It’s long been debated among book lovers which season is best for reading, but—in our humble opinion—it’s hard to top the winter months. With freezing temperatures, howling winds and slushy roads, it’s the perfect time of year to cancel plans and escape into a book world where the only thing chilling is the plot. In recent years, thrillers have risen in the reading popularity ranks, thanks to their fast-paced plots along with BookTok praise for authors like B.A. Paris, Freida McFadden and Alice Feeney. Why? Well, in short, this mystery subgenre typically guarantees a thoroughly entertaining yet quick read with mounting tension and a high-stakes emotional payoff.
So if you’re in the market for an unputdownable thriller, we have you covered! We combed through the early 2026 releases to hand-pick the thrillers truly worth your time. From Nalini Singh’s foray into this genre to Freida McFadden’s latest heart-pounder, these 7 new releases will leave you on the edge of your seat! Whether you’re looking for a domestic mystery, an atmospheric mystery, an eerie revenge thriller or a psychological cat-and-mouse game, these are the best new thrillers of 2026. So, grab a mug of Earl Grey or a hot toddy and settle in—your next bookish obsession is just a page-turn away!
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‘Dear Debbie’ by Freida McFadden
Poisoned Pen Press
When it comes to twisty and jaw-dropping thrillers, few writers churn out more page-turners than Freida McFadden—and her latest novel delivers. Newspaper columnist Debbie Mullen has advised women with relationship problems—from infidelity and beyond—for years. But then she loses her job and her husband is hiding secrets. Can Debbie take her own advice and find out what’s really going on?
What readers are saying: “The explanations for how everything panned out was phenomenally diabolical—especially the epilogues from everyone. But it is indeed a ‘popcorn thriller’ so I’m going to accept the nonsensical-ness of it all! I must say again I enjoyed the writing. I listened to the audiobook, and the narrators did a wonderful job. It was truly a one-sit listen and that’s something us book readers can all agree that you are able to achieve. It was a wild, fast-paced, dramatic read.”
‘Such a Perfect Family’ by Nalini Singh
Berkley
High-stakes drama, eerie danger, a series of shocking betrayals…acclaimed author Nalini Singh’s new book, Such a Perfect Family, has all this and more. It’s love at first sight for Tavish Advani when he meets Diya. They marry in Vegas and just when he thinks he’s finally escaped his past, his in-laws’ home goes up in flames. With Diya in a coma, he vows to clear his name and find out the truth behind his new wife’s “perfect” family.
What readers are saying: “I went from not trusting our first-person narrator to not trusting the cops to not trusting his brother-in-law to not trusting his wife. And then the big reveal happened and my jaw was on the floor.”
‘It’s Not Her’ by Mary Kubica
Park Row Books
A shocking murder at a secluded lakeside resort takes center stage in Mary Kubica’s latest thriller. Courtney Gray is settling into a relaxed family vacation. But then she hears screaming and discovers the bodies of her brother and sister-in-law—and her teenage niece, Reese, who had been fighting with her parents the night before, is missing. As police descend on the resort, family secrets emerge and Courtney panics. Is Reese a victim in this horrific crime or the culprit?
What readers are saying: “I am such a fan of the ‘who can you trust’ trope, and Kubica executes it perfectly in a way that feels as chilling as it does entertaining. I am often left disappointed by my ability to see behind the curtain and spoil the twists too early on. That is not the case here, as I had no idea who the culprit(s) was, nor what had actually happened on that horrific night, both in the present as well as the past. I found myself, like our MC, questioning everything I knew to be true. Twist after twist, reveal after reveal, until the final mic drop moment when Kubica allows us the peek behind the curtain in the final moments, where once again I was caught off guard. And this above all is why I adore her writing so much.”
‘A Sociopath’s Guide to a Successful Marriage’ by M.K. Oliver
Atria
Lalla Rook is not your typical stay-at-home mom: The book begins with her murdering a man who breaks into her house the day of her 4-year-old’s birthday party. So she stashes the body in her living room, closes the door and invites her guests in. In the days that follow, she spends her time hiding her crime—and her past—as she works to save her failing marriage, get her daughter (who has just drowned the class hamster) into an exclusive school, snag the dream home her husband doesn’t want and get rid of the figure from her past who she thought was dead. A darkly funny book with plenty of twists and turns.
What readers are saying: “This was such an incredibly fun read! A Sociopath’s Guide to a Successful Marriage is a satirical crime thriller with a one-of-a-kind main character. Lalla is a refreshing heroine (or rather anti-heroine) with such a unique, unapologetic voice. I honestly couldn’t get enough of her. She’s chaotic, ambitious, and utterly nonchalant about her goals, and it made for such an entertaining perspective.”
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‘When I Kill You’ by B.A. Paris
St. Martin’s Press
B.A. Paris is a reader-favorite on BookTok, thanks to her shocking debut, Behind Closed Doors—and her newest book is packed with twists. Nell is being followed—and she might know who it is. Years earlier, when Nell was known as Elle, she witnessed a kidnapping…and the victim was murdered. Now, the past is returning with a vengeance.
What readers are saying: “Finally—a book that kept me on my toes! I was so excited to read an early copy of this book, and it definitely delivered! I was entertained from the first page to the last, and I never once figured out who was stalking our main character, Nell. This story had me guessing and questioning every single character until the very end.”
‘Missing Sister’ by Joshilyn Jackson
William Morrow
If twisty, addictive thrillers are your cup of tea, Missing Sister by Joshilyn Jackson should be added to your TBR now. Twins Penny and Nix Albright were inseparable—until an accident kills Nix. Five years later, Penny is a new cop in Atlanta when her first murder scene turns personal: The victim is Danny, a man she blames for Nix’s death. She stumbles on his killer, a woman, who says this is linked to “a story about sisters” before running off. A tale of sisterhood and revenge.
What readers are saying: “Joshilyn Jackson repeatedly just delivers and I love it! This book was no different. Along with murder, the book was really all about family and love. The sibling bond was beautiful (if not fully believable). But at its core, it was still a revenge thriller.”
‘Reasons to Lie’ by Emily Listfield
Thomas and Mercer
This thriller asks the question: How well can we ever really know another human being? Set in the elite world of Manhattan’s Dearborn Academy, three moms form an unexpected bond. But when a student is murdered on a class trip their teens attended, the women’s lives are upended. As a detective inches closer to the truth, the moms—and their kids—are each hiding something.
What readers are saying: “I loved how flawed and layered Abby, Kara and Hollis were — none of them were perfect, and that made them believable. Their shifting alliances, hidden pasts and complicated friendships kept me flipping pages. The Manhattan private school setting amplified the drama perfectly — privilege, appearances and judgment lurking around every corner.”
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