Looking for a thrilling escape into the world of crime and mystery? This week's suspenseful new novels will keep one tense. These new books offer suspense in the form of mysteries, intrigue, crime scenes, and drama, from murderous detectives to kinky psychopaths.

These five novels will satiate your need for suspense and intrigue regardless of your level of experience as a reader or if you are just getting started. Now, take out your magnifying glass and prepare to explore these fascinating mysteries and mayhem stories!

Return to Blood by Michael Bennett

Hana Westerman, a former Auckland detective seeking a fresh start in a coastal town, is thrust back into her past when a young Māori woman's skeleton is found in the dunes near her home. The discovery echoes a case from 20 years ago involving Hana's school friend.

With the original killer's guilt in question, Hana seeks help from her ex-husband, Detective Inspector Jaye, but soon finds herself pursuing the truth alone, risking a deadly encounter with the real murderer.

When We Were Silent by Fiona McPhillips

Louise Manson, a new student at Dublin's elite Highfield Manor, uncovers a dark secret at the prestigious school. Initially an outsider due to her working-class background, Lou gains entry into Highfield's inner circle through wealthy Shauna Power. However, a tragic event leaves Lou with a lifeless body at her feet.

A high-profile lawsuit forces Lou to revisit her traumatic past and confront the exploitation and privilege that defined her time at Highfield 30 years ago. This suspenseful debut novel explores themes of retribution and the lingering impact of buried secrets.

Swiped by L.M. Chilton

Gwen Turner faces a series of disastrous dates after breaking up with the best man she has ever known and opening a coffee shop. Her woes escalate when a string of murders targets her former dates, implicating her as the prime suspect.

To clear her name, Gwen embarks on a mission to track down her exes, confronting her past while racing against time to unmask the real killer before her best friend's wedding.

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The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley

Kaliane Bradley introduces a riveting fusion of time travel romance, spy thriller, and workplace comedy. Set in the near future, a civil servant joins a government project tasked with exploring the feasibility of time travel by monitoring an expat from 1847, Commander Graham Gore.

As they navigate the complexities of living across different eras, a deep and unexpected love blossoms, leading to profound consequences. Bradley's debut novel masterfully explores the nature of power, love's transformative potential, and the impact of defying history in a changing world.

The Wealth of Shadows by Graham Moore

Set in 1939, Ansel Luxford uproots his family to join a covert Treasury Department project in Washington, D.C., aimed at undermining Nazi Germany through economic warfare. With the United States officially neutral, Ansel brokers backroom deals undertakes daring heists and navigates a world of peril and deceit.

Meanwhile, his wife joins the FBI to hunt for spies. As Ansel grapples with moral dilemmas and discovers threats closer to home, the novel explores the power of money, the necessity of deception, and the hidden war that shaped the modern world.

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