Few books can keep us hooked quite like a psychological thriller or a twisty crime novel.
While sinking into a family saga or getting lost in a love story are both undoubtedly pleasurable reading experiences, there is nothing quite like reading the explosive first lines of a murder mystery and hardly being able to tear yourself away from thereon.
This month, excellent examples of the crime and thriller genre are arriving in spades.
From a new Frieda McFadden (best known for her much-loved novel The Housemaid) to the start of a Breaking Bad style crime series and the return of Stephen King – you might want to clear your calendar now…
The Tenant by Freida McFadden; Never Flinch by Stephen King; Tyrant by Conn IgguldenThe Tenant by Freida McFadden
Since she took the literary world by storm with The Housemaid (soon to be a film starring Sydney Sweeney), this initially self-published author has gone from strength to strength. Her latest is a dark, twisty read in which there is something not quite right about Blake’s new tenant.
Sourcebooks, £9.99
Never Flinch by Stephen King
From the undisputed king of crime and horror, here is a novel where two thrillingly awful narrative strands – the serial killer on the revenge mission and the misogynistic stalker targeting a feminist speaker – slowly start intertwining.
Hodder & Stoughton, £25
Tyrant by Conn Iggulden
The second instalment of Iggulden’s bestselling Nero trilogy continues to chart the rise of one of ancient Rome’s most notorious emperors. In Tyrant, we follow Nero’s mother, Agrippina, as she stops at nothing to pave her son’s way to power.
Michael Joseph, £22
A Sharp Scratch by Heather Darwent; The Chemist by A. A. Dhand; Count My Lies by Sophie StavaA Sharp Scratch by Heather Darwent
As smart as it is propulsive, this thriller explores the darker side of wellness culture through its protagonist Betsy’s stay at a luxury retreat. Here, we see the lengths to which a chronically unwell person might go to feel better.
Viking, £16.99
The Chemist by A. A. Dhand
Billed as Breaking Bad meets The Wire and Top Boy, this gritty read centres on anti-hero pharmacist Idris Khan, who doles out methadone on the sly. When his childhood sweetheart disappears, he is dragged into a turf war between Yorkshire’s most powerful drug cartels.
HQ, £16.99
Count My Lies by Sophie Stava
Already making waves across the pond as a Good Morning America book club pick, this taut, “just one more page” novel follows Sloane, a nanny who has built a life on lies. So you can imagine her horror when it dawns on her that her employer might be telling just as many fibs.
Century, £16.99
Nightshade by Michael Connoly; Innocent Guilt by Remi Kone; Julie Chan is Dead by Liann ZhangNightshade by Michael Connoly
Detective Stilwell was the County Sheriff in Los Angeles – now office politics has seen him move to the less-than-desirable position on the island of Catalina. But things get rather interesting when a body is discovered wrapped in plastic and weighed down at the bottom of the harbour.
Orion, £22
Innocent Guilt by Remi Kone
A woman walks into a London police station covered in blood. Nearby, a man is found dead in the park. As the woman refuses to speak, the question is: Is she a victim or a perpetrator? This debut author has already garnered early praise from Lee Child, Peter James and Jo Spain.
Quercus, £16.99
Julie Chan is Dead by Liann Zhang
For fans of Yellowface, here is a wildly fun novel in which our protagonist Julie discovers her estranged identical twin’s body – and instead of calling the police, accidentally steals her much better life. Whatever could go wrong?
Raven, £16.99
No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding by Catherine Mack; The Doorman by Chris Pavone; The House of Water by Fflur DafyddNo One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding by Catherine Mack
Eleanor Dash is a bestselling crime author – so perhaps it is no wonder murder follows her around. She could do without it at her best friend’s wedding, though. A fun mystery to breeze through on a sunlounger this summer.
Macmillan, £20
The Doorman by Chris Pavone
Chicky Diaz is a doorman for one of New York’s most prestigious buildings, not far from where a Black man was killed by the police. As tensions in the city rise, Diaz becomes ever more suspicious of what is going on behind closed doors.
Head of Zeus, £18.99
The House of Water by Fflur Dafydd
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In this brutal, captivating thriller, Iona comes home one day to find her entire family murdered, the house filled with water and the body of a young girl she has never seen before in her bed. To top it all off, her father, Eurov, is missing – and the police declare him the prime suspect.
Hodder & Stoughton, £20
The Girl in Cell A by Vaseem Khan
Orianna Negi became infamous when she was convicted of murder at 17. She has always maintained her innocence, despite the fact that she can’t remember what happened. Now, a forensic psychologist is finally on the verge of finding out the truth (and the twist will leave you floored).
Hodder & Stoughton, £20
The Busybody Book Club by Freya Sampson
For this warm and witty mystery, think Richard Osman’s Thursday Murder Club but swap the retirees for a book group based in a Cornish seaside village. When one of their members disappears, a dead body turns up and £10,000 is stolen from the community centre, the bibliophiles are determined to find out what has happened.
Renegade Books, £9.99
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Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( The best new crime and thriller books to read in May 2025 )
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