Striving to be a best selling author is a goal many beginning authors dream of, but even best selling novelists sometimes fall by the way side and are forgotten. There are times when an author has a best seller debut novel, but the next one falls flat. Lots of so called classics are no longer read or come and go in popularity. Being a best selling author doesn’t necessarily make you the best author, but name recognition does influence all of us into at least thinking about reading even genres of books that we wouldn’t necessarily read. Some of the top mystery authors include J.D. Robb (aka Nora Roberts), James Patterson, David Baldacci, CJ Box, Lee Child, Stuart Woods, Michael Connelly, Karin Slaughter, Louise Penny, John Sandford, Catherine Coulter, Janet Evanovich, Danielle Steel, and on it goes. So let’s talk about which of these authors have a new book coming out.

Reading right now:

Lincoln Child and Douglas Preston’s new novel “Old Bones” marks the beginning of a new series for these best selling authors. Child and Preston look to the Donner party for inspiration for their new book. As if the Donner story wasn’t horrifying enough, they decide to ratchet it up a notch. Our hero is the curator of the Santa Fe Institute of Archaeology, Nora Kelly, who agrees to lead a team to search for the “Lost Camp” of the Donner Party based on information from a recently discovered diary of one of the victims. When they find the lost camp, they also discover “old bones” which lead to violence and a new horror. Rookie FBI agent Corrie Swanson is assigned to the case which spirals out of control.

On hold right now:

Get ready for “A Minute to Midnight” coming out in November and is David Baldacci’s second book in his Atlee Pine series. Pine is an FBI Agent haunted by the kidnapping of her twin sister Mercy thirty years ago. When Pine finds her past controlling her present, she decides to go back to her hometown to find out what really happened that night.

“Blue Moon” by Lee Child is the 24^th book in his Jack Reacher series. Once more Reacher is on the road and, of course, finds trouble in the form of an elderly couple who has made some very bad decisions which lands all of them in the middle of a turf war between rival Ukrainian and Albanian gangs.

Michael Connelly’s latest Harry Bosch novel is “The Night Fire.” Connelly has written 21 Bosch books and is now writing books with Harry Bosch and Renee Ballard working together and “The Night Fire” is the second book with them as partners. After Bosch’s mentor John Jack Thompson dies, the widow gives Bosch a murder book which Thompson stole from the LAPD 20 years ago when he left the department. The old case involved the unsolved murder of a troubled young man who died in an alley used for drug deals. Bosch brings the murder book to Ballard and together they try to find out what happened to this young man and why Thompson was driven to steal the murder book.

Other forthcoming novels from best selling authors include the 26^th novel in Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series called “Twisted Twenty-Six.” Craig Johnson’s 15^th book in the Walt Longmire series “Land of Wolves” comes out Sept. 17. James Patterson and Maxine Paetro’s new book “19^th Christmas” is the 19^th book in the Women’s Murder Club series. “Bloody Genius” is the 12^th book in John Sandford’s Virgil Flowers series. 

Other Mysterious Things:

Patricia Cornwell’s new series is hopefully the start of something great. After years of success with her Kay Scarpetta character, Cornwell is introducing a cybercrime investigator Captain Calli Chase who works with NASA and the space program to stop a sabotage attempt. The first book comes out next month and is titled “Quantum.” The second novel in the series is planned and comes out in August 2020 (title is “Spin”).

Cats have had a long tradition of showing up in mystery novels. Cats seem mysterious and self-contained. Unlike dogs who become a part of our family, cats stand above and judge. They seem a perfect addition to a mystery. There has been a long line of famous authors with cats as major players in their novels including: Shirley Rousseau Murphy, Lilian Jackson Braun, Rita Mae Brown, Cate Conte, T.C. LoTempio, Leann Sweeney, and Claire Donally.

Reading right now:

The Cat in the Stacks series by Miranda James revolves around Librarian Charlie Harris and his Maine coon cat Diesel. In his eleventh book in the series called “The Pawful Truth,” the duo goes back to college only to have a fellow student end up dead.

On hold right now:

Sofie Kelly’s Magical Cats series is about a librarian in Minnesota who adopts or is adopted by two stray cats. She quickly discovers that they can magically help her solve crimes. In the eleventh novel “A Night’s Tail,” Librarian Kathleen Paulson finds herself helping her brother who is a suspect in the death of a businessman interested in investing in the town.

In Laurie Cass’s Bookmobile Cat mystery series, librarian Minnie Hamilton and her tabby friend Eddie drive a bookmobile around the county and, not only find readers, but crimes to solve as well. In her seventh novel “Booking the Crook,” one of Minnie’s favorite patrons doesn’t show up to pick up her books and Minnie finds her dead in her driveway. Now its time for Minnie and Eddie to solve the mystery.

Kathi Daley has written many mysteries and now she has a new series called the “Cat in the Attic” series. The first book is called “The Curse of Hollister House” and revolves around Calliope Rose Collins returning to her childhood home to find her old friend Officer Cass Wylander wrapped up in a murder investigation. Calliope, Cass, and Alastair the cat work to solve the murder.

Other Mysterious Things:

Coming out in January 2020 is Sofie Ryan’s sixth book in the Second Chance Cat mystery series “No Escape Claws.” Many mystery authors are still writing cat themed mysteries including Clea Simon, Rita Mae Brown, Shirley Rousseau Murphy, and Dixie Lyle so if you love cats, you might just love these mysteries.

With “The Art of Racing in the Rain” coming out as a movie, we are all reminded of the importance of dogs in our lives and more and more in our reading. Cats have played a large part in several mystery series and now dogs are showing up as important characters in books.

Reading right now:

Alex Kava’s fifth book in the Ryder Creed series just came out. “Desperate Creed” continues the story of Creed’s work with K-9 rescue dogs. While Creed searches for survivors in storm torn Alabama, his partner, Hannah Washington, receives a call from a desperate friend who witnessed a murder and is running for her life. Unfortunately for her she runs into the storm and finds even more danger.

On hold right now:

“The Dog Who Knew Too Much” by Krista Davis is the sixth book in the Paws and Claws series. Holly Miller and her Jack Russell terrier run an inn in dog friendly Wagtail, Virginia and sometimes solve murders.

Margaret Mizushima’s Timber Creek K-9 series continues with the fifth book in the series “Tracking Game.” Officer Mattie Cobb and her partner, K-9 police dog Robo, work together in Timber Creek, Colorado to solve two murders in her latest novel.

Laurien Berenson 24^th novel in her Melanie Travis series is “Here Comes Santa Paws.” Poodles abound in Berenson’s novels, as does murder.

If there is a corgi in your life, you will love Mildred Abbott’s series called the Cozy Corgi mysteries. “Meddlesome Money” is the 13^th book in the series. 

Other Mysterious Things:

One of my favorite fabulously funny and entertaining mystery series is David Rosenfelt’s Andy Carpenter series. Andy Carpenter loves dogs and spends more time with his dog than on cases. “Bark of the Night” just came out in July and “Dachshund Through the Snow” comes out in October. In March of next year, Rosenfelt is introducing a new series which is a spin off featuring Andy’s wife who is a former cop. Laurie Carpenter plans to open an investigation firm with her former police partner and his German shepherd K-9 partner. 

As the years pass, authors that wrote huge bestsellers fall by the wayside. Some sadly die and sometimes readers just get tired of an author. Fighting to stay on top has to be a constant battle. It is impressive when an author continues year after year to have readers watch anxiously for their next book to come out and make them big bestsellers. You never know when an author is going to break through and be the next big thing. David Baldacci is one of those authors that continues to stay on top of the game while writing books for adults, children, and young adults. His latest book came out in July and was a stand alone novel (“One Good Deed”). The second book in his FBI agent Altee Pine series appears in November. Other bestselling authors with new books out this month include: Sandra Browns’ “Outfox,” James Patterson’s “The Inn,” CJ Box’s “Bitterroots,” Robert Crais’ “The Dangerous Man,” and Stuart Woods’ “Contraband.” So who are the new bestselling authors whose names may not be so familiar? Here are some ideas.

Reading right now:

Ruth Ware’s “The Turn of the Key” is this English author’s fifth psychological twisty mystery. My suggestion regarding her books is don’t read them while you are home alone. Her latest revolves around a nanny who is accused of murdering her young charge. What seemed like the perfect job, becomes the perfect nightmare.

On hold right now:

JP Delaney’s third book is “The Perfect Wife.” A wife wakes up five years after a terrible accident almost takes her life. She remembers nothing least of all her husband. Somehow she doubts that the story he tells about their life together is the truth.

R.H. Herron’s debut novel “Stolen Things” looks like it could be huge. This unique novel revolves around a 911 police dispatcher who one day takes a call from her daughter who has been drugged and left in the home of a pro football player with the body of his trainer who was beaten to death. In trying to uncover the truth, this headstrong mother uncovers shocking truths about her teenage daughter and the police department she calls home.

Don’t miss Shari Lapena’s latest called “Someone We Know.” This is her sixth novel and does a great job in representing the psychological thriller. One reviewer called this trend in mystery novels “suburban paranoia” which is a perfect description of a popular sub-genre of mystery novels which revolves around home, family, and shady neighbors. I love the basis of this novel which centers around a teenager breaking into his neighbor’s homes stealing their secrets which results in murder.

Other Mysterious Things:

“The Silent Patient” by Alex Michaelides came out of nowhere in February to be a huge first novel. Once more it’s a psychological thriller and if you haven’t read it yet, you should. It’s about a famous artist who kills her husband and refuses to speak for five years. A forensic psychotherapist is assigned to dig into the case to uncover the shocking truth behind the murder.

It is frustrating to read a great book and have to wait for the author to write their next book, especially if it is a series. Certain authors put out a new book every year and some write even faster. Unfortunately, there are those authors who take years between novels. Over the next few months, several authors that you may have read years ago have finally completed another book.

Reading right now:

Award winning author, Lisa Sandlin wrote the first book in her Delpha Wade series “The Do-Right” in 2015. Four years later, the second book in her series is finally making an appearance. After getting out of prison for killing one of the men who tried to rape her, Delpha Wade’s job choices were few until she got a job with PI Tom Phelan. The second novel, “The Bird Boys,” continues their partnership.

On hold right now:

“Wall Street Heat” by Phillip Jennings once more launches CIA agents Gerard Finnegan Gearheardt and Jack Armstrong back out into the world of international spies. In 2005 and 2007, Jennings wrote two books in his Gearheardt and Armstrong series. Finally, after 12 years, Jennings has added a new book to this series called “Wall Street Heat.” These are not really mysteries, but are definitely thrillers with a twist. The books are insanely comic and the first book (“Nam-a-Rama”) which took place in Vietnam was called a “combination of Catch 22 and Apocalypse Now.” The second book had our heroes messing with Cuban/Mexican relations in “Goodbye Mexico.” If you’re a little crazy and want to try something unusual, these books are for you.

Rene Denfeld has taken only two years to write the second in her Naomi Cottle series, but two years seems a long time when you are waiting for a new favorite. Denfeld’s first book introduced a fascinating woman who finds missing children when the police have given up the search called “The Child Finder.” The second “The Butterfly Girl” continues her search for those who need her the most.

John Galligan’s fly fishing mystery series ended in 2011 and eight years later he has finally written another book called “Bad Axe County.” This could easily be a start to a new series about the first female sheriff in rural Bad Axe County, Wisconsin, taking over as sheriff to find the job takes her places she never anticipated going including closer to finding out about the death of her parents over twenty years ago. Hopefully it won’t take him another eight years to write the next book.

Kerry Greenwood may be best known for her 1920s series featuring Phryne Fisher. I wish I could say that she is adding to that series with a new book, but that’s not to be. What she has added to is her Corinna Chapman series with “The Spotted Dog” being the seventh in the series. The last in the series was “Cooking the Books” which came out eight years ago. After eight years, it may be hard to pick up the character again and remember what happened before. But knowing Greenwood’s books, it is probably worth it.

Other Mysterious Things:

Michael Crichton has been dead since 2008, but like many authors these days that isn’t stopping him from continuing to write. In 1969, Crichton made a tremendous splash with “The Andromeda Strain” and now, 50 years later, comes a sequel to that technothriller called “The Andromeda Evolution.” Crichton and Daniel H. Wilson have writer’s credit on this new book. Wilson’s Science Fiction books have included the Robo series which started with “Robopocalypse” in 2011 and continued with “Robogenesis” in 2014. In November, we’ll see if this sequel has as big a influence on our culture as did “The Andromeda Strain.”

Every month it is astonishing how many people win the publishing lottery to present their debut novel to the reading public. The question is always will they be another David Baldacci or will they sizzle out. All of the following are recently released debut novels from aspiring new mystery authors.

Reading right now:

Elizabeth MacNeal’s “The Doll Factory” is a new thriller which takes place in 1850s London where women are unable to enter the art world as anything but models. Louis Frost finds Iris irresistible as a model so when he asks to work with her, she will only agree if he is willing to teach her how to paint. Unfortunately for Iris, she doesn’t realize that she has attracted a stalker called Silas Reed. Obsession is the key in this mystery. Obsession with art and the Pre-Raphaelite movement and the obsession of one man for a woman who doesn’t know he exists.

 

On hold right now:

Allison Dickson’s “The Other Mrs. Miller” is a twisty domestic thriller which centers around Phoebe Miller who is living a boring suburban life until new neighbors completely turn her life upside down. Her new neighbors are so interesting that she forgets about the old car that was hanging around her neighborhood. Someone is watching her from that car. Someone who will turn her life into a nightmare.

M. T. Edvardsson adds to the long line of Swedish mystery authors with his novel “A Nearly Normal Family.” When their teenage daughter is arrested for murder, this normal family has no idea why their daughter is under arrest or how she could have known or been involved with a much older businessman. On the surface this mystery is a legal thriller, but underneath is a psychological thriller asking how well can you really know your children and how far will you go to protect them.

R. H. Herron’s “Stolen Things” starts off with a bang when 911 police dispatcher Laurie Ahmadi receives a call from her daughter while on the job. Her daughter Jojo was drugged before waking up in a famous football player’s home with a man’s corpse in the corner and her friend Harper missing. Mother and daughter team up to discover where Harper is and uncover secrets about Harper and the local police department.

 

Other Mysterious Things:

Other debut mysteries to consider:

Ellen Lacorte “The Perfect Fraud”

Alex North “The Whisper Man”

Daniel Nieh “Beijing Payback”

Cambria Brockman “Tell Me Everything”

Layne Fargo “Temper”