Just a few light summer reads filled with tension, secrets, and the occasional dead body.
By Maria Antokas
There’s something about summer thriller reading that feels slightly irresponsible in the best possible way. Maybe it’s the contrast of sunshine and iced coffee mixed with murder, espionage, and deeply suspicious people making terrible decisions somewhere coastal. Either way, Wall Street Journal columnist Tom Nolan recently recommended three new thrillers that all sound worthy of being tossed into a beach bag, carry-on, or strategically placed beside you during a “staycation” where you fully intend to do chores but instead spend six straight hours reading.
The first is Ironwood by Michael Connelly, which already earns points simply because Connelly created Harry Bosch — one of crime fiction’s most reliable “just one more chapter” machines. This time, Connelly heads into small-town Florida corruption, secrets, and the kind of atmosphere that practically smells like heat, humidity, and trouble.
Next up is The Last Mandarin by Louise Penny and Melissa Fung. Fans of Penny’s beloved Chief Inspector Armand Gamache should note that Gamache himself is sitting this one out, but the novel still promises international intrigue and political tension wrapped in Penny’s signature intelligent style. Honestly, Louise Penny writing espionage-adjacent suspense feels like an excellent summer decision.
And finally, there’s The Dead Can’t Make a Living by Ed Lin, featuring Jing-nan – a Taiwanese food stand owner who somehow keeps stumbling into absolute chaos. Food, crime, mayhem, and accidental investigations? That’s a combination with strong “I accidentally finished this in one afternoon” potential.
All three sound smart, entertaining, and ideal for summer reading – whether you’re heading to the beach, the airport, the pool, or simply avoiding responsibilities from the comfort of your couch with the blinds half closed and your phone on Do Not Disturb like a civilized person.
If you decide to add one of these to your beach bag this summer, using my affiliate links helps support The Bookaholic Blog — and my completely reasonable addiction to twisty thrillers.
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