Flynn, Gillian. Gone Girl. Crown. (ISBN: 978-0-3075-8836-4).

It’s her fifth wedding anniversary: where’s Amy? Assumptions are dangerous in this chilling psychological thriller. The dark and twisty plot, unbearable levels of tension, and merciless pacing will rivet readers.

O’Malley, Daniel. The Rook. Little, Brown. (ISBN: 978-0-3160-9879-3).

When Myfanwy wakes up with no memory, surrounded by corpses, she must immediately impersonate herself in order to unravel the conspiracy at the heart of a secret supernatural intelligence agency. This offbeat debut combines the fast pacing and suspense of a thriller with the gritty, detailed world-building of urban fantasy.

Mantel, Hilary. Bring Up the Bodies. Henry Holt. (ISBN: 978-0-8050-9003-1).

Ambitious royal advisor Thomas Cromwell is at the pinnacle of his power and uses it to subtly engineer the downfall of his enemies, including Queen Anne Boleyn and her inner circle. This intricately plotted character study presents a fresh perspective on the ever popular Tudor Court.

Nevill, Adam. The Ritual. St. Martin’s. (ISBN: 978-0-3126-4184-9).

In the remote forests of Sweden, the friendship between four men disintegrates when they wander off the hiking trail and find themselves stalked by an unseen and increasingly violent menace. Blair Witch meets black metal in this dark and suspenseful horror novel.

Faye, Lyndsay. The Gods of Gotham. Amy Einhorn. (ISBN: 978-0-3991-5837-7).

The discovery of a mass grave of child prostitutes spurs “copper star” Timothy Wilde to hunt a killer through the seamy underbelly of 1840s New York City. Colorful period slang enlivens this carefully researched story about the dawn of modern policing.

Callihan, Kristen. Firelight. Forever. (ISBN: 978-1-4555-0859-4).

Bartered as a bride to the masked nobleman Benjamin Archer, Miranda Ellis is a woman with a supernatural secret, who becomes Archer’s only defender when he is accused of a series of murders. This is a dark and smoldering Victorian paranormal where love redeems two complex and damaged characters.

Corey, James S.A. Caliban’s War. Orbit. (ISBN: 978-0-3161-2906-0).

One wants control; one wants vindication; one wants his daughter back; and one wants revenge (and maybe a new suit). The shifting points of view of these four distinctive characters, an electrifying pace, and the threat of an evolving alien protomolecule propel readers through this grand space adventure.

Dilloway, Margaret. The Care and Handling of Roses with Thorns. Putnam. (ISBN:978-0-3991-5775-2).

Galilee Garner’s carefully managed routine of teaching, rose breeding, and kidney dialysis is disrupted when her teenage niece moves in. Readers will root for the growth of this prickly character as she discovers the importance of cultivating human connections.