Mystery and Thriller books make the best beach reads, so I compiled this list of Best Books for Summer Mystery and Thriller Readers in Summer 2025. What books are the heavy hitter authors in the crime fiction genre putting out for this summer? Here is my top Summer Reading List, plus free bingo cards and reading logs for you to download!
18 Best Books for Mystery and Thriller Readers in Summer 2025
- I will be adding review links to this post, so save it and check back!
- And yes, I still will be doing my monthly posts, so that you can see ALL the books.
- May’s post on New Mystery and Thriller Books is here.
- At the bottom of the post are links to download the bingo cards and summer to-read lists and reading logs!
- AND if your budget for hardcovers is low and your library wait list is LONG, check out my list of great new summer 2025 beach reads out in paperback!
Summer 2025 Books by Big Authors
The Tenant by Freida McFadden (May 6): a new novel from the current popcorn thriller queen!
Why this book is on the list:
- Yes, Freida is a controversial author, but you can’t deny her current domination of the crime fiction space.
- Freida McFadden has gone from a self-published author to a traditionally published author with multiple NYT bestsellers.
- According to the New York Times, she is currently the top selling thriller writer in the United States.
- Her new publisher is alternating new titles like The Tenant with re-releases like The Surrogate Mother.
- I haven’t read The Tenant, but if you have, let me know your thoughts in the comments!
Nightshade by Michael Connelly (May 20): a new character for Connelly!
Why this book is on my list:
- With 38 published novels and over 74 million copies of his books sold worldwide, Connelly is a giant in the procedural mystery lane.
- As I discuss in my Readers Guide to Nightshade, this is a new, possibly standalone title for Connelly.
- I did find a clue that this book is part of the Boschverse (see the Readers Guide above!)
With a Vengeance by Riley Sager (June 10): a historical Murder on the Orient Express?
Why this book is on the list:
- Sager’s earlier books like Final Girls and Lock Every Door leaned more toward horror movie inspired thrillers, but with The Only One Left and Middle of the Night, he has segued into more intricate suspense novels with past-present timelines.
- With a Vengeance takes place in 1942 and 1956 and sounds a little like Murder on the Orient Express! I am SO in!
- The reviews on this book are a bit mixed. Want to know what I think? My Readers Guide for With a Vengeance is here!
King of Ashes by SA Cosby (June 10): a Southern Noir Godfather inspired thriller
Why this book is on the list:
- A favorite of Barack Obama, writer S.A. Cosby been nominated for multiple awards for his Southern noir novels.
- King of Ashes is described as a Southern Noir Godfather, which puts it within the new trend of Evil Family Thrillers.
- Here is my Readers Guide for King of Ashes with Spoilers and Book Club Questions!
Kill Your Darlings by Peter Swanson (June 10): Swanson stays in his suspense sweet spot
Why this book on the list:
- Peter Swanson has also experimented within the thriller and suspense genre
- But his sweet spot seems to be stories (like this one) about cat and mouse couples
- This book is a backwards domestic suspense story about a couple with a dark secret.
- Here’s my take on the book with a fun observation from another reader!
The Unraveling of Julia by Lisa Scottoline (July 15): a new direction for an established author
Why this book on the list:
- With 30 bestselling legal thrillers and domestic suspense novels, Lisa Scottoline needs no introduction.
- With The Unraveling of Julia, she seems to be dipping a toe into the Gothic/destination thriller subgenre
- So this was paranormal suspense with a romance! A great travelogue. If you like paranormal, give it a try!
All Are Guilty Here by Karin Slaughter (August 12): a new small town procedural series
Why this book is on the list:
- With 24 novels that sold 40 million copies, plus multiple screen adaptations, Karin Slaughter is a giant in the crime fiction sphere
- She writes both procedural series and standalone suspense
- All Are Guilty Here is a NEW small town procedural!
- LOVED this one – check out my thoughts on We Are All Guilty Here!
Summer 2025 Books by The Queens of Suspense
What do your favorite women of mystery have in store for us in summer 2025? Here’s my list!
The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark (June 3)
Why this book is on my list:
- My Spoiler Discussion for The Last Flight is a heavily commented on post on my site
- I’ve been a fan of all Clark’s recent books. She did a con artist story that I enjoyed.
- The Ghostwriter jumps on the newish trend of Mystery and Suspense Books about Writers
- I just finished this, and it’s actually a family secrets story with a true crime element that reminded me a bit of Daughter of Mine by Megan Miranda.
- Here’s my Readers Guide and Quick Take on The Ghostwriter!
Don’t Open Your Eyes by Liv Constantine (June 17)
Why this book is on the list:
- Sister writing team Liv Constantine has been thrilling us since The Last Mrs. Parrish, A Reese’s Book Club pick
- Her sequel to LMP, The Next Mrs. Parrish, brought even more twistiness
- Don’t Open Your Eyes features a mom who starts having terrifying premonitions.
- This wasn’t my favorite of her books. Here’s my Readers Guide and Quick Take!
Don’t Let Him In by Lisa Jewell – a sinister guy you don’t want in your life
Why this book on on the list:
- Lisa Jewell is a go-to for psychogical suspense!
- After a devoted father dies, a man pops up in the life of his surviving family. Who is he and what are his intentions?
- Jewell’s None of This is True was a book all my blog readers loved discussing so I’m hoping this one will be the same
- Early reviews are a little mixed and I can see why. This felt more like The Invisible Girl and less like her more popular books like None of This is True.
- My Readers Guide is UP and you will need this character list!
The Woman in Suite 11 by Ruth Ware (July 8) – surprise sequel!
Why this book is on the list:
- I have loved Ruth Ware’s books so much! She really has a book for every reader: classic mysteries, high octane thrillers, and nail biting suspense.
- The Woman in Suite 11 is actually a sequel to The Woman in Cabin 10 (if you have book amnesia, check out my Spoiler Discussion post for a refresher)
- Also, the Woman in Cabin 10 will be coming to Netflix soon!
You Belong Here by Megan Miranda (July 29)- new campus novel
Why this book is on the list:
- I’ve been a Megan Miranda fan since she was writing YA suspense back in the 2000s.
- I’ve read and reviewed most of her adult books and enjoyed them.
- You Belong Here is a campus novel, so I’m excited!
- Here’s my take on the book, which I really enjoyed, with one complaint!
She Didn’t See It Coming by Shari Lapena (July 29)
Why this book is on the list:
- I love Shari Lapena books. She’s great at writing suspense; check out my post on What is the Best Book by Shari Lapena?
- She Didn’t See it Coming is set in an apartment building, which is a favorite setting of mine (I did a whole post if you want to check it out!)
- This is getting some great early reviews so I’m excited!
Forget Me Not by Stacy Willingham (August 26)
Why is this book on the list?
- Stacy Willingham wowed us all with A Flicker in the Dark and All the Dangerous Things and followed that with a friend group thriller
- Forget Me Not feels a little like a Flicker in the Dark, with a crime in the past and a character’s reluctant return to her hometown.
- This is getting great early reviews!
New Crime Fiction Authors to Check Out
Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson (July 22) – adult debut!
- Holly Jackson is the author of the very popular YA trilogy The Good Girls Guide to Murder
- This trilogy has been made into a Netflix series (season 2 coming!)
- Not Quite Dead has a premise that sounded to me like the old movie D.O.A. And I LOVE old movies, so that is exciting to me!
- Picked as an August GMA Book Club pick! My Readers Guide for Not Quite Dead Yet
Death at the White Hart by Chris Chibnall (June 10) – from the creator of Broadchurch
Why is this on the list?
- I loved Broadchurch, both the UK version and the American version, called Gracepoint. I watched them both!
- This is Chibnall’s debut book and it takes place in an English village
- It’s also been optioned for a series. He novelized Broadchurch, so this is the reverse?
- I‘m reading this now and trying to adjust to the omniscient POV. We are hearing from EVERY character in this village.
- Here’s my Quick Take and Spoilers for Death at the White Hart. For me, this will be better as a movie!
Last Seen by J.T. Ellison (August 5)
Why is this book on the list?
- J.T. Ellison is a favorite author of mine. I thought her last book, A Very Bad Thing, was wildly entertaining.
- Last Seen is getting great early reviews (so far) and is about a forensic scientist who loses her job but gets a family mystery to solve: her mother’s death, which was NOT accidental.
- In the end, Last Seen was a bit too wacky for me. But other readers are enjoying it, so if you love an out-there book, give it a try!
Grab my Summer Reading Bingo Cards and Reading Logs
I’d love to hear what books are on your summer “must read” list. Let me know in comments please!
The Tenant is exactly what you are expecting from Freida McFadden. It’s a page-turner with questionable credibility. Sometimes that’s exactly what I want.
Hi and thanks! That’s good to know. Page turning is what she usually offers, and it’s clearly what a lot of people want to read!
The Surrogate Mother has me thinking that I won’t read any more of her re-releases!
Did you try it?
I have not read The Surrogate Mother, but I usually think her older books are better! I thought the Housemaid was wacky fun and I really enjoyed The Wife Upstairs.
Her newer books like the Co-Worker and The Teacher have been more of a let-down for me. I am seeing a lot of complaints about The Crash and The Tenant, so I think I’ll skip those.