This week’s topic for Top Ten Tuesday (hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl) is “Most Anticipated Books Releasing in the Second Half of 2025”.
These are not technically my ‘most anticipated’ books, as I already listed some of those in my recent Historical Musings post just a few weeks ago. However, I only included historical fiction in that post. The ten books listed below are some more books I’m hoping to read and are from a range of genres.
1. The Killer Question by Janice Hallett – I’ve enjoyed all of Janice Hallett’s books, although I know her unusual style isn’t for everyone. This new one sounds great!
2. Rainforest by Michelle Paver – I was unaware that Michelle Paver had a new book coming out until I saw this one on NetGalley. I enjoyed her last one, Wakenhyrst.
3. The Shapeshifter’s Daughter by Sally Magnusson – I’ve read all of Magnusson’s previous adult novels but this one, based on the Norse myth of Hel of the underworld, sounds completely different.
4. The Token by Sharon Bolton – I don’t read a lot of contemporary crime but a new Sharon Bolton book is always something I look forward to!
5. Miss Winter in the Library with a Knife by Martin Edwards – I’m hoping this murder mystery will be as entertaining as it sounds.
6. No Friend to This House by Natalie Haynes – Yes, it’s another Greek retelling, but Natalie Haynes is an author I’ve particularly enjoyed in the past, so I’m sure this reimagining of the Jason and Medea story will be a good one!
7. The Clock House Murders by Yukito Ayatsuji – I loved one of this author’s books (The Labyrinth House Murders) and disliked another (The Decagon House Murders) so I’m curious to see what this one will be like!
8. Queens at War by Alison Weir – I haven’t read all of the earlier books in Weir’s non-fiction series about medieval queens of England, but this one covers some of my favourite periods – the Hundred Years’ War and the Wars of the Roses.
9. Murder at the Black Cat Cafe by Seishi Yokomizo – The latest book in the Kosuke Kindaichi series to be translated into English. I’ve enjoyed all of the others but this one sounds a bit different.
10. The Twelve Days of Christmas by Susan Stokes-Chapman – I’ve only read a short story by Stokes-Chapman but would like to try one of her novels.
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Are you interested in any of these? Which other books being published in the second half of the year are you planning to read?
She Reads Novels 
Miss Winter in the Library with a Knife has a title that just makes me want to read it. I’ve always enjoyed Martin Edwards books in the past so will definitely keep a look out for this one.
Yes, that’s a great title, isn’t it? I’ve only read one Martin Edwards book so far and I’m looking forward to trying another one.
I’ve read most of his I think. I’ve certainly read the Lake District series and enjoyed those. I’ve also read the latest Rachel Savernake series which is good too
I didn’t have any of these but there are several that look good. Did you read the Michelle Paver trilogy set mostly in (I think) Jamaica? I enjoyed that although don’t think I can justify shelf space for it much longer.
I prefer Sharon Bolton’s series about Lacey but mostly enjoy her other crime novels; I may be a book behind because they take longer to get here.
Interested in Alison Weir’s fiction but haven’t tried any yet.
I just started one of Edwards’ Lake District novels. I didn’t care for the newest series.
I haven’t read anything else by Michelle Paver apart from Wakenhyrst, but if I enjoy the new book I’ll go back and try some of her earlier ones. The Lacey Flint books are my favourites by Sharon Bolton too, although I do usually enjoy her standalones and the new one has an interesting premise.
I love Alison Weir’s books, and Susan Stokes-Chapman’s cover is just beautiful.
Yes, I love the cover of the Susan Stokes-Chapman book. It looks like a perfect Christmas read.
Natalie Haynes is one of my auto-buy authors so that’ll be coming home with me at some point!
I’ll look out for the Sally Magnusson book too. It’ll be interesting to read beyond the Greek myths and I’ve been hoping to read more about Hel after *loving* the completely over the top portrayal of her by Cate Blanchett in the 2017 movie Thor: Ragnarök.
I’ve enjoyed some of Natalie Haynes’ other books, particularly Stone Blind, so I’m looking forward to reading her new one! I’ve never read anything about Hel, so that should be interesting as well.
It’ll be interesting to see what kind of mystery Martin Edwards writes. I know him mostly as a curator and nonfiction writer about mysteries.
I’ve read one of Martin Edwards’ books, Mortmain Hall, which I didn’t like much but I think that’s probably because it was part of a series and I hadn’t read the previous ones. I’m hoping I’ll enjoy his new one more.
It’ll be interesting. An interest or expertise in mystery doesn’t assure a good writer.
Yea! Another Janice Hallett novel, her editors must love her. She just keeps churning out the novels and they are all great. I’m looking forward to reading this and the Martin Edwards book as well.
I love Janice Hallett! I don’t always get on with books written in an unusual format, but hers are really great!
I’m really excited for No Friend To This House too although I still need to try one of the authors books and also The Twelve Days Of Christmas having loved The Shadow Key last year. A couple of the others are also on my TBR and I’ve just added Rainforest & The Shapeshifter’s Daughter too as they sound fantastic 😍 I haven’t read Wakenhyrst yet but it’s one I fully intend to check out at some point over the summer. I hope you enjoy all of these.
Thank you! I really enjoyed Natalie Haynes’ book, Stone Blind, about Medusa, so I’m hoping her new one will be just as good. I’m glad you loved The Shadow Key – I read one of Susan Stokes-Chapman’s short stories and liked her writing, so I’m looking forward to trying one of her full-length novels.
I’m glad you enjoyed that one 🥰 and the short story that you tried by Susan Stokes-Chapman. I’m really curious to see what else she has due out over the next few years as she has a few titles shared on Instagram already but I don’t think any plot based derails have been revealed yet. I’ll watch out for your thoughts on the book by her 🥰 hope you enjoy all of these.
I have Rainforest and The Shapeshifter’s Daughter from NG, can’t wait! I loved Paver’s Dark Matter and Thin Air, and Magnusson’s The Sealwoman’s Gift and The Ninth Child.
I hope we both enjoy Rainforest and The Shapeshifter’s Daughter – they do sound great!
Sharon Bolton has a new one coming out? Yay! The Shapeshifter’s Daughter does sound interesting, and I love the title of Miss Winter in the Library With a Knife. 😀
It’s always exciting to see a new Sharon Bolton book! Yes, Miss Winter in the Library With a Knife is a great title – I hope it’s as good as it sounds.
I read The Twyford Code by Janice Hallett. Even though I liked the style I had some issues with the way the plot played out. I’m interested to read more of her work though. I’ve been meaning to read something by Michelle Paver too! Here’s my list: https://franlaniado.wordpress.com/2025/06/24/top-ten-tuesday-most-anticipated-for-the-2nd-half-of-2025/
The Twyford Code is my favourite of Janice Hallett’s books – her others are written and structured slightly differently but I’ve enjoyed all of them. I’ve only read one Michelle Paver novel – Wakenhyrst – but I’m looking forward to trying another one!