Summary
15 Thriller Books With Twist Endings That Didn’t Disappoint
A good psychological or crime thriller should keep readers guessing until that big final plot twist, and these suspenseful books won’t disappoint.
11House Of Glass: Sarah Pekkanen
July 2024 Book Offering
The first pick from Book of the Month’s July hardcover collection isHouse of Glassby Sarah Pekkanen. This thriller follows Stella Hudson, an attorney who takes on an unsettling case. A nine-year-old girl witnessed the murder of her nanny, and she, or any of her family members, could have been the perpetrator. Stella’s suspicions only grow when she meets the girl and her family, who live in a house with no glass in historic Washington, D.C.
House of Glasslooks to be an engaging and twisty thriller. Readers won’t know who to trust as Stella unravels the nanny’s murder and her client’s traumas. Sarah Pekkanen has released books via Book of the Month before, butHouse of Glassis particularly special because it is an early release. For those seeking a creepy and dark story,House of Glassis the ideal pick.
10Husbands & Lovers: Beatriz Williams
One of Book of the Month’s two historical fiction books this month is Beatriz Williams’Husbands & Lovers.This book follows two parallel storylines. In modern-day New England,a woman tries to find a kidney donor for her son, and in doing so, must finally face her life’s two biggest tragedies: her mother’s adoption in the 1950s and her summer fling with a now famous singer and songwriter. Meanwhile, in Cairo, 1951, another young woman tries to keep her perfect life together even as an affair and a revolution come knocking at her door.
Williams weaves a tapestry of heartbreak and family trauma.
Husbands & Loversis a book for those who love generational stories full of complex connections and emotional hardships. Through two seemingly separate stories in two distinct time periods, Williams weaves a tapestry of heartbreak and family trauma.Husbands Loversis Williams' third novel released by Book of the Month. Overall, this historical fiction book will be a complicated, romantic, and moving look at one family’s darkest secrets.
9The God Of The Woods: Liz Moore
For those seeking a dark literary fiction story,The God of the Woodsis a strong contender.It centers on the disappearance of Barbara Van Laar, a 13-year-old whose family owns the very summer camp she disappeared from. Strangely enough, she isn’t the first Van Laar to disappear, either. Her brother vanished in similar circumstances over a decade ago, never to be heard from again.
Liz Moore’s most popular book is 2020’sLong Bright River.
ThoughThe God of the Woodsis not a thriller, it is a story that will keep readers guessing until the very end. With multiple perspectives and a timeline that jumps from era to era,this book dives deep into a mystery that has deep and disturbing roots. Plus, at over 400 pages,The God of the Woodswill keep readers occupied for an entire beach day or more. Plus, Liz Moore is a repeat author at Book of the Month.
8The Lost Story: Meg Shaffer
While several of Book of the Month’s July offerings have a darker ambiance,The Lost Storyis a breath of fresh air.This fantasy book tells the story of Jeremy and Rafe, two friends who went missing in a forest for six monthsin their youth. As adults,only Jeremy remembers the magical world they discovered while they were gone, but now, he must let loose this secret to help find a woman’s missing sister. For the first time ever, Jeremy and Rafe must face their forgotten past together.
AlthoughThe Lost Storyhas a spooky edge to it, this is a much more whimsical tale than Book of the Month’s other July picks. While the main characters certainly have issues to work through,the book really centers on self-discovery, romance, and magic. This book has multiple perspectives and includes LGBTQ+ themes. Meg Shaffer is yet another repeat author for Book of the Month. Ultimately,The Lost Storyis a perfectLGBTQ+ romance bookfor lovers of magic and mystery.
7A Thousand Times Before: Asha Thanki
Likely the most epic book of July is Asha Thanki’sA Thousand Times Before.This story follows Ayukta, a woman who decides to share a major family secret with her wife: the magical tapestry that allows her to experience the lives of her female ancestors. Together, Ayukta and her wife relive her female relatives' lives, through Partition-era India and beyond, and in turn, use these moments to make decisions about their own present-day predicament: whether they should have a child.
Written by a fresh new author, readers will get to enjoy a distinct voice and what is sure to be a unique story.
A Thousand Times Beforeis the only debut novel to be released as a hardcover by Book of the Month in July. In many ways, this makes it even better. Written by a fresh new author, readers will get to enjoy a distinct voice and what is sure to be a unique story. Plus, as the second historical fiction pick of the month,A Thousand Times Beforedelves into parts of history that many readers have likely never learned aboutbefore. In this way, this book is enlightening, touching, and deeply important.
6Honey: Isabel Banta
July 2024 Audiobook Offering
A particularly exciting audiobook hitting Book of the Month this July is Isabel Banta’sHoney.This contemporary fiction story follows Amber Young, a young woman whose dreams come true when she is invited to join the pop girl group Cloud9in the late 1990s. However, fame is not exactly what Amber expected, and her life quickly begins to spiral as friends become foes and public opinion morphs her into someone entirely different.
Honeyis Isabel Banta’s debut novel.
Honeyis an examination of celebrity culture, fame, and the music scene in the 1990s and early 2000s. On one hand, it is a nostalgic read bursting with pop culture, but on the other,it is a devastating story of ambition and talent being corruptedby the entertainment industry. For those who love celebrity tell-all documentaries or theDaisy Jones and the Sixbook or show, this debut is perfect.
5Under Your Spell: Laura Wood
Though several of Book of the Month’s July books have romance weaved throughout them,Under Your Spellis the onlyromance book coming out in July. The book follows a young woman named Clemmie who, after being cheated on and losing her job, does a childhood ritual with her sisterscalled the Breakup Spell. As a result, Clemmie ends up in an even worse situation: spending six weeks with an attractive and unavailable rock star. As her summer heats up, Clemmie must decide if she will be defined by her past or on the way to a new future.
Under Your Spellhas everything a romance reader might want. From a messy protagonist to a musician love interest, this book seems to hit all the classic romance marks. Yet,with all its unique quirks,Under Your Spellwill still be a wild ridewith some unexpected twists and turns. This book is for lovers ofPractical Magicand music-centered books.
4A Talent For Murder: Peter Swanson
July is a big month for thrillers, andA Talent for Murderis another exhilarating option.The novel tells the story of Martha, an archival librarian who agrees to marry a kind divorcee who is off on business for half of the year. The marriage goes well at first, but Martha soon begins to suspect that her husband may not be who he says he is. After discovering a suspicious trail of murders in her husband’s path, Martha enlists help from an old friend to figure out if she’s married to a serial killer.
A Talent for Murderhas a premise that is immediately hair-raising. Though Martha suspects her husband is a murderer, it is almost guaranteed that this book will provide a plot twist that readers cannot see coming. Among the many thrillers in Book of the Month’s catalog in July,this story may have less mystery but is already infused with horror.
3The Lion Women Of Tehran: Marjan Kamali
Another historical story available at Book of the Month in July isThe Lion Women of Tehran.Set in 1950s Iran, this story follows Ellie,a young girl whose privileged life is turned upside down when her father dies unexpectedly. Luckily, though, Ellie finds solace in another young girl named Homa. After Ellie returns to her wealthy lifestyle, she forgets about Homa, but the girls eventually reunite, and must decide who they want to be as revolution brews around them.
The Lion Women of Tehranis yet another moving depiction of young women trying to survive in a time and place that does not treat them fairly. However, with the power of friendship, the characters find their place in the world, and more importantly, stand up for what they believe in. Along with being steeped into the culture and history of 1950s Tehran,The Lion Women of Tehranwill leave readers feeling emotional and nostalgic for their childhoods.
The final thriller being offered by Book of the Month is Caro Carver’sBad Tourists.This murder mystery story revolves around Darcy, Camilla, and Kate, three best friends who take a much-needed post-divorce vacationto the Maldives. However, their relaxation comes to a halt when a body appears on the beach. Suddenly, their secrets, and those of their fellow guests, become of the utmost importance.
Summer is already a great time to become invested in a fast-paced thriller, butBad Touristsraises the stakes with its beachy summer setting. This is the ideal book to keep readers occupied on summer vacation. Plus, its themes of female friendship make this story not only riveting, but relatable as well. Those who loveBig Little Liesmay be fans ofBad Tourists.
