It’s a new month so time to do a roundup on some titles that are coming out this month. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for these advance review copies:

The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley. In the near future, a civil servant is offered the salary of her dreams to work on a  recently established government ministry by gathering “expats” from across history to establish whether time travel is feasible—for the body, but also for the fabric of space-time. On sale 5/7/2024.

Whale Fall by Elizabeth O’Connor. In 1938, a dead whale washes up on the shores of remote Welsh island. For Manod, who has spent her whole life on the island, it feels like both a portent of doom and a symbol of what may lie beyond the island’s shores. On sale 5/7/2024.

The Return of Ellie Black by Emiko Jean. Detective Chelsey Calhoun’s life is turned upside down when she gets the call Ellie Black, a girl who disappeared years earlier, has resurfaced in the woods of Washington state—but Ellie’s reappearance leaves Chelsey with more questions than answers. On sale 5/7/2024.

Summer Heat by Defne Suman. Melike should be happy: school is shut and her parents have stopped hosting parties for their rowdy political friends. But she’s scared. She can tell from her parents’ urgent whispers about prison, invasion and military coups that Istanbul is changing. Years later Melike has moved on but someone from her past returns. On sale 5/9/2024.

The Blue Maiden by Anna Moyes. It’s 1825, four generations after Berggrund Island’s women stood accused of witchcraft under the eye of their priest, now long dead. In his place is Pastor Silas, a widower with two wild young daughters. The sisters are outcasts: imaginative, oppositional, increasingly obsessed with the lore and legend of the island’s dark past and their absent mother, whom their father refuses to speak of. On sale 5/14/2024.

Spitting Gold by Carmella Lowkis. A deliciously haunting debut for fans of Sarah Waters and Sarah Penner set in 19th-century Paris, blending gothic mystery with a captivating sapphic romance as two estranged sisters—celebrated (and fraudulent) spirit mediums—come back together for one last con. On sale 5/14/2024.

Don’t all of these sound so interesting? Hope you have a chance to at least check one of these out.

I’m going into the month with several good reads on my nightstand. A bit of mystery, fiction and poetry.

Small Mercies by Dennis Lehane. Set in 1974, Boston, this story details a mother’s frantic search for her daughter amidst the tension of desegregation of the schools. Not an easy read due to the language and violence but I really feel like I’m there.

A Line in the Sand by Kevin Powers. A former Iraqi interpreter is now living in Virginia and one morning on he finds a body along the beach. This discovery will set the course for him to finally find out what happened to his family. This is the May selection for my mystery book group.

The 6:41 to Paris by Jean-Philippe Blonde; translated by Alison Anderson. On a train ride to Paris, a man and a woman will find themselves seating next to one another, and they both know they once had an affair 30 years ago. Do they speak of it, do they acknowledge each other? Ooh the tension.

Dearly by Margaret Atwood. I wanted to continue reading more poetry after National Poetry Month so I had this collection waiting for me. I’ve read a lot of Margaret Atwood but none of her poetry and so far I’m really enjoying this.

So those are my current reads. I really need to focus on A Line in the Sand as I’m leading the book group discussion so I need to come up with questions.

How about you? Have you read any of these or do you have a good book you are currently reading?