Aqilah Rahman
As we now arrive at the halfway point of the year, here’s a look at nine new book releases for the month of June, including a story about a murder victim brought back to life as a clone, an island where the townsfolk are seemingly stuck in the 90s, and a dancer who teams up with a psychiatry resident to catch a bomber.
On Earth as It Is on Television by Emily Jane
The world is thrown into chaos when spaceships appear out of nowhere, hovering over various cities. But the aliens make no contact with anyone and they leave just as suddenly as they arrive.
This brief appearance sparks questions and uncertainty as each person reacts differently to the unforeseen revelation that there’s life beyond Earth.
The story follows three protagonists including Blaine who begins to have doubts about his seemingly perfect wife, Heather who has a strained relationship with her family, and Oliver who wakes up from a coma after decades.
The Only One Left by Riley Sager
At the age of 17, Lenora Hope is assumed to have murdered her entire family but the police do not find any evidence to prove she is guilty. Decades pass and Lenora is now in her 70s, mute due to a series of strokes and confined to a wheelchair.
Following her nurse’s disappearance in the middle of the night, Lenora is in need of a new caretaker – a job that Kit McDeere accepts because she is desperate for money despite the massacre that took place and became the subject of an infamous schoolyard chant. By using a typewriter, Lenora offers to tell Kit everything about the murder of her family.
All the Sinners Bleed by SA Cosby
Former FBI agent Titus Crowne returns to his hometown to take care of his father. Elected as the town sheriff, Titus strives to make a difference for the community but the town is shaken by a school shooting. A teacher is killed by a former student and further investigation unravels a disturbing truth behind the incident.
The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston
When Clementine was young, her aunt used to say her apartment could slip through time. Now an adult and grieving the loss of her aunt, Clementine inherits the apartment and one day finds a stranger named Iwan from seven years ago in the kitchen. Against her better judgement, Clementine finds herself becoming closer to her temporary roommate.
Dead Eleven by Jimmy Juliano
In her deceased son’s bedroom, Willow Stone finds “Clifford Island” written on the floor. When she arrives on the island, she notices the townsfolk are seemingly stuck in the 90s from the way they dress and behave.
Meanwhile, high school student Lily Becker is sick of the island’s traditions and abiding by the rules.
As someone who’s visited other places beyond the island, Lily finds it incomprehensible that everyone on the island acts as if they are stuck in a timeloop. When Willow disappears five weeks later, her brother Harper arrives on the island to investigate her disappearance.
My Murder by Katie Williams
Lou’s peaceful life as a wife and mother abruptly comes to an end when she becomes a victim of a serial killer. With the help of the government, Lou is brought back to life as a clone along with the four previous victims and forms a support group. As she settles back into normalcy, Lou begins to question her life before the murder.
The Spectacular by Fiona Davis
Set in the 1950s, The Spectacular follows Marion who has been selected as one of the dancers at the highly renowned Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Going against her father’s wishes, Marion starts her new life as a dancer at the prestigious theatre, honing her movements to perfection while enduring hours of gruelling rehearsals.
But then a bomb explodes in the theatre. The culprit behind the incident is dubbed the “Big Apple Bomber” and has terrorised the city for the past 16 years, planting pipe bombs in popular, crowded spaces. Marion becomes involved with the investigation as she pairs up with psychiatry resident Peter who uses psychological profiling, a technique that is new to the police at the time.
Inside Threat by Matthew Quirk
A security breach at the White House forces the president to hide in an underground facility, together with the most trusted agents and officials.
Among the agents is Erik Hill, known for his elite skills.
Despite having grown disillusioned over corruption behind the scenes, Erik continues to fulfil his duty and protect the people.
His investigation leads him to a massive conspiracy and the threat is locked inside the facility with them.
Loot by Tania James
Young woodcarver Abbas catches the king’s eye and is given the task to build a giant tiger automaton to celebrate the return of his sons after being held hostage by the British.
Abbas works alongside clockmaker Lucien Du Leze, who then invites Abbas to come with him to France as his apprentice.
In the wake of escalating conflict, the kingdom is eventually overthrown by the British and the automaton has since disappeared.
To establish himself as an artist, Abbas sets off to retrieve the automaton from an estate in the English countryside.
