If you’re an existing Amazon Prime member, did you know you already have access to Prime Reading? Whether you’re a confessed bookworm or just like to read on your morning commute, Prime Reading offers unlimited access to a selection of over one thousand e-books, audiobooks, magazines, and comic books to keep you entertained. You’ll find bestsellers from popular publishing houses alongside literary classics from authors like Jane Austen — and the best bit is that all the books are free for Prime members. You also get one free pre-release book per month from a selection of editors’ picks, allowing you to read some great books before everyone else.
You can read on the Kindle Paperwhite or Oasis — or just download the Kindle app for iOS and Android to start reading for free.
Don’t have Amazon Prime? We’ve also rounded up some of the best free Kindle books — with something to suit all tastes. There’s quite a lot to choose from in the Prime Reading catalog, so we’ve selected some of the best free Kindle books on Amazon Prime from a range of genres, including mystery, action, romance, and more.
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Action and adventure
Straight Shot by Jack Lively
When Ex-Special Forces operative Tom Keeler passes through the town of Alencourt, France, he’s just minding his own business. But then someone tries to kill him. They picked the wrong guy, and as this case of mistaken identity unfolds, Tom finds there’s no one he can trust, not even the police. Nobody, that is, except for Cecile Nazari. Somebody murderous is preying on the weak — but they’ll didn’t count on a guy like Keeler. This is the first in the Tom Keeler series and you can also pick up the second book, though it’s not on Prime Reading.
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The Asset: American Assassin by Saul Herzog
Lance Spector quits the CIA, and this time he swears he’s out for good. Then a vial in a titanium case arrives at the CIA headquarters. The note reads, “I will only speak to Lance Spector.” This action-packed spy thriller is the author’s debut and the first of the Lance Spector series, which features five books in all. It’s a twisting, turning read that’s best devoured in one sitting.
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Pandemic (The Extinction Files Book 1) by A.G. Riddle
Fans of The Atlantis Gene will love Pandemic — a thriller about a global pandemic that takes place in Alaska, Atlanta, Kenya, and Berlin. Following the stories of Dr. Peyton Shaw, the CDC’s leading epidemiologist, and Desmond Hughes, a man who wakes up in a hotel room in Berlin with no idea who he is, or why there’s the body of a dead security guard from a pharmaceutical company on the floor — Pandemic takes an inside look at the WHO and CDC response to a global pandemic. Together, they must unravel the conspiracy behind the outbreak and unearth secrets some want to be kept hidden.
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Mystery, thriller, and suspense
The Moonlight Child by Karen McQuestion
Sharon Lemke heads outside one cold January evening to see the lunar eclipse. But she spots something strange in the window of the house across her backyard: a little girl washing dishes. The Flemings don’t have a child of that age. Sharon could just let it go, but when eighteen-year-old Niki, a former foster child, moves in, she also notices something odd going on at the Flemings’ house. Social services don’t seem interested, so the pair decide to investigate themselves …
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The Wife Upstairs by Freida McFadden
Victoria Barnett has it all: a great career, a loving husband, and a beautiful home. But when an accident leaves her paralyzed and unable to speak, she finds herself confined to the upstairs of her home, receiving 24-hour care. When Sylvia Robinson starts work as Victoria’s carer, she realizes that Victoria isn’t quite as impaired as she’s been told — and that she has an important story to tell, though she can’t get out the words. Then Sylvia finds Victoria’s diary … This gripping psychological thriller is almost impossible to put down once you start reading, and it’s inspired by classics like Rebecca and Jane Eyre.
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Every Last Secret by A.R. Torre
What happens when the desire for a perfect life goes too far? Cat Winthorpe has worked hard to get where she is today: a woman of social standing, with a gorgeous house and handsome, successful husband, William. When new neighbors move in next door, Cat welcomes them cautiously, but with hospitality. It turns out that Neena Ryder doesn’t share Cat’s luck in the husband department. No lady of leisure, she’s a hard-working life coach looking to move up in the world — and she wants the one thing she doesn’t have but Cat does: William. And once she’s befriended Cat, it’s time to eliminate the obstacles in her way to get what she wants. Billed as “Mean Girls for grown-ups” by Kirkus Reviews, this really is a twisted little thriller that will keep you thinking long after you turn the last page.
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The Best of Friends by Lucinda Berry
Do you really know your friends? That’s what The Best of Friends sets out to discover when the teenage sons of best friends Lindsey, Dani, and Kendra are involved in an accident: one left in a coma, one dead, and one too traumatized to speak. As the mothers investigate this incident, they realize they didn’t know their children as well as they thought they did — which leaves them wondering, how well do they know each other? As more secrets come to light, the danger of living double lives does too. Emotionally explosive, dark, and gritty, this is an unputdownable thriller.
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History and politics
Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup
Whether you’ve seen the 2013 movie of the same name or not, Twelve Years a Slave is a must-read. The 1853 memoir and slave narrative of Solomon Northup, a free-born African American who was kidnapped by slave traders, is a moving, vital account of forcible enslavement — and it should be on everyone’s bookshelf. If you haven’t already seen the movie, we’d definitely recommend reading the book first.
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A Girl Called Renee by Ruth Uzrad
This is the coming-of-age tale of a teenage girl in Berlin whose life is upended by the Nazi regime. Forced to go on the run with her two younger sisters, 13-year-old Ruth heads to Belgium and on to France, later taking on a false identity and joining the Jewish underground movement. This story of determination and hope is at times uplifting, at times harrowing, but ultimately the tale of good triumphing over evil.
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American Guerrilla by Mike Guardia
This is the true story of the forgotten heroics of young army captain Russell Volckmann, who escaped from Bataan into the North Luzon jungle and raised an army of over 22,000 Filipino men to fight a guerrilla war against the Japanese. That war killed over 50,000 enemy soldiers, and Volckmann’s leadership was critical to the outcome of the war in the Philippines. Despite being absent from almost every book on the topic — including biographies of General Douglas MacArthur — Volckmann is considered the true “Father” of Army Special Forces. This is his thrilling story.
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Biographies and memoirs
If You Tell by Gregg Olsson
This true crime story by New York Times bestselling author Greg Olssen tells the tale of three sisters who underwent unimaginable abuse and torture in their farmhouse in Raymond, Washington, at the hands of their mother. It’s a bleak tale of absolute evil but there’s a light at the end of the tunnel — showing us the unbreakable bond of sisterhood. It’s a harrowing read, but one that will stick with you.
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Travels with Rachel: In Search of South America by George Mahood
If a far-flung holiday this year seems like the stuff of dreams, George Mahood’s Travels with Rachel will satisfy your wanderlust. George and Rachel take off on a trip to the wilds of Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia for their honeymoon, with just small backpacks and a basic grasp of Spanish. Along the way they trek the Amazon rainforest, fish for piranhas, climb volcanoes, and much, much more. This hilarious and informative book is a great pick for fans of Bill Bryson.
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The Sky Below by Scott Parazynski
The Sky Below is the fascinating story of Scott Parazynski’s 17-year NASA career. As a child he always dreamed of one day donning a spacesuit and floating outside the airlock. During his career he trains in Russia to become a cosmonaut, flies on five missions to outer space, and takes seven spacewalks. This is the story of all these challenges — and of the challenges he faces in his life on earth.
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Classic literature
Dracula by Bram Stoker
If you’ve never read Bram Stoker’s Dracula — or if you have, but it was a long time ago — there’s no time like the present to dive in. This legendary tale of the infamous vampire count of Transylvania has been the subject of many books, films, and plays, but there’s nothing like the original Gothic tale to keep you up at night. At 554 pages, this should keep you busy for some time.
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Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island is a classic for a reason, and it’s one many of us have seen at the movies as children. Colorful parrots, desert islands, pirates — they’re all within the pages of this adventurous novel, which tells the story of young Jim Hawkins and his quest to find buried treasure. If you’ve never read Treasure Island, put this on the top of your Prime Reading list.
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The Lost World by Arthur Conan Doyle
You probably know Sir Arthur Conan Doyle best for his famous detective, Sherlock Holmes, but did you know he also wrote The Lost World? Conan Doyle introduces us to Professor George E. Challenger, a big man with an ego that’s even bigger, and his expedition to a plateau in the Amazon basin where dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals still exist. Published in 1912, it’s just as thrilling a read today as it was back then.
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Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
Wuthering Heights is Emily Bronte’s only novel — but what a novel. Following the story of a passionate, jealous love affair between Catherine Earnshaw and the mysterious, brooding Heathcliff, it was a highly controversial novel at the time of its publication in 1847. Today it’s one of the most enduring works of the Bronte sisters, and has been adapted into countless TV shows and movies, but the original book is still something you should read.
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Historical fiction
One for the Blackbird, One for the Crow by Olivia Hawker
Wyoming, 1876, the middle of a harsh winter — the setting for Olivia Hawker’s American frontier tale, a powerful story of two families doing their best to survive and thrive in remote conditions. Following his wife’s betrayal with their neighbor, Ernest Bemis’ jealous rage leads to the man’s murder, and he’s sent off to prison as a result. Meanwhile, the two families come together in his absence, raising their children and working the land. But when love blossoms between their children, their relationship is once again tested. Can they trust each other, or will they lose everything? With vividly crafted descriptions of Wyoming, well-developed characters, and a slow-burning plot, this is a book to curl up with as the night draws in.
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A Splendid Ruin by Megan Chance
An opulent mansion, dark family secrets, and the loss of a parent, set against the backdrop of the 1906 San Francisco earthquakes. Megan Chance’s A Splendid Ruin tells the story of May Kimble, who finds herself welcomed into the wealthy Sullivan family after an aunt she never knew existed contacts her following her mother’s death. But dark secrets haunt the Sullivan mansion, and as May begins to realize she may be in danger of losing everything — even her freedom — earthquakes strike the city. May takes the chance to reclaim what’s rightfully hers, but will she seek vengeance on those who have taken everything from her?
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Under a Gilded Moon by Joy Jordan-Lake
If you like your historical novels meticulously researched, you’ll love Under a Gilded Moon. Set against the imposing backdrop of Biltmore House in North Carolina, the home of the Vanderbilts, the novel tells the story of Kerry MacGregor, a student at college in NYC who’s suddenly called home to be with family in the Appalachian Mountains. But the Vanderbilts want the land owned by Kerry’s family to complete their estate, and Kerry soon finds herself caught in a war between rich and poor.
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Golden Poppies by Laila Ibrahim
This inspiring tale is set in 1894 and tells the story of two women who appear at first to have little in common: Jordan, a middle-aged black teacher living in segregated Chicago, and Sadie, the white wife of a German businessman, living in Oakland, California. But these women soon find out their mothers shared a close bond on a plantation in Virginia back when Jordan’s mother was a slave and Sadie’s mother the daughter of the plantation owner. This book is about two women who discover they’re connected by the past and decide to fight for a brighter future.
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Science fiction and fantasy
The Enigma Cube by Douglas E. Richards
Fans of NY Times bestseller Douglas E. Richards will love The Enigma Cube, which is packed with mind-blowing science and unexpected twists. Dr. Kelly Connolly is part of a team of researchers studying The Enigma Cube, an alien object with incomprehensible power. For years nobody has been able to unlock its secret — but all that changes on one fateful day when Connolly finds herself fighting to stay alive. It turns out, the Enigma Cube is more dangerous than anybody ever realized.
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A Girl From Nowhere by James Maxwell
The first in the Firewall trilogy, A Girl From Nowhere is the epic tale of Taimin, a crippled boy living with his aunt in the wasteland. When his home is ransacked and his aunt killed, he sets out on a revenge mission. But he meets Selena, a mystic who convinces him to join her in a search for the fabled white city, where Taimin hopes his childhood injury may be able to be healed. But will the white city really offer the salvation the pair seek?
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Nomad by Matthew Mather
A free book on Amazon Prime Reading is a great way to get into a new series — like Nomad, which is the first in The New Earth Series (there are four books in total so far). Currently in development as a film, Nomad sees humanity given days to prepare after astronomer Ben Rollins is dragged out of bed by NASA and told something massive is headed for earth. They’re calling it “Nomad”. The planet could be destroyed — and Ben’s wife and daughter are trapped in Europe. Can he save them before Nomad swallows the planet?
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The Sword of Kaigen by M. L. Wang
This epic Japanese-inspired military fantasy is the companion book to M. L. Wang’s Theonite trilogy. Feature ice and wind magic, thrilling duels, martial arts lore, and sci-fi, it’s a must for fans of The Last Airbender and it’s hard to put down. At 651 pages, you’ll need to set aside quite a bit of reading time to get through this one.
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Romance
Where the Forest Meets the Stars by Glendy Vanderah
Joanna Teale has been through difficult times — first, she lost her mother, then she battled breast cancer. Now, she’s ready to get back to her graduate research and throws herself into her work from dusk until dawn. One day, she’s disturbed when a mysterious child shows up at her cabin, with no shoes, covered in bruises. Ursa claims to have been sent from the stars to witness five miracles. Jo agrees she can stay with her, and together with her neighbor, Gabriel sets out to unravel the mystery surrounding the girl. But is Ursa really who she claims to be? As the final miracle approaches and the past catches up with her, some painful secrets will be revealed.
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Layla by Colleen Hoover
Leeds and Layla fall in love at first sight and plan to be together forever, until Layla is left fighting for life after a shocking attack. Following weeks in hospital, she makes a full physical recovery, but emotionally she isn’t the woman he fell for. So he whisks her away to the bed and breakfast where they first met, in the hopes of rekindling their romance. When she starts to behave strangely, and bizarre things happen, he turns to fellow guest Willow for solace and soon finds himself drawn into her problems, helping her out. But he can’t help both women and quickly realizes it’s time to make a choice …
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The Strange Journey of Alice Pendelbury by Marc Levy
Originally published in French, there’s something of an Amelie-vibe to Marc Levy’s The Strange Journey of Alice Pendelbury: quirky, charming, and irresistible. Alice has everything in her life in order, just the way she wants it. But it’s been a strange week. Her belligerent neighbor has suddenly become amiable and chatty, encouraging her to take her fortune teller’s advice and head off in a trip to Turkey to meet the most important person in her life, and even offering to fund the trip. It’s while on this trip Alice discovers her entire life as she knows it is a lie, that nothing in her past is true, and that the six people she’s about to meet will change her life forever …
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Comics and graphic novels
Batman: Year One
Batman fans should check out Year One, written by Frank Miller, author of The Dark Knight Returns. Published in 1986, this reinterpretation of Batman’s origins includes the complete graphic novel, an illustrated afterword by artist David Mazzucchelli, and a foreword by Frank Miller — along with over 40 pages of developmental material that’s never been seen before, including sample script pages and character sketches.
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The Essential Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson
Calvin and Hobbes need no introduction, and whether you’re a long-time fan of Bill Watterson’s colorful characters or new to this brilliant comic strip, this is sure to delight. It’s worth noting that this can only be viewed on color tablets, not on your desktop PC or black and white e-reader, but don’t let that deter you. Following the imaginative adventures of Calvin and his tiger, Hobbes, this collection brings together the first two Calvin and Hobbes collections, Calvin and Hobbes and Something Under the Bed Is Drooling, as well as an original, full-color, 16-page story.
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Self-help
13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do by Amy Morin
We all know the importance of physical exercise to keep our bodies strong, but what about our minds? Psychotherapist Amy Morin created a list of 13 things mentally strong people don’t do that was picked up by Forbes.com and went viral. In this book she expands on those things, helping readers break bad habits — like resenting others’ achievements and indulging in self-pity — and looking at how we can increase our mental strength.
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Dare: The New Way to End Anxiety and Stop Panic Attacks Fast by Barry McDonagh
If anxiety and panic attacks are troubling you, Barry McDonagh’s book is the one to get. McDonagh created the Dare technique after more than a decade of helping people with anxiety, and it can be used by people of all ages and from all backgrounds. This book is a step-by-step guide to help you end anxious thoughts, stop panic attacks, face situations you’ve been avoiding — whether that’s driving on the busy highway or standing in a grocery store queue — boost your confidence, and even sleep better. The book comes with a free smartphone app and four audio tracks designed to give you quick anxiety relief.
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The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey
This year, we’re more into wellness than ever before, so no list of books is complete without a couple of self-help titles. Captivating readers for over 25 years, Stephen R. Covey’s book is just as relevant and popular today as it was when it was first published. Its easy-to-understand infographic format helps you to be more effective and successful, guiding you through each habit step by step, from Habit 1: Be Proactive to Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw. This inspiring, insightful book can help you broaden your way of thinking, improve your problem-solving abilities, and help you to be more successful in both your business and personal life. If you’re just getting back to work after lockdown or want to make the most of 2021, this is definitely a book you should read.
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Editors’ Recommendations
