2026 ARC Reviews
Spoiler-free early reviews of the most anticipated upcoming releases.
5 days
Baby Moon
Sara Lea
Motherhood was everything Jess hoped it would be. Then she wakes up from a nap to an empty crib. Toby is gone. Every picture, every toy, every physical trace of her baby has vanished. Her husband claims the boy never existed at all. Trusting her maternal instincts over Luke's lies, Jess embarks on a frantic search for the truth. When the horrifying reality finally surfaces, it forces her into a corner. What unimaginable lines will she cross to get her son back?
In this 57-page thriller, Sara Lea delivers an emotional punch that centers on every mother’s nightmare: a missing baby. Written from Jess’s perspective, the story is fast-paced and leans into the concepts of the protective love of a mother and the raw, desperate grief of a woman longing for a child. Jess is a very easy protagonist to empathize with, and the sharp writing keeps the tension high as the mystery unfolds. The story is gripping and well-executed, and while the plot leans into sci-fi elements that aren't to my personal taste, I still really enjoyed it. The emotional journey and high-stakes suspense make this a compelling, one-sitting read from the In The Cards collection.
5 days
Justice
Danielle Fear
A high-profile domestic abuse trial just ended. The gavel bangs, the courtroom clears out, but the nightmare is far from over. Told through several different viewpoints, this book blurs the line between the law and actual justice. The system worked exactly like it was supposed to, but it left a dangerous question in its wake: what happens when the courts fail, and someone decides to settle the score themselves?
Danielle Fear crafts a fast-paced and highly engaging whodunit in Justice, condensing a high-stakes mystery into a very small window of time. The structure is incredibly effective: short, clear, and powerful chapters told from alternating perspectives. Every single character had a compelling motive to kill, making it impossible to stop reading until the final reveal. I loved every page of this book, I couldn’t read it fast enough!
5 days
Lovers
Tayler Vaughn
Seventeen years ago, Dominic Boldrey was branded a killer and locked away for the murder of his girlfriend. Now, his conviction has been overturned, and he’s walking free. But Roslyn Bates, the victim's best friend, isn't interested in legal technicalities—she’s focused on a debt she believes is still owed in blood.
As Roslyn’s relentless pursuit of justice crashes into Dominic’s desperate search for the truth, they unearth a conspiracy far more twisted than a simple wrongful conviction. Together, they discover a chilling reality: the greatest threat isn't the wolf in sheep's clothing, but the shepherd who was supposed to keep them safe.
This is a short story from the In Your Cards collection. I really enjoyed the dual perspective, as jumping between Roslyn and Dominic’s POVs gave the narrative a lot of depth and kept me guessing about their motivations.
For a short read, the character development was solid but not too deep. The tension builds steadily throughout, leading up to a twist at the end that I honestly didn't see coming. It’s a great pick if you’re looking for something quick that still delivers a solid, suspenseful payoff.
5 days
The Hollow Space
Carly Black
On the eve of her thirty-fifth birthday, librarian Tess Davis unearths a journal hidden within the library’s ancient, dust-laden shelves. The text reveals a harrowing pact from 1855: a mother’s bargain with a demon to save her child, paid for in the lives of her descendants. The curse is absolute—every woman in the lineage dies at thirty-five, just as their own daughters come of age.
With only one lunar month remaining, Tess races through a trail of ancestral records as her world begins to unravel. Shadows lengthen, reflections detach from their hosts, and the fabric of time itself frays. To shatter the cycle and secure her daughter’s survival, Tess faces a brutal ultimatum: she must incinerate the very library that houses the curse, sacrificing her legacy, her sanctuary, and her future to ash.
The Hollow Space by Carly Black straddles the line between thriller and horror. The author builds an intensely eerie atmosphere as Tess uncovers supernatural clues, racing against the clock to solve a mystery before time runs out. Tess is a highly sympathetic protagonist, making it easy to root for her and stay invested in the unsettling narrative.
Because it is a short story, I expected the pacing to be a bit faster, but it settles into a solid medium pace, leaning more into a creeping dread than a breakneck speed.
While I didn't love the ending due to a personal stylistic preference, it was handled exceptionally well and made perfect logical sense for where the plot needed to go. Overall, it’s a highly atmospheric, genre-blending read that succeeds at being both suspenseful and spooky. This feels like a great book for a thriller reader who wants to ease themselves into the world of horror.
6 days
Beneath A Broken Sky
Joshua Moehling
Sandy Lake is in the grip of a miserable summer, and Detective Ben Packard is right in the center of the storm. A tornado has just devastated the county, bringing destruction and a shady group of storm chasers to town. But the chaos turns deadly when a local mother—infamous for defending her bullied son against the town's prejudices—is found murdered. With a massive suspect list, a surprise visitor from his past, and the pressure of navigating life as a gay man in a traditional community, Packard finds this investigation becoming dangerously personal.
Beneath a Broken Sky is the fourth book in the Ben Packard series and is just as good as the rest of the series.
The story is told from both Ben Packard and Charlie’s perspectives. Packard is a very lovable character. I really loved the character of Symphony and her connection to Marcus. Even though we never got to meet Marcus, he was a big part of Packard’s story, so having that connection resurface through her felt meaningful.
As for the actual investigation, it was a really interesting story that I thoroughly enjoyed. It held my attention the whole way through and balanced the police work well with the character dynamics.
#NetGalley #BeneathABrokenSky
9 days
The Greek Island
A J McDine
Three couples. Two secrets. One murder.
A week at a breathtaking Greek villa was supposed to be the ultimate romantic escape with my boyfriend, Dominic. But paradise comes with a catch: we aren't alone.
Dominic has invited his elite university circle to join us. The moment I meet the flawless Victoria and the icy Simone, my stomach sinks. Under Simone's withering glare, it's agonizingly clear I don't belong in their glamorous, affluent world.
Yet, beneath the designer wardrobes and smooth banter, their polished facades quickly begin to fracture. This sun-drenched sanctuary is built on a foundation of hidden truths—including the unsettling revelation that Dominic and Simone's history goes far deeper than friendship. As the Mediterranean heat rises, the claustrophobic tension among the group reaches a boiling point.
And then, one morning, a body is discovered...
The Greek Island by A. J. McDine is a fast-paced island thriller. The story is told mostly from Amber’s perspective in the present day, with only a couple small flashbacks.
The chapters are short, and the suspense was there throughout, making the book easy to fly through. I did not like or feel invested in any of the characters because most were whiny, but that did not diminish my ability to enjoy the story. There is a great twist I did not see coming, followed by a surprise ending. This is a great choice for anyone who loves an island theme with a lot of tension. #NetGalley #TheGreekIsland
12 days
A Breathing House
Jed Kent
In the waning years of the Gilded Age, Marian enters a mansion built on excess - a world of towering marble and glittering chandeliers designed to announce her family's arrival into high society. But despite the opulence, the house greets her with a bitter, unnatural cold.
As her husband’s illness miraculously fades, Marian’s own health begins a mysterious decline. A chill settles deep into her bones, leaving her weaker with every passing day, as if the walls themselves are draining her vitality. The longer she remains, the more undeniable the truth becomes: the mansion is no sanctuary. It was built to give, and to take - and unless Marian uncovers its secrets, the price of their fortune will be her life.
A Breathing House is a chilling departure from my preferred genre of thrillers and it did not disappoint. As part of the In The Cards collection, this horror story leans into an unsettling atmosphere that builds a genuine sense of dread very quickly. The pervasive creepy factor kept me fully invested to see what would happen next. The breathing element is handled through eerie chants and physical shifts in the protagonist's health, making the house feel like a living, predatory entity. I appreciated that the main character's reactions felt grounded and realistic even as the situation escalated. It features a masterfully executed ending that delivers a satisfying conclusion to a truly haunting read.
12 days
Stepping Into The Star
D.M. Foley
Allison is a staunch believer in the metaphysical, a stark contrast to her skeptical best friend, Danica. But when a chilling tarot reading ends in Allison's sudden disappearance, Danica must question everything she thought she knew about reality in order to find her.
D.M. Foley delivers an interesting tale in Stepping Into The Star. Because the book deals with the metaphysical, the overall tone is steeped in suspense. Intrigue builds right from the opening pages. For a short story, the character development is well done. It gives the narrative enough depth to make the reader care while avoiding any drag in momentum.
The story unfolds in the present tense through a few different characters' points of view. I enjoyed the format of several short chapters. They complement the fast pace, keeping the story engaging while delivering a complete, satisfying mystery in a compact footprint. Anyone who likes books about the paranormal will enjoy this read.
12 days
The Replacement
Liv Constantine
Former Hollywood darling Veronica Van Arden is desperate to escape a string of box-office disasters and vicious tabloid rumors. Her salvation appears to be a starring role in a highly anticipated new film, made even sweeter by the unwavering support of her enthusiastic young costar, Sienna Vale. When fresh scandals threaten Veronica's fragile comeback, Sienna becomes her closest confidante. But as the veteran actress welcomes the newcomer into her inner sanctum, she is about to learn a terrifying lesson: the brightest spotlights always cast the darkest, most dangerous shadows.
The Replacement by Liv Constantine is a very enjoyable quick read.
The plot seems straightforward at first, but there are some good twists you won’t see coming, backed up by some good foreshadowing. The short chapters keep the pacing fast, and the character development is surprisingly good for a short story.
Overall, it’s a highly satisfying, straight-up thriller.
13 days
The Last Time We Drowned
Saratoga Schaefer
Broke and reeling from a devastating betrayal, Charlie Engels seizes a lifeline when her bookstagram earns her a spot on the Empress—an elite influencer yacht moored off the Florida Keys. Thrown into a ready-made sisterhood of deeply flawed internet stars, Charlie tries to outrun her past, only to keep catching glimpses of the supposedly departed influencer she was hired to replace.
When a massive hurricane cuts all communication and strands the crew with their billionaire boss, the glamorous retreat becomes a claustrophobic, floating prison. Once the first body drops, paranoia fractures the group, forcing Charlie to unmask a killer before she goes down with the ship.
The Last Time We Drowned is a solid mystery and suspense novel that leans away from the typical high-octane thriller. The writing style is engaging, with medium-length chapters that match the steady pace of the story. While one element did feel a bit repetitive, the overall construction of the plot is strong.
My main struggle was with the protagonist, Charlie. It was difficult to sympathize with her throughout the chaos because she felt so meek, which made her hard to relate to as a lead. However, the mystery itself is compelling enough to keep you hooked. There aren't any massive, world-shifting twists, but the ending is satisfying and wraps everything up well.
One of the highlights was finally discovering the significance of the title—it’s a clever tie-in, but you’ll have to read it yourself to find out why. If you enjoy mysteries with a trapped atmosphere, this is definitely worth picking up.
#NetGalley #TheLastTimeWeDrowned
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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.