2026 & 2027 Upcoming Releases
Spoiler-free ARC reviews of the most anticipated thriller and mystery releases.
77 days
What Mother Knows
Chad Zunker
When twenty-six-year-old Denver lawyer Josh King returns to Austin, it isn't for a family reunion. His estranged mother—the city's powerful mayor, Lauren Snow—stands accused of murdering his wealthy stepfather. Though Josh only returns to support his fragile younger sister, Kinsey, he is quickly pressured into taking on his mother's legal defense.
Lauren swears she is innocent. She may be a ruthless politician, but she isn't reckless enough to kill the man bankrolling her ambitions. However, Josh knows his mother built her empire on smoke and mirrors. Watching her perform the role of the tragic widow with camera-ready perfection, he realizes he has no idea what she is truly capable of.
As Josh digs deeper, he unravels a dark web of conspiracies and buried family secrets. With the truth finally in his grasp, Josh must decide where his ultimate loyalty lies: with the blind scales of justice, or with the family he's trying to save.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advanced copy of this book.
What Mother Knows opens with a sharp focus on character development, laying out the complicated family dynamics that drive the narrative. I found myself quickly rooting for the main character, Josh, as he navigates the constant struggle between fiercely looking out for his sister, Kinsey, and his deep reluctance to have anything to do with their mother.
The short chapters give the medium pacing a steady momentum. Despite the large cast of characters and deep web of connections, the author's clear writing makes it easy to keep track of who is who. A story with this many threads can quickly get tangled, but the execution here is beautiful, making the story flow seamlessly. I loved how every piece of the puzzle fit together perfectly by the final page. If you love a good mystery with lots of moving pieces and wonderful writing, you must pick up this book.
#NetGalley #WhatMotherKnows
84 days
When They Find Me
Carter Wilson
Some secrets refuse to die. They simply wait, sharpening their claws, until it's time to hunt.
Annie Wolfe has done everything to vanish. Tucked away in the isolated speck on the map called Expanse, Colorado, she and her daughter Coral are nearly off the grid. It’s the perfect hiding place, if only the past would stay buried. But Annie knows the people coming for her are relentless. They never forget, and they never forgive.
Meanwhile, Riven has spent a lifetime living off the land, a shadow in the wilderness with her family. Now, her father has led them to this forgotten town, driven by a thirst for retribution against the man he blames for shattering their lives. Their plan is starkly simple: swift revenge, then disappear.
But when Riven’s quest for vengeance knocks on Annie’s door, their worlds violently collide. What unfolds is far more twisted and perilous than either woman could have imagined. This isn't just a hunt for revenge. It's a desperate chase for a truth that, in Expanse, Colorado, could be the deadliest secret of all.
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for an advanced copy of this title.
The momentum in this story kicks into high gear immediately and never takes a breath. What caught my eye right away were the small sketches scattered throughout the text, adding a great visual layer to the suspense. The structure relies on rapid-fire, short chapters that jump between Riven and Annie’s perspectives, keeping the tension tight.
We experience the unfolding events primarily in the present day, with just enough brief flashbacks from both narrators to flesh out their backgrounds. I found both Riven and Annie easy to sympathize with. They both end up stuck in bad situations that feel difficult to escape, and are dealing with the consequences of the choices they made on the path that got them to the present day.
This book was hard to put down, and that is something I do not say lightly. Just when I thought I had the trajectory figured out, a massive twist dropped near the end that was so well done that I did not see it even though it was there all along! It fit seamlessly into the plot rather than feeling tacked on, leading right into a satisfying and tight wrap-up. If you want a book that will suck you in and keep you entertained, then you will love When They Find Me.
#NetGalley #WhenTheyFindMe
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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.