February 2023: Anticipated Book Releases

A hand-picked selection of spookiest books being published in February.

There are so many superbly spooky books coming out this month. From vampires and ghosts to more natural terrors, February's releases promise something for anyone. I found a lot of these releases from Read Jump Scare's masterlist of horror fiction releases.

So please enjoy this list of my anticipated releases of February 2024. A lot are horror fiction, but there are some thrillers, a short story collection, some sequels, historical fiction, and so much more!

February 1: 

We Ate the Dark - Mallory Pearson

In this haunting novel, four women come together to investigate the murder of their friend Sofia Lyon, whose remains are discovered in an abandoned house. As they grapple with grief and pursue justice, they unearth dark secrets, both about Sofia and the mysterious woods surrounding them. Bound by a haunting connection, the women face not only the truth about Sofia but also a shadowy presence that threatens them, unraveling a chilling tale of good and evil, love and death.

 If you love a good return to a haunted house story, pulled by the threads of friendship, then this is the book for you. Admittedly, this isn't my most anticipated release of the month (I'm not a big haunted house fan) but I can see the appeal for haunted house lovers. This is Pearson's debut novel, so I'm definitely curious to see how it's received upon release. 

February 2: 

Below - Stuart Lee

This thriller delves into the mystery of an airline crash in the Gulf of Mexico, inspired by a real-life incident. Set in the southern U.S., the story explores the dark secrets held by a passenger on the doomed flight and the unspeakable terror he was transporting, unraveling a suspenseful tale at the heart of a chilling enigma.

It's giving a mix of "Yellow Jackets" and the Andes flight disaster. If you know me, you know that I'll give anything that has a chance of cannibalism and/or cults a solid chance. This book is apparently based off of a real story, which always captures my attention, but there aren't a lot of details to tell me which crash it's based off of. Either way, I'm excited for this release to find out more about this story. 

 

Very Dark Thoughts - Kyle Harrison

In this collection of short stories, readers are taken on a journey through chilling and mysterious narratives. From a scientist analyzing Mars audio revealing screams to a haunted plane flight, a sinister life-sized doll, a sadistic escape room, and an arctic excavation unleashing alternate dimension terror, each tale explores unsettling and supernatural themes. These stories serve as reminders that the most terrifying horrors often reside within the recesses of our own minds, creating an atmosphere of suspense and psychological terror.

Historically, short story collections have been very hit-or-miss for me. That being said, each of the stories in the collection that are described, sound like pure bangers to me.

February 6: 

The Teacher - Freida McFadden 

In this mind-bending psychological thriller by the bestselling author of "The Housemaid," Eve, leading a seemingly good life with her husband Nate, faces a disturbing revelation. A scandal involving student Addie rocked Caseham High last year, and now Addie is in Eve's math class. Despite Addie's reputation for lying and causing harm, Eve discovers that there's more to her than meets the eye. As secrets unravel, Addie is determined to protect the truth at any cost, challenging the notion of trust and unveiling the hidden complexities behind her enigmatic character.

That's right, February 6 will be a national holiday in honour of a new Freida McFadden release. Okay, not really, but it will be in the hearts of many thriller lovers. 

I've read two of McFadden's previous works and I've really enjoyed both of them. That being said, I haven't loved either— neither had me on the ground crying over how amazing the twist was because they honestly weren't that crazy in my opinion. 

Almost Surely Dead - Amina Akhtar

"Almost Surely Dead" is a psychological thriller with a compelling twist, recounting the unsettling tale of Dunia Ahmed. Her seemingly ordinary life takes a dark turn after a terrifying and seemingly random attempt on her life. Now the subject of a true crime podcast, Dunia has been missing for over a year, and her story grips listeners worldwide. As the mystery unfolds, Dunia, a successful pharmacist in New York, grapples with a broken engagement and the death of her mother. Surviving an initial attempt on her life, she soon faces more, leading the police to suspect someone close to her. As Dunia tries to unravel the truth, childhood superstitions blur with reality, leaving her convinced that someone—or something—is genuinely after her.

 

Among the Living - Tim Lebbon

In this propulsive horror thriller, estranged friends Dean and Bethan reunite after five years when they are lured to a network of caves on a remote Arctic island. Bethan, an environmental activist, clashes with Dean's group exploiting rare earth minerals, inadvertently releasing a horrific contagion frozen for millennia. Fleeing the emerging terrors, the rival teams embark on a perilous journey across an unpredictable landscape, realizing they must work together to survive and prevent the horror from spreading to the wider world. Fast-paced, frightening, and shockingly relevant, this adventure grips readers until the final terrifying page.

If you, like me, love "The Thing" this is this month's release for you.

Your Shadow Half Remains - Sunny Moraine

In a world where a single look can be lethal, Riley has avoided seeing human faces for as long as she can remember. Survival depends on avoiding eye contact. However, when a new neighbor, Ellis, arrives, Riley's intense longing for human connection compels her to defy the rules. Ellis makes her feel safe in a world where others can bring gruesome death. As their bond deepens, Riley's grasp on reality weakens, and she succumbs to her most profound desires. In a world defined by danger, all Riley yearns for is the simple act of looking.

I mean, look at the cover and tell me you don't want to read this book.

February 13: 

Original Sins (Riley Fischer #2) - Erin Young 

In the sequel to Young's debut best-seller, "The Fields," FBI rookie Riley Fisher faces the daunting challenge of tracking down the Sin Eater, a serial attacker terrorizing the city. Assigned to investigate a kidnapping plot against the newly elected female state governor, Riley must navigate a landscape of violence, lies, and personal struggles. Teamed with a partner she's uncertain about, she gradually uncovers a disturbing connection between the governor's case and the hunt for the Sin Eater. Young delivers another suspenseful thriller, rich with dark menace and tension. 

I did receive an advanced listeners copy (ALC) of this book, although I have yet to start it. I tend to like to read my advanced copies a bit closer to when they come out, so that they're still fresh in my mind on pub day. However, I did not realize it was part of "The Fields" series when I got it, so I do still have to read the first book ahead of that. 

Despite that, this release sounds so intriguing — I love a good serial criminal of any kind in fiction. 

The Hollow Dead - Darcy Coates 

Keira wakes up in a mysterious forest with the ability to speak with the dead and a group of sinister mask-wearing men hunting her. As she unravels the mystery of her origins, she discovers these masked men work for Artec, an organization profiting from spectral energy generated by tormented souls. Keira and her loyal friends are the only ones who can thwart their plan to spread macabre cemeteries worldwide. With foggy memories and dangerous secrets, Keira prepares to fight for the souls of the dead, unaware that her own past may hold haunting revelations.

An Education in Malice - S.T Gibson

In the ancient and isolated Saint Perpetua's College in Massachusetts, Laura Sheridan encounters an intense academic rivalry with the beautiful Carmilla. Led by their demanding poetry professor, De Lafontaine, who harbors a dark obsession with Carmilla, Laura and Carmilla are drawn into a sinister world of secrets, bloodthirsty professors, and dark magic. As their rivalry evolves into something more complex, Laura must confront her own strange hungers. Tangled in a game of politics and ruthless pursuit of knowledge, they must decide how much they are willing to sacrifice in this gripping tale of ambition, dark desires, and the pursuit of forbidden knowledge.

I loved Gibson's first work, "A Dowry of Blood," it was one of my favourites of the year when I read it. Gibson's prose is absolutely gorgeous, which is a quality that I rarely find in horror books. This one sounds like another sapphic kind of vampire story, so you know I am in. "An Education in Malice" also looks to be around 100 pages longer than "A Dowry of Blood," so I'm hoping to only get more of Gibson's amazing writing. This release is called a "companion novel" to "A Dowry of Blood" despite not being marked as a being part of the same series, so I'm curious as to the extent of the connection between the two.

But wait, there's more! Gibson also has another novel coming out this year! In May, Gibson's "Evocation" will be published. Needless to say, it seems that Gibson has had a busy couple of years since her last novel came out! This spring release doesn't really capture my intrigue, based on the blurb, but maybe I'll read "An Education in Malice" and catch some Gibson-fever and read it anyways.

The Bedmakers - Chad Lutzke & John Boden.

In 1979 Chicago, two elderly men, weary of homelessness, embark on a train journey out west in search of work. However, a traumatic event in an empty train car derails their hopeful journey, leading them down a path of chaos. Filled with deceit, murder, grave robbing, and dormant secrets, their once-promising adventure takes a dark turn that challenges their resilience and forces them to confront the hidden complexities of their pasts.

I Can See Your Lies - Izzy Lee

In the midst of a crumbling reality—abandoned by her husband, struggling as a single mom, haunted by disturbing hallucinations—Fin seeks answers. As she delves into her mother's cold-case disappearance in 1979, a once-rising actress who vanished, Fin uncovers dark secrets. The line between stress, trauma, psychosis, and something more sinister blurs. Will she slowly unravel the truth hidden beneath the glitz and glamour of illusion, or will the answers remain concealed forever in the shadows of her mother's mysterious past?

Yet again, another beautiful cover. I believe Lee comes from a filmmaking background so of course the visual aspect of the book is beautiful. I am also a lover of unsolved cold cases in my thrillers, not to mention unreliable narrators. 

February 14: 

In the Valley of Headless Men - L.P Hernandez

In the remote Nahanni National Park, one of the last truly wild places on earth, estranged brothers Joseph and Oscar embark on an adventure following their mother's death. Joined by Joseph's first love, Gillian, the trio explores the mysterious and legendary park accessible only by plane and weather permitting. Nahanni is not just beautiful; it holds secrets of giants and hidden prehistoric animals. As they dream of the future, the group is confronted by the haunting past, finding themselves far from home and help in this captivating tale of adventure, mystery, and the allure of the wilderness.

While this is a fictional read, it is based off of the very real tales of the Nahanni Valley, a remote region of the Northwest Territories in Canada. As a true-crime-loving Canadian, I think my excitement for this read is pretty clear. 

Next of Kin - Elton Skelter

In the heart of New York City, Jacob Mallory, a thrill-seeking psychopathic serial killer, operates under the radar, making kill after kill without capture. The he receives an unexpected call from the hospital to pick up a vulnerable patient who claims that Jake is his emergency contact. As their paths intertwine, the satirical horrormance unfolds, blending elements of American Psycho and Romeo and Juliet. This dark tale explores whether Nathan is the key to breaking the city's most notorious killer or if he'll be Jake's undoing, showcasing the notion that everybody needs someone to come home to, even the worst among us.

February 15: 

Pyramidia - Stephanie Sanders-Jacob

When Harriet moves to Bentwood to teach gifted students, her life takes an unexpected turn. Her haunted rental and persistent neighbor, Lucy, contribute to her questioning sanity. The distraction comes in the form of Kelsey, whom she meets at the farmers market, and the town's Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) scheme centered around Serenitea. Drawn to the wellness promises of the enigmatic women selling the tea, Harriet joins, despite Lucy's claims that they are vampires. As she sinks deeper into Serenitea, Harriet becomes entangled in a world of new descendants and unsettling vibes from the gym teacher, Harold. Despite the tranquility the tea brings, Harriet's world crumbles when Lucy disappears, prompting her to question the true nature of Serenitea and how far she's willing to go for tranquility.

Firstly, can we all just take a moment to appreciate this cover? It might genuinely be one of my all-time favourite covers. 

Even aside from the absolutely gorgeous cover, a horror novel about pyramid schemes? Immediately sign me up. This is probably my most anticipated release of the month, both for the amazing plot and so I can put that cover on my shelves. 

February 20: 

The Boy who Cried Bear (Haven's Rock #2) - Kelley Armstrong

I fell in love with Armstrong's writing in the "Cainsville" series, which was only furthered in the Rockton series. Even two books in I am loving the Rockton spin off novels. I am so excited to dive back in to Casey and Eric's lives and the mysteries of Haven's Rock!

In the secluded town of Haven's Rock, hidden amidst dense forests and designed as a refuge for those seeking anonymity, Detective Casey Duncan and her husband, Sheriff Eric Dalton, find themselves at home. The town, reminiscent of where they first met, Rockton, is a place where residents must navigate the wilderness cautiously. When the town's youngest resident, Max, alerts them to a potential bear stalking a hiking party, concerns escalate. What makes the situation stranger is Max's claim that the bear had human eyes. Fearing the dangers a bear can pose, Casey and Eric take the matter seriously. However, amidst odd occurrences, including the discovery of a dead body, they are left uncertain about the true nature of the threats looming in their seemingly idyllic refuge.

The Bad Ones - Melissa Albert

In the mysterious small town, a chilling disappearance unfolds during a winter night, leaving four individuals gone without a trace. Among the missing is Nora's estranged best friend, Becca. As Nora endeavors to unravel the truth behind Becca's vanishing, she stumbles upon a dark history in the town and deciphers a series of coded messages left by Becca. These cryptic clues lead Nora to local folklore, unveiling a legendary goddess with forgotten origins, intertwined with Nora and Becca's childhood games. 

A Tempest of Tea - Hafsah Faizal

In the first book of a duology, Arthie Casimir navigates the perilous streets of White Roaring as a criminal mastermind and keeper of secrets. Her tearoom, a façade for an illegal bloodhouse catering to feared vampires, faces a dire threat. To save her establishment, Arthie strikes an unlikely deal with an alluring adversary, requiring the assistance of a band of misfits to infiltrate the Athereum, a dark and glittering vampire society. As the heist unfolds, Arthie grapples with internal conflicts within her crew and discovers a conspiracy that could jeopardize the world she knows. 

It's been called a vampiric "Six of Crows" and I cannot articulate how into that I am. 

February 22: 

Eynhallow - Tim McGregor

This "Frankenstein" retelling is et in the Orkney Islands in 1797, when Agnes Tulloch finds herself disillusioned with the island paradise that her husband promised her. Struggling to provide for her growing family, Agnes's life takes an unexpected turn when a wealthy foreigner arrives and rents an abandoned cottage. Her vexation deepens when her husband hires her out as a cook and washerwoman to this mysterious stranger, who turns out to be none other than the iconic scientist Frankenstein himself. As Agnes becomes entangled in the scientist's dark pursuits, she finds herself drawn to his enigmatic charm. This historical tale weaves together themes of love, obligation, and the consequences of scientific endeavors in a remote island setting.

February 27: 

Ghost Island - Max Seeck 

Detective Jessica Niemi seeks solace on a remote island after a violent incident puts her under the media's scrutiny. Renting a room at a seaside inn, she discovers the chilling local legend of Maija, a girl in a blue coat who vanished from an orphanage. As Jessica grapples with her sanity, three elderly visitors reveal their connection to the orphanage, sparking a series of deaths mirroring the legend. Unsure if she faces a killer or a supernatural force, Jessica must untangle the haunting mystery that blurs the lines between reality and myth, hoping to silence both the ghosts of the past and her own inner demons.

Violent Faculties - Charlene Elsby 

In "Violent Faculties," a philosophy professor, ousted by profit-oriented university administrators, conducts macabre experiments to explore the essence of life and death. Influenced by Sade and Bataille, she seeks to demonstrate the value of philosophy beyond monetary concerns. As she delves into the mysteries of human existence, her experiments lead to a proliferation of corpses, raising ethical questions about the sanctity of life. With a knife in her home office, she relentlessly probes the bodies, words, thoughts, and souls of her subjects, challenging conventional notions and seeking foundational truths in the most extreme manner.

The ones I'm most excited for are "Pyramidia," as I mentioned before, "The Boy who Cried Bear," and "A Tempest in Tea." 

Is there a new release I missed? Let me know in the comments below!