September is a time for waning summer days and the start of cool evenings. As our days get shorter, it becomes the perfect time to begin a new book (or two!) and start some new mental adventures. This September is also a major moment for authors and readers, packed with big, must-reads. Sandy’s selections for this month include books from favorite authors Paula Hawkins and Louise Candlish, with the opportunity to lose yourself in a good murder mystery or go back in time with an historical fiction. Here is Sandy’s September reading list for you to delve into.

A Slow Fire Burning by Paula Hawkins – Murder Mystery

A Slow Fire Burning opens with the gruesome murder of a man in his 20s, living on a houseboat in London. Three women immediately emerge as prime suspects. Each woman’s backstory is shared in flashbacks as their daily lives intersect, and the novel builds towards its climax. Although slightly slower-paced and slightly less twisty than Hawkin’s The Girl on the Train, it’s well worth the read.  P.S. The queen of mystery, Rosamund Pike, narrates the audiobook, which will almost certainly add to the suspense!

The Secret History of Food by Matt Siegel – Gastronomy History

The Secret History of Food is entertaining and informative, sprinkled with humorous anecdotes and connections to popular culture. Intel is gathered from nutritionists, psychologists, food historians, and paleoanthropologists, weaving together a tale that moves seamlessly from one chapter topic to the next. Written in a style that is accessible yet scholarly, The Secret History of Food will enlighten anyone looking for more about food’s rich back story.

Emily’s House by Amy Belding Brown – Historical Fiction

19th-century poet Emily Dickinson published only 10 of over 1,800 poems during her lifetime. Emily’s House is told through her long-time Irish maid and tells the story of what it was like to be an outsider looking in. It sheds light on one of Dickinson’s closest confidants, perhaps the person who knew the mysterious poet best. Over the course of her 30 years with the Dickinson Family, the bond between the maid and Emily deepens, and she comes to revere the poet’s imagination and literary gifts.

The Other Passenger by Louise Candlish – Crime Novel

The Other Passenger is about a river bus commuter who becomes the prime suspect in his friend’s mysterious disappearance. Who is The Other Passenger that reported something highly suspicious between the two friends fighting? Is there any reason to fear an innocent witness? This is a most entertaining and seductive thriller. Dalliances form, alliances abound, and deception is rampant. Ordinary lives turn monstrous, and it all builds to a most astonishing conclusion. Elegant and sinister.

Immediate Family by Ashley Levy – Contemporary Literary Fiction  

The Immediate Family adopted a three-year-old boy in Thailand who completed the family with their nine-year-old daughter. Twenty- five years later, the brother asked the sister to give a toast at his wedding. This book reflects the family challenges and traumas of this transracial adoption in Modern America. The sister struggles with memories of their complicated relationships and her infertility as she considers adoption for her family.

If you’re looking for something to add to your September reading list, you should get some great ideas here. It seemed like a great month for some suspenseful mysteries and the opportunity to get some insight into the amazing Emily Dickinson. Whichever book you choose, it’s the perfect time to find a cozy chair and a snuggly blanket and start reading. 

Read Next:

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Sandy’s Selections: New Books to Read in May