Most Anticipated Book Releases Summer 2016: Mystery/Suspense

It’s day three of my most anticipated summer releases week, and today I’m focusing on mystery/suspense novels coming out this summer.  (Monday was Contemporary, and Tuesday was Historical fiction.) This genre is one of my very faves, so I’m always on the lookout for new books to add to my ever-growing TBR continent. June through August provide plenty of titles to feed my addiction, and just wait until you see the list for September through December (look for that around the beginning of August)!

There’s also one sci-fi/dystopian book on my list today (Deep Shadows by Vannetta Chapman), but I don’t have any other books in that genre. It’s not my typical genre, to be honest, but for Vannetta Chapman I make an exception! So I included it in my suspense list because it does seem a bit suspenseful too 🙂

Deception by Elizabeth Goddard (Love Inspired, June 7) – Jewel Caraway thought she’d left her mistakes in the past—but then her past arrives at her door.

Though she’s thrilled to reunite with her estranged sister, something about her sister’s new husband makes Jewel uneasy. Does he know her secret? Is he the one behind the growing list of attacks against her?

And if he is involved…does that mean her sister is, too?

With nowhere else to turn, Jewel must rely on police chief Colin Winters—the first man to make the widow question her resolve to never love again.

But will he stay by her side when her guarded secrets are revealed?  Goodreads | Amazon 

Seek and Find by Dana Mentink (Love Inspired, June 7) – Reporter Madison Coles wants to write an exposé on the crime spree rocking Desert Valley, Arizona—but the small town’s residents and police are tight-lipped.

Even when Madison herself is attacked, the only help she can get is protection from rookie K-9 officer James Harrison and his trusty bloodhound.

Suspicious of the reporter’s motives, the handsome cop keeps her at arm’s length. But the more Madison’s life is threatened, the more focused she is on finding the truth—and the closer she gets to James.

Can he help her find the story without them both ending up in the obituary pages?  Goodreads | Amazon 

Protective Duty by Jessica R. Patch (Love Inspired, June 7) – Minutes into FBI profiler Bryn Eastman’s first case since a near-fatal shooting, a brazen serial killer sets his sights on her next. Now her life—and career—is in the hands of her new partner, Detective Eric Hale, the man she once loved and lost.

Racked with nightmares of the shooting and regrets for the tragedy that tore her and Eric apart, Bryn doesn’t want Eric to discover the secrets she carries—but she needs him.

Seeing Bryn brings back memories Eric can’t control. Memories of a once-in-a-lifetime love.

But the tough detective knows their only path to a second chance goes straight through a relentless killer…one who won’t quit until he counts Bryn as his fifth victim.  Goodreads | Amazon

Of Dubious and Questionable Memory by Rachel McMillan (Harvest House, June 1) – Ne’er-Do-Wells of New England—You’ve Been Warned!

Merinda Herringford and Jem Watts are never lacking for mysteries of the curious and commonplace, but lately business has been a little less curious and a lot more common.

With only missing jewelry and a kidnapped rooster on the case docket, Merinda is bored stiff. Jem welcomes the reprieve as she settles into married life, attempting to learn the domestic skills that have cunningly evaded her as a bachelor girl detective.  The lull in business is short-lived when a telegram arrives from the detective duo’s suffragette friend, Martha Kingston, detailing the mysterious disappearance of a school chum’s sister in Concord, Massachusetts.

No sooner do Jem and Merinda arrive in the States to investigate than they find themselves embroiled in a world of strange affairs, purloined letters, and a baffling mystery whose clues lead directly to Orchard House, the homestead made famous by its long-time resident, Louisa May Alcott.  Goodreads | Amazon

From Winter’s Ashes by Amy Leigh Simpson (WildBlue Press, June 7) – Hopelessly unlucky in love and a target for tragedy, Joselyn Whyte hardly leads the charmed life you’d expect of an heiress. When she becomes the mark of an arsonist, the last person she expects to ride to her rescue is her nemesis—the man who sealed her fate as a frigid and lonely “Snow Whyte.”

Firefighter Finn Carson might talk a big game, but behind the swagger and the dimples is a man tormented by a mistake that cost a life. When a force stronger than his stubbornness pulls him off the bench and into a 5-Alarm fire for a miraculous save, Finn decides the key to his redemption lies with the Ice Princess he loathes. But the price to freedom from the guilt and nightmares might be too steep if it means bartering with Joselyn’s father by posing as her boyfriend—her safety and the ruthless billionaire’s Senatorial campaign hanging on the combustible edge of a decade old grudge.

When secrets from the past resurface, the ruse and reality collide and threaten to thaw their heated rivalry—turning hate into something that terrifies them even more than the cunning predator with a bent sense of justice.  Goodreads | Amazon

Honor and Defend by Lynette Eason (Love Inspired, July 5) – Framed for a crime he didn’t commit, Lee Earnshaw is two weeks out of prison when an ex-con tries to kill him and his former love, K-9 rookie cop Ellen Foxcroft.

Recognizing their attacker as a man he met in prison, Lee knows he must be the intended target. But is the shooter settling a score, or does Lee have something he wants?

Determined to start over, training puppies and maybe getting a second chance with Ellen, Lee vows to keep both of them safe.

But as they investigate together, Ellen’s golden retriever partner at their side, they find themselves dead center in a killer’s crosshairs.  Goodreads | Amazon

Missing by Lisa Harris (Revell, July 5) – Nikki Boyd isn’t usually called in on homicides; her forte is missing persons. But when a case with two murdered and two missing pops up on a quiet suburban street, she’s ready to start the investigation and find missing homeowners Mac and Lucy Hudson.

When the first clues lead her to the boat of her friend Tyler Grant–and another dead body–Nikki must untangle what ties Tyler to the Hudsons. The clues pull her into a deadly maze of counterfeit drugs and a killer who will stop at nothing to silence anyone who threatens his business–including Nikki.

Christy Award-winning and bestselling author Lisa Harris puts readers right into the action in this fast-paced thriller that will have them turning pages long into the night.  Goodreads | Amazon 

Deep Shadows by Vannetta Chapman (Harvest House, July 1/June 28) – Life in Abney, Texas, is predictable and safe—until the night a massive solar flare wipes out all modern technology.

Shelby Sparks, novelist and single mom, had one goal: to provide for her diabetic son. In the wake of this global disaster, her mission hasn’t changed. Only now, medication is a priceless commodity and the future resembles an apocalyptic nightmare.

Max Berkman and Shelby were once sweethearts, but he lost his chance at claiming her love years ago. When the abrupt loss of power ushers him into a leadership role, he rises to the occasion. But his highest priority—to keep Shelby and her son safe—could prove to be the biggest challenge of all.

As the brilliant northern lights give way to deep shadows, Max and Shelby’s faith will be tested like never before. Only one rule remains: Find a way to survive.

In this first book in an eerily plausible dystopian series, a memorable cast of characters must navigate a familiar world thrown into chaos.  Goodreads | Amazon

Magnolia Moonlight by Mary Ellis (Harvest House, August 1) – After being jilted by his fiancee, Michael Preston, a former accountant, pursues a new job as a private investigator. And, what better place to work than the new office of Price Investigations in Natchez, Mississippi? Unfortunately, Michael’s partner, Elizabeth Kirby–a crack shot ex-cop with a past she wants to escape–resents having to work with someone whose only surveillance experience comes from television and video games. Their boss and his wife, Nate and Isabelle, are two insanely busy newlyweds who are “forced” by their friends to finally take their honeymoon. However, their romantic trip to Alabama turns into an investigation when they bump into Izzy’s ex-husband, Craig, who seems to have taken up his gambling addiction once again. In an attempt to save Craig, Izzy discovers her ex doesn’t hold all the cards. Back in Mississippi, Michael and Beth are left to take on their first case when a preacher allegedly commits suicide. His widow suspects foul play, but things look grim when Michael discovers the Reverend may have been stealing from his congregation. Will Nate, his wife, and his employees be able to uncover the true face of deceit behind the masks that surround them?  Goodreads | Amazon 

Silent Sabotage by Susan Sleeman (Love Inspired, August 1) – Emily Graves left everything behind to save her aunt’s struggling bed-and-breakfast, but she’s hardly through the door before she’s the one who needs saving.

Someone in Bridal Veil, Oregon, will go to any lengths—even murder—to keep her from making the B and B a success.

Sheriff’s deputy Archer Reed has made it his personal mission to bring down the culprit. But first he has to convince Emily to accept his protection…and determine why anyone would want to harm her.

As Emily’s unknown enemy becomes increasingly violent, Archer may be the only person who can keep her alive.  Goodreads | Amazon

Without Warning by Lynette Eason (Revell, August 2) – Katie Singleton, a partner with the Elite Guardians Protection Agency, stumbles upon her next assignment quite by accident. Spotting blue lights at a familiar restaurant, she stops to investigate, only to discover that owner Daniel Matthews has become the target of someone who will go to any lengths to put him out of business.

Daniel might be concerned, but he’s not convinced that a bodyguard–and a female one at that–is necessary. A new attack and his niece’s urgings are enough to make him reconsider. He and Katie must figure out who’s behind the intimidation and threats–before a would-be killer strikes again.

Witty dialogue and a simmering attraction will have readers flying through this tension-laced thriller. Eason exercises complete control of her readers’ emotions as they race through the pages to discover the truth.  Goodreads | Amazon 

A Lesson in Love & Murder by Rachel McMillan (Harvest House, August 1 HC) – The legacy of literary icon Sherlock Holmes is alive and well in 1912 Canada, where best friends Merinda Herringford and Jem Watts continue to develop their skills as consulting detectives.

The city of Toronto has been thrown into upheaval by the arrival of radical anarchist Emma Goldman. Amid this political chaos, Benny Citrone of the Royal North-West Mounted Police arrives at Merinda and Jem’s flat, requesting assistance in locating his runaway cousin—a man with a deadly talent.

While Merinda eagerly accepts the case, she finds herself constantly butting heads—and hearts—with Benny. Meanwhile, Jem has her hands full with a husband who is determined to keep her out of harm’s way.

As Merinda and Jem close in on the danger they’ve tracked from Toronto to Chicago, they uncover a sinister plot to assassinate presidential candidate Theodore Roosevelt. Will they be able to save the day and resolve the troubles threatening their future happiness before it’s too late?  Goodreads | Amazon

What about you? What mystery/suspense releases are you most looking forward to this summer?