Cocktails by the poolside or a white-sand beach? Guess you’ll want a bit of murder in your carry-on, right? Who doesn’t!
Exotic locations, secrets, isolated settings, and the creeping dread that danger could be hiding anywhere?
YES PLEASE 🙌🏻
The books listed below, in my opinion, deliver pure escapism with a body count.
🤜🏻💥🤛🏻 BOOM!
Here are 6 thrillers I’d recommend that prove paradise can be deadly…
1. The Castaways by Lucy Clarke Location: A remote island in Fiji Why I Loved It: Dual timelines, sisterly secrets, and a plane crash that spirals into something way more sinister. You’ll feel the sand, the sweat, and the paranoia 100%!
2. The Vacation by T.M. Logan Location: A luxury villa in the south of France Why I Loved It: Four families, one shocking discovery, and a holiday that unravels fast. Like super fast. If you loved Big Little Lies, I think this one will tick all the same boxes for you.
3. One by One by Ruth Ware Location: A ski chalet in the French Alps Why I Loved It: Okay, it’s more snow than sun, but isolation + murder = classic thriller vibes. Think And Then There Were None with tech energy. Just brilliant IMO.
4. The Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse Location: A former asylum turned luxury hotel in the Swiss Alps… whaaaaaaat?! Why I Loved It: Creepy AF setting, a storm cutting everyone off, and secrets buried beneath the surface. Chilling in more ways than one. A book that really got under my skin.
5. The Villa by Rachel Hawkins Location: A gorgeous villa in Italy with a very dark history Why I Loved It: Dual timelines, rock ‘n roll secrets, and a deadly summer in the 1970s. Perfect if you like a little gothic flair with your Aperol spritz. Think Daisy Jones and The Six but darker. Totally surprised me in the best possible way!
6. The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley Location: A creepy, secretive building in Paris Why I Loved It: Atmospheric, and full of people who are definitely hiding something. Not your typical sunny thriller, but so worth packing. This author nails the creep factor every time IMO.
Have you read any of these? What did you think?
Make sure to share these recs with your bookish friends too!
