imagination and fuel her desire to study genuine detective work.

To Agatha's astonishment, she receives a message from Maud requesting a private meeting. Maud outlines the increasingly perilous case and proposes a partnership: As a public figure tied to the investigation, she needs someone inconspicuous and sharp-minded to assist her. Agatha, a crime novelist rather than a known detective, is the perfect covert ally. Together, the celebrated detective and the rising mystery writer become entangled in a dangerous, twisting web that will test their ingenuity, courage, and trust as they work to bring justice to light."

After her first book was Agatha Christie that inconspicuous? 

The Lost Souls of Saint Oda's by Jess Armstrong
Published by: Minotaur Books
Publication Date: November 3rd, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 320 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Jess Armstrong's USA Today Bestselling and award winning Ruby Vaughn Mysteries return in The Lost Souls of Saint Oda's.

1923. American heiress Ruby Vaughn hoped the new year would bring less murder and far less of the occult, allowing her to spend her days at the rare book shop she runs alongside her octogenarian employer, and exploring her fledgling romance with Ruan Kivell, the intriguing folk healing Pellar she met in Cornwall. But fate often has other plans. Ruby has long believed her entire family died when the Lusitania sank in 1915, however when her solicitor brings news that her mother inexplicably survived the catastrophe and he believes he's found her in a Belgian hospital just across the channel, Ruby dares not hope it's true. For if there's one thing Ruby Vaughn knows, it is that hope is the surest way to a broken heart.

With trepidation, Ruby and Ruan set off for Belgium with a simple task - to go to the hospital at Saint Oda's priory, find her mother, and bring her home. However, upon her arrival at the priory, Ruby learns the woman they sought had died and been hastily buried days before. Stunned, Ruby refuses to believe that her mother is truly gone. Perhaps it is her jaded heart, or all the time she's spent lady detectiving as her employer, Mr. Owen, calls it, but the more Ruby inquires into the woman's fate, the more suspicious the death becomes and Ruby and Ruan fear that both the occult and murder are at work in Belgium. As Ruby unfurls the mystery surrounding the woman, she finds more missing souls and a sinister secret that has been simmering at Saint Oda's since the Great War and it's up to Ruby to find the truth."

Just what the hell are they up to at Saint Oda's!?!

Midnight in the House of Commons by Charles Finch
Published by: Minotaur Books
Publication Date: November 3rd, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 272 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Amateur sleuth Charles Lenox investigates the murder of a Parliament member, moving through the glamorous high society of Victorian London in the next novel from acclaimed author Charles Finch.

In the spring of 1881, Lenox is caught up in the whirl of London life when his brother arrives to tell him that there's been a murder in the House of Commons. Robert Baddeley, a charismatic, womanizing Member, has been found poisoned in the hallowed chamber itself. Suspicion immediately falls on the women in his life, including his wife and mistress, but as Lenox digs deeper, he realizes that there were more than a few people who might have wanted Baddeley dead.

Meanwhile, Lenox must balance his investigation with his family life, which has grown increasingly complicated: his ward Sari struggles with heartbreak, the Lenox household receives an odd visitor, and a young woman comes to Lenox to implore him to find her fiancé, who has mysteriously vanished.

And just when Lenox is nearing the truth of Baddeley's murder, someone close to him is arrested for the crime - and Lenox must race to solve the case before losing everything.

Joyfully set in ballrooms, supper parties, palaces, and Parliament, Midnight in the House of Commons takes Charles Lenox through his trickiest, most satisfying case yet."

I just watched all of House of Cards, original, this year and I feel like I need more misdeeds in Parliament...

Scorpion Palace by Shylashri Shankar
Published by: Canelo
Publication Date: November 3rd, 2026
Format: eBook, 384 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Seven guests. One killer.

Hyderabad, India; 1895. Seven guests are invited by the Premier Minister to the opulent Faluknama Palace to witness the sale of a rare diamond. They do not know each other, but each is hoping to secure something important from the weekend.

When their host fails to appear, Chief Inspector Soobramania - known as Soob - is asked to step in, and safeguard the near-priceless gem.

Meanwhile, a visitor from Scotland Yard brings Inspector Wilberforce - Soob's counterpart in the British Residency Police force - news of a deadly revolutionary collaborator: none other than Soob himself. Wilberforce is forced to question everything he thinks he knows about the man as they head to the palace to arrest him.

But then a ferocious monsoon descends; the roads are washed out and with an escaped panther stalking them, everyone is trapped in the hilltop palace. When the jewel goes missing and a guest is murdered, only one thing is certain: both the killer and the diamond are still there.

With Soob suspected of treason to the Crown and the British police officers blinkered by fear and prejudice, will anybody be able to solve the crime before there is another victim?

A perfectly pitched historical crime thriller from a rising star of the genre, perfect for fans of Agatha Christie."

Locked-room mystery! I know, technically monsoon and panther, but same thing!

Sherlock Holmes and the Christmas Murders by Stuart Douglas
Published by: Titan Books
Publication Date: November 3rd, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 240 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A fiendish seasonal mystery in which Holmes and Watson must discover the connections between a series of Christmas-themed murders in London. For fans of Gareth Rubin's Holmes and Moriarty.

In the week before Christmas, Dr Watson convinces Sherlock Holmes to accompany him gift shopping for Mrs Hudson. Unwilling to trail around lots of smaller establishments with the heaving seasonal crowds, Holmes insists they leave early and go to a single shop: Whiteley's, the capital's first 'department' store, in which everything and anything can be found!

What Holmes and Watson do not expect to find, however, is a body suspended in the branches of the store's Christmas tree.

To everyone else, it looks as though the dead man has fallen from a gantry and broken his neck. Only Holmes hears a slow, steady drip and notices the blood pooling beneath the tree. A murder has taken place.

With a less-than-amenable police inspector hampering him at every turn, the world's greatest detective has his work cut out for him to follow the trail of grisly clues and stop the murderer before more bodies pile up!"

First it's written by my friend Stuart! Second, Shelock and Christmas! They so go together. "The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle" is one of my favorite stories.

The Advent of Death by Alexandra Benedict
Published by: Simon and Schuster UK
Publication Date: November 3rd, 2026
Format: eBook, 400 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"When Edie O'Sullivan receives an invitation from an old friend to spend a pre-Christmas break in the picturesque town of Rye, she jumps at the chance to escape - and reconnect. But when she arrives with her wife, Riga, it quickly becomes clear this is no festive getaway.

Edie hasn't been invited for comfort, but for help.

Four days earlier, her friend's daughter Rebecca - the town crier - received an unusual gift: a handcrafted wooden advent calendar shaped like Rye itself. At first, it seemed like a charming curiosity, part of her public role. Then, on December 1st, a burglary at 1 Church Square. December 2nd, an ABH at 2 Martello Close. December 3rd, a GBH at 3 Allendale Drive.

Each door opened. Each crime escalating.

Now Rebecca is certain the calendar is counting down to something far worse - and she's turned to the only person she believes can stop it.

With Christmas approaching and the body count rising, Edie must decipher the deadly pattern before the final door is opened."

Alexandra Benedict has hit gold with her series starring Edie O'Sullivan. I am SO EXCITED for this book that it's first on my to read list this holiday season.

The Heights by Ian Rankin
Published by: Cardinal
Publication Date: November 3rd, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 352 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"#1 International bestselling author Ian Rankin returns with a razor-sharp, twisty standalone thriller - this one exposing the lives of the 1% in London's most exclusive high rise.

Facing Hyde Park, The Heights is London's most coveted luxury high-rise apartment - designed to satisfy every need, with a gym, infinity pool, cinema, and more, where self-made owner-developer Allan Franklyn himself has claimed the penthouse duplex. His neighbors include some of "Money London's" biggest personalities: a wealthy art dealer, a young heartthrob pop star, a foreign heiress, a gangster's wife. The residents are used to service, deference, and privacy, all on their terms.

But when nighttime concierge Dwayne Hogarth is found dead in the lobby, none of that is in their control anymore, and everyone's under the unwelcome scrutiny of Detective Sergeant Gillian Gish. Her questions begin with the party on the 4th floor the night Dwayne died, which ended with a fight; the missing key to one of the apartments; and a mysterious gap in the security camera footage. Before long, Gish uncovers the unsavory truths and dark secrets that lurk beneath the glittering facades of the building and its inhabitants.

Filled with shocking twists and unforgettable characters, The Heights confirms Ian Rankin's status as one of the most original and compelling crime writers of our time."

Only Murders in the Building made me obsessed with crimes in apartment complexes. Ben Aaronovitch's The Hanging Tree made me obsessed with crimes in London high rises. 

Cold Blade by Matt Goldman
Published by: Severn House
Publication Date: November 3rd, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 256 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"If a murder scene looks too good to be true...it probably is.

Wealthy businessman Jonathan Willetts wants private investigator Nils Shapiro to prove that his wife Paige didn't murder one of his employees, Lukas Day.

Everything points to Paige's guilt: she had an encounter with Lukas the night he died, and her fingerprints are on the knife found at the scene.

As far as the Minnesota Police Department are concerned, it's an open and shut case.

Nils isn't so sure.

After all, Jonathan and Paige have plenty of enemies.

Is Paige being set up by a calculating killer?

Deception, theft, and stunning secrets convince Nils that there's more to this case than meets the eye.

But can he uncover the chilling truth?

A page-turning private eye series written in Matt Goldman's unique, sharp style, perfect for fans of Michael Connelly, Robert Crais, and Harlan Coben."

I was lucky enough to attend an event for the first Nils Shapiro book and I have got to say, this is a series you want to stick with. 

This Jury Is Guilty by Laurie Blake
Published by: Sourcebooks Landmark
Publication Date: November 3rd, 2026
Format: Paperback, 432 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Everyone is Watching meets Twelve Angry Men in a tense and twisty locked-room thriller where, sequestered together until the Hollywood trial is closed, a jury must decide the fate of an actor accused of attempted murder, but this jury has explosive secrets, and one of them is about to get away with a murder of their own.

No one here is innocent.

Hollywood's biggest movie star, Danny Scott, stands accused of trying to murder his wife, starlet Hope Harrison, in a case that has taken the world by storm. Everyone is asking: What led to the events of that night, and what darker truths simmer beneath the surface of Danny and Hope's marriage? As the world watches, twelve sequestered jurors must decide Danny's fate. But even a jury has its secrets...

Juror 6 is risking everything for this trial. Even her life.

Juror 2 is playing games. But can he keep one step ahead of his own lies?

Juror 13, the alternate, will do anything to be on that jury. Anything.

Juror 7 is hardly noticed by anyone. Just as she planned.

As each juror vies for the verdict they want, secrets, obsessions, and plots for revenge will come to light in the stands. Because everyone is lying. Everyone is guilty. And one of them might be planning a murder of their own.

With shocking twists and propulsive pacing, This Jury Is Guilty is a thought-provoking, locked-room thriller exploring our obsessions with true crime, the blurry lines between fact and fiction, and the lengths we're willing to go to seek justice. For fans of Amy Tintera, Steve Cavanagh, and Ellery Lloyd."

Anyone else wondering about the layout of the building on the cover what with a person in every window?

Dangerous Impulses by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Published by: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: November 3rd, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 352 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The New York Times and USA Today bestselling series with over 3 million copies sold!

The Naturals are BACK! as #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Lynn Barnes delivers the highly anticipated new installment in her beloved Naturals series.

Cassie Hobbes joined the FBI's Naturals program at seventeen because she had an incredible ability to read people. Since then, Cassie, fellow profiler Dean, emotion-reader Michael, lie-detector Lia, and statistical genius Sloane have caught serial killers, outsmarted masterminds, and saved countless lives.

Now, eight months after the most twisted, traumatizing case of their lives and still dealing with the psychological fall-out, the Naturals decide to take on a joyful mission for once: playing matchmaker. With Christmas fast approaching, how hard could it be for an emotion-reader, a deception detector, two profilers, and a statistician armed with a wealth of data on romantic relationships to secure a happily ever after for two people who are already very obviously in love?

Turns out...very. Because to bring their FBI mentors back together, the Naturals will first have to solve the mystery of why Special Agent Veronica Sterling can't let herself have the very thing she wants the most. Profiling a profiler is tricky business, and it soon becomes clear that to solve this mystery, the Naturals need to uncover the past. Add in a puzzling series of interconnected crime scenes, an UNSUB with a fondness for snow, and a cold case on the verge of heating up, and it's shaping up to be a killer Christmas."

I mean, murder and Christmas, they always go together in my book, especially if it's part of a favorite series.

Birds of Prey: The Origins by Sara Shepard and Stephanie Pepper
Published by: DC Comics
Publication Date: November 3rd, 2026
Format: Paperback, 208 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"#1 New York Times bestselling author Sara Shepard (Pretty Little Liars) and artist Stephanie Pepper take readers on a thrilling mystery that is sure to keep readers on the edge of their seats! After a long summer, four teens from various walks of life return to Gotham City with devastating secrets - and some unexpected talents.

Gotham City is a place where people of all walks of life mingle, where the weird, opulent, and violent are celebrated. Helena Bertinelli lost her family here. Barbara Gordon suffered a tragic accident. Dinah Lance ran away from the foster system. And Harleen Quinzel is looking for her place. But each of these girls is hiding something - a secret that could destroy their lives in an instant.

When strange things start happening to students at Gotham Prep, everyone at the school is on edge, worried they might be next. Will Helena, Barbara, Dinah, and Harleen be able to put their differences aside and learn to trust each other in time to find out who is behind the mysterious accidents before another victim turns up?"

I have really been getting into Gotham of late and this is right up my alley. This coming from a Marvel girl!

Saved by the Spell by Tanya Huff
Published by: DAW
Publication Date: November 3rd, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 304 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Abbott Elementary, but make it magical: from the beloved Tanya Huff comes a new cozy fantasy novel perfect for fans of The Grimoire Grammar School Parent Teacher Association.

At the High School for Magical Arts, the teachers are dismayed at the rise of a Hero…because it means a Villain isn't far behind.

It's September, and the teachers at the High School for Magical Arts are gearing up for another school year, and hoping it will be a quiet one. Teach students some magic, help them learn their craft, and get out in one piece.

Unfortunately, by the end of the first day, it's become obvious that they have a potential Hero. All the signs are there. By the end of fourth period, Bex Olynyk has stood up to a bully, turned out to be more powerful than anticipated, and acquired a smart frenemy and a nerdy, loyal roommate.

The problem? Where there's a Hero, there's bound to be a Villain. And when Heroes and Villains face off, it's going to be anything but a normal school year.

Overworked and underpaid, the teachers at the High School for Magical Arts did not sign up for this, but now it's also their jobs to keep the Hero alive, keep damage to a minimum, keep math scores up to the national level, and find the student who will turn out to be a power-hungry, amoral villain.

Will no one think of the teachers?

Funny, irreverent, and absolutely charming, this cozy fantasy is a gleeful romp through fantasy school tropes - from the other side of the desk."

Reminiscent of Stargirl, but closer to Buffy the Vampire Slayer as told from Giles's POV.

The Three Brothers by Granger
Published by: Podium Publishing
Publication Date: November 3rd, 2026
Format: Paperback, 352 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A mighty family once fell in a maelstrom of bloodshed and forbidden love. And the curse is about to repeat itself...

When fantasy author Celeste Taylor arrives at Drew Collins University, she's stunned to learn the magical HBCU is not only real but also populated with young witches, vampires, shifters, and other creatures that until now she's only encountered in the pages of her books, not to mention her strange, recurring dreams.

Celeste is soon welcomed into the home of Maggie Grey, her friends, and their otherworldly talking cat, Quan. She may finally have found her place here in this world hidden in Atlanta's Underground. Still, questions remain: Who is the terrifying, red-eyed man who led her there? What are her visions of three mysterious werewolf brothers trying to tell her? And what might her next story reveal?

Meanwhile, four students from DCU's rival school, Society Hill, have vanished. As Maggie and the group once again become embroiled in a mystery, their path to discover the truth will entangle them in a dangerous web of sinister plots and a ruthless quest for power that could change the Underground forever. Unless they stop it first..."

I just love the concept that maybe she wasn't writing fantasy all along and everything from her dreams is 100% real. 

Mooncursed by Holly Renee
Published by: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Publication Date: November 3rd, 2026
Format: Paperback, 320 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A cursed sea king, a stolen bride, and a fate meant for another.

They say madness dwells in the ocean's depths...and in the eyes of the Drowned King. Cursed to take a human bride and break her mind the moment she sees his face, the Drowned King spends his life in torment, watching. Waiting.

Lou was never meant to be chosen. Branded from birth as a saltwitch, she has always been seen as the cursed shadow of her moonblessed twin. Now, veiled and bound in marriage to a man she must never see, she's thrust into a life of ancient gods and unraveling fate...and unspeakable desire.

Yet even as fear becomes tangled with a perilous longing for the Drowned King's heated touch, the truth of her choosing looms over her like a siren's song. It rages louder with every breath she takes as whispers travel through the kingdoms: rumblings of war, of ancient goddesses awakening, of a queen with saltwater on her lips who will change everything.

There is no stopping fate, for though she was never meant to be chosen, the moon has already summoned the tide."

And the tide is rising.

The Last King of Faerie by Cassandra Clare
Published by: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: November 3rd, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 576 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The highly anticipated first book of The Wicked Powers, the final Shadowhunters trilogy! #1 New York Times bestselling author Cassandra Clare brings the saga that began in The Mortal Instruments to a stunning conclusion.

It's Drusilla Blackthorn's fourth year at Shadowhunter Academy when a chance encounter at a nightclub turns into a kidnapping. Dru finds herself held prisoner by Prince Ash Morgenstern in the land of Faerie, a place that proves just as dangerous as it is beautiful. Despite herself, Dru is drawn to Ash and the darkness that seems to surround him - but one false move could cost her life.

Meanwhile, a shocking disappearance rocks the foundations of the Shadowhunter world. Kit Herondale and Ty Blackthorn must set aside the bitterness that lingers between them and join forces on a perilous quest to save everything they cherish.

The first installment of the long-awaited concluding trilogy to the Shadowhunter Chronicles has all the nail-biting adventure, heart-pounding romance, and trademark humor that makes Cassandra Clare the reigning queen of YA romantasy."

But is it really the end?

A Conspiracy of Charming Monsters by Holly Black
Published by: Alvina Ling Books
Publication Date: November 3rd, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 272 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"#1 New York Times bestselling author Holly Black returns to the world of Faerie in this gorgeously illustrated collection of short stories, where beauty can be monstrous and love can be capricious...

A reluctant king is thrown into turmoil when the girl he loves to hate is stolen by the Undersea.

An exiled redcap, trapped in the mortal world, must rediscover his inner monster.

A mortal girl sacrifices the other half of herself for an unworthy faerie lover.

A tiny sprite's determination to prove herself puts the entire High Court in danger.


In this collection, #1 New York Times bestselling author Holly Black combines her signature wit and lush world-building with stunning full-color art by Frostbite Studios in six irresistible tales that return readers to the world of the Modern Faerie Tales and Elfhame, including two never-before-seen stories: one revealing the interior life of Madoc while in exile and the other featuring the moment that High King Cardan realizes what he most desires."

Yes! YES TO ALL THIS! 

The Discworld Bestiary by Terry Pratchett and Paul Kidby
Published by: Ten Speed Press
Publication Date: November 3rd, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 160 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A comprehensive illustrated guide to the creatures and critters of Discworld, packed with wisdom from the great minds of the Disc as well as interjections from some of its more unconventional thinkers.

Discover the best way to care for the Terrible Man-Eating Sloth of Clup, the eating habits of the Ambiguous Puzuma, and marvel at the startling prevalence of ominous ducks in cosmic matters.

Wriggling with insights, crawling with wisdom and packed with extra advice from Rincewind, Unseen University's latest (and reluctant) adjunct professor of Perplexing Beasts and curator of its curiobiological museum."

There's no artist who brings Discworld to life like Paul Kidby.

My Pressures by Andy Serkis
Published by: Mariner Books
Publication Date: November 3rd, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 400 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"If Gollum, Caesar and Ulysses Klaue could hear Andy Serkis tell his story, would they choose him to play them? This is the question at the heart of his long-awaited memoir.

Beginning in a childhood split between Ruislip and Baghdad, Andy Serkis takes us - and his characters - on a journey through the early influences that shaped him: acting mentors, early roles at a regional repertory theatre, a passion for mountaineering, a desire for film-making and the love story with Lorraine Ashbourne that became the foundation of his life. Then, the call arrives in 1999 that changes everything. Peter Jackson is preparing to make The Lord of the Rings and Andy is asked to audition for the voice of a certain animated character.

What follows is an extraordinary behind-the-scenes journey through the fantastical worlds Andy has helped shape - The Lord of the Rings, Planet of the Apes, Black Panther, Star Wars and more - as he pioneered a new form of performance that would forever redefine the possibilities of cinema.

In this book, Andy invites us into a genre-defying conversation between actor and character, imagination and reality, and provides an answer to the question: what would Andy's most iconic characters make of the man that brought them to life?"

Seeing as I rewatched all of The Lord of the Rings prior to this book's release I can honestly say, I don't think they even needed the mocap, Andy was THAT GOOD as Gollum. 

If Destruction Be Out Lot Volume One by Matthew Rosenberg, Mark Elijah Rosenberg, and Andy MacDonald
Published by: Image Comics
Publication Date: November 3rd, 2026
Format: Paperback, 136 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"When humans disappear and robots flourish, one robot dares to go beyond the walls to find the humans who might still be alive in the sci-fi adventure of the year, where WALL-E meets Fallout.

Humanity is extinct and all that remains are the robots who once helped us. The robots that once helped us are happier now, doing their work without human interference. But not Abraham Lincoln. Abe is haunted by the thought that there must be something more out there - that somewhere, human beings might still exist. After nearly getting killed, he's determined to wander the Earth until he finds them...or gets recycled trying. Join him on an epic quest to learn who lives beyond the walls, why no one ever comes back, and what it means to be truly alive.

Artist Andy MacDonald (Wonder Woman, Doctor Strange), and writers Mark Elijah Rosenberg (Approaching The Unknown, Year Million) and Matthew Rosenberg (We're Taking Everyone Down With Us, 4 Kids Walk Into a Bank) bring you an ongoing story about finding purpose, holding onto hope, and really lonely robots.

Collects issues #1-4."

Of course a robot of Abraham Lincoln would get an existential crisis. 

The Trap by Lance Briggs, Kyle Higgins, and Danilo Beyruth
Published by: Image Comics
Publication Date: November 3rd, 2026
Format: Paperback, 128 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"In a future where Earth is a neglected backwater in a vast interstellar alliance, a young athlete's meteoric rise in a gravity-defying sport turns into a desperate fight to escape the systemic forces threatening to trap him forever.

Jaylen Robinson is a rising sports star from a not-so-great part of the galaxy: Earth. The future is his. This is his chance. But when a desperate job goes wrong just days before a big race, Jaylen's promising sports career threatens to succumb to THE TRAP.

Seven-time Pro Bowl linebacker and former Chicago Bear Lance Briggs, Eisner and Harvey Award-nominated writer Kyle Higgins (Radiant Black, Immortal Legend Batman), and rising star artist Danilo Beyruth (Deep Cuts, Catwoman) bring you a fast-paced epic about second chances in a world where hard work and talent is no guarantee for success."

As long as it's not podracing, I'm in.

Premier by L.E. Modesitt Jr.
Published by: Tor Books
Publication Date: November 3rd, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 512 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"New York Times bestselling author L.E. Modesitt, Jr. presents the final novel in his Grand Illusion series, Premier. The series (Isolate, Councilor, Contrarian, Legalist) contains the meticulous worldbuilding and political landscapes of the Saga of Recluce and Imager Portfolio.

Eight years have passed since Contrarian, and Steffan Dekkard is a moderately senior Craft Party councilor. The Craft Party holds a slim majority in the Council of Sixty-Six that rules the constitutional imperium of Guldor. But the Imperador's health is failing, and many councilors have lost confidence in the current Premier.

As chairman of the powerful Security Committee, tasked with investigating threats to the Council and Imperium, Dekkard faces growing anger from powerful corporacions, having restricted their efforts to avoid the laws of Guldor and revealed their continuing corruption.

The murder of a government witness involved in a corruption case reveals a conspiracy that reaches into the Council of Sixty-Six. They will stop at nothing to bring down the Premier and Dekkard."

If you've been waiting to start this series right now is the perfect time.

Monsters of Ohio by John Scalzi
Published by: Tor Books
Publication Date: November 3rd, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 272 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Monsters of Ohio is a heartfelt exploration of a tentacular solution to the struggles of the modern world from the New York Times bestselling author of Starter Villain.

Welcome to Richland, Ohio. Things aren't great.

The town's biggest employer is closing shop, and Richland's on the brink. It's where Mike Boyd, with his own set of problems, finds himself returning to after decades away.

He's not planning to stay.

But Richland has other plans for Mike, his old friend Dave, and a newcomer Andi. They're caught in a swirl of local troubles, private equity, executive theft…and something extremely weird involving Jeremy Keller's prize cow.

Welcome to Richland. Leave your expectations behind. Bring a tarp."

Whenever you need a dose of humor, what the fuck, and odd prescience, I always turn to John Scalzi.

A Grim Reaper's Guide to Living Twice by Maxie Dara
Published by: Berkley
Publication Date: November 3rd, 2026
Format: Paperback, 336 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"He's been charged with possession before, but never like this.

Jack McCoy was a thief and a liar. Then he died.

Margaret Chen transported souls for the biggest afterlife collection company in North America. Then she met Jack.

Possession isn't really supposed to be possible, but Jack McCoy never let a little thing like reality stop him. Now he's committing the ultimate identity theft, living a new life in Margaret's body while his own lies six feet under. Keeping up appearances as a geriatric grim reaper for S.C.Y.T.H.E. is a full-time job, but when Jack is sent to collect the soul of an old friend, his criminal past catches up with him and suddenly he's planning the heist of his (after)life with a gang of misfits he never thought he'd see again.

Now the only woman he's ever loved depends on his success in stealing a priceless list of souls from S.C.Y.T.H.E., but someone keeps beating him at his own game. Time is running out. If Jack puts one bunioned foot out of line it will cost him not only the people who matter most but also his second chance at life..."

I mean, compared to everything else he's trying to do, I think beating death might be the hardest.

To Vex and To Hex by Neena Noon
Published by: St. Martin's Griffin
Publication Date: November 3rd, 2026
Format: Paperback, 320 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"BOOKS. MAGIC. ROMANCE.

Lucy Ansari has a magical life. Literally - she's a witch, managing a perfect little bookshop. And whenever she's a little lonely, she turns to Charles - her beloved, ageing boss - to keep her company.

Disaster strikes when Charles breaks his hip: his prickly (and gorgeous) grandson Grayson arrives. The English professor from Dublin has never bothered to visit before, but now he's determined to look after Charles and his bookshop, and Lucy's ideal life is thrown into disarray.

But Grayson is as stubborn as he is handsome, and he's set on winning Lucy over, one way or another. As sparks fly between them, Lucy and Grayson may find themselves spellbound by more than just magic...

Neena Noon's To Vex and To Hex is the perfect spicy witchy romance to have you hexed this spooky season!"

I might point out that maybe Charles should have played matchmaker earlier?

The Friday Bookshop by Sawako Natori
Published by: Berkley
Publication Date: November 3rd, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 256 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Welcome to the Friday Bookshop, a cozy little bookstore tucked inside a rustic train station north of Tokyo. Rumor has it, you'll find the perfect book there - one that you need at that particular moment, even if you don't know it yourself....

When college student Fumiya visits the Friday Bookshop as a last-ditch effort to find a book for his ill father, he is disappointed in its ordinary appearance despite whispers of its peculiar charm. But he soon discovers that it not only includes a café where the food menu changes daily on the chef's whim but also a vast underground vault lined with bookshelves, lovingly converted from an old abandoned subway platform. The bookshop, run by a quirky trio who have been close friends since high school, quickly becomes Fumiya's favorite place - so much so that he begins to work there part-time.

Fumiya, who was never really a reader, learns to embrace the joy of reading, and that books can be a means to connect with other people and navigate the twists and turns of life.

Through colorful interactions with the zany shop owners and their visitors, as well as mouthwatering dishes inspired by the books the owners recommend, it's impossible not to fall in love with the seemingly ordinary yet enchanting little bookstore in the subway station in Kanto."

Aside from the abandoned subway platform it sounds oddly like my favorite bookstore.

Sunflower Season by Danica Nava
Published by: Berkley
Publication Date: November 3rd, 2026
Format: Paperback, 368 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Fed up and burnt-out, a woman leaves the city to take on the challenge of owning a sunflower farm but finds that her biggest trial is facing her first love in this charming second-chance romance by USA Today bestselling author Danica Nava.

Drained by her high-pressure tech job, June Walker finds an escape in homesteading videos and the fantasy of a quieter life. When she finally hits her breaking point, she does the only reasonable thing: She quits her job and buys a crumbling sunflower farm in rural Oklahoma, where she grew up.

June thought her biggest challenge in restoring Sunshine Farm would be the rotting fences but soon comes to the crushing realization that "positive vibes" are not a business plan. Nothing, however, tests her resolve quite like running into her first love, the boy she left behind after her world imploded when she was seventeen. She's back for a fresh start, not to unpack old heartbreaks.

Noah Abbott never left Love County. Between his family, his job with the local fire brigade, and a town that knows him inside and out, he has everything he needs - except answers. So when June Walker returns as the new owner of Sunshine Farm, Noah is determined to find out why the girl who once meant everything to him vanished without a word.

As old wounds crack open and attraction flares back to life, June and Noah are forced to reckon with their past and decide whether first love is a memory best left buried or the one thing worth replanting."

The premise is more fantastical than fantasy or a Hallmark movie, but dammit if I don't want to dive in.

The Kiss of the Season by Michelle Kenney
Published by: One More Chapter
Publication Date: November 3rd, 2026
Format: eBook, 384 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Stern elder brother, and master matchmaker of the Fairfax family, Sir Thomas Fairfax intends to announce the marriage of his youngest sister, Matilda, at The Knightswood Christmas Ball.

Determined to defy her brother, Matilda persuades her friend Georgiana to accompany her on a bracing ride over a wintry Dartmoor so she can enlist as a nurse with the army instead. Yet, her plan fails when Georgiana falls and breaks her ankle, developing a fever that concerns them enough to send for her older, widowed sister, Miss Arabella Farrington.

From the moment the enigmatic Arabella arrives, it is clear that she and Thomas share a mysterious history. Faced with the secrets of the past, Thomas finds himself questioning the future he thought he knew..."

A second chance romance perchance?

Pride and Practicality by Pepper Basham
Published by: Thomas Nelson
Publication Date: November 3rd, 2026
Format: Paperback, 400 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Arianna Reeves knows how quickly admiration can turn into exile. One poorly placed trust, one disastrously charming rake, and she is no longer society's darling - but its favorite cautionary tale.

Now returned home - uninvited and unmistakably whispered about - Arianna is determined to make amends with her estranged family and do something useful with her thoroughly ruined life. Even if polite society would prefer she did it at a very great distance from anyone respectable.

Thomas Bridges, a principled clergyman with an inconvenient habit of thinking for himself, is already walking a narrow line. His congregation expects propriety, his mother expects matrimony, and both have very firm opinions about his future. Thomas, however, would prefer a life guided by conviction...even when it proves impractical.

When Arianna repeatedly - and quite disruptively - crosses his path, Thomas faces a dilemma no sermon prepared him for. She is not at all what she ought to be: not dull, not foolish, and - most dangerously - not someone he can overlook, but a kindred spirit who shares his passion for service and his troubling habit of defying society's expectations...all with good intentions, of course.

As their forbidden acquaintance deepens into something far more perilous than friendship, Arianna and Thomas must decide: preserve their reputations, or risk them entirely for the good of others - and their own hearts.

Because in a society that measures worth by perfection, choosing grace, mercy, and love may cost them everything - and give them more than they ever hoped to find.

In Pride and Practicality, Pepper Basham delivers a Regency rom-com brimming with lively banter, heartfelt charm, and just enough mischief to keep propriety on its toes. With a kisses-only romance that sparkles with chemistry and a story rich in faith, humor, and second chances, this delightful tale invites readers to laugh, sigh, and fall in love with a romance that is as meaningful as it is joyful."

I have a feeling society is going to send them off somewhere hot to practice their vocation.

Is It Too Late to Make a Run For It? by Judi Dench with Brendan O'Hea
Published by: St. Martin's Press
Publication Date: November 3rd, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 368 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Judi Dench and Brendan O'Hea chat about her life on the stage, on the screen, and, above all, behind the scenes...

In Is It Too Late to Make a Run for It? Judi Dench and Brendan O'Hea take us on a heartfelt and hilarious tour of her extraordinary life and career. From growing up in York and being miffed at not getting the part of Mary in the school Nativity play, to playing before sold-out houses on Broadway and in London's West End, she's done it all. She walked the red carpets of Hollywood, turned James Bond's M into the most astute, unflinching Head of MI6 anyone could ever have imagined, and won an Oscar, a Tony, Golden Globes, Oliviers, and BAFTAs along the way.

Yet despite the accolades, she has been accompanied by doubt. From the movie producer who said she had "everything wrong" with her face, to the theatre director who advised her against doing sitcom. Is it any wonder she leaves a bag by the rehearsal room door in case she has to make a run for it?

But stepping out of her comfort zone has been Judi's guiding principle and in Is It Too Late to Make a Run for It?, she reveals all to Brendan - her friend and writing partner. She tells stories of pranks (both onstage and off), dissects her greatest screen roles, shares tales of her joyful marriage to actor Michael Williams, and talks about her passion for nature and animals.

As told to Brendan O'Hea, this is Judi Dench's story - funny, honest, intimate, enlightening, surprising, moving, and deeply inspiring. Over ninety years in the making, Is It Too Late to Make a Run for It? is the story of the world's most beloved actor."

Damn, I agree, I love Judi Dench. 

Monday, July 13, 2026

Tuesday Tomorrow

The Gilded Blade by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Published by: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: July 14th, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 384 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"In the stunning finale to the global phenomenon of the Inheritance Games Saga (over 6 million copies sold!), discover danger, riches, romance - and the staggering answers to long-brewing mysteries.

Everyone is a player.

In the grandest of games, there is everything to win - money, love, power, revenge - and even more to lose. From Texas to Prague to London and beyond, the Hawthorne family, the players from the Grandest Game, and allies old and new are drawn into a web of centuries-old secrets and mind-bending puzzles. Every clue pulls them deeper; every answer demands a price.

To survive, they must unravel the mysteries that bind them together...but some truths are deadly.

Discover danger, riches, romance - and the long-awaited revelations at the heart of Jennifer Lynn Barnes's most intricate and explosive puzzle yet.

All games must come to an end."

I mean, the series gets more and more absurd and unrealistic, but I can't stop reading!

Cross My Heart I Hope You Die by Mallory Arnold
Published by: Poisoned Pen Press
Publication Date: July 14th, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 352 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"From the USA Today bestselling author of How to Survive a Horror Story comes a biting slasher perfect for fans of John Tucker Must Die and The Final Girl Support Group, following three women who lure their cheating boyfriend to a remote mountain cabin, only to realize that darkness lurks within the very walls, waiting to pick them off one by one.

One isolated cabin. One cheating boyfriend. One plan to get even.

When Nora, Ruby, and Cham discover that they've each been dating the same man, what starts as outrage quickly spirals into a plot for revenge. Together they hatch a plan to lure their boyfriend to a romantic getaway in a secluded cabin at the top of a snow-covered mountain.

Only what was meant to be harmless payback soon takes a chilling turn when their not-so-adoring boyfriend is found dead in the cabin.

Stranded and snowed in, the women begin to look at each other with increasing suspicion. And as tensions rise, hidden motives come to light. To survive, each woman must confront her own demons as they fight to uncover if one of them is the killer, or if something else lurks in the freezing wilderness, waiting to pick them off one by one."

It would be so unfair if it's something darker, I mean, their mutual boyfriend did deserve it...

Killer Vibes by Jack Friday
Published by: Minotaur Books
Publication Date: July 14th, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 352 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A wild and wickedly funny series debut, introducing readers to the irresistible and irrepressible private investigator, Peter Key.

Meet Peter Key: self-proclaimed "laziest private investigator in Texas" (it's harder than it looks), unapologetic bisexual, dedicated stoner, and the surprised recipient of a windfall inheritance from an uncle he barely knew. Peter's life was a mess before, but now - as the owner of a dilapidated house in one of the most desirable neighborhoods in Austin - he has a mountain of debt to deal with and pressure to sell from every side.

But Peter doesn't like to be pushed around. And when he discovers a bag full of cash, he starts to suspect his uncle's death wasn't an accident. He soon finds himself pulled into a lethal game where not everybody plays by the rules.

Fortunately, Peter's never been good at following rules.

Sexy, suspenseful, and packed with Austin's quirks, Killer Vibes is a wild and wickedly funny romp that introduces us to the irresistible and irrepressible PI, Peter Key."

I just saying, could the author have chosen a name different than Peter Key, it's way too close to Peter Kay, and I don't think that's the vibe the author would want...

Lady X by Molly Fader
Published by: Ballantine Books
Publication Date: July 14th, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 352 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The search for a notorious vigilante exposes the secrets among three generations of women, from contemporary L.A. to gritty 1970s New York, in this propulsive novel hailed as "an unputdownable paean to female rage and retribution" by #1 bestselling author Jodi Picoult.

Los Angeles, 2024. After learning that her A-list actor husband sent explicit photos to multiple girls on social media, Margot Cooper runs away from the world - and the paparazzi - by fleeing to her childhood home with her teenage daughter in tow.

But home isn't the sanctuary Margot was hoping for. In a cardboard box in the corner of the attic, she finds damning evidence of an infamous urban legend, the mysterious vigilante "Lady X" - including a blurry newspaper photo of a woman who looks an awful lot like Margot's mother.

New York City, 1977. In the midst of an infamous summer, Ginger Daughtry and her two beloved roommates are able to shield one another from the chaos - until one of them is assaulted. Astounded by the lack of response from police, the young women decide to engage in some light payback, signing their handiwork as "Lady X."

Soon copycats appear, and a movement inspired by acts of vandalism against terrible men spirals out of control, with criminals running amok under the guise of the enigmatic Lady X. When a body is found fallen - or pushed - from five stories high, the hunt reaches a boiling point."

I'm all for rightful vengeance. 

The Intrigue by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Published by: Del Rey
Publication Date: July 14th, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 336 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"From the New York Times bestselling author of Mexican Gothic and Velvet Was the Night comes a sizzling noir about desire, danger, and greed, in which seduction is the ultimate con.

Handsome con artist Ulises has long charmed lonely women via letters in order to steal their money, but money is hard to come by in 1940s Mexico. Ulises knows his looks won't last forever, and he's desperate to get his hands on a real fortune.

He thinks he's found it when he captivates his newest correspondent, Perla, the owner of a small-town boardinghouse in picturesque Veracruz. But when he meets her, he finds something he didn't expect. The woman has a niece, Inés, who is as observant as she is desperate to escape her aunt's household.

When Inés discovers Ulises's true intentions, she wants in on the scheme. They'll convince her aunt that Ulises is a great catch, Perla will marry him, and her money will vanish. Easy, fast, and clean. But Perla is not the desperate, silly spinster Ulises imagines. She harbors secrets. And although Ulises does not believe in true romance, Inés is more alluring than he bargained for. Suddenly, a simple plan may become perilously complicated.

Venture into the streets of a small town where a patina of convention and good manners conceals a cauldron of avarice and lust."

I'm rooting for the aunt!

The Cherkely Court Conundrum by Benedict Brown
Published by: Storm Publishing
Publication Date: July 14th, 2026
Format: Paperback, 290 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A maid found bludgeoned, a priceless treasure stolen, and the likely suspect gone without a trace...

When an old flame from Marius Quin's past turns up at his door with knowledge of a shocking crime, he is drawn into a new case. A devoted maid has been brutally attacked, a valuable jewellery box stolen, and the head gardener has fled from the grand estate where they work.

With his sleuthing partner, Lady Bella, alongside him, Marius descends on Cherkley Court, the home of the domineering business magnate Lord Sheridan. But conflicting accounts from the man, his glamorous wife, a trio of young artists, and the troubled staff only lead to more questions. Although plenty of evidence points to the missing gardener, Marius isn't convinced, and his hunch is proven right when the killer strikes again.

Faced with a conspiracy that reaches into the heart of the household itself, can Marius and Bella unravel a devious plot or will the killer get away with murder twice over?

A twisting, atmospheric 1920s country house mystery with a devastating final act. Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, T E Kinsey and Lee Strauss."

Always here for a country house mystery. Especially if it has artists!

The Cloak and Dagger Club by Jackie McMahon
Published by: Berkley
Publication Date: July 14th, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 368 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Inspired by Agatha Christie's real-life Detection Club, a murder among a group of golden age mystery writers meets a second chance romance in this debut novel from author Jackie McMahon.

London, 1930. Lucy Hubbard is on the cusp of achieving her dreams. With her first mystery novel debuting with strong sales and glowing reviews, she's been invited by Horace Hazelmoor, the king of crime fiction, to join his elite group of writers - the Cloak and Dagger Club.

Thrilled at the opportunity, Lucy finds herself swept up into Horace's glamorous world at the Ritz hotel. She's even willing to put up with the inconvenient presence of her former fiancé, Frank Murray, the club's rising star who is on track to eclipse Horace as Britain's most popular crime writer.

But when Horace is found with a knife in his back, Frank is the police's prime suspect. Despite their complicated history, Lucy knows he's not capable of murder. With suspects galore and the danger rising, these two mystery writers must race to solve the crime - and fight their lingering feelings for each other - before the murderer strikes again."

So many Agatha Christie vibes. People tend to forget she always loved to pair death with romance. 

The Great Game by Arvind Ethan David
Published by: Thomas and Mercer
Publication Date: July 14th, 2026
Format: Paperback, 236 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"An outsider in London investigates a series of brutal murders targeting English aristocrats in a timely and provocative historical novel brimming with intrigue, wit, and rage.

London, 1905: Law student and military veteran Balvinder dev Singh has found an extralegal way to fund his studies. As friend and accomplice to the infamous gentleman thief AJ Raffles, he rubs shoulders with the upper crust - and steals their valuables. That is, until their next mark, an imperialist general, is grotesquely murdered in the library of his Mayfair mansion. Bal and Raffles find themselves implicated in a series of killings that soon attracts the attention of Scotland Yard - and the aging Sherlock Holmes himself.

As Bal works to clear his name, he must hide his checkered past from a new acquaintance, the beautiful Irish violinist Maud Adler. Her fiery views lead Bal to question his own place in the world. But when he comes face-to-face with a plot to strike at the very heart of the British government, he must decide how much he's willing to risk for his adopted city."

Raffles rides again!

The Knocking by Laura Lee Bahr
Published by: Little a
Publication Date: July 14th, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 315 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"In a house this haunted, both the living and the dead pose dangers to a female journalist in nineteenth-century New York in a chilling historical gothic by the author of Who Is the Liar.

It's 1850 when intrepid journalist and women's-rights advocate Edith Ann, "E. A.," Howe arrives at the home of iconic newspaper founder Horace Greeley. Her assignment is to chronicle the uncanny gifts of Cathie Fox, an eleven-year-old medium in Horace's charge. Mysterious knocking sounds follow Cathie as she channels the restless spirit of the Greeleys' deceased son, Pickie - a ghostly consolation to Horace's profoundly unwell and grieving wife. As her condition worsens, E. A. suspects foul play.

Something is very wrong in this house. Sharp-tongued housekeepers warn her to steer clear of the attic. Pickie's alleged messages from beyond are more disturbing than comforting. And the seemingly guileless Cathie claims that the house is eating her alive. All the while Cathie's beautiful English governess is awakening something restless in E. A.

As she wrestles with her own childhood terrors, E. A. must investigate the story of the spirit-knockings and reveal whether the greatest threats are coming from the living or the dead."

A spooky story with a nice grounding in the time period.  

The Sea Hides Its Dead by Megan Bontrager
Published by: Run for It
Publication Date: July 14th, 2026
Format: Paperback, 368 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Trapped in an underwater cave, a group of academics must face a series of deadly, supernatural trials - each one demanding they confront their darkest sins - in this chilling aquatic cult horror debut from Megan Bontrager.

Grad student Caro has no idea what she wants to do with her life, but when the opportunity arises to act as a research assistant on an anthropological expedition for her professor and lover, Edward Beck, she doesn't hesitate.

Beck assembles a team of academics and professionals to study the ancient sea-based Cult of the Leviathan, and the expedition descends into the sea caves where the cult is said to have dwelt.

But when the cave entrance collapses, trapping them inside, the expedition will find they are not alone in the darkness. An ancient trial has been set in motion. One by one, the members of the expedition will be tested and forced to atone for their greatest sins...or die."

I love that this feels like the best Michael Crichton novel. Yes, I'm a huge fan of Sphere. 

The House with Nobody in It by Jon Klassen
Published by: Candlewick
Publication Date: July 14th, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 18 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Peek through doors and windows to explore a mysterious house in this innovative shaped novelty book for young readers who relish the lightly spooky, from the Caldecott Medal-winning and New York Times bestselling Jon Klassen, creator of I Want My Hat Back and The Skull.

Here are the things in this house: a chair, a clock on the wall, a stool, a lamp. And more. What's missing from this house? Somebody. This is the house with nobody in it. Well, there might be something...

Designed as a sturdy keepsake to read, play with, and treasure, The House with Nobody in It takes readers through a recognizable, cozy house, while layered die-cut doors and windows throughout introduce a hint of intrigue. This is the house with nobody in it - or is it?

Pairing the familiar with a touch of mystery, Jon Klassen proves once again to be a master of breaking the mold, playing with expectations...and delighting even the youngest of readers."

I adore everything Jon Klassen. Throw in something extra, and I can't get enough. 

To Crown a Witch by Lindsey Olsson
Published by: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: July 14th, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 352 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A criminal and a royal guard are drawn into the hunt for a dangerous witch - and an unexpected romance - in this YA enemies-to-lovers romantasy, the first in a duology. Perfect for fans of Heartless Hunter.

In Gadore, the Witch is feared above all else. Reborn into each generation, she is the only person with magic running innately through her veins, able to wield that magic with a single thought.

So when guards across the city begin to drop dead, gruesomely murdered by violent and vicious magic, everyone knows the Witch has returned - and no one will be safe until she's killed.

Toran is the Prince's Crown, the most highly skilled fighter in the King's Guard. Tasked with the responsibility of leading the hunt for the Witch, Toran tries to focus on his assignment to forget the ghosts of his past. And after he learns of Nes, a thief with an uncanny ability to sniff out magic, he forcibly recruits her into joining his hunt.

As the two face deadly magic and otherworldly threats, their mutual dislike soon turns to something more electric, and they find themselves drawn to each other in ways they'd never imagined. But the Witch is always a step ahead of them, and with bodies piling up, secrets threaten to come to light - secrets that could destroy everything from the fragile trust between them to the very city of Gadore itself."

Please say the identity of the Witch is a big twist!

Airrelle of the Maroon Witches by Sumayyah Beck
Published by: Holiday House
Publication Date: July 14th, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 304 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Kiki's Delivery Service meets Black Panther in this middle grade fantasy set in a richly imagined world where once-enslaved people have built an enchanted network of hidden witch communities.

Anyone can become a witch in Missen Dessalin. If you can find the Missen, that is. Some say the whole reason it was called a "Missen" is because it was a gathering place for those who wanted to stay missin'.

Twelve-year-old Airrelle Bookman, born and raised in Missen Dessalin by two witch parents, has been waiting for magic to call to her for years now. She just has to secure her four patron animals, complete four rites, master four skills, and pass the initiation ceremony. Then she'll be a fully confirmed maroon witch, able to fly beyond the walls of the Missen as she pleases. Just like her parents, older siblings, and best friend Hosniya.

When the time for her trial finally seems to arrive, so do familial troubles and threats to the very safety and secrecy of Missen Dessalin itself. But an ordinary girl from beyond the protected walls of Missen, one who has grown up in our own tumultuous and unenchanted world, may just be the key to Airrelle's troubles.

Informed by the history of maroon societies and inspired by the fantasy worlds of Studio Ghibli, Airrelle of the Maroon Witches is a beautiful coming of age story about a shy but resourceful girl discovering her own power."

I love everything about this. 

Mirka Andolfo's Sweet Paprika: Open for Business by Steve Orlando and Emilio Pilliu
Published by: Image Comics
Publication Date: July 14th, 2026
Format: Paperback, 128 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Love, ambition, and total workplace chaos collide when a rookie editor juggles a devilish boss, his confusing boyfriend, and one impossible author in this spicy romance comic!

At Infernum Press, Aubrey Jean tries to balance it all: winning the approval of his idol Miss Paprika, figuring out what his "boyfriend" Persica really means to him, and surviving the impossible demands of Durian - an infamously eccentric author no one else dares to handle. Between complicated romance and chaotic work life, Aubrey is about to learn just how messy chasing your dreams (and your heart) can get.

Sexy, emotional, and irresistibly stylish, this brand-new spin-off of the Harvey Award-winning series brings back the wicked charm of Sweet Paprika with a fresh, heartfelt queer perspective, starring the characters who debuted on the Eisner Award-nominated book Sweet Paprika: Black, White and Pink #1 but can be easily read by newcomers alike!

A queer love drama spin-off of the best-selling Sweet Paprika book, from acclaimed writer Steve Orlando (Scarlet Witch, Marauders, Commanders in Crisis) and rising Italian star Emilio Pilliu (X-Men: The Wedding Special, DC Pride 2025)."

Now that we have other people writing Sweet Paprika is Mirka Andolfo EVER going to get Merciless, the spin-off from Mercy finished? Or even started?

The Dragon Has Some Complaints by John Wiswell
Published by: DAW
Publication Date: July 14th, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 400 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"In this heartfelt and humorous fantasy from the Nebula-winning author of Someone You Can Build a Nest In, a dragon whose three heads bear rather…different...personalities finds family in the most unexpected of places.

Garrodigh was once a four-headed dragon, among the most powerful in Kardoša. After an unfortunate incident, he now has three heads, one stump, and a daily whirlwind of internal bickering. Centerhead wants to rain death upon all humanity, Bottomhead is like a feral cat, and Upperhead is under the delicate delusion that he is, in fact, human.

When a nearby battle goes awry, Garrodigh sneaks into an elite dragon rider academy, pretending to be tame to get free food and a warm bed. Lucky for him, rider Rania Charvátová is desperate enough for a dragon of her own that she overlooks his eccentricities.

As Garrodigh recovers under Rania's care, all three heads start to turn, for the first time, in the same direction. Each wants to protect her from the invaders who killed their fourth head - the same invaders who seek to conquer Kardoša. When the academy comes under attack, can this wild dragon and his wilder rider save their homeland together?

This cozy fantasy intertwines epic battles with loving friendships, sharing an utterly unique perspective on what it means to be a "monster.""

I've always thought of dragons of being very cat-like. A three-headed dragon is very much about herding cats.

Dominion by Jean Kwok
Published by: G.P. Putnam's Sons
Publication Date: July 14th, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 448 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A woman with no past. A warrior with no future. Their love could save the world - or burn it down.

Fourth Wing - by way of Chinese mythology - meets The Hunger Games in a perilous world where a young woman with no memory and little magic may hold the key to uniting the Dominions and saving the mortal realm, from the New York Times bestselling author of Read with Jenna pick Searching for Sylvie Lee and Girl in Translation.

In a world divided into four rival dominions, power is everything - and Rubi Morningtail has almost none. Three years after the Annihilation destroyed her homeland and shattered her memories, she lives as an Azure refugee in the Dominion of the Silver Tyger, scraping by as a ribbon dancer and hiding her little bit of singing magic. When she wounds a massive battle tyger on her doorstep, she draws the notice of Blake Axefire - supreme metal mage, leader of the royal Tyger Warriors, and the last man an Azure should trust. His sentence? Cast her into the Bonding, a brutal trial where tygers choose their riders and slaughter the rest. Surviving is unthinkable.

But survive she does. Now she's stuck on Blake's elite team racing to reseal the Anchors to the Demon Realm. With rebels striking, demons rising, and the dominions at each other's throats, Rubi must unlock the truth of her magic and her past...while resisting her dangerous attraction to the ruthless warrior who could be her redemption - or her ruin."

And now I'll what a massive battle tyger! 

The Eye of Leviathan by M.A. Carrick
Published by: Orbit
Publication Date: July 14th, 2026
Format: Paperback, 512 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"From the author of The Mask of Mirrors comes a sweeping adventure set in a world where fae secretly walk amongst those who seek to persecute them.

In an alternate Spanish Golden Age, the Council of the Sea Beyond has risen to unrivaled power, exploiting the Otherworld's most precious resources for their own gain. Estevan seeks to uncover their secrets, but he risks the exposure of his own: that he is a faerie, masquerading as a mortal.

The Hungry Girl is the human whose place he took. Lost among the fae and desperate to find some purpose for her existence, she leaps at the chance to help a group of Spanish explorers in the Sea Beyond...only to be horrified at the atrocities they commit.

A faerie pact has separated them - but only together can they bring down Spain's worlds-spanning empire and save the homes they have both come to love."

I adore the fact that the fae, notorious for cruelty, are appalled by the Spanish.

The Light of Stars by Jenelle Hovde
Published by: Tyndale Fiction
Publication Date: July 14th, 2026
Format: Paperback, 368 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"An arranged marriage. A powerful company tainted with corruption. Two souls caught between obligation and a longing to find their true calling in this Regency romance set in glittering London ballrooms and Calcutta street markets.

When Kitty Grenville's grandfather announces her engagement to Sebastian Sinclair, she's appalled. She barely remembers the boy she met once as a child - and now he's a man tied to the East India Company, the very organization that tore Kitty and her brother from their mother and home in Hyderabad years ago. Unwilling to relinquish her dream of a love match or her passion for astronomy, Kitty is determined to refuse the marriage and find freedom in her own way.

Sebastian Sinclair carries the weight of duty and regret. To atone for past sins, he complies with his grandfather's orders to return to England, fulfill a long-standing betrothal, and defend the maligned East India Company before Parliament. Though Kitty makes her disinterest clear, Sebastian is drawn to her intellect and spirit.

As Kitty navigates her first London season, her opinion of Sebastian begins to shift, especially when he shields her from scandal. When he's abruptly called back to India, Kitty stuns everyone by marrying him and going with him, hoping to escape her grandfather's control - and to find her mother.

But the challenges that await in India are greater than imagined. Together, Kitty and Sebastian must confront the legacy of family and empire - and discover if a marriage born of obligation can grow into a love strong enough to endure."

They have like three months on the boat to bond. It will be great.

The Hexing Miss Helena by Darcy McGuire
Published by: Boldwood Books Ltd
Publication Date: July 14th, 2026
Format: Paperback, 242 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Practical Magic meets Bridgerton! Discover the BRAND NEW romantic, witchy series from Darcy McGuire.

Every book in the Society of Scandalous Witches can be read as a standalone.

Secrets. Scandal. Hexes. And a desire that refuses to be tamed.

In gaslit Victorian England, reputation is everything - and Lady Cynthia Burrows has perfected hers. A flawless hostess. A dutiful wife. A paragon of the beau monde. Until her husband is found murdered and Cynthia becomes the most scandalous suspect of the Season. With society sharpening its knives, Cynthia turns to the formidable Blair family-rumoured witches who move through polite society with dangerous ease to help clear her name.

Among them is Helena Blair: sharp-witted, fiercely independent, and blessed with the power to read minds. Until she meets Cynthia. For the first time in her life, Helena hears nothing at all. Could it be that this captivating yet infuriating woman has untapped powers, or she's masking her guilt?

As the investigation unfolds, Cynthia's carefully controlled world begins to unravel. And it's not long before the heat between them threatens to ignite something far more dangerous than gossip. But giving into their desires could ruin everything. To survive, they must risk their hearts before the truth hexes them!"

Yeah, having an opaque mind would be useful if you're a killer.

The Moonsingers by Robyn J. Pritzker
Published by: Poisoned Pen Press
Publication Date: July 14th, 2026
Format: Paperback, 336 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"In a quiet glen beyond the reach of the railway lives a peculiar family who knows the best magic is the kind found in ordinary moments.

When Ismay Gebhardt is dismissed from yet another teaching post after an unfortunate accident (which everyone survived!), she accepts a last-chance job as a private tutor in sleepy Glenmaidens village. The town is brimming with natural beauty, uncanny traditions, and earnest locals, none more unusual than her three young pupils - the Underhill sisters - and their puzzling father.

Determined to make herself useful after several catastrophic lessons with the unbiddable girls, Ismay writes to the transport bureau suggesting an extension to the train line, hoping to bring Glenmaidens into modernity. As usual, Ismay's good intentions lead to chaos with the arrival of the bureau's frustratingly thorough officer, Hamish Breck, whose railway plans threaten not only the glen's tranquility, but also the ancient oak tree at its heart. Amidst a mess of her own making, Ismay unearths Glenmaidens' enchanted secret: the Underhills, like many villagers, are fairies who settled in the mortal world in search of a gentler life, and the oak is their only bridge back to the moonlit realm of the fantastic.

As summer heat rises, Ismay schemes with her magical neighbors to prevent the extension, each day finding herself more entangled with the charming, persistent bureaucrat. With her newfound family, the way between worlds, and her heart all at risk, Ismay must decide how much she would bargain to finally embrace the wonder and belonging she's always wished for."

Nope. No iron near the fairies.

The Missing Mother of Rose Cottage by Cathy Hayward
Published by: Lake Union Publishing
Publication Date: July 14th, 2026
Format: Paperback, 315 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"She thought she knew her family. One photograph proves she has been living a lie.

Joanne has always believed her mother died giving birth to her. It's a painful truth, but one she's accepted. Then, whilst sorting through old baby clothes, she finds a photograph tucked away in a box - her birth mother, smiling and very much alive, cradling a newborn in her arms.

As Joanne starts searching, the answers she gets only lead to more questions. Her journey takes her to Rose Cottage, where her mother once lived, and into a past filled with long-hidden secrets. Can she find out what really happened? What could be so terrible that her father has kept it from her for her whole life - and is she ready for the truth?

Revised edition: Previously released as The Secret of the Brighton House, this edition of The Missing Mother of Rose Cottage includes editorial revisions."

I don't know... If you've been watching Widow's Bay a lot could have gone wrong...

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