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5-Star Reads, July, 2024: Mystery & Thriller Edition

I finally broke down and subscribed to TikTok. 

My intent was to keep up-to-date with the challenges that young people like to take part in. As a middle school principal, I want to stay in the know. Stay hip. 

What I’ve learned so far, however, has nothing to do with what young people are into right now. To avoid a really deep TikTok rabbit hole, this blog will focus on 5-star mystery/thriller reads I have found on BookTok this July.


The books are listed in chronological order with a brief recap. Follow me on Goodreads to keep current on all my reads and ratings. 



Read: July 1-5, 2024

Listened on Audible


This was a solid 4 stars until the final 20 percent of the book. If I could rate it higher than 5 stars, I would! I listened to Audible, and the male/female readers made this very enjoyable.

The surprises I did not see coming, and they just kept getting unraveled and revealed until the last page.

If you love psychological thrillers with untrustworthy narrators then this is for you!



Read: July 8-9, 2024


Check out Bookouture for contemporary writers of crime, psychological thrillers, women’s fiction, and more. 

Cozy mysteries are a hot topic right now. As a cozy mystery, this book is 5 stars. With its easy-to-read, Agatha Christie premise, the plot keeps the reader engrossed. The characters are lovable, especially the twins, Mercy and Lizzie.


The setting makes the book. The village is a work of fiction, and it’s magical. The cottages on the court! The bookstore! I want to see all of it.


With themes of family connection, community, and friendship, this cozy mystery is a winner. Shout out to Net Galley for the ARC. 



Read: July 5-13

Listened on Audible

If you are a lover of mysteries, then you have probably read Karin Slaughter before. This, however, is my first book by her. 

The author does a great job weaving the past with the present. I found myself wanting to hear Rusty more and was surprised how late in the story he actually appears (versus learning about him through others). 


The title is interesting…it doesn’t really match (yeah, yeah the author tries to make it fit later in the book). While I guessed the ending, the story was written well enough and included other story lines so it didn’t matter. 



Read: July 13-19, 2024

Listened on Audible

Whoa! Listened to it on Audible (great narration!). Murder, attempted redemption, family dynamics. Just when you think things can’t get more messed up, turn the page. If you can handle gruesome and the underside realities of life, read this book. 

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