Chilling and propulsive, this Puritan-era historical thriller transports you to 1662 Boston, where accusations fly and “it was always possible that the Devil was present.” Desperate to escape her abusive husband, Mary Deerfield seeks a rare divorce from the town council—but it’s a precarious time to pursue independence as a woman. Mary is soon accused of far worse than being a rebellious wife, and realizes a separation from her husband won’t be enough to save her from his escalating cruelty. Relying on a large cast of well-developed characters and an intricate plot, Bohjalian skillfully ratchets up the tension all the way through the exceptional ending. The Puritan era feels immediate and its struggles all too timely in this urgent historical novel set in 1660s Boston, especially when voiced by a full cast of fan favorites including Saskia Maarleveld, Cassandra Campbell, Julia Whelan, and Kirby Heyborne.

Last year Bohjalian's historical novel Hour of the Witch was a delightful surprise. I didn't know I was longing for a novel about the Puritans until I picked it up—and couldn't put it down! Bohjalian delivers another atmospheric story laden with danger and mystery in his new historical thriller set in the Serengeti, where Hollywood starlet Katie Barstow and her husband have invited a crowd of A-list friends to join them on an African safari for their honeymoon. The guests expect to enjoy pampering, glamour, and exploits that will make delicious cocktail conversation at Hollywood parties, but their lavish getaway becomes a waking nightmare when they're kidnapped by Russian emissaries. This stylish mystery has serious Agatha Christie vibes, but I can't say I found the ending satisfying.

It’s a normal morning for flight attendant Cassie Bowden. She wakes up with her usual hangover in a Dubai hotel room and tries to remember what happened the night before. And then she notices the man sharing her bed is dead. And not just dead: murdered. She can’t remember what happened but it doesn’t look good for her. So she decides to go to work as planned, get out of the country, and pretend as if nothing's wrong. But Cassie can’t run from her alcoholism and lies forever. A suspenseful novel with satisfying twists and turns.