Sometimes it can be hard to find a good book to read, especially if you like clean literature with no profanity or other mature content. Besides my own books, I would like to recommend these following stories you may not have heard of yet. Most of these books were just released within the last 4 months.
1. Such an Odd Word to Use by Carl Goodwin
This book was released in October 2025 and is a good read for people who enjoy a slow burning, psychological mystery. It is about a man in the UK named Mark. Since moving to his new home, he starts to feel monitored by others. He notices a bunch of little nothings, too little to report the authorities for help, but too much to be ignored or dismissed as mere coincidence. This story kept my interest and the end was somewhat satisfying. I like mysteries that feature no violence or murder and this story is definitely one of them.
2. A Promise In the Oak by JP Elliot
This book was released in November 2025 and is a nice, cozy mystery. The protagonist’s name is Elior, a craftsman whose job is restoring things. In his line of work, he comes across an old mantelpiece in a house of an older widow. The mantle place was built by her late husband, who was a master craftsman. It is in need of repair, but what kind? He has two choices; give it the repair that his employer wants and that would satisfy the inspector, but would scar the masterpiece forever. The second choice is to search for the unique piece of wood hidden in the house that would give the mantelpiece the true repair it needs, but would also be time consuming, possibly unfruitful, and would jeopardize his relationship with his employer and the job that he loves. This story is well written, wholesome, and heartwarming. In my opinion, we need more stories like these.
3. The Bakery Key: An Audrey Lockwood Mystery by Vivian Monroe
This book was released very recently, on January 6th 2026. It is the first book of a new series. The protagonist is a college girl, Audrey Lockwood, who is new to the area and the school. She just moved into the apartment above a bakery named Hearth and Crust. By coincidence, she discovers two related things, an old key and that one of the workers there didn’t report for work. This is a nice story that shows us that curiosity, when used correctly, can be a good motivator. It also reminds us of the need to value others and their opinions. A very nice, clean read and I plan to read the other books in the series after they are released.
4. A Moggy for Michael (Lost Pet Chronicles) by John Keane
This book was released on Amazon in December of 2025. It is a short story that I thoroughly enjoyed. A boy named Mike lost his pet Sam, a cat his mother gave him just before she died. The pet detective who gets contacted by him now goes on a search for the missing cat and meets an eccentric older lady that proves to be more help than ever expected. I highly recommend reading this book, especially if you like stories with tragedy, recovery, and endearing characters.
5. The Chase of the Golden Meteorite by Jules Verne
This novel is the oldest book in this article and was published almost 120 years ago. It is a lesser known book by Jules Verne and personally my favorite. Two amateur astronomers in 19th century Virginia both spot a golden meteorite in the sky. That discovery soon sparks interests all around the world, especially when it starts to descend to the earth. The two astronomers, who at one time were good friends, become terrible rivals and the nations of the world begin to claim ownership of the golden meteorite. This is a humorous and interesting read for those who like clean novels, works of Jules Verne, and soft science fiction.
Keep Reading!
To the serious reader, a good book is worth the search. I hope my recommendations make the search a little easier. Of course, if you are looking for new, clean stories to read with endearing characters and interesting storylines, you don’t need to look any further. Just click on the books tab on this website to see a list of all of my books. Each one of them are wholesome and free of any mature content. Please subscribe to my newsletter to keep up to date with new releases and receive bonus content. Thanks for reading and I hope this is helpful.