Mystery | Prepub Alert, June 2025 Titles

Bestselling Laura Lippman returns with a book featuring middle-aged widow Muriel Blossom from her Tess Monaghan books, Nilima Rao writes a second “Sergeant Akal Singh” historical mystery, and Sally Smith debuts with a cozy gaslight series set in 1901 London.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dodd, Christina. Thus with a Kiss I Die. (Daughter of Montague, bk. 2). John Scognamiglio Bks. Jun. 2025. ISBN 9781496750198. 352p. $28. MYSTERY

Bestselling Dodd offers book two in the “Daughter of Montague” series, a trope-filled historical comedy-of-manners mystery mixed with romance and set in the world of Romeo and Juliet. This time, a ghost lures Rosie Montague to solve his murder.

Dukess, Karen. Welcome to Murder Week. Scout. Jun. 2025. ISBN 9781668079775. 304p. $28.99. MYSTERY

Dukess (The Last Book Party) returns with a new stand-alone, a contemporary amateur sleuth story set during a murder-mystery simulation in England’s Peak District, where Cath, who just lost her mother, finds charming new friends, romance, and some resolution.

Lippman, Laura. Murder Takes a Vacation. Morrow. Jun. 2025. ISBN 9780062998101. 272p. $30. MYSTERY

Bestselling Lippman (Prom Mom) gets a 150K-copy first printing for this cozy set during a French river cruise and featuring middle-aged widow Muriel Blossom, from her Tess Monaghan books. Muriel finds herself with a new case on her hands involving stolen art and flirtatious men.

Nevin, E. C. A Novel Murder. Knopf. Jun. 2025. ISBN 9780593803004. 368p. $28. MYSTERY

Nevin, a pseudonymous former publishing worker, debuts with a bibliomystery set in that industry. When author Jane Hepburn stumbles across the body of a reviled literary agent during a crime writing festival, she teams up with another author and an intern to solve the case.

Pennant, Mel. A Murder for Miss Hortense. Pantheon. Jun. 2025. ISBN 9780593701621. 288p. $27. MYSTERY

Pennant, an award-winning playwright, debuts with the story of retired nurse (and great baker and gardener) Miss Hortense. The Jamaican immigrant to Birmingham, England, must resolve a murder and past secrets in order to save herself and the community she loves.

Rao, Nilima. A Shipwreck in Fiji. (Sergeant Akal Singh, bk. 2). Soho Crime. Jun. 2025. ISBN 9781641295475. 272p. $29.95. MYSTERY

In the second “Sergeant Akal Singh” historical mystery (following the award-winning A Disappearance in Fiji), set in 1915, Akal and his friend Taviti encounter murder, reports of German soldiers spotted in Fiji, far from the WWI front, and European ladies on a sightseeing tour.

Seales, Julia. A Terribly Nasty Business. (Beatrice Steele, bk. 2). Random. Jun. 2025. ISBN 9780593450017. 320p. $29. MYSTERY

Following her bestselling debut, A Most Agreeable Murder, Seales returns with a second in her cozy historical series, which sees Beatrice setting up D. S. Investigations with Inspector Drake. Former crush Sir Huxley is still in the picture, as are plenty of murders and flying squirrels.

Smith, Sally. A Case of Mice and Murder. Bloomsbury. Jun. 2025. ISBN 9781639736928. 352p. $28.99. MYSTERY

Smith debuts with a cozy gaslight series set in 1901 within London’s hallowed legal system and starring reluctant sleuth Sir Gabriel Ward KC, who finds the body of the lord chief justice of England on his doorstep and is obliged to solve the case.

Forthcoming Series Titles

Burke, James Lee. Don’t Forget Me, Little Bessie. (Holland Family, bk. 5). Atlantic Monthly. Jun. 2025. ISBN 9780802164520. 368p. $28. MYSTERY

Crawford, Isis. A Catered Bake-Off. (A Mystery with Recipes, bk. 18). Kensington Cozies. Jun. 2025. ISBN 9781496734983. 304p. $27. MYSTERY

Freeman, Dianne. A Daughter’s Guide to Mothers and Murder. (A Countess of Harleigh Mystery, bk. 8). Kensington. Jun. 2025. ISBN 9781496745149. 304p. $27. MYSTERY

Housewright, David. Them Bones. (Mac McKenzie, bk. 22). Minotaur. Jun. 2025. ISBN 9781250360519. 320p. $29. MYSTERY

Khavari, Kate. A Botanist’s Guide to Rituals and Revenge. (Saffron Everleigh, bk. 4). Crooked Lane. Jun. 2025. ISBN 9798892420426. 336p. $29.99. MYSTERY

King, Laurie R. Knave of Diamonds. (Mary Russell & Sherlock Holmes, bk. 19). Bantam. Jun. 2025. ISBN 9780593873984. 288p. $30. MYSTERY

Schellman, Katharine. Last Dance Before Dawn. (The Nightingale Mysteries, bk. 4). Minotaur. Jun. 2025. ISBN 9781250325822. 352p. $28. MYSTERY

Toyne, Simon. The Black Highway. (Laughton Rees, bk. 3). Morrow. Jun. 2025. ISBN 9780062329851. 368p. $32. MYSTERY

Walker, Martin. An Enemy in the Village. (Bruno, Chief of Police, bk. 18). Knopf. Jun. 2025. ISBN 9780593536643. 320p. $28. MYSTERY

Weaver, Ashley. One Final Turn. (Electra McDonnell, bk. 5). Minotaur. Jun. 2025. ISBN 9781250350930. 304p. $28. MYSTERY

White, Randy Wayne. Tomlinson’s Wake. (Doc Ford, bk. 28). Hanover Square. Jun. 2025. ISBN 9781335014290. 352p. $29.99. MYSTERY

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