6 Thriller Books to Read Before Summer Ends

You will probably have seen this everywhere since it was published and for good reason; it’s a compulsive courtroom drama, an immersive, clever, twisty debut. The legal thriller of the year! And when T.M. Logan describes it as one of his books of the year, you listen!

When Leila Reynolds is handed her first murder case, she’s shocked at how high-profile it is: the murder of a well-respected, well-known judge. It’s way beyond her expertise. But the defendant wants her, and only her, in his corner. Leila finds herself fighting not only to keep Jack out of prison, but also to keep her own secrets buried…

If you love a thriller, chances are you’ll love Lisa Jewell or you will come across her at the very least, and her latest showstopper begs to be read under the summer sun! Jane Trevally is newly divorced and, feeling a little lost, agrees to accompany a man she doesn't know to his house in the darkest corner of Hampstead Heath. She's offered a drink and goes in… and then hears a scream. Sensing she’s in a bad place, she runs. 

Twenty five years later, she finds herself outside the same house, this time to return a dog whose owner has just been reported missing. Upon seeing a glimpse of a haunted looking woman upstairs, Jane makes it her mission to uncover the secrets of this house. Dark, addictive and unsettling, you won’t want to put it down!

This was such an addictive read, a brilliantly written thriller with twists and turns aplenty, exceptional characters and dark, dangerous secrets. I think this may just be one of the most anxiety-inducing books I’ve ever read (and I have read a fair few!)

When Nadeeka races home, convinced she’s about to catch her husband having an affair, she discovers something much more traumatic. His dead body. His blood. But when the truth comes out about the horrors he’s been involved with, about how and why he was brutally murdered, things get incredibly dark and unthinkably dangerous. A chilling, disturbing and suspenseful thriller, with such an intense plot. Cue the book hangover!

Ten years ago, Hope left Somerset with a fatal secret and a broken heart. She spent a decade in the shadows, living a quiet life of penance to protect the man she once loved - Ambrose Glencourt, a world-famous author. But when she opens his latest bestseller, every private moment, every dark truth from that summer is laid bare on the page.

But Ambrose has changed the ending. In his version of the story, Hope isn't the victim. She’s the villain…A sharp, creepy and cleverly written novel. Unpredictable and thrilling!

Leo and Addison are the couple who seem to have it all; the wealth, the lavish homes in the UK and South Africa, the perfect marriage, the lifestyle of dreams. But when Addison goes missing, Leo’s life starts to crumble. Upon arriving at their safari lodge, there’s no sign of Addison, but the blood and chaos he does find suggests something much more sinister is going on…

A missing wife, deep, dark secrets with truths that are slowly unravelled, a sinister plot, exceptional twists. The Last Place You Look is the destination thriller you need on your summer reading list!

As one of my most anticipated reads of the year, The Date certainly lived up to my expectations! This book is the perfect example of my favourite kind of thriller, the kind where you don’t see the twists coming, the kind where you are always questioning character motives. And the kind where you’re whisked off to a beautiful setting for a while! 

A year ago, Miles was charged with the murder of his date, and has just been acquitted. In a bid to get his freedom back and rebuild his life, he, his friends and his sister plan a trip to New Zealand. But things don’t go to plan. He’s being stalked, threatened, and this trip of a lifetime quickly turns into a nightmare situation. A twisty, tightly-plotted triumph of a debut that I could not put down, and I guarantee you won’t be able to either!