If you’re looking for some new thrillers and mysteries to add to your summer reading list, you’ve come to the right place. From darkly funny crime capers to sharp-edged police procedurals and claustrophobic psychological suspense, this month’s picks promise high tension, whiplash twists and addictive storytelling.
This month, you’ll find the latest releases from bestselling authors Abir Mukherjee and Mark Edwards as well as eagerly awaited new titles from Rob Rinder, Gill Perdue, Jane Corry and more. In fact, there’s something for every crime fiction fan in our below guide to the best books out in June.
The Pinnacle by Abir Mukherjee
Publication date: 18th June
Abir Mukherjee’s latest high-class crime thriller is a pacy, humorous and intricately crafted mystery. Washed-up actor George Abercrombie wakes from a drunken stupor to find his much younger wife dead in their bedroom. His wife is Bollywood queen, Sweety Sahota, and George becomes the prime suspect in her murder.
Set inside the Pinnacle, Mumbai’s most luxurious skyscraper, this gripping read has a twist-filled plot while also being a sharp, satirical insight into wealth, power and desperation. Fans of Philip Kerr and C J Sansom will love it.
One of the Family by Mark Edwards
Publication date: 18th June
One of the Family is a sharp psychological thriller that makes you question every character’s motive, making it perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell and Clare Mackintosh. Patrick goes to Scotland for the New Year with his new girlfriend, Holly, to meet her family. But soon after they arrive at the remote Highland mansion, events descend into suspicion, paranoia, and, ultimately, murder.
Sinister family secrets and a twist-laden plot mean this relentless psychodrama grabs you from the first page and keeps you hooked until the last.
Some Sort of Justice by Peter Grainger
Publication date: 4th June
If you enjoy detective novels with depth, nuance, and compelling characters at their heart, you’ll love Peter Grainger’s latest. When Freddie, the Earl Thorpe of Burnham, dies in suspicious circumstances, his sister Caroline questions the verdict of the inquest. DCI Cara Freeman and her team are called upon to investigate, where they expose a cover-up reaching from rural Norfolk to the heart of the British government.
This enthralling mystery is thought-provoking, timely, and sets the standard for the modern police procedural.
All of Them Lied by Gill Perdue
Publication date: 11th June
After a life-threatening fall on holiday, Thea awakes from a coma having forgotten much of her recent past. She’s trapped at home in the Irish countryside, dependent on her fiancé, brother, sister-in-law and best friend. But as fragments of her memory reappear, it strikes her that many things don’t add up; her loved ones are lying to her and she doesn’t know why.
Gill Perdue’s unnerving psychological thriller keeps you in suspense until the last page with its sense of claustrophobia, paranoia and a drip feed of sinister revelations. It’s a must-read for fans of Alex Barclay and Tana French.
Bad Deeds by Andrew Hunter Murray
Publication date: 11th June
Andrew Hunter Murray is fast becoming known for his comic crime capers, and this sequel to A Beginner’s Guide to Breaking and Entering sees the return of his unique mix of sharp plotting and dry wit.
Alex used to break into people’s homes for his own benefit, but now he does it for his job in security. But when he’s drawn to one last break-in, off the books, he gets entangled in a crime scene as a man suspiciously falls to his death. Clever and tightly plotted, this read is for anyone who enjoys their twists and red herrings with a healthy dose of humour.
The Defence by Rob Rinder
Publication date: 18th June
Criminal barrister turned TV favourite Rob Rinder knows a thing or two about the law, and he brings his unique insight to his latest legal thriller. The Defence is the fourth courtroom mystery in his popular Adam Green series. It is full of his trademark wit, with sharp plotting and character-led drama.
When an eccentric former MP is poisoned at a glitzy product launch, the defence case quickly becomes a frantic chase for the truth. Anyone who enjoys clever, satirical crime novels with insider detail, dramatic revelations and a lively, likeable protagonist will find Rinder’s latest irresistible.
The Lover by Mary Watson
Publication date: 18th June
Hallie wakes up to find her perfect man, murdered in bed next to her. She knows she’ll be the prime suspect and must find the real culprit to prove her innocence. Mary Watson’s new, psychologically sharp domestic thriller reveals the troubling, dark side to love, making it perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell and Freida McFadden.
We loved Watson’s debut, The Cleaner, and her latest also weaves intricate plotting with morally grey characters. It’s guaranteed to get under your skin and keep you guessing until the final pages.
My Sister’s Secret by Jane Corry
Publication date: 18th June
Before her crime-writing success, prolific Sunday Times bestselling author Jane Corry worked as a writer-in-residence in a high-security prison. She knows more about troubled minds than most, and this psychological insight informs her crime novels, making her characters and premises feel more realistic.
In My Sister’s Secret, a psychiatrist suspects siblings Amy and Rosy are keeping a secret and is drawn to their case, despite his misgivings. Three eventually becomes a crowd, with devastating consequences. Few writers can match Corry for psychological mystery, and her latest intense, brooding work is no exception.
Clive Cussler’s Cold Fire by Graham Brown
Publication date: 4th June
Clive Cussler’s Cold Fire is the latest instalment of the hugely successful, action-packed NUMA Files series. Graham Brown continues Clive Cussler’s legacy, giving readers a high-octane cocktail of international adventure and unrelenting, against-the-clock action.
Returning hero Kurt Austin is tasked with retrieving a missing NATO super-weapon. The mission leads to a desperate Arctic race against Chinese and Russian rivals to thwart a plan that risks global catastrophe. The very definition of a page-turner, the only reason to put this novel down might be to pause for breath once in a while.
The pick of the paperbacks
The following titles have already hit the shelves in hardback and are newly available in paperback this month.
Other must-read new crime releases
We’re not just excited about the new crime books being released this month: there are already so many titles that have been released this year that we would call the best crime books of 2026. These include, but are not limited to:
- Judge Stone by James Patterson and Viola Davies (released 9th March 2026): a legal thriller about a small-town judge who must decide on an abortion case.
- The Truth About Ruby Cooper by Liz Nugent (released 12th March 2026): a psychological suspense about two separated sisters still reeling from a shocking incident from their adolescence.
- The Secret of Secrets by Dan Brown (released in paperback on 2nd July 2026): a high-octane mystery sees Professor Robert Langdon decode a conspiracy in a race against time to save the woman he loves.
- The Impossible Fortune by Richard Osman (released in paperback on 7th May 2026): the latest Thursday Murder Club mystery sees the gang return to track down a missing wedding guest, and a tech mogul who will stop at nothing to crack an uncrackable code. Osman’s new novel We Chase Shadows will also be released this year, on 10th September 2026.
Love it when Dead Good books appears in my in box!
I have my favourite authors but it is good to have insight into other books and authors.
So 2 years on, and 2 years older, I am still thrilled when I see “Dead Good”
appear – Gruesome twosome and I (dogs) looking forward to sitting by the fire and reading our way through the winter months. Once again – Thankyou!
Some very good books on this list, my to be read pile just got higher!
There are a good few of these books that I must read it’s looking like an exciting summer
So many books and so little time to read them! At least you’re helping me to narrow the titles down to a shorter list 🙂