Chain Reaction( Bantam) by Lee Child and Andrew Child
In the 31st book in the Jack Reacher series, General Susan Turner turns to Reacher after a member of her team is brutally murdered while on covert duty, because she needs someone outside the Pentagon whom she can trust. Reacher travels to the remote Colorado town of Summertown, a strange place with one diner, one motel, five massive data centers, two giant solar farms and a population of four people, where someone is watching him. As Reacher works to finish what he came to do, Turner knows that anyone who comes after him will regret it all the way to the top of the chain. For readers who enjoy action thrillers, isolated settings and Jack Reacher ' s particular brand of problem-solving.
Return to the Shack( Worthy Publishing) by Wm. Paul Young
In this long-awaited sequel to The Shack, Mackenzie Allen Phillips remains haunted by the loss of his daughter Missy 10 years after the events of the earlier story, while grief continues to affect his family, relationships, faith and sense of self. On what would have been Missy ' s 16th birthday, Mack and his wife, Nan, confront their pain when Mack is asked to visit the serial killer who abducted and murdered their daughter on death row, forcing him to face anger, doubt and disappointment with God. The story explores grief, trauma, mental illness, abuse, violence and the difficult possibility of forgiveness and redemption. For readers who are drawn to stories of faith, loss, forgiveness and the possibility of hope amid profound suffering.
Return to the Motherfreaking Fun Factory( Blackstone) by Neil Kleid
Ten years after five teenagers were forced to compete for their lives inside a twisted toymaker ' s factory, four morally ambiguous young adults return seeking revenge. Once inside the factory of horrors, they must also try to save the fifth member of their group, who“ won” the original contest and was left behind. The novel is presented as a horror story that combines elements of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory— if Roald Dahl had been a pseudonym for Stephen King. For readers who enjoy horror that turns familiar childhood imagery into something much darker and more dangerous.
Sleepers in the Snow( Pegasus Crime) by Joanne Harris
A new occupant moves into Kirkhill, an isolated house on a moor beneath a pylon, after a bitter divorce and in search of a fresh start. At first the house seems peaceful and cozy, but as winter closes in, the isolation becomes menacing, animals begin behaving strangely and the new occupant senses that someone may be watching. Diaries belonging to the previous owners reveal a terrible tragedy that happened at Kirkhill and suggest that its newest resident may not be able to escape it. For readers who enjoy atmospheric suspense, haunted houses and mysteries involving memory, loss and the secrets left behind by former occupants.
Ender ' s Tribe( Blackstone) by Orson Scott Card
This collection brings together eight stories from across the Ender Universe, including the original short story“ Ender ' s
Game” that became the bestselling novel. The stories focus on Mazer Rackham, Bonito, Han Tzu, Peter Wiggin, Sel Menach, Dabeet Ochoa and Ender Wiggin, drawing threads from across the multiseries franchise. The collection is essential reading for longtime fans as well as new readers of the Ender books, and spans the saga from stories that bookend the series. For readers who want to explore more of the Ender Universe through a collection that brings together stories from across the franchise.
By the Light of the Stars( Ace) by Emily Gray
The first and only book in The Rings of Xerus follows Princess Lyrii Thana, a dutiful royal of the lunar colony Boaterra who is prepared to marry the austere commander of their Sisterworld to protect her home. After an assassination attempt goes wrong, Lyrii is rescued by the mysterious space pilot Kade Maxwell, who agrees to take her to Chinov so her wedding can go on as planned, but an emergency landing on a refugee ship forces her to confront the lies supporting her family ' s empire. Torn between loyalty, fear and her growing feelings for Kade, Lyrii must decide whether to accept the destiny imposed upon her or put herself first, even if that means challenging the system in which she was raised. For readers who enjoy romantic space opera, genre-blending science fiction and stories about challenging the expectations imposed by family and power.
Sometimes I Scare Myself( Blackstone) by Jeneva Rose
This beautifully crafted hardcover( illustrated cover boards, endpapers and edges) offers a collection of three horror stories built around familiar situations that quickly become terrifying: a dinner party, a quiet house and a roadside stop. In“ Never Kill the Medium,” a birthday séance ends with the medium dead and the guests covering it up, unaware that the unfinished ritual has allowed something dark to cross over, while“ The Nightmare House” follows a family whose new home has a horrifying history of residents who died or disappeared. In“ All Curses Are Final,” friends traveling to a winter cabin take home an item they never paid for from a store that warns all its merchandise is cursed, and a storm, mounting bodies and paranoia turn them against one another. For readers who enjoy short-form horror, supernatural threats and familiar situations that take unexpectedly frightening turns.
The Gift( Poisoned Pen Press) by Freida McFadden
As a bonus Christmas-themed thriller short story( and one that will fit neatly into any stocking) inspired by O. Henry ' s“ The Gift of the Magi,” the story follows Stella Hansen on Christmas Eve when she is broke despite working two jobs. Unable to afford a Christmas present for her husband during their first Christmas as man and wife, Stella encounters a mysterious pawnshop storekeeper who offers her an intriguing trade. Stella wants to give her husband the Christmas gift of his dreams, but the offer may come at a terrible price. For readers who enjoy Christmas stories with a dark twist, mysterious bargains and a suspenseful take on a familiar holiday theme.
Reach Tom Mayer at tmayer132435 @ gmail. com. C
Cullman magazine | HOLIDAY 2026
45