You voted, they counted, and THE OXFORD GUIDE TO SCANDAL AND LIES by Kate Westbury is a LibraryReads pick for September 2026!
PLUS, Freya Marske (BODIES OF MAGIC), Sarah Addison Allen (PAPER GHOSTS), and J.D. Robb (FURY IN DEATH) are in the Hall of Fame!
THE OXFORD GUIDE TO SCANDAL AND LIES BY KATE WESTBURY | 9781250424105 | 9/1/26
“Romance, espionage, and murder converge in the hallowed halls of Oxford… And while romance simmers, Westbury provides a complex mystery with many different types of clues: word puzzles, timetable clues, motive and opportunity clues, hidden relationships, and secrets unearthed from the past. The twists keep on coming long after the initial murder is solved, and Westbury offers readers hooked on the sleuthing duo the hope of further adventures. The university setting provides local color, and the author doesn’t hesitate to people it with a colorful cast of characters, including the good, the bad, and the clueless. A cracking good debut.”—Kirkus Reviews
PAPER GHOSTS BY SARAH ADDISON ALLEN | 9781250283429 | 9/1/26
“Creating strong, complicated connections within family relationships and friendships, particularly between women, is one of Allen’s (OTHER BIRDS, 2022) superpowers, and it’s on full display here… The small town with its unconventional charm and secrets adds to the drama. Though this is a stand-alone, returning Allen fans will enjoy an insider’s wink. Readers of Alice Hoffman, Elizabeth Berg, Fannie Flagg, or anyone looking for a touch of magical realism and characters with complex inner dialogues will find satisfaction on every page.”—Booklist, starred review
BODIES OF MAGIC BY FREYA MARSKE | 9781250341655 | 9/15/26
“Multiple points of view allow readers to see further into what brings the central characters together, along with their messy friendships and families. The worldbuilding is richly detailed and provides a wonderful backdrop to the story… Marske (CINDER HOUSE) delivers an intriguing fantasy mystery with characters from a variety of backgrounds and a complex magic system. Hand to fans of dark academia along with readers of Katherine Addison.”—Library Journal, starred review
FURY IN DEATH BY J.D. ROBB | 9781250414564 | 9/8/26
“Robb, the futuristic-crime-fiction alter-ego of best-selling romance writer Nora Roberts, deftly deploys a familiar cast of characters drawn from the rich network of personal and professional relationships Eve has cultivated over the years, and 63 installments in the In Death series, in another dynamically paced, danger-infused plot. Despite being set three decades into the future, this tale is remarkably relevant to today and features a new element in the form of a surprisingly sympathetic antagonist.”—Booklist
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