2026 ARC Reviews
Spoiler-free early reviews of the most anticipated upcoming releases.
10 days
The Next Lie
Camden Baird
Surviving their daughter’s kidnapping was supposed to be the hardest test of Sadie and Allen Wilson’s marriage. But just as their lives finally begin to stabilize, their neighbor is found murdered, and Allen vanishes without a trace. Left to navigate the police investigation alone, Sadie uncovers a chilling trail of deceit. As the body count rises and dark secrets from Allen’s past come to light, Sadie is forced to question if she ever truly knew the man she married.
Camden Baird delivers a standout sequel with The Next Lie. As the second book in the series, it does a great job of catching the reader up on the events of the first installment without relying on a heavy information dump. While I think it is best to read the first book first to fully appreciate the stakes, the transition here feels natural and well-paced.
The structure makes the story super engaging, using very short chapters and multiple timelines to keep the momentum high. The narrative is told from several points of view, which adds layers to the suspense and mystery. Several of the characters are likable, but because everyone is so suspicious, it’s difficult to truly root for anyone. Despite the large cast, they are not hard to keep track of if you have already laid the groundwork with book one. I flew through this book very fast and was sad when it ended!
The Daughter In The Cellar
Yvette Davies
She had kind eyes. Motherly. I noticed her watching me on the train ride to my college reunion—the one I was already dreading because of my ex. So, when our route was unexpectedly diverted, her offer of a ride felt like a godsend. Until I woke up in the freezing darkness of a steel cage. She wasn't my savior. I was her target. And now, she insists I'm the daughter she always wanted. She had kind eyes. Motherly. I noticed her watching me on the train ride to my college reunion—the one I was already dreading because of my ex. So, when our route was unexpectedly diverted, her offer of a ride felt like a godsend. Until I woke up in the freezing darkness of a steel cage. She wasn't my savior. I was her target. And now, she insists I'm the daughter she always wanted.
Thank you to Joffe Books and NetGalley for providing an advanced copy of this title. Violet kidnapping Florence and locking her in the basement sets a tense stage for this thriller. The premise hooked me right away, and the medium-paced story is told from several different points of view, all unfolding in the present tense. This narrative choice gives the terrifying scenario a strong sense of immediacy, and the medium-length chapters keep the suspense moving steadily forward.
Florence was a tough character for me to connect with. Her mood swings so wildly from one moment to the next that it feels jarring rather than like an intentional response to being held captive. In one scene she is aggressively lashing out at Violet, and moments later they are trading jokes as if nothing happened. It left me confused about how Florence really felt about being held captive and made her sections a bit hard to relate to.
Despite my issues with Florence's erratic behavior, the overarching suspense held my attention. There are several twists near the end and the conclusion wrapped things up quite nicely. If you like multi-POV thrillers, complex captor-captive dynamics, and present-tense suspense, then you will enjoy this book. #TheDaughterintheCellar #NetGalley.
16 days
The Other Patient
Daniel Hurst
She possesses the life I was always meant to live. First, I took her name. Now, I’m taking the rest. I turn my head on the stiff hospital pillow, watching the woman in the bed beside me. Long brown hair. High cheekbones. Dark, vacant eyes. We look so alike it's terrifying—and entirely by design. Every step that brought us to this hospital room was meticulously orchestrated. By me. Freya has it all: boundless wealth, endless freedom, and a life most people would kill for. But she doesn't deserve a second of it. For months, I’ve scrubbed her pristine floors and swallowed her entitled demands, playing the invisible maid. She thought I was a nobody. She didn't realize I was watching, learning, and uncovering the dark, rotting secret she hides from the world. While she lay unconscious, the switch was made. I am Freya now. And she has no idea what kind of nightmare I have planned for her next…
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy of this title.
The Other Patient is built on short chapters, though the pacing runs quite slow. The story alternates between Freya and Iris's perspectives, with Iris quickly emerging as the more dominant narrator. She definitely comes off as suspicious throughout, while her boyfriend Isaac tries to keep her in check. Her edge grounds the book, which helps, since there are long stretches focused on describing the character’s thoughts and movements rather than dialogue and that drags the momentum down.
Despite the slow burn, the payoff salvaged the read. Hurst drops in some good twists just as the domestic details start to feel tedious, and the pacing finally snaps into high gear in the last ten chapters. The ending pulls everything together in a satisfying way, leaving me glad I stuck with it to the final page. It requires some patience to get through the middle, but the conclusion delivers exactly what the story needed. If you love unexpected twists and don’t mind a slow burn this book is for you! #NetGalley #TheOtherPatient
24 days
Getting Away With Murder
Shari Lapena
Jill and Ted’s New York brownstone isn't just a house—it's their identity. They’ve perfected every expensive inch. But when a bad investment threatens their sanctuary, they panic.
Their solution is simple and shocking: murder.
To save their home, they plan to kill a wealthy relative and secure the inheritance. It’s the perfect crime... provided they can trust each other, make no mistakes, and avoid any surprises.
Shari Lapena has done it again! "Getting Away with Murder" is a fantastic, medium-paced thriller. The characters are so well-developed and the plot kept me guessing the entire time.
This book is a page turner with little reveals throughout that kept me fully engaged.
I loved watching Jill and Ted spiral as they desperately tried to control their own destiny. It was so enjoyable seeing the chaos and waiting to see how Jill and Ted would handle it.
The plot has such depth compared to a typical, shorter thriller and the ending was satisfying. I highly recommend it if you're looking for a compelling thriller that really lets you sink into the story and enjoy the ride.
31 days
One Of The Family
Mark Edwards
A luxurious Scottish getaway in Applecross turns into a deadly trap when Patrick joins his girlfriend’s wealthy, dysfunctional family for a vacation. The tension centers on Charles, the self-made millionaire patriarch, and his new, much younger fiancée, Jasmine—who bears a haunting resemblance to his late wife. Terrified of losing their inheritance, Charles's adult children are secretly plotting her demise. Caught in a web of greed and resentment, Patrick becomes an accidental witness to a murder scheme. Surrounded by a family of vipers, he must figure out how to survive a vacation where not everyone is meant to make it home.
Mark Edwards delivers a gripping thriller with One of the Family. From the very first chapter, the story pulled me in and refused to let go.
The narrative is told primarily from Patrick’s point of view, with a few brief but highly effective flashbacks that add layers to the unfolding drama. What makes this book so compelling is how easy it is to sympathize with Patrick. He finds himself abruptly caught up in a completely crazy situation, and as the tension escalates, he is forced to navigate a nightmare where every potential way out seems like a genuinely bad option.
Edwards masterfully balances a heavy dose of mystery and intrigue with a relentlessly fast pace. Just when you think you have a handle on the dynamics at play, the story delivers some fantastic surprise twists that completely shift the ground beneath you. It's a suspenseful, emotionally engaging read that puts its protagonist through the wringer and keeps you guessing until the end. This book is a must read for anyone who loves lots of tension, drama and twists you don't see coming! #NetGalley #OnOfTheFamily
45 days
That Night
Gillian McAllister
A European getaway turns into a nightmare when Frannie is involved in a fatal hit-and-run. Panicked, she summons her siblings to the scene—not to call the authorities, but to help her dispose of the body. They agree to a pact of silence to protect their sister, but the cover-up proves more dangerous than the crime itself. As the police investigation heats up, the pressure fractures their family loyalty, forcing them to question what actually happened that night and who is going to break first.
If you are looking for a thriller that will completely consume your attention, That Night by Gillian McAllister is it.
The book is structured with short chapters, multiple POVs, and multiple timelines, which keeps the pace moving quickly; I could not stop turning pages.
McAllister does a brilliant job of sprinkling little mysteries throughout the narrative. Just when you think you have a handle on the situation, a new layer of intrigue is revealed, making it impossible to put down.
Beyond the plot, the emotional stakes are incredibly high. It was so easy to sympathize with Frannie, Cathy, and Joe. The central theme really hit home: most of us have that person (or persons) we would do absolutely anything for, regardless of the cost. Watching these characters navigate that moral grey area made the story feel grounded and terrifyingly realistic.
I highly recommend this book for fans of fast-paced, morally complex thrillers!
#ThatNight #NetGalley
52 days
Heart Of Glass
Jennifer Hillier
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.
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
52 days
The Silent Appeal
Janice Hallett
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.
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.
59 days
The House Swap
Keri Beevis
Desperate for a quiet escape, I arranged a home swap with Tom—a man I thought I knew—and fled to his secluded villa in Crete alongside my best friend, Keira. It was supposed to be a sanctuary of winter sun and silent, empty beaches. At last, room to breathe.
Then Keira vanishes without a word.
Suddenly, paradise feels like a trap. The neighbors watch me with unearned familiarity. The handyman lingers in the shadows. Doors I secured swing open, and objects subtly shift when I’m not looking. I try to blame exhaustion and stress, but the mounting dread is impossible to ignore.
Isolated and questioning my own sanity, one terrifying truth remains: I am a long way from home, and I need to escape before the trap snaps shut.
The House Swap throws you straight into the deep end, told almost entirely from Poppy’s perspective in the present day. The story moves at a fast pace, broken up into medium-sized chapters. The setting adds a heavy layer of tension. Poppy is staying in a gigantic villa in Greece, and that sheer size and isolation really amplifies her paranoia. I spent a large amount of the book trying to decide if she was losing her mind or if there was a calculated conspiracy against her. I could not figure out the truth until the final pieces fell into place.
The twist is a good one. It caught me off guard and shifted the narrative in a way that made all the previous anxiety feel justified. My only real gripe is the final stretch. After such a suspenseful ride, the ending felt a little too abrupt. The fates of certain characters were just settled in a few rushed lines, rather than giving them a proper wrap-up or even leaving things intentionally ambiguous. Still, the psychological manipulation and that striking Greek setting kept me hooked.
If you like isolated foreign settings, intense paranoia, and surprising twists, then you will enjoy this book.
73 days
Xavier Bradshaw: Ghostwriter
W.M. Lessman
Two decades after a string of brutal, unsolved murders haunted Livingston, Alberta, the nightmare has returned. A city councilor is discovered crucified in a local church, and a young woman’s body is left abandoned by the river. Investigative reporter Xavier Bradshaw and his new partner, Jessi, plunge into these macabre echoes of the past—only to find the evidence pointing squarely at Xavier himself.
With the local police eager to close the case and lock him away, Xavier races to uncover the truth. His prime suspect? His own mentor, a renowned horror author whose obsession with the killings borders on the sinister. Time is running out, and if Xavier doesn't unmask the true killer soon, his final byline might be his own obituary.
W.M. Lessman brings a refreshing dynamic to the investigative protagonist with his character Xavier Bradshaw. As an ex-cop turned reporter, Xavier operates with the sharp mind of a detective but without the red tape of law enforcement. He isn't much of a rogue wildcard yet, but staying grounded makes him a solid anchor for the story, and I am curious to see if his personality develops in that direction as the series continues. The supporting cast adds a lot of value too, particularly Stephanie and Bobby, who are great side characters and really help Xavier and Jessi bond with each other.
The story has a slower pace, but it never drags or gets boring. Momentum stays alive thanks to the short chapters, and the author’s wonderful writing. There is a sizable cast to keep track of, but the background provided for each major player is distinct and thorough enough that I never felt lost or confused about who was who.
This leans much more into traditional suspense and mystery territory rather than a high-octane thriller. It builds to a genuinely good twist. The ending, however, wrapped up quickly, leaving the fates of some characters rather vague.
If you like character-driven mysteries, ex-cop protagonists, and methodical pacing, then you will enjoy this book.
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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.