Here’s a fun summer reading list: Mystery and Thriller Books Set on a Lake. Lakes are such a beautiful place to spend a vacation. But lakes can also be sinister, with secrets hiding under the water.. What’s under the lake? Let’s find out in these chilling books!
20 Mystery and Thriller Books Set on a Lake
New in 2026:
- It’s Not Her by Mary Kubica
- The Summer House Murder by Ava Roberts
Both of these were excellent and I recommend them!
The Summer House Murder by Ava Roberts (2026)
- Where? Lake George, New York
- What? Three sisters gather with their families at their shared summer lake house
- Read this twisty sister story and join our discussion on my Readers Guide to The Summer House Murders.
It’s Not Her by Mary Kubica (2026)
- Where? A lake in the Northwoods of Wisconsin
- What? A fun multi-family vacation at a lake community turns dark and deadly.
- Read this twisty story and join our Discussion of It’s Not Her.
Coram House by Bailey Seybolt (2025)
- Where? Vermont, near Lake Champlain
- What? A crime writer hired to help write the story of abuse at an orphanage in the 1960s
- Read this chilling tale and join the Discussion of Coram House!
The Summer Guests by Tess Gerritsen (2025)
- Where? Maiden Pond in Maine
- What? A missing teenager in a lake community.
- Check out my Readers Guide to The Summer Guests and join the discussion!
The Lake Escape by Jamie Day (2025)
- Where? Lake Timmeny Vermont
- What? Three friends grew up spending their summers at a lake house community. When the new partner of one of them vanishes, is it connected to a thirty-year old disappearance?
- Here’s my guide to The Lake Escape and I think you will need it!
It Happened on the Lake by Lisa Jackson (2025)
- Where? Lake Twilight, Oregon
- What? A woman returns home to face a tragic disappearance of her grandmother and her boyfriend. Inspired by Rear Window!
The Note by Alafair Burke (2025)
- Where? A Maine summer camp at a lake
- What? A group of friends in the present are vacationing and have to reckon with a decades-old tragedy at the summer camp where they first met.
- Check out my Readers Guide for the Note and discuss the book!
Lake of Lost Girls by Katherine Greene (2024)
- Where? Dolls Eye Lake (aka Baneberry Lake). The nickname is for the flowers that grow around the water.
- What? The disappearance of missing college students in the 90s is revisited in a podcast
- If you want to discuss the book, go to my Discussion Post for The Lake of Lost Girls
Daugher of Mine by Megan Miranda (2024)
- Where? Mirror Lake
- What? A woman returns to her small town upon the death of her father. But when she’s home, a drought causes the lake level to fall, uncovering old secrets.
- After you read, come discuss the book on my spoiler post for Daughter of Mine!
The Last One at the Wedding by Jason (2024)
- Where: Lake Wyndham
- What: Frank is very excited to have been invited to the wedding of his estranged daughter. He doesnt’ think the wedding is a good idea. So what does he do?
- Check out my Spoiler Review for The Last One at the Wedding!
The Deepest Lake by Andromeda Romano-Lax (2024)
- Where: Lake Atitlán, Guatemala
- What: a grieving mother investigates her daughter’s mysterious death. Why was she swimming when she was deadly afraid of water?
House Across the Lake by Riley Sager (2022)
- Where? Lake Greene VT
- What? A widow watches her neighbors around the lake, Rear Window style. When one of her neighbor vanishes, she’s on the case!
- Read this book (crazy ending!) and let’s discuss it on my spoiler post for House Across the Lake.
The Last Party by Clare Macintosh (2022)
- Where: Mirror Lake, Wales
- What: a murder in a small vacation community on a lake on the border of England and Wales
- Check out my Review of The Last Party!
Book of Cold Cases by Simone St James (2022)
- Where: Clair Lake OR
- What? A woman who runs a cold case website gets the opportunity to interview a woman who is suspected of a murder decades before.
- Check out my Spoiler Discussion for The Book of Cold Cases
Pretty Things by Janelle Brown (2020)
- Where: Stonehaven, near Lake Tahoe
- What: a grifter and a heiress are brought together at a sprawling estate to play a deadly game of desire, duplicity, and revenge.
- Check out my Spoiler Post and let’s discuss Pretty Things!
The Perfect Marriage by Jeneva Rose (2020)
- Where: a husband cheating at the lake house
- What: a wronged wife who will not be messed with!
- Check out my readers guide to The Perfect Marriage and don’t miss part two of the story, The Perfect Divorce (my post has a Perfect Marriage recap!)
Stranger in the Lake by Kimberly Belle (2020)
- Where: Lake Crosby, a small lakeside town
- What: a woman falls in love with a man who just lost his wife in a tragic drowning “accident.” Hmmm….
- Find out more here!
Verity by Colleen Hoover (2018)
- Where: Vermont
- What: a tragic lake drowning. Was it an accident? Was there a confusion? What is going on here?
- Join my popular Spoiler Discussion Post for this controversial book.
Stillhouse Lake (2017)
- Where: when Gwen found out the terrible truth about her husband, she retreated to beautiful, peaceful Stillhouse Lake
- What: but then threatening letters start to arrive…
- This hugely popular book by a beloved author who left us too soon is a must read!
Grave Tattoo by Val McDermid (2006)
- Where: the peaceful and picturesque English Lake District
- What: a body turns up and a local woman decides to get to the bottom of it
- If you haven’t tried Val McDermid (a favorite Tartan Noir author of mine) it’s time!
Lake of Dead Languages by Carol Goodman (Heart Lake) (2002)
- Where: Heart Lake, Adirondacks
- What: Jane left Heart Lake School for Girls after a terrible tragedy. Years later, she returns to the area with her daughter and the past rises out of the lake to greet her.
Did I miss any of your favorites?
Also check out my list of Chilling Thriller Books Set at the Beach!
