This week’s topic for Top Ten Tuesday (hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl) is: “Most Anticipated Books Releasing in the Second Half of 2026”.
I have already put together a list of new historical fiction to look out for in the second half of this year, so a lot of my ‘most anticipated’ titles are on that list. I didn’t want to list any of the same books again, so here are another ten books being published between July and December that have caught my eye.
1. Crash by Belinda Bauer (30th July 2026) – I’ve only read a few of Bauer’s novels but enjoyed them all; I’m not sure if I like the sound of this particular book, a thriller involving planes, but I definitely want to read more of her work so could be tempted to try it.
2. The Curse of the Saltmarsh Girl by Clare Marchant (7th August 2026) – A dual timeline novel with the historical section set during the plague of 1665. I recently read Marchant’s The Alchemist’s Secret, which I enjoyed but haven’t reviewed yet.
3. The Salt King by Natasha Pulley (20th August 2026) – Described as an ‘end of world thriller’ about people turning into salt statues. I liked one of the two Pulley novels I’ve read but not the other, so I’ll be interested to see what I think of this one.
4. The Heiress of Northanger Abbey by Nancy Bilyeau (1st September 2026) – I usually stay away from Jane Austen sequels and prequels, but I’ve enjoyed all of Nancy Bilyeau’s other books, so I may have to read this one!
5. The Silent Appeal by Janice Hallett (3rd September 2026) – I’ve loved all of the Janice Hallett books I’ve read so far; the unusual style doesn’t work for everyone but it does for me. This will be the third in her Appeal mystery series.
6. The Strangers by Naomi Alderman (17th September 2026) – I haven’t read any of Alderman’s previous books, although I’ve heard a lot about them. This new novel, about the discovery of a strange new species, is the first one that has really sounded appealing to me.
7. The Scholars by MacKenzie Common (24th September 2026) – A murder mystery set in Oxford University. This is Common’s second novel and as I liked her first book, I’m looking forward to reading this one as well.
8. Murder on the Haunted Express by Emma Mason (22nd October 2026) – Just in time for Halloween, the second book in the Midge McGowan mystery series, set on an apparently haunted train. I hope it will be as entertaining as the first one, which I read last year. .
9. The Mortician by Sharon Bolton (5th November 2026) – I always look forward to a new Sharon Bolton book; I had mixed feelings about her last one, but this one about a young mortician caught between two rival gangs sounds more promising.
10. The Last Handmaid by Clare Whitfield (5th November 2026) – A Gothic novel about Countess Erzsébet Báthory, Hungarian noblewoman and alleged serial killer. I enjoyed Whitfield’s last novel but this sounds quite different.
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Are you interested in reading any of these? Which new releases are you hoping to read in the second half of the year?
She Reads Novels 
Oh wow, didn’t realise Alderman had a new book out – I loved her last novel so very keen to read. I’m a big Pulley fan so am excited about The Salt King, and I will read any thriller involving planes/plane crashes, so the Bauer sounds good too, though I’m not sure I’ve clicked with her writing in the past.
I didn’t get on very well with The Bedlam Stacks by Pulley and had almost dismissed her as not for me, until I decided to give her a second chance. The Salt King sounds fascinating! I’m glad you loved Naomi Alderman’s last book – I hope her new one will be just as good.
Ah, The Bedlam Stacks is my favourite Pulley 🙂 Did also love The Lost Future of Pepperharrow and The Half-Life of Valery K, though.
I should support the Bauer since she lives local to me – luckily I am not due to take any flights in the near term.
I’m not planning any flights either so it should be safe to read the Bauer – although some of her previous books do sound more appealing to me than that one.
A few I’m looking forward to and have on order.
Valley of Ravens by Barbara Erskine
Fury in Death by JD Robb
Frost and Venom by Christine Feehan
Twisted Road by Christine Feehan
Depth by Yrsa Sigurdardottir
Infinite Love Story by Chanel Cleeton
False Flag by Rachel Grant
Birth of the Witch by Nora Roberts
Last Tenant by Eva Bjorg Aegisdottir
Alfa by Lilja Sigurdardottir
Bad Company by Sara Paretsky
Gill
I hope you enjoy all of those! I’m looking forward to Valley of Ravens too.
Gosh, I haven’t read a lot of those authors. I did used to read everything I could find by Belinda Bauer, and then I kind of fell off her, but I don’t know why. I’ve found Bolton uneven. The Scholars sounds interesting.
I only read Belinda Bauer’s first two books and then her most recent one. I also find Bolton a bit uneven, but I’ve liked more of her books than I’ve disliked.
‘The Salt King’, ‘The Mortician’ and ‘The Last Handmaid’ definitely look interesting!