by Victoria Fair

We have just said goodbye to one year, while ushering in another, and I can’t help but feel reflective. As is the tradition, shared by so many of us regardless of religious or cultural beliefs, it is time for us to take an inventory of our lives and resolve to shed unhealthy habits for healthy ones. For me, there is no better place to start than with one of my passions—reading. Reading is a healthy habit that does more than just educate or entertain; it exercises our minds as we age. But this year, I have found it particularly difficult to carve out the time to read as much as I normally would. My numbers have been dwindling and despite having a fully stocked TBR list, with authors whose work I’ve loved over the years, I’m in a reading slump. I am determined to shed this slump, and several unwanted pounds, in 2025.

In fact, after a lot of deep reflection I realized that what my reading regimen is missing is a challenge. Which is why I am launching the first ever KRL Coming Attractions Reading Challenge! Each month I will announce a self-imposed reading challenge for the month and feature five books listed in the Coming Attractions column that support my challenge. As readers of the column, you are welcome to join me by adopting the challenge for yourself or simply wishing me well along the way. At the end of 2025, I’m hoping we will all be able to celebrate having read 60 books as a community while expanding our reading horizons.

To kick off the first month of our KRL Coming Attractions Reading Challenge, I decided to focus on firsts. The Featured Five for January introduces new-to-me authors who have just released a first book in a new series. You are welcome to read these five new books with me during the month of January, or pick five new-to-you authors who have a first book in a new series releasing this month. Remember, this is just for fun so it’s okay if you choose not to participate.

Featured Five

When Peyton Hart returns to the quaint town of Wallshire, she hopes to reconnect with her estranged mother and maybe even find her place in the world. Instead, she’s thrust into a nightmare when Katarina, the enigmatic owner of the tea shop, Steeped in Mystery, is found dead—poisoned by her own brew. To make matters worse, Peyton becomes the prime suspect in the investigation. With the sharp-eyed Detective Levi Kessler questioning her every move, and the town buzzing with gossip, Peyton finds herself caught in a web of secrets she never knew her mother was hiding. Determined to clear her name and uncover the truth, Peyton dives headfirst into Wallshire’s quirky community, where everyone seems to have something to hide. From cryptic notes in the tea shop to rivalries that run deeper than the finest Darjeeling, Peyton must navigate a blend of danger and charm to piece together the mystery.

A Brew Most Foul is a heartwarming and suspenseful cozy mystery that invites readers to savor every clue—and every cup of tea—while rooting for a heroine who’s learning to trust herself, one “steep” at a time.— A Brew Most Foul by H. C. Cardona, Grey Star Publishing, LLC

A cursed quill, a snarky owl shifter, and a mystery that could rewrite history. Marlot has a knack for finding things—lost keys, stolen artifacts, and occasionally trouble. When a desperate client hires her to track down an enchanted golden quill rumored to be cursed, she knows it’s not going to be easy. What she doesn’t expect is for her rival, a sly fox shifter with a penchant for getting under her feathers, to be hot on the same trail. The deeper Marlot digs, the more dangerous the hunt becomes. With whispers of a secret society, ghostly warnings, and a curse that attracts more than its fair share of supernatural predators, it’s a good thing Marlot has a sharp mind and sharper claws. But when the quill’s power begins to awaken, Marlot realizes this job could cost her more than her reputation—it might cost her everything. For fans of cozy mysteries with a magical twist, Cursed in Feathers is an enchanting blend of wit, intrigue, and supernatural adventure. Perfect for readers who love snarky heroines, slow-burn rivalries, and a touch of the paranormal.— Cursed in Feathers by Wynn Valentine

Annie Hart, daughter of Bryan Hart––talent agent to the stars––spends her life getting roped into whatever new task her father needs her to do for his VIP clients. So when she inherits a yarn shop in the small Indiana town of Franklin, she is curious to see what it feels like to have something that is solely hers! But when her arrival is greeted by the local law enforcement, Annie senses things are not quite as they seem in this idyllic town . . . everyone knows everybody in Franklin yet when it comes to the death of the shop’s previous owner, nobody seems sure of anything! Annie soon discovers that Eleanor Danton was in fact murdered, strangled with her own yarn . . . invigorated by her need to find out the truth, and feeling somehow at home with the friendly bunch of local yarn artists who frequent the shop, she sets out to find the killer. Much can be achieved over a cuppa and a yarn. — Death Among the Stitches by Betty Hechtman, Severn House

New York City and Washington, DC, 1951. Kay Thompson—secretary to Eleanor Roosevelt—is a young woman of conviction navigating the post-World War II period. But can she expose the dark truth about a transatlantic murder mystery unfolding before her eyes? Previously fired for speaking out against workplace injustices, twenty-five-year-old Kay Thompson finds her true calling once appointed to support Eleanor Roosevelt, a champion of human rights known as ER among those in her inner circle. Kay fully embraces her new role as the former First Lady’s right hand—typing up daily columns and juggling a blur of political meetings, ribbon cuttings, and charitable dinners. It’s not until a dead body is discovered on a train that her most compelling task comes into focus. Stunning Susie Taylor had star quality. Judging from her photos, it’s clear why she left Sweden with plans to make it big on Broadway. But when ER enlists Kay’s help on a discreet investigation about Taylor’s sudden disappearance, the two suspect the up-and-comer was concealing secrets about her real identity and motives—all leading to her murder at Washington’s Union Station. Plunged into a living Alfred Hitchcock film, an unseasoned Kay and a shrewd ER side with a handsome detective on a search for answers. What was Susie’s connection with a charismatic Soviet UN delegate and an atomic energy researcher? As ER makes it her mission to find out, danger looms upon the discovery of another body. Now, Kay must play a central role in exposing the killer—before she becomes the next rising beauty to meet a cruel fate.— Eleanor and the Cold War by Ellen Yardley, Kensington

An acquaintance with death—Haunted by her family’s unsolved murder sixteen years ago, Leonora Spencer is familiar with death. As an assistant in her elderly uncle’s London morgue, she uses her photographic memory to catalogue details for his coroner reports. She also isn’t opposed to helping during postmortems when his skilled hands begin to shake. After a thief breaks into the morgue and steals a locket from a corpse, Leo is determined to understand why, even if it means going against Detective Inspector Jasper Reid’s express orders to keep her nose out of it. Born and bred in the East End slums, Jasper Reid’s recent promotion to the detective branch at Scotland Yard is a long step up from his murky past . . . a past he can’t afford to reveal to anyone. The last thing he needs is a muddled case that connects to the criminals he once associated with, and to the well-known eccentric Leo Spencer. Her stubborn resolve to undermine Jasper’s investigation tests his patience and the complicated history they share. When the missing locket and a handful of suspicious deaths point to a mysterious buried object, Jasper grudgingly accepts Leo’s help to locate it. But someone is watching, and the more they uncover about a deadly blackmail plot, the closer Leo and Jasper get to becoming the killer’s next targets. — Shadow at the Morgue by Cara Devlin

January 1
Four Drops of Intuition (Autumn Heights, Book 4) by Josephine Beintema
One Bigfoot in the Grave (The Jill Cooksey Mysteries, Book 4) by Lesley St. James
The Honey Jam Murder (A Luscious Delights Mystery, Book 4) by Meg Benjamin
The House of Second Chances (Secrets & Love, Book 1) by Lauren Westwood | Reissue
Yumi’s Desert Mysteries: Shadows of the Sand (Yumi’s Mysteries, Book 3) by John J. Petrucelli

January 2
Frosting and Fairies (Sugar Shack Witch Mysteries, Book 7) by Danielle Garrett
Murder of a Medium (Redmond & Haze Mysteries, Book 15) by Irina Shapiro
Roost in Peace (Ettie Smith Amish Mysteries, Book 29) by Samantha Price
The Serpent Under (A Sherlock Holmes Adventure, Book 6) by Bonnie MacBird

January 3
A Matter of Blood (Tom Walsingham Mysteries, Book 6) by C. P. Giuliani
Peril by Pinot (Simply Scrumptious Cozy Culinary Mystery, Book 2) by Tessa Aura
The Edge of Knife (Bobbi Sue Baxter Mysteries, Book 3) by Marissa Shrock

January 4
Brush with Death (Pine Grove Mysteries, Book 6) by Daisy Landish
Masked for Murder (An Ivy Schaeffer Cozy Mystery, Book 5) by Angie Frost
The Cream Tea Killer (The Morwenna Mutton Mysteries, Book 3) by Judy Leigh

January 5
The Broken Girl (A Sadie Gray FBI Mystery Series, Book 3) by R.B. Schow and Bailey James

January 6
Coat of Many Colors (Dressed to Kill Series) by Deanndra Hall | First in Series
Holmes Is Missing (Holmes, Margaret & Poe, Book 2) by James Patterson and Brian Sitts
Maxwell’s Return (Schoolmaster Murder Mysteries, Book 18) by M.J. Trow
Whipping Up Worry (Little Dog Diner, Book 8) by Emmie Lyn

January 7
Better Luck Hex Time (A Moonstone Bay Cozy Mystery, Book 15) by Amanda M. Lee
Death Among the Stitches (A Crochet and Crumpets Mystery) by Betty Hechtman | First in Series
Death Comes in Threes (A Bloody Mary Tudor Mystery, Book 9) by Michael Jecks
Fall Guy (The Rachel Alexander & Dash Mysteries, Book 6) by Carol Lea Benjamin | Reissue
In at the Death (A Harriet & Matthew Rowsley Mystery, Book 6) by Judith Cutler
Rebellious Grace (A King’s Fool Mystery, Book 3) by Jeri Westerson
Savannah is Burning (The Savannah Time Travel Mysteries, Book 4) by Susan Kiernan-Lewis
The Bookstore at Holiday Bay (The Bookstore at Holiday Bay, Book 6) by Kathi Daley
The First Curse is the Deepest (A Return to Magic Cozy Mystery, Book 8) by Lily Harper Hart
The Hard Way (The Rachel Alexander & Dash Mysteries, Book 9) by Carol Lea Benjamin | Reissue
Without a Word (The Rachel Alexander and Dash Mysteries, Book 8) by Carol Lea Benjamin | Reissue

January 8
A Brilliant Convergence: A Sparkling Regency Mystery by Rachel Gates
Jury Duty is Murder by Kate Damon

January 9
Deceptions Can Be Murder (Charlie Parker Mysteries, Book 23) by Connie Shelton
Mystic Lies (Mystic Village Paranormal Cozy Mysteries, Book 5) by Cindy Stark

January 10
A Violent Vacation (The Ozarks Cozy Mystery Series, Book 12) by Dianne Harman
Pups and Poison (A Vampire Veterinary Mystery, Book 2) by Sedona Jade and Amy Stake
The Scandal at the Spa (A Very Merry Murder Mystery, Book 5) by Rachel Beattie
The Taverna Affair (The Cook and Inspector Mysteries, Book 7) by Joanne Pence

January 11
Vengeance in the Vines (Rylie Sunderland Mysteries, Book 2) by Rachele Baker
Wine and Whispers (Sophie Brooks Mysteries) by Daisy Landish | First in Series

January 12
Fudgy Foul Play (Mysteries à la Mode, Book 6) by Tammy Beck
Ronin: Have Sword Will Travel #1 – The Missing Japanese Chin Mystery (Horo-sha, Female Ronin Detective Cozy Mysteries) by Kristie Lynn Higgins | First in Series

January 13
A Brew Most Foul (The Wallshire Mystery Series) by H. C. Cardona | First in Series
Cupcakes and Chaos (Frosted Misfortunes Mysteries) by Lisa Siefert | First in Series
Portraits of the Past (A Beatrice Holloway Mystery, Book 3) by C. J. Arden

January 14
A Soul to Harvest (A Kara Hilder Mystery, Book 12) by Jenna St. James
Death by Compost (Sophie Greenfield Mysteries) by Amy E. Lilly | First in Series
Dog Bones and Dead Bodies (Pupcakes & Peril Mysteries) by Paige Tyler | First in Series
Every Witch Way but Cursed (Magical Misfits Mysteries, Book 17) by K. E. O’Connor
Murder for Profit (Ellie Quicke Mysteries, Book 22) by Veronica Heley
Never Nap in a Casket (Never Mysteries, Book 2) by J. W. Hodge
Rare Bookshop Murder (A Rolling Dough Pizza Truck Mystery, Book 5) by R. M. Murphy
Revenge of the Deadly Dozen (The Deadly Dozen Mysteries, Book 2) by Peter Berry
Shadows and Shamans (A Spellbound Bookshop Mystery, Book 6) by J. A. Whiting
Sugar Snapped (A Juli Butler Mystery, Book 2) by Barbara Witek
The Dilemma of a Dead Scholar (Gravesyde Priory Mysteries, Book 6) by Patricia Rice
The Pot Thief Who Studied Calvin (The Pot Thief Mysteries, Book 10) by J. Michael Orenduff
The Wild Wilder Mystery (The J.D. Pierson Case Files, Book 6) by C. H. Sessums

January 15
Carousels and Characters (Magical Mystery Book Club, Book 9) by Elizabeth Pantley
Cursed in Feathers (Mystic Feathers Mysteries) by Wynn Valentine | First in Series
Forget Me Knot (The Flower Shop Mysteries, Book 4) by Annie Adams
Murder on a High Note (Music Shop Mysteries) by Jennifer Lamont Leo | First in Series
The House of Hidden Secrets (Secrets and Love, Book 2) by Lauren Westwood
The Storyteller’s Daughter by Victoria Scott

January 16
Fatal Fall Foliage Cruise (Cruise Ship Cozy Mysteries, Book 10) by Addison Moore
Murder at Merisham Lodge (Miss Hart & Miss Hunter Investigate) by Celina Grace | Reissue
Spells Like Poltergeist Spirit (The Owl Star Witch Mysteries, Book 18) by Leanne Leeds
Spirits after Sunset (Felines of Fairytale Forest, Book 3) by K. L. Montgomery
Where Wolves Wait (A Rae Greyson Mystery, Book 2) by B. W. Hoff

January 17
The Antique Store Detective and the May Day Murder (A Bella Winter Mystery, Book 2) by Clare Chase
Canoeing into Chaos (Whispering Lake Paranormal Cozy Mysteries, Book 3) by Misty Spellman
Fake Cakes (A Tibbyhill Lane Teashop Mystery, Book 3) by Marilyn Leach
Tartan, Treasures and Trouble (A Dotty Sayers Antique Mystery, Book 12) by Victoria Tait
The Lady and the Poisoned Waters (Lady Inventor Mysteries) by Brittany E. Brinegar and J.E. Brinegar | First in Series

January 18
Footloose and Fancy Tea (Baker’s Surprise Mysteries) by R. A. Hutchins | First in a Series
Frozen with Fear (Pine Grove Mysteries, Book 7) by Daisy Landish
Murder on the Menu (The Bad Girls Detective Agency, Book 3) by Katie Marsh

January 20
Cashmere Conspiracy (A Hazel Stitchworth Cozy Mystery) by Fiona Grace | First in Series
Mean Cuisine (The Beluga Stein Mysteries, Book 2) by Wendy W. Webb
Succubi and Secrets (Spellbrooke Mystery, Book 4) by Renee Marski

January 21
Death of an Irish Druid (The Dublin Driver Mysteries, Book 6) by Catie Murphy
Eleanor and the Cold War (An Eleanor Roosevelt Mystery) by Ellen Yardley | First in Series
Loose Lips (A Ghostwriter Mystery, Book 2) by Kemper Donovan
Muffins and Martinis (Antiques & Drinks, Book 4) by K. C. Bellinger
Murder in Bloom (The Gardener Mysteries, Book 3) by Rosie Sandler
Operation Bayou Justice (Poppy McVie Mysteries, Book 8) by Kimberli A. Bindschatel
Star-Crossed Egg Tarts (A Magical Fortune Cookie Mystery, Book 2) by Jennifer J. Chow

January 22
A Golden Guilt Trip (The Pecan, Texas Pet Groomer Cozy Mysteries, Book 5) by M. Alfano
The Mystery of the Phantom Prospector (Artifacts & Apparitions, Book 4) by Tammy Beck
The Torso in the Town (The Fethering Mysteries, Book 3) by Simon Brett

January 23
A Deadly Inheritance (Lady Marigold’s 1920s Murder Mysteries, Book 3) by Ava Ness
Candles, Cacti, and Death (A Knick-Knack Boutique Mystery, Book 6) by Constance Barker
Secrets, Songbirds, and Succulents (Succulent Sleuth Series, Book 3) by Iris March
The Case of the Vanishing Valuables (Earl Clawson) by Leighann Dobbs | First in Series
The Dog Sitter Detective Plays Dead (The Dog Sitter Detective, Book 3) by Antony Johnston

January 24
The Cherry Topped Calamity (Killer Cupcakes Cozy Mystery) by Angela Mayble | First in Series

January 25
Luck Runs Out (Pine Grove Mysteries, Book 8) by Daisy Landish
Ronin: Have Sword, Will Travel #2 – How To Frame A Murder Part One (Horo-sha, Female Ronin Detective Cozy Mysteries, Book 2) by Kristie Lynn Higgins
Shadow at the Morgue (Spencer & Reid Mysteries) by Cara Devlin | First in Series

January 27
Murder Under the Marquee (Elmo Simpson Mysteries, Book 2) by J. C. Kenney
Return to Black Bayou: A Cozy Gothic Murder Mystery (The Swamp Slayings) by Carla Cassidy | First in Series
These Boots Were Made For Walking (Dressed to Kill Series, Book 2) by Deanndra Hall

January 28
A Gentleman of Sinister Schemes (The Lord Julian Mysteries, Book 8) by Grace Burrowes
A Gilded Redwood Coffin (The Roddy & Val DeVere Gilded Age Series, Book 7) by Cecelia Tichi
A Ruthless Angel Weeps (House of Croft, Book 3) by Sophie Barnes
A Very Fairy Funeral (Mistbrook Manor) by A. N. Sage | First in Series
An Insidious Inheritance (Clara Dawson) by Amelie West | First in Series
Death and the Harlot (A Lizzie Hardwicke, Book 1) by Georgina Clarke | Reissue
Docks, Discoveries, and Danger (Dune House Cozy Mystery Series, Book 32) by Cindy Bell
Easy Does It (Mackenzie Owens Mysteries, Book 6) by Jasmine Webb
Murder Taroted (Witching Hour Ghost Hunters Mysteries, Book 4) by Kat McGee
Soft Serve Sleighing (Coffee & Cream Café Mysteries, Book 5) by Lena Gregory
The Baguette Murders (Brittany Murder Mysteries, Book 3) by Anne Penketh
The Corpse Played Dead (A Lizzie Hardwicke, Book 2) by Georgina Clarke | Reissue

January 29
Murder at Kelleven Castle (A Tommy & Evelyn Christie Mystery, Book 10) by Catherine Coles
Murder in the Meadow (Dog Detective – A Bulldog on the Case Cozy Mystery, Book 11) by Rosie Sams
Ronin: Have Sword, Will Travel #3 – How To Frame A Murder: Part Two (Horo-sha, Female Ronin Detective Cozy Mysteries, Book 3) by Kristie Lynn Higgins
The Ferriman Returns to Wickermore (Harry Ferriman Investigations) by Ron Tucker | First in Series
The House of Love and Dreams (Secrets & Love, Book 3) by Lauren Westwood

January 30
Dead in the Deli (Max’s Campervan Case Files, Book 12) by Tyler Rhodes
Enigmatic Echoes (Whispers of Witchcraft Cozy Mysteries, Book 4) by Nellie H. Steele
Helle’s Hound (Helle & Death, Book 2) by Oskar Jensen
Murder at Sunny View (A Maisie Cooper Mystery, Book 5) by Greg Mosse
Murder in the Mistletoe Shoppe (The Kitty Worthington Mysteries, Book 11) by Magda Alexander

January 31
A Bullet in the Basement (A Murder at the Morrisey Mystery, Book 5) by Eryn Scott
A Dreadfully Fine Heist (Sunset Haven Key Cozy Mystery Series, Book 3) by Ana Bisset
A Merry Murderous Midwinter (The Skeleton Crew Paranormal Cozy Mystery, Book 3) by Dahlia Donovan
A Wish To Die For (Witches & Wishes Cozy Mysteries) by C. A. Phipps | First in Series
Amulets & Alibis in Archangel (Aurora Yardley Paranormal Mysteries) by Althea Plume | First in Series
Breathing Space (Ellis McFadden Mysteries) by Kristen Painter | First in Series
Casting Doubt (Fish Camp Cozy Mysteries, Book 2) by Summer Prescott
Death Pays A Call To The Three Hounds Bakery (The Doxies & Donuts Mystery Series, Book 2) by Julie Titterington
Hijinks and Holly (A Paw Paws Pet Bakery Cozy Mystery, Book 4) by L. C. Turner
Murder at the Monastery (Violet Vaughn Southwestern Mysteries, Book 3) by Kristina Charles
Spooked at Smoky Stadium (Haunted Histories Paranormal Cozy Mystery Series) by Lynn M. Stout | First in Series
The Biscuit Tin Murders #6: A Pinch of Salt & a Drop of Poison by Menna van Praag
The King’s Court Murders (The Samuel Pepys Mysteries, Book 4) by Ellis Blackwood
Three Dogs, Two Murders, and a Cat (Nicolette Briggs Mysteries) by Rodney Strong | First in Series

Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & mystery short stories in our mystery section. And join our mystery Facebook group to keep up with everything mystery we post, and have a chance at some extra giveaways. Also listen to our new mystery podcast where mystery short stories and first chapters are read by actors! They are also available on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, and Spotify.

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Victoria Fair is a rabbit rescuer and foster for disabled rabbits by day and an avid cozy mystery and historical mystery reviewer and beta reader by night. When she’s not reading, drinking a steady stream of tea, or advocating for animals, you can find her arranging author takeovers for the Cozy Mystery Lovers/Meg’s Cozy Corner Facebook group, a strong community of cozy mystery and historical mystery lovers. They’re always welcoming new members so don’t be afraid to check them out.