I’m here to run down the New Mysteries and Thriller Books for January 2026! Did the New Year bring new reading goals and maybe new gift cards? Which of these New Mysteries, Thrillers, and Suspense Books for January 2026 will you want to read? Here’s a list of all the January 2026 Mystery, Thriller, and Suspense Books I could find!
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New Mystery and Thriller Books January 2026
Table of Contents:
New January 2026 Mystery and Suspense Books: Weekly Lists (below)
Also: New January 2026 Mystery Books in Series
New Cozy Mystery Books Coming out in January 2026
Free Mystery and Thriller Books from Prime First Reads for January 2026
New Mystery and Thriller Books Coming Out January 2026
Behind These Four Walls by Yasmin Angoe
I enjoyed this book! My Goodreads review of Behind These Four Walls here!
The Hunted by Steven Russo
A new political thriller!
New Mystery and Thriller Books Coming Out January 6
The First Time I Saw Him by Laura Dave
This is a sequel to The Last Thing He Told Me (that link has a plot refresher on the first book).
If you loved The Last Thing He Told Me and want more details filled in, this book is for you.
It includes a quick run-down of what you need to remember of the first book if you don’t want to re-read!
The Castaways by Lucy Clarke
I loved The Castaways so much … until the end. I still think it’s worth a read if you loved One Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware.
My Goodreads review of the Castaways is here!
Such a Perfect Family by Nalini Singh
I really enjoyed There Should Have Been Eight. I didn’t get an early copy for this but will try to get it at the library and find time for it!
The Storm by Rachel Hawkins
I’ve been reading Rachel Hawkins since she wrote YA and I really enjoyed this one!
The Shop on Hidden Lane by Jayne Ann Krentz
The Invisible Woman by James Patterson and Susan DiLallo
Stay at Home Mother by Nicole Trope
Wreck Your Heart by Lori Rader-Day
This wasn’t really a “me” book but it might be a “you” book. It has a very strong narrative voice, is set in Chicago, and feels like a country music song.
Check out my Goodreads review of Wreck Your Heart
The Trip by Audrey J. Cole
The Water Lies by Amy Meyerson
New Mystery and Thriller Books Coming Out January 13
Woman Down by Colleen Hoover
I am the outlier who likes Verity so I checked this out and wow. It was … interesting.
Check out my Goodreads review of Woman Down
It Should Have Been You by Andrea Mara
This author wasn’t on my radar until one of her books got adapted as a series.
This was TWISTY!
Anatomy of an Alibi by Ashley Elston
I have to be honest and say that while this has a premise I loved, I think the narrative structure (four narrators and constant timeline switching) got in the way of the suspense.
Murder Your Darlings by Jenna Blum
I didn’t request this but am hearing good things!
The Alpine Retreat by Sarah Goodwin
I LOVED Stranded by Sarah Goodwin. It was like Lord of the Flies for adults and my favorite Reality TV Supense book so far. This one didn’t quite get there for me.
My Goodreads review of The Alpine Retreat is here.
The Briars by Sarah Crouch
If you like books set in the great outdoors, check this one out.
Darkrooms by Rebecca Hannigan
You’ll Never Forget Me by Isha Raya
This had the feel of a sapphic Film Noir, with a gorgeous, ruthless actress facing off against a no-nonsense private investigator. Is this aspiring leading lady killing off her rivals?
My Goodreads review of You’ll Never Forget Me is here!
New Mystery and Thriller Books Coming Out Jan 20
My Husband’s Wife by Alice Feeney
One of my Most Anticipated Books of Winter 2026! Loved this one! I’ll be attending her NYC event in January and will report in on that!
All the Little Houses by May Cobb
I was so surprised that this was (loosely) inspired by Little House on the Prairie!
Such Sheltered Lives by Alyssa Sheinmel
I wish I’d seen that this was marketed as for fans of Nine Perfect Strangers, because I (fan of Liane Moriarty) did NOT enjoy that book. Or this one.
My Goodreads review of Such Sheltered Lives is here.
Fair Weather Friend by Jessie Garcia
I enjoyed The Business Trip but this book was more of a dark comedy like titles by Catherine Mack or Benjamin Stevenson. Not really my thing, but if you like dark comedy, check it out!
Here’s my Goodreads review of Fair Weather Friend
Box Full of Darkness by Simone St. James – another of my Most Anticipated books of Winter 2026!
I loved Murder Road by this author. A Box Full of Darkness takes place in the same town as The Sun Down Motel (a 2020 title I haven’t read). I did enjoy this! It’s a sibling and grief story, plus paranormal elements.
No One Would Do What the Lamberts Have Done by Sophie Hannah
I agreed to review this and now see that early readers are calling it “bizarre” and “out-there.” Uh, yes it is. I don’t even know how to describe it. Darkly comic and very odd?
I explain better in my Goodreads review!
The Method by Matthew Quirk
This romantic suspense is getting good reviews! If you read it, let me know what you think!
A Gift Before Dying by Malcolm Kempt
Such a Clever Girl by Darby Kane
I really enjoyed Pretty Little Wife but was less enthusiastic about What the Wife Knew, so I am not sure about this one. If you read it, come back and let me know your thoughts!
Dead in the Water by John Marrs
A man survives near drowning and starts having disturbing memories…
Very Slowly All At Once by Lauren Schott
A struggling couple starts receiving checks from an unknown source.
Room 706 by Ellie Levenson
A married woman in a hotel with her lover learns that all the hotel guests are hostages.
Hemlock by Melissa Faliveno
A Queer Gothic; check it out!
Gaby Greene Knows Whodunnit by Sam Tschida
A divorced woman joins the CIA in this comic thriller.
New Mystery and Thriller Books Coming Out January 27
Dear Debbie by Freida McFadden
I was beyond shocked to get an early copy of this. Well, it was enjoyable. It was an unhinged revenge story about a housewife who writes an advice column.
Paper Cut by Rachel Taff
This book is being heavily promoted as a page-turning suspense debut about a woman infamous for escaping a cult as a teenager, who finds her future threatened when dangerous secrets come back to haunt her—perfect for fans of Jessica Knoll and The Girls.
The Final Score by Don Winslow
Six different short novels by an iconic American crime writer.
Escape by Stephen Fishbach
If you watch Survivor, you might recognize the author. I requested, then un-requested. If you read it, let me know if I made a mistake!
Missing Sam by Thrity Umrigar
This was a very thought-provoking and emotional account of a woman who is blamed for the disappearance of her wife. It’s one part family impact story, an immigrant story, and a look at what it’s like to be a queer person of color suspected of a crime.
New Mystery Series Books Coming Out In January 2026
Her Cold Justice (Keira Duggan series 3) by Robert Dugoni
I enjoyed the first two books (Her Deadly Game and Beyond Reasonable Doubt) so I am going to check this one out as well!
I enjoyed Her Cold Justice and my Review is here!
No One Knew (Noelle Marshall series) by Kendra Elliot
The Viper (Escape Artist series) by Brad Meltzer
New York Times bestselling author Brad Meltzer is back with his thrilling Zig and Nola series, unraveling a shocking cold case with a personal—and deadly—twist.
The Cyclist (DS Cross) by Tim Sullivan
My husband loves this series and I need to try it!
Inside Man (Head Cases series 2) by John McMahon
I did read book one, Head Cases, and I liked the Slow Horses vibe. Not sure if I’ll get to this!
Private Rome (Private series) by James Patterson and Adam Hamdy
Pendergast: The Beginning (Pendergast series) by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
Twelve Months (Dresden Files series) by Jim Butcher
Make it Out Alive (Quinn & Costa seires) by Allison Brennan
First Do No Harm (Chin and Smith series) by S.J. Rozan
Divine Ruin (Sister Holiday 3) by Margot Douaihy
I read book one in this series, Scorched Grace. I didn’t continue on, but if you’re a fan, check this one out!
The Venice Double (Duke Ducaine) by Jesse DeRoy
New Cozy Mystery Books Coming Out In January 2026
Trailbreaker (Prairie Nightingale series) by Ruthie Knox and Annie Mare
I wasn’t the biggest fan of the first book, so I’m passing on this.
Devil in the Details (Scottish Bookshop series) by Vicki Delaney
I read the Christmas book in this series and put it in my Cozy Christmas Mystery post!
The Chateau Murder (French Village series) by Greg Mosse
Murder from A to Z (Mystery Bookshop series) by V.M. Burns
Murder by the Book by M.R. G. Davies
I tried this and my review is here!
Definitely Maybe Not a Detective by Sarah Fox
I did try this one!
You can find my Goodreads review of DMNAD here!
Cross Your Heart and Hope He Dies by Jenny Elder Moke
I requested this (and forgot) so will link my review when it’s up!
Free Mystery and Thriller Books from Prime First Reads for January 2026
This is a new addition to these lists for 2026; let me know if it is helpful.
If you are a member of Amazon Prime, you can choose a free kindle book each month out of a selection of choices. Here are the January picks!
Read Between the Lies by Jesse Q. Sutanto (psych thriller)
In His Wake by Chad Zunker (political thriller)
Hooked by Caitlin Routher (procedural)
Blade by Wendy Walker (legal thriller)
Are you planning to read any of these? Let me know in comments!
A Box Full of Darkness is on my radar, due to the supernatural element added to the mix. Looking forward to your thoughts!
P.S.: I’m linking to this list in my next monthly wrap-up 🙂. Happy new year!
I finished Alpine Resort with a hmm. It went in a direction I was not anticipating, but did keep me engaged.
Reading The Viper now and am sucked in. I did not realize it is 3rd in a series but feel it reads well as a stand alone.
Looking forward to Box Full of Darkness and Fair Weather Friend! Thanks for your insights!
I agree on Alpine Resort. I was not wowed and I really loved Stranded. Viper was not even on my list to read, but I looked it up and the series sounds interesting!
I did enjoy Box Full of Darkness! Fun to read a spooky book now and then!