Upcoming Crime Novels by Writers of Color: July to September 2025
July 2025 is shaping up to be an exciting month for crime fiction enthusiasts, with several highly-anticipated releases hitting the shelves. From the gripping psychological thriller "The Girl in Cell A" by Vaseem Khan, to the tantalizing "A Pretender's Murder" by Christopher Huang, and the intriguing workplace satire and murder mystery "In Deadly Company" by L.S. Stratton, there's no shortage of suspenseful stories to keep readers on the edge of their seats.
Meanwhile, in the world of education, the issue of full-time librarian staffing in major urban school districts continues to be a topic of concern. Urban districts such as Philadelphia, Los Angeles, New York, Houston, and Chicago have seen their library staffing levels significantly reduced over the years. In Philadelphia, for instance, the number of full-time librarians dropped from 176 in 1991 to just three in 2025, despite the city's schools serving a diverse student body.
Despite the lack of detailed data on current staffing levels, it is clear that urban districts recognize the importance of full-time professional librarians as essential contributors to academic success and equitable access to resources. Boston Public Schools and New York City Public Schools, for example, have strategic plans and professional development programmes aimed at sustaining and improving library services. However, the specifics about full-time staffing levels are less detailed in the available data.
The focus remains on maintaining or increasing access to staffed libraries to support diverse student needs. Advocacy groups like #ALibrarianInEverySchool continue to push for every school to have a full-time librarian, underscoring the importance of a librarian's insight and the human touch of an engaged librarian who wants to make a perfect book match for a student. An algorithm can't replace that.
As the summer unfolds, crime fiction readers will be engrossed in the twists and turns of their favourite novels, while educators and advocates continue their fight for adequate library staffing in urban schools, particularly those with high percentages of students of colour.
In the world of crime fiction, the stakes are high, but in the world of education, the stakes are even higher. The future of our students depends on it.
Elsewhere in the crime fiction world, the sole Asian American partner at a prestigious law firm finds herself on trial for murder in "Hollow Spaces" by Victor Suthammanont, while private investigator Vandy Myrick grapples with the grief of losing her daughter and the return of her ex-husband, who later turns up murdered in "Death of an Ex" by Delia Pitts. In "Savvy Summers and the Sweet Potato Crimes" by Sandra Jackson-Opoku, 75-year-old neighbourhood womanizer Grandy Jaspers meets his untimely end at Essie's soul food café. And in "Icing on the Murder" by Valerie Burns, Maddie's potential wedding planner meets a tragic end.
In the Mexicali borderlands, "Salt Bones" by Jennifer Givhan retells the ancient Greek myth of Persephone and Demeter, while "The Case of the Mad Doctor" by P.D. Lennon offers a new take on the classic crime fiction genre, set to be published on July 10, 2025, by Canelo Adventure.
As the summer heats up, so does the excitement for these new releases. Whether you're a crime fiction aficionado or an advocate for education, there's something for everyone this summer.
- The lack of full-time professional librarians in major urban schools is as pressing an issue as the gripping plot twists found in the latest crime fiction releases, both aiming to lead students towards success and enthrall readers respectively.
- As crime fiction buffs look forward to immersive narratives and suspenseful mysteries this summer, advocates for education push for equitable access to resources, such as well-staffed libraries, ensuring a brighter future for our students.
