Books
Best crime books of 2026: New thrillers to read this year
It’s going to be a great year for crime fiction fans, with a bumper crop of gripping new thrillers coming our way in 2026. Amongst them are brilliant new books from some of our favourite authors – including Anthony Horowitz, James Patterson and Claire Douglas – as well as the latest instalments of must-read series, and some stunning standalones from exciting new talent.
Below, we have rounded up 15 of the newest and most anticipated crime books of 2026. It’s time to get those pre-orders in…
New books in popular series
A Deadly Episode by Anthony Horowitz
A Deadly Episode by Anthony Horowitz
out 23rd April
The sixth book in the Hawthorne and Horowitz series is another slice of fiendish fun. This time we’re on a film set, where the first Hawthorne and Horowitz mystery novel, The Word is Murder, is being turned into a film. The whole production has been chaos, with delays and a dwindling budget. Now the star actor David Caine, who was playing former Detective Inspector Daniel Hawthorne, is dead and the real Hawthorne – joined by his sidekick Anthony Horowitz – has been called in to investigate.
The Lost Women by Tim Weaver
The Lost Women by Tim Weaver
out 26th February
Missing persons investigator David Raker is still haunted by an 18-year-old mystery where three women vanished from a small Cornish island. A new case sees him trying to track down a missing husband and he soon discovers a horrifying connection to the lost women. With only 48 hours to solve the case, this is a pulse-pounding race against time thriller – the 15th in the David Raker series. With Mick Herron and Chris Whitaker among his fans, Weaver is one to know if you’re a crime fiction fan.
Berwick by LJ Ross
Berwick by L J Ross
out 26th February
The much-anticipated hardback release of Berwick, the latest in the DCI Ryan series, picks up nicely from the cliffhanger at end of the previous book Belsay (no spoilers here!). But this time, Ryan is investigating a case that’s close to home: his wife, Anna, has been arrested for the murder of a well-known author. As always, L J Ross makes the most of the Northumbrian landscape and it’s a joy to be back with DCI Ryan and his team.
Antihero by Gregg Hurwitz
Antihero by Gregg Hurwitz
out 12th February
The next propulsive instalment of Gregg Hurwitz’s best-selling Orphan X series is here and it’s another full-throttle ride. After a young woman is kidnapped from the subway in New York and left traumatised, former government assassin Evan (aka Orphan X) steps in to hunt down the thugs who hurt her. Josephine ‘Joey’ Morales, a former Orphan operative and Evan’s surrogate daughter, acts as Evan’s sidekick in the investigation, and their deepening relationship is the emotional core of the book.
The Defence by Rob Rinder
The Defence by Rob Rinder
out 18th June
Rob Rinder, aka Judge Rinder, has proven himself as a storyteller in his entertaining series of courtroom thrillers and they just keep getting better and better. In his latest, MP-turned-wellness guru Adrian Wells has been murdered in front of a room full of influencers, and it’s barrister Adam Green’s job to defend the chief suspect: Adrian’s PA, Jules. There’s a great balance of humour and drama in this perfectly paced read.
Standalone crime fiction for 2026
The Family Friend by Claire Douglas
The Family Friend by Claire Douglas
out 12th March
Claire Douglas has become known for her addictive domestic thrillers and her new book for 2026 promises to be just as gripping as last year’s The New Neighbours. When Imogen finds out she has inherited a Regency villa in Bath from Dorothea, a friend of her mum’s she hasn’t seen for years, she decides to take the opportunity for a fresh start. Once there, however, rumours start to swirl that Dorothea was murdered, and Imogen realises she may be in danger too.
A Killer in Paradise by Tom Hindle
A Killer in Paradise by Tom Hindle
out 15th January
Escape to the Costa Rican rainforest with this brilliantly compulsive thriller from the author of Murder on Lake Garda. A group of old university friends has been invited to the launch of Abigail Blythe’s new luxury hotel. The group were close to Abi until 10 years ago when she suddenly ghosted them – so why has she invited them? The reader knows from chapter one that someone has been murdered, but there’s twist after twist until the final reveal.
Judge Stone by James Patterson and Viola Davis
Judge Stone by James Patterson and Viola Davies
out 9th March
The heavyweight pairing of best-selling author James Patterson and award-winning actress Viola Davies might be unexpected, but together they’ve created a zinger of a legal thriller. Judge Mary Stone is a well-respected member of the tight-knit Union Springs community in Alabama – until she draws a controversial case that divides the small town. A doctor is arrested after carrying out an abortion on a 13-year-old girl in a state where abortion is illegal under any circumstance. Judge Stone is forced to decide between the law and justice, in this tense, timely read.
Getting Away With Murder by Shari Lapena
Getting Away with Murder by Shari Lapena
out 16th July
The author of the best-selling domestic thriller Everyone Here is Lying returns with a new story about deception, murder, and a seriously dysfunctional family. Ted and Jill love their elegant Brooklyn brownstone and high-flying lifestyle. So, when they make a bad investment and their livelihood is threatened, they go to extreme lengths to protect themselves: they plot to kill a wealthy family member. With characters you’ll love to hate and red herrings galore, this smart, suspenseful thriller is made for reading in one sitting.
The Truth About Ruby Cooper by Liz Nugent
The Truth About Ruby Cooper by Liz Nugent
out 12th March
Liz Nugent has described this new novel as “significantly different” to anything she’s written before and we’re certainly intrigued. The story revolves around two sisters, Ruby and Erin, who live a comfortable life in Boston until an incident involving Ruby implodes the family. Their Irish mother takes Ruby back to Dublin while Erin stays in Boston with her father. The novel follows the family over the next 25 years, examining the ramifications of the incident and the trail of destruction left in its wake.
Such a Nice Girl by Andrea Mara
Such a Nice Girl by Andrea Mara
out 7th May
The author of All Her Fault (now a TV series starring Sarah Snook) returns with another high-concept thriller that will keep readers glued to the page. Two best friends believe one of their adult daughters has tried to kill the other. Both girls are missing and neither mother knows who is the victim and who the culprit. The action kicks off from the first page and Andrea Mara just keeps ramping up the tension until the explosive finale.
The Drowning Place by Sarah Hilary
The Drowning Place by Sarah Hilary
out 16th April
The ever-excellent Sarah Hilary returns to police procedurals for her 10th book, which is the start of a new series. Joseph Ashe is known in Edenscar, in the Peak District, as the only survivor of a horrific bus crash that killed all his classmates. Now a Detective Sergeant in the local police, Joe is called to the scene of a brutal and apparently inexplicable crime that stirs up memories of the tragedy. There’s a supernatural element here that really adds to the darkly atmospheric mood.
New voices in crime fiction
How to Get Away with Murder by Rebecca Philipson
How to Get Away with Murder by Rebecca Phillipson
out 12th March
This debut has an ingenious premise: a serial killer is on the rampage and the only way to stop them is to read between the lines of the manual they leave behind at each crime scene. The treatise, literally titled “How to Get Away with Murder”, is complete with step-by-step instructions that mirror each crime. With dark humour sprinkled throughout, this is an addictive read from a new writer to watch.
The Pie & Mash Detective Agency by J.D. Brinkworth
The Pie and Mash Detective Agency by J. D. Brinkworth
out 26th February
This brilliant new addition to the cosy crime genre is as funny as it is gripping. The unlikely sleuths are Jane Pye and Simon Mash, a couple who have signed up for a private detective night class on a whim and now find themselves investigating a very strange case indeed: a woman named Nellie Thorne has disappeared – but she’s the fifth Nellie Thorne in 50 years to do so. If you like your mysteries extra quirky, this one is for you.
The Hiding Season by A.C. Glass
The Hiding Season by A. C. Glass
out 26th March
After a difficult divorce, Maya Landry escapes to the solitude of Montana to lick her wounds. But her new-found peace is short-lived when she witnesses a brutal crime and nobody believes her. As the only witness, she becomes a target for the killer and so begins a dangerous game of cat and mouse. Set in an off-season luxury ski resort, this propulsive new thriller is the perfect read for people who like stories where the landscape is as dangerous as the people in it.
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