8 New Debut Novels from Breakthrough Literary Talents

Not only entertaining but enlightening as well, THE WITCHING TIDE explores the nuances of the witch trials in mid-17th century England through the harrowing story of a mute woman, Martha Hallybread, who is forced to betray her friends who have been accused of practicing the supposedly evil craft. Helping the witch hunter himself, Martha finds that her silence is both a blessing and a curse—she couldn’t possibly be considered a witch if she’s turning others in, and yet feels terrible for not standing up for what she believes is right. This debut novel by Margaret Meyer is sure to be a mainstay because even though it focuses on fictionalized tales from centuries past, it tackles modern-day themes and issues like the prevalence of oppressive patriarchy.

In 1870s Philadelphia, Dr. Lydia Weston finds herself in a difficult predicament: a local handmaid who was a patient of hers, Anna, is found dead in a river, and she must help the detectives solve the case despite all the roadblocks in the way. Anna’s employers, the wealthy and nonchalant Mr. and Mrs. Curtis, don’t seem to care that their servant has passed, and other forces begin meddling with Lydia’s work—both on the case and in her clinic—as many people are not too happy that a woman is taking on such work. In fact, Lydia develops an unfortunate rivalry with a chauvinistic male physician who undermines every step she takes in pursuit of justice. Historical yet topical, MURDER BY DEGREES is a medical thriller mystery that will have you waiting in anticipation both for the truth to come out and for this exciting debut.

David is a curious man who doesn’t know what to think when he hears his senator declare the start of his presidential campaign. David knows he wants to be on this project—after all, his senator could become the United States’s first Black president and being a part of that journey would be a dream come true in his own political career—but he recognizes that there are many difficulties that lie ahead. What he didn’t expect was to be questioning everything he felt about life as his worldview expands more and more. What does it mean to be a young Black man in a country that works overtime to subvert every step you make towards your goals? And can anything really be done to overcome the oppressive foundations America was founded on? Sometimes, there is a certain harm to having too many great expectations.

Flor, Matilde, Pastora, and Camila are as close as sisters can be, so when Flor refuses to tell them why she wants to host a living wake, everyone in the family is concerned. It’s because Flor’s secret gift is widely known: she can predict exactly when someone will die. Though they would like to invest their time into what Flor is up to, the other sisters all have their own clandestine powers and problems as well, so unity is difficult for them to forge. Alternating between many different points of view across several periods of time tracing back the family’s history, FAMILY LORE is a curiously magical story about the complexities of family that also celebrates Latin American culture. While this technically isn’t Elizabeth Acevedo’s debut novel, this is her transition into adult novels after a career of establishing herself as a poet and young adult novelist, and her history of literary prowess definitely shows!

Who are these women in the book title, you may ask? Well, Alice is an aspiring actress who has accepted a respectable theatrical role in a Shakespearean playhouse; Sadie is Alice’s best friend since childhood who unfortunately cannot come watch her opening performance and begs her mother to go in her place; and Celine is said mother, a tenured gender & sexuality professor at UC Berkeley, who goes to Alice’s show and finds herself falling in love with her daughter’s best friend. It’s messy, it’s awkward, but it’s also endearing, emotional, and raw. This sapphic love story is an utterly unique testament to both motherhood and sisterhood, as well as the consequences of boundaries between relationships blurring unexpectedly.

Transitioning away from his long-standing career as a comedian, Cedric “The Entertainer” Kyles has debuted his new novel, FLIPPING BOXCARS, which is a fresh take on the Great Depression and World War II through a racial justice lens. Babe is a Black veteran, a devoted husband and father, and a dreamer. He dreams of stability, financial freedom, and a safe life for his family, and he’s willing to commit crimes just to achieve that—especially after a derailing loss playing cards at the local casino. He knows he needs a high-reward plan, even if that means taking an equally high risk. Executing a multi-layered boxcar train robbery is no easy task, but when the plan alerts the attention of the feds, it seems that Babe’s family is truly in danger now. Charming and exciting, FLIPPING BOXCARS is hopefully the first of many novels to come by Cedric “The Entertainer”!

This is a book like no other. I’M A FAN is a contemplative look into what it means to be a lost millennial woman navigating all the complexities of adulthood and unsatisfying relationships. It reflects the thoughts of an unnamed narrator—a woman in her thirties who struggles with being alone, living with regrets, and facing microaggressions as a person of color. She elicits a unique combination of pity and sympathy from readers who may disagree with some of her problematic actions or but also understand the taxing circumstances she’s been put under. After all, isn’t that what adulthood is like?

After a meet-cute gone awry, Gary doesn’t know what to do. All he wanted was to have a conversation with the cute girl at the bar reading a book called The Clementine Complex but just as he stepped away to order another drink she disappeared, leaving the novel behind. Turns out, not only did she disappear from the bar, but she is actually declared missing according to the police who turn up at Gary’s door the next morning. He was the last person seen with her and is the owner of the book she had been reading, making him look very suspicious. The only thing he can do now is track her down to prove his innocence! Equal parts crime novel and odd love story, THE CLEMENTINE COMPLEX is certainly complex—especially as Bob Mortimer injects his signature surrealist humor into the mix, transitioning from his long-standing career as a comedian to novelist.