Staff Picks

Buzzy Books and Debut Authors for April 2026

  • Chantal W.
  • Thursday, April 02

Check out the newest fiction for April 2026. You will find titles from debut authors, from authors that are perennial library favorites, and books that are being buzzed about.

The Faith of Beasts

The Faith of Beasts

Corey, James S A
Published in 2026
"The monstrous Carryx empire was built by subjugation and war. Thousands of species are bound to their Sovran's command in an endless, blood-soaked test: be useful in the eternal conflict or be slaughtered. Dafyd Alkhor, highest among their human captives, is feared and despised by the very people he champions. Ruthless in carving out his niche in the eternal war machine of the empire, he will reshape human nature itself as a tool for their alien masters' use. But Dafyd's loyalty is not what it seems. The Swarm, an agent of the Carryx's deathless enemy, has been smuggled into the Carryx world-palace along with the human slaves. Its mission: discover a way to bring down the empire's eternal reign. But the longer it lives among and within humanity, the more it forgets that it is a weapon. As the human captives spread through the battlefronts of empire, the awesome power of the Carryx becomes clear. And with it, a desperate plan for their destruction. But empires hide secrets, and even the deathless enemy may not be what it appears..."-- Provided by publisher.
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Murder Mindfully

Murder Mindfully

Dusse, Karsten
Published in 2026
"Criminal defense lawyer Bjorn Diemel has been given an ultimatum: repair his work-life balance, or his wife will leave him-and take their daughter. He reluctantly starts a mindfulness course, and to his surprise, it's a revelation. He becomes calmer, happier, and more focused as he starts to understand what's really important in life. When his worst client, brutal kingpin Dragan Sergowicz, tries to interfere with his precious family time, Bjorn will stop at nothing-not even killing-to protect his peace"-- Provided by publisher.
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Love by the Book

Love by the Book

George, Jessica
Published in 2026
The New York Times bestselling author of Maame is back with a funny, moving story about the friendship between two women at a crossroads in their thirties.
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Start at the End

Start at the End

A Novel
Grey, Emma, author.
Published in 2026
Is it ever too late to find love--again? This powerful, soul-stirring, sliding-doors novel from the bestselling author of The Last Love Note and Pictures of You explores second chances and unwritten endings. Audrey and Fraser tumble into a romance for the ages. After an unlikely start, they fall deeply in love and dream of the life they'll build together--until one tragic moment upends everything. Facing the unimaginable and wrestling with guilt, they're left haunted by "what ifs," each asking where they would be if fate had spun a different story. Start at the End is an unforgettable drama of two soulmates who have to find a way to start over when they had only just begun.
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When the Wolves Are Silent

When the Wolves Are Silent

Harris, C S
Published in 2026
"A string of shocking ritual killings has London's ruling elite panicked in the latest Sebastian St. Cyr mystery by C. S. Harris, USA Today bestselling author of Who Will Remember. Sebastian faces his greatest challenge yet when the dissolute sons of London's power brokers begin turning up dead in what seem to be ritualistic sacrifices. As he digs deeper, numerous suspects emerge, including ones with ties to the Revolutionary War, members of a neo-Druid movement, and a printer of political tracts. It seems many people wanted the men dead, and Sebastian has to find the killer to keep them from striking again"-- Provided by publisher.
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Morsel

Morsel

Keane, Carter
Published in 2026
Carter Keane's Morsel is a delicious folk horror debut about learning to bite back when the world is determined to eat you alive. Lou did what the children of parents with backbreaking, poorly paying jobs are supposed to do: pulled up her bootstraps, went to college, and got an office gig with coworkers who won't stop talking about their multilevel marketing scheme disguised as self-betterment. When Lou accepts a property appraisal assignment in the rural hills of Ohio, she knows it's her last chance to save her job and keep making rent. But she quickly finds herself stranded in the middle of nowhere with a sabotaged truck, her dog, and someone--or something--stalking her through the ancient Appalachian woods. If she can't escape the woods in time, she'll see firsthand that her job isn't the only thing that wants to eat her alive. Morsel is The Blair Witch Project meets The Ritual, with a generous helping of The Menu, perfect for fans of T. Kingfisher, Cassandra Khaw, and Paul Tremblay.
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City of Iron and Ivy

City of Iron and Ivy

Kent West, Thomas
Published in 2026
"In an alternate London alive with botanical magic, Elswyth Elderwood is a thorn among roses: a bristly, scarred scholar in a world of socialites. Her sister Persephone is the opposite: a graceful debutante seeking a marriage that will save their family from ruin. At least, until Persephone is murdered. Suddenly the last scion of her house, Elswyth must abandon her studies and find a wealthy husband. She is thrust into a London fueled by floromancy: hedge witches sprout nightshade from their fingertips, high-born ladies weave gowns from wildflowers... and a serial killer called the Reaper transforms his victims into plant-human hybrids. When clues suggest the Reaper is a powerful nobleman, Elswyth's search for her sister's killer and her hunt for a husband become one and the same. But she is drawn to bastard-born archaeologist Silas Blackthorn-who may have dark, twisted secrets of his own. Elswyth must determine friend from foe and lover from liar-or suffer the same fate as her sister"-- Provided by publisher.
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Bertie's Theory of Ice Cream

Bertie's Theory of Ice Cream

McCall Smith, Alexander
Published in 2026
The latest installment in the lively and deliciously charming 44 Scotland Street series finds all our favorite residents of Scotland's most celebrated address navigating their enchanting and eventful lives Settle in and take a trip back to Scotland's favorite fictitious street with Bertie, Irene, Big Lou, newcomer Galactica Macfee and all the rest. Once more, we catch up with the delightful goings-on in 44 Scotland Street. With his singular warmth and charm, Alexander McCall Smith gives us another installment in this popular series, where anything could happen to Bertie and the gang...
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Revenge Prey

Revenge Prey

Sandford, John
Published in 2026
Lucas Davenport must track down a ruthless Russian hit team, in this latest thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author John Sandford. Leonard Summers--not his real name--is on the run. A former high-ranking Russian intelligence officer who defected to the U.S. after providing critical information about Russian spies in U.S. government service, Leonard, his wife Martha, and son Bernard have spent the past year holed up in a CIA facility near Washington. After the CIA makes a deal with the U.S. Marshal Service's Witness Protection Program (WPP), Leonard's family is transported to Minneapolis. The plan is to hide them in a wooded Minneapolis suburb that resembles their former home and dacha near Moscow. The Summers are received at their destination by Lucas Davenport and fellow marshal Shelly White. Unbeknownst to them, the WPP group has been tracked by a Russian hit team. And while nobody in the WPP has ever been attacked...Leonard might be the first victim. As shots are fired and enemies dodged, Lucas must move quickly to uncover where the leak is coming from, before the hit team can strike again.
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Witch Queen Rising

Witch Queen Rising

Stephens, Savannah
Published in 2026
"A reclusive witch who fled the burden of her bloodline rises to be the greatest among them in this lush and haunting fantasy debut. For New Orleans witchkin, there is no greater honor than to become the Prime-chosen to rule. But the title is meant to pass between two rival Houses of magic. Not to the prodigal daughter of the former Prime who died under mysterious circumstances. As a girl, Seraphine Barreau was dubbed the Tick Witch for her ability to feed on magic and make it her own. Even among those who alter fate and manipulate reality, she was a powerful outcast feared and misunderstood by her people. Now dragged back to continue the legacy that nearly destroyed her, Phine has her work cut out for her. She must earn the respect of her people, navigate the politics of the paranormal communities residing in her city, and heal a broken heart all the while battling a parasitic curse poisoning witchkin. Between her werewolf ex, power-hungry vampires, and the skeletons in her family's closet, Phine must learn to make peace with her past to save her-and all of witchkin's-future"-- Provided by publisher.
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Burn the Sea

Burn the Sea

Tewari, Mona
Published in 2026
To protect her homeland, one queen must fight her people's historic enemy--once and for all. Abbakka Chowta never expected to be queen. The youngest of Ullal's two rajkumaris, Abbakka has spent years in rigorous combat training to become her sister's blade. But when the monstrous Porcugi attempt to lay claim to Ullal, Abbakka's world--and fate--are upended.The Porcugi--giant half-men, half-snakes who attack from the sea--haven't been seen in Ullal since their failed invasion more than fifty years ago. But now, they're back with vengeance and a choice: pay their tithes or suffer total devastation. Soon, Abbakka's definitions of strength, subterfuge, and statecraft are put to the test. Will marriage to a neighboring king give her the resources she needs to protect her people . . . or will she watch her homeland be crushed beneath the waves of would-be colonizers?A lush historical fantasy that reimagines the Portuguese attacks on South India in the 1500s and the fierce real-life queen's story, Burn the Sea is an electrifying exaltation of female power and the value of freedom.
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Tailbone

Tailbone

Yeun, Che
Published in 2026
A fierce and gorgeous debut novel about a teenager who runs away from her abusive home to live in a boarding house for single women as a global financial crash threatens the people of Seoul.
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Author

Chantal W.

Research and Readers' Advisory Manager

British mystery show addict and lover of fantasy, romance and mystery novels.