Three new thrillers recently recommended by the Wall Street Journal are officially moving onto my summer reading list. Murder, espionage, corruption, and chaos? Honestly, that sounds like a pretty solid beach weekend.
These thrillers had twists, secrets, and enough bad decisions to keep me reading way past bedtime. Here are five books I immediately recommended after finishing. Do you agree?
What starts as a clever revenge plan inside a New York investment bank quickly spirals into a high-stakes mess Faye may not survive.
I thought I was reading a moody lakeside mystery — until Riley Sager detonated the plot.
High stakes, sharp twists, and plenty of danger should make for an irresistible thriller. But when the characters never quite come alive, even the most ambitious mystery can feel like more work than fun.
Book review of Nash Falls by David Baldacci. A Wall Street banker follows the money and finds himself caught in corruption, betrayal, and high-stakes danger.
In The Killing Stones, Ann Cleeves turns the ancient beauty of the Orkney Islands into a moody, windswept crime scene where prehistoric monuments double as murder weapons. As Jimmy Perez and Willow investigate three chilling deaths tied to sites like the Ring of Brodgar and Maeshowe, history and homicide collide in spectacular fashion. It’s atmospheric, unsettling, and proof that even 5,000-year-old stones can still cause serious drama.
In this The Secret of Secrets review, Dan Brown sends Robert Langdon to Prague for another globe-trotting conspiracy packed with CIA intrigue, secret experiments, and shadowy threats. While the setting dazzles and the premise promises high-stakes suspense, dense neuroscience exposition and formulaic plotting slow the momentum to a crawl. If you’re wondering whether this latest Robert Langdon thriller delivers the pulse-pounding tension of The Da Vinci Code, here’s the honest breakdown.
Simply Lies by David Baldacci is classic Baldacci—smooth, fast, and ridiculously easy to fall into, even if you’re having a vague “wait… have I read this already?” moment. Strong characters, a steady mystery, and zero mental gymnastics make this a perfect rainy-day read worth grabbing if you’re a fan of his work.
A quiet fishing vacation, a corrupt college town, and one retired NYPD detective who is wildly underqualified for relaxation. No Safe Place is ridiculous, fast, and unapologetically fun once it finds its footing—and yes, I stayed up late to finish it.
The Bookaholic 