Best Vacation Thrillers to Read

My list of Best Vacation Thrillers to Read! I love Travel Mysteries and Murder Mysteries on Vacation. These books feature exciting locations and characters out of their element. Hope you enjoy checking out my favorite books about Vacations Gone Wrong! I have selections from nearly every continent and many countries!

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Vacation Thrillers have been popular since Agatha Christie, whose characters were serious globetrotters. Now in the 2010s, Vacation Thrillers are BACK with a vengeance. Murder mysteries on vacation give you a fascinating travelogue AND a thrilling mystery or suspense story. What could be more fun? All these books take place outdoes the United States and I’ve broken them down by location, so you can decide where your next thrilling and chilling adventure should be!

Which are my FAVORITES?

The Guest List, the OG by Lucy Foley, is still a favorite of mine
If you’re up for a harrowing survival thriller, check out Ruth Ware’s One Perfect Couple
If you love a lot of interpersonal drama, try The Guilt Trip by Sandie Jones
If you’re all about a Vacation Thriller with a classic Agatha Christie feel, try One by One by Ruth Ware
If you love a book with a literary feel, check out The Villa by Rachel Hawkins

Travel Thrillers Set in Antarctica

The last frontier of travel, Antartica combines dramatic landcapes with a truly remote setting.

Midnight by Amy McCulloch

What: a luxury Antarctic cruise on its maiden voyage
Where: crossing the Drake Passage (between Cape Horn and the South Shetland Islands of Antarctica).
Join this trip if: you love a locked room mystery with gaslighting

Check out my review of Midnight!

Vacation Thrillers Set in Asia & the Indian Ocean

Photo collage of vacation thrillers set in Asia and the Indian Ocean

Lavish beach resorts and remote islands make the perfect place to hide out and the ideal place to commit the perfect crime….

One Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware

Original photo of a copy of One Perfect Couple on a bookshelf near palm fronds and other books with blue and yellow covers.

What: a reality show called One Perfect Couple goes terribly wrong
Where: Ever After Island in the Indian Ocean
Join this trip if: you enjoy a good survival thriller and some Lord of the Flies interpersonal drama

Check out my Review of One Perfect Couple

Bad Tourists by Caro Carver

A copy of Bad Tourists on a boardwalk over the sand

What: three friends on a post-divorce getaway
Where: The Maldives
Join this trip if: you love a good Friend Group Thriller or a girls trip thriller

Check out my review of Bad Tourists here!

The Resort by Sara Ochs

A copy of The Resort on an e-reader in front of a stack of books

What: a woman hides out as dive instructor and hangs out with Expat group, but a murder dredges up the past she was trying to run from.
Where: Thailand
Join this trip if: you’re up for some toxic found family vibes

I tried this and it wasn’t my thing, but the setting was great and it could be for you!

Breathless by Amy McCulloch

Photo of Breathless by Amy McCullough next to a cup of tea and a blanket

What: a journalist joins a high-risk mountaineering expedition. But climbers keep dying, and it’s not accidental….
Where: Nepal
Join this trip if: you love an outdoorsy thriller

Read my Review of Breathless

Death in the Air by Ram Murali

What: a word-class spa where the body count is rising
Where: the foothills of the Himalayas
Join this trip if you like: a locked room mystery

Vacation Thrillers Set in Australia and the South Pacific

Australia is a vast continent with beach towns, big cities, and the great expanse of the Outback. The South Pacific provides a gorgeous tropical setting.

Photo collage of Vacation Thriller set in Australia and the South Pacific

Everyone on This Train is a Suspect by Benjamin Stevenso n

Copy of Everyone on This Train is a Suspect next to a computer and airline tickets

What: a train full of mystery and thriller writers board the ‘Ghan, an iconic Australian train that travels through the outback. But one of them ends up dead.
Where: the Australian Outback
Join this trip if: you like a locked room mystery and some “break the fourth wall” narrative patter.

Read my Review of Everyone on This Train is a Suspect

Reckless Girls by Rachel Hawkins

What: sailing to a remote island in the South Pacific that might be cursed
Where: Meroe Island in the South Pacific
Join this trip if: you’re up for a voyage that is Dead Calm meets LOST

Read my Review of Reckless Girls AND

Join my Spoiler Discussion for Reckless Girls

Something in the Water by Catherine Steadman

A copy of Something in the Water on an e-reader next to a row of colorful books

What: a couple takes a lavish tropical vacation they can’t afford. One day while snorkeling, they find something that could be the solution to all their problems. But at what price?
Where: Bora Bora
Join this trip if: you like a dark domestic thriller crossed with a travel thriller

Check out my Review of Something in the Water

Vacation Thrillers Set in the Caribbean and the Bahamas

The Caribbean is an idyllic holiday destination, but also the location of some high profile true crime cased.

On the Surface by Rachel McGuire

Original photo of a copy of On the Surface on a bookshelf next to other pink books and a pair of pink sunglasses

What: two travel YouTubers on a sailboat. One goes missing. One can’t remember what happened.
Where: the Bahamas
Join this trip if you like: a missing persons case plus some commentary on social media and tourism

Check out my Review of On The Surface

Saint X by Alexis Schaitkin

What: a girl goes missing on a family vacation to the Caribbean,
Where: Saint X, a fictional Caribbean island
Join this trip if: you like a victim-centered thriller and are a fan of true crime

This book has been adapted for Hulu!

Vacation Thrillers Set in France

France! Here are vacation thrillers set in the stunning city of Pari, in charming towns in the countryside, and in the French Alps.

Photo collage of Vacation Thriller set in France

The Paris Widow by Kimberly Belle

Photo of a copy of The Paris Widow on an reader gainst a stack of books

What: a woman’s boyfriend goes missing on a romantic trip
Where: Paris
Join this trip if: you love a fast-paced, action-packed story!

Check out my Review of the Paris Widow!

The Chateau by Jaclyn Goldis

Original photo of a copy of the Chateau, which shows a lavish mansion in the moonlight, on a bookshelf next to pink books and pink peonies

What: a group of old friends gathers to celebrate a birthday at a French chateau.
Where: Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France
Join this trip if: you are okay with a multi-POV narrative and somewhat unlikeable characters.

My Review of the Chateau is here

If you like/liked that, definitely try The Main Character, Goldis’s 2024 book about an author who assembles a murder-y train trip. I am not a fan of multi-POV characters who ruminate a lot, but if you like this author’s style, these are the books to try.

One by One by Ruth Ware

What: a corporate skiing retreat in the French Alps
Where: the exclusive french ski resort of St Antoine
Join this trip if: you like a Chilling Mystery or a book like And Then There Were None

Check out my Review of One by One and my Spoiler Discussion for One by One

The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley

Original Photo of The Guest List and The Paris Apartment by a blanket and a succulent

What: a young woman heads to Paris to find her missing brother
Where: a luxury Paris apartment building
Join this trip if: you like Books Set in a Spooky Mansion or Family Secrets Suspense

My Review of the Paris Apartment AND my Spoiler Review and Plot Summary for the Paris Apartment

Sun Damage by Sabine Durrant

Original photo of the cover of Sun Damage by Sabine Durant on a bookshelf with a pair of dark sunglasses.

What: a fun friends and family getaway turns deadly
Where: Saint-Cécile-du-Mer, France
Join this trip if: you are up for a vibe-y and very atmospheric book with slow-burn suspense and couples with secrets

Check out my Review of Sun Damage by Sabine Durrant

Vacation Thrillers Set in Greece

Friends trip to a Greek Island? Yes, please!

The Fury by Alex Michalides

Original photo of a copy of The Fury by Alex Michaelides next to evil eye stickers

What: a friends’ Easter weekend getaway on a private Greek island. But evil plans are afoot….
Where: Aura, a private Greek island owned by reclusive movie star Lana Farrar
Join this trip if: you love a slippery narrator and literary themes

Check out my Review of The Fury with Spoilers

Vacation Thrillers Set in Italy

Photo collage of Vacation Thriller set in Italy

Who doesn’t love Italy? From the ruins in Rome to the picturesque hill towns to the gorgeous Amalfi coast. Beautiful location for some terrifying stories…

Her Dark Lies by JT Ellison

What: a lavish destination wedding in a family where brides seem to end up dead.
Where: Isle Isola in the Tyrrhenian sea, south of Capri
Join this trip if: you love a good destination wedding suspense story in a gorgeous setting

Check out my review of Her Dark Lies and

My Spoiler Discussion and Plot Summary for Her Dark Lies

The Villa by Rachel Hawkins

What: a past/present narrative that switches between a friends’ getaway and a 1970s murder mystery
Where: Villa Aestes, Umbria, Italy
Join this trip if: you love a book with two distinct narratives and a lot of clues and misdirection

Check out my Review of The Villa and

My Spoiler Discussion and Plot Summary for the Villa

Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies by Catherine Mack

Original photo of a copy of Every Time I Go On Vacation Someone Dies next to other blue and yellow books, a heart mug, a guidebook to Rome and three lemons.

What: a popular author and her entourage and fans take an Italian holiday
Where: Rome, Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast, with day trips to Pompeii and Capri
Join this trip if you like: comic mysteries (like this series) and books that break the fourth wall. And have footnotes

See my Review of Every Time I Go On Vacation, Someone Dies

Vacation Thrillers Set in Mexico and South America

We Were Never Here by Andrea Bartz

An iPad with We Were Never Here sitting next to a rainbow hued stack of books

What: a girls trip gone very wrong
Where: the mountains of Chile
Join this trip if: you like suspense books about toxic friendships

Check out my Review of We Were Never Here

and my Spoiler Discussion and Plot Summary for We Were Never Here

They All Fall Down by Rachel Howzell Hall

Person's hand holding an reader with They All Fall Down

What: seven strangers, each with a secret, are invited to a private island
Where: island off the coast of Mexico in the Sea of Cortez
Join this trip if: you’re a fan of And Then There Were None and are trying to diversify your mystery reading

Vacation Thrillers Set in Portugal

The Weekend Away by Sarah Alderson

What: a girls’ weekend for a new mom and her friend
Where: Lisbon
Join this trip if: you like a Friends Trip suspense book and a BIG twist

Check out my Review of The Weekend Away

and my Plot Summary and Spoiler Discussion for the Weekend Away, which discusses the Netflix movie vs the book

Two Nights in Lisbon by Chris Pavone

What: a couple takes what was supposed to be a quick trip to Lisbon. When the husband vanishes without a trace, his wife struggles to find him
Where: Lisbon, Portugal
Join this trip if: you like political thrillers

Check out my Review of Two Nights in Lisbon

The Guilt Trip by Sandie Jones

A copy of Guilt Trip by Sandie Jones on a bookcase with a jar of beach glass and a succulent

What: a group of friends from university gather to celebrate a wedding. But secrets, lies and resentment start to bubble up.
Where: a beautiful villa in the seaside fishing village Nazaré
Join this trip if: you loved The Guest List

Check out my Review of The Guilt Trip

And my Spoiler Discussion and Plot Summary for the Guilt Trip

The Wilds by Sarah Pearse

Coming in July – my review will be up then!

Vacation Thrillers Set in Switzerland

The Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse

What: a British police officer
Where: Le Sommet, a luxury hotel in the Swiss Alps
Join this trip if: you like a locked room mystery format and a chilling winter setting

Read my Review of The Sanatorium and join

My Spoiler Discussion for the Sanatorium

Vacation Thrillers Set in the United Kingdom

Photo collage of Vacation Thrillers set in England and Ireland

The Guest List by Lucy Foley

What: a lavish destination wedding between two celebrities gives new meaning to “til death do us part”
Where: Inis an Amplóra (Cormorant Island), an island off the coast of Ireland and home to The Folly, an exclusive resort
Join this trip: if you like: a thrilling Wedding Mystery

Read my Review of The Guest List and

Join my Spoiler Discussion for the Guest List

Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley

Original photo of a hardcover of The Midnight Feast on a shelf next to Lucy Foley's other books and a J mug

What: the opening night of a trendy new luxury eco-resort
Where: the stunning Dorset coast of the UK
Join this trip if you like: unlikeable characters with secrets, tension between locals and tourists, and a horror vibe!

Check out my review of The Midnight Feast with spoilers!

The Search Party by Hannah Richell

An original photo of The Search Party on a bookshelf with other blue and gray covered thrillers , a blue ceramic bowl, and a wooden bead bracelet.

What: a group of university friends and their partners and families reunite to celebrate the new glamping resort one of them just opened
Where: the Cornish coast in Southwestern England
Join this trip if: you like a twisty, well-crafted Friend Group Thriller

Check out my Review of The Search Party

The Retreat by Sarah Pearse

Original photo of the Retreat and the Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse with a water bottle and a sleep mask

What: the opening of a new eco-wellness resort, a place with a dark history
Where: Reaper’s Rock, an island off the English coast
Join this trip: if you like influencer stories

Check out my Review of The Retreat and

My Spoiler Discussion Post for the Retreat

What location would you pick for your Vacation Thriller? Talk to me in comments