7 Summer Thrillers That Will Keep You Guessing
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Summer is the perfect time to sink into a gripping thriller. Whether you’re lounging poolside, reading under an umbrella at the beach, or winding down in the evening with a glass of wine, these domestic suspense and mystery reads will keep you flipping pages late into the night. From chilling island getaways to secrets between best friends, here are seven thrillers that bring the heat and the twists.
Something in the Water by Catherine Steadman
Premise: Erin and Mark are newlyweds honeymooning in Bora Bora when they stumble upon something shocking underwater. What begins as a dream vacation quickly spirals into a life-altering moral dilemma. Their decision sets off a chain of dangerous events neither of them saw coming.
Why You’ll Love It: This debut combines paradise with paranoia—perfect for fans who enjoy high-stakes thrillers with ethical gray areas and cinematic pacing.
The Resort by Sara Ochs
Premise: Cass has found refuge on Thailand’s Koh Sang island, where expats live by three rules: don’t ask questions, don’t reveal your past, and run if anyone uncovers the truth. But when a dive student dies, her sanctuary starts to crumble—and it’s clear someone knows who Cass really is.
Why You’ll Love It: If you love thrillers with an exotic setting, high tension among expats, and the constant fear of past secrets resurfacing, this one’s for you.
We Were Never Here by Andrea Bartz
Premise: On an annual girls’ trip to Chile, Emily returns to the hotel to find their room wrecked—and a man dead. Her best friend Kristen claims self-defense, but it mirrors a past tragedy that haunts them both. As Emily returns home, Kristen’s presence becomes more unsettling, and Emily must face the terrifying question: Is her best friend dangerous?
Why You’ll Love It: This psychological thriller dives deep into the complexities of toxic female friendships and unshakable secrets.
Drowning by T.J. Newman
Premise: A plane crashes into the Pacific, and twelve survivors—including a father and daughter—are trapped in the sinking aircraft. As the wreck plunges deeper underwater, the girl’s mother, a skilled diver, leads a desperate rescue mission from the surface.
Why You’ll Love It: Fast-paced and heart-wrenching, this one reads like an edge-of-your-seat disaster film with emotional stakes to match.
Reckless Girls by Rachel Hawkins
Premise: Six people arrive on a remote island in the Pacific hoping for an unforgettable escape, but the island’s sinister history soon resurfaces. When one person disappears and another ends up dead, the group realizes their paradise has turned deadly.
Why You’ll Love It: This one is for readers who love a mix of gothic suspense, isolated settings, and slow-burning tension.
Bad Summer People by Emma Rosenblum
Premise: In the elite summer community of Salcombe on Fire Island, the lives of a wealthy friend group unravel when a body turns up by the boardwalk. Long-simmering grudges, social power plays, and romantic entanglements bubble to the surface.
Why You’ll Love It: Think Big Little Lies with a salty, satirical edge. It’s rich people behaving badly—with deadly consequences.
One of the Girls by Lucy Clarke
Premise: A group of six women head to a Greek island for a bachelorette getaway, but each carries secrets and simmering tension. As the weekend unfolds, it becomes clear not everyone wants the wedding to go ahead—and not everyone will leave the island alive.
Why You’ll Love It: This atmospheric thriller is perfect for fans of The Guest List or The Girls Are All So Nice Here—claustrophobic, character-driven, and unputdownable.
Final Thoughts
If your ideal summer read is a little twisty, a little dark, and impossible to put down, these thrillers will absolutely deliver. From beachy bachelorette trips to luxury getaways gone wrong, each of these stories will keep you hooked from start to finish.
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