The New October Mystery and Thriller books include series favorites, reunions gone wrong, and psychological suspense that’s perfect for Spooky Season. This month I also have a separate Paranormal and Cozy Mystery roundup!
Quick Picks by Vibe
| If you want… | Read this |
|---|---|
| A big-name detective series you already trust | The Hollow by Michael Connelly |
| A new lover who vanishes without a trace | Paris Files by Eva Jurczyk |
| A true crime podcast that hits too close to home | Please Enjoy Your Stay by Tara Goedjen |
| A high school reunion where someone doesn’t make it out | A Reunion to Die for by K.J. Whittle |
| Freida McFadden’s latest, with a spooky mansion. | The Witch by Freida McFadden |
| A slow creeping dread that someone’s watching your new house | You Let Me In by Lucy Clarke |
The October 2026 Books I’m Most Excited About
WEEK OF OCTOBER 6
The Witch by Freida McFadden
What It’s About: After being fired, a woman must go to stay at her grandmother’s spooky mansion.
Why I Picked It: I did like Dear Debbie, so I’m hoping this one is good. Fingers crossed. And I’m curious to see if it’s paranormal or not!
What I Thought: I believe this is McFadden’s first book with historical elements. It’s NOT really paranormal.
I’m curious to see how her super-fans will like this one. The Witch has a past/present narrative and strangely enough I thought the past narrative was way more suspenseful and interesting. I found the “present” part of the story pretty uneventful, with some mild “is this house haunted” suspense.
There were two big reveals in the past narrative and one in the present. One of them was very easy to guess, because of the small number of characters (an issue I have with her books!)
Paris Files by Eva Jurczyk
What It’s About: A woman’s new lover mysteriously disappears.
Why I Picked It: I really enjoyed her last book, 6:40 to Montreal (though that book made a lot of people MAD.)
What I Thought: The Paris Files was epistolary, made up of police interviews from a variety of people. I used to refuse to read epistolary fiction, but Janice Hallett has changed my mind. My review with hidden spoilers is below!
The Paris Files was about a Canadian woman who meets a younger American guy in the Philippines. They decide to meet up in Paris and have a whirlwind romance. Then he vanishes. She’s distraught, but is she telling the truth? Did the guy even exist?
For me, it was kind of like Before Sunrise (remember that movie?) meets The Paris Apartment, and I enjoyed it.
Who Should Read It: Readers who enjoy epistolary fiction and love a gaslighting story. For me, it was fun to try to figure out what was happening and who was telling the truth!
The Ferryman’s Daughter by Yasmin Angoe
What It’s About: The daughter of a serial killer, who is trying to hide her past, is alarmed when a copycat strikes.
Why I Picked It: I’ve enjoyed Yasmin Angoe’s books in the past, most recently Behind These Four Walls.
What I Thought: This was both a police procedural and psychological suspense. The main character, hiding the fact that she’s the daughter of a notorious serial killer, is shocked when a copycat killer strikes in her hometown. Worse, her husband is the detective assigned to the case.
Who Should Read It: I feel like this leans psychological suspense/serial killer. If you are a procedural fan, you have to be prepared that one of the main POV characters is not telling the truth to those around her!
Where There’s Smoke (Coldren County 2) by Rachel Louise Adams
What It’s About: Dolores, working as a medical examiner in a small Wisconsin town, investigates a body found at a slaughterhouse. Second in a procedural series.
Why I Picked It: I liked the first book in this series. It’s a bit quirky but perfect for October. Here is my review of book one, No Rest for the Wicked.
What I Thought: I didn’t like this nearly as much as No Rest for the Wicked. I felt the recap was sparse and the main characters were all fairly unlikeable.
BUT many other readers disagree with me and liked the creepy slaughterhouse setting and the thematic quality of the book.
WEEK OF OCTOBER 13
Please Enjoy Your Stay by Tara Goedjen
What It’s About: After a true crime podcaster reopens the case of her cousin’s tragic murder at an Austrian castle, a woman must confront the past. This includes the fact that she, as the main witness against the man convicted, may have been completely wrong.
Why I Picked It: I love Suspense with Podcast Themes so of course I read this one!
What I Thought: Please Enjoy Your Stay had great Gothic vibes (set at a spooky hotel called Hohenfels in Grünhain, a small in the Austrian Alps.) Ten years before, Amelia “Mia” was the main witness in her cousin’s murder. Her testimony sealed the fate of the man convicted. Was she wrong?
When the case is revisited by a podcaster, Mia gets a nanny job for the woman who is reopening Hohelfels. as a luxury wellness resort. Even though two murders occurred there, one in the 2010s and one in the 1960s.
If you like modern Gothic fiction (as I do) I thought this book was a lot of fun. It reminded me a bit of both The Villa by Rachel Hawkins (both books feature a crime in the past, epistolary elements, and a lavish European setting) and The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley, which also features a resort with a dark past being re-opened.
You Let Me In by Lucy Clarke
What It’s About: A struggling British writer rents out her house in Cornwall, then starts to feel like someone’s watching her.
Why I Picked It: I am always looking for new books for my list of Mysteries and Suspense Books about Authors and Writers. I’m hoping this is a slow-build, creeping-dread thriller.
What I Thought: As I said above, the writer in jeopardy is a trope I’m fond of, and I was interested to realize that this book predates a lot of the titles on my list, books like The Plot and Yellowface.
Even though many suspense books about writers have similar plots. I enjoyed You Let Me In. I guessed the big reveal, but only because I’d read another book by Lucy Clarke (and another reissue), The Castaways.
NOTE: Thanks to Lori who pointed out in comments that this is a re-release of a 2018 title. It was originally published by Harper in 2018 and is being re-published by Atlantic Crime.
WEEK OF OCTOBER 20
Missing Molly by Natalie Barelli (free on KU)
What It’s About: Rachel is a reporter for as small, struggling newspaper. A newly hired colleague pitched a great idea to boost revenue: a podcast that focuses on Molly Forster, a local girl who went missing over a decade ago after the murder of her family. The problem: “Rachel” is Molly. It’s by the author of The Housewife, which I read back in June (but which does not seem to be a reissue, as this title is; see note below.)
Why I Picked It: This is such an intriguing premise so I was all in.
What I Thought: It might sound strange, but this book reminded me of A Good Girls Guide to Murder. Yes, that’s a YA book and Missing Molly is adult fiction. But both are set in a small English villages, both feature strong female characters trying to get to the truth in a case where the wrong man might have been convicted, and both have podcast elements. Both are fun and twisty reads!
NOTE: Thanks to Pink Amy for pointing out in comments that this is ANOTHER re-release. It may have been self-published in 2018, but is now being released by Poisoned Pen Press, which published The Housewife.
A Reunion to Die for by K.J. Whittle
What It’s About: One of a group of friends at a high school reunion is murdered.
Why I Picked It: Reunion thrillers are always a good time, so I RSVP’d yes for this!
WEEK OF OCTOBER 27
The Hollow (Bosch 21) by Michael Connelly
What It’s About: Bosch seeks justice for the foster kids he lived with in a grim institution.
Why I Picked It: I’m such a fan of this series and can’t wait to read this!
What I Thought: The cases weren’t my favorite (I also thought three was too many), but I am enjoying seeing Bosch get older and wiser. I’m worried about him, though!!
The Full October 2026 Mystery and Thriller List By Vibe
Series Mysteries to Continue
The Hollow (Bosch 21) by Michael Connelly — Bosch seeks justice for the foster kids he lived with in a grim institution. Bosch is always a favorite.
Miss Wolcott’s Ghosts (Inspector Gamache 21) by Louise Penny — Gamache must solve a murder from a century-old Lost Nation. (Despite the title, this doesn’t seem to have a supernatural plot. I’m trying to catch up on this series!
Chain Reaction (Jack Reacher 31) by Lee Child and Andrew Child — A general in the Pentagon needs Reacher’s help. I did my time with Reacher and stopped this series. Are you still reading it?
The Family Cross (Alex Cross 36) by James Patterson — Alex investigates a series of baffling murders.
The Girl in the Lake (Holmes, Margaret & Poe 3) by James Patterson and Brian Sitts — Holmes, Marple, and Poe track a killer at a remote winter lodge. This series has high ratings. Have you read it?
Killing the Boogeyman (Boogeyman 3) by Richard Chizmar — The “Boogeyman” has escaped from prison.
Split Screen (Eve Ronan 7) by Lee Goldberg — Reality and fiction collide as the actress who plays Eve is gunned down.
Dark Country (Argento 3) by Adam Plantinga — Argento is living undercover when he decides to help an immigrant teen in danger.
Where There’s Smoke (Coldren County 2) by Rachel Louise Adams — Dolores, working as a medical examiner, works on a body found at a slaughterhouse.
A Shadow of Jaguars (DJ Arias 2) by Denise Frost — At a family funeral in Mexico, Arias is drawn into a case. I enjoyed this second installment in an L.A. noir series.
Bury the Wren (County Kerry 5) by Carlene O’Connor — Murder at a local village celebration in Ireland.
Blood on the Snow (DCI Walker 7) by Alex Pine — Two women on a holiday break turn up dead.
Psychological Suspense & Domestic Thrillers
Please Enjoy Your Stay by Tara Goedjen — After a true crime podcaster opens her cousins’ case, a woman must confront the past. I reviewed Please Enjoy Your Stay!
You Let Me In by Lucy Clarke — A struggling writer rents out her house and then feels there’s someone watching her.
Old Ham by Seraphina Nova Glass — A middle-aged hoarder gains access to the life of her high school crush.
Missing Molly by Natalie Barelli — A British woman is horrified that a podcast is tackling the old case of a missing girl: her. Here’s my Quick Take on Missing Molly With Hidden Spoilers.
The Paris Files by Eva Jurczyk — A woman’s new lover mysteriously disappears. I enjoyed this epistolary story. Here’s my Quick Take on The Paris Files with Hidden Spoilers.
The Ferryman’s Daughter by Yasmin Angoe — The daughter of a serial killer gets targeted by his copycat. This was interesting!
A Reunion to Die for by K.J. Whittle — One of a group of friends at a high school reunion is murdered. For me, this was a bit slow to get going, but I love a good Friend Group With Secrets book!
Till Death at the Dravenwynd by Mark Hullender — A wedding weekend at the historic, eerie Hotel Dravenwynd turns deadly, leaving guests, staff, and an amateur detective sorting reason from superstition.
NEW Procedural Mystery Series
Hanging and Burning (King Oliver 1) by Walter Mosley — Joe King Oliver accepts a case from a gangster who wants his missing daughter located before he dies.
Literary & Genre-Bending Mysteries
Mystery Play by Elizabeth Kostova — A new novel in the same world as The Historians finds the last living historian in peril.
Other Worlds Than These (Talisman 3) by Stephen King — Jack Sawyer must stop a rampaging gang and the forces of the Gullet.
Ready to Get Spooky? Check Out These NEW October Paranormal Mysteries!
Looking for More New 2026 Books?
New Mystery and Thriller Books: January 2026
New Mystery and Thriller Books: February 2026
New Mystery and Thriller Books: March 2026
New Mystery and Thriller Books: April 2026
New Mystery and Thriller Books: May 2026
New Mystery and Thriller Books: June 2026
New Mystery and Thriller Books July 2026
When I looked for more information on Missing Molly it seems like the book was published in 2018. Is this a rerelease?
i was about to ask the same thing but about a different book. According to my GoodReads, i read You Let Me In a few years ago.
What bugs me is when publishers re-release books with different names. I’ve had to cancel preorders because of this!
I agree – this should NOT be a thing. And please re-release in order because the Steve Cavanagh situation is driving me crazy!
What would I do without you guys. YES, this was released (maybe in the UK) in 2018 by Harper and is now being re-released by Atlantic Crime. I will make a note in my post. What even!
Noooo. What is happening?? Yes, it looks like Poisoned Pen Press is re-releasing it. As they are doing for the self-pubbed Freida McFadden books.
YES, I added that to the post and credited you. I’m not sure if it was originally self-published or published in the UK in 2018, but PPP is re-releasing it.
It’s really helpful when your one-liners have location—like “a British woman”. I prefer books set in the USA where I understand the legal system. (Though Big Little Truths is an exception).
Thanks for the suggestion! I will try to work that in!