Ah, summer. The days are longer, the temperatures rise (and rise), the beach awaits—and what better time to catch up on your reading? Whether you’re vacationing abroad or heading off to a local beach, you’ll want to pack at least one of these books from the New York Times fiction bestsellers list. These
suspense thrillers and mysteries—all captivating reads—are a great way to while the hours away at your favorite shore location.
WRITTEN IN MY OWN HEART’S BLOOD, by Diana Gabaldon
In her now classic novel Outlander, Diana Gabaldon told the story of Claire Randall, an English ex-combat nurse who walks through a stone circle in the Scottish Highlands in 1946 and disappears back in time to 1743. The story unfolds from there in seven bestselling novels. Gabaldon continues this time-traveling romance in Written in My Own Heart’s Blood, where we see the challenges the family faces in the 18th and 21st centuries.
MR. MERCEDES, by Stephen King
Hey diehard Stephen King fans! Meet three of the most unlikely and winning heroes in this author’s novel, Mr. Mercedes, who are all trying to stop a lone killer in a distressed Midwestern city. Without warning, a driver plows into a crowd at a job fair, killing eight. The killer escapes but soon returns to kill again. Get an inside look at the mind of an insane and obsessive killer through this chilling, unforgettable story.
THE GOLDFINCH, by Donna Tartt
A boy’s life is turned upside down when he and his mother visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art to see an exhibition that includes the Carel Fabritius painting, The Goldfinch. During his visit, a bomb kills his mother and dozens of others. Discover how the smuggling of a painting and the bombing of the museum become a boy’s prize, guilt and burden.
GONE GIRL, by Gillian Flynn
Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Amy Dunne disappears on her fifth wedding anniversary. Under mounting pressure from the police and the media, her husband Nick Dunne displays an endless series of lies, deceits and strange behaviors that make him the prime suspect in his wife’s death. Amy and Nick are not only the main characters, but also the narrators of the story. The two give different perspectives on their marriage and life together. But—is Nick Dunne a killer?
THE MATCHMAKER, by Elin Hilderbrand
Author Elin Hilderbrand introduces Dabney Beech, a 48-year-old Nantucket resident who has a gift for matchmaking. Her life is shaken, though, when she receives an unexpected diagnosis. As time slips away, Dabney is determined to find matches for those she loves most. The Matchmaker explores the heartbreaking journey of losing and finding love, even as you’re running out of time—but at what cost to her own relationships?
UNLUCKY 13, by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
Detective Lindsay Boxer is loving her life as a new mother. With an attentive husband, a job she loves, and a best friend who she can talk with about anything from sex to murder, things couldn’t be better. However, all good things must come to an end. Lindsay Boxer is soon faced with the return of a deranged and dangerous killer from her past who was presumed dead. Will the detective find the killer before the killer finds her?
THE TARGET, by David Baldacci
As government hit man Will Robie and his partner Jessica Reel prepare for a mission, Reel faces a personal crisis that could lead old enemies right to her doorstep, bringing danger to all those close to her. As if the pressure was not already getting in the way of the mission, Robie and Reel are stalked by a new adversary: An unknown and unlikely assassin, who has her own list of targets—a list that includes Will Robie and Jessica Reel. Who will complete the mission and catch their target?
ORPHAN TRAIN, by Christina Baker Kline
This historical novel explores an unexpected friendship between an orphan train rider and a teenage girl whose own troubled adolescence leads her to seek answers to questions no one has ever thought to ask. Despite the differences in age, 91-year-old Vivian Daly, the orphan train rider, and 17-year-old Molly Ayer have more in common than they could have imagined. This powerful story explores the unexpected friendship, second chances and the resilience of secrets.
THE ONE AND ONLY, by Emily Griffin
The author introduces Shea Rigby, a young woman who grows up and makes her life in a small town in Texas. When an unexpected tragedy strikes her community, Shea’s life is upended and she begins to wonder if the life she’s chosen is really enough for her. As she decides to make some changes and step out of her comfort zone, Shea discovers unsettling truths about the people and things she has always trusted most. Find out how Shea is forced to confront her deepest desires, fears and secrets.
FIELD OF PREY, by John Sandford
Lucas Davenport investigates multiple bodies found in the middle of the Minnesota cornfields. The victims had been killed over many years—with no trace of a suspect. How could this have happened without anybody noticing? John Sandford’s story explores the chilling and suspenseful mystery of mass murder.
