10 books to watch out for in 2026

Happy New Year, bookish fam!! 🎉

It’s January 01, 2026! Officially 2026, and you know what that means!!
New Year, New Books!!!!

2026 is already stacked with unputdownable cozies, heart-racing thrillers, magical bookshops, doggy detectives, and villainous romance that will have us all glued to the pages. I’ve been stalking publisher catalogs, requesting ARCs, and chatting with authors, and I can already tell: 2026 is going to spoil us mystery lovers. From long‑running series I can’t quit to debuts that absolutely blew me away, here are the releases I’m most excited to share with you this year.

Some of these books I’ve been lucky enough to read early, others I’m counting down to with barely contained excitement, but every single one of them reminds me why I love being a reader. If your 2026 reading plans need inspiration, motivation, or just a little bookish joy, consider this your official kickoff.

January 2026

The Devil in the Details (Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery #11)

Author: Vicki Delany
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books | ARC by NetGalley
Release Date: January 6, 2026
[Book Review | Goodreads | Storygraph | Hardcover | Fable | Pagebound]

Vicki Delany always finds a way to surprise me, and this installment is something special. A wedding week, a birthday dinner, and a tightly contained group of suspects give this mystery an intimate, high-stakes feel. The Sherlock Holmes birthday tie-in is sheer brilliance, and the emotional weight behind the investigation makes this one unforgettable. I’ve already read it, adored it, and cannot wait for readers to fall in love with Gemma and Jayne all over again.

The Murder at World’s End (Stockingham & Pike #1)

Author: Ross Montgomery
Genre: Historical Cozy Mystery
Publisher: William Morrow | ARC by NetGalley
Release Date: January 6, 2026
[Book Review | Goodreads | Storygraph | Hardcover | Fable | Pagebound]

Knives Out meets Downton Abbey in a locked-room gothic delight! I grabbed this ARC on pure vibes via NetGalley and got hooked by the 1910 Cornwall setting, family secrets, and that clever howdunit twist. The dynamic between the erratic Miss Decima and sharp Stephen Pike is fresh and sparkling. I’m already curious for more in this series. It’s got potential to be a bestseller, and curiosity like this? It counts big time! Solid start to what could become an obsession.

Death by Irish Coffee (Bookstore Café Mystery #14)

Author: Alex Erickson
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Publisher: Kensington Cozies | ARC by NetGalley
Release Date: January 27, 2026
[Book Review | Goodreads | Storygraph | Hardcover | Fable | Pagebound]

Alex Erickson somehow continues to write one of the most believable small-town heroines in cozy mystery. This St. Patrick’s Day-themed installment is warm, funny, and surprisingly emotional. The mystery genuinely surprised me, the character moments hit hard, and by the end I was already desperate for the next book. This series just keeps getting better.

February 2026

How to Get Away with Murder

Author: Rebecca Philipson
Genre: Thriller
Publisher: Minotaur Books | ARC by NetGalley
Release Date: February 24, 2026
[Book Review | Goodreads | Storygraph | Hardcover | Fable | Pagebound]

THIS DEBUT?! Sit down, because Rebecca Philipson just drop-kicked the thriller world! The novel-within-a-novel structure is bold, addictive, and executed with eerie precision. Sensitive topics do appear (murder details, trauma mentions), but Phlipson handles them with precision. This is far outside my usual cozy comfort zone, but I couldn’t stop reading. It’s unsettling in the best way and proof that 2026 debuts are not here to play.

March 2026

Spellbound by Murder (Mystic Hollow Bookshop #1)

Author: Stacie Ramey
Genre: Paranormal Cozy Mystery
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books | ARC by NetGalley
Release Date: March 10, 2026
[Book Review | Goodreads | Storygraph | Hardcover | Fable | Pagebound]

Gilmore Girls meets Charmed in the BEST paranormal cozy I’ve read in ages! I adored every pop‑culture reference, the literary nods (Harry Potter, Narnia, Oz, FRIENDS!), and the beautifully layered family dynamics. It’s funny, heartwarming, and filled with witchy whimsy, which makes it perfect for readers craving humor with their hauntings. Don’t miss it when it releases on March 10, 2026.

April 2026

Cat on a Hot Tin Woof (Chet and Bernie Mystery #16)

Author: Spencer Quinn
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Publisher: Minotaur Books | ARC by NetGalley
Release Date: April 14, 2026
[Book Review | Goodreads | Storygraph | Hardcover | Fable]

Sixteen books in, and Spencer Quinn hasn’t lost one iota of charm. Told entirely from Chet the dog’s perspective, this case mixes laugh‑out‑loud moments with genuine heart. Watching Chet wrestle between disdain for cats and loyalty to Bernie never gets old, and Quinn’s sharp humor keeps the mystery both light and engaging. I’ll be revisiting this on audiobook the second it’s out.

This Weekend Doesn’t End Well for Anyone (The Vacation Mysteries #3)

Author: Catherine Mack
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Release Date: April 28, 2026
[Book Review | Goodreads | Storygraph | Hardcover | Fable | Pagebound]

This book reestablished my trust in this series and then supercharged it. Meta, clever, and tightly plotted, it doubles as a closed-room mystery and a playful how-to guide for writing one. The author conference setting is irresistible, the footnotes are comedy gold, and Eleanor Dash continues to be a standout sleuth. Cozy mystery fans should not miss this.

May 2026

Hot Wings and Homicide (A Food Truck Mystery #2)

Author: Carmela Dutra
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books | Signed ARC by Carmela herself (I LOVE HER!!!!)
Release Date: May 12, 2026
[Goodreads | Storygraph | Hardcover | Fable]

This one is pure happiness. Carmela Dutra is not only an author I adore, but a genuinely wonderful human, and her writing reflects that warmth. After loving A Murder Most Fowl, book two has me laughing nonstop. I am counting down to May 12 so everyone else can finally experience the humor, heart, and sheer fun I’ve already been living with.

Voted Most Likely to Murder

Author: Lacey Moone
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Release Date: May 12, 2026
[Book Review | Goodreads | Storygraph | Hardcover | Fable | Pagebound]

I am still in disbelief that this is a debut. Lacey Moone delivers sharp plotting, genuine warmth, and laugh-out-loud moments with absolute confidence. The high school reunion premise, the Nova Scotia setting, and Belinda “Pretty” Bishop’s messy charm make this a standout cozy mystery. This book is going to find a lot of fans very quickly.

August 2026

Adversary to the Villain (Assistant to the Villain #4)

Author: Hannah Nicole Maehrer
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: Entangled: Red Tower Books
Release Date: August 4, 2026
[Goodreads | Storygraph | Hardcover | Fable | Pagebound]

I have read every book in this series and I am not emotionally prepared for what comes next. After the devastating cliffhanger in the last installment, I need answers immediately. Evie, Trystan, the frog, the dragon, the sisters, all lives rent-free in my head. August cannot arrive fast enough.

Looking ahead to 2026

There you have it! My 2026 must‑reads! It’s the year of magic, murder, and mayhem (in the coziest, most page‑turning way possible). From paranormal bookshops to fantasy villains, caffeine‑fueled detectives to gothic historical cases, this list has a little something for everyone.

Which one are you pre‑ordering first? Tell me your most anticipated reads in the comments and let’s get the 2026 reading season started with a bang!