Searching for something to read? Check out some of the new titles releasing the week of February 22 – 28, 2026 with five debut series. I hope a few of these books take you on a reading adventure!

FEBRUARY 23
Murder at Sea by Helena Dixon (Historical Mystery 1930s)
Kitty Underhay is enjoying a well-deserved rest when her very upset cousin Hattie suddenly bursts in. She sobs that the gentleman she had been seeing, Richard Westonholme, seems to have vanished, taking all of her jewellery with him. As Hattie describes Richard, he sounds eerily familiar, and Kitty and her husband Matt board a ship in hot pursuit – only to find him lying in a lifeboat… dead. Format: Digital, Print

Remodelling Murder by Nic Scanlan-Dyas (Traditional Mystery) *first book in a new series*
When renovation workers from Yukiko Curiosity Design uncover a body in a locked bedroom at Sibson Hall, a recently purchased estate outside Royal Tunbridge Wells, the scene looks like suicide—except for a handful of odd details that refuse to fit. The victim clutches a wooden mallet, there’s no key to the locked door, and questions about ghosts and yakuza ties ripple through the household. Format: Digital, Audio

FEBRUARY 24
The Whisking Hour by Ellie Alexander (Cozy Mystery)
Fall is in full flush in the charming hamlet of Ashland, Oregon, and baker Juliet Capshaw is excited to celebrate the season with a night at the theatre. Lance Rousseau, Ashland’s renowned theater director and one of Jules’ closest friends, has put his own spin on a production of the Broadway classic Perfect Crime, drawing the audience into a cozy New York apartment as a nefarious set of suspects pulls off the perfect murder. As the final show approaches, Jules and the team at Torte are eagerly whipping up a murderous feast for the cast party, baking a bevy of treats like panna cotta eyeballs with blood orange coulis, deviled eggs, and savory cheese fingers with pumpkin dipping sauce. Format: Digital, Print

The Crossroads by C.J. Box (Crime Thriller)
Marybeth Pickett gets the call she has always dreaded: her husband Joe is in critical condition with a gunshot wound to the head. Joe was found in his pickup at Antler Creek Junction, a crossroads connecting three ranches. Each road leading to a dangerous family. Each family with a different bone to pick with the local game warden. Marybeth and the new sheriff assume that Joe was ambushed by one of the families, but they have no idea which one since Joe didn’t say where he was going or why. Format: Digital, Print, Audio

Sleuthing with the Stars by Lynn Cahoon (Cozy Mystery)
Business is booming as an Olympic cyclist and a famous filmmaker come to town for a film festival and schedule signings at Rarity’s bookshop. Luckily, her former employee Darby is back from Scotland and ready to help out. But just as the filmmaker’s cult classic starts to roll, Rarity finds him dead . . . Format: Digital, Print, Audio

The Curious Case of the Poisoned Professor by Lucy Connelly (Cozy Mystery) *first book in a new series*
After crossing the pond, Dr. Gwen Griffith finds herself in the quirky place she fell in love with, Dillynaidd, Wales. A former managing editor for a Texan newspaper, Gwen is ready for the next stage in her life as the head of the journalism department at the local university in town. With her best friend, Carolyn Sparks–who is also the university’s dean–at her side, Dillynaidd feels like a dream, until murder comes knocking at her doorstep. Format: Digital, Print

Tail of Deception by Darlene Dziomba (Cozy Mystery)
When Forever Friends Animal Shelter hosts its annual Walk and Run fundraiser, they expect sore feet, wagging tails, and enough donations to keep every dog and cat in comfort. However, when one of the runners collapses at the finish line, the successful fundraising is overshadowed by a tragic death. Format: Digital, Print

Crime on the Coast by Marty Eberhardt (Cozy Mystery)
Bea Rivers has had three years to settle into her new role as the executive director of Shandley Gardens. She loves the job even if it sometimes interferes with raising her family. Out of the blue she is invited by an old college friend, Paige Pearson, to attend an intimate botanical garden conference at the seaside La Jolla Gardens in exclusive La Jolla, California. Bea decides to attend and convinces her friend Lila Busby, who just became the director of a garden in New Mexico, to attend as well. Format: Digital, Print

What Happened That Night by Nicci French (Psychological Thriller)
Tyler Green, convicted of murdering his friend Leo at a student house party in 1993, has been released after almost three decades in prison. He has always protested his innocence. On a warm evening in London, Tyler summons eight of his university friends who were present on that fateful night. Is it just a reunion – or something else? With wine—and accusations— flowing liberally, the reunion descends into violent chaos, and one friend will end the night with their throat slit in the upstairs bedroom…the same way that Leo’s was in 1993. Format: Digital, Print, Audio

Side Hustle by Wendy Gee (Police Procedural)
Charleston’s top investigative TV reporter, Sydney Quinn, lives to expose the city’s darkest secrets. So when a former firefighter takes two paramedics hostage, she talks her way inside, offering to gather intel in exchange for a story that could boost her career. But when Sydney finds the body of her friend, a local insurance executive, at the scene, the scoop of a lifetime turns personal. Format: Digital, Print

Pinky Swear by Danielle Girard (Domestic Thriller)
Lexi thought she knew everything about Mara Vannatta. Best friends since middle school, they drifted apart after a tragedy derailed their senior year. But when Mara shows up on Lexi’s doorstep sixteen years later fleeing an abusive husband, Lexi takes her in without question. Lexi’s own marriage has been strained by her desire to have a baby, and when Mara offers to become her surrogate, their friendship feels stronger than ever. Format: Digital, Print, Audio

Eyewitness In Danger by Nicole Helm (Romantic Suspense)
Sheriff’s deputy Royal Campbell knows he’s been assigned to quiet little Hope Town because he’s the rookie. Things get interesting when Franny Perkins witnesses a kidnapping and the FBI takes over Royal’s investigation. The sheriff wants Royal to stay close to Franny for her safety and because of Royal’s experience with the feds—even though that experience was on the other side of the law. Staying close to Franny gets more complicated once it’s clear that she’s in danger. And after she and Royal share one reckless kiss… Format: Digital, Print

Crown City by Naomi Hirahara (Historical Mystery 1900s)
Eighteen-year-old Ryunosuke “Ryui” Wada staggers off the boat from Yokohama, Japan, ready to reinvent himself after the untimely deaths of his parents. Though battling loneliness and culture shock, Ryui does his best to settle into his work as an art dealer’s apprentice while adjusting to his new home. From his enigmatic photographer roommate, Jack, to the beautiful seamstress living downstairs, Ryui finds himself surrounded by colorful characters and unbelievable opportunities and is soon utterly swept up in all “Crown City” has to offer. Format: Digital, Print, Audio

A Pretender’s Murder by Christopher Huang (Historical Mystery 1920s)
Few have given more for the Empire than Colonel Hadrian Russell. Robbed of his four sons by the Great War, he now holds court as the acting president of the Britannia, a prestigious soldiers-only club in London. But when the Colonel is shot and thrown out the club’s front window, it seems the shadows of the Great War may extend further than previously thought. Format: Digital, Print, Audio

J. J. Tabasco’s Do-It-Yourself Detective Agency by Carl Martin Johnson (Traditional Mystery)
J. J. Tabasco is not the worst detective on the North American continent, but he’s close. An American expat in Cancun, J. J. can’t become a licensed private investigator. So he figured out a way to skirt the law with a “Do-It-Yourself” method, instructing clients on how to find the information they need. Format: Digital, Print, Audio

The Death of a Bad Egg by Kathryn Johnson (Cozy Mystery)
When a tourist dies under mysterious circumstances while visiting charming Evansfield, Vermont’s July 4th festivities, the local sheriff believes the man’s death is due to a freak accident. But Verity Cade, dairy farmer and amateur sleuth, isn’t convinced. Ironically, her astute observations not only change the lawman’s mind, they result in the arrest of her young farmhand. Things look bad for Jason, whose violent argument with the victim was witnessed by half the town. Format: Digital, Print, Audio

Love A Comeback by Ruthie Knox & Annie Mare (Mystery Romance)
Since the hugely successful reunion special for their hit show Craven’s Daughter, TV detectives Bex and Sam find themselves busier than ever—but, unfortunately, two thousand miles apart for long months. So much for quickly coaxing the long-simmering spark between them into flame. Finally back in L.A., though, all bets are off, and Bex and Sam are looking forward to some IRL time by the pool—at least until Bex’s sister Vic brings home a truly juicy bit of gossip garnered from her nepo baby girl squad . . . Format: Digital, Print, Audio

Buried in Shamrocks by Lisa Q. Mathews (Cozy Mystery)
Kate and her daughters, Maeve and Bliz, are back in Shamrock, Massachusetts, and Kate faces a big decision: Should they move back to their hometown for good? As she contemplates the idea, all the businesses in town, including her family’s B&B, the Buckley House, are busy preparing for the annual Great Shamrock Fair in hopes of luring back tourists after a murder during St. Patrick’s Week. Format: Digital, Print, Audio

Murder by Moonrise by Patrice McDonough (Historical Mystery 1860s)
For commoners and nobility alike, the Isle of Wight is an ideal holiday destination. Queen Victoria and her family frequently spend time at Osborne House, their stunning coastal residence. For the next few days the island will also be home to Dr. Julia Lewis, who is traveling with her grandfather and her great-aunt. But despite the pleasant surroundings, Julia is beset by worries. Format: Digital, Print, Audio

Booking For Trouble by Jenn McKinlay (Cozy Mystery)
Just off the shores of the coastal Connecticut town of Briar Creek are two small islands, which library director Lindsey Norris visits with her new book-boat, inspired by the bookmobiles she’s seen traveling across the country. Nothing, not even the infamous feud between the families who own the Split Islands, can stop Lindsey from getting books into the hands of readers. But when Lindsey and her boat captain husband, Mike Sullivan, discover a body on the rocky outcropping of one of the islands, Lindsey’s new library venture quickly becomes a murder investigation. Format: Digital, Print, Audio

Easter Egg Murder by Leslie Meier, Lee Hollis, & Peggy Ehrhart (Cozy Short Story Anthology)
Light pink, robin’s egg blue, daffodil yellow, mint green—Easter eggs hiding sweet treats come in every pastel color. But in a few small towns this year, cracking them could be more fatal than fun… Easter Egg Murder by Leslie Meier, Death by Another Easter Egg by Lee Hollis, An Eggy Way To Die by Peggy Ehrhart are the three stories in this anthology. Format: Digital, Print, Audio

Blood Relay by Devon Mihesuah (Suspense)
Choctaw Detective Perry Antelope has been with her partner, Sophia Burns, for only six months. Perry is a seasoned investigator while the ex-Olympian shot putter Sophia is a former street-smart police officer. Together, they are an intrepid pair with an established record of success. But when Perry and Sophia are called to investigate the disappearance of Dels Billy, a beloved women’s Indian Horse Relay rider, they quickly realize that it’s not as cut-and-dry as anything they’ve faced before. Format: Digital, Print, Audio

Murder at Irish Session by Carlene O’Connor (Cozy Mystery)
Siobhán loves to see the joy playing trad music brings to her brother Ciaran, but his concern that he’ll never find a mate pulls at her heartstrings. So she proposes that Kilbane host a music and matchmaking festival to draw single trad musicians. While renowned matchmaker Liam Noone plays Cupid with his Lucky Book, music—and hopefully love—will fill the pubs and the autumn air. Format: Digital, Print, Audio

How to Get Away with Murder by Rebecca Philipson (Police Procedural)
Detective Inspector Samantha Hansen has been on leave for six months, recovering from a breakdown she suffered at work, but when a fourteen-year-old girl is murdered in a local park, Sam jumps at the chance to return to the job and prove that she’s still got what it takes to be the Yard’s most successful homicide detective. One of the case’s only leads is a copy of a self-help book found in the victim’s backpack called How To Get Away With Murder by a man named Denver Brady. Format: Digital, Print, Audio

Revenge In Giverny by Ann Rose (Traditional Mystery)
Just when Reed and I are finally getting somewhere with this whole “staying married” thing, a cryptic lead about my estranged father drags us to Giverny, France. Here we are in Monet’s picturesque garden, tracking down one dead lead after another. Then a famous artist is found dead, buried under a mountain of rice in his studio. Millions of dollars of art stolen. Format: Digital, Print, Audio

A Whiff of Murder by Angela M. Sanders(Cozy Mystery) *first book in a new series*
Some people read auras—a light or color that surrounds others, revealing their character or emotions. Lise Bloom reads ribbons—of fragrance, that is. Whether she’s around old friends or new, fragrance often unfurls from them—an ability called “clairalience.” Hoping to gain insight into her gift, Lise works at the Lucky Lotus, a New Age shop. Unfortunately, the oils the owner, Dyann, concocts, nauseate Lise and impede her sense of scent. Format: Digital, Print, Audio

Behind the Badge by Patricia Sargeant (Romantic Suspense) *first book in a new series*
When rookie homicide detective Crystal Rashaad’s partner is murdered, it’s a chilling echo of a cold case that’s personal for her. This is her first big investigation, so she seeks guidance in profiling the killer from Special Agent Lucas Gilchrist. He’s eager to get close to Crys—because he’s trying to prove she’s a corrupt cop. Even as he searches for proof of her guilt, though, he’s drawn to her brilliance and boldness. Solving a string of homicides may be easier than winning Crys’s forgiveness when she learns Luke’s secret… Format: Digital, Print

Hanging by a Thread by Jasmine Webb (Cozy Mystery)
When a man is found hanging in the coffee shop, Mack is happy to leave the case to the authorities. But when the death is ruled a murder, it’s clear someone is brewing up trouble. Sophie’s boss and the Ugly Mug owner Anne soon emerges as the primary suspect, and Sophie begs her to step in and help find the real culprit. Format: Digital, Print

Eleanor and the South Beach Murders by Ellen Yardley (Historical Mystery 1950s)
With a flurry of UN engagements bringing Mrs. Roosevelt to vibrant South Beach, Kay Thompson is thrilled to escape the post-Christmas blues in Washington, DC—and distance herself from the sting of her recent breakup with private investigator Tim O’Malley. The dizzying sights and sounds of Miami reach their peak at the Copa City Club, where a late-night meeting with singer Josephine Baker reveals a troubling truth: Baker’s bold stand against segregation has made her a target. Format: Digital, Print, Audio

FEBRUARY 28
Death at Diamond Hill by Maisie Graves (Cozy Mystery)
Winter has settled over Balsam Bay, but peace is in short supply. When a mysterious company buys the land at Diamond Hill, plans for a new ski development stir fresh unease through the already divided northern Manitoba town. Shopkeeper and former search-and-rescue leader Tilly Lafleur had hoped for a quiet season at McKay’s General Store, but those plans vanish when she discovers a body near soon-to-open resort. Format: Digital, Print

A Deadly Plot by Karen MacInerney (Cozy Mystery)
Autumn has arrived in Snug Harbor, bringing crisp breezes, colorful leaves, and… controversy. A new cruise ship deal has the whole town in an uproar, and to Max’s dismay, her boyfriend Nicholas is caught squarely in the middle of the storm. When his stunning law partner, Larissa, is found dead along the Shore Path, the police waste no time arresting Nicholas. Format: Digital, Print

What’s A Little Blackmail Between Friends by Lynn Morrison (Historical Mystery 1860s) *first book in a new series*
Edith ‘Etty’ Redgrave has spent two years perfecting the art of quiet rebellion. But when her best friend, Princess Louise, begs her to retrieve a scandalous sketch before it destroys the royal family, Etty’s carefully curated independence shatters. Enter Tristan Bankes-Fernsby, Duke of Rockingham. Cold, controlled, and the Queen’s personal fixer, he has been sent to contain the same problem and has no patience for interference. Especially from a determined woman who refuses to stay in her place. Format: Digital, Print
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Note: in some cases, print releases for digital titles will be forthcoming.
Publication date subject to change