10 Thrilling and Chilling Vacation Reads
As Summer draws near, we plan how we’ll spend those summer months. For some of us, we’ll be juggling childcare and work or trying to figure out how to keep kids entertained during those months without school. Many of us will be counting down to a vacation, that time of the year when we can finally take a well-earned rest. Or at least experience a change of scenery.
I usually travel with a book on hand, even if I don’t get a chance to read. Whether I’m in a cabin in the mountains, sunning myself on a beach, or taking a cruise, I like to have reading material close at hand in the event that I want to pass the time caught up in a good story. Here are my top 10 picks for a summer vacation read. This list focuses on mystery and suspense for a thrilling, chilling reading experience.
- The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware- Read it on a cruise or other boating experience for an added thrill.
- Dark Places by Gillian Flynn- If you find yourself in a rural location and want a chilling atmosphere to go with it, this is your pick.
- Our Kind of Cruelty by Araminta Hall- For an upscale vacation, this plot looks deep into our perceptions for plenty of twists and turns.
- The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen- Perhaps best suited for a city escape, this book will keep you guessing until the very last page.
- In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware- You need this for that cabin getaway.
- Watch Me Disappear by Janelle Brown- A hiking trip, a missing person, and a mysterious past come together in this tale. Perhaps take it on the next hiking or nature excursion.
- Bonfire by Krysten Ritter- This is another solid rural read. Get caught up in that line between past and present, truth and fiction.
- The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins- A trip on the rails should be accompanied by this gem. It makes you wonder what you might unknowingly see as you look outside the windows.
- The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty- This read makes good reading for a staycation or a trip away from home. Would you want to know the truth, even if it changed everything about the life you loved?
- The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova- This is a longer read, but it remains one of my favorites. This is fantastic for any historic location or overseas travel. What if Dracula was more than a story? What if the past wasn’t just confined to history?
Suspense reads are a favorite of mine, particularly when traveling. I like the twists and turns that I never quite expect, no matter how skilled I may believe I am at guessing. I am delighted by the ending that I never imagined.
What titles would you add to this list for a mystery or suspense read? Comment below, and we can build a truly exceptional reading list for the summer ahead!
