2026 ARC Reviews
Spoiler-free early reviews of the most anticipated upcoming releases.
55 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!
76 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
90 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
97 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
97 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.
139 days
Do You See What I See?
Peter Swanson
When struggling author Nicholas Child is sent to a Cape Cod mansion to help the famous Marco Tavares finish a long-overdue sequel, he expects a quiet holiday. Instead, he finds a seaside estate dripping with festive decor but devoid of cheer. Every guest at the gathering has a reason to want Marco dead—from his estranged wife and bitter ex-girlfriend to a rival writer claiming Marco stole his best ideas.
As Christmas approaches, a night of heavy drinking ends with two corpses and a house full of suspects. Trapped in a web of old grudges and hidden agendas, Nicholas becomes convinced the entire weekend was a setup from the start.
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for an advanced copy of this book.
I really love this Christmas novella for its clever structure and depth. The inclusion of a "cast list" at the very beginning is a brilliant move; by identifying the characters before the first chapter starts, the narrative never gets bogged down in clunky introductions, allowing the tension to remain front and center. Despite the shorter length, the story offers a surprising amount of depth, unfolding in layers that make the narrative feel far larger than its page count suggests.
The book consists of only three long chapters, which helps it read like a full-length novel. The constant sense of mystery is captivating and kept me turning pages until the end. Nicholas is an exceptionally well-developed protagonist for a novella, and the "story-within-a-story" approach—written from his perspective as he writes his own account—is a particularly engaging way to reveal the plot.
#DoYouSeeWhatISee #NetGalley
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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.