Books
6 new crime authors to know in 2026
A brand-new year means a brand-new list of crime fiction to look forward to. While many of our favourite big name crime authors are back with new novels, including Gregg Hurwitz, Anthony Horowitz and Gillian McAllister, there are also some very exciting debuts by new crime writers coming out in the next few months.
We predict many of these new writers will be joining the ranks of best crime authors in years to come. So, whether you’re a fan of domestic noir or gritty police procedurals, the following are the best debut novels of 2026 to add to your reading pile.
Debut crime novels to read this year
The Pie & Mash Detective Agency by J.D. Brinkworth
1. The Pie & 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 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… and she’s the fifth Nellie Thorne in 50 years to do so. If you like your mysteries with a side of quirk, this one is for you.
Perfect for fans of: Richard Osman, Agatha Christie, The Word is Murder.
How to Get Away with Murder by Rebecca Philipson
2. How to Get Away with Murder by Rebecca Philipson
out 2nd March
Detective Sam Hansen returns to work to investigate the murder of teenage girl. At the scene of the crime, she finds a manual for aspiring killers titled How to Get Away with Murder, signed by prolific serial killer Denver Brady. Told in chapters that alternate between Sam and Denver, Rebecca Philipson’s debut novel is a fresh take on the serial killer thriller. It’s part-police procedural, part-puzzle – and impossible to put down.
Perfect for fans of: Anthony Horowitz, Janice Hallett, Dexter.
Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino
3. Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino
out 15th January
Most of us would go quite far to secure our dream home – but would you resort to stalking, blackmail and worse? That’s the premise of this wry, smart thriller set in Washington DC. Margo and her husband have lost out on 11 properties so, when she finds a house she loves, Margo’s prepared to take some unusual measures to make sure it’s hers. Described as Gone Girl meets Selling Sunset, this is a unique domestic thriller that will keep you on tenterhooks until the last page.
Perfect for fans of: Jessica Knoll, Gillian McAllister, Bella Mackie.
A Bad, Bad Place by Frances Crawford
4. A Bad, Bad Place by Frances Crawford
out 12th February
When 12-year-old Janey Devine comes across the body of a murdered woman on an abandoned railway in late 1970s Glasgow, it brings an abrupt end to her childhood. The woman is Samantha Watson, daughter of notorious gangster Billy “The Ghost”, and now he wants answers. With one of the most distinctive and freshest narrative voices published this year, this dark and gritty read about the far-reaching effects of a murder on a community will appeal to fans of Val McDermid and Louise Welsh.
Perfect for fans of: The List of Suspicious Things, Val McDermid, Shari Lapena.
The Exes by Leodora Darlington
5. The Exes by Leodora Darlington
out 26th February
Natalie and her husband James argue one night but then her memory goes blank. She wakes up from a blackout with a knife in her hand and a strong sense that history is repeating itself: all of Natalie’s exes have ended up dead. But is she a cold-blooded killer or is there something else going on? This is a superbly entertaining read with a string of plot twists that you won’t see coming.
Perfect for fans of: Lisa Jewell, Samantha Downing, The Girl on the Train.
The Secret Lives of Murderers' Wives by Elizabeth Arnott
6. The Secret Lives of Murderers’ Wives by Elizabeth Arnott
out 9 April
Beverley, Elsie, and Margot are all wives of convicted killers who form an unlikely friendship after the discovery of their husbands’ brutal crimes. When a string of killings hits the news, the three women come together to investigate – because who knows more about tracking down a killer than someone who has shared their home with one? Set in the sweltering heat of 1960s California and oozing with style, this psychological thriller should go straight to the top of your reading pile.
Perfect for fans of: Tess Gerritsen, Rachel Rhys, The Maid.
Did we miss any debut crime novels off our list? Let us know in the comments below…
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