Vacation Thrillers
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You Won’t Want to Book a Vacation After Reading These 10 Jaw-Dropping Thrillers

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Because you’re definitely not done with twisty tropical secrets, messy friendships, and murder in paradise…

If White Lotus Season 3 left you reeling—wondering who can be trusted, who’s hiding a secret, and whether anyone ever returns from vacation the same—these thrillers are your next obsession.

Set in exotic locales from the Maldives to Greek islands to hidden resorts in Thailand, these books offer all the suspense and drama you’d expect when luxury meets lies. Whether you’re reading by the pool or from your couch, here are the vacation thrillers.

10 Vacation Thrillers to Escape with (before they escape you)

The Trip by Phoebe Morgan

The Trip

Two couples set off for a dream vacation in Thailand—but only three of them make it out alive. As secrets unravel and trust is shattered, each friend must confront what they’re hiding. Only one committed the murder, but everyone has blood on their hands in this twisty, tension-filled thriller.

Why You’ll Love It: A murder-filled getaway with friendship drama, shady secrets, and a luxurious Thai setting that turns claustrophobic fast.
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One of the Girls by Lucy Clarke

One of the Girls

Six women head to a Greek island for a bachelorette celebration. But when one of them ends up dead, it becomes clear that the bride-to-be isn’t the only one with something to lose. A razor-sharp look at toxic friendships, hidden rivalries, and deadly secrets.

Why You’ll Love It: Think White Lotus meets Big Little Lies with bachelorette chaos, unreliable friends, and killer twists.
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The Vacation by John Marrs

The Vacation

Eight strangers check into a Los Angeles hostel looking for a fresh start—but fate has other plans. As their stories collide, buried secrets come to light, forcing each guest to confront the past they tried to escape.

Why You’ll Love It: Interwoven character drama, global perspectives, and a fast-paced mystery make this a bingeable ride.
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Something in the Water by Catherine Steadman

Something in the Water

On their honeymoon in Bora Bora, Erin and Mark make a shocking discovery during a scuba dive. What they find beneath the surface forces them into a high-stakes game of deception, greed, and moral compromise.

Why You’ll Love It: For fans of moral dilemmas, page-turning tension, and vacations that take a very dark turn.
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Bad Tourists by Caro Carver

Three best friends escape to a luxe Maldives resort to celebrate their divorces—but when a body washes up on the beach, paradise turns deadly.

Why You’ll Love It: Midlife reinvention meets murder mystery with fierce female friendship and tropical suspense.
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Very Bad Company by Emma Rosenblum

Startup culture meets murder mystery during a glamorous corporate retreat in Miami. When an executive goes missing, Caitlin and her coworkers must fake enthusiasm and keep up appearances—while everything behind the scenes spirals.

Why You’ll Love It: A sharp, satirical look at tech culture with dark humor, drama, and a body count.
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The Resort by Sara Ochs

Cass has buried her past on the lush Thai island of Koh Sang. But when a dive student dies mysteriously, everything she’s built begins to crumble.

Why You’ll Love It: Expat noir at its finest, with atmospheric tension, shady pasts, and paradise hiding plenty of darkness.
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The Villa by Rachel Hawkins

The Villa

Two best friends reunite at an Italian villa with a tragic past. Decades earlier, it was the scene of a rock star’s bloody summer. Now, as history threatens to repeat itself, Emily and Chess must reckon with ambition, betrayal, and secrets that won’t stay buried.

Why You’ll Love It: A dual-timeline mystery filled with glam, murder, and creative obsession—set against an irresistible Italian backdrop.
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Saint X by Alexis Schaitkin

Saint X

Years after her sister’s mysterious death during a family vacation in the Caribbean, Claire crosses paths with one of the men once accused. What follows is a haunting investigation into grief, privilege, and the shadow of a tragedy that never fully closed.

Why You’ll Love It: A literary, atmospheric take on the vacation mystery, layered with emotional depth and social commentary.
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The Fury by Alex Michaelides

The Fury

A former movie star hosts a luxe Easter weekend on her private Greek island—but a storm traps the guests, and one of them won’t survive the night. Narrated by a slippery writer with his own secrets, this locked-island mystery is full of glamour, misdirection, and deadly consequences.

Why You’ll Love It: Classic whodunit vibes with a modern twist, dripping in wealth, deceit, and unreliable narration.
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Ready to Unpack the Drama?

These vacation thrillers are tailor-made for fans of White Lotus—equal parts escape and emotional chaos. Whether you’re flying to an island or just escaping into fiction, these books bring the heat, the suspense, and the secrets. Which one are you reading first?

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Let me know in the comments—and don’t forget to sign up for my Substack for more thrillers, beach reads, and messy drama straight to your inbox.

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