The best books out this month

October brings a thrilling mix of new releases, perfect for autumn reading. From globe-trotting action thrillers to locked-room whodunits and creeping psychological thrillers, these new releases are the perfect companions for long, cosy nights with a brilliant book in hand.

So, whether you’re looking for a cosy mystery by a new voice in crime fiction, or the latest Alex Cross or Mickey Haller detective novel, there’s something for everyone on our round-up of the best books out this month.

New crime books out this month:

The Revenge of Odessa by Frederick Forsyth and Tony Kent

This gripping thriller, set six decades after The Odessa File, sees the return of the menacing Nazi group Odessa. When journalist Georg Miller uncovers links between a series of shocking global events, he is propelled into a deadly conspiracy stretching from Berlin to Washington. With echoes of his grandfather’s battle against Odessa decades earlier, Georg must outwit killers and prevent catastrophe. Fast-paced, atmospheric, and frighteningly timely, it’s a must-read for lovers of intelligent, adrenaline-fuelled fiction.

Return of the Spider by James Patterson

James Patterson brings Alex Cross back to his roots in this electrifying new instalment. Cross thought he had caught the serial killer Gary Soneji. But when a hidden cabin reveals chilling trophies and gruesome evidence, he must confront the possibility that he imprisoned the wrong man. Tense, nostalgic, and gripping, Return of the Spider showcases Patterson’s signature blend of suspense and psychological insight.

The Murder at World’s End by Ross Montgomery

Ross Montgomery delivers a wonderfully atmospheric locked-room mystery set on a tidal island in 1910. When the eccentric Viscount of Tithe Hall is found dead in his sealed study, suspicion falls on under-butler Stephen Pike. Teaming up with the irrepressible octogenarian Decima Stockingham, Stephen navigates family secrets, hidden passages, and a sharp dose of humour in a mystery that channels Agatha Christie but with a playful twist.

Gone Before Goodbye by Harlan Coben and Reese Witherspoon

Reese Witherspoon makes her fiction debut in this gripping collaboration with Harlan Coben. Combat surgeon Maggie McCabe is drawn into a world of unimaginable luxury and danger when a wealthy patient vanishes under her care. As Maggie becomes a fugitive, Gone Before Goodbye sees Coben’s signature twists combine with Witherspoon’s storytelling flair to deliver a smart, fast-paced thriller. Expect unforgettable characters, relentless suspense, and an ending you won’t see coming.

The Proving Ground by Michael Connelly

Michael Connelly’s Mickey Haller returns in this razor-sharp legal thriller that tackles one of today’s most urgent issues: artificial intelligence. Tasked with representing the family of a girl whose death may have been influenced by an AI chatbot, Haller navigates high-stakes courtroom battles, whistleblowers, and media scrutiny. Brimming with suspense, moral complexity, and Connelly’s signature character depth, The Proving Ground pushes Haller out of his comfort zone and into a fight for accountability in a rapidly evolving world.

Coyote Hills by Jonathan and Jesse Kellerman

Father and son duo Jonathan and Jesse Kellerman deliver a gripping new Clay Edison thriller that keeps readers hooked from the first page. When Adam Valois, the missing son of a wealthy couple, is found dead under suspicious circumstances, Clay is pulled into a case that goes far beyond an apparent overdose. With sharp plotting, a tense investigation, and unexpected twists, Coyote Hills combines compelling characters and high-stakes suspense in a masterful, page-turning mystery.

The Dogwalkers’ Detective Agency by Michael Hogan

When Charlie Boardman and his Staffy, Ruby, discover a corpse in the woods, the sleepy town of Framstone is shaken. Determined to help, Charlie and his dog-walking friends launch their own investigation but soon face anonymous threats. And then they find a second body… Hogan’s debut cosy crime novel is witty, warm, and suspenseful, with snappy chapters, endearing characters, and a feel-good, four-legged charm that makes it the perfect autumn read.

Murder Most Haunted by Emma Mason

As an early retirement gift, Detective Midge McGowan is (begrudgingly) sent on a haunted house tour at a remote country estate. Accompanied by a motley crew of misfits, including a paranormal investigator and a washed-up pop star, the tour takes a sinister turn when someone is murdered in a locked room. But who is responsible – a ghost or one of the guests? Emma Mason’s debut blends humour, suspense, and clever twists to create a compelling whodunit that will keep you guessing until the very last page.

Ring the Bells by C. K. McDonnell

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, but for the staff of The Stranger Times newspaper, that means chaos, supernatural attacks and murder. A book club meeting in town ends in a triple murder, and a demonic librarian hellbent on revenge is responsible. Can the team work out who summoned the demon and how to send it back? The fifth instalment of The Stranger Times series is a darkly funny, thrilling, and wildly unpredictable supernatural mystery that you won’t forget in a hurry.

The pick of the paperbacks

The following titles have already hit the shelves in hardback and are newly available in paperback this month.

In case you missed it: The best books of September