Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme that currently resides at The Artsy Reader Girl and features bloggers sharing lists on various book topics. In this list, I continue to examine my most anticipated releases for the second half of 2024. While my other list of the night looked at the best upcoming fantasy and science fiction novels, this list will look at the crime fiction, thrillers, and historical fiction novels that I am most excited for in the next six months.
Just like with my previous article about upcoming fantasy and science fiction books, this was a bit of a difficult list to pull together. Even after I excluded fantasy and science fiction novels from it, there were still a ton of great books I could feature, and I had a hard time deciding what to cut. I was eventually able to whittle it down to a top ten list (with an honourable mentions section), and I am pretty happy with how it turned out. Just like with my fantasy and science fiction list, the following list does a great job of highlighting what books I am most excited for in the second half of the year, so let us see what makes the cut.
Honourable Mentions:
Confessions of the Dead by James Patterson and J. D. Barker – 2 July 2024
An intriguing thriller from a team who previously produced the incredible novel, Death of the Black Widow.
Capture or Kill by Don Bentley – 3 September 2024
The iconic and action-packed Mitch Rapp series returns with a new author at the helm, as Don Bentley provides a compelling new adventure.
Nobody’s Hero by M. W. Craven – 8 October 2024
An intriguing sounding follow up to Craven’s 2023 novel, Fearless, Nobody’s Hero sounds like a lot of fun. I am looking forward to reading this book, especially as I am currently having an outstanding time reading Craven’s other 2024 book, The Mercy Chair.
Endgame by Sarah Barrie – 30 October 2024
The fourth book in one of my favourite Australian series, Endgame will follow on from Barrie’s previous amazing reads, Unforgiven, Retribution and Vendetta.
Top Ten List:
The Wrong Man by Tim Ayliffe – 3 July 2024
The first book I want to highlight in this list is the excellent Australian thriller, The Wrong Man by Tim Ayliffe. Following on from the author’s previous John Bailey books, The Greater Good, State of Fear, The Enemy Within and Killer Traitor Spy, The Wrong Man has a great mystery behind it that sounds extremely intriguing. I already have a copy of this book, and I am very curious to see how it unfolds.
Witness 8 by Steve Cavanagh – 13 August 2024
One of my favourite legal thriller authors, Steve Cavanagh, returns with another twisty and entertaining courtroom drama, Witness 8. The eighth book in Cavanagh’s Eddie Flynn series, Witness 8 will see the conman turned defence attorney protagonist try to save an innocent man implicated by a witness with her own sinister agenda. I have had an outstanding time with Cavanagh’s last several books, including The Devil’s Advocate, The Accomplice and Kill For Me Kill For You, and Witness 8 looks set to be another incredible read.
Precipice by Robert Harris – 27 August 2024
Acclaimed author Robert Harris brings another infamous historical scandal to life with Precipice. Set during World War I, Precipice will craft a spy thriller around the intriguing affair between Venetia Stanley and Prime Minister H. H. Asquith. I am very curious to see what spin Harris puts on these events and it should be a very gripping book.
Usagi Yojimbo: Volume 39: Ice and Snow by Stan Sakai – 10 September 2024
A key highlight of my reading year is always the new Usagi Yojimbo comic by Stan Sakai, which is one of my favourite comic series. Luckily for me the new volume is nearly here with the 39th volume Ice and Snow coming out in September. This new entry sounds particularly epic as it will pit the protagonist against his most deadly enemy, this time in the freezing snow. I am very excited for this cool new comic, and I already know I am going to love it to death.
King’s Enemy by Ian Ross – 12 September 2024
There is no way that I am missing out on the fantastic upcoming novel, King’s Enemy by historical fiction author Ian Ross. The gripping final book in the de Norton trilogy, which has previously featured the amazing books Battle Song and War Cry, King’s Enemy will follow the now fugitive protagonist as he faces the consequences of supporting a rebellion against the crown. This book looks to end the trilogy in an interesting way, and I cannot wait to see how this compelling adventure, set amid one of England’s more intriguing civil wars, concludes.
We Solve Murders by Richard Osman – 17 September 2024
Easily one of my most anticipated books for the second half of 2024 is the new Richard Osman book, We Solve Murders. Osman has proven to be an exceptional author over the last few years with his Thursday Murder Club series, which includes The Thursday Murder Club (one of my favourite books, debuts and audiobooks of 2020), The Man Who Died Twice (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2021), The Bullet That Missed (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2022) and The Last Devil to Die (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2023). All these books have been incredible, and I know that Osman’s new release, We Solve Murders is going to be just as good. Focussing on a father/daughter investigative team, We Solve Murders has so much damn potential and I cannot wait to check it out.
High Wire by Candice Fox – 24 September 2024
A gripping and high-stakes Australian thriller from the always impressive Candice Fox, High Wire will follow two explosive-rigged strangers in the Australian outback forced to complete a series of dangerous tasks. Fox has been on a real roll this year, releasing the intense Devil’s Kitchen and the fun thriller The Murder Inn (with James Patterson), and I have no doubt that High Wire is also going to be very impressive.
Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret by Benjamin Stevenson – 22 October 2024
After blowing me away with his last two novels, Everyone in My Family has Killed Someone and Everyone on this Train is a Suspect, Australian author Benjamin Stevenson is producing another awesome read in 2024 with Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret. A Christmas themed murder mystery treat that will once again showcase Stevenson’s wit and love for the mystery genre, Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret is going to be an outstanding read and I cannot wait to get my hands on it.
The Waiting by Michael Connelly – 5 November 2024
It wouldn’t be the second half of a year without a new crime fiction read from Michael Connelly. In this case we have The Waiting, which will once again bring together two of Connelly’s best detectives as part of the Ballard and Bosch series. This latest book will see the protagonists investigate several murders throughout L. A., including a compelling cold case. However, readers are also in for a treat with double the Bosch, as Connelly brings Bosch’s daughter in as a main character for the first time. I cannot wait to see how The Waiting unfolds, and it is probably going to be one of my favourite crime fiction reads of 2024.
Revenge of Rome by Simon Scarrow – 7 November 2024
The final book I want to highlight in this list is the epic upcoming historical fiction novel, Revenge of Rome by Simon Scarrow. The 23rd book in one of my all-time favourite series, Revenge of Rome will follow on from the chaotic events of Scarrow’s last two books, Death to the Emperor and Rebellion, which saw the destruction levelled by Boudica’s rebellion. This new novel will force the protagonists to hunt down the defeated Queen Boudica, which will no doubt result in another harrowing and compelling adventure, especially as one protagonist has a dark connection to the fugitive queen. I have no doubt this is going to be an outstanding book, and I cannot wait to read it.
Well, that’s the end of my second list. As you can see, there are some outstanding mysteries, thrillers and historical fiction novels coming out in the next six months which should prove to be amazing reads. Combine that with the fantasy and science fiction releases from my previous list and I know that I am going to have an incredible time in the second half of 2024. While I am waiting to get my hands on these books, why not let me know if any of the above interest you and let me know what your most anticipated releases for the next six months are in the comments below.
The Unseen Library 