Bookish newness: July 2024
Guilty families, medical experiments, revenge, and eyeballs.
Summer is here, even if the UK weather hasn't quite caught up. Rain or shine, a new month means new criminally creepy books for us to sink our teeth into, and July is coming in hot!
I've curated a list of 12 new releases that I am truly excited to get my hands on and let me tell you, it wasn't easy to keep this list short. From popcorn thrillers and domestic noirs to... eyeballs (I won't say more), the books below span my favourite genres: crime fiction, noir, thrillers, and horror. I've kept each synopsis short to give you a cheeky taster of what to expect.
So, if like me you enjoy a creepy book in the sun keep on scrolling. Let's dive in!
(Pssst! Before we do, it’s worth noting these books are organised by UK publication release dates.)
July 2024
The God of the Woods by Liz Moore // 4 July 2024
Fifteen years ago, the Van Laars' son went missing, sparking rumours of family guilt and delayed help. Now, their daughter has vanished in the same forest. Some believe the disappearances are linked, while others disagree.
Publisher: HarperCollins | Page count: 448
Bookshop.org / Waterstones / Amazon
The Betrayal of Thomas True by A.J. West // 4 July 2024
In 1715, Thomas True arrives in London with a dangerous secret and is drawn into the molly houses' underworld. Carpenter Gabriel Griffin, leading a double life as Lotty, the molly's guard, faces a crisis when a young man is murdered, revealing a traitor among them. Gabriel must unmask the betrayer, save Thomas from peril, and protect their forbidden love.
Publisher: Orenda Books | Page count: 320
Bookshop.org / Waterstones / Amazon
Honeycomb by S. B. Caves // 9 July 2024
Six strangers, including washed-up music star Amanda Pearson, participate in a mysterious medical experiment at an isolated mansion. Under constant observation, they take a daily pill, with only one receiving the experimental drug. But, as Amanda uncovers chilling secrets about the mansion and her housemates, it becomes clear there's no way out.
Publisher: Watkins Media Limited | Page count: 352
The Hollywood Assistant by May Cobb // 9 July 2024
Cassidy Foster, stuck in life and obsessed with plants, moves to L.A. for a job with Hollywood couple Marisol and Nate Sterling. While enjoying luxury and helping Nate with his scripts, Cassidy gets entangled in their troubled marriage. When one of them is found dead, Cassidy, hired for a hidden purpose, becomes the prime suspect.
Publisher: Penguin Puntnam Inc | Page count: 400
Bookshop.org / Waterstones / Amazon
Our Kind of Game by Johanna Copeland // 9 July 2024
In 2019, Stella Parker's perfect suburban life is shattered when her neighbour Gwen reveals knowledge of a dark secret from Stella's past. In 1987, Julie Waits dreams of normalcy, trapped by her widowed mother's chaotic relationships and constant relocations. As Stella delves into Gwen's claims, the terrifying connection between Julie and herself emerges.
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers | Page count: 304
Bookshop.org / Waterstones / Amazon
Imposter Syndrome by Joseph Knox // 11 July 2024
Lynch, a burned-out con artist, arrives in London and meets Bobbie, a rehab-bound heiress who mistakes him for her missing brother, Heydon. Drawn to her family's luxurious home, Lynch is hired by Bobbie's formidable mother, Miranda, to impersonate Heydon to uncover his killer. As Lynch steps into Heydon's shoes, he realises dark forces are watching, and they will kill to keep their secrets hidden.
Publisher: Transworld Publishers | Page count: 384
Bookshop.org / Waterstones / Amazon
The Dead Friend Project by Joanna Wallace // 11 July 2024
Beth's life is falling apart: her husband left her for a friend, school mums judge her, and her son's accident lands them in A&E. Since her best friend Charlotte's death, everything's been harder. But, when Beth learns Charlotte unusually left her toddler alone before her fatal jog, she suspects foul play. With a glass of wine and a new purpose, Beth dives into the secrets of the seemingly perfect school mums to uncover the truth.
Publisher: Profile Books | Page count: 336
Bookshop.org / Waterstones / Amazon
The Eyes Are The Best Part by Monika Kim // 11 July 2024
Ji-won's life is in turmoil after her father's affair shatters her family. Her mother's obnoxious new boyfriend, with his flawed understanding of Korean culture and inappropriate behaviour, pushes Ji-won's emotions to the brink. Obsessed with his blue eyes and consumed by rage, Ji-won becomes convinced that drastic action is needed to save her family and quell her growing fixation.
Publisher: Octopus Publishing | Page count: 288
Bookshop.org / Waterstones / Amazon
All The Colours Of The Dark by Christopher Whitaker // 16 July 2024
In the small town of Monta Clare, teenager Joseph "Patch" Macauley is abducted, devastating his best friend, Saint Brown. Patch is trapped in darkness, comforted only by the voice of a girl named Grace. When he escapes, there's no trace of her. Haunted by her memory, Patch begins an obsessive quest to find her, painting her from broken recollections. As years pass, Saint embarks on her own darker mission to hunt down their captor and free the boy she loves, even if it means losing each other forever.
Publisher: Orion Publishing | Page count: 592
Bookshop.org / Waterstones / Amazon
I Was A Teenager Slasher by Stephen Graham Jones // 16 July 2024
In 1989 Lamesa, Texas, a tight-knit community fueled by oil and cotton, seventeen-year-old Tolly Driver and his best friend Amber navigate the challenging teenage social scene. Their lives change drastically after attending a party at Deek Masterton’s house, which ends in a spree of brutal murders. As Tolly's world is turned upside-down, he learns that some slashers are born from violence and retribution, while others are simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Publisher: Titan Books Ltd | Page count: 384
Bookshop.org / Waterstones / Amazon
The Wilds by Sarah Pearse // 16 July 2024
After the dark events that scarred her childhood, Kier Templer escaped her hometown and twin to live her life on the road. They've never lost contact until, on a trip to a Portuguese national park, Kier vanishes without a trace. Detective Elin Warner arrives in the same park ready to immerse herself in its vast wilderness - only to hear about Kier's disappearance, and discover a disturbing map she left behind. The few strangers at the isolated camp close ranks against her questions, and the park's wild beauty starts to turn sinister. Elin must untangle the clues to find out what happened to Kier.
Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group | Page count: 432
Bookshop.org / Waterstones / Amazon
The Revenge of Rita Marsh by Nilesha Chauvet // 18 July 2024
Rita Marsh is a good person. By day, she runs a care home, looking after the elderly and infirm. By night, she's a vigilante, posing online as young girls and snaring the men who prey on them, exposing them for what they are. Rita has successfully kept her two lives separate for years. But when an old classmate returns from her past, her two worlds start to collide. With both of her selves unravelling, Rita will have to choose between justice and revenge.
Publisher: Faber & Faber | Page count: 352
Bookshop.org / Waterstones / Amazon
This is just a glimpse of what July has to offer, and there are so many other books to mention!
Now it’s over to you! Break that booking buying ban and fill your basket for a summer of criminally creepy bookish fun!
Let me know what books are on your radar in the comments below. I’m always looking for an excuse to grow my overflowing TBR pile…
As always, happy reading!
Until next time,Â
Sian | Criminally Creepy Books
Any links mentioned above are non-affiliated and I do not make any money from these companies. These are the places I shop at regularly. No affiliations, just recommendations!
I have Honeycomb to read and am currently reading Imposter syndrome! So many good choices here, I added a few 🫣