Expert reviews of the latest and the best in Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Science Fiction and Crime Fiction from an Australian reviewer.
Originally published in the Canberra Weekly on 18 April 2024.
A copy of this column also appeared on the Canberra Daily website.
Make sure to also check out my extended reviews for The Gathering, Play of Shadows and The Last Murder at the End of the World.
As we get further into 2025, I have been trying to revisit some of the books from last year that I read but never got a chance to write reviews for. This includes four excellent crime fiction reads from earlier in the year that I had fun getting through but which I never seemed to have enough time to publish anything about it. I am hoping to rectify that now by quickly reviewing these fantastic 2024 releases with very interesting plots behind them.
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer (ebook – 16 October 2024)
Series: Jodi Luna – Book Two
Length: 331 pages
My Rating: 3.75 out of 5 stars
The first book that I want to highlight was the intriguing and entertaining thriller, Blood Mountain by Alisa Lynn Valdés. The second book in the author’s Jodi Luna series, Blood Mountain was an interesting novel that saw a contentious group caught up on a mountain with a killer on the loose.
Plot Synopsis:
New Mexico game warden Jodi Luna disrupts a murderous wilderness adventure in this thrilling second installment from Alisa Lynn Valdés, New York Times bestselling author of The Dirty Girls Social Club.
Former poetry professor Jodi Luna hasn’t quite adjusted to life as a game warden. Her boss thinks she’s better with animals than humans, and the man she’s seeing wants a real relationship. Still reeling from her husband’s death, Jodi has to admit that she keeps people at a distance.
After her new friend, wealthy actress Claudia Evans, gathers with family members in the New Mexico wilderness, Jodi gets some unsettling news—that Claudia’s brother-in-law is missing. Eager to help, Jodi ventures into the wild to investigate, only to be thwarted by a blizzard that leaves the entire group stranded at a fishing lodge.
Jodi is no stranger to extreme weather, but when these reluctant adventurers start turning up mauled around the snowed-in lodge, Jodi suspects the this was no bear. This was murder.
And inside the snowy confines of this rustic hideaway, everyone is fair game…
…for a killer.
Blood Mountain was a compelling and fast-paced read from Valdés that sought to combine a whodunnit in an isolated location with over-the-top characters, a great natural setting and other intriguing elements. An intriguing sequel to the author’s previous Jodi Luna, Blood Mountain was a great book that works well as both a standalone novel and part of the larger series. This was an entertaining read that I had a lot of fun getting into.
Starting off in a memorable way with a bear, the main plot sees protagonist Jodi Luna trapped in the central story location with a dysfunctional family, with a murderer on the loose. Clashing with the elements and the entitled rich people she is forced to babysit, Luna tries to wrangle everyone through the night while discovering their secrets and motives for murder. I felt the result was a decent whodunit narrative, and I liked the mystery that emerged. The big personalities of the supporting cast allowed for a very exaggerated story at times, which helped to disguise the motives of the real killer to a degree. While I do think that Valdés might have overplayed her social messaging to an unfortunate degree, for the most part Blood Mountain was a fantastic read that I was really glad I decided to check out.
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer (ebook – 1 July 2024)
Series: Garrett Mann – Book One
Length: 384 pages
My Rating: 4.25 out of 5 stars
The second book in this post is the very intense action-packed thriller, A Clean Kill by Steven Konkoly. An excellent read that starts off as a serial killer story before transforming into a conspiracy laden spy thriller, A Clean Kill was one of the more unique books I read in 2024, and I really enjoyed its captivating plot.
Plot Synopsis:
An FBI agent hunting a serial killer has to up his game when a trail of murders is not what it seems in a riveting thriller by Wall Street Journal bestselling author Steven Konkoly.
Five dismembered bodies are found along the roadside, dumped in the middle of nowhere. This isn’t new to Special Agent Garrett Mann. Head of ARTEMIS, a specialized FBI task force hell-bent on hunting down cartel-related killings in the Southwest, Mann has seen this before.
He and his team have been tracking similar kills along thousands of miles of rural roads running north, south, and back again. When the latest slaughter yields a key piece of evidence, Mann thinks he’s found the killer and solved the case. That’s when the nightmare begins.
From a lakeside Minnesota mansion to an abandoned CIA black site in New Mexico, the hunt is on. But the closer Mann gets to his prey, the deadlier the stakes become. This is no ordinary serial killer. He’s not working alone—and the stakes go far beyond just preventing the serial killer’s next massacre. What Mann unravels is a powerful and far-reaching conspiracy beyond his wildest imagination.
This was a very cool thriller from Konkoly that goes in some excellent and exciting directions. Starting off with an investigation from FBI agent Garrett Mann’s ARTEMIS team, who are hunting a serial killer, the case goes in some unique directions when the team find themselves under attack by an unknown organisation determined to help the killer escape. Going against orders, the team attempt to find their suspect and uncover the truth only to become fugitives themselves. Working outside the law, Mann and his team soon uncover an elaborate conspiracy as their opponents attempt to enact their own insidious plan using dangerous killers as their pawns.
A Clean Kill was one of the more thrilling and fun books I read last year, and I had a brilliant time powering through its compelling story. Featuring a great conspiracy narrative and loaded with action, Konkoly keeps up a great pace the entire way through A Clean Kill that ensures the reader is constantly glued to the page. I loved how the author kept raising the stakes for the protagonists, with the characters forced to go rogue to find justice and their killer. Konkoly ensures everything leads up to an outstanding and fun major confrontation in the second half of the book, and you come away intrigued by how the series will continue. While there were some flaws in how the antagonist’s motivations and history were shown to the reader, and the protagonist’s group contained way too many supporting characters, A Clean Kill was an overall excellent read and one that comes highly recommended. I am hoping to read the sequel to this book, A Hired Kill, later this year, and I will be very interested to see how this series continues.
Publisher: Titan Books (Trade Paperback – 25 June 2024)
Series: Standalone
Length: 113 pages
My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Next we have the interesting science fiction novella Ghost of the Neon God by Australian author T. R. Napper. Set in the same universe as Napper’s previous book, 36 Streets, Ghost of the Neon God was a cool cyberpunk adventure set in an over-teched, future Australia that gets wild in some amazing ways.
Plot Synopsis:
A thrilling, propulsive story of escape as a small-time crook goes on the run across Australia with a stolen secret that will change the world, perfect for fans of William Gibson’s All Tomorrow’s Parties, Richard Morgan and Ghost in the Shell.
Jackson Nguyen is a petty crook living slim on the mean streets of Melbourne. When he crosses paths with a desperate, but wealthy, Chinese dissident, begging for his help, Jack responds in the only natural he steals her shoes.
And yet, despite every effort to mind his own damn business, a wild spiral into the worst kind of trouble begins – Murder, mayhem, fast cars, fast-talking, bent cops, and long straight highways into the terrible beauty of the vast Australian Outback.
In Jack’s world, taking a stand against the ruling class is the shortest path to a shallow grave. But when an Earth-shattering technology falls into his hands, he must do everything he can to stop the wrong people taking it. In a world of pervasive government surveillance and oppressive corporate control, it’s up to a small-time criminal to keep the spark of human rebellion alive.
Napper came up with an intriguing tech thriller in Ghost of the Neon God that sees a petty thief caught up in dangerous events when he becomes the unwilling host to a powerful AI. Quickly and effectively building up a storyline involving Chinese agents hunting the protagonist, the AI and their passenger throughout the country, Ghost of the Neon God was a compelling and action-packed read that made great use of the dark, technological future that Napper has envisioned in his previous works. Thanks to its short length, Ghost of the Neon God is an easy book to power through, and I had a wonderful time reading this enjoyable and thoughtful read.
Publisher: Raven Books (Trade Paperback – 28 March 2024)
Series: Standalone
Length: 403 pages
My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
The last crime fiction book that I want to review in this post is the impressive science fiction murder mystery The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton. One of my most anticipated books for the first half of 2024, The Last Murder at the End of the World was the third book from Turton, who previously impressed me with his first book, The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle. This latest book was a particularly amazing novel that featured a distinctive plot and outstanding scenario.
Plot Synopsis:
Solve the murder to save what’s left of the world.
Outside the island there is nothing: the world was destroyed by a fog that swept the planet, killing anyone it touched.
On the island: it is idyllic. One hundred and twenty-two villagers and three scientists, living in peaceful harmony. The villagers are content to fish, farm and feast, to obey their nightly curfew, to do what they’re told by the scientists.
Until, to the horror of the islanders, one of their beloved scientists is found brutally stabbed to death. And then they learn that the murder has triggered a lowering of the security system around the island, the only thing that was keeping the fog at bay. If the murder isn’t solved within 107 hours, the fog will smother the island—and everyone on it.
But the security system has also wiped everyone’s memories of exactly what happened the night before, which means that someone on the island is a murderer—and they don’t even know it.
And the clock is ticking.
This was an intense and thought-provoking novel from Turton that saw the author combine an inventive science fiction scenario with complex mystery as the unusual protagonists attempt to solve a crime that goes against their very nature. Turton was very ambitious in his writing for The Last Murder at the End of the World, as he effectively sets up this compelling society and loads it with secrets and unusual characters before throwing all their lives into chaos with the killing.
The resulting narrative goes in some very interesting directions, as the various secrets of the island are slowly revealed and the truth behind the killings is uncovered. Turton’s elaborate setting really took on a life of its own as the book continued, and I deeply enjoyed the elaborate science fiction elements and complex world building that is skilfully introduced to the reader as the story continues. There are a lot of clever elements to this book, and I really appreciated the powerful character work, the constantly evolving narrative and the raw emotion of the book, which helped to produce an outstanding read.
Other highlights of this book that I really enjoyed including the distinctive narration style that Turton utilises throughout The Last Murder at the End of the World, as the story is told through the eye of a computer connected to the mind of all the main characters. Not only does this narrative tool help to produce a unique read but it also plays into the narrative in some very clever ways that I really appreciated. This entire book comes together extremely well, and Turton resolves the mystery in a satisfying way, keeping the reader hooked all the way to the end. The Last Murder at the End of the World proved to be quite a powerful book, and readers will come away very thoughtful thanks to the author’s unique ideas and intense storytelling. Highly recommended, especially for those readers looking for something truly stylish and memorable.
I have been having another excellent couple of weeks for books, and I was lucky enough to receive several incredible and amazing new novels from local publishers, Netgalley and the local bookshop. These novels include some truly awesome new releases, including several books that have the potential to be some of my top reads of the year. I cannot wait to dive into them, and I look forward to seeing how they turn out.
The first book I want to highlight in this Book Haul is The Gathering by C. J. Tudor. An outstanding horror thriller that sees a detective attempt to determine if a murder in a small Alaskan town was committed by local vampires. I have actually already read The Gathering and it proved to be an incredible read that comes highly recommended.
Another outstanding recently released novel that I have already read is The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton. An intriguing and unique mystery; The Last Murder at the End of the World follows the last vestiges of humanity as they attempt to solve a devastating murder. A very clever novel that I had an outstanding time reading.
I was very happy to receive a copy of the young adult thriller, The Girl in Question by Tess Sharpe. The sequel to Sharpe’s outstanding prior novel, The Girls I’ve Been, The Girl in Question will see the series’ teenage protagonist attempt to outwit a series of hitman coming for her. I had such an incredible time with the previous novel in this series and I have no doubt I am going to love the sequel.
An intriguing new fantasy novel from the very impressive Jenn Lyons, The Sky on Fire is a fun sounding book that will see a band of misfits attempt to pull off a heist from a city of dragons. Need I say more?
One of my favourite historical fiction authors, Harry Sidebottom, turns to a new period as he dives into the reign of Alexander the Great. Following the other Alexander of Macedon, The Shadow King sounds really interesting, and I cannot wait to see what outstanding story Sidebottom comes up with.
While I am waiting for Iggulden’s new book, Nero, I just had to grab a copy of his prior novel, Empire, which I missed last year. Following the inevitable war between the Athenians and the Spartans, Empire sounds extremely awesome and I cannot wait to read it.
The final book I recently grabbed was the 2023 Firefly novel, Coup de Grace by Una McCormack. This is a cool tie-in novel that sees the Serenity crew get caught up in a gang war when a murdered lawyer’s daughter hires them to get justice. I always have a lot of fun with the Firefly series, and I cannot wait to dive into this latest entry.
Well, that’s the end of this latest Book Haul post. As you can see I have quite a bit of reading to do at the moment thanks to all these awesome books that have come in. Let me know which of the above you are most interested in and make sure to check back in a few weeks to see my reviews of them.
WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Taking on a World of Words, where bloggers share the books that they’ve recently finished, what they are currently reading and what books they are planning to read next. Essentially you have to answer three questions (the Three Ws):
What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?
So, let’s get to it.
Play of Shadows by Sebastien De Castell (Trade Paperback)
I just started reading the awesome and entertaining new fantasy novel from Sebastien De Castell, Play of Shadows. Set in his Greatcoat universe, Play of Shadows is the start of new series from De Castell that sees a hapless actor become wrapped up in all manner of trouble when he begins to mystically channel the spirt of his city’s greatest historical villain while on stage. While I loved De Castell’s last book, The Malevolent Seven, I was initially a little wary of reading Play of Shadows, mainly because I haven’t read any of the other Greatcoat novels. However, Play of Shadows is proving to be an exceptional book with a funny and compelling plot behind it that I am having an amazing time reading.
The Atlas Maneuver by Steve Berry (Audiobook)
I made a lot of progress with The Atlas Maneuver by Steve Berry this week and I am nearly finished with it. The latest book in the long-running Cotton Malone series, The Atlas Maneuver features an intriguing story about Japanese war loot and cryptocurrency as Berry once again blends historical conspiracies with modern day thriller storylines. I have about an hour left of The Atlas Maneuver which I will probably finish off later tonight.
The Winter Palace by Paul Morgan (Trade Paperback)
A compelling, fascinating and well-written historical drama that really dove into the various horrors inflicted upon the people of Poland.
The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton (Trade Paperback)
I had a wonderful time with the intriguing science fiction thriller, The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton. Set in a post-apocalyptic world, this book follows a small town of survivors who need to quickly solve a murder. However, everyone in the town, including the murderer, has forgotten the events of the previous night, complicating the investigation. This proved to be an excellent read and I love the complex scenario that Turton set out.
The Gathering by C. J. Tudor (ebook)
I also read the new C. J. Tudor novel, The Gathering this week. A fantastic and distinctive murder mystery/horror hybrid, The Gathering is set in a world where vampires exist and where the protagonist needs to discover if a gruesome murder was committed by a local vampire or a human killer. This novel was so damn good, especially as Tudor set up a brilliant alternate world so quickly, and I loved the amazing mystery she featured within it. One of the best books I have read in 2024 so far, I am hoping to get a review up for it soon.
Death on the Tiber by Lindsey Davis
While I have a few potential books to read next, I think I will probably dive into the new Lindsey Davis novel, Death on the Tiber. The latest book in Davis’ long-running Flavia Albia historical murder mystery series, Death on the Tiber will see the series protagonist investigate another complex murder in ancient Rome, this time while dealing with demons from her past. I really love this amazing series and I have no doubt I will have a wonderful time reading Death on the Tiber.
That’s it for this week, check back in next Wednesday to see what progress I’ve made on my reading and what books I’ll be looking at next.
WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Taking on a World of Words, where bloggers share the books that they’ve recently finished, what they are currently reading and what books they are planning to read next. Essentially you have to answer three questions (the Three Ws):
What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?
So, let’s get to it.
The Winter Palace by Paul Morgan (Trade Paperback)
I’m still going with the historical drama, The Winter Palace by Paul Morgan. Set during World War II, The Winter Palace follows a separated Polish husband and wife duo as they attempt to get back to each other. I didn’t make as much progress with The Winter Palace as I had hoped this week, but I am still enjoying its intriguing narrative. I will probably finish it off tomorrow and I look forward to seeing how Morgan brings everything together.
The Atlas Maneuver by Steve Berry (Audiobook)
I finally started listening to The Atlas Maneuver by Steve Berry this week. The latest book in the long-running Cotton Malone series, The Atlas Maneuver features an intriguing story about Japanese war loot and cryptocurrency as Berry once again blends historical conspiracies with modern day thriller storylines. I am about halfway through The Atlas Maneuver and I should hopefully finish it off within the next week.
Peace Talks by Jim Butcher (Audiobook)
I finally finished off the entire Dresden Files series, by reading the 16th book, Peace Talks. A slightly shorter entry in the series that serves as a prelude to the epic book Battle Ground, Peace Talks is a compelling read that sees the protagonist deal with a supernatural peace summit in Chicago. This ended up being an outstanding additional to the series, so make sure to check out my review for it here.
The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton
The next book I am planning to dive into is the intriguing science fiction thriller, The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton. Set in a post-apocalyptic world, this book follows a small town of survivors who need to quickly solve a murder. However, everyone in the town, including the murderer, has forgotten the events of the previous night, complicating the investigation. I love the complex sound of this amazing mystery and I have no doubt The Last Murder at the End of the World is going to be an exceptional read.
The Gathering by C. J. Tudor
I also have plans to read the new C. J. Tudor novel, The Gathering this week. A fantastic sounding murder mystery/horror hybrid, The Gathering is set in a world where vampires exist and where the protagonist needs to discover if a gruesome murder was committed by a local vampire or a human killer. This novel has so much potential, and I cannot wait to see what outstanding mystery Tudor has pulled together.
That’s it for this week, check back in next Wednesday to see what progress I’ve made on my reading and what books I’ll be looking at next.
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme that currently resides at The Artsy Reader Girl and features bloggers sharing lists on various book topics. The official Top Ten Tuesday topic for this week required participants to list the most unusual topics that they have looked up online as a result of reading a book, which while interesting, wasn’t something I felt I could contribute to. However, as this is the first Tuesday of March, I thought this would be a good opportunity to do my quarterly post about the best upcoming books to read in Autumn (Spring for folks in the Northern Hemisphere). This is a regular post I do at the start of each season, and I always love to highlight some of the most impressive sounding novels coming out in the next three months.
For this list, I have come up with the ten books coming out between 1 March 2024 and 31 May 2024 that I am most excited for. There are quite a few very cool novels set for release in the next few months that I am looking forward to, including some of my most anticipated books of the year (as well as my most anticipated fantasy/science fiction books of the year). Due to how impressive some of these upcoming books are, it took me a little while to finalise my list, but I was eventually able to whittle it down into a Top Ten list (with a few honourable mentions). I have primarily used the Australian publication dates to reflect when I will be able to get these awesome novels, and these might be somewhat different to the rest of the world. I have previously discussed a number of these books before in prior Waiting on Wednesday articles and I think all of them will turn out to be incredible reads. I am really excited for the next three months as quite a few up these upcoming reads have the potential to be some of my favourite books of 2024.
White Ash Ridge by S. R. White – 14 March 2024
A cool, imminent Australian murder mystery with a very intriguing premise behind it.
The Mystery Writer by Sulari Gentill – 19 March 2024
Another unique novel from one of Australia’s best crime fiction authors.
Behind a Closed Door by J.D. Barker – 13 May 2024
A brilliant and dark thriller from the always impressive J. D. Barker
The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton – 21 May 2024
A fantastic sounding science fiction thriller with a particularly distinctive murder premise behind it.
Devil’s Kitchen by Candice Fox – 26 March 2024
The first book on this list is probably the novel I will be reading next, with Devil’s Kitchen by Candice Fox. A compelling and fun sounding thriller by one of Australia’s most popular crime fiction authors, Devil’s Kitchen sounds extremely awesome and I cannot wait to read it, especially after how much I enjoyed The Murder Inn by Fox earlier this year.
Alien Clay by Adrian Tchaikovsky – 28 March 2024
After his exceptional 2023, where he released both City of Last Chances and House of Open Wounds (two of my favourite books of 2023), I am eagerly waiting to read all of Adrian Tchaikovsky’s upcoming books. His first 2024 release is Alien Clay, an outstanding and entertaining science fiction read set in a deadly prison on an alien planet. It sounds like Alien Clay will combine over-the-top characters with unique science fiction concepts and I have no doubt that this is going to be one of the most entertaining reads of the next three months.
The Book That Broke the World by Mark Lawrence – 9 April 2024
The gripping sequel to Lawrence’s exceptional 2023 novel, The Book That Wouldn’t Burn, The Book That Broke the World is an awesome upcoming read that I am so very excited for. Continuing the elaborate narrative started in The Book That Wouldn’t Burn, which follows two connected characters whose lives revolve around a massive library; The Book That Broke the World will no doubt contain more of Lawrence’s exceptional world building and amazing storytelling.
Star Wars: The Living Force by John Jackson Miller – 9 April 2024
It has been a little while since I read a Star Wars novel, but that is going to change in April when I get my hands on The Living Force by John Jackson Miller. Set before the events of The Phantom Menace, The Living Force has an intriguing story that will expand out the early lore of the Star Wars franchise. I cannot wait to see what excellent story Miller has planned for The Living Force, and I have no doubt I am going to love this book.
Death on the Tiber by Lindsey Davis – 9 April 2024
One of my favourite historical fiction authors, Lindsey Davis, will continue her impressive Flavia Albia series in April with the new book, Death on the Tiber. Featuring another intriguing mystery set in ancient Rome, Death on the Tiber promises to be a particularly awesome addition to the series, especially as it pits the protagonist against an old foe from her traumatic past.
Warhammer 40,000: Deathworlder by Victoria Hayward – 23 April 2024
I have been loving some of the great Warhammer 40,000 novels in 2024, but one of my most anticipated releases is Deathworlder by Victoria Hayward. Set to feature the ultimate battle of survival between the hardest human jungle warriors in the canon and the deadliest aliens, Deathworlder has so much awesome potential and I cannot wait to get my hands on it.
The Silverblood Promise by James Logan – 7 May 2024
The fantasy release that has me most intrigued in the next few months is The Silverblood Promise. The debut novel of James Logan, The Silverblood Promise will combine a cool new fantasy world with thrilling criminal intrigue, as a young lord tries to determine who killed his father in a deadly city. This book sounds so damn amazing, and I am hoping to dive into it very soon.
The Girl in Question by Tess Sharpe – 14 May 2024
Back in 2021, I had the very great pleasure of reading The Girls I’ve Been by Tess Sharpe, a young adult thriller that pitted a teenage con artist with a past against deadly bank robbers. I absolutely loved The Girls I’ve Been, and I was excited to find out a sequel, The Girl in Question, is coming out in May. Set to follow the protagonist as she once again faces off against the ghosts of her past, The Girl in Question is going to be outstanding and I cannot wait to read it.
Cloaked Deception by Timothy Zahn – 14 May 2024
One of the more unique books coming out in Autumn this year is Cloaked Deception by Timothy Zahn. An epic and entertaining science fiction thriller, Cloaked Deception features a brilliant narrative that will see a deadly assassination plan involving nuclear weapons become entangled with the theft of advanced cloaking technology. I love the over-the-top plot of this book, and I cannot wait to see how it unfolds.
Necrotek by Jonathan Maberry – 28 May 2024
The final book I want to highlight on this list is Necrotek by one of my favourite authors Jonathan Maberry. The first book in a new series from Maberry, Necrotek is a dark and brutal sounding piece of science fiction that will see human scientists encounter a deadly, Lovecraftian threat in space. I have no doubt that Maberry is going to deliver another outstanding read here with Necrotek and I cannot wait to get my hands on its audiobook version, especially with the always amazing Ray Porter narrating it.
Well, that is the end of my Top Ten list. I think it turned out pretty well and it does a good job of capturing all my most anticipated books for the next three months. Each of the above should be extremely epic, and I cannot wait to read each of them soon. Let me know which of the above you are most excited for and stay tuned for reviews of them in the next few months. In the meantime, it looks like I have quite a few books to get through soon and they should all be pretty awesome.
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme that currently resides at The Artsy Reader Girl and features bloggers sharing lists on various book topics. For the first Top Ten Tuesday, I will be listing my most anticipated upcoming books for the first half of the year. This is a regular post I do each year and I always look forward to highlighting the most awesome looking books for the start of the year. Because there are so many incredible reads coming out across the genres, I am doing two versions of this list, this first one that will exclusively look at upcoming fantasy and science fiction books, and another that will focus on upcoming books from other genres, including thrillers, crime fiction, historical fiction and more.
2024 is shaping up to be an outstanding year for fantasy and science fiction with a ton of epic and amazing sounding novels set for release throughout the year. I am particularly excited about the next six months as there are some deeply impressive books coming out that I am extremely keen for. This includes some fantastic sounding sequels, continuations to brilliant series, and several cool new novels from some very talented authors. I have already highlighted several of these books in some previous lists and Waiting on Wednesday articles which has made me really appreciate just how awesome the upcoming year is going to be in the fantasy and science fiction space, hence this list.
Just like with my other list of the night, I am only featuring books that are set for release in Australia or on Netgalley between 1 January 2024 and 30 June 2024 which I have some descent details about. Despite only being fantasy and science fiction books, I ended up with a huge collection of exceptional novels that I wanted to feature, which made completing this list surprisingly difficult. I was eventually able to break it down to the best 10 books (with honourable mentions), and I feel that I have capture the books that are going to be the best fantasy and science fiction reads of 2024. So let us see what made the cut.
The Burning Land by David Hair – 1 February 2024
An intriguing and awesome sound fantasy adventure that will see a group of knights go rogue to try and find the truth about the supposedly holy order that they serve.
The Trials of Empire by Richard Swan – 13 February 2024
While I am sure that The Trials of Empire is going to be high up on many people’s to-read list for 2024, I’m going to keep it as an honourable mention mainly because I haven’t had the chance to read the second novel, The Tyranny of Faith, yet. I am hoping to read The Tyranny of Faith before The Trials of Empire comes out, so I can enjoy this awesome sounding novel later this year.
Exit Black by Joe Pitkin – 20 February 2024
An intriguing science fiction thriller about a futuristic space hotel for the wealthy taken over by terrorists. Should be very, very fun.
The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett – 13 February 2024
One of the most anticipated fantasy releases of 2024, The Tainted Cup is an awesome and intricate novel that will force two unusual detectives to investigate a death apparently committed by impossible magic. Robert Jackson Bennett is an outstanding author, and I look forward to immersing myself in his new elaborate world.
Alien Clay by Adrian Tchaikovsky – 28 March 2024
An intriguing science fiction thriller set in a massive prison on an alien world, Alien Clay will follow a scientist’s attempts to uncover the secrets of the planet while also dodging the prison’s dangerous warden. I have really grown to enjoy Tchaikovsky’s writing, especially after his amazing 2023 novels, City of Last Chances and House of Open Wounds, and I have no doubt that Alien Clay will be a fun and impressive read.
The Book That Broke the World by Mark Lawrence – 9 April 2024
After deeply impressing me with the incredible and inventive The Book That Wouldn’t Burn (one of my favourite books of 2023), Mark Lawrence continues The Library trilogy in a big way with The Book That Broke the World. Continuing to follow his intriguing protagonists as they attempt to uncover the crazy secrets of the impossible library at the centre of their lives, The Book That Broke the World looks set to provide more peak Lawrence creativity and imagination and I cannot wait to see what happens next in this amazing series.
Star Wars: The Living Force by John Jackson Miller – 9 April 2024
I’ve been a bit remiss with my Star Wars reading lately, and I’m hoping to make that up this year by checking out the cool new novel by John Jackson Miller, Star Wars: The Living Force. Set before the events of The Phantom Menace, The Living Force will follow Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi and all twelve members of the Jedi Council as they investigate how Jedi are perceived in the universe. Authored by one of the top authors of tie-in fiction, The Living Force should be a pretty awesome read and I am deeply intrigued about a story focusing on the Jedi Council and their politics.
Extinction by Douglas Preston – 23 April 2024
One of the more entertaining and awesome upcoming books of 2024 is Extinction by veteran thriller and science fiction author Douglas Preston. Set in a resort where ancient animals have been brought back to life with genetic manipulation (when does that ever go wrong), the book will see guests murdered and kidnapped by a gang of eco-terrorists. Sounding like a fantastic mix of Die Hard and Jurassic Park, I love everything about Extinction, and I am hoping to read it soon.
Warhammer 40,000: Deathworlder by Victoria Hayward – 23 April 2024
It wouldn’t be one of my lists without at least one Warhammer 40,000 novel, which has been such an epic franchise for me lately. While there are several great Warhammer 40,000 books coming out in 2024, the one from the first half of the year that appeals to me the most is Deathworlder by Victoria Hayward. Hayward’s debut novel, Deathworlder will pit two of this universe’s best jungle fighters against each other, as the human Catachan troopers attempt to navigate a world actively being consumed by the insidious alien Tyranids. This will probably end up being a disturbing and grim survivalist adventure, and I know I will love every second of it.
The Silverblood Promise by James Logan – 7 May 2024
One of the books I’m particularly excited for this year is the excellent fantasy debut, The Silverblood Promise by James Logan. This awesome novel will follow a disappointing and caddish heir to a noble house who is thrust into a leadership position and must find out who is responsible for his father’s death in a deadly city of rogues and liars. I love the sound of this book and it has the potential to be one of the best debuts of 2024.
The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton – 21 May 2024
An awesome science fiction murder mystery that I am really looking forward to in 2024 is the intriguing and complex The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton. Set in the last human settlement after a mysterious apocalypse, the book will see a deadly murder occurs that threatens the entire colony. To stay alive the protagonists will need to solve the murder before their sanctuary is destroyed, however, the settlement’s security protocols have been activated and erased everyone’s memory of the night in question, even the killers. Bound to be one of the most compelling and unique murder mysteries of 2024, I am very hyped for The Last Murder at the End of the World, and this should be an exceptional read from Turton.
Necrotek by Jonathan Maberry – 28 May 2024
One of my favourite authors, Jonathan Maberry, returns with an awesome and intense new book in 2024, with Necrotek. Maberry, who deeply impressed me with his 2023 releases, Son of the Poison Rose and Cave 13 (both of which were amongst my favourite books and audiobooks of 2023), has a great writing style and I look forward to seeing how it translates across to the science fiction genre with Necrotek. Featuring a dark and horror themed narrative, Necrotek will be Maberry’s first pure science fiction novel, and I cannot wait to dive into his elaborate tale of eldritch space horrors, ancient alien technology, and immortal souls being lodged in deadly machinery. I have no doubt this will be one of my favourite books of 2024 and I am so damn excited for it.
Service Model by Adrian Tchaikovsky – 4 June 2024
Another outstanding Adrian Tchaikovsky novel coming out in the first half of 2024 is the epic sounding Service Model. Following a service robot who gains sentience and decides to rebel against its human masters, Service Model has a particularly entertaining plot behind it that looks to be quite amusing while also serving as a critique humanity’s growing reliance on technology. This honestly sounds like one of the funniest books of the year, and I look forward to seeing even more outrageous adventures, witty comedy and intense social commentary from one of science fiction’s top authors.
Well, that’s the end of this first list. As you can see, there are some mighty impressive fantasy and science fiction books coming out the first half of this year. All the above entries on this list have an incredible amount of potential and I have a feeling I am going to deeply enjoy every single of one of these great reads. 2024 is going to be an outstanding year for these two genres, not only with these amazing books, but because of some of the other ones potentially coming out later this year. I look forward to seeing how all these cool novels turn out and I think I am going to have an incredible time reading fantasy and science fiction in 2024. Make sure to also check out my other Top Ten List that looks at the top upcoming books of 2024 from the other genres.
Welcome to my weekly segment, Waiting on Wednesday, where I look at upcoming books that I am planning to order and review in the next few months and which I think I will really enjoy. I run this segment in conjunction with the Can’t-Wait Wednesday meme that is currently running at Wishful Endings. Stay tuned to see reviews of these books when I get a copy of them. In this latest post I highlight an outstanding upcoming murder mystery novel with a fun science fiction twist that I am extremely keen to check out in 2024 with The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton.
2024 is already shaping up to be an excellent year for books and I am even more excited because there is a new Stuart Turton novel coming out in the next few months. Turton is an outstanding author whose debut novel, The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle (also released as The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle) deeply impressed me back in 2018. Featuring an elaborate murder mystery plot enhanced by clever science fiction elements, this great novel forced a protagonist to jump across the bodies of several different suspects to figure out who was behind a mysterious death. This was honestly such a brilliant and highly unique read that ended up being one of my favourite books of 2018.
While I unfortunately haven’t had the chance to read his second novel, The Devil and the Dark Water (maybe a good book to check out this Christmas), I am still very keen for any additional content from Turton and I was excited when I saw he had a new book coming out in May 2024. This new novel is The Last Murder at the End of the World and it looks like Turton is going to present another compelling murder mystery/science fiction hybrid.
Plot Synopsis:
Solve the murder to save what’s left of the world.
Outside the island there is the world destroyed by a fog that swept the planet, killing anyone it touched. On the island it is idyllic. 122 villagers and 3 scientists, living in peaceful harmony. The villagers are content to fish, farm and feast, to obey their nightly curfew, to do what they’re told by the scientists.
Until, to the horror of the islanders, one of their beloved scientists is found brutally stabbed to death. And they learn the murder has triggered a lowering of the security system around the island, the only thing that was keeping the fog at bay.
If the murder isn’t solved within 92 hours, the fog will smother the island – and everyone on it.
But the security system has also wiped everyone’s memories of exactly what happened the night before, which means that someone on the island is a murderer – and they don’t even know it…
The outstanding new high concept murder mystery from the Sunday Times bestselling and Costa Book Award winning author of The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle . An ingenious puzzle, an extraordinary backdrop, an audacious solution.
I love the sound of the epic plot above and I reminds me a lot of The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle in terms of it having a complicated scenario serving as the compelling background to a murder investigation. The idea of a murder taking place in a post-apocalyptic society is pretty solid on its own, but throw in a mysterious fog, elaborate security systems and the fact that everyone, including the killer has forgotten the events of the night in question, and you have all the components for a highly compelling read. I cannot wait to see how Turton works all these elements into his new mystery and I’m sure it will make for quite a compelling and intense novel.
I am also quite intrigued by the cool setting the book is taking place in. A remote island that survived a world-ending event is pretty interesting and it will be fun if we get some history about how that came about. I’m getting some major The Island or The Village vibes from the sounds of this scenario (it’s totally going to be some form of experiment or social study), and I am quite intrigued to see if I’m right about that.
Overall, I am very excited for The Last Murder at the End of the World and I have some very high hopes for it when it comes out in May next year. Turton already has a proven skill of combining elaborate science fiction scenarios with murder mysteries and The Last Murder at the End of the World should turn out to be pretty epic as a result. I am fully expecting this upcoming book to be pretty damn exceptional and I cannot wait to see how Turton messes with my mind this time.
The Unseen Library 