10 Most Anticipated Mysteries & Thrillers of 2025

January 07, 2025

10 Most Anticipated Mysteries & Thrillers of 2025

As someone who relishes the deep, twisty narratives, I can hardly contain my excitement for what 2025 has in store.

This year promises to be packed with spine-chilling suspense, mind-bending twists, and storytelling that will linger long after the last page is turned. Here are my picks for the ten most anticipated mysteries and thrillers:

The cover of the novel Beautifully Ugly by Alice Feeney, featuring a torn effect down the center, dividing the text and imagery. The top background is a soft green gradient, transitioning into a stormy ocean scene below. On the right side of the cover, a small island with lush greenery and a lone house sits against the backdrop of the ocean. Endorsements from authors describe the book as "a work of genius" and "unpredictable and unforgettable."

1. Beautiful Ugly, by Alice Feeney

Expected Release Date: January 14, 2025

Alice Feeney has a knack for weaving narratives where beauty and darkness intertwine. "Beautiful Ugly" is expected to be no different, exploring the sinister side of aesthetics in what promises to be a visually and emotionally haunting tale. With Feeney, one can expect a story where the allure of beauty masks something deeply unsettling, perhaps delving into the world of art or fashion where appearances are everything, but motives are anything but beautiful. This novel is set to challenge perceptions and make readers question what lies beneath the surface.

The cover of the novel You Are Fatally Invited by Ande Pliego, featuring bold cream-colored text against a dramatic sunset sky. The scene includes a large, ominous house on a rocky shoreline with mist rising from the ground. A black crow perches on one of the letters of the title, adding a foreboding element. At the top, a red wax seal with a design of an axe is displayed, enhancing the eerie theme.

2. You Are Fatally Invited, by Ande Pliego

Expected Release Date: February 11, 2025

With a title as intriguing as this one, "You Are Fatally Invited" sounds like it will delve into the dangers lurking beneath the surface of social gatherings. Pliego's debut is set to introduce readers to a world where invitations might just be your last. Imagine a scenario where an exclusive event turns into a deadly trap, with each guest holding secrets that could be their undoing. Pliego’s narrative is anticipated to be as seductive as it is dangerous, playing with themes of trust, betrayal, and the deadly cost of acceptance.

Cover of the novel Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister, featuring bold red handwritten-style text on a torn sheet of paper against a textured red background. A black and silver pen rests on the page, adding a suspenseful tone. The tagline reads, "One morning he's your husband. By nightfall he's a criminal. And these are his..." Below, it highlights McAllister as the bestselling author of Wrong Place Wrong Time.

3. Famous Last Words, by Gillian McAllister

Expected Release Date: February 25, 2025

McAllister's latest is a legal thriller where a last statement from a convict on death row leads to a re-examination of the case. The tension between justice, guilt, and the truth is a hallmark of McAllister's storytelling. This novel sounds like it will keep us questioning what we believe about the legal system and the nature of confession. It's poised to explore the moral ambiguities of law, the reliability of memory, and the human desire for closure, all wrapped in a compelling courtroom drama that will have readers debating the nuances of justice until the very end.

A close-up of a book cover featuring a woman with her back to the viewer, standing on a cliff overlooking a stormy sea. The title "Beautiful Ugly" is prominently displayed in bold, white letters. The author's name, Alice Feeney, is also visible in a smaller font.

4. You Killed Me First, by John Marrs

Expected Release Date: March 11, 2025

John Marrs delivers another psychological thriller where three women, each with their own smouldering secrets, navigate a deadly game of pretence and deception. The chilling premise of a woman trapped in a bonfire sets the stage for a tale of survival and betrayal, ensuring a read that's as intense as it is insightful. Marrs is renowned for his ability to manipulate narrative tension, and here, he might just be weaving a story about revenge, survival, and the lengths to which one will go when pushed to the brink, with each woman's backstory adding layers of intrigue and complexity.

Book cover for 'This Book Will Bury Me' by Ashley Winstead, featuring a dark forest scene with a car's headlights piercing through the trees. The title is prominently displayed in large, bold, multicolored letters, with the author's name and the phrase 'National Bestselling Author of In My Dreams I Hold A Knife' at the bottom in yellow text.

5. This Book Will Bury Me, by Ashley Winstead

Expected Release Date: March 25, 2025

Winstead's storytelling has always been about the macabre and the bizarre, and "This Book Will Bury Me" seems to promise more of that dark, immersive experience. Expect a narrative that buries itself under your skin, exploring themes of obsession and the afterlife. Winstead could be leading us into a world where the line between reality and the supernatural blurs, perhaps with a protagonist who becomes obsessed with a book that has a life of its own, leading to a story that's as much about psychological horror as it is about the terror of being forgotten.

Book cover for 'The Missing Half' by Ashley Flowers with Alex Kiester. The cover features a background of flowing hair in shades of brown, with the title in large, bold, orange letters. The author's name is in white text at the top, and the subtitle 'A Novel' is written in white at the bottom. The book is by the #1 New York Times bestselling author of 'All Good People Here'

6. The Missing Half, by Ashley Flowers with Alex Kiester

Expected Release Date: May 6, 2025

Ashley Flowers, known for her gripping true-crime podcasts, teams up with Alex Kiester to bring a story that blends fact with fiction. "The Missing Half" could very well be a deep dive into the psyche of those left behind when someone disappears, offering both a thrilling plot and a poignant look at loss. This novel might explore the mysteries of identity and memory, where one half of a pair goes missing, leaving the other to solve the puzzle of their disappearance. It's likely to be a story of grief, detective work, and the unbreakable bonds of love or friendship.

Book cover for 'King of Ashes' by S.A. Cosby. The cover features an image of railroad tracks with an explosion of fire and sparks above them, creating a dramatic, fiery scene. The title is in large, bold black letters, and the author's name is prominently displayed at the top in white text. The subtitle 'A Novel' and the mention of the author being a 'New York Times bestselling author of All the Sinners Bleed' are also included.

7. King of Ashes, by S. A. Cosby

Expected Release Date: June 10, 2025

S. A. Cosby has quickly become a name synonymous with gritty, compelling crime fiction. His venture into the mystery genre with "King of Ashes" is eagerly awaited, promising a story where the past's embers can ignite into today's inferno. Cosby's tale could revolve around a figure from a criminal underworld who, after a life-altering event, seeks redemption or revenge, dealing with themes of legacy, power, and the destructive nature of one's past. His writing, rich with Southern atmosphere and complex characters, is set to make this a memorable addition to the genre.

With a Vengeance" by Riley Sager book cover featuring a dramatic scene of a steam train speeding across a high bridge at night. The train is silhouetted against a backdrop of ominous red clouds, creating a sense of suspense and danger. The title of the book, "With a Vengeance," is prominently displayed in bold, white lettering against the dark sky, hinting at the thrilling and potentially violent nature of the story.

8. With a Vengeance, by Riley Sager

Expected Release Date: June 10, 2025

Riley Sager's knack for creating atmospheric, suspenseful settings is set to shine in "With a Vengeance." This thriller likely revolves around revenge, twisting the narrative with each page turn, ensuring readers are on the edge of their seats. Sager might take us back to a seemingly idyllic setting where dark secrets fester, leading to a vengeful plot that could involve a wronged individual enacting their retribution in terrifying ways. Expect a whirlpool of suspense with Sager's signature twists that question everything you thought you knew.

"Don't Let Him In" by Lisa Jewell, a suspenseful thriller novel featuring a teal blue book cover with a slightly open door and the title in white text. The cover suggests a sense of mystery and danger, inviting readers to delve into the story.

9. Don’t Let Him In, by Lisa Jewell

Expected Release Date: June 24, 2025

Lisa Jewell's mastery in domestic thrillers continues with this tale about the dangers of letting strangers into our lives. "Don’t Let Him In" hints at a story where the line between guest and intruder blurs, making us question our own safety in our homes. This could be a suspenseful narrative about trust, or the lack thereof, where a new neighbour or a seemingly harmless visitor might harbour sinister intentions. Jewell's storytelling often explores the dark side of domestic bliss, making this one a chilling exploration of home invasion and the sanctity of personal space.

Forget Me Not" by Stacy Willingham, a captivating thriller novel featuring a haunting cover design. The cover depicts a gold chain with thorns draped over an old, rusted car, partially consumed by overgrown vines and vibrant flowers. This imagery evokes themes of decay, secrets, and the passage of time, hinting at the suspenseful mystery within the story.

10. Forget Me Not, by Stacy Willingham

Expected Release Date: August 26, 2025

Willingham returns with a story about an amnesia patient who starts to remember pieces of a past crime she might have been involved in. The psychological torment and the quest for truth in a fog of memory loss are themes Willingham excels at, making "Forget Me Not" a must-read for those who love to piece together a puzzle with missing parts. This novel could delve into the unreliable nature of memory, identity, and guilt, with the protagonist piecing together her fragmented past to solve a mystery that could exonerate or incriminate her.

2025 looks like an excellent year for aficionados of mysteries, twists, and turns in all mystery and thriller genres. This year promises to be an unparalleled treat, whereby every book is actually a journey into the unknown. Each of the novels mentioned here would be able to entertain you in the most unusual manner one can think about, and besides keeping you on the edge of your seat, get you deep inside your gut.

Poised to put our concepts regarding reality to test, urging further investigation of that than which we consider the truth, these novels question above all the established order of things. They will bend our understanding of morality to its limits as they show us in whose eyes situations fall between good and evil, between justice and vengeance, between love and obsession, where dividing lines are paper-thin and often crossed.

The attempt will also be made to reach the human mind inwards: for what motivations he has for certain actions, how much darkness is inside a soul, and how strong or weak a mind is.

Let these release dates be marked in your calendar, as they come amalgamated with the promise of the narrative that assures a roller coaster of emotions and revelations. For with every turned page comes the possibility of another layer of complexity, another nuance of human nature, or a twist redefining the story altogether.

Keep these dates marked, and let's prepare for a rollercoaster of emotions and revelations. If you have any other titles you're anticipating, drop them in the comments below – let's share the thrill of discovery!

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