The best books out this month

From psychological thrillers to locked-room puzzles, March’s lineup of crime fiction is packed with tension, intrigue, and shocking revelations. Bestselling authors like Harlan Coben and Tess Gerritsen return with gripping new releases, while fresh voices like Callie Kazumi and Mahi Cheshire bring dark, twisty stories to the table.

Expect sinister family secrets, high-stakes deception, and crimes set against eerie backdrops, from isolated inns to luxury cruise ships. Which of these nine chilling mysteries will you hunker down with first?

New crime books out this month:

The New Neighbours by Claire Douglas

In Claire Douglas’ latest domestic thriller, Lena overhears her seemingly harmless retired neighbours discussing what sounds like a crime, and she’s convinced something sinister is at play. But no one believes her. As she digs deeper, doubts creep in – are the Morgans really a threat, or is her own past clouding her judgment? A gripping tale of paranoia and secrets, this tense psychological thriller will keep you guessing late into the night.

Cuckoo by Callie Kazumi

When Claire surprises her fiancé, Noah, at work for their anniversary, she discovers he left his job months ago – and now he has vanished. As she searches for answers, dark secrets about Noah’s true identity come to light, and Claire’s world spirals out of control. Tense, unpredictable, and utterly addictive, Cuckoo is a chilling debut that will keep you on edge until its jaw-dropping conclusion.

The Summer Guests by Tess Gerritsen

The Summer Guests is a gripping new thriller in the Martini Club series, blending espionage, intrigue, and small-town suspense. In the quiet coastal town of Purity, Maggie Bird and her “book club” of fellow former spies – better known for sipping martinis than solving crimes – find their summer disrupted when a teenager goes missing. As tensions rise, acting police chief Jo Thibodeau must navigate a powerful family’s demands and the meddling Martini Club. Fast-paced and full of twists, this is a must-read summer thriller.

Nobody’s Fool by Harlan Coben

The past refuses to stay buried in this gripping thriller. Twenty-two years after waking up next to his murdered girlfriend in Spain, Sami Kierce, now a private investigator, sees her alive and well in his classroom. And then she disappears. As he chases the truth, he’s forced to confront the darkest secrets of his past. Packed with Coben’s signature twists and tension, this electrifying mystery will keep you hooked until the final revelation.

Someone is Lying by Heidi Perks

Jess and her 17-year-old daughter, Issie, have always been inseparable – until Issie meets Dylan. When they announce plans to travel, Jess is uneasy, but when Issie vanishes and Dylan refuses to talk, her worst fears come true. The police dismiss her concerns, but Jess knows something is terribly wrong. With no one believing her, she must uncover the truth herself before it’s too late. A gripping thriller, Someone is Lying is a pulse-racing tale of deception and desperation.

Death at the White Hart by Chris Chibnall

This clever, pacy murder mystery is the debut novel from the creator of Broadchurch. It follows Detective Nicola Bridge as she moves to the quiet village of Fleetcombe, Dorset, and stumbles upon a chilling murder. The body of pub landlord Jim Tiernan is found staged on a remote road, and soon, it’s clear that everyone in the village is hiding something. As secrets unravel, Nicola must decipher whispers, rumours, and lies to uncover a killer who may be hiding in plain sight.

Murder Below Deck by Orlando Murrin

This page-turning tale follows Paul Delamare, who is roped into joining an old friend on a superyacht cruise. When a priceless necklace is stolen, suspicion falls on everyone aboard. As the ship veers into a storm, a passenger is found dead under mysterious circumstances, and Paul must race to uncover the truth. With deadly secrets lurking among guests and crew, Paul must solve the crime before it’s too late.

The Lying Guest by Mahi Cheshire

Dr. Anika is a talented London surgeon suffering from parasomnia, a condition that causes sleepwalking blackouts. When a patient dies during surgery, the media blames Dr. Anika and her condition. Suspended from work and shunned by colleagues, Anika retreats to Sri Lanka for a quiet housesitting job. However, returning to the place she once called home brings her face-to-face with a dark, haunting past. As she navigates her troubled history, Anika must confront the truth before it consumes her. A gripping story of secrets and self-discovery.

A Fortune Most Fatal by Jessica Bull

In this sequel to the historical mystery novel Miss Austen Investigates, Jane Austen spends the summer of 1797 with her estranged brother, Neddy, at Godmersham Park. Neddy is set to inherit the fortune of wealthy widow Mrs. Knight, but Jane soon discovers a mysterious young woman living with Mrs. Knight, threatening to claim the inheritance for herself. As Jane investigates the imposter, she uncovers some unpleasant home truths that make her question her family’s future – and her own safety.

The pick of the paperbacks

The following titles have already hit the shelves in hardback and are newly available in paperback this month.

In case you missed it: February’s biggest titles

Which books are going to the top of your to-read pile? Let us know in the comments below…