Searching for something to read? Check out some of the new titles releasing the week of November 8 – 14 with two debut series. I hope a few of these books take you on a reading adventure!
NOVEMBER 9
Murder at a Christmas Market by Fliss Chester (Cozy Mystery)
Maddie Penrose has been head-to-toe in tinsel, organising a delightfully cozy Christmas market. She’s just whipped up a fresh batch of mince pies and is serving them at the opening when stallholder Steve Granger pops one in his mouth… and instantly drops dead. Format: Digital, Print, Audio
NOVEMBER 10
Jay to the World by Donna Andrews (Cozy Mystery)
The Christmas season is underway in Caerphilly. The members of the Hollingsworth clan, Meg’s mother’s family, are beginning to arrive in force, and Mother has several special projects underway this year. One is the playhouse she’s having built for Brynn, her two-year-old granddaughter. Brynn is a bright, lively child who loves animals, especially a wounded jay that she and Meg are trying to rehabilitate. She’s also hoping to play matchmaker and set up her cousin with an old friend of hers who was recently widowed. Format: Digital, Print, Audio
Murder in the Mirror by Carolyn Ridder Aspenson (Cozy Mystery) *first book in a new series*
At Echoes Antique Shop on Mill Street, Clara appraises estate silver, haggles with dealers, and keeps Barnaby, the cat who adopted her, off the good furniture. She also keeps a secret. When Clara touches an object with her bare hands, she glimpses ten seconds of its past—one moment, chosen by the object itself, never to be repeated. It’s a gift she’s learned to hide, until a gilded mirror from the Covington estate shows her something no appraisal ever could: the final moments of a murder. Format: Digital, Print
The Friar’s Last Curse by Kathleen Bailey (Cozy Mystery) *first book in a new series*
Wren Meadows is an animal communicator and ghostwriter living in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountain town of Covington Crossroads, Virginia. Between helping lost pets reunite with their families and meeting deadlines for her latest client, life in her charming small town is just the way she likes it—until a frightened woman appears at her door with a desperate plea for help. Format: Digital, Print
All In by David Baldacci (Financial Thriller)
When fearless war correspondent Theresa Lee is shot on a storm-swept Manhattan street and the man she was meeting, Bill Walker, vanishes, the 6:20 Man, aka former Army Ranger turned federal investigator Travis Devine, is called in. Theresa is an investigative journalist, Walker a legendary analyst for the Five Eyes alliance that gathers intelligence that could topple governments around the world. A professional hit team has tried to silence one and snatched the other—and Devine has to find out why. Format: Digital, Print, Audio
Dead Before Tea Time by M. C. Beaton with R.W. Green (Cozy Mystery)
Agatha Raisin’s Cotswolds village is in an uproar when word spreads that their beloved Red Lion pub is set to close. The brewery that owns the building has raised the rent, ousting the pub’s owner so they can redevelop the space into apartments. As the villagers scramble to change the brewery’s mind, Agatha and her team at Raisin Investigations begin looking into more direct ways to save the pub. Format: Digital, Print, Audio
The Mogul by Dick Belsky (Suspense Thriller)
The Mogul is about the front-page murder of a young woman outside a hip Manhattan club and how a media feeding frenzy over this sensational story leads to the downfall of a legendary newspaper mogul and his publishing empire. It’s a suspense thriller—but also a roman à clef of sorts about the New York City media world, based in part on my own background as a top editor for many years at the New York Post, New York Daily News and NBC News. Format: Digital, Print
Rituals and Rolling Pins by Bailey Cates (Cozy Mystery)
Since Katie opened a busy bakery in Savannah serving up sweet treats—with a little spellwork on the side—she’s always on the go. While Katie is on a run in the local marshland preserve to de-swamp her jumbled thoughts, she encounters the shocking sight of her friend, reporter and druid Steve Dawes, standing over a dead body. The way the victim is displayed suggests a magical ritual may have been involved. Format: Digital, Print, Audio
Murder of a Merry Gentleman by Celeste Connally (Historical Mystery, 1810s)
It’s Christmastime, and Lady Petra Forsyth is assisting the Lady Patronesses of Almack’s Assembly Rooms with four bachelor-auction dances to be held in the fortnight before Christmas Eve. With one eligible young lady per night winning the right to dance with the four eligible bachelors—called “the Merry Gentlemen” in a nod to the season—it’s sure to be a delightful event. Format: Digital, Print, Audio
A Necessary Murder by Lesley A. Diehl (Cozy Mystery)
Spring comes to Maddie Sparks’ village and with it, something not so pleasant-the murder of the owner of the local junkyard. Few will miss the man. His junkyard was an eyesore, and the man was an offensive individual rumored to be involved in a number of illegal schemes. When Maddie’s friend Jane becomes a suspect in the murder, she hires Maddie and Maddie’s partner, ex-sheriff, Zack Montgomery, to clear her name. Maddie and Zack take on the case although Maddie’s life is already busy with her writing and helping plan her granddaughter’s upcoming wedding as well as setting a date for her own nuptials with Zack. Format: Digital, Print
Split Second: Thirty-Two Switcheroo by Janet Evanovich (Cozy Mystery)
In a now-or-never moment, Stephanie Plum made the decision of a lifetime. But some lifetimes are shorter than others and Stephanie will be lucky if she makes it to the end of the week. Over the years, Trenton’s best-known bounty hunter has acquired a long list of enemies. It’s an occupational hazard as a bond enforcement agent. The problem is that she now has a mysterious enemy whose name isn’t on any list. Disturbing packages, threatening notes, and near misses are keeping Stephanie in the dark and her anonymous tormentor, who wants her dead, in the shadows. Format: Digital, Print, Audio
Thunderbird Ranch by Laura Griffin (Suspense)
Cal Truitt is dead, no one knows who killed him, and everyone is a suspect. Perhaps it’s his bride-to-be, ranching heiress Faye McCann, who’s facing a midlife crisis after falling into deep debt and being forced to convert her property into a posh retreat. Or maybe it’s one of her three children—who all despised Cal and were summoned to the ranch by Faye to learn some long-buried family secrets. Format: Digital, Print, Audio
The Death of a Wrecker by Emylia Hall (Private Investigator Mystery)
When a diver dies off the coast of St Ives, the verdict is accidental death. For the Shell House Detectives, however, something doesn’t add up. Still uneasy, Ally and Jayden take on what initially looks like an entirely unrelated case: a young woman convinced her fiancé is hiding something. But they have no idea what they’re walking into. Because the secret isn’t infidelity. It’s a centuries-old shipwreck, a priceless cargo, and the kind of attention that gets people killed. Format: Digital, Print, Audio
CrimeBits 3 edited by Mick Herron and Luca Veste (Short Story Crime Fiction Anthology)
CrimeBits is back with a new collection of 100 first pages of thrillers, selected by best-selling author Mick Herron. An exclusive introduction from Herron is included, alongside Murdle-esque linked mystery logic puzzles. Writing challenges, crime trivia, brain-teasers, and editor’s notes are also included. The original Crimebits, selected by Lee Child, author of the Jack Reacher series, was published in 2024. Format: Digital, Print, Audio
The Taken Ones by J.A. Jance (Private Investigator Mystery)
Despite her name, Twinkle Winkleman is as tough as nails. A skilled mechanic and certified spitfire, she has a nose for trouble. So when a young woman from Anchorage disappears after heading to Seattle for an internship that seems too good to be true, Twinkle is convinced that something dangerous is happening. But both the Anchorage and Seattle authorities dismiss her out of hand. Format: Digital, Print, Audio
Spirits of the Law by Elle Jauffret (Traditional Mystery)
When a car plunges off a cliff during Caper Cove’s beloved harvest celebration, former criminal attorney turned caterer Claire Fontaine assumes it’s a tragic accident, until the medical examiner reveals the truth: the victim, a local psychic, was already dead. Now Claire finds herself investigating beneath the looming shadow of LaMaison, a storied cliffside mansion rumored to be cursed. As she prepares to cater its extravagant Halloween Ball, Claire uncovers a century-old injustice tied to stolen land, silenced women, and a ghost who may not be ready to rest. Format: Digital, Print
The Body in the Bath by Ragnar Jónasson (Traditional Mystery)
As snow blankets Reykjavík and Christmas approaches, young detective Helgi is looking forward to a quiet holiday—until those plans are torn away in a flash. One month after his girlfriend Aníta is killed in a car accident, he returns to work in Reykjavík, haunted by loss and rage. The driver—Helgi’s ex-girlfriend Bergþóra, a violent alcoholic whose abuse he kept secret—insists Aníta’s death was an accident and walks free. Format: Digital, Print, Audio
The Cold Read by Tara Laskowski (Domestic Thriller)
A decade ago, the release of the horror film No One Can Hear You Scream catapulted a young no-name cast into Hollywood fame. But below the surface, they were dealing with the fallout of their friend’s tragic death on set. Now the cast is reuniting at the remote ski resort where the movie was filmed to announce the sequel and get a first glimpse of the screenplay. Cassidy, Jake, Ben, and Ruby—they’ve all followed different paths over the years, and each has their own reason for agreeing to return to a place they had sworn to leave behind. Format: Digital, Print, Audio
A Murder at the Village Green Movie Night? by James PJ Lee (Cozy Mystery)
In Goodman Village, Dillon Delaney reluctantly takes on his second murder case when a man, initially thought to be an outsider, is found dead at the village movie night. Driven by his deep belief that in the end only kindness matters, Dillon investigates to bring answers to the victim’s family. While navigating a budding romantic subplot, he braves quiet biases and terrifying warnings to ensure a discarded life gets the justice it deserves. Format: Digital, Print
Death of a Scrooge by Maria Mankin & Maren C. Tirabassi
But maybe it’s appropriate that victim Stuart Baier’s funeral service is as colossal an inconvenience as the man himself was. The local benefactor certainly left the town’s charities in an uproar, with news of his embezzlement from multiple nonprofits breaking on the same morning as his “accidental” death. Format: Digital, Print
Bad Company by Sara Paretsky (Private Investigator Mystery)
To all appearances, Lily Sedako is an ordinary retiree—a seventy-something single woman living in Chicago, her days filled with the routine tasks of normal life. But underneath that exterior, lies a remarkable past. A former CIA field agent, she spent her career in various Central Asian countries, most notably in Hayalistan, a former USSR territory. But everything went sideways when Lily’s connections to the mountain tribes resulted in her being moved to a new post and Rani, the tribal leader and first democratically elected President was removed, presumed killed, in a coup. Format: Digital, Print, Audio
Before I Disappear by Cate Quinn (Psychological Thriller)
Criminologist April Anderson wakes up in a remote motel with a new name, a new identity, and absolutely no memory of how she got there. Told she’s under police protection as the victim of a disturbing crime, she’ll have to stand as a witness on a major trial that she knows nothing about. April isn’t sure who to trust — the cop guarding her from an unknown threat, or the fiancé secretly tracking her. Format: Digital, Print, Audio
The Heist Before Christmas by Lucy Score (Romantic Mystery)
Engaged. Overwhelmed. Running a small business with a purple-haired octogenarian who thinks “Rhonda El Bano” is a convincing alias. For reluctant psychic Riley Thorn, the holidays are less “magic in the air” and more “fire in the living room.” Between the backlog of invoices, a PI license teetering on revocation, a disapproving grandmother lobbing ominous predictions about the upcoming wedding, and the fact that Riley cannot see a single thing about her own future with Nick Santiago, she just wants to survive until December 26th. Format: Digital, Print, Audio
Christmas Traditions & Wagging Tales by Joanna Campbell Slan and CB Wilson (Cozy Mystery)
In the newest Doggone Good Mysteries collection, Joanna Campbell Slan and CB Wilson bring holiday cheer and danger to the St. Charles Christmas Traditions celebration, where festive crowds and Victorian merrymaking make the perfect cover for a killer. Two determined sleuths. Two remarkable dogs. One Christmas full of secrets in historic St. Charles, Missouri. Format: Digital, Print
Mr. Disappear by Virginia Trench (Heist Thriller)
He’s everything they want him to be: a confidante, a sexy escape, a thrill—all that and more can be theirs . . . for a price. His victims never saw the con coming. And it worked every time. Until now: the predator just became prey. Format: Digital, Print, Audio
Silent Bite by Ellie Webster (Cozy Mystery)
Snow is falling on Maple Ridge, the shops are trimmed with twinkling lights, and bookstore owner Tess Holloway has everything she needs for a perfect Christmas: a warm fire at The Book Mark, a teetering stack of holiday reads, and her faithful chocolate Lab, Cocoa, snoring by the hearth. So when the town’s wealthy new arrival throws a lavish costume party at the grand old carriage house, Tess squeezes into the most ridiculous outfit of her life and braces for an evening of mulled wine and merriment. Format: Digital, Print
NOVEMBER 11
Murder by the Book by Maggie Allswell (Cozy Mystery)
Judy and her crime-loving book club are excited to be hosting bestselling author Milton Hardcastle at their beloved bookshop to celebrate his new novel. But the party stops dead when fellow author Rosemary is found poisoned in the ladies’ bathroom – just like in Milton’s story. In a case of murder by the book, Judy knows only her crime-loving book club can solve the mystery. Format: Digital, Print, Audio
NOVEMBER 12
Cameras and Christmas Chaos by Cindy Bell (Cozy Mystery)
Dani’s picked up the perfect winter job, photographing the historic mountain lodge for its grand reopening. And she’s not the only one with a camera. A television crew is filming there too, starring Hailey, a hometown girl turned travel show celebrity. Even Dani’s dogs, Maggie and Jim, have been recruited to appear on the show. Maggie tolerates the attention. Jim is convinced he was born for it. Format: Digital, Print
NOVEMBER 13
A Florist’s Guide to Homicide by Tara Lush (Cozy Mystery)
Clara Whitman traded a failing marriage and Boston winters for a pink 1972 flower truck and a fresh start in Sunny Shores, Florida. Her plan: sell flowers, learn to sweat gracefully, and absolutely not get involved in anything. The plan lasts about a month. Format: Digital
A Fright To Remember by Eryn Scott (Cozy Mystery)
All Queenie Beane wants is a quiet December. October and November were… a lot. She needs time to sort through all the changes going on in her life, mostly those having to do with a certain dark and dangerous coworker. When her ten year high school reunion gets moved up from the summer to next week, Queenie is a hard pass… until her best friend shows up from Oregon as a surprise, and convinces her to go. Format: Digital, Print
NOVEMBER 14
The Forgotten Muse by A. Dianne Reade (Historical Mystery, 1920s)
Young, beautiful, Josephine Northrup leaves her drab life behind when she falls for an up-and-coming artist who convinces her to become his creative muse. Before long, she’s trapped in a cycle of violence and dependence with a baby on the way. When several of the artist’s paintings go missing, Josephine swiftly becomes the prime suspect. Separated from her daughter, trapped in a notorious women’s prison, Josephine’s hopes are quickly fading … then the unthinkable happens. Format: Digital, Print
Note: in some cases, print and audio releases for digital titles will be forthcoming.
Publication date subject to change