Top new crime books in December 2025
Last updated:
December 31, 2025
December 2025 featuring new releases by Lisa Unger, Cora Reilly, L.J. Shen, L.J. Shen, L.J. Shen, L.J. Shen, Kate Stewart, Charlie David, Ella Frank, Onley James, Cate C. Wells and many more.
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The Kill Clause by Lisa Unger
A hired killer finds herself caught between her conscience and her contract over the holidays in this riveting short thriller from New York Times bestselling author Lisa Unger.A hit woman’s work doesn’t stop for the holidays. As the advent calendar winds down, Paige slips into a palatial house, ignoring a blizzard of texts from her ex-husband...fiction · mystery · suspense · audiobook · crime · season-winter · thriller · action-adventure · holidays · political-intrigue -
![The Madman and His Broken Princess by Cora Reilly]()
The Madman and His Broken Princess by Cora Reilly
More Details Coming... -
![Heartless King by L.J. Shen]()
Heartless King by L.J. Shen
This is a complete standalone. Blurb and cover TBA...romance · organized-crime · enemies-to-lovers · slow-burn · forced-proximity · crime · fiction · book · adult -
![Devil's Gambit by L.J. Shen]()
Devil's Gambit by L.J. Shen
This is a complete standalone. Blurb and cover TBA...romance · organized-crime · slow-burn · enemies-to-lovers · forced-proximity · crime · fiction · book · adult -
![Wicked Queen by L.J. Shen]()
Wicked Queen by L.J. Shen
This is a complete standalone. Blurb and cover TBA...romance · organized-crime · slow-burn · enemies-to-lovers · boss-employee · forced-proximity · crime · fiction · book · adult -
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![Corrupt Knight by L.J. Shen]()
Corrupt Knight by L.J. Shen
This is a complete standalone. Blurb and cover TBA...romance · organized-crime · fiction · contemporary · forced-proximity · dark · enemies-to-lovers · slow-burn · crime · book -
![Birds of a Feather by Kate Stewart]()
Birds of a Feather by Kate Stewart
The sizzling, darkly seductive Ravenhood saga continues in the second in the spin-off Ravenhood Legacy series. the book that fans of this internationally bestselling series have been clamoring for—Tyler’s story, in his own words . . . Tyler Carter Jennings is an enigma...romance · organized-crime · retellings · contemporary · new-adult · suspense · fiction · billionaire · crime · book -
![Merciless: Park Avenue Kings, Book 4 by Charlie David, Ella Frank, Brooke Blaine, Sean Masters]()
Merciless: Park Avenue Kings, Book 4 by Charlie David, Ella Frank, Brooke Blaine, Sean Masters
He was sent to watch me. Now he can’t look away.They sent the president’s son to babysit me.How precious.Shepherd “Shep” Winchester III thinks he’s here to keep me in line—keep me quiet, keep me still, keep me safe.Good luck with that.I’m Theodore “Theo” Rinaldi, the youngest Prince of Monaco, and the most merciless of the Park Avenue Kings. And I don’t do obedient. Not for my royal family...romance · mlm · friends-to-lovers · forced-proximity · royalty · contemporary · lgbtq · fiction · found-family · billionaire -
![Villains & Vigilantes: A Necessary Evils Anthology by Onley James]()
Villains & Vigilantes: A Necessary Evils Anthology by Onley James
Trick. Treat. Take out the trash.Welcome to the most unhinged Mulvaney party yet. The costumes are couture, the littles are under lock and key, and the ultimate villain is about to get exactly what she deserves.What starts as a Halloween gala turns into a house-wide hunt as the Mulvaneys, Jericho’s Boys, and the men of Elite close ranks to end a monster’s reign for good... -
![Silent Flames by Cate C. Wells]()
Silent Flames by Cate C. Wells
He broke my heart. I returned the favor.I thought my husband loved me—until I walked in on his Director of Finance riding him like a cowgirl.Adrian and I never made sense on paper. When we met, I was working for minimum wage. No family. No degree. He was a billionaire Maddox brother, twelve years older than me and a titan of Wall Street.I thought it had to be love... -
![Craving Revenge by Michelle Heard]()
Craving Revenge by Michelle Heard
From USA Today & Wall Street Journal bestselling author Michelle Heard comes a new STANDALONE, full-length MAFIA ROMANCE novel. For years, I've been groomed to be my brother's shadow. To protect my father's heir, who will one day take over from him as the Kumichō of the Yakuza, I'm forced to dress and act like a man when I'm out in public... -
![Sweet Addiction by Bella Matthews]()
Sweet Addiction by Bella Matthews
From #1 Amazon and USA Today Bestselling Author Bella Matthews comes an enemies to lovers, forced proximity, sports romance.Rome Beneventi is a walking, talking bad decision—six feet, five inches of tattoos, temptation, and trouble wrapped in a smirk and dipped in sin. This MMA champion should come with a warning label . . . or at the very least a disclaimer.I sell books, and he breaks bones... -
![You Can Scream by Rebecca Zanetti]()
You Can Scream by Rebecca Zanetti
Twisted family relationships, sociopaths and conspiracy theories abound in the icy Cascade Mountains of Washington State in New York Times bestselling author Rebecca Zanetti's heart-pounding series about an FBI profiler and her equally brilliant sister on the wrong side of the law...romance · mystery · suspense · fiction · contemporary · crime · small-town · law-enforcement · family · action-adventure -
![Friends and Liars by Kit Frick]()
Friends and Liars by Kit Frick
From “edge-of-your-seat suspense” (Booklist) author Kit Frick comes an insidious thriller about four estranged friends trapped in a powerful family’s deadly games at a luxe estate in the Italian countryside. It’s been five years since heiress Clare Monroe tragically died on New Year’s Eve at her family’s opulent Italian palazzo... -
![Deviant by Cora Rose, Lark Taylor]()
Deviant by Cora Rose, Lark Taylor
In my defense, this is all Brad’s fault.I had one very important job: kidnap Brad.I’ve never kidnapped someone before but how hard could it be? Find Brad. Snatch Brad. Deliver Brad to the very scary people who hold my fate in their hands.So when a handsome, flirty stranger at the bar drops his name, I think my luck has finally turned. No chase. No fight...romance · mlm · dark · found-family · forced-proximity · contemporary · crime · lgbtq · organized-crime · age-gap -
![Everyone in the Group Chat Dies: A Novel by L.M. Chilton]()
Everyone in the Group Chat Dies: A Novel by L.M. Chilton
A deliciously thrilling new novel about a mysterious threat that puts targets on the backs of a group of roommates, from the author behind the “darkly funny, hilariously twisty, and completely charming” (Jennifer Close, New York Times bestselling author) Swiped... -
![Carnal Obsession by Kia Carrington-Russell]()
Carnal Obsession by Kia Carrington-Russell
A one-night stand. A mafia obsession. A roommate she can’t escape.RomiWhen my friends force me to advertise for a new roommate, the last person I expect to turn up is the stranger I had a one-night stand with.He says he’s a doctor, but I suspect that’s a total lie.I can’t stand his arrogance or the fact that he’s always there, sticking his nose in my business...romance · enemies-to-lovers · dark · forced-proximity · steamy · contemporary · organized-crime · stalking · kidnapping · suspense -
![Bratva Menace by T.J. Maguire]()
Bratva Menace by T.J. Maguire
Lukyan VolkovIt was my time to motherfucking shine.I've always been underestimated. The type of personality I had ensured that. I liked to joke around a lot. Have fun. Make people laugh. Being underestimated kinda came with that territory, and that was okay. I didn't mind.But now, I had the chance to prove myself. To show that I wasn't just the idiot, class clown of the Bratva...romance · dark · contemporary · organized-crime · obsession · humor · fiction · action-adventure · steamy · crime -
![Depraved Devotion by Morgan Bridges]()
Depraved Devotion by Morgan Bridges
The Joker meets Pen Pal in this dark, forbidden romance where a criminal psychologist enters a game of cat and mouse with her serial killer patient. My patient is stalking me… and he’s a psychopath. I’ve dedicated my life to understanding the darkest corners of the human psyche, but nothing prepares me for him. Ghost. The man is a brilliant, ruthless serial killer who thrives on chaos...romance · audiobook · dark · serial-killers · slow-burn · fiction · contemporary · stalking · forbidden-love · suspense -
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![Texas Snow by Kelly Fox]()
Texas Snow by Kelly Fox
His cabin was the last place I wanted to go. Detective Rafferty put me behind bars, and I should hate him for it.I mean…I do.Mostly.But there’s a fine line between grudge and obsession, and I’ve been walking it for the last year.Now my protection detail’s blown on Christmas Eve, and the only man who can keep me alive is the one who ruined my life...romance · mlm · contemporary · forced-proximity · lgbtq · fiction · prison · law-enforcement · mystery · forbidden-love -
![GodHood #4: A Marriage of Convenience, Mafia Dark Romance by Cristina Russo]()
GodHood #4: A Marriage of Convenience, Mafia Dark Romance by Cristina Russo
Francesca & Matteo's story.Coming soon... -
![Deadly Arrogance by M.J. May]()
Deadly Arrogance by M.J. May
Necromancer Erasmus Boone’s life is on hold—every shadow suspect, every trip outside his warded home a gamble. Afraid of bringing more attention to already wary necromancers, Erasmus has stopped hunting for his own kind. Unwilling to place an even larger target on his back, Erasmus has even delayed his own wedding... -
![Corrupt by A.J. Merlin]()
Corrupt by A.J. Merlin
Blurb coming soon... -
![Loving the Tormentor by Lola King]()
Loving the Tormentor by Lola King
A dark bully romance from best-selling author Lola King She dreams of being noticed by her idol. He needs a muse to torment. Once a decade, my broken hometown spits out a good girl.Everyone always made sure to point out that it's me. The violinist who doesn’t belong. The girl mocked for dreaming too big, for believing I can escape the gangs, the debts, and the crimes of the North Shore... -
![Twelve Mile Limit by Brandy Hynes]()
Twelve Mile Limit by Brandy Hynes
Nothing’s more exclusive than Noire Underground.Serving the wicked and reaping rewards.Secrets. Lies. Soot and cinders.Rhythm. Blades. Games and gore.A knife like a claw and the strike of a needle.This hidden haven is a throne of chains.MaddoxTessa Lockhart is what dreams—and nightmares—are made of...romance · enemies-to-lovers · forced-proximity · dark · workplace · found-family · organized-crime · billionaire · murder · female-mc -
![Always the Villain by Brea Alepoú, Skyler Snow]()
Always the Villain by Brea Alepoú, Skyler Snow
The story continues for the Vitale family. Book 6 will be a gut wrenching story that will have you questioning your morals along with your sanity. Blurb to come... -
![Postmortem of a Poem by Nicole Scarano]()
Postmortem of a Poem by Nicole Scarano
Book 6 in the Autopsy of a Fairytale Series...romance · fantasy · fiction · female-mc · alpha-mc · retellings · mystery · law-enforcement · police-procedural · crime -
![Intergalactic Waste Management, LLC by Ash Bishop]()
Intergalactic Waste Management, LLC by Ash Bishop
The next adventure in the Intergalactic Archives series from Audie Award-winning author Ash Bishop brings more swashbuckling action, will they or won’t they romance, murder, and a ruthless galactic mafia.“Ash Bishop is a wild collision of Douglas Adams and Terry Pratchett . . .” —Jonathan Maberry, NY Times bestselling author of Cold War and Red Empire“A sense of fun infuses every line...sci-fi · fiction · romance · mystery · aliens · invasion · anthologies · supernatural · action-adventure · amateur-sleuth -
![Until Death by Nicole Blanchard]()
Until Death by Nicole Blanchard
Peaky Blinders meets God of Malice in this new dark forced marriage mafia romance from New York Times & USA Today bestselling author Nicole Blanchard.I never planned to be a mafia bride.But when my sister is forced to marry Aiden O’Connor—the Irish mafia’s most lethal enforcer—to settle our father’s debt, I do the unthinkable.I make him marry me instead... -
![The Mafia Marriage Contract by Kristen Luciani, Autumn Archer]()
The Mafia Marriage Contract by Kristen Luciani, Autumn Archer
Marrying the enemy was never part of my plan. I came to America to escape the shackles of my family’s criminal empire. To carve my own path, far away from the blood-soaked legacy of the O’Callaghan name.But when my father makes a deal with the devil himself—Kingston Viacava—I’m the pawn sacrificed to cement an alliance. Kingston is everything I despise. Arrogant. Ruthless... -
![The Italian Secret by Tara Moss]()
The Italian Secret by Tara Moss
#1 internationally bestselling author Tara Moss returns with an immersive post-war mystery as glamorous investigator Billie Walker follows a trail of secrets to Italy’s sun-drenched Neapolitan coastNaples, 1943. Deep within a secret network of underground tunnels, a woman takes shelter from a wartime air raid and prays her husband will return home safe.Pacific Ocean, 1907...historical-fiction · mystery · historical · fiction · ww2 · investigator · suspense · young-adult · noir · 20th-century -
![Emancipation Proclamation by Kharizzmatik]()
Emancipation Proclamation by Kharizzmatik
The tale of a Principe Della Mafia and his Bella Ragazza, two soulsconnected in a world full of chaos. Quella destinata per te, nessuno laprenderà. True Love Waits. Sempre.Republished as Sempre under the name J.M. Darhower... -
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![Deadly Security Breach by Katie Mettner]()
Deadly Security Breach by Katie Mettner
A deadly global threatLocks two women in a race against time When Iris Knowles is recruited to restore a hacked computer system, she’s afraid the traumatic brain injury that compromised her vision will keep her from completing the job she was trained to do. But the cybersecurity expert’s first sight of scientist Rebecca Roth instantly quells her fears, and sparks fly between the two of them... -
![Trust by Adara Wolf, R. Phoenix]()
Trust by Adara Wolf, R. Phoenix
Every day, I need to remind myself that I'm lucky. I'm lucky I have a home. I'm lucky I'm healthy. I'm lucky I have a partner.But it's hard to remember that I'm lucky when my lover tells me I need to get close to Ilya Zima, notorious Russian mafia boss. If I do this, my partner's career is set.Get close, find out Ilya's secrets, and my life will be happy again...romance · mlm · dark · contemporary · organized-crime · age-gap · wholesome · sad · lgbtq · action-adventure -
![Snowbound with Murder: Lessons in Murder, Book 13 by Edale Lane]()
Snowbound with Murder: Lessons in Murder, Book 13 by Edale Lane
Outside, a storm. Inside, a killer.Book 13 in the Lessons in Murder series, by award-winning, best-selling author Edale Lane.When a deadly blizzard strands motorists at a highway rest area, Detective Jenna Ferrari and her wife, Dr. Randi McLeod, find themselves in the middle of a double homicide... -
audiobook · mystery · fiction · female-mc · crime · sci-fi · investigator · psychological · suspense · murder
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![Discordant Cultivation by Gale Ian Tate]()
Discordant Cultivation by Gale Ian Tate
Romance that rhymes with ruin;obsession's a song they're both fluent in. Vale tastes potential like other men taste wine—notes of desperation, hints of untapped brilliance, the full-bodied flavor of someone ripe for unmaking. Kieran plays for spare change in subway filth, that stuttering voice transforming into something holy only when he sings. Sick. Abandoned...romance · mlm · dark · horror · lgbtq · contemporary · forced-proximity · abuse · age-gap · splatterpunk -
![Drop Dead Gorgeous by S.H. Azanon]()
Drop Dead Gorgeous by S.H. Azanon
A beautiful stripper. A hard-boiled cop. A killer who turns murder into art.Ash Hunter is trouble wrapped in smoke and sin—a dancer with a shadowy past and a face to die for. When police find him beside his ex-lover’s mutilated corpse, he becomes the prime suspect in a string of murders haunting Calgrave’s rain-slick streets. What’s worse, he starts dreaming the crimes..romance · mlm · mystery · paranormal · monsters · action-adventure · suspense · psychological · crime · age-gap -
![A Grim Reaper's Guide to Cheating Death by Maxie Dara]()
A Grim Reaper's Guide to Cheating Death by Maxie Dara
When a determined killer targets her brother, a grim reaper risks everything to save him in this delightful cozy mystery.Nora Bird works for S.C.Y.T.H.E., which might seem odd for someone as terrified of death as she is...mystery · cozy · fiction · fantasy · paranormal · animals · action-adventure · humor · horror · supernatural
