Amazon First Reads for October (Get TWO FREE Books)

This is the first in a new series from Tess Gerritsen, and early reviewers have really enjoyed this one.

In this exciting spy thriller, retired CIA operative Maggie Bird, now lives on a peaceful chicken farm in Maine.

However, she must reckon with her past as an international spy when a body appears on her property.

Maggie enlists the assistance of her retired spy friends, known as the "Martini Club," to help her uncover the truth.

Readers of the Thursday Murder Club series will love these relatable female characters in their sixties and seventies.

Related- Try These Mary Louise Kelly Spy Thrillers

This suspense novel is the first in the new Kate Green book series.

Disgraced Olympic soccer player turned sports reporter Kate Green is caught in a web of personal and professional challenges.

When an NBA star named Kurt Robbins is found dead, her best friend Yvette becomes the prime suspect.

Determined to clear Yvette's name, Kate investigates while her estranged detective father works on solving the case.

Early readers have noted that you don't need to be a sports fan to enjoy this book. Kate Green is a beloved character whose future adventures readers eagerly anticipate.

This domestic thriller selection keeps readers guessing with murder, mystery, and suspense.

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In 17th-century England, a gifted female healer, Mary Fawcett, faces persecution by a witchfinder.

Matthew Hopkins has mistaken her healing skills for dark magic.

As suspicion grows in her village, Mary seeks help from an alchemist to uncover a murderer's secrets.

This Gothic Historical Fiction debut offers an intricate whodunit that readers praised highly.

It is described as a well-crafted story about witchcraft and the obsession with alchemy, especially concerning women healers.

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This chilling psychological thriller follows the abduction of two teenagers, Noelle Meyer and Evan Sinclair.

Years later, as Evan becomes a private investigator, they revisit the crime to uncover the truth. The story reveals a mysterious figure, the Collector, who holds the key to solving their case and others.

This romantic suspense novel is described as dark and heartbreaking. Due to the nature of this story, check content warnings on the Storygraph app.

While the novel is described as a standalone, one reader cautioned that Bad Mother references are embedded in this story.

Reading this novel before diving into this Amazon First Reads release might be helpful.

Related- The Best Psychological Thriller Books to Read

In this second-chance romance, Stella Park accepts an invitation to a big Italian wedding to escape her personal and professional struggles.

When she unexpectedly encounters her ex, Samuel, she begins to wonder if he was the one who got away.

Ali Rosen is a James Beard Award–nominated writer and host of Potluck with Ali Rosen. She clearly knows her food, describing these dishes perfectly.

Rosen thoughtfully offers insight into her book with her GoodReads review, "And for any readers looking for content warnings: this book does include divorce (in the past, not the main character), anxiety, death of a side character’s parent (in the past). It is open door and does contain some language. Otherwise, light and breezy!"

Readers seeking a rom-com that allows them to armchair travel will love this selection.

It is recommended for Abby Jimenez and Alison Cochrun fans!

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A charity fundraiser goes unexpectedly wrong when CeCe Barclay discovers her husband is involved in an embezzlement scandal.

Seeking refuge—and employment—she signs up as the sorority housemom at Eli Whitney University.

She's not the only one seeking shelter at the sorority. Janelle also becomes a housemom, bringing her secrets with her through a witness protection program.

Meanwhile, CeCe's daughter Hayden seeks independence at her sorority, away from her family's growing scandal.

Together, the three women navigate the challenges of their new lives, forming an unexpected camaraderie during this unusual season.

Although early feedback is thin, readers have described this as a great light women's fiction read with lots of humor.

When Susan Harris, a successful mother, takes her own life, her New York City mothers' group grapples with shock and self-reflection.

Amidst private school admissions and personal challenges, they confront the truth about themselves and their children's uncertain futures.

Early readers have described this friendship fiction selection as fast-paced and absorbing. It offers an exploration of money, prestige, success, and the price of secrets.

Readers who crave complicated stories about the wealthy will love this domestic suspense selection.

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Ian Rankin is a Scottish crime writer best known for his Inspector Rebus novels. This 86-page short crime fiction is for readers craving a quick win.

In London's opulent residential tower, The Rise, a murder rocks the lives of its wealthy inhabitants. Detective DS Gish faces the challenge of interrogating privileged residents, including a Russian oligarch, a reclusive developer, and a lonely actress, as they come under police scrutiny.

With no apparent motive, Gish must unravel this complex mystery and catch the murderer before they escape.

Reviewers have described this as quick but unsatisfying as a short story. I would skip this one.

This selection is a short story fairytale from the acclaimed author of Mexican Gothic.

During a brutal winter, Judith invites a hunter into her home to survive the cold temperatures.

Despite her wish for love, he chooses her beautiful sister, Alice, instead.

When another stranger shows up, he offers Judith something quite enticing. Entangled between these two men, this fairy tale promises sensuous surprises.

Readers love this evocative story and describe it as a perfect National Hispanic Heritage Month selection.

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Set in 1880's icy Stockholm, young Mika faces a bleak winter in her orphanage.

The Night Raven, a notorious serial killer, seems gone. But when a mysterious boy leaves a newborn with a puzzling message, Mika's instincts tell her something is wrong.

Detective Hoff recruits her for the case, and through this, Mika wonders if this could finally be her purpose.

The original Swedish publication was released in 2021, but the English translation was pre-released for this promotion.

In fact, a sequel called The Queen of Thieves has already been published in Sweden.

This mystery is geared towards teens and more mature tweens. The novel contains some gore due to its serial-killer plot.

Many parents caution that you should screen this if you plan to share it with your middle-grade reader.

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