2026 & 2027 Upcoming Releases

Spoiler-free ARC reviews of the most anticipated thriller and mystery releases.

Cover for The Girlfriend’s Secret
⏳ Releases in
1 days

The Girlfriend’s Secret

Daniel Hurst

Domestic Thriller, Mystery • Aug 19, 2026

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?

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4 / 5

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

Cover for Heart Of Glass
⏳ Releases in
7 days

Heart Of Glass

Jennifer Hillier

Suspense, Mystery, Thriller • Aug 25, 2026

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.

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5 / 5

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

Cover for The Silent Appeal
⏳ Releases in
7 days

The Silent Appeal

Janice Hallett

Mystery, Thriller • Aug 25, 2026

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.

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4 / 5

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.

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.