Summer Thrillers You Need to Order Now
The Chateau by Jaclyn Goldis
Fans of Agatha Christie will love this whodunnit thriller by Jaclyn Goldis. The Chateau centers around four girl friends who studied abroad in Provence, France during their college days. During their time there, one of the girl's grandmother, Séraphine Demargelasse, invited the ladies for weekends at her swanky chateau. Twenty years later, Séraphine, now in her 90s, invites the ladies back to her fortress. Here, the women reminisce about the olden days, while simultaneously wondering about this out-of-the-blue invitation. Why has Séraphine summoned them here?
The women will have to wait to find out, once Séraphine is discovered murdered in her bed. Each woman has her own secrets to hide, and throughout the course of the investigation, the women turn on each other, uncover long-buried secrets, and try to get to the bottom of the many mysteries they find themselves now a part of.
This novel will have you up late into the night and will have you on your toes until the very end. Twists and turns until the very last page will keep you entertained and impressed. Like many a Christie novel, the chateau itself is its own character in the novel, conjuring cryptic and secretive feelings for the readers. You won't be able to put this one down.
Publication date: May 23, 2023
Thicker Than Water by Megan Collins
Megan Collins does it again, bringing readers another page-turner primed for summer. Thicker Than Water tells the story of best friends and sisters-in-law Julia and Sienna, who find themselves clashing for the first time ever. When the boss of Julia's husband and Sienna's brother turns up brutally murdered, things for the family begin to unravel. At first, the murder is nothing more than a shock, but a few days later when Jason gets in a car accident and winds up in a coma, the police investigation suddenly takes a turn and Jason becomes the prime suspect. The women's relationship, which was once as strong as steel, begins to show fractures when Sienna is convinced of Jason's innocence and Julia begins to doubt if she ever even knew him.
This twisty-turny novel shows the fraught nature of relationships, particularly between the family you're born into and the family you choose. It begs the question how well do we really know people, what are they hiding, and who will have your back when you lose it all?
Publication date: July 11, 2023
The Long Way Back by Nicole Baart
This gripping thriller follows a mother-daughter duo as they navigate their relationship through teen angst and viral Instagram fame. Charlie, a single mom, accidentally rose to fame after posting a picture she captured of her daughter Eva, which subsequently went viral. Since then, the pair has trekked across the country, exploring the United States and documenting their travels. But when Eva suddenly goes missing and Charlie becomes the prime suspect, questions start arising about their relationship, as well as the inherent dangers of social media.
The Long Way Back does a great job of pulling you in and keeping you invested in the main characters. Alternating between points of view and timeline, the novel does a remarkable job showcasing both the bonds of family, as well as the struggles and turmoil that often come with it. It also delves into the very controversial topic of social media and how safe it really is. Even when you believe you are doing everything in your power to maintain your privacy, there can still be dangerous eyes watching.
Baart’s latest novel shows that everything you see on social media isn’t always as rosy and cheerful as it seems.
Publication date: June 13, 2023
A true adrenaline rush, The Last One by Will Dean will have you trembling with anticipation from the very first page. Caz decides to take
a luxurious vacation with her boyfriend Pete aboard the RMS Atlantica -- something a bit outside her comfort zone. After a dreamy first night indulging in the ship’s many palatial offerings, Caz wakes up to an empty bed…and even more concerning, a completely empty ship. Somehow, Caz finds herself alone aboard an oceanliner cruising full steam ahead with no one at the helm and no way to call for help.
This thriller has more twists and turns than an old country road. It will undoubtedly keep readers on the edge of their seats, hearts pounding, until its surprising conclusion. The less you know the better to prevent spoiling any of the turns this novel takes, but anyone who is a fan of Survivor or The Hunger Games will stay up late into the night with this one...and may need to do some deep breathing exercises to slow their heart rates.
Publication Date: August 8, 2023