2026 & 2027 Upcoming Releases
Spoiler-free ARC reviews of the most anticipated thriller and mystery releases.
4 days
Silent Night
Natasha Boydell
The snow falls softly, a pristine blanket over the charming Cotswolds village in White Hollow7. Ava arrives, a surprise Christmas visit to mend years of distance with her mother. But the picture-perfect cottage is dark, silent. Her mother is gone.
Everyone, including the handsome local antiques dealer, Rory, shrugs it off as an unexpected holiday. But Ava feels a prickle of dread. This isn't like her mother. And then she finds it: her mother's secret obsession with the unsolved disappearance of a little girl, decades ago.
As the village church bells toll and the snow deepens, Ava senses a presence. She's not alone in the house. This isn't a festive reunion. This Christmas, the silence isn't peaceful; it's terrifying.
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an advanced copy of this title.
Natasha Boydell sets a quiet, mysterious mood in Silent Night. The story is told entirely from Ava’s point of view in the present tense, with short chapters. Ava is an easy character to root for, which helps anchor things as the book leans into its slow-burn pacing. The writing is great, and while the measured plot requires a little patience, the lingering sense of the unknown held my attention from start to finish.
The main twist lands well and delivers a satisfying payoff. Alongside that, a side mystery plays out and ends with a genuine shocker though I didn’t not like how that secondary plot wraps up. Instead of threading those details naturally throughout the story, the answers get dumped on the reader in the final few chapters. I wish there had been a bit more discussion about it earlier so the conclusion felt earned rather than rushed at the end.
If you like slow-burn tension and present-tense mysteries, then you will enjoy this book.
#NetGalley #SilentNight
6 days
One Of The Family
Mark Edwards
A luxurious Scottish getaway in Applecross turns into a deadly trap when Patrick joins his girlfriend’s wealthy, dysfunctional family for a vacation. The tension centers on Charles, the self-made millionaire patriarch, and his new, much younger fiancée, Jasmine—who bears a haunting resemblance to his late wife. Terrified of losing their inheritance, Charles's adult children are secretly plotting her demise. Caught in a web of greed and resentment, Patrick becomes an accidental witness to a murder scheme. Surrounded by a family of vipers, he must figure out how to survive a vacation where not everyone is meant to make it home.
Mark Edwards delivers a gripping thriller with One of the Family. From the very first chapter, the story pulled me in and refused to let go.
The narrative is told primarily from Patrick’s point of view, with a few brief but highly effective flashbacks that add layers to the unfolding drama. What makes this book so compelling is how easy it is to sympathize with Patrick. He finds himself abruptly caught up in a completely crazy situation, and as the tension escalates, he is forced to navigate a nightmare where every potential way out seems like a genuinely bad option.
Edwards masterfully balances a heavy dose of mystery and intrigue with a relentlessly fast pace. Just when you think you have a handle on the dynamics at play, the story delivers some fantastic surprise twists that completely shift the ground beneath you. It's a suspenseful, emotionally engaging read that puts its protagonist through the wringer and keeps you guessing until the end. This book is a must read for anyone who loves lots of tension, drama and twists you don't see coming! #NetGalley #OneOfTheFamily
20 days
That Night
Gillian McAllister
A European getaway turns into a nightmare when Frannie is involved in a fatal hit-and-run. Panicked, she summons her siblings to the scene—not to call the authorities, but to help her dispose of the body. They agree to a pact of silence to protect their sister, but the cover-up proves more dangerous than the crime itself. As the police investigation heats up, the pressure fractures their family loyalty, forcing them to question what actually happened that night and who is going to break first.
If you are looking for a thriller that will completely consume your attention, That Night by Gillian McAllister is it.
The book is structured with short chapters, multiple POVs, and multiple timelines, which keeps the pace moving quickly; I could not stop turning pages.
McAllister does a brilliant job of sprinkling little mysteries throughout the narrative. Just when you think you have a handle on the situation, a new layer of intrigue is revealed, making it impossible to put down.
Beyond the plot, the emotional stakes are incredibly high. It was so easy to sympathize with Frannie, Cathy, and Joe. The central theme really hit home: most of us have that person (or persons) we would do absolutely anything for, regardless of the cost. Watching these characters navigate that moral grey area made the story feel grounded and terrifyingly realistic.
I highly recommend this book for fans of fast-paced, morally complex thrillers!
#ThatNight #NetGalley
21 days
The Girlfriend’s Secret
Daniel Hurst
My son thinks she’s perfect. I know she’s here to destroy me.
From the moment Haven arrived, a shiver of dread traced its way down my spine. Her sun-kissed hair, her radiant smile – she was too perfect for my gentle son, Joel. I tried to make her leave, to shield my family from her unsettling charm. But Haven is smarter than I gave her credit for. Now, she’s not just in our lives; she’s living under our roof, slowly, meticulously, worming her way into every corner of my home, every heart in my family.
I see it in her eyes. A glint of something cold, something knowing, when she looks at me. She smiles as if she holds the key to my deepest fears. She knows my darkest secret. My heart pounds with the chilling certainty that this woman is not here for my son. She’s here for me.
How far will a mother go to protect her family when the threat is already inside?
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy of this title.
The Girlfriend’s Secret kept me engaged with a steady stream of mystery, suspicion, and unanswered questions. The story is told mostly from Liane’s perspective in the present, with a few chapters from Haven and Scott that add just enough extra context to keep the mystery unfolding without giving too much away.
The short chapters, multiple POVs, and steady pacing kept the story moving. What worked best for me was the mystery itself, which kept me invested more than the characters did.
There were enough twists and red herrings to keep me guessing, even if a few of those distractions weren’t fully explained in a satisfying way by the end. The one that stood out most was Haven’s relationship with Calvin, which felt intentionally mysterious throughout but was left a little too vague for my liking. I would have liked a bit more depth there. The final reveal also wasn’t particularly shocking or unique, but I don’t think every thriller needs a shocking ending to be enjoyable.
Overall, this was an entertaining psychological thriller that delivered what I was looking for: an engaging mystery with plenty of suspense. If you’re looking for a good thriller and don’t need a shocking ending to enjoy the ride, this one is worth picking up.
If you like family secrets, red herrings, and psychological suspense, then you will enjoy this book.
#NetGalley #TheGirlfriendSecret
27 days
Heart Of Glass
Jennifer Hillier
Twenty-five years ago in Seaside, Washington, three teenage best friends crossed paths with a charming drifter at the Wonderland amusement park. Tragically, days later, one of the girls, Lorelei, was found murdered in a nearby cranberry bog. The surviving friends, Barb and Nicolette, were horrified to discover the drifter was the notorious Carnival Killer.
Following his arrest for the murders of five young women, the survivors went their separate ways to distance themselves from the trauma. Nicolette chased fame in the city, while Barb remained in Seaside to become a local journalist.
They thought the nightmare was finally over. But on the eve of Wonderland's grand reopening, the killer retracts his confession—and a fresh body washes ashore. Now, the dark secrets Barb and Nicolette have spent decades trying to bury are rapidly surfacing, jeopardizing everything they’ve built.
WOW! This was my very first book by Jennifer Hillier, and I am officially a massive fan. Heart of Glass feels less like reading a book and more like an immersive experience—it pulls you so deeply into the story that you feel like you are part of the plot. It is rare for me to become this emotionally invested in a book, but I found myself deeply attached to the entire cast. I felt incredibly strong emotions—both good and bad—toward every single character as the events unfolded.
The story is told through various POVs, which adds incredible depth. While there is a surprisingly large cast of characters, they are introduced slowly, making it easy to keep track of everyone. The short chapters keep the pacing fast, and the secrets are peeled back layer by layer, keeping the suspense high the entire time. This book is a must-read for anyone who loves a great story with depth that will have them feeling all the emotions!
#HeartOfGlass #NetGalley
27 days
The Silent Appeal
Janice Hallett
Welcome back to the theatrical world of Lower Lockwood! Sarah-Jane and Kevin MacDonald are co-chairing the Fairway Players this season, taking on Agatha Christie’s The Hollow. But as always, the real drama is happening off-book. First, Nicky-Rose—Sarah-Jane’s sister—has mysteriously vanished from her life in Barbados, ditching her cruise ship business to move back into their mother's house.
Then there's the casting headache. The troupe is desperate for male actors until newcomer Fran Elroy-Jones brings in a married couple and a cousin. Still, nobody wants the dreaded role of Gerda, leaving the directors with no choice but to invite back an old, over-eager member just to get the play off the ground. Tensions inevitably snap. After a disastrous opening night, it's up to intrepid lawyers Femi and Charlotte to dissect the fallout and discover if the person taking the blame is actually the one at fault.
It was wonderful to reunite with the Fairway Players in The Silent Appeal. I absolutely love Janice Hallett’s unique writing style, and jumping back into this familiar, mixed-media format was a treat. The fact that Sarah-Jane's sister, Nicky-Rose, appears out of the blue and becomes so important to the group added an exciting level of mystery and intrigue right from the start. Plus, the surprise return of a previous Fairway Player was a great twist - that was the moment I knew things were going to get wonderfully wacky!
However, I felt this installment wasn't quite as strong as her previous books. The correspondence and summaries sent from Femi and Charlotte to Roderick were very redundant, often bogging down the pacing. There is also a massive cast of characters to keep track of, and I found it difficult to remember everyone's roles at times, even with the handy character list at the beginning of the book. Surprisingly, the main murder ended up being overshadowed by the other events and interpersonal dramas unfolding at the same time.
I really enjoyed this book even though the ending felt a bit crammed with information. Hallett’s signature format is engaging, and seeing the theater troupe back in action was a lot of fun. If you love a good mystery, this book is well worth the read.
34 days
The House Swap
Keri Beevis
Desperate for a quiet escape, I arranged a home swap with Tom—a man I thought I knew—and fled to his secluded villa in Crete alongside my best friend, Keira. It was supposed to be a sanctuary of winter sun and silent, empty beaches. At last, room to breathe.
Then Keira vanishes without a word.
Suddenly, paradise feels like a trap. The neighbors watch me with unearned familiarity. The handyman lingers in the shadows. Doors I secured swing open, and objects subtly shift when I’m not looking. I try to blame exhaustion and stress, but the mounting dread is impossible to ignore.
Isolated and questioning my own sanity, one terrifying truth remains: I am a long way from home, and I need to escape before the trap snaps shut.
The House Swap throws you straight into the deep end, told almost entirely from Poppy’s perspective in the present day. The story moves at a fast pace, broken up into medium-sized chapters. The setting adds a heavy layer of tension. Poppy is staying in a gigantic villa in Greece, and that sheer size and isolation really amplifies her paranoia. I spent a large amount of the book trying to decide if she was losing her mind or if there was a calculated conspiracy against her. I could not figure out the truth until the final pieces fell into place.
The twist is a good one. It caught me off guard and shifted the narrative in a way that made all the previous anxiety feel justified. My only real gripe is the final stretch. After such a suspenseful ride, the ending felt a little too abrupt. The fates of certain characters were just settled in a few rushed lines, rather than giving them a proper wrap-up or even leaving things intentionally ambiguous. Still, the psychological manipulation and that striking Greek setting kept me hooked.
If you like isolated foreign settings, intense paranoia, and surprising twists, then you will enjoy this book.
48 days
Xavier Bradshaw: Ghostwriter
W.M. Lessman
Two decades after a string of brutal, unsolved murders haunted Livingston, Alberta, the nightmare has returned. A city councilor is discovered crucified in a local church, and a young woman’s body is left abandoned by the river. Investigative reporter Xavier Bradshaw and his new partner, Jessi, plunge into these macabre echoes of the past—only to find the evidence pointing squarely at Xavier himself.
With the local police eager to close the case and lock him away, Xavier races to uncover the truth. His prime suspect? His own mentor, a renowned horror author whose obsession with the killings borders on the sinister. Time is running out, and if Xavier doesn't unmask the true killer soon, his final byline might be his own obituary.
W.M. Lessman brings a refreshing dynamic to the investigative protagonist with his character Xavier Bradshaw. As an ex-cop turned reporter, Xavier operates with the sharp mind of a detective but without the red tape of law enforcement. He isn't much of a rogue wildcard yet, but staying grounded makes him a solid anchor for the story, and I am curious to see if his personality develops in that direction as the series continues. The supporting cast adds a lot of value too, particularly Stephanie and Bobby, who are great side characters and really help Xavier and Jessi bond with each other.
The story has a slower pace, but it never drags or gets boring. Momentum stays alive thanks to the short chapters, and the author’s wonderful writing. There is a sizable cast to keep track of, but the background provided for each major player is distinct and thorough enough that I never felt lost or confused about who was who.
This leans much more into traditional suspense and mystery territory rather than a high-octane thriller. It builds to a genuinely good twist. The ending, however, wrapped up quickly, leaving the fates of some characters rather vague.
If you like character-driven mysteries, ex-cop protagonists, and methodical pacing, then you will enjoy this book.
51 days
The Christmas Guest
B P Walter
On Liars Island, Christmas dinner is a meticulously staged affair. Beneath the sparkling decorations and the clinking of wine glasses, the family’s forced smiles hide a multitude of sins. For years, they've perfected the art of avoidance, especially when it comes to the unspoken tragedy of six Christmases past: the night their mother died.
But this year, an uninvited ghost from the past crashes the reluctant reunion. He’s asking questions, too many questions, about that terrible night. His presence cracks open old wounds and threatens to expose the meticulously guarded truths everyone thought were buried forever.
As a relentless storm rages, isolating them completely on the island, the veneer of festive cheer shatters. Trapped with a stranger who knows too much and a family riddled with secrets, the festive celebration turns into a chilling interrogation. Is the real danger the storm outside, the relentless guest, or the deadly truths lurking within their own blood?
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy of this title.
A Christmas setting can add an extra layer of tension to a thriller, but this one never came together for me. The story moves between Marguerite’s perspective in the past and multiple perspectives in the present, gradually revealing how the past connects to the events unfolding at the house. There were a few well-executed twists along the way, and I appreciated how the different timelines slowly filled in the bigger picture.
My biggest issue was that the story was slow from beginning to end. I also struggled to connect with the characters. None of them were particularly likable, and the triplets were so unpleasant, even toward each other, that it was difficult to become invested in their relationships. Noah came across as awkward and bumbling throughout, while Cliff was an especially difficult character for me. Although he is thirty-one, the way he was written often made him seem much younger, and I found that characterization distracting.
I also felt like several subplots didn’t add much to the overall story. Noah’s relationship with his stepsister, Ruby, along with the smaller storylines involving Alistair and Dylan, felt more like filler than meaningful additions to the mystery. Instead of building tension or developing the characters in a satisfying way, they slowed the story even further.
There were moments where the mystery pulled me back in, particularly when some of the twists were revealed, but they weren’t enough to overcome the slow pacing or my lack of investment in the characters. The ending also felt rushed and ultimately unsatisfying, leaving me wishing the story had spent less time on unnecessary detours and more time delivering a stronger payoff.
If you like dual timelines, dysfunctional families, and Christmas-set thrillers, then you may enjoy this book. #NetGalley #TheChristmasGuest
62 days
Her Beautiful Secret
J.S. Ellis
Lydia Falzon lives for justice, her resolve forged in the fire of her father's violent murder. Now a dedicated inspector, she dives into a new case: a young woman who shot both her parents. It should be open-and-shut. But something is wrong. Subtle signs suggest manipulation, hinting at a chilling mastermind pulling the strings.
Then, the case takes a sickening personal turn. The perpetrator's calm, handsome boyfriend is a ghost from Lydia's past – her long-vanished ex. Convinced his new persona hides a poisonous darkness, Lydia begins to unravel his connection to a string of unsettling deaths. She vows to expose him, even if it means rekindling the intense, dangerous romance they once shared.
As the lines between good and evil blur, Lydia finds herself caught in a deadly psychological game. Can she unmask the killer before his beautiful secret becomes her final undoing? Or will his whispers consume her soul?
Thank you to BookSirens for an advanced copy of this book.
The premise pulled me in right away, and the short chapters kept the pacing brisk early on but a promising setup can only carry a story so far when the focus shifts so drastically mid-plot. The writing itself is decent, and the first half delivers an entertaining mystery that had me speculating about where the narrative was headed.
But instead of doubling down on the suspense, the story takes a sharp detour. By the time I reached part three, the momentum ground to a halt. I was expecting a deep dive into the investigation, but the plot shifted heavily to Lydia and Vladislav. It is not that their dynamic feels out of place, but the sheer volume of their romantic scenes drags everything down. There is far more romantic tension and sex here than actual sleuthing. I steer clear of romance, so watching what was supposed to be a thriller morph into one was a frustrating pivot.
After so much early build-up, the lack of an investigative payoff makes the ending very unsatisfying. I can’t say specifics without verging into spoilers but I did not get the decent ending I was hoping for after struggling to finish this book.
If you like a messy romance with your mystery then you may enjoy this book.
Filter By Release Month
What is an ARC?
An ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) is a pre-publication version of a book provided by publishers so reviewers can share early feedback. Our spoiler-free reviews help you decide which upcoming titles to add to your pre-order list!
Advance copies reviewed on SpoilThePlot are securely sourced through industry partners, including NetGalley and Inside Story.