Stephanie Spear 
From kids’ books to YA to thrillers, Northern Virginia authors have something for nearly every kind of reader this summer. Northern Virginia-based authors and those who are inspired by our area have books that will make just the right addition to your beach bag. Read on for new + upcoming 2026 books with Northern Virginia connections to add to your TBR.
Northern Virginia Authors
Donna Andrews, Probable Caws
Reston author Donna Andrews is back with Probable Caws, the 39th installment in her award-winning Meg Langslow mystery series. The book is scheduled for August 4th, making this a very local cozy-mystery pick for readers who love a long-running series with plenty of charm.
David Baldacci, Hope Rises
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Hope Rises is the second installment in David Baldacci’s Walter Nash series. The story moves between Northern Virginia and global locations, including Myanmar and Hong Kong, following Nash after he infiltrates a global criminal empire and is pulled into a relentless path of revenge.
Melanie McCabe, Road Longer Than Memory
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Road Longer Than Memory is about as local a story as it gets. Melanie McCabe’s debut novel is set in Arlington during the 1970s and 1980s, with the construction of Interstate 66 serving as part of the story’s backdrop. Melanie is a lifelong Virginian who taught high school English and creative writing in Arlington for 22 years.
Zach Powers, The Migraine Diaries
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Arlington-based Zach Powers released The Migraine Diaries in April 2026 with JackLeg Press. The novel is described by the author as a story centered on “mind, memory and loss,” and is written through the protagonist’s journal.
Elana Rubinstein, The Big Hatch
The Big Hatch is a middle-grade novel expected in August 2026 featuring dinosaurs, pink sparkles, and friendship. This is her seventh book.
Jennifer Ryan, The Queen’s Coronation
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The Queen’s Coronation comes from Northern Virginia’s Jennifer Ryan, the bestselling author of The Chilbury Ladies’ Choir. The historical fiction novel follows three women working around Queen Elizabeth II’s 1953 coronation.
Read more: Fairfax County’s Independent Bookstores
Debra Kempf Shumaker, Sunday Scaries
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Parents, teachers, and anyone who has ever felt that Sunday-night pit in their stomach will appreciate this one. Sunday Scaries, out August 4th, is a children’s picture book about anxiety before the week ahead, with playful tools for tackling those feelings. Author Debra Kempf Shumaker lives in Northern Virginia with her family.
Sharon Virts, Masque of Honor + Bargains of Faith
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Loudoun County-based author Sharon Virts brings Virginia history, political intrigue, romance, and betrayal to the page with Masque of Honor and Bargains of Faith. Masque of Honor is set in antebellum Virginia and is based on the true events behind the 1819 Mason–McCarty duel.
Northern Virginia Settings
Trish McGarrahan, The Art of Redemption
The Art of Redemption is the second book in the Kate Barrow suspense series. The series has Northern Virginia roots: Kate Barrow, a contracts administrator at a defense giant who moves back home, and the next installment brings her into a contract tied to the U.S. Army Reserve’s Heritage and Preservation Officers.
See more: The Majestic Reopens in Alexandria: What to Know About the Historic King Street Restaurant
Patmeena Sabit, Good People
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Good People is set in Northern Virginia and follows the Sharaf family, Afghan refugees whose picture-perfect American dream begins to unravel after the suspicious death of their eldest daughter, Zorah. The novel has been described as both a mystery and a layered look at immigrant identity, family, reputation, and community judgment.
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