Four Stellar New Releases

This week, I am highlighting four books that have already released this year (one comes out next Tuesday) that you should add to your list! 2025 has started out a little slower on the book front than the last few years but these four are definitely worth reading:

Dead Money by Jakob Kerr – As one of the first employees at Airbnb, Jakob Kerr intimately familiar with the world of start-ups and Silicon Valley, and his experiences inform this twisty, funny, and clever thriller. The controversial CEO of tech’s hottest startup Journy has just been murdered, leaving behind billions in “dead money” frozen in his will. Mackenzie Clyde, a fixer for the venture capital company that invested heavily in Journy, is brought in to consult and help solve the murder, but her help is not welcomed by the FBI. This intelligently constructed mystery into the wild and surreal world of the tech industry and startups where nothing is as it seems will keep readers on the edge of their seats; this debut is a clear standout in the genre. Dead Money will appeal to those who like smart thrillers that keep the reader guessing.

Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson – Good Dirt is a novel rich in lore and history, weaving together the stories of the Freeman family ancestors and a stoneware jar that has been with the family for centuries with the current day narrative of Ebony "Ebby" Freeman, the main character. The Freemans are a prominent black family whose young son Baz was murdered, a crime that is still not solved years later. While the book jumps around in time a fair amount, I found it easy to follow and loved that each perspective contributed to explaining the significance of the jar as well as who killed Baz. This beautiful book will appeal to those who enjoy complex family dramas as well as character-driven tales focusing on family, trauma, loss, legacies, and love. Learning about the stoneware jars made by slaves is an added bonus.

The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis – In each of her books, Fiona Davis selects an iconic building in New York City as the setting, and The Stolen Queen takes place at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This fast-paced dual timeline tale is set in 1936 Egypt where Charlotte Cross is participating in an archaeological dig. While there she discovers historical artifacts connected to an ancient female pharaoh, but when tragedy strikes, she leaves Egypt, planning never to return. In 1978 Manhattan, Charlotte is the associated curator of the Department of Egyptian Artifacts at the Met, tasked with working on the Met Gala, where things go awry when one of the museum’s most valuable pieces goes missing. Teaming up with Annie, a personal assistant to Diana Vreeland who is chairing the gala, Charlotte realizes she must return to the one place she swore she never would. Davis tackles numerous timely topics including how women have been marginalized in history, the importance of reclaiming their contributions, and the repatriation of stolen or looted artifacts and the issues that result. The behind-the-scenes glimpses into the Met’s operations and collections is fascinating, and the strong sense of place for both Egypt and the museum will transport the reader to both locales. Historical fiction fans and art lovers will thoroughly enjoy this one.

What Happened to the McCrays? by Tracey Lange – The queen of compelling family dramas returns with her best novel yet, a story that is both heartwarming and heartbreaking. Several years earlier, Kyle McCray fled his hometown of Potsdam, New York leaving his ex-wife and father behind. When his father suffers a stroke, Kyle reluctantly returns to help, but dreads his homecoming after abandoning his family and the town. As the story toggles between the past and the present, Kyle’s life with his wife Casey unfolds in both timelines. While home he also gets drawn into coaching the middle-school hockey team, and these scenes in the story are standouts. Lange’s relatable, everyday characters who struggle to make their way in the world will resonate with readers who will see themselves in the people she writes. The themes of grief, mental health, relationships, aging, and community that are woven throughout the book are evergreen and relevant to everyone. Have tissues ready, because What Happened to the McCrays? is a tear-jerker at times. It will be a great fit for fans of family dramas and compelling stories. 

For more book recommendations and bookish thoughts, see Cindy’s monthly Buzz Reads column, her award-winning Thoughts from a Page Podcast or follow @ThoughtsFromaPage on Instagram.