There is nothing like the feeling of a propulsive thriller that keeps you up way past your bedtime just compelling you to read even though you know your kid is still going to wake you up early the next morning.
Or the feeling of a carefully crafted mystery unraveling before your eyes or that of your heart pounding in suspense as danger lurks page by page. Or that sharp gasp you let out when the twist comes or you figure out whodunit.
Ah, gosh I just love this genre!
I read from most genres and none can make me stay up far too late reading into the wee hours of the night like a good thriller, mystery or suspense book. There are always SO MANY new thriller books that make it on my list of most anticipated new books list every year.
So let’s talk about the new thriller books coming out in 2025 that have me excited, shall we? Whether you like psychological thrillers or domestic thrillers or even books that border more on mystery or suspense — there is something for all lovers of a good thrill.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links which means that if you click on a link and purchase something I’ve talked about or recommended, I’ll receive a very small percentage of the sale. Please see my disclosure policy for more info.
Mystery & Thriller Books Out In January 2026
The Storm by Rachel Hawkins
Out January 6, 2026
At a glance: an atmospheric gothic suspense thriller
I’ve historically had an off and on relationship with her mysteries/thrillers but at the moment we are in the upswing after The Heiress and this one honestly is giving me vibes that it is going to follow suit.
It’s set around a coastal town that has weathered hurricanes and an infamous murder — a murder being dredged up by true crime author trying to solve the case and the return of the local girl, holding on to her own secrets, accused of the murder and claims to finally be ready to clear her name.
The First Time I Saw Him by Laura Dave
Out January 6, 2026
At a glance: a thrilling cat-and-mouse sequel to The Last Thing He Told Me
Do not pass go — if you haven’t read The Last Thing He Told Me, don’t read this! This is a sequel to that and fleshes out a lot more of the story! The Last Thing He Told Me truly is one of my favorites of the genre so I highly recommend checking that one out.
The Murder At World’s End by Ross Montgomery
Out January 6, 2026
At a glance: a fun, cozy locked room murder mystery; lots of fun amateur sleuthing
This vibe of murder mystery/amateur sleuthing has been my jam for a bit now (Only Murders, The Thursday Night Murder Club, etc.) and this one is a most anticipated mystery of the year for me.
Billed as Knives Out meets Downton Abbey (really speaking my language here!), it features an odd couple pair – an under-butler and a feisty 80 year old matriarch – as they set out to find a murderer amongst them in a Cornwall manor cut off from the rest of the world as Halley’s Comet is set to pass.
The Trip by Audrey J. Cole
Out January 6, 2026
✔ currently on Kindle Unlimited
At a glance: a thriller featuring a deadly reunion of old friends harboring shared history and secrets
A group of old friends take a trip to mend old wounds and honor the life of their friend who they lost tragically many years ago on another trip. Things take a turn when a deadly storm hits the luxury yacht they are on and people start disappearing unearthing dark secrets from the past.
The Briars by Sarah Crouch
Out January 13, 2026
At a glance: more of a literary mystery/thriller with a dash of romance; atmospheric & outdoorsy vibes
Starting anew after a breakup, a young woman takes a job as a game warden in a small Pacific Northwest town and soon finds herself on the hunt for a murderer when the bodies of two young women are found in the wilderness.
You’ll Never Forget Me by Isha Raya
Out January 13, 2026
At a glance: a cat-and-mouse thriller full of morally gray goodness and dark comedic vibes
A cat-and-mouse game between an ambitious actress who has certainly cleared the way for her career (jump-started by inadvertently killing her biggest rival in Hollywood) and the PI hired to put this murderess behind bars.
This looks so fun — ambitious women trying to outsmart one another but also having undeniable chemistry getting in the way??
Anatomy of An Alibi by Ashley Elston
Out January 13, 2026
At a glance: a fast-paced twisty thriller that I couldn’t put down if my life depended on it
I’ve been a fan of Ashley Elston since The Rules For Disappearing (YA mystery) and 10 Blind Dates (the cutest YA holiday rom-com) but First Lie Wins catapulted her even higher in my book. Anatomy of An Alibi cemented that.
I thought my Airpods were going to fuse to my ear with my compulsive listening when it came to this thrilling story about a dead husband and two women who have an airtight alibi — except only one of them can use it without exposing what they did that night when Aubrey became Camilla and Camilla will get the answers both women want. What follows is a very tangled web of secrets, lies and plots of deceit!
It Should Have Been You by Andrea Mara
Out January 13, 2026
At a glance: a domestic thriller where suburban neighborhood drama turns deadly
Sending a message to the wrong person can be mortifying but in this book it becomes downright deadly when a woman sends a gossipy text, meant for her sister, that turns her life and the neighborhood upside down as people wind up dead and secrets are unearthed.
P.S. This author currently has a thriller book adaptation streaming on Peacock — All Her Faults!
Murder Your Darlings by Jenna Blum
Out January 13, 2026
At a glance: a smart psychological thriller meets romantic suspense all set in the literary/publishing world
Jenna Blum’s Those Who Save Us was one of my favorite books I read back in 2009 and is still a historical fiction book that sticks with me all these years later. This looks like quite a departure from that one being a thriller but I am so excited to see what she can do in this genre!
A struggling author thinks she’s found “The One” after a glowing email from a literary superstar turns into something more romantic between the two of them as they begin to connect.
As she gets pulled further into his orbit, she starts to see first-hand the danger that lurks in his life between the many stalkers as well as the unexplained deaths amongst writers in the support group he runs.
All The Little Houses by May Cobb
Out January 20, 2026
At a glance: a juicy thriller with adults behaving badly and wicked social scheming in 1980s Texas
Nobody is doing it better these days for me with the juicy thrillers that are like murder-y Real Housewives/Desperate Housewives vibes than May Cobb. She knows EXACTLY the fun I’m looking for in these type of read.
This one is that vibe but set in the 1980s and is all about a woman who will do whatever it takes to keep herself and her family dynasty on top socially when a family moves to town that threatens the social order of things.
The blurb comped it to the soapy drama Dynasty from 80s and I have not thought about that show in a very long time but made infinitely more excited for that vibe.
Such Sheltered Lives by Alyssa Sheinmel
Out January 20, 2026
At a glance: psychological suspense set at an exclusive, high end rehab center where rich people behave badly and secrets abound
We follow three celebrities, all harboring their own secrets, checking into an exclusive rehab facility that promises anonymity and recovery away from prying eyes and paparazzi. When a body is discovered, these secrets and their lives are threatened.
A Box Full of Darkness by Simone St. James
Out January 20, 2026
At a glance: a more spooky thriller with a bit of supernatural/horror elements (perfect for Fall!)
Even if you don’t love thrillers that lean more into the supernatural, I need you to give Simone St. James a chance! Seriously, I have hooked many a reader on her when I recommend The Sun Down Motel and this one, while a complete standalone, brings us back into the same mysterious town of Fell, NY. (Truly though that and The Broken Girls are top tier reads!).
After their little brother disappeared during a game of hide-and-seek, amongst many strange happenings in town before and after this incident, three siblings fled their home and never looked back.
Not until they are called to return home by the ghost of their missing brother who will lead them to the answers they’ve wanted for so long.
My Husband’s Wife by Alice Feeney
Out January 20, 2026
At a glance: a twisty psychological thriller for people who love domestic suspense that feel like a mind game
Alice Feeney is an auto-buy author for me in this genre and for good reason.
I mean, imagine going for a quick run (ok, I can’t relate lol) and you come home to find out that your key doesn’t work anymore and the woman standing in your door – slightly resembling you- says she lives there and your husband, who is looking at you like a stranger, says that woman is his wife. HELLO?!
Such a Clever Girl by Darby Kane
Out January 20, 2026
At a glance: a domestic thriller surrounding a family who vanished without a trace 15 years ago
I really enjoyed Pretty Little Wife by this author so I’m excited to unravel the mystery in this book surrounding a family who vanished without a trace 15 years ago leaving a mysterious bloodstain and a scene that looks like they otherwise just stepped out.
Rumors have flown all these years but, when the now 30-something daughter of the family sweeps back into town, the prospect of answers riles up the town as well as three women who all hold secrets about the family and that night.
Very Slowly All At Once by Lauren Schott
Out January 20, 2026
At a glance: a domestic thriller about a family who keeps receiving mysterious sums of money that seems like a gift to fix things in their life…until it isn’t
This sounds SO fun: a family starts receiving mysterious checks (assumed to maybe be from an estranged relative) for an increasing amounts of money that seem like an answer to all their problems — that is until their anonymous benefactor comes to collect.
Dead in the Water by John Marrs
Out January 20, 2026
✔ will be included with Kindle Unlimited
At a glance: a dark psychological thriller about a man obsessed for answers to a memory he can’t place as his own and the extreme lengths he’ll go to get them
I prefer John Marr’s more speculative thrillers most of all but I always look forward to a thriller of his no matter what because he always brings something fresh and exciting that leaves me shook.
A man survives a near drowning and can’t quite shake a horrifying memory and a face he saw when his life flashed before his eyes — a memory he doesn’t ever remember happening. Unable to move on from the memory and the dead boy he saw, he becomes obsessed for answers to the point he’ll try to reach the brink of death again.
Dear Debbie by Freida McFadden
Out January 27, 2026
✔ will be included with Kindle Unlimited
At a glance: a twisty “good for her” revenge thriller
I have the most up and down relationship with Miss Frieda but it is undeniable she will keep me on the edge of my seat!
Her latest seems like the brand of “good for her” vibes I enjoy about a woman who has had enough, especially as her own life seems to be coming undone, and decides to get hands on with some vigilante justice instead of just doling out advice to the women who write in to her advice column.
Escape! by Stephen Fishbach
Out January 27, 2026
At a glance: a more literary thriller about a survival-based reality tv show that goes awry written by a beloved Survivor contestant and insider who can really peel back the curtain on reality tv
Probably the most exciting release for me on this list as a long-time Survivor aficionado who counts Stephen Fishbach as one of my favorite Survivor players. If anyone can make a reality tv set thriller come to life vividly, I just know it’s going to be him.
His exciting debut is about a washed up reality tv winner and a disgraced producer who find themselves looking for redemption and more as they embark on a survival-themed reality tv show that goes awry and threatens their actual survival.
Such A Perfect Family by Nalini Singh
Out January 27, 2026
At a glance: the prime suspect with a suspicious past must prove his innocence in a crime against the family he married into
A man becomes the prime suspect in the deaths of his new wealthy in-laws and the attack on his wife and sister-in-law and his the fact his past is littered with women close to him who have mysteriously died doesn’t help inspire anyone to think he is innocent.
While his wife lies in the hospital in a coma, he works to figure out what actually happened and unravels that there may be more to his wife’s family than the perfect facade showed.
Missing Sam by Thrity Umrigar
Out January 27, 2026
At a glance: literary domestic suspense about a missing wife that examines things like race and sexuality in this sociopolitical climate
An Indian-American woman becomes the prime suspect when her wife goes missing after a run in their suburban neighborhood and examines the aftermath and trauma of being accused as she still tries to figure out what happened to her wife.
Mystery & Thriller Books Out In February 2026
Blade by Wendy Walker
Out February 1, 2026
At a glance: a psychological thriller set in the cutthroat world of high level figure skating
After The Favorites last year I am scooping up every book set in the figure skating world!
This one is about a woman who left figure skating after tragedy as a teen but who now is drawn back to her old stomping grounds (and old memories) when her old skating coach is found dead and a young skater is in need of her skills as a defense attorney in the murder.
The Exes by Leodora Darlington
Out February 3, 2026
At a glance: a dark domestic suspense about a woman with a trail of dead exes who desperately hopes this time is different
I love when a book sets off my potential “unreliable narrator” alarm bells off and promises a roller coaster ride of “did she do it or is something else going on here??”
A woman with a failed dating history and a trail of dead exes thinks she finally has found “the one” until it feels like it is slipping away along with her firm grasp on who she is and what actually happened to her exes.
Good Intentions by Marisa Walz
Out February 3, 2026
At a glance: a suspenseful psychological thriller about a woman who becomes obsessed with a fellow grieving stranger
A woman becomes obsessed with a grieving mother she encounters at the hospital the same day her twin sister dies and believes that they were brought together for some bigger reason in their shared tragedy on that day.
It’s Not Her by Mary Kubica
Out February 3, 2026
At a glance: a lakeside family vacation turns deadly
Mary Kubica always seems to deliver for me and I just know this latest psychological thriller from her is going to have me up late as she’s prone to do!
Two family members are found murdered in their cabin and their young teen daughter is missing. As the girl’s aunt tries to make sense of this and find the girl, family secrets are uncovered and the suspects become numerous.
Here Lies All The Boys Who Broke My Heart by Emma Simmerman
Out February 3, 2026
At a glance: a college-set murder mystery about a college senior whose exes start turning up dead
College is for messy romance, studying and bad decisions — not becoming a prime suspect in the murder of a bunch of your exes.
Unfortunately that’s where the main character in this one finds herself when, in her senior year, the exes she eulogized in her diary start turning up dead.
Little One by Olivia Muenter
Out February 3, 2026
At a glance: a more literary suspense about a woman who grew up in cult she desperately wants to keep in the past
A woman’s fresh start is threatened when a digging journalist, who seems to know more than he should, starts asking questions about the cult she grew up in and that was led by her father.
The more he digs, the harder it becomes to keep the past where she buried it and her lingering questions about her sister beg for answers.
Ours is A Tale of Murder by Nora Murphy
Out February 10, 2026
At a glance: domestic suspense unraveling the secrets of three families in a quiet suburb
The lives and secrets of three seemingly unconnected families in a quiet suburb are hurtling toward collision in a tragic way. If you like your jaw to be dropped and the rug to be pulled out from under you, Nora Murphy is for you!
Out of the Loop by Katie Siegel
Out February 10, 2026
At a glance: a woman tries to solve a murder that happened on the day she’s lived out over and over again
I’m a big fan of a good time loop story of any genre but it’s been awhile since it’s been in the mystery/thriller genre and this is a fun twist on it.
A woman is miraculously free of the 2 year time loop she’s been living in only to find out a neighbor was murdered on the day she’s lived hundreds of time. As she gets used to life outside of her time loop, she uses her knowledge of that day to try and solve the murder.
The Better Mother by Jennifer Van Der Kleut
Out February 10, 2026
At a glance: a thriller featuring a co-parenting situation from hell
An expectant mother, the pregnancy a result of a fling, becomes concerned when the girlfriend of her unborn child’s father goes from an alleged helpful interest in co-parenting to something more sinister and obsessed.
Warning Signs by Tracy Sierra
Out February 10, 2026
At a glance: a wintry survival thriller
You know I love a good wintry thriller that becomes a fight for survival from the elements and things that may be lurking. Pair that with a new-to-me author who recently wowed me (hello, Nightwatching!)? It’s a must-read for me.
A backcountry father/son ski trip, a trip meant to wine and dine investors, has a young boy sensing danger and knowing he will have to put his survival skills to the test– from the elements, a potential creature stalking them and the men on the trip themselves.
The Midnight Taxi by Yosha Gunasekera
Out February 10, 2026
At a glance: a locked room whodunnit about a murder that took place in the back of a taxi
A Sri-Lankan taxi driver becomes the obvious prime suspect when a man is murdered in the back of her taxi on a night drive to the airport. Needing to clear her name, with the help of a friend, the woman uses her true crime knowledge to figure out how this nearly impossible crime could happen.
Adrift by Will Dean
Out February 17, 2026
At a glance: a dark, claustrophobic domestic suspense about a family living under the controlling thumb of the patriarch
This one sounds heavy but nail-biting as it is about a family who is living under the control of the patriarch on a remote canal boat where he dictates every part of their life and has been pulling them further and further from anyone else. As they try to survive and make plans for the future, the family descends even further into darkness and toxicity.
A Sociopath’s Guide To A Successful Marriage by MK Oliver
Out February 17, 2026
At a glance: a dark humor driven crime novel about a reformed sociopath who will do whatever for her family’s success and well-being
If you love reading about a good anti-heroine, this might be a good one to pick up. It’s about an ambitious wife and mother whose dark little secret of being a bit of a sociopath and murderer could get in the way of the picture perfect life and family she is trying to achieve.
I’m Not The Only Murderer in My Retirement Home by Fergus Craig
Out February 17, 2026
At a glance: a cozy mystery about a former serial killer who must prove her innocence when bodies pile up at her retirement home
Carol is finally out of prison and ready to enjoy her golden years at her luxury retirement home and ready to leave her serial killer past behind. However, when a murder in her new home leads people to find out about her past she must clear her name and find the real killer.
Her Last Breath by Taylor Adams
Out February 17, 2026
At a glance: a TRULY claustrophobic cat-and-mouse thriller about a cave exploration adventure gone wrong
I often think of No Exit from Taylor Adams and I’m ready to be taken for a ride with a new one from him!
Get ready to feel claustrophobic as you read about a woman who finally agrees to go on a cave exploration trip with her friend that turns into a fight for survival and an untangling of secrets as a detective parses what happened from the survivor.
The New Neighbors by Claire Douglas
Out February 17, 2026
At a glance: a neighborhood thriller about a woman who is convinced her neighbors are going to commit a crime
A woman overhears a conversation between her upstanding 60-something neighbors and, despite those around her claiming it was a case of mishearing, is convinced they are planning a crime and starts to nose around for answers.
Finders Keepers by Natalie Barelli
Out February 24, 2026
At a glance: thriller about a woman who tries to get close to the author who somehow published a book containing her dark past and secrets
I really hope this one delivers because it sounds so good!
Very cat and mouse vibes about an author who is befriended by a woman who is trying to figure out how the author’s published book contains her actual dark past and secrets in it and prevent her biggest secret from ever being revealed.
* Previously self-published and you can read this on Kindle Unlimited for free right now!
Pinky Swear by Danielle Girard
Out February 24, 2026
At a glance: a domestic thriller about a woman’s search for her friend who agreed to be her surrogate but disappears right before the due date
Childhood best friends Lexi and Mara drifted apart after a high school tragedy and Lexi is surprised when Mara shows up all these years later fleeing from a bad situation. She takes her in and the two share closeness once again — especially when they make the decision that Mara will become her surrogate.
It’s a dream come true to become a mother until Mara disappears right before the due date and, in her search to find her friend and unborn child, she starts to wonder how well she really knew her friend at al.
Then He Was Gone by Isabel Booth
Out February 24, 2026
At a glance: a thriller about a couple’s search for their missing child
At the end of a family hike, a couple allows their two boys to run a bit ahead to meet them at the car. Expecting both boys to be there they are in for a shock when only one of their sons is there while the other one went to the restroom and never came back.
The terrified parents, with the local authorities, investigate both scary possibilities — their son is lost in this National Forest or he was kidnapped by whoever was driving the truck their son saw around the time his brother went to the restroom.
She Thought She Was Safe by Terri Parlato
Out February 24, 2026
At a glance: a domestic thriller about a tight-knit community with secrets
A woman connects with her estranged famous father and accepts his invitation to stay at his secluded lakeside community in hopes of building a relationship with him and work on her novel after a tough period in her life.
Her hopes of a fresh start are dashed when a neighbor turns up dead and things turn ominous as she discovers the history and secrets of this community.
Blood Relay by Devon Mihesuah
Out February 24, 2026
At a glance: a mystery about an Indigenous detective investigating a woman’s disappearance and threats to her reservation
Perry, a Choctaw Detective, and her partner Sophia are investigating the disappearance of a beloved woman and athlete which leads them on a path filled with other abductions of Indigenous women and a very chilling threat to her reservation that puts her own life and family at jeopardy the more she follows the lead.
How to Get Away With Murder by Rebecca Philipson
Out February 24, 2026
At a glance: a police procedural about a detective’s race to find the author of a manual for murder
When a teenager is found murdered in a London park and the only lead is the “how to get away with murder” manual found at the scene, a detective sets out to find the author – self-proclaimed most successful serial killer of all time – of the book while trying to solve the latest murder that seems inspired by it.
Reasons To Lie by Emily Listfield
Out February 24, 2026
✔ will be included with Kindle Unlimited
At a glance: a student is murdered on a school trip and plenty in the school community have things to hide
Three very different moms with students at the same elite private school have built an unexpected friendship — until tragedy strikes and a student is murdered on a school trip. It seems everyone – including the women – has something to hide in the school community and the relationships of these women starts to crack as everyone attempts to do what they need to protect their own.
Mystery & Thriller Books Out In March 2026
The Secret Lives of Murderers’ Wives by Elizabeth Arnott
Out March 3, 2026
At a glance: three wives of convicted killers band together to stop a serial killer
This one looks really interesting as it is set in the 1960s and is about three housewives who bond over the fact that their husbands’ were serial killers and they had no idea. They band together when it appears a new serial killer is on the loose.
Gives some crime vibes but semi character driven as these women have an unusual shared experience that we learn more about.
The Primrose Murder Society by Stacy Hackney
Out March 3, 2026
At a glance: a Southern cozy mystery with Only Murders In the Building vibes
A mother and daughter move for a fresh start into a historical apartment building and find themselves caught up in two murder investigations — a 21 year old murder of a resident’s daughter with a large sum for whoever can solve it and a new murder that just happened in the building that the mom is a prime suspect of.
Turn off the Light by Jacquie Walters
Out March 3, 2026
At a glance: a mystery thriller with horror elements + two timelines hundreds of years apart
This one has two timelines, present and one in the 1600s, tied together by a house.
A woman comes home to her childhood home to be by her dying father’s side and strange things in the house happen -and to the others in the house with her- which starts freaking her out.
The house also used to be the home of a healer living in the 1600s as she finds herself dealing with her own darkness making itself known in the house.
Strangers in the Villa by Robyn Harding
Out March 3, 2026
⭐ A PPT Most Anticipated Pick ⭐
At a glance: a psychological thriller about a marriage on the rocks & unexpected houseguests with secrets of their own
A couple, whose marriage is rocked by infidelity, moves to a secluded villa in Spain to work on repairing their marriage.
Two travelers in-need show up and they extend an invitation for them to stay with them. The arrangement is nice for a bit but secrets and hidden motives start to unravel everything.
Judge Stone by Viola Davis & James Patterson
Out March 9, 2026
At a glance: a courtroom drama/legal thriller set in the South
I’m not normally a James Patterson reader BUT I do love Viola Davis and a good courtroom drama every once in a while. It’s about a woman who is a very respected Black, Southern judge and is about to tackle her most controversial case yet.
A Lie for A Lie by Ren DeStefano
Out March 9, 2026
At a glance: a game of cat-and-mouse about a housewife with a secret life as a vigilante
Margaux, a housewife with a double life, has her next assignment from her mysterious employer and this time the crimes she will be helping to expose are that of a mysterious and potentially dangerous tech billionaire.
As she tries to infiltrate her target, she realizes she has met her match in someone who sees through her act and line between predator/prey starts to blur.
This Story Might Save Your Life by Tiffany Crum
Out March 10, 2026
⭐ A PPT Most Anticipated Pick ⭐
At a glance: domestic suspense about the disappearance one member of a podcasting duo
BFFs Benny and Joy have co-hosted a successful podcast for years and they’ve recently made a deal that will bring even more success.
But when Joy and her husband goes missing, the night after cryptically telling Benny she needs a break, Benny soon finds himself the prime suspect and it will become clear both of the duo were keeping secrets.
How To Survive in the Woods by Kat Rosenfield
Out March 10, 2026
At a glance: a psychological cat-and-mouse thriller with a wilderness, survival edge
Two women hatch a plan to help one of them get out from underneath her abusive husband, who the other woman used to date, and set out to enact that plan — a plan which will take place on the unforgiving final stretch of the Appalachian Trail where accidents are known to happen.
However….not everything goes to plan.
The Plans I Have For You by Lai Sanders
Out March 17, 2026
⭐ A PPT Most Anticipated Pick ⭐
At a glance: psychological suspense/revenge thriller about a viral moment that ruins a woman’s life
A viral video ruins a woman’s life and costs her everything. At her lowest, a woman who understands what she is going through comes into her life with a plan to enact revenge for those who were involved and reinvent her life. But there’s more to her newfound partner-in-revenge than she even knew.
Missing by E.A. Jackson
Out March 17, 2026
At a glance: a crime thriller that is the first in a new procedural series and great for fans of Tana French
It’s about a Scotland Yard detective who finds herself revisiting a 30 year old case – that never sat well with her despite its resolution – when a person involved in that case is found dead on a park bench.
You Did Nothing Wrong by CG Drews
Out March 17, 2026
At a glance: psychological suspense laced with a bit of horror and examination of motherhood and marriage
The comps of this one really drew me in saying “for fans of The Push and Baby Teeth.”
Once a single mother, Elodie is now living a new life with her new husband, son and baby on the way and they are making their home together by renovating his crumbling family home.
Nevermind the secrets this new little family have been hiding and things get more tense when her son starts saying strange things about the house. Is it the house or is something wrong with her son?
Hard Times by Jeff Boyd
Out March 17, 2026
At a glance: a gritty crime novel set in South Side Chicago
A high school English teacher, dedicated to his students and community, finds himself caught between the kids he cares so much about and family when a shooting happens involving his brother-in-law – a corrupt cop – and one of his students.
The Survivor by Andrew Reid
Out March 24 2026
At a glance: a thriller about an anonymous killer hijacking a subway train & blackmailing a man on it to follow his orders
After being fired on his first day at a new job, things get worse when Ben finds himself on the subway receiving texts from an anonymous killer who, somehow knowing his deepest and darkest secret, is going to continue killing people from the subway if he doesn’t listen to his orders and demands.
Outside on the streets, a recently demoted NYPD detective is investigating a murder that took place and will continue her investigation on the subway.
Sorry For Your Loss by Georgia McVeigh
Out March 31, 2026
At a glance: a psychological thriller about two deceptive widows in a dangerous cat-and-mouse game
When Iris and Jack meet at a grief support group, whose spouses both died on the same day, the pull between them is electric.
For Iris, the obsession comes on fast and she will do anything to make this man fall in love with her — a man who might just be as deceptive and secretive as she is.
Killing Me Softly by Sandie Jones
Out March 31, 2026
At a glance: a domestic thriller following the implosion of “the perfect couple” after a shocking accident
A shocking accident pits the epitome of “perfect power couple” against one another and erodes their trust completely. They work to rebuild their life but their wariness and desire to point the first turns into a deadly cat-and-mouse game.
Mystery & Thriller Books Out In April 2026
The Counting Game by Sinéad Nolan
Out April 7, 2026
At a glance: atmospheric Irish suspense about a missing teen in the 90s; for fans of Tana French & Liz Moore
A teenage girl goes missing after going into the eerie woods of local lore and the only witness – her little brother – refuses to speak. As they enlist a psychotherapist to get him to talk, it unravels dark family secrets and everybody is a suspect.
The Summer House Murder by Ava Roberts
Out April 7, 2026
At a glance: a twisty domestic thriller about three sisters with secrets
On their annual summer trip to their lake house, the tensions and secrets of three sisters spill over when a woman’s body turns up in the lake. Twisty, full of family drama and perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty!
Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke
Out April 7, 2026
At a glance: a tradwife influencer wakes up in the actual reality of the persona she puts online
A tradwife influencer, whose life is a life for her audience, wakes up in what appears to be the 1800s where real life on the farm isn’t the idealized version of yesteryear that she peddled online. She has no idea how she has gotten here – is it even real? or a prank? – but she knows she needs to escape.
The Ending Writes Itself by Evelyn Clarke
Out April 7, 2026
⭐ PPT Most Anticipated Pick
At a glance: a locked room mystery with a satirical insider look at the publishing industry
This is Victoria Schwab’s mystery novel with Cat Clarke and I couldn’t be more excited for this one! It is part satirical exploration of the publishing industry and part locked room thriller.
Six struggling authors are brought to an isolated island for a writing retreat only to find out that the host, a famous author, is dead and now they have to compete to finish his final manuscript for the opportunity of a lifetime — an opportunity that somebody might kill for.
The Girls Trip by Ally Condie
Out April 7, 2026
At a glance: a girls trip goes wrong
Three women – all at a crossroads in their life – decide to take their friendship from online to offline with a girls trip but one will not return.
We Would Never Tell by Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau
Out April 14, 2026
At a glance: character-driven suspense set amidst the glitz, glamour and ruthless ambition of Cannes Film Festival
Set amidst the glitz and glamour of the French Riviera and Cannes Film Festival, three desperate women are clamoring for to be at the center of it all instead of on the periphery.
The star-studded event gets thrown into chaos when a million-dollar necklace is missing and a body washes up and the suspect list is long.
The Insomniacs by Allison Winn Scotch
Out April 14, 2026
At a glance: strangers turned friends try to unravel the mystery into the disappearance of one of their own
A group of insomniacs turned friends and regulars at an all-night dinner find themselves wrapped up in a mystery when one of them disappears out of the blue.
A suspenseful mystery but also a story of friendship/found family!
Too Close To Home by Seraphina Nova Glass
Out April 14, 2026
At a glance: a fast-paced neighborhood thriller set at an idyllic lakefront community harboring secrets
The perfect facade of an idyllic, affluent neighborhood is shattered and tensions that have been bubbling under the surface for a while are exposed — all starting when a car explodes but doesn’t kill the person it was clearly meant for.
When a resident then goes missing and there is another bomb threat, the main character and her neighbors try to figure out if the first incident is related to these.
Secrets are uncovered but things really take a turn when she swears she sees her husband — a man who died two years ago.
Would I Lie To You? by Nicole Blades
Out April 21, 2026
At a glance: a fun suburban spy/heist novel a la Finlay Donovan
An experienced high-stakes thief/burglar is ready to retire from her life of covert international crime and be the normal suburban mom everyone thinks she is.
When she’s given her next assignment, she vows it is her last with the deeply covert crime syndicate she works for.
The assignment? Stealing classified code that her unsuspecting husband is developing for the new job they just moved to the town of Partridge Hall for — a town that also isn’t what it seems.
Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth
Out April 21, 2026
⭐ PPT Most Anticipated Pick
At a glance: a domestic thriller about an old woman who has an unusual hidden past/history that is now coming to light
I’ve really enjoyed every Sally Hepworth I’ve read and this one sounds FASCINATING.
It’s about an 80 year old woman who has a past she’s worked hard to conceal and a history of people in her life meeting a foul end every since she was a young girl.
Everything she’s kept hidden starts to come to light after she finds one of her elderly neighbors dead and, now that people know some of her secrets and suspect her in the death, she’s ready to tell her story.
The Plunge by Lila Raicek
Out April 21, 2026
At a glance: a seductive, slow-burn literary thriller for fans of more psychological suspense & tension
A grieving young woman finds herself, after reconnecting with a magnetic man she used to know, pulled into an intoxicating and intense love triangle and world.
Buoyed by this escape, it then sends her reeling and unsure of who to trust when an investigative journalist threatens to expose a secret she’s held tight from her past.
Boring Asian Female by Canwen Xu
Out April 28, 2026
At a glance: campus thriller about a woman’s psychological spiral after not getting a spot at law school
This one is about a woman’s downward psychological spiral after not getting into Harvard Law School after feeling like she did everything right and the fixation she begins to have on the student she feels “stole” her spot.
A Murder Most Camp by Nicolas DiDomizio
Out April 28, 2026
At a glance: a fun murder mystery with a summer camp setting
A spoiled nepo baby, being punished for his latest shenanigans, is forced to work at a struggling summer camp where he stumbles upon a bit of a murder mystery that he takes upon himself to solve in order to prove he’s a good person and get his inheritance back.
Redbelly Crossing by Candice Fox
Out April 28, 2026
At a glance: an Australian-set police procedural featuring a dysfunctional family
Two estranged brothers from a fractured family are both assigned to the case investigating a young journalist who has been murdered and, as secrets are uncovered, are even more at odds when one is trying to cover up what the other is trying to unearth.
Everything Has Happened by T. Greenwood
Out April 28, 2026
⭐ PPT Most Anticipated Pick
At a glance: equal parts mystery and family drama about a missing child from decades before
It’s been four decades since Edie’s brother went missing and the case has gone cold — until a call comes into the dormant tip-line, from the only person named as a suspect all those years ago, that could reveal a break in the case. Everything from that summer comes rushing back to Edie as the case reopens – including the lie she told and the secret she kept.
Dark Is When The Devil Comes by Daisy Pearce
Out April 28, 2026
At a glance: an eerie thriller blended with folk horror
Sisters Hazel and Cathy have been estranged for years but now that Hazel has come home they have made plans to have lunch and reconnect. Except Hazel never shows up and Cathy begins to think something has happened to her — especially with the unsettling whispers and rumors about the surrounding woods.
The Hotel Guest by Rosemary Hennigan
Out April 28, 2026
At a glance: slow burn psychological suspense set in the French Alps
A woman receives an invitation to come back to the exclusive hotel she worked at for a summer in the French Alps a decade ago — a hotel she fled that became the home of her biggest, darkest secret.
She heads back, despite the fact she thought she’d never encounter the hotel or the group of mysterious guests from that summer, and finds out that the group needs her help to stop her former lover from publishing a book that contains their shared secrets from that summer.
Mystery & Thriller Books Out In May 2026
The Fine Art of Lying by Alexandra Andrews
Out May 5, 2026
⭐ A PPT Most Anticipated Pick
At a glance: a murder-y mystery set amidst the elite art world and the upper 1% of NYC
I absolutely LOVED Who is Maud Dixon? by this author and I’m excited to dive into this mystery of a young wife and mother who gets the chance to chase her dreams again within the art world, after feeling like a lost outsider in her husband’s world, but ends up at the center of a murder mystery and a stolen piece of art.
Five by Ilona Bannister
Out May 5, 2026
At a glance: five strangers waiting on a train platform and one will die by the time the train rolls in
This one seems super unique in how it is told considering that, as we learn about the five strangers waiting at the platform and it slowly reveals who won’t survive, the narration breaks the fourth wall pulling us into a little cat and mouse game.
The Library After Dark by Ande Pliego
Out May 5, 2026
At a glance: a locked room thriller set in an alleged haunted library
I love a good locked room thriller and the fact that it is set in an alleged haunted library that sounds really cool with its genre-immersive themed reading rooms? Yes please.
Things go awry on tour and a group – including the MC who has a dark secret related to this place – get stuck in the library and must find their way out and try to stay alive when the group learns a killer is in their midst!
Dissection of a Murder by Jo Murray
Out May 5, 2026
At a glance: a twisty legal thriller that pits a wife against her husband in the courtroom
I love a good courtroom drama/legal thriller but I am admittedly very picky when it comes to reading them and this one sounds phenomenal and twisty.
A woman’s first murder case ends up being a wildly high-profile case defending a man, who has asked for her only to represent him, on trial for the murder of a beloved judge and the opposing counsel is the most ruthless lawyer she knows — her own husband.
Caller Unknown by Gillian McAllister
Out May 5, 2026
At a glance: the lengths a mom would go to save her teenage daughter
Despite my up-and-down relationship with this author’s books, this premise sounds so fun!
A woman’s daughter goes missing and she finds out that the ransom isn’t about money but about committing a crime for them in order to get her daughter back. And obviously she’d do anything to get her daughter back setting off a wild ride!
The Kindness of Strangers by Emma Garman
Out May 12, 2026
At a glance: a murder mystery set in a post WW2 London
A stranger’s unexpected arrival at a boarding house, brimming with its inhabitants secrets and lies, sets something deadly in motion as the house guests suspect something isn’t quite right with the new arrival and his story.
Voted Most Likely To Murder by Lacey Moone
Out May 12, 2026
At a glance: a cozy murder mystery set at a high school reunion
A high school reunion turns deadly when the class jock is found dead and two friends-turned-enemies must put their differences aside to clear one of them as the prime suspect and catch the real murderer.
This Town Won’t Tell by Rhodi Hawk
Out May 12, 2026
At a glance: a small-town crime thriller featuring a neurodivergent mom
A single mother ,whose only goal is to give her daughter more than she had, finds herself in over her head when she is blackmailed by the local crime boss and must do whatever she can to keep herself and her daughter safe.
The Anniversary by Alex Finlay
Out May 12, 2026
⭐ A PPT Most Anticipated Pick
At a glance: the lives of two teenagers are forever intertwined by a serial killer who strikes small Midwestern towns every May 1
I feel like Alex Finlay is an auto-buy for me these days and he writes such captivating serial killer mysteries/thrillers especially when he sets them in the nostalgia of the 90s.
The serial killer in this one terrorizes small, midwestern towns every May 1st and on that night in 1992 one teen survives his attack and the other is arrested that night when breaking up a fight goes wrong and will find his world has changed when he is released months later to his mother’s unsolved murder.
Throughout the next decade on May 1, the two will reckon with that night and the mysteries that must be solved as they inch closer toward one another and to the identity of the May Day killer.
Murder Like Clockwork by Nicola Whyte
Out May 12, 2026
At a glance: a cozy murder mystery featuring the characters from 10 Marchfield Square
I loved 10 Marchfield Square last year and thought it was perfect for my Only Murders in the Building loving heart! Excited to return to these characters and the new murder mystery to be solved.
The One Day You Were My Husband by Rosie Walsh
Out May 19, 2026
⭐ A PPT Most Anticipated Pick
At a glance: an emotional mystery about a woman who find out the truth about the day her first husband got taken from her on their wedding day
Rosie Walsh’s books are always that delicate balance between mystery, love story and the character’s growth journey because of those two things.
In this one a woman is shocked when her new husband is taken on their wedding day by federal agents and even more shocked to find out, twelve years later after she’s moved on, that he actually escaped that night leading her to answers for what really happened that night that changed her trajectory.
Rachel West and the Fallen Starlet by Emma Mills
Out May 19, 2026
At a glance: a 2000s-set murder mystery about an aspiring entertainment reporter who doesn’t believe the gossip mill about the death of a former child star and tabloid favorite
I adored Emma Mills’ YA romances back years ago and I’m excited for her adult debut especially seeing that it is a sleuthy 2000s celebrity gossip-fueled murder mystery that is the first in a series.
It’s about an aspiring celebrity gossip reporter who, with a quirky ragtag group, must find out who actually murdered a former child star she recently befriended when the celebrity gossip mill assumes relapse but she doesn’t believe that to be true.
Artifacts by Natalie Lemle
Out May 19, 2026
At a glance: a literary thriller featuring stolen artifacts and organized crime
A woman is forced to think about the Italian summer where her dreams of being an archeologist shattered when now, working as a lawyer, she’s asked to assist on a case of a stolen artifact tied to that summer long ago.
It Happened One Murder by Liz Lawson
Out May 26, 2026
At a glance: a blend of mystery and romance set in a small Jersey beach town
After being fired from her dream job at a magazine, Harriet never thought she’d be back in her small town nor did she think her birthday party would end with a dead body and a chance to get her old job back by writing about it.
But completing the assignment will mean working together with an old fling she’d rather forget who happens to be the brother of the biggest suspect and is set on proving her innocence.
The Case Study by Nicole Lundrigan
Out May 26, 2026
At a glance: a cat-and-mouse psychological thriller between a psychiatric patient and her doctor’s wife
The secrets of a psychiatric patient and the wife of her doctor collide when the infamous case study is being republished and the curiosity about each other, now that patient and doctor have reconnected, builds between the two women.
The Last Book Club by Joanne Rock
Out May 26, 2026
At a glance: a book club groups murder mystery night turns deadly
A woman joins a book club not for lively book discussion but with the aim of figuring out who among the group, rife with motivations and secrets, killed her foster sister after she left a meeting at this very same book club and was the victim of a hit-and-run. And what better time to uncover a killer than the group’s murder mystery night!
Night Objects by Eli Raphael
Out May 26, 2026
At a glance: a suspenseful murder mystery and coming of age story set at an elite Pacific Northwest boarding school
After tragedy strikes, a grieving teen is sent to an elite boarding school and finds herself in the orbit of the school’s secret society and smack dab in the middle of a murder investigation as ill choices and secrets spin out of control.
The Final Target by Nora Roberts
Out May 26, 2026
At a glance: a romantic suspense about an author who is stalked by an obsessed fan
What seemed at first as an enthusiastic fan turned into a scary stalking situation for an author after her debut novel. Determined to reclaim and rebuild her life, she heads to a tiny Oregon town while his obsession only continues to grow.
I hope this list of best new thrillers was helpful for you to find some good thriller books to read! What recent thriller books have you been reading and loving? What upcoming new thriller books are you anticipating?
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rissa says
Some of these are not in my radar, added them to my tbr list. Thanks!
Bruce says
Your blog on the most anticipated new thrillers, suspense, and mystery books is a treasure trove for suspense enthusiasts. Your insightful curation has me eagerly anticipating my next gripping read. A must-follow for any thriller lover!