New Releases I’m Excited About: Early 2021 Mystery & Suspense

Welcome back to the seasonal blog post series when I look at my overflowing TBR lists (I would be looking at my TBR bookcases but they’re still all packed in boxes and YES I’m getting twitchy about it, why do you ask? lol) and then I look at all the delicious new books coming out …. and I resign myself to never ever getting caught up – but what a problem to have! Today we’re continuing with Early 2021 Mystery & Suspense New Releases (January-April).

Here is the schedule of posts for the week so you can zero in on your fave genre!

Wednesday: Contemporary Fiction (non-Amish & non-suspense)
Thursday: Historical Fiction (non-Amish & non-suspense)
TODAY: Mystery/Suspense (non-Amish)
Saturday: Amish Fiction
Saturday: Speculative/Youth
Sunday: Non-Fiction

In my continued quest to streamline these posts I’m only selecting a few I’m most giddy about to spotlight here. I’ll also include links to all the January-April 2021 releases, each in their own list by month. You can also keep up with 2021’s new books as I learn about them by bookmarking the ‘2021 Releases‘ page on my blog menu & checking it each month!

Y’all know this is my fave genre so I’m not even putting forth any pretense of narrowing this list down. You’ve been duly warned 😉

Also… my TBR list officially surrenders!

spotlight on titles i’m most giddy about

(click on book title to go to its goodreads page if available)

CRIME SCENE CONNECTION
Deena Alexander
Love Inspired Suspense / January 1, 2021

A serial killer’s imitating crime scenes from Addison Keller’s bestselling novel, determined to make her the final victim. But with former police officer Jace Montana and his dog at her side, Addison might just be able to unmask the murderer. With time running out as the killer closes in, she must confront her past and unravel long-buried secrets…and hope they can all escape with their lives.

DESERT RESCUE
(K-9 Search and Rescue #1)
Lisa Phillips
Love Inspired Suspense / January 1, 2021

Rescuing a kidnapped child is part of the job for search-and-rescue K-9 handler Patrick Sanders—but this time it’s his son. Now Patrick and his furry partner must work with his high school love, Jennie Wilcox, to shield the little boy he just learned about. But with someone targeting them, will Patrick and Jennie survive to face their painful past and become a family?

TEXAS WITNESS THREAT
Cate Nolan
Love Inspired Suspense / January 1, 2021

Assistant US Attorney Christine Davis is positive she witnessed a murder, but with no body, the police aren’t convinced. Now someone wants her dead, and Texas Ranger Blake Larsen is the only one who believes her. For Blake, protecting Christine must stay more important than their growing feelings for each other. But can he keep her safe from an unknown enemy who wants her silenced?

NIGHT HAWK
(Nighthawk Security #3)
Susan Sleeman
Edge of Your Seat Books, Inc / January 4, 2021

FBI Agent, Toni Long, lost her father a year ago when he was killed in a joint FBI and ICE investigation led by Clay Byrd, a man Toni had found herself infatuated with. Unfortunately, the killer escaped, and if Toni hadn’t been distracted by her attraction to Clay, maybe her father wouldn’t have died. When she receives an anonymous tip on the killer’s identity, she follows the lead and an attempt is made on her life. Clay, having received the same tip, comes to her rescue. Thinking he can help find her father’s killer and keep an eye on her safety too, he quickly offers Nighthawk Security’s help. But as the investigation unfolds, they unearth deep, dark family’s secrets that are more dangerous than anything Toni could imagine. Problem is, Clay is right there by her side, offering her comfort and support, and protecting her from menacing danger. She soon has to fight feelings she’s developing for him when her focus should be on the investigation and staying alive.

ACTIVE DEFENSE
(Danger Never Sleeps #3)
Lynette Eason
Revell / January 5, 2021

As a former field surgeon in Afghanistan, Heather Fontaine is used to life-or-death situations. She just didn’t expect them to follow her home. When she returns from a party to find that someone has broken into her house–and threatened her friends–she assumes it is the stalker who has been following her and creeping her out. She hopes to find safety and peace of mind by leaving the city and hiding out in a small town. But trouble has followed her even there. Luckily, a stalker isn’t the only one watching Heather. Travis Walker has been secretly watching out for her for weeks. As owner of his own security agency, it’s what he does. Together, Travis and Heather must figure out who wants her dead–and why–before it’s too late.

KILLER COMFORT FOOD
(Farm-to-Fork Mystery #5)
Lynn Cahoon
Lyrical Press / January 5, 2021

Angie Turner’s Idaho restaurant, the County Seat, is known and loved for its fresh food. For Angie, it’s also meant a fresh start. But when big agriculture comes to town—along with whispers of foul play—Angie could lose more than the farm . . . If Angie doesn’t sell, she’ll be surrounded by the plant and the congestion that comes with it. On the other hand, it’s Nona’s farmhouse. What is Angie supposed to do without it?  Move into a condo in town with Precious, Mabel, and Dom—respectively, a goat, chicken, and dog. Worse, a troubling rumor is circulating about the lawyer who’s heading up the development: His socialite wife seems to be missing. When Barb, owner of the local bar, asks Angie to look into the woman’s disappearance, she’s hesitant—until Barb reveals her surprising connection. Now it’s up to Angie to find the woman, uncover a shady plot, and hang onto her home—before she becomes a criminal’s final course . .

LETHAL INTENT
Cara Putman
Thomas Nelson / January 12, 2021

Caroline Bragg’s life has never been better. She and Brandon Lancaster are taking their relationship to the next level, and she has a new dream job as legal counsel for Praecursoria—a research lab that is making waves with its cutting-edge genetic therapies. The company’s leukemia treatments even promise to save desperately sick kids—kids like eleven-year-old Bethany, a critically ill foster child at Brandon’s foster home. When Caroline’s enthusiastic boss wants to enroll Bethany in experimental trials prematurely, Caroline objects, putting her at odds with her colleagues. They claim the only goal at Praecursoria is to save lives. But does someone have another agenda? Brandon faces his own crisis. As laws governing foster homes shift, he’s on the brink of losing the group home he’s worked so hard to build. When Caroline learns he’s a Praecursoria investor, it becomes legally impossible to confide in him. Will the secrets she keeps become a wedge that separates them forever? And can she save Bethany from the very treatments designed to heal her?

DEADLOCKED
(Hemlock Creek Suspense #3)
Heather Day Gilbert
WoodHaven Press / January 25, 2021

Brandon McClure has just moved back to his hometown of Hemlock Creek, ready to feed his love of adventure and the great outdoors as a whitewater tour guide. But before he can settle into the new job, he’s chosen for jury duty, where he ends up sitting front and center in the headliner trial of local tycoon Harlan Wells, a man accused of murdering his wife. When a key witness takes the stand, Brandon feels certain their paths have crossed before, but for the life of him, he can’t recall when or where. Nasha Patel’s testimony is crucial to the conviction of the accused murderer. That night in the emergency room, Nasha was the only one who heard the dead woman’s final statement…which put a target on her back. Fresh out of witness protection and feeling vulnerable and exposed, she’s acutely aware that all eyes are trained on her—including those of Juror Number 3, a stranger whose kindness once made a lasting impression on her. When the courtroom erupts into chaos and Nasha turns her terrified gaze on Brandon, it quickly becomes clear that only his unique skills can protect her…if only he can get to her before the hired hitmen do.

THE VANISHING AT LOXBY MANOR
Abigail Wilson
Thomas Nelson / January 26, 2021

After five years abroad, Charity Halliwell finally returns to Loxby Manor, the home of dear friends—and her lost love. No longer a young girl, she is now haunted by a painful secret and the demise of her dreams. Instead of the healing and happiness she hopes to find, she encounters a darkness lurking in the shadows of the once-familiar house. When her friend, Seline, disappears the very night of her arrival, Charity is determined to uncover the truth. Branded a coward, Piers Cavanaugh has lived the last five years as an outcast far from his family home. When his sister presumably elopes with a stable hand, Piers joins forces with an unlikely partner—the one woman he thought he’d never see again. Together they launch an investigation that leads to strange nightly meetings in the ruins of an old abbey and disturbing whispers of a secret organization. The more they learn, the more desperate the situation becomes.  As they struggle to piece together the clues, Charity and Piers also endeavor to rebuild their friendship. One cryptic letter changed everything between them. To find happiness they will have to overcome the grief and shame keeping them apart. But first they must discover why Seline vanished and confront the growing fear that she may never return.

A TOURIST’S GUIDE TO MURDER
(Mystery Bookshop #6)
V.M. Burns
Kensington / January 26, 2021

Samantha Washington joins Nana Jo and her Shady Acres Retirement Village friends Irma, Dorothy, and Ruby Mae on a weeklong trip to London, England, to experience the Peabody Mystery Lovers Tour. The chance to see the sights and walk the streets that inspired Agatha Christie and Arthur Conan Doyle is a dream come true for Sam—and a perfect way to celebrate her new publishing contract as a mystery author. But between visits to Jack the Ripper’s Whitechapel district and 221B Baker Street, Major Horace Peabody is found dead, supposedly of natural causes. Despite his employer’s unfortunate demise, the tour guide insists on keeping calm and carrying on—until another tourist on their trip also dies under mysterious circumstances. Now it’s up to Sam and the Shady Acres ladies to mix and mingle among their fellow mystery lovers, find a motive, and turn up a murderer . . .

ONE POISON PIE
(Kitchen Witch Mysteries #1)
Lynn Cahoon
Kensington / January 26, 2021

What’s a kitchen witch to do when her almost-fiancé leaves her suddenly single and unemployed? For Mia Malone, the answer’s simple: move to her grandmother’s quirky Idaho hometown, where magic is an open secret and witches and warlocks are (mostly) welcome. With a new gourmet dinner delivery business—and a touch of magic in her recipes—Mia’s hopes are high. Even when her ex’s little sister, Christina, arrives looking for a place to stay, Mia takes it in stride. But her first catering job takes a distasteful turn when her client’s body is found, stabbed and stuffed under the head table. Mia’s shocked to learn that she’s a suspect—and even more so when she realizes she’s next on a killer’s list. With Christina, along with Mia’s meddling grandma, in the mix, she’ll have to find out which of the town’s eccentric residents has an appetite for murder…before this fresh start comes to a sticky end. . . .

VANISHED IN THE MOUNTAINS
Tanya Stowe
Love Inspired Suspense / February 1, 2021

When domestic violence counselor Dulcie Parker uncovers evidence of a human trafficking ring in the Four Corners area, she’s determined to stop it or die trying. With corruption all around her and killers on her trail, Deputy Sheriff Austin Turner’s the one person she can trust. But can they work together to expose the crime ring before she becomes the next victim?

TRAILING A KILLER
(K-9 Search & Rescue #2)
Carol J. Post
Love Inspired Suspense / February 1, 2021

In a hurricane’s aftermath, Detective Erin Jeffries is stunned when she and her search-and-rescue K-9, Alcee, uncover a collapsed building’s only survivor—her long-ago ex, Cody Elbourne. And it’s quickly clear that the disaster was no accident. Now only Cody can identify the man who set the explosives that killed his grandfather…and Erin must stop the killer dead set on silencing him.

NETWORK OF DECEIT
(Amara Alvarez #2)
Tom Threadgill
Revell / February 2, 2021

After her rescue of nearly fifty kidnapped children made international headlines, Amara Alvarez gets what she’s worked for: a transfer to San Antonio’s Homicide Division. Reality sets in quickly, though, as her first case, the suspicious death of a teenager at a crowded local water park, brings chaos to her personal life. As the investigation moves forward and she increases the pressure on the suspects, Amara finds herself under attack by cybercriminals. Her every move is being potentially watched online, and she’s forced to resort to unconventional methods to find the killer. With few leads, she fights to keep her first murder investigation from ending up in the cold case files.

OBSESSION
(Natchez Park Rangers #2)
Patricia Bradley
Revell / February 2, 2021

Natchez Trace Ranger and historian Emma Winters hoped never to see Sam Ryker again after she broke off her engagement to him. But when shots are fired at her at a historical landmark just off the Natchez Trace, she’s forced to work alongside Sam as the Natchez Trace law enforcement district ranger in the ensuing investigation. To complicate matters, Emma has acquired a delusional secret admirer who is determined to have her as his own. Sam is merely an obstruction, one which must be removed. Sam knows that he has failed Emma in the past and he doesn’t intend to let her down again. Especially since her life is on the line. As the threads of the investigation cross and tangle with their own personal history, Sam and Emma have a chance to discover the truth, not only about the victim but about what went wrong in their relationship.

DRIVEN
(The Night Guardians #3)
Sara Davison
Mountain Brook Ink / February 5, 2021

Driven by ongoing grief and relentless dreams, Holden Kelly is determined to track down the child his brother Gage abducted eight years earlier. The rescue that might have saved Matthew Gibson’s life had cost Gage his. Proving his brother hadn’t sacrificed his life for nothing might be the only way Holden can start fully living his again. And it could be the last chance he has to find his way back to the wife he loves but who is also mired in grief and a crisis of faith. Mikayla Grant has nightmares of her own. A road trip with private investigator Jax Rodriguez—a man she is strongly drawn to even though his primary goal seems to be to drive her crazy—can’t be the way to heal from a terrible loss. Can it? As Holden, Mikayla, and Jax follow the missing child’s trail from Toronto to Chicago, their mission is not as secret as they thought. Someone knows they are coming and will stop at nothing to prevent them from finding the child Gage rescued. And to make sure that no one ever hears from the three of them again.

HER EVERY MOVE
Kelly Irvin
Thomas Nelson / February 9, 2021

When a deadly bomb goes off during a climate change debate, librarian and event coordinator Jackie Santoro becomes the prime suspect. Her motive, according to Detective Avery Wick: to avenge the suicide of her prominent father, who was accused of crimes by a city councilman attending the event. Though Avery has doubts about Jackie’s guilt, he can’t exonerate her even after an extremist group takes responsibility for the bombing and continues to attack San Antonio’s treasured public spaces. As Jackie tries to hold her shattered family together, she has no choice but to proceed with plans for the Caterina Ball, the library system’s biggest annual fundraiser. But she also fears the event provides the perfect opportunity for the bomber to strike again. Despite their mistrust, Jackie and Avery join forces to unmask the truth—before the death toll mounts even higher.

ABDUCTED IN ALASKA
Darlene L. Turner
Love Inspired Suspense / March 1, 2021

Saving a boy who has escaped his captors puts Canadian border patrol officer Hannah Morgan right into the path of a ruthless child-smuggling ring. Now with help from police constable Layke Jackson, she must keep the child safe. But can they rescue the other abducted children and bring down the gang…all while protecting a little boy and keeping themselves alive?

FRAMED IN DEATH VALLEY
(Desert Justice #1)
Dana Mentink
Love Inspired Suspense / March 1, 2021

Framed for a murder he didn’t commit, firefighter Beckett Duke gave up on everything–including his marriage to spirited Laney Holland. That is, until Laney’s life is threatened. Knowing the real killer is still at large, Beckett now has one purpose: protecting the woman he loves…and their unborn child. But sometimes an innocent man’s second chance comes with a deadly price.

MOUNTAIN SURVIVAL
(K-9 Search & Rescue #3)
Christy Barritt
Love Inspired Suspense / March 1, 2021

When search-and-rescue park ranger Autumn Mercer and her K-9 partner, Sherlock, meet a stranger in the mountains whose brother is injured, they drop everything to help. But all they find where Derek Peterson last saw his sibling is a trail of blood—and men who want them dead. With gunmen closing in, can Autumn and Derek survive long enough to save his brother?

UNKNOWN THREAT
(Defend and Protect #1)
Lynn H. Blackburn
Revell / March 2, 2021

US Secret Service Special Agent Luke Powell is lucky to be alive. Three of his fellow agents have died in unusual circumstances in the past ten weeks. Luke is devastated by the loss of his friends and colleagues, and his inability to locate the killer feels like a personal failure. He’s an expert at shielding others, but now the protectors are in need of protection. FBI Special Agent Faith Malone is driven to succeed and confident in her ability to solve every case she’s assigned. She’s been put in charge of the investigation into the unprecedented attacks, and with Luke’s life in danger, the stakes have never been higher. But it’s hard to know how to fight back when you don’t know who the enemy is.

A GAME OF CONES
(An Ice Cream Parlor Mystery #2)
Abby Collette
Berkley / March 2, 2021

Bronwyn Crewse is delighted that Crewse Creamery, the ice cream shop her family has owned for decades, is restored to its former glory and serving sweet frozen treats to happy customers in the picturesque small town of Chagrin Falls, Ohio. But when a big city developer comes to town intent on building a mall, a killer with a frozen heart takes him out. After literally stumbling across the body, one of Win’s closest friends becomes the prime suspect, and to make things worse, Win’s aunt has come to town with the intention of taking command of Crewse Creamery. Even though Win has a rocky road ahead to help her friend and keep her ice cream shop, it’ll take more than a sprinkle of murder to stop her from solving the crime and saving the day.

FATAL FRIED RICE
(Noodle Shop Mystery #7)
Vivien Chien
St. Martin’s Paperbacks / March 9, 2021

Fed up with her sister picking on her lack of culinary skills, Lana Lee decides to secretly take a cooking class in order to prove she has what it takes in the kitchen. It seems harmless enough until the course instructor—Margo Chan—is found murdered after class with one of the utensils used in her demonstration earlier that evening. The attention of the police is immediately directed at the school’s staff members and students, including Lana, who was unfortunate enough to discover the body. In an effort to clear her own name, she decides to begin her own investigation—starting with the same group the police have under suspicion. When Lana’s line of questioning leads her on a wild goose chase back and forth between the school and Margo’s personal life, Lana begins to wonder if the guilty party is closer than she thinks.

HOURS TO KILL
(Homeland Heroes #3)
Susan Sleeman
Bethany House / March 16, 2021

Just as Homeland Security Agent Addison Leigh reaches the pinnacle of her cyber investigation into a firearms smuggling ring, she’s attacked and left for dead. Her estranged husband, ICE Agent Mack Jordan, is notified that she’s at the hospital in a coma. He may have let his past military trauma ruin their short marriage, but she never gave up on their relationship, and he remains her next of kin. Mack rushes to her bedside, where he promises to hunt down the man who attacked her. Mack failed her once when he bailed on their marriage, and he’s not about to let her down again. But when she wakes up in the hospital, she remembers neither the attack nor ever being married to Mack. And when a second attempt to take her life is made, it’s clear something very sinister is going on, and Mack and Addison are in for the ride of their lives.

PICTURE PERFECT FRAME
(Tourist Trap Mystery #12)
Lynn Cahoon
Lyrical Press / March 16, 2021

As the owner of Coffee, Books, and More, Jill Gardner likes to support other Main Street businesses, so she attends a paint-and-sip event where, sadly, her brushstrokes look more like blobs. It’s still fun, though—aside from some disruption by a couple doing more sipping than painting. Jill’s police-detective boyfriend is on alert, but a designated driver volunteers to take the drunken pair back to their bed and breakfast, and everything seems resolved. Until the wife’s body turns up the next morning back in the studio. The victim, Nan, is from out of town, so it’s hard to imagine who’d have a motive aside from her spouse. Now, in between puzzling over her fortuneteller neighbor’s strange behavior, preparing for her best friend’s wedding, and pouring cups of java at the bookstore, Jill must uncover the secrets of Nan’s life and find out who wanted her out of the picture . . .

BODIES AND BOWS
(Apron Shop #3)
Elizabeth Penney
St. Martin’s Paperbacks / March 30, 2021

Iris Buckley is hoping for a bit of rest and relaxation now that the summertime rush is winding down in Blueberry Cove, Maine. Her apron shop Ruffles & Bows has been a huge success, her friendships are stronger than ever, and now she’s ready for all of the end of summer cookouts on the beach that she can handle. But before Iris can even turn on the grill, Bella’s latest fling, former Olympian sailor and gorgeous bad boy Lance Pederson is killed in a hit and run while jogging at dawn–and all the evidence points to Bella herself. Suddenly the month of August isn’t looking so restful, since now Iris has been roped into the Lighthouse Rehabilitation Committee, helping her friend Sophie plan a wedding, and–most importantly of all–tracking down a killer and clearing Bella’s good name before everything unravels.

COLD CASE TAKEDOWN
(Cold Case Investigators #1)
Jessica R. Patch
Love Inspired Suspense / April 1, 2021

When cold case podcast host Georgia Maxwell’s investigation into her friend’s decade-old murder unveils corruption in small-town football, she’s thrust into a deadly conspiracy. And it’s put her on the radar of Colt McCoy—cold case unit chief and her high school sweetheart—who wants her help solving the crime. But every clue brings them one step closer to someone who will kill to keep the truth hidden…

PRESENT DANGER
(Rocky Mountain Courage #1)
Elizabeth Goddard
Revell / April 6, 2021

Former FBI Special Agent Jack Tanner is working as a detective in Montana when he comes across a body in the national forest during a search and rescue mission. He’s committed to finding the killer, even if it means working alongside his old flame, US Forest Service Special Agent Terra Connors. When Terra discovers that the murder victim had ties to a powerful and dangerous trafficker of archaeological artifacts, the investigation takes a deadly turn–one that hits too close to home. As Terra fears she lacks the courage to face what comes next, Jack is more determined than ever to protect her. But he’s failed her before. And if he fails this time, it will cost them far more than just their hearts.

THREE MISSING DAYS
(Pelican Harbor #3)
Colleen Coble
Thomas Nelson / April 6, 2021

Chief of Police Jane Hardy plunges into the investigation of a tragic local murder, but everything in her personal life is unraveling. Jane’s son is accused of manslaughter, and she has to decide whether or not she can trust her ex, Reid, in the attempt to prove Will’s innocence—and whether she’s going to trust Reid with her heart. With the recent discovery of her mother’s whereabouts, Jane learns not only that her mother stole something vital all those years ago but that she drugged Jane so she wouldn’t be able to remember. What happened in those three missing days could change everything. It all started with one little lie. But the truth is finally coming out.

SPILLED MILK
(Barks & Beans Cafe Mystery #4)
Heather Day Gilbert
WoodHaven Press / April 19, 2021

The fall flea market has arrived in Macy’s small mountain town, and she’s taking a day off work to check out the local wares. As she and her Great Dane, Coal, wander through the booths, Macy’s more than a little taken aback to discover that her enigmatic tattooed barista, Kylie, is selling antique weapons at the event. She’s even more shocked when Coal sniffs out a dead body…and the man appears to have been struck down by one of Kylie’s swords. As rumors begin to circulate, the Barks & Beans Cafe also takes a hit. Customers are reluctant to order their mochas from a murderess. Macy stands by her employee, but even she believes there’s a whole lot more to Kylie’s history than the woman lets on. To make matters worse, Macy’s brother Bo is out of the country, leaving the cafe’s future in her hands. And then her ex-husband Jake shows up, begging to make amends. With the past rearing its ugly head, Macy has to ignore Jake’s distractions, appease the angst of her nervous customers, and convince Kylie to trust her, all before an elusive killer strikes again.

WHOLE LATTE MURDER
(All Day Breakfast Cafe Mystery #5)
Lena Gregory
Lyrical Press / April 27, 2021

Ex-New Yorker and local diner owner Gia Morelli is still getting used to the sweltering Florida sun. Summer in Boggy Creek has arrived, and Gia’s best friend, successful real estate agent Savannah, is getting hitched. Now she’s enlisted Gia’s sleuthing talents in a desperate search for the perfect wedding dress. But when Savannah mysteriously vanishes after showing a mansion to a bigwig client, Gia investigates the house Savannah was trying to sell. The first clue she finds is Savannah’s car in the driveway. Inside the house, they stumble on Savannah’s potential buyer—dead. Someone had apparently closed the deal—with a two by four full of nails to the client’s head. Soon afterward, a woman’s body is fished from the lake near the same house. The townsfolk are now sweating bullets over the murders, and the heat comes down on poor Gia to find her missing friend, and track down the killer . . .  

add these to your wish list

all the new releases by each separate month
(amazon affiliate links used)

Books i want to read that aren’t up yet

The Watcher by Sara Davison (re-release, April)

my fave covers?

What about you? Which Early 2021 Mystery & Suspense New Releases are you most anxious to read? Which covers are your favorites?

If you don’t see your book mentioned here or in my amazon lists, I apologize! It’s impossible to keep up with all the books LOL! Please feel free to leave your release info for Christian / clean fiction in the comments.