Sara Heritage is a tech and gaming journalist, who’s currently making her way up to Master Ball rank in Pokemon Champions. Bylines in IGN, GAMINGbible, The Gamer and more. You can usually find her tinkering with tech, or restoring old consoles, always with one of her 3 cats nearby. Come and talk with her over on Twitter @SHeritageJourno.
It’s the start of August, which means your Prime membership has unlocked a fresh batch of free reads. Amazon’s First Reads program gives Prime members one free Kindle book and a bonus short read every single month. Non-Prime members can still grab them for $1.99 each. Once you download them, they are yours to keep forever!
Here’s what’s on offer this month
I’ve checked them all out, and cross-referenced the ratings to help you pick
We’ve been spoiled for choice this month — there are eight books you can pick from, and a bonus free short story.
- The Black Orchid by Loreth Anne White: A masterclass in psychological thriller writing. Reddit threads heavily recommend this one if you love twisty, high-stakes suspense that hooks you from chapter one. 4 stars.
- In the Killer’s Sight by Mike Omer: A gripping police procedural featuring sharp pacing and great investigative depth. It sits near the top of community ratings for crime fiction fans this month. 4 stars.
- Philippa Flynn’s Year of Panic and Piracy by Jacqueline Firkins: A witty, engaging piece of book club fiction exploring chaotic life transitions with plenty of heart. 5 stars.
- The Last Harbinger by Jeff Wheeler: An epic fantasy choice that fans on forums praise for its immersive world-building. 5 stars.
- The Summer Between Us by Jennifer Probst: A warm, emotional contemporary romance about family dynamics and second chances. 4 stars.
- I’ve Got a New Complaint by Laurie Notaro: A sharply humorous essay collection for anyone who needs a good laugh. Not rated.
- The Getaway by Kieran Scott: A fast-paced suspense story that makes for a great weekend page-turner. 4.6 stars, pre-order.
- Dreams of Earth and Sky by Shirley Perez West: A sweeping historical fiction pick rich in period detail. Unrated.
- The Spider Silk Scarf by Ana Reyes: A neat little bonus short story that serves as a quick, atmospheric bite. (Short story)
- Screen
-
7 inches
- Storage
-
32GB
- Weight
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7.5 oz
- Dimensions
-
5” x 7” x 0.3”
Which one did I pick?
I’m a big fan of crime thrillers.
I went straight for The Last Harbinger by Jeff Wheeler – 4 5 star reviews is good enough for me, and I love thrillers. If you like dark, psychological suspense that keeps you guessing until the final pages, you should check it out. If you don’t like it, it’s free! Nothing lost.
How to claim your books
You’ve got until the end of the month to claim your free ebook
I always grab mine on the first of the month, so I don’t forget. Here’s how to claim your First Reads free books for August.
- Sign in to your Amazon account with an active Prime membership on your browser or app.
- Search for “First Reads” and click through to the dedicated page (or click on the link there!)
- Browse the lineup and select your main Kindle book and bonus short read by clicking “Buy for $0.00”.
- The titles will drop straight into your Kindle library, ready for any device or the mobile app.
Don’t forget to pick up your free ebook if you’re an Amazon Prime user! Let me know which one you ended up picking in the comments.