Best New Thriller Books of 2026: 57 Mysteries, Psychological Thrillers, and Spooky Reads for Your TBR

If you love a good thriller, you already know how crowded 2026 has been for mystery fans. 

Domestic suspense, legal thrillers, cozy mysteries, horror, and espionage have all had big releases this year, and I have been trying to keep up.

I have read a handful of the best new thriller books of 2026, and I am happy to recommend those. 

I am also a little sad, because many of the year’s most popular new mystery and thriller books are still waiting on my shelf.

So I put everything in one place. 

This list covers psychological thriller books from 2026, detective novels, debut thrillers, and upcoming thriller releases for fall and winter, so you can choose by mood. 

Whether you want a twisty crime fiction pick or a spooky read for the dark evenings, you should find something to add to your TBR.

Scroll through, grab the ones that sound like you, and tell me which ones I should read first.

Judge Stone by James Patterson and Viola Davis

Publication date: March 9, 2026

I have already read Judge Stone, so this recommendation comes straight from my own shelf.

Judge Mary Stone is a respected figure in the close-knit community of Union Springs, Alabama.

Then a controversial case lands on her docket and splits the small town down the middle.

A doctor stands accused of performing an abortion on a 13-year-old girl, in a state where the procedure is illegal under any circumstance.

Mary must weigh what the law demands against what her own conscience tells her.

The pairing of James Patterson and Viola Davis caught my attention right away, and the courtroom scenes carry high emotional stakes.

Readers who love John Grisham or Michael Connelly will feel right at home here.

Mothersucker by Kim Bohyun

Publication date: September 1, 2026

Mothersucker is already out, and it is still unread on my shelf, which makes me a little sad.

It follows a vampire who goes after men who have harmed women, across the present, the past, and the future.

A task force led by women is trusted with solving the murders.

The book is described as brisk and lacerating, taking on power, privilege, and the pursuit of justice.

It also looks into the dark side of gender-based violence in Korea.

This is Kim Bohyun’s international debut, and the setup feels bold to me.

I want to see just how far a woman will go to avenge the people she loves.

Clive Cussler Obsidian Sky by Dirk Cussler

Publication date: November 10, 2026

Dirk Pitt fans, mark November 10 on your calendar, because Clive Cussler Obsidian Sky is on its way.

Dirk Cussler writes this latest adventure in the beloved series created by Clive Cussler.

A forgotten civilization, a lost Biblical artifact, and a criminal enterprise hiding beneath the seas all sit at the center of the mystery.

Somehow they connect to a potential cataclysmic event that threatens all of humanity.

I am curious how those pieces fit together, because the list alone already has my attention.

Adventure thriller readers should keep an eye on this one.

The Exes by Leodora Darlington

Publication date: February 26, 2026

The Exes has one of those premises that makes me want to read in a single sitting, and I still have not picked it up.

Natalie argues with her husband James one night, and then her memory simply goes blank.

She wakes up holding a knife.

Worse, she feels history repeating itself, because every one of her exes has ended up dead.

Is Natalie a cold-blooded killer, or is something else going on?

The description promises a string of plot twists nobody will see coming.

Portrait of a Haunting by Madison Tyler Nelson

Publication date: October 6, 2026

Portrait of a Haunting came out this month, and I have not read it yet.

Tatum Alexander has always treated her ability to see spirits, known as the Sight, as an affliction rather than a gift.

She inherited it from her mother, an infamous artist.

Tatum has been hiding the Sight among a witch coven in Manhattan, alongside her best friend Mischa.

Then a murder happens that appears dangerously linked to her past.

After fearing her power all her life, she has to embrace it.

I love a ghost story rooted in the past, so this one ranks high on my list.

We Chase Shadows by Richard Osman

Publication date: September 15, 2026 (US) / September 10, 2026 (UK)

Richard Osman’s We Chase Shadows is out now, and I am sorry to say it is still waiting on my shelf.

It continues the We Solve Murders series, which means another globe-trotting case.

At sunrise in the hills of Italy, a body turns up on the steps of a beautiful private villa.

A threatening note lies on it, signed by a mystery man.

Amy, Steve, and Rose have to hunt an elusive killer who seems to know exactly where to hide.

The chase moves from Italy to Palm Springs, with stops in Barcelona and a sleepy English village.

Rose is a reader favorite, and I would love to spend more time with her.

Cry of the Rain Crow by Laurie L. Dove

Publication date: December 8, 2026

Cry of the Rain Crow arrives December 8, and I am already curious about it.

Laurie L. Dove introduces Tribal Marshal Starr, who is dealing with a gruesome death in a lake.

Starr fears the death is only a symptom of something bigger.

The mystery hinges on something lurking in the water.

That one detail makes me want to know what the lake is hiding.

A lake mystery feels like a great way to end the year.

The Truth About Ruby Cooper by Liz Nugent

Publication date: March 12, 2026

Liz Nugent’s The Truth About Ruby Cooper has been out since March, and I have not gotten to it yet.

This domestic noir starts with Ruby and Erin, who live a comfortable life in Boston.

Then an incident involving Ruby splinters the family.

Their Irish mother takes Ruby back to Dublin, while Erin stays in Boston with her father.

The story follows the family across the next 25 years.

It looks at the ramifications of that incident and the trail of destruction it leaves behind.

I am drawn to slow-burn family stories like this, and I keep meaning to start it.

The French Illusion by John Grisham

Publication date: September 29, 2026

John Grisham’s The French Illusion is out, and it is one of the big releases I have not read yet.

It opens with a Paris honeymoon that goes horribly wrong.

Newlyweds Paul and Chelsea Tanner are kidnapped during a day trip to the French countryside.

A nightmare follows, and the search for clues stretches across borders.

The FBI, the CIA, and French intelligence all get pulled into the puzzle.

Grisham is famous for legal thrillers, so an international suspense story feels like a fresh turn.

There Used to Be People Here by Kennedy Cole

Publication date: November 3, 2026

There Used to Be People Here comes out November 3, and the setting alone sold me.

It takes place in 1970s Mississippi.

A Black detective and his temporary partner get assigned to a case that begins as a murder.

The case then shifts into a paranormal conspiracy with life-altering repercussions.

The book is described as having shades of The X-Files and S. A. Cosby.

Kennedy Cole also explores race, queerness, and what it means to exist as an outsider in a society that demonizes difference.

I have not read it yet, but I am looking forward to seeing how the mystery turns supernatural.

A Deadly Episode by Anthony Horowitz

Publication date: April 23, 2026

I have already read A Deadly Episode, and I am happy to recommend it.

It is the latest in the Hawthorne and Horowitz series.

This time the story moves to a film set where The Word Is Murder, the very first book in the series, is being adapted for the screen.

Production has been chaotic, with delays and a shrinking budget.

Then David Caine, the actor playing former Detective Inspector Daniel Hawthorne, turns up dead.

The real Hawthorne gets called in, joined by his sidekick Anthony Horowitz.

The premise is delightfully meta, with dry humor and satire running through it.

The Hiding Season by A. C. Glass

Publication date: March 26, 2026

I have not read The Hiding Season yet, even though it came out in March.

Maya Landry goes to Montana after a difficult divorce, hoping for solitude to heal.

Her peace does not last long.

She witnesses a brutal crime, and nobody believes her.

As the only witness, she becomes the killer’s target.

What follows is a dangerous game of cat and mouse.

The setting is an off-season luxury ski resort, which sounds tense and claustrophobic.

I love thrillers where the landscape is as threatening as the people in it.

Savage Lake by Nick Medina

Publication date: October 27, 2026

Savage Lake arrives October 27, just in time for spooky season reading.

Nick Medina, the author of The Whistler and Sisters of the Lost Nation, returns with a new unnerving horror novel.

A mother and her son travel to a dilapidated cabin in the woods.

The cabin haunts more than just her memories.

That line alone has me curious about the history this place holds.

I am looking forward to finding out what the woods are hiding.

Wolf Hour by Jo Nesbo

Publication date: Paperback, February 12, 2026 (original hardcover: August 14, 2025)

I have read Wolf Hour, and I am glad to point you toward it now that the paperback is out.

A lone sniper is terrorizing the streets of Minneapolis.

Maverick detective Bob Oz gets pulled onto the case.

Soon he notices a pattern among the killer’s victims.

That realization turns the investigation into a race against time to stop the next casualty.

The mood is as dark and atmospheric as Jo Nesbo’s Harry Hole books, though the setting is fresh.

Expect secrets that come out slowly and a flawed lead you will root for.

Such a Perfect Family by Nalini Singh

Publication date: November 3, 2026

Such a Perfect Family arrives November 3, and the opening alone has me hooked.

For 43 days, Tavish Advani has been the happiest man in the world.

Then his new life turns to ash when his wealthy in-laws’ house goes up in a fiery explosion.

His badly injured wife lies in a coma, and her family has been all but wiped out.

With the authorities zeroing in on him, he starts his own investigation to clear his name.

What he finds suggests his wife’s picture-perfect family may have been a meticulously constructed mirage.

I have not read this one yet, but I cannot wait to learn how dark the truth gets.

The Dating Game by Ally Zetterberg

Publication date: September 8, 2026

The Dating Game has been out since September, and it is still on my unread list.

This thriller tackles the perils of modern dating and the female rage it can inspire.

Tilda Smith designs board games for a living.

She starts running her life by her own rules, just like the games she creates.

The catch is that the other players do not know they are playing, and losers will not be tolerated.

A clever, surprising premise like that is exactly my kind of read.

Carrie (Television Tie-In) by Stephen King

Publication date: TV tie-in paperback, September 29, 2026 (originally published April 5, 1974)

I have read Carrie, so I am happy to see this television tie-in edition on the shelves.

It is Stephen King’s legendary debut, the book that put him on the map as one of America’s favorite writers.

Carrie White is unpopular and tormented at school.

She lives in a world where bullies rule, and she carries a secret power.

Her life takes a terrifying turn when her hidden abilities become a weapon of horror.

The tie-in edition arrived on September 29, 2026, while the original novel dates back to 1974.

I would hand this one to anyone building a spooky thriller stack.

Another Name for Red by Amber Blaeser-Wardzala

Publication date: October 13, 2026

Another Name for Red came out on October 13, and I have not read it yet.

It is the debut novel from Amber Blaeser-Wardzala, one of the most memorable contributors to the bestselling anthology Never Whistle at Night.

A young Anishinaabe woman vanishes.

Her sister tries to pick up the pieces of a broken family.

Her own investigations put her at risk of suffering a similar fate.

Debuts that blend a missing-person mystery with family fallout are ones I never want to miss.

The Pinnacle by Abir Mukherjee

Publication date: June 18, 2026

Abir Mukherjee’s The Pinnacle has been out since June, and I am still waiting to start it.

Washed-up actor George Abercrombie wakes from a drunken stupor in a luxury apartment in Mumbai.

His much younger wife, the Bollywood queen Sweety Sahota, is dead.

George knows he will be the prime suspect.

As he pieces together the night before, he realizes everyone in the Pinnacle, Mumbai’s most luxurious skyscraper, has something to hide.

The mystery is described as pacy, humorous, and satirical all at once.

Fans of Philip Kerr and CJ Sansom might want to look this way.

Bleed by Robin Cook

Publication date: December 1, 2026

Bleed lands on December 1, and medical thriller fans will want to take note.

Robin Cook, called the master of the medical thriller by The New York Times, is back with it.

Fan favorites Jack and Laurie return in this new novel.

The story digs into greed and corruption.

It also examines the lethal cost of private equity in healthcare.

That topic feels timely, and I like it when a thriller tackles something real.

Kiss Slay Replay by Rachel Harrison

Publication date: September 1, 2026

Kiss Slay Replay is out, and I have not read it, which makes me sad because the premise sounds so fun.

A picture-perfect wedding weekend turns terrifying for Willa Sullivan.

A masked killer attacks the reception, and Willa has to fight to save the people she loves.

She is not a final girl, or so it seems.

Then she wakes up on the morning of the wedding.

Willa is stuck in a loop of carnage and terror.

She has to learn how to escape it, or she will be an eternal wedding guest.

The Collateral Heart by Jeffery Deaver

Publication date: November 17, 2026

The Collateral Heart is due November 17, and I am looking forward to it.

Jeffery Deaver brings back forensic criminalist Lincoln Rhyme and detective Amelia Sachs, who first appeared in The Bone Collector.

This time they investigate a series of arsons in New York City.

A fire investigation sounds like a great fit for Rhyme’s forensic mind.

The book is billed as propulsive.

Fans of the series should mark the date.

A Bad, Bad Place by Frances Crawford

Publication date: February 12, 2026

A Bad, Bad Place came out in February, and I still have not read this debut.

In late 1970s Glasgow, 12-year-old Janey Devine finds the body of a murdered woman on an abandoned railway.

Her childhood ends abruptly.

The woman is Samantha Watson, daughter of the notorious gangster Billy “The Ghost,” and he wants answers.

The novel is dark and gritty and follows the far-reaching effects of a murder on a community.

Its narrative voice is described as one of the freshest of the year.

Readers who like Val McDermid or Louise Welsh may want to check it out.

When the Night Comes Knocking by Katherine Daniel

Publication date: October 20, 2026

When the Night Comes Knocking is a brand-new October release, and I am eager to get to it.

Katherine Daniel sets this horror novel in Appalachia.

Two estranged siblings become trapped in a convenience store.

Outside, a monster from the mountains is attacking.

It feasts on guilty hearts.

A creature that targets guilt makes me wonder what each person inside is hiding.

Being stuck with a sibling you are not close to sounds uncomfortable even before the monster arrives.

I am looking forward to seeing how the siblings’ relationship holds up under pressure.

The Defence by Rob Rinder

Publication date: June 18, 2026

Rob Rinder’s The Defence has been out since June, and I have not gotten to it.

You may know Rinder as Judge Rinder, and he has been building a series of courtroom thrillers.

This installment opens with a murder in front of a room full of influencers.

The victim is Adrian Wells, an MP who turned wellness guru.

Barrister Adam Green has to defend the chief suspect, Adrian’s PA, Jules.

The book is said to balance humor and drama, like a cross between John Grisham and Richard Osman.

That blend sounds like exactly what I want from a legal thriller.

The Big Cats Dance Party by Alexander McCall Smith

Publication date: September 15, 2026 (US) / September 3, 2026 (UK)

The Big Cats Dance Party is a cozy mystery that I have not read yet, and I am sad about that.

It is the latest installment of Alexander McCall Smith’s beloved No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series.

Mma Ramotswe and Mma Makutsi volunteer for an important case up north involving an elephant sanctuary.

That leaves assistant detective Charlie in charge of a complicated and potentially risky case back home.

I enjoy mysteries that split the action between two settings.

Charlie running the show makes me curious about how things go.

Cozy mystery fans should keep it in mind for their own TBR piles.

An Immaculate Deception by Isabela Livino

Publication date: September 1, 2026

An Immaculate Deception is a debut Gothic horror that I have not read yet.

It is set in 1870s Brazil, and the setting already feels atmospheric to me.

A young pregnant woman finds herself unable to escape her lover’s isolated family home.

The story is described as one of creeping suspense.

Meanwhile, a family’s deal with the devil goes terribly wrong.

Gothic horror about a house you cannot leave is one of my favorite setups.

The Vanished Sister by Sherry Thomas

Publication date: September 29, 2026

The Vanished Sister is out now, and I have not read it yet.

Sherry Thomas, author of A Ruse of Shadows, sends Charlotte Holmes, who is also Sherlock Holmes, into another Victorian-set mystery.

This time she gets pulled into a puzzling missing person case.

The case hits close to home for her beloved Mrs. Watson.

Mrs. Watson’s long-estranged sister, Mrs. Carstairs, also enters the picture.

I like a family mystery where the stakes are personal.

The Things You’ll Never Know by Ashley Audrain

Publication date: January 12, 2027

The Things You’ll Never Know arrives January 12, 2027, so it is a long wait, but I am already counting.

Ashley Audrain, the author of The Push, tells a story of motherhood, desire, betrayal, and loss.

The narrator is a mother speaking after her own death.

The novel explores the performative identities of womanhood and the cost of being good.

It also asks what we owe ourselves and each other when desire enters the picture.

One question sits at the heart of it, asking whether you will find out who you really are before you die.

How to Get Away with Murder by Rebecca Phillipson

Publication date: March 12, 2026

Rebecca Phillipson’s debut, How to Get Away with Murder, has been out since March, and I have not read it.

A serial killer is on the rampage.

At every crime scene, the killer leaves behind a manual.

The treatise carries the same title as the book, complete with step-by-step instructions that mirror each crime.

The only way to stop the killer is to read between the lines of those instructions.

Dark humor is sprinkled throughout, which sounds like a fun contrast.

Tom Clancy The Coldest War by M.P. Woodward

Publication date: November 24, 2026

Tom Clancy The Coldest War is scheduled for November 24, and espionage fans should take note.

M.P. Woodward writes this latest entry in the bestselling Jack Ryan series.

A Russian plan to open a strategic passage above the Arctic Circle threatens the United States.

It also poses a direct threat to President Jack Ryan.

An Arctic setting gives the story a cold, high-stakes feel.

This is the kind of political thriller I like to save for a long weekend.

It Could Have Been Her by Lisa Jewell

Publication date: July 2, 2026

I have read It Could Have Been Her, and Lisa Jewell fans should know it is out now.

This psychological thriller works as a standalone, though it brings back Jane Trevally from Don’t Let Him In.

Twenty-five years ago, a newly single Jane went home with a man and sensed something was wrong.

She heard a scream from the floor above, then the sound of someone falling.

Jane decided to run.

In the present day, a lost dog leads her back to the very same house.

Now she wants to find out what really happened all those years ago.

Something Is Killing the Children: Hope Is a Knife by James Tynion IV and Kiersten White

Publication date: October 13, 2026

Something Is Killing the Children: Hope Is a Knife came out on October 13, and I have not read it yet.

It is based on the internationally bestselling comic series, with millions of copies in print.

This is the first full-length novel set in that terrifying world.

James Tynion IV, the Eisner-winning co-creator, teams up with #1 New York Times bestselling author Kiersten White.

The story follows Erica Slaughter, a Black Mask, who arrives in Badwater, Idaho.

Her job is to find the monster and kill the monster, but nothing about this case is simple.

The Secret Lives of Murderers’ Wives by Elizabeth Arnott

Publication date: April 9, 2026

The Secret Lives of Murderers’ Wives is a debut that I have been meaning to read since April.

Beverley, Elsie, and Margot are the wives of convicted killers.

The discovery of their husbands’ brutal crimes pulls them into an unlikely friendship.

When a string of killings hits the news, the three women come together to investigate.

After all, who knows more about tracking a killer than someone who has shared a home with one?

The story unfolds in the sweltering heat of 1960s California.

Chain Reaction by Lee Child and Andrew Child

Publication date: October 20, 2026

Chain Reaction just landed on October 20, and I have not read it yet.

It is the new Jack Reacher thriller from Lee Child and Andrew Child.

Reacher is hard to find, and he likes it that way.

General Susan Turner, based deep inside the Pentagon, has the resources and the reason to track him down.

One member of her team has been brutally murdered on covert duty.

She cannot trust anyone she works with, not even her deputy, so she needs an outsider.

The House Built on Alligator Bones by Sophia Huneycutt

Publication date: October 6, 2026

The House Built on Alligator Bones was published on October 6, and I have not read it yet.

Dartrine Beaumont, called Dart, believes her mother’s sudden death has left her alone in the world.

Then she learns about long-lost wealthy relatives in Florida.

She travels to her grandmother’s stately Gilded Age mansion just in time to claim an unusual inheritance.

It is an alligator farming empire.

As Dart learns the truth about her violent birthright, she faces a terrible choice.

She can accept her place in her family’s grim legacy or cut her own path by taking on a different kind of beast.

Berwick by L J Ross

Publication date: Hardback, February 26, 2026

L J Ross’s Berwick, the hardback release in the DCI Ryan series, has been out since February.

I have not read it yet, which feels sad because it follows a cliffhanger from the previous book, Belsay.

This time DCI Ryan investigates a case that is very close to home.

His wife, Anna, has been arrested for the murder of a well-known author.

The series makes the most of the Northumbrian landscape, which should make for an immersive read.

It also means returning to Ryan and his team.

I want to see how Ryan handles a case that threatens his own family.

What a Nightmare by Rebekah Faubion

Publication date: October 13, 2026

What a Nightmare came out on October 13, and I have not read it yet.

Haven Powers has spent years trying to disappear.

She used to be a loud, troublemaking girl who defied every expectation in her small town.

Now she hides her fire behind a quiet smile because that feels safer.

The town and her family believe obedience is next to godliness, and the pressure becomes suffocating.

Haven soon finds herself on a path to revenge.

I am curious to see what happens when a girl who was called too much finally lets her demons loose.

The First Time I Saw Him by Laura Dave

Publication date: January 15, 2026

I have read The First Time I Saw Him, the follow-up to The Last Thing He Told Me.

Hannah has not seen her husband, Owen, in five years.

Then an unknown number texts her a warning to get out of the house immediately.

She knows the message came from Owen, and it means she and his daughter, Bailey, are in danger.

The two flee to Paris, where they have been told someone will look after them.

Owen’s enemies are already waiting in the wings.

If you loved the Apple TV+ series based on the first book, this domestic suspense novel is worth your time.

From the Library of Jurgen Leitner by Premee Mohamed, Jonathan Sims, and Rusty Quill

Publication date: October 27, 2026

From the Library of Jurgen Leitner arrives October 27, and my TBR list is already making room.

This uncanny eldritch horror novel comes from Nebula Award-winning author Premee Mohamed and Jonathan Sims of The Magnus Archives, together with Rusty Quill.

Readers step into the library of an enigmatic collector.

Occult books are guarded and researched there at a fatal cost.

A library full of dangerous books is the sort of setting I cannot resist.

Fans of The Magnus Archives should definitely take notice.

Killer Instinct by Nicola Williams

Publication date: Paperback, August 13, 2026 (original hardcover: 2025)

Killer Instinct is a legal thriller that I have not read yet, and the paperback is out now.

A senior clerk is found murdered at a Chambers.

Suspicion falls on the working-class junior clerk.

Barrister Lee Mitchell knows how quickly prejudice can lead to convictions, so she steps in to defend him.

Along the way, she uncovers long-buried secrets about her colleagues.

Soon she questions who she can trust.

The book explores class, privilege, and wealth alongside courtroom drama, which sounds like a great mix for fans of Rob Rinder or Denise Mina.

No Good Deed by Nekesa Afia

Publication date: December 1, 2026

No Good Deed arrives December 1, and I am looking forward to following Louise Lloyd to Paris.

Louise is caught between her family back in Harlem and her glamorous new life.

Her knack for solving crimes travels well when she is called to investigate a murder in Paris.

The book uses the French phrase un meurtre, which makes the setting feel instantly charming.

I love a mystery that sends a smart sleuth abroad.

A Taste for Murder by Matt Baker

Publication date: January 15, 2026

Matt Baker’s A Taste for Murder is out, and I have not read it yet, although it is already a series on ITVX.

DCI Joe Mottram arrives in sun-soaked Capri hoping to reconnect with his daughter.

A British tourist dies, and suspicion falls close to home.

Joe gets dragged back into investigating mode.

The beautiful island hides an ugly underbelly.

It sounds like the perfect destination thriller, especially for fans of Donna Leon and Elly Griffiths.

The Wives by Alex Khan

Publication date: October 20, 2026 (US paperback) / September 24, 2026 (UK)

The Wives is a paperback mystery thriller that I have not read yet.

Two husbands are brutally murdered by their seemingly loving wives.

DS Mumtaz “Moomy” Ali and DCI Sarah Heaton of the Met police take on the complex case.

As they dig, they expose a dark conspiracy that involves some very powerful and wealthy players.

Their own lives end up on the line.

I am drawn to the contrast between the loving marriages and the violence.

The Secret of Secrets by Dan Brown

Publication date: Paperback, September 15, 2026 (originally published September 9, 2025)

I have read The Secret of Secrets, so I can happily recommend it to Dan Brown fans.

The paperback edition is out now, and the book first came out in 2025.

Robert Langdon is plunged into two worlds at once, futuristic science and historical lore.

He navigates a labyrinth of codes and symbols.

At the end of the maze waits a shocking truth about a secret project.

That project could change how we think about the human mind forever.

Brown is known for propulsive, twisty stories, and this one aims for thought-provoking too.

Robert B. Parker’s Framed by Mike Lupica

Publication date: November 24, 2026

Robert B. Parker’s Framed arrives November 24, and Spenser fans will want it.

Mike Lupica writes this latest installment in the beloved series.

Martin Quirk, a friend of Spenser’s, is the most admired figure in Boston Police Department history.

Then an unknown adversary devises an elaborate plan to ruin his reputation and his life.

His bosses believe the lie, and so does the entire city.

Because the department will not let Quirk defend himself, clearing his name becomes Spenser’s job.

Back for Blood: Never Whistle at Night Part II, edited by Shane Hawk and Theodore C. Van Alst Jr.

Publication date: August 18, 2026

Back for Blood: Never Whistle at Night Part II came out in August, and I have not read it yet.

It is the return of the bestselling Indigenous dark fiction anthology.

Shane Hawk and Theodore C. Van Alst Jr. edit this new collection.

It brings together even more daring and sinister stories than the first volume.

The range runs from twisted psychological tales to gore-filled monster hunts.

I like anthologies because I can read one story at a time and still feel hooked.

Getting Away with Murder by Shari Lapena

Publication date: July 16, 2026

I have read Getting Away with Murder, and it fits right into this list of domestic suspense novels.

Shari Lapena, the author of Everyone Here Is Lying, tells a story about deception, murder, and a seriously dysfunctional family.

Ted and Jill love their elegant Brooklyn brownstone and their high-flying lifestyle.

Then a bad investment threatens their livelihood.

They go to extreme lengths to protect themselves and plot to kill a wealthy family member.

The cast includes characters you will love to hate, plus plenty of red herrings.

It is the kind of story you can finish in a single sitting.

The Hunting Wives (Netflix Tie-In) by May Cobb

Publication date: Netflix tie-in paperback, November 17, 2026 (originally published 2021)

The Hunting Wives gets a Netflix tie-in edition on November 17, and I have not read the novel yet.

The book first came out in 2021, and the hit Netflix show is based on it.

Sophie O’Neill moves to a small Texas town to settle down with her family.

There she meets Margot Banks, an alluring socialite in an elite clique secretly known as the Hunting Wives.

Sophie gets swept into a world of late-night target practice and dangerous partying.

Then the body of a teenage girl is discovered in the woods where the group meets.

Suddenly Sophie is in the middle of a murder investigation, and her life spirals out of control.

The Pie & Mash Detective Agency by J. D. Brinkworth

Publication date: February 26, 2026

The Pie & Mash Detective Agency is a cosy crime debut that I have not read yet.

Jane Pye and Simon Mash are a couple who signed up for a private detective night class on a whim.

Now they are investigating a very strange case.

A woman named Nellie Thorne has disappeared.

She is the fifth Nellie Thorne to vanish in 50 years.

The book is described as funny and gripping, with a side of quirk.

Readers who enjoy Richard Osman or Agatha Christie might love it.

A Killer in Paradise by Tom Hindle

Publication date: January 15, 2026

A Killer in Paradise has been out since January, and I have not read it yet.

Tom Hindle, the author of Murder on Lake Garda, sends readers to the Costa Rican rainforest.

A group of old university friends is invited to the launch of Abigail Blythe’s new luxury hotel.

They were close to Abi until she suddenly ghosted them ten years ago.

So why has she invited them now?

From chapter one, readers know someone has been murdered.

The Lost Women by Tim Weaver

Publication date: February 26, 2026

Tim Weaver’s The Lost Women is the 15th book in the David Raker series, and I have not read it yet.

Raker is a missing persons investigator who is still haunted by an 18-year-old mystery.

Three women vanished from a small Cornish island back then.

Now a new case has him searching for a missing husband.

He soon discovers a horrifying connection to the lost women.

With only 48 hours to solve it, this is a pulse-pounding race against time.

Such a Nice Girl by Andrea Mara

Publication date: May 7, 2026

Andrea Mara’s Such a Nice Girl is out, and I have not read it yet.

Mara is also the author of All Her Fault, which became a TV series starring Sarah Snook.

Her new high-concept thriller centers on two best friends.

They believe one of their adult daughters has tried to kill the other.

Both girls are missing.

Neither mother knows who the victim is and who the culprit is.

The Family Friend by Claire Douglas

Publication date: March 12, 2026

The Family Friend has been out since March, and I have not read it yet.

Claire Douglas is known for addictive domestic thrillers, and this one follows last year’s The New Neighbours.

Imogen learns she has inherited a Regency villa in Bath.

It comes from Dorothea, a family friend she has not seen in years.

Seeing a chance for a fresh start, Imogen goes to Bath.

Then rumors begin to swirl that Dorothea was murdered.

Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino

Publication date: January 15, 2026

Best Offer Wins is a debut that has been out since January, and I have not read it yet.

How far would you go to win your dream house, and would stalking and blackmail be on the table?

Margo and her husband have lost out on 11 properties in Washington, DC.

When she finds a house she loves, she is prepared to take some unusual measures.

The thriller is described as Gone Girl meets Selling Sunset.

Marisa Kashino’s wry, smart take on the housing hunt sounds unique to me.

Fans of Jessica Knoll or Gillian McAllister may want to add it to their lists.

The Keeper by Tana French

Publication date: April 2, 2026

I have read The Keeper, and it is a strong pick for fans of slow-burn mysteries.

Tana French sets this atmospheric mystery in a remote Irish village.

A young woman is about to be engaged to the son of the local big shot.

Then she goes missing and is later found dead in the river.

Retired detective Cal Hooper gets drawn into the investigation.

He uncovers a scheme that puts her death in a new light and suggests the whole village could be in danger.

Rivalries and resentment simmer beneath the surface, which suits slow-burn readers.

Public Access Afterworld by Jane Schoenbrun

Publication date: October 27, 2026

Public Access Afterworld arrives October 27, and the premise already has my attention.

It is a novel from Jane Schoenbrun, the filmmaker behind I Saw the TV Glow and Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma.

A mysterious realm waits on the other side of our screens.

A dark force pulls its victims into the static.

An unlikely hero is called to rescue them, and herself, from that electric hell.

The novel is described as a binge-all-night headrush.

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That is my full list of the best new thriller books of 2026, from books I have already read to releases I am still waiting for. 

The year has been generous with psychological thrillers, legal thrillers, cozy mysteries, and horror, so it is easy to feel behind. 

I do, and I am still working through my own unread pile.

If you are looking for thriller book recommendations, start with the ones that match your mood right now.

Pick up a few of the releases already out, then keep an eye on the November, December, and January publication dates for the rest.

Add the thriller books that caught your attention to your TBR, and come back to this list whenever you need your next read.

Which one are you starting first?