Deborah van der LindeMysteries are historically a popular genre, and lately, gothic stories, thrillers, and even horror stories are growing in popularity. And, given my love for mysteries, ghost stories, and even an excellent gothic tale, this is music to my ears. There are some phenomenal new stories out from both the large publishing companies as well as the smaller presses.
Horror, especially, is worth an extra mention – there are some groundbreaking stories being released with fascinating new takes on old themes. Keep reading to learn about a few that have really caught my attention.
Regarding mysteries, I am very excited that Ruth Ware has released a new story called The It Girl. The first Ware book I read was The Death of Mrs. Westaway, which is a gripping, twisted story that keeps a reader guessing until the end. This new story promises to do the same. In The It Girl, Hannah is drawn back into a murder that happened to a friend when they were in university. The person jailed for the crime has just passed away, and shortly after, a reporter turns up with evidence that the person convicted might just be innocent. However, as Hannah is drawn deeper into what happened all those years ago, she discovers nothing is as it seems, and her friends all have something to hide.
I am also really looking forward to the new Cormorant Strike book, The Ink Black Heart, by Robert Galbraith. This is the sixth book in the series and focuses on the murder of Edie Ledwell, the co-creator of the comic The Ink Black Heart. Robin Ellacott had initially turned down Edie’s case, but once Edie is found dead, Robin and Cormorant are drawn into the investigation – an investigation into a mystery that turns out to be twisted and complex. The other books in this series have been excellent, so I can hardly wait to get my hands on this new one. It will be released on August 30, 2022.
Sarah Gaily’s Just Like Home is an excellent choice if you enjoy a good gothic thriller. This gothic thriller centres on Vera, who, despite being estranged from her mother for many years, answers her mother’s request that she come home. Going home isn’t easy for Vera because of all the memories home holds for her, especially of her father – a serial killer. When Vera arrives home, she soon discovers that her childhood home holds more secrets yet, secrets she must get to the bottom of soon.
Silvia Moreno-Garcia, the author of Mexican Gothic, has a new story out, this time a horror, an adaptation of The Island of Dr. Moreau by H.G. Wells. Mexican Gothic was a creepy, suspenseful story, slow-moving but beautifully told – and gripping to the last page. Her new book, The Daughter of Dr. Moreau, seems like it will be just as creepy and just as suspenseful as her previous books. In this version of the story, Dr. Moreau’s island is located on the Yucatan peninsula in 19th Century Mexico. He also has a daughter, Carlota, living there with him as he conducts his bizarre experiments creating hybrids of humans and animals. However, everything is tipped off balance when the son of Dr. Moreau’s sponsor shows up on the island.
All these stories are darker, suspenseful tales, great choices for anyone who enjoys dramatic, complex, and suspenseful tales. Especially ones that will likely keep you up half the night, if only to read one more chapter.
Happy Reading!
