“Book Birthdays” is the term used for a book’s release day and have you ever noticed all new books are released on Tuesdays? Why not Monday? Good question and there are various reasons which can all be found here.

So today is Tuesday, and in honor of today’s “book birthdays,” I’m going to mention a few new books released during the month of May. My goal is to have a list of notable “book birthday” titles every Tuesday but until I can figure out exactly what I’m doing, this will do for the time being.

As usual, links on titles will take you to either my review on GoodReads or the title entry.

Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware. Today is the release day for this terrific psychological suspense novel that will keep you glued to your sofa. It is very reminiscent of my beloved gothic novels but with an updated twist. I’ve enjoyed Ware’s other novels, Woman in Cabin 10 and In a Dark, Dark Wood, but I think this was her best. Reserve it quick as holds at the library are building fast.

Another good psychological suspense thriller released during May was The Perfect Mother by Aimee Molloy. This is perfect reading for a warm afternoon on the patio.

Circe by Madeline Miller is based on the mythic Circe, the sorceress who turned Odysseus’s men into swine, and it is receiving a terrific response from readers. I haven’t dipped into it but I loved Miller’s previous book, The Song of Achilles.

For more literary fare, Sarah Winman’s Tin Man was stunningly written and is a perfect choice for book groups.

Michael Koryta is not very well known but librarian friends adore him and his books are a good bet for those who like Karin Slaughter and Dean Koontz. His newest book is How It Happened, but give his earlier books a try. They can easily be found on library shelves.

For nonfiction fans, Damnation Island by Stacy Horn is about the early days of New York’s Roosevelt Island and anyone who is drawn to anything about “asylums” will want to grab this one. My library copy is ready for me to pick up and I can’t wait.

Another intriguing nonfiction book I heard about today is The Feather Thief by Kirk W. Johnson. It was published in April and appears to be a good book for anyone who likes a good narrative nonfiction title such as The Orchid Thief by Susan Orlean or The Lost City of Z by David Grann.

Happy Reading!