28 August 2025 New Thriller and Mystery Books You Won’t Be Able to Put Down

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases made through links on this site. Your purchases help fund my content and come at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support!

August is my birth month, so I always have a blast putting together the new book releases for this time of year.

In this particular post, I’m sharing the best thriller and mystery books hitting the shelves in August 2025 and they honestly feel way too good to miss.

I might be a little biased (hello, birthday month magic), but it seriously feels like everything coming out this month is more exciting than any other month of the year and that’s not even a joke.

If you want to get your hands on some of these new thriller and mystery books early, I highly recommend applying to publishers or checking out NetGalley for ARCs. Here’s my guide on how to go about all of that if you’re interested.

But even if you don’t snag an ARC, no worries – just keep track of the publication dates and grab your own copy once they hit the shelves.

I just know these books are going to be so interesting!

The Witch’s Orchard by Archer Sullivan – August 12th

I’m really looking forward to this because of its haunting mountain setting and secrets buried deep in the past.

The Witch’s Orchard follows private investigator Annie Gore, who returns to the Appalachian hollers she once ran from.

Ten years ago, three young girls vanished; only one came back.

Now, Annie must solve this cold case filled with mountain folklore, whispers of witches, and hidden pain.

As she digs deeper, old memories awaken, and someone dangerous stirs.

The small town wants to forget, but Annie is determined to uncover the truth, even if it brings back her own haunting past.

This promises to be so atmospheric and unforgettable.

High Season by Katie Bishop – August 12th

I love stories that blur memory and truth, so this one really has my attention.

Twenty years ago, Tamara Drayton drowned in her family’s beautiful French estate pool. Her little sister Nina testified and blames the babysitter.

But memories fade or twist. Now grown, Nina hears about a true crime documentary reopening the case.

Did she see what she thought? Was the wrong person blamed?

As two summers – past and present – intertwine, Nina searches for answers but risks uncovering a terrible cost.

High Season sounds like a gripping, thoughtful mystery about memory’s tricks. I can’t wait to see how this dark, tangled story unfolds.

Forget Me Not by Stacy Willingham – August 26th

This Southern mystery feels like one I’ll really get lost in, complete with old family secrets and a slow-burning suspense.

Claire’s sister disappeared twenty-two years ago, and the case was supposedly solved.

But when Claire returns home and takes a summer job at a peaceful vineyard, she stumbles on an old diary.

What begins as a sweet escape turns dark as the diary hints at hidden crimes maybe even linked to her sister’s vanishing. The past she tried to forget creeps closer with each page.

I can’t wait to find out the chilling twists this quiet, atmospheric thriller has waiting in the vineyard shadows.

The Break-In by Katherine Faulkner – August 26th

I love a good domestic thriller, and this sounds so suspenseful.

After killing a violent intruder in self-defense, Alice tries to move on, but eerie calls, strange online comments, and suspicious behavior from friends and family leave her uneasy.

Who was the man she killed? Why are secrets piling up all around her?

As Alice digs for the truth, the mystery creeps closer to home, threatening everything she thought she knew.

The Break-In promises plenty of twists and unsettling discoveries, and I’m so eager to see how this chilling, tangled mystery unravels. It feels like one that will keep me guessing until the very end.

Jenny Cooper Has a Secret by Joy Fielding – August 5th

Linda visits her friend at a memory care home, while trying to escape her lonely, troubled life.

But then she meets Jenny Cooper – a sweet, elderly woman claiming to have killed men who wronged her.

Is Jenny simply confused or is her shocking story true?

When another patient suddenly dies, Linda wonders if Jenny’s confession might hold some real danger.

I’m so curious how this unsettling, psychological mystery will explore truth, age, and trust. It feels like the kind of quiet thriller that sneaks up on you.

Mississippi Blue 42 by Eli Cranor – August 5th

FBI rookie Rae Johnson investigates shady football money in Mississippi in this small town thriller book.

But when a star player falls from a roof with a cash-filled bag beside him, Rae senses something worse than just gambling.

She’s told to ignore the death – it’s not her case – but she can’t shake the feeling that murder lurks beneath the Friday night lights.

I’m excited for this mix of football, crime, and Southern grit.

It promises a thrilling ride into hidden corruption where ambition and danger collide. I can’t wait to get my copy.

Stillwater by Tanya Scott – August 12th

I have such a soft spot for flawed heroes trying to escape their dark pasts, so this debut sounds perfect.

Luke Harris left behind a life of crime, but the past isn’t done with him.

When his peaceful new life clashes with his old world – filled with danger, betrayal, and violence – Luke must become the deadly man he once was to survive.

What happens when you can’t outrun who you were? Stillwater promises sharp action, deep struggles, and a battle for redemption.

I’m looking forward to seeing if Luke can escape or if his old sins will finally catch up to him.

Too Old for This by Samantha Downing – August 12th

A retired serial killer hiding in plain sight? I can’t wait to see where this darkly funny thriller goes.

Lottie Jones thought her murder days were long behind her.

Now she spends her time gossiping and playing bingo until a nosy reporter comes asking about her hidden past.

To keep her secret safe, Lottie may have to kill again. But committing murder isn’t as easy when you’re older and slower.

Too Old for This sounds like such a clever, sharp story with danger and dark humor.

I love books that surprise me like this, and I’m so excited to see how Lottie’s last job turns out.

Sheepdogs by Elliot Ackerman – August 5th

Skwerl and Cheese are ex-operatives stuck in boring jobs after their careers crashed.

But then they get one last shot at action: recover a jet stranded in Africa.

What seems simple turns messy fast – missing contacts, shady money, and personal stakes make the mission spin out of control.

From Africa to France to America, they race through danger, lies, and old loyalties.

Sheepdogs feels full of heart, humor, and action. I’m so excited for this fresh, clever take on spies who just can’t stay out of trouble.

Smuggler’s Cove by Fern Michaels – August 26th

I really enjoy cozy mysteries mixed with family drama, so this new series sounds perfect.

Siblings Madison and Lincoln inherit a crumbling marina in New Jersey, but when a body turns up under their dock, their plans to sell it fall apart.

Suddenly they’re chasing clues, discovering pirate legends, and stumbling on a treasure map.

I love the promise of small-town charm, quirky locals, and mysteries layered with family secrets.

Smuggler’s Cove feels like the start of a fun, twisty adventure I can’t wait to follow.

It’s exciting to see how these two siblings will handle the chaos waiting by the shore.

The Dead Come to Stay by Brandy Schillace – August 5th

I’m really looking forward to this cozy mystery because it sounds so unique and thoughtful.

Jo Jones wants a quiet life in North Yorkshire but finds secrets hiding in her family’s old estate, including a mysterious painting and a strange connection to her late uncle.

When a murder happens nearby, she has to team up with the grumpy town detective, MacAdams.

Their search leads them into the shady world of rare artifacts and vanishing teens.

I love mysteries that gently peel away secrets while building unexpected friendships, so this one has my attention.

Plus, the quiet English countryside setting feels like the perfect backdrop for twists and turns.

Emma on Fire by James Patterson & Emily Raymond – August 19th

This one feels so intense and important and it’s really pulling at my curiosity.

Emma Blake is planning something shocking at her school, Ridgemont Academy, and nobody truly understands her pain or purpose.

Her family tragedy haunts her, and even her best friends and teachers think she’s just crying for help.

But Emma wants to shake the world awake, not wait for tomorrow. What will she do? How far will she go?

I always enjoy thrillers that mix deep emotions with tension, and this promises to explore grief, purpose, and change in a bold way.

I can’t wait to see how this brave, troubled girl’s story unfolds.

Leverage by Amran Gowani – August 19th

I’m really excited for this because it’s set in the ruthless world of Wall Street, which is a setting I rarely read but always find fascinating.

Al Jafar is a hedge fund star until a bad investment costs him $300 million in one day.

Instead of being fired, his boss demands he recover the loss or take the blame in a huge government case.

This dark, funny thriller promises backstabbing, high stakes, and desperate moves as Al risks everything – including his sanity – to survive.

I can’t wait to see how he fights back. Stories about power and pressure always hook me, and this one sounds clever and sharp.

Sherlock Holmes and the Real Thing by Nicholas Meyer – August 26th

A new Sherlock Holmes mystery always makes me smile and this one sounds wonderfully twisty.

In snowy old London, Holmes and Watson are pulled into the world of art forgery after a simple case of unpaid rent turns deadly.

Bodies appear, secrets multiply, and they’re soon chasing a killer among painters, dealers, and blackmailers.

But the real puzzle is this: could even this strange mystery be a forgery itself?

I love the playful question of what’s real and what’s fake and it feels like a true Holmes puzzle.

I’m so looking forward to seeing how Holmes and Watson untangle this clever, dangerous web.

We Are All Guilty Here by Karin Slaughter – August 12th

Karin Slaughter’s books always grip me, and this new mystery sounds so full of secrets.

In the small town of North Falls, two teenage girls disappear during the fireworks, shaking everyone’s sense of safety.

For Officer Emmy Clifton, the case feels personal – she failed her best friend’s daughter and now must make things right.

But as Emmy digs deeper, she discovers she didn’t really know these girls – or the town – at all.

I love mysteries where the truth slowly unravels and every person seems to be hiding something.

This story feels dark, chilling, and full of surprises. I’m very eager to see where it leads.

Five Found Dead by Sulari Gentill – August 19th

I absolutely love locked-room mysteries set on trains – they feel so deliciously old-fashioned and tense.

Joe Penvale and his sister Meredith board the Orient Express for a quiet escape, but murder interrupts their peace.

A neighbor’s cabin turns into a bloody scene with no body in sight.

As more passengers die, Joe and Meredith must join forces with fellow travelers to stop the killer.

This sounds like an Agatha Christie-style puzzle full of suspense, literary charm, and twists galore.

I can’t wait to ride along and try to solve the case myself. Trains, mystery, and secrets? Yes, please – I’m so excited for this one.

Murder by the Book by Amie Schaumberg – August 19th

When a student is found staged like Ophelia from Hamlet, Detective Carter is stumped until he meets awkward professor Emma Reilly, who sees clues hidden in classic books.

As more victims appear, posed like famous literary figures, Emma realizes the killer knows her world of stories too well and the next target might be someone close to her.

I love when mysteries tie into books and poetry because it makes everything feel richer. I’ll definitely be guessing who the killer is until the very last page.

The Locked Ward by Sarah Pekkanen – August 5th

This thriller sounds so chilling and unsettling. It’s definitely one I want to read with the lights on.

Georgia Cartwright is accused of killing her wealthy family’s real daughter and locked in a terrifying psychiatric hospital.

Only her estranged twin Amanda can help her now. But Amanda isn’t sure if Georgia is truly innocent or a master manipulator.

I’m really drawn to stories about sisters and twisted family secrets. They always make me wonder who to trust.

The eerie setting and whispered lies make this one feel like a true psychological maze. I can’t wait to see which sister is telling the truth.

Peter Miles Has to Die by Katie Collom – August 12th

This debut feels so thought-provoking and intense, so I’m really curious about where it will go.

Three friends decide to kill the local cop who murdered their best friend and got away with it.

They plan the perfect crime, but after the killing, guilt and fear creep in.

When a detective starts sniffing around and they get death threats, their careful plan begins to unravel.

I love books that ask big what would you do? questions. This one feels like a dark, emotional ride about justice and consequences.

I’m excited (and a little nervous) to see how these friends handle the fallout.

The Marigold Cottages Murder Collective by Jo Nichols – August 19th

At Marigold Cottages in sunny California, quirky tenants enjoy peaceful lives until a dead body shatters their calm.

When their beloved landlady Mrs. B confesses to the crime (even though she’s probably innocent), the neighbors band together to solve the case.

I adore mysteries where misfits become a team and this promises humor, friendship, and surprising twists.

I can’t wait to meet these odd, lovable characters and see how they uncover the truth.

It feels like the perfect book for a relaxing afternoon with tea. I’m really looking forward to it.

What do you think? Are you going to give any of these August 2025 thriller and mystery books a chance?

We’re literally knee-deep in summer right now, and you need a good thriller to cool off with while enjoying some quiet time.

In the meantime, if you want to stay updated on other amazing books coming out in August 2025, here are the posts featuring new releases from other genres: