Best New Mystery and Thriller Books of February 2021
12 Thriller and Mystery Reads Sure to Keep You Inside This February
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February's best thrillers and mysteries encompass every facet of the genre, from domestic suspense to an exercise in '90s-nostalgia-fuelled paranoia. There's even a married couple that channels their inner Liam Neeson when their daughter goes missing in Europe. With so many different kinds of thrillers to devour this month, there's even fewer reasons to leave the house than usual. Whether you're looking for a cosy mystery to pair with a cup of hot tea or an edge-of-your-seat read to keep you up way past your bedtime, February's crop of new thrillers has you covered. (And if you want even more suggestions, don't forget to check out January's best thrillers and mysteries, too.)
1 The Shadow Box by Luanne Rice
Fans of HBO's The Undoing will love Luanne Rice's The Shadow Box, a twisty story that finds a wife going to great lengths to expose her husband's misdeeds. After artist Claire Beaudry Chase is attacked in her home, she suspects her powerful husband is trying to send her a message, but despite the danger, she's determined to show the world what kind of man he truly is.
Out Feb. 1
2 The Family by Louise Jensen
The Family by Louise Jensen is a thoroughly unsettling tale of a mother and daughter who are lured into a cult. After the death of her husband, Laura is looking for somewhere she and her daughter Tilly can belong, and she finds it in the community at Oak Leaf Organics. Unfortunately, Oak Leaf isn't what it seems, and soon Laura is in a race against time to escape the dangerous commune.
Out Feb. 2
3 Girls With Bright Futures by Tracy Dobmeier and Wendy Katzman
Tracy Dobmeier and Wendy Katzman's Girls With Bright Futures is reminiscent of the real-life college admissions scandal. The only difference is that the mothers in the novel may be willing to commit murder if it means ensuring their daughters will be given a top spot at the elite school of their choice.
Out Feb. 2
4 Killer Content by Olivia Blacke
Killer Content by Olivia Blacke is the perfect cosy mystery to shake you out of the winter blahs. Set against the backdrop of Brooklyn, the story follows New York newcomer Odessa Dean as she investigates the suspicious death of one of her coworkers while trying to settle into one of the world's most bustling cities.
Out Feb. 2
5 The Survivors by Jane Harper
Bestselling author Jane Harper's latest book The Survivors transports readers to a small seaside town that's haunted by a long unsolved mystery. There's a reason it's been years since Kieran Elliott returned home, and when that reason resurfaces in the form of a sunken boat while he's visiting his parents, he'll have no choice but to confront his past.
Out Feb. 2
6 This Is Not the Jess Show by Anna Carey
Part Black Mirror, part The Truman Show This Is Not the Jess Show by Anna Carey is a '90s-fuelled thriller about a teen who comes to realise there's something not quite right about her small town. In 1998, Jess Flynn is living her normal teenage life until the discovery of a device sporting an apple logo turns her world upside down.
Out Feb. 2
7 Black Widows by Cate Quinn
Cate Quinn puts a fresh spin on the domestic thriller with Black Widows. When Blake Nelson ends up dead, everyone is convinced his wife killed him. The only trouble is, no one can decide which one of his three wives is the murderer, least of all the wives themselves.
Out Feb. 9
8 The Burning Girls by C.J. Tudor
The Burning Girls by C.J. Tudor is the kind of novel that's so creepy, it might just seep into your dreams. Set in the potentially haunted village of Chapel Croft, a reverend and his young daughter come to the town in hopes of a fresh start. Instead, they find an exorcism kit and a warning that no secret stays buried forever.
Out Feb. 9
9 The Power Couple by Alex Berenson
Rebecca and Brian Unsworth's marriage is in a rut when they decide to whisk their family away on a European holiday in The Power Couple by Alex Berenson. But while the trip seems to be bringing them closer together, they'll be forced to set everything aside when their teenage daughter is abducted, leaving them to work together to bring her home safely.
Out Feb. 9
10 Do No Harm by Christina McDonald
Do No Harm by Christina McDonald asks the question how far would you go to save your child? When her son is diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, Emma turns to selling opioids to make the cash needed to pay for his treatment. However, when one of her clients ends up dead, Emma is forced to go on the run, and her police detective husband is the one leading the chase.
Out Feb. 16
11 The Echo Wife by Sarah Gailey
The Echo Wife by Sarah Gailey is a thriller with a sci-fi twist. Evelyn Caldwell's husband is having an affair with her creation: Martine, a clone who was made to be docile and accommodating. But when Evelyn's husband turns up dead, she'll have to work with Martine to keep them both safe from the law.
Out Feb. 16
12 Quiet in Her Bones by Nalini Singh
Set in a picturesque New Zealand town, Quiet in Her Bones by Nalini Singh pulls back the curtain on the community to expose the secrets of the wealthy residents who live there. It's been 10 years since Aarav's mother disappeared, and now that her remains have been found, he'll stop at nothing to discover what happened to her and the role her neighbours may have played in her death.
Out Feb. 23
