As the leaves change color and the temperature cools, there’s nothing better than curling up with a stack of books. This October, I’ve added five new reads to my TBR (to be read) list. The books in this month’s book haul promise plenty of suspense, twists and emotional depth. From thrillers that will have me questioning everything to dark mysteries full of suspense, these books promise excitement. They’re the titles I’m most excited about this month! Here are the five books I picked up in October that I can’t wait to dive into!
This Is Why We Lied by Karin Slaughter
Karin Slaughter is known for her masterful suspense and sharp character development. This Is Why We Lied is sure to be no exception. Investigator, Will Trent, and medical examiner, Sara Linton, head to McAlpine Lodge for a peaceful honeymoon getaway. Their secluded, mountaintop retreat takes a dark turn when a blood-curdling scream shatters the night. Will and Sara discover that Mercy McAlpine, the lodge manager, has been murdered. With a violent storm cutting off the only road in and out, it’s clear that the killer is still on the mountain.
As Will and Sara dig into the tangled pasts of the McAlpine family and fellow guests, they uncover a maze of secrets and lies. With everyone hiding something—and the killer ready to strike again—Will and Sara race against time to solve the murder before they, too, become targets.
What excites me most about this book is Slaughter’s ability to create complex, morally gray characters. They’re neither entirely good, nor bad. With themes of betrayal and revenge, This Is Why We Lied is sure to deliver plenty of shocking twists. I’m looking forward to seeing how the story unfolds, especially with Slaughter’s knack for tight, suspenseful plotting and gritty realism.
First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston
Ashley Elston’s First Lie Wins offers a thrilling combination of deception, rivalry and high-stakes consequences. Evie Porter seems to have it all: a doting boyfriend, a charming Southern home and a close-knit circle of friends. But it’s all a carefully crafted illusion—Evie Porter doesn’t exist. Tasked with a new identity and mission by her enigmatic boss, Mr. Smith, Evie’s target this time is Ryan Sumner. Yet, unlike past assignments, something about Ryan pulls Evie in, making her question her carefully constructed life.
As Evie navigates this undercover operation, her real identity suddenly reappears in town, bringing back buried secrets and dangerous stakes. With her past inching closer and her feelings for Ryan deepening, Evie must stay ahead of her past to protect her future. In a world of lies, the challenge is more intense—and riskier—than ever before.
This book promises to be a fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat read. Elston’s writing is sharp, and the twists she weaves into her stories are always well-executed. First Lie Wins seems like a psychological thriller that will keep me glued to the pages. I’ve been waiting to get my hands on this book all summer!
The Teacher by Freida McFadden
Freida McFadden has a knack for creating suspenseful thrillers that keep readers guessing and The Teacher is no different. Eve seems to have it all: a loving husband, Nate, and a fulfilling job teaching math at Caseham High School. But when her new school year starts, she finds Addie, a student at the center of last year’s scandal, in her class. Known for her lies and the chaos she leaves in her wake, Addie is seen as a threat by the school community.
However, Eve suspects there’s more to Addie than the rumors suggest. Beneath Addie’s tough exterior are hidden secrets—secrets that could shatter her life if exposed. As tensions rise, Eve realizes that Addie will go to any lengths to keep those secrets buried. I’m eager to see how McFadden builds the suspense and what twists she has in store. I’ve enjoyed every Freida McFadden book I’ve read so far and I don’t expect this one to be any different!
The Last One At The Wedding by Jason Rekulak
In The Last One at the Wedding, Jason Rekulak delivers a suspenseful and heart-pounding mystery set at the most unexpected of events—a wedding. Frank Szatowski is stunned when his estranged daughter, Maggie, reaches out after three years to invite him to her wedding in New Hampshire. Eager to repair their broken relationship, Frank arrives only to find himself at an opulent private estate. He discovers Maggie’s fiancé, Aidan Gardner, is the son of a tech billionaire.
Feeling out of place among Aidan’s elite family and unsettled by the locals’ apparent hostility toward the Gardners, Frank struggles to reconnect with Maggie. As he navigates the tense environment, Frank becomes increasingly suspicious of the family his daughter is marrying into. But as he digs deeper, he risks driving Maggie further away, potentially losing her all over again.
Rekulak is a master at creating stories with deep emotional stakes and well-drawn characters. I can already tell this one will have me hooked.
All the Missing Girls by Megan Miranda
Megan Miranda’s All the Missing Girls is a haunting and suspenseful thriller. After a decade away, Nicolette Farrell returns to her rural hometown to care for her ailing father and settle family affairs. However, she finds herself pulled back into the unsolved disappearance of her best friend, Corinne, who vanished without a trace ten years earlier. Just as Nic begins to reconnect with her past, her young neighbor, Annaleise Carter, also goes missing—reigniting old suspicions and unearthing buried secrets.
As Nic works to uncover the truth, the story unfolds in reverse, moving backward from Day 15 to Day 1 of Annaleise’s disappearance. Complex layers of betrayal, hidden motives and long-kept secrets are revealed. With its unique narrative structure and gripping twists, All the Missing Girls is an intense, suspenseful thriller that explores how far we’ll go to protect those we love—and ourselves.
I’m particularly excited about this one because of its innovative structure—telling the story backward is such a fresh way to deliver a mystery and I can’t wait to see how Miranda pulls it off. The small-town setting, coupled with long-buried secrets and dark twists, promises an engrossing and atmospheric read. Miranda excels at creating suspenseful, character-driven narratives and I have no doubt this one will keep me hooked.
And that’s my October book haul! Each of these books offers something different, from psychological thrillers to suspenseful mysteries and dark secrets. I’m excited to dive into these gripping stories and get lost in their twists and turns. Have you read any of these titles or are any of them on your TBR list? Let me know your thoughts and feel free to share your own recommendations for must-read books this fall!
