Ten Thriller Books To Read This Summer

When I picture myself sitting on a beach somewhere reading a book, it is almost always a romance novel. But occasionally I want a thriller to keep me on my toes. Below is a list of ten books to read at the beach when you are craving a mystery or thriller. All of these books either give off summer or beachy vibes. I have also included the Goodreads rating!

Everything We Keep by Kerry Lonsdale

Aimee Tierney is engaged to her high school sweetheart and in the process of buying out her parents restaurant. Her life is on the right track until her fiancé goes missing in a boating accident. The day she is supposed to be walking down the aisle, she is instead at her fiancé's funeral. At the end of the funeral, Aimee is approached by a woman who leaves her wondering what really happened out there on the water and Aimee decides to look into the disappearance herself. This book is perfect for the thriller lover who also needs a bit of romance thrown in there. Everything We Keep is the first book in a three book series. Trust me, you will want to read them all.

The Only Survivors by Megan Miranda

Ten years ago two vans ended up at the bottom of a ravine with only nine survivors. Even though those nine survivors were not close before, they are now bonded together by their traumatic experience as well as the secrets they keep. Over the years they lose a few more from their group, but one thing has never changed. Every year on the anniversary of the accident the group meets at the same house in the OBX for the week. This year on the ten year anniversary trip they will learn just how deep their secrets lie.

The Swell by Allie Reynolds

It has been over three years since the day Kenna Ward lost her boyfriend to the swell of the ocean. One day Kenna receives a phone call from her best friend, Mikki, who is living in Australia. Mikki shares the news that she is getting married to a man that she just recently started dating. Kenna drops what she is doing to fly out to Australia to hang out with Mikki and her fiancé, in hopes to convince Mikki to not go through with it.. Mikki then convinces Kenna to go camp out with them and some friends at a remote beach. When things start getting creepy, Kenna soon finds out that nothing is what it seems.

Hidden by Laura Griffin

Hidden is the first book in The Texas Murder Files Series. When a woman ends up dead on a trail in town, Jacob Merritt is the lead detective on the case. Bailey Rhoads, an investigator, ends up being one of the first on the scene. She starts asking questions and digging deeper into the case even though Jacob tells her to stay out of it. Bailey can’t help that she is drawn to this case or even the fact that she is drawn to Jacob. But all of this meddling will get them both in trouble.

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

This super popular book is also now a Netflix Original movie. Kya has always fended for herself, even when her parents were living at the house with her. Now, living alone, she relies on herself and the marsh in order to survive. The one friend she makes over the years leaves for school, leaving Kya alone all over again. When another boy in town starts showing interest in her and then ends up dead, everyone blames Kya for his death.

Reckless Girls by Rachel Hawkins

Although this was not my favorite Rachel Hawkins book, it does give you all of the beach feels. Lux and her boyfriend, Nico, are hired by two women to sail to a remote island for a few days. While Lux is hesitant, she also knows that the money they are offering will be impossible to turn down. Once they arrive at the remote island, there is a beautiful catamaran there with a very friendly couple aboard and they all become friends. Mysterious things begin to happen, people start to go missing, and there is no way out.

Into the Water by Paula Hawkins

When Jules finds out that her sister’s body, Nel, is found at the bottom of a river, she returns back to the place where she grew up. Nel’s daughter, Lena, swears her mom did not jump, but the whole town thinks otherwise. It is the second mysterious death in that river within a year so everyone is pretty wound up. Although it is a small town, it is full of big secrets and Jules is about to uncover one of the biggest secrets of all.

The Last House Guest by Megan Miranda

Avery manages all of the vacation rentals for the Loman’s in a little town off the coast of Maine. When Saidie Loman, Avery’s childhood best friend, is found dead, Avery knows something has to be wrong. Sadie’s death was ruled a suicide by police, but Avery knows Sadie would never harm herself. Avery starts doing some digging of her own and ends up discovering secrets that were never meant to be revealed.

The Guest List by Lucy Foley

When several people are brought together for a wedding on an island off the coast of Ireland, they are expecting a nice, relaxing weekend. The bride is a magazine publisher and the husband a rising television star, and they are destined for the fairytale wedding. Even though there is no cell service and the waters are rough, nothing can bring down the energy that is roaring through the afterparty. That is until someone ends up dead.

The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager

Emma’s art career has taken off. Everyone is talking about her success, and when Emma is approached with an opportunity to become a painting counselor at Camp Nightingale, she takes it. But Emma quickly realizes something is not right. When three girls go missing, it sends everyone into a spiral as history repeats itself. Emma is determined to uncover what happened all those years ago when three girls disappeared, and find the three girls who have disappeared now.

Before you go on your summer vacation, make sure to pick out one of these thrillers to take along with you! The only two still on my TBR are The Guest List and The Last Time I Lied, so I will be taking them on my vacation.

Do you prefer thrillers or romances on the beach?