6 Exciting 2025 Debut Mystery, Horror & Thriller Books
A new year means fresh mysteries, thrilling twists, and chilling horror reads—and 2025 debut mystery authors are delivering all of the above in spades. Whether you love revenge-fueled thrillers, eerie gothic horrors, or a side of dark humor with your serial killers, this year’s lineup has something for every kind of crime fiction fan. From con artists getting their due to weddings with a deadly guest list, these six debuts promise shocking reveals, unforgettable characters, and the kind of storytelling that will keep you flipping pages long past bedtime.
If you’re ready to discover your next favorite mystery, thriller, or horror novel, let’s get into it.
This post contains affiliate links. That means we receive a small commission at no cost to you from any purchases you make through these links.
2025 Debut Mystery Books
When Sally Killed Harry by Lucy Roth
A woman scorned is a woman ready for revenge. After falling for a dreamboat-turned-con artist, Sally wakes up broke, betrayed, and hellbent on payback. But she’s not the only one. With a team of wronged women, she sets out to give Harry the nightmare he deserves—no murder necessary… for now. A sharp, darkly funny thriller perfect for fans of scammer takedowns.
Grab this book on Amazon: When Sally Killed Harry
Nothing Serious by Emily J. Smith
Edie has always been hopelessly in love with Peter—her best friend and the one man who’s never looked her way. When his new girlfriend, a brilliant feminist writer, is found dead after a date with him, Edie dives headfirst into proving his innocence. But the more she investigates, the more she questions if she really knows Peter at all. A tense, razor-sharp thriller about obsession, justice, and the dangers of blind devotion.
Grab this book on Amazon: Nothing Serious
House of Monstrous Women by Daphne Fama
A childhood friend. A whispered invitation. A house that plays by its own rules. When Josephine visits the eerie seaside mansion of her former best friend—rumored to be a witch—she enters a dangerous game with a single rule: survive. But the walls have secrets, the sea is hungry, and the only way out might be through blood. A haunting gothic horror set against the backdrop of the 1986 Philippines.
Grab this book on Amazon: House of Monstrous Women
Listen to Your Sister by Neena Viel
Calla’s nightmares have always been warnings, but no one listens—until she and her brothers end up on the run and trapped in a remote cabin straight out of a horror movie. As reality bends and old fears come to life, Calla must protect her family from something even more terrifying than the world chasing them. A chilling, genre-blending horror novel with a beating heart at its center.
Grab this book on Amazon: Listen to Your Sister
Serial Killer Games by Kate Posey
Dolores has always wanted to spot a serial killer in the wild, and now she’s convinced the new temp at work is one. Jake is charming, mysterious… and just a little too good at disappearing acts. Their flirtation turns deadly when she asks him to help with a body, forcing them into a twisted game where trust is the most dangerous gamble. A darkly funny, razor-sharp thriller for lovers of morally questionable romance.
Grab this book on Amazon: Serial Killer Games
Til Death by Busayo Matuluko
Lara lives for true crime, but when her cousin’s glamorous Lagos wedding is threatened by anonymous threats, it’s time to put her sleuthing skills to the test. What starts as a fun whodunit turns deadly fast, unearthing secrets, betrayals, and a mystery that could destroy her family for good. A fast-paced, Nigerian-set YA thriller filled with high stakes, family drama, and deadly consequences.
Grab this book on Amazon: Til Death
From high-stakes games of survival to amateur sleuths unraveling deadly secrets, 2025’s debut mysteries, thrillers, and horror novels are already making waves. Whether you love a good revenge plot, a locked-room horror, or a psychological thriller that keeps you guessing, these books are set to be your next obsession.
Which debut are you most excited for? Let’s talk in the comments! And if you never want to miss a gripping new release, make sure to subscribe for more bookish updates.
You may also like:
Don’t miss a thing! Join our Susbtack and you’ll be the first to know when there’s new bookish content and recommendations posted across all our book platforms!
Pin it for later
