Books
The best holiday reads this summer
The best thing about going on holiday – aside from the sun, sea and new cuisine – is the unlimited free time to sit down and completely lose yourself in a book. The only dilemma? Figuring out which book to take with you, especially if you have limited luggage space (here’s looking at you, Ryanair).
But fear not. Here at Dead Good, we’ve been discussing our beach reads for weeks and created the following guide to the best books to take on holiday. Each book on this list is well-written, full of escapism, and so gripping we ploughed through it in a weekend. So, whether you’re going on a beach holiday or a staycation, we recommend packing the following in your suitcase…
15 of the best books to read on holiday in 2025
Hunted by Abir Mukherjee
1. Hunted by Abir Mukherjee
How far would you go to protect your child? That’s the question Sajid Khan must ask himself when a bomb goes off in LA – and his daughter Aaliyah was seen entering the country with the suicide bomber. A woman approaches Sajid, claiming Aaliyah is with her son, and the parents are in a race against time to find their children before the FBI does – and prevent the next attack. This is a page-turning thriller that feels incredibly realistic, and already counts Lee Child, James Patterson and Mick Herron among its fans.
Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz
2. Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz
Nobody does murder mysteries like Anthony Horowitz. His books always contain clever mysteries within mysteries – and nowhere is that more evident than in the Susan Ryeland series. The first book in the series, Magpie Murders, introduces editor Susan Ryeland, who realises that her crime writer’s latest murder mystery contains clues to a real-life murder. It’s a brilliant premise, with an excellent pay-off, but if you’ve already seen the 2022 BBC adaptation, we recommend the later books in the series: Moonflower Murders and Marble Hall Murders.
Death at the White Hart by Chris Chibnall
3. Death at the White Hart by Chris Chibnall
If you loved Broadchurch, you’ll love Death at the White Hart, the debut novel by the show’s creator Chris Chibnall. It sees Detective Nicola Bridge moving to an idyllic Dorset village where, instead of a slower pace of life, she finds a murder scene. The pub landlord has been killed, his body left on an isolated country road. As she investigates, Nicola learns that everyone in the village – from the hairdresser to the delivery driver – has something to hide. This is a character-driven murder mystery that feels constantly surprising, with a culprit you’d never have suspected.
The Crow Girl by Erik Axl Sund
4. The Crow Girl by Erik Axl Sund
It starts with a dead body. But as more corpses appear, Detective Superintendent Jeanette Kihlberg realises she’s hunting a serial killer. Pushing back against her stubborn superiors, and with her career on the line, Kihlberg teams up with a psychotherapist to find the person responsible, and uncovers a chain of events that goes back decades. Can they find the culprit before the next person dies? Reading this pacy, twisty novel feels like watching a crime drama – which probably explains why it’s been adapted into a Paramount+ TV series.
Someone is Lying by Heidi Perks
5. Someone Is Lying by Heidi Perks
Jess knows her teenage daughter Issie better than anyone. So, when Issie goes travelling with her boyfriend Dylan, and Jess doesn’t hear from her for days, she knows something is wrong – especially when Dylan starts acting cagey and refuses to talk to her. Jess believes her daughter is missing but, with the police unwilling to help, she’s going to have to find her on her own. This domestic thriller is every parent’s worst nightmare, filled with clever twists and a pace that doesn’t let up. We found it impossible to put down.
The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell
6. The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell
One of Lisa Jewell’s most popular thrillers, The Family Upstairs transports you to a large house in Chelsea, where a baby sleeps in her cot while three dead bodies are decomposing in the kitchen downstairs. How did they die, and who has been looking after the baby? This is Jewell’s storytelling at its creepy, immersive best – it hooks you from the first page and doesn’t let you go. We’d also recommend I Found You, None of This is True and (depending on your luggage allowance) Jewell’s new hardback, Don’t Let Him In.
This Is Not a Game by Kelly Mullen
7. This Is Not A Game by Kelly Mullen
If you enjoy Agatha Christie-style murder mysteries, you’ll love This is Not a Game. In this locked-room mystery, 77-year-old Mimi and her granddaughter Addie attend a glamorous auction at a grand old mansion on Michigan’s Mackinac Island. But a few drinks in, their host is murdered – and they’re trapped in the house. As Mimi and Addie turn detective and the bodies pile up, their list of suspects grows, and the unlikely duo find they have more in common than they originally thought. This warm, funny mystery is a refreshing twist on the classic whodunnit.
The New Neighbours by Claire Douglas
8. The New Neighbours by Claire Douglas
You can’t go wrong with Claire Douglas. All her novels are pacy, full of unbearable tension, and feel like they could really happen. While we loved The Wrong Sister and The Couple at No. 9, we particularly recommend her latest novel, The New Neighbours. Lena accidentally overhears a conversation between the new retired couple next door, where it sounds like they’re plotting a terrible crime. Nobody believes what Lena overheard, so now she’s the only one who can stop them. This compelling tale is full of plot twists you won’t see coming.
Nobody's Fool by Harlan Coben
9. Nobody’s Fool by Harlan Coben
It’s easy to see why so many of Harlan Coben’s novels are adapted by Netflix: Coben has earned a nickname as the “master of the double twist”, with his novels taking unpredictable turns as they race toward their conclusion. His latest, Nobody’s Fool, is no exception. When Sami Kierce wakes up next to the dead body of his girlfriend, with no idea what happened, he flees the scene. Two decades later, while working as an investigator, he sees the impossible: his former girlfriend, alive and well. As she disappears into a crowd, Sami knows he must find her – and finally understand what happened all those years ago.
The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware
10. The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware
Journalist Lo Blacklock is on a luxury cruise ship bound for the Northern Lights. It’s the perfect holiday – until she is awoken by screams in the cabin next door. She rushes to her window and sees a body being thrown overboard. But the next day, she learns that nobody ever checked into that cabin, and there are no passengers missing from the boat. Could Lo have made a mistake, or is she now trapped on a boat with a murderer? This unsettling thriller simmers with tension and will make you question everybody. We recommend reading it before it gets the Netflix treatment later this year.
Murder in the Family by Cara Hunter
11. Murder in the Family by Cara Hunter
In 2003, Luke Ruder was found dead in his garden, leaving behind a wealthy older widow and three stepchildren. The case has never been solved, and nobody saw anything. Now, the case is back in the headlines as a true-crime documentary revisits the murder. Murder in the Family invites you to play detective, re-examining the clues to try and solve the case. This is an engrossing, original whodunnit. But, if you have space in your suitcase for another mystery, we’d also recommend one of Hunter’s earlier work, Close to Home.
Killer Instinct by Nicola Williams
12. Killer Instinct by Nicola Williams
In this legal thriller, the Head Clerk of a Chambers is murdered, and suspicion falls on the Junior Clerk who was the last person to see him alive. Working-class and still living on the estate where he grew up, people claim he “seems like the type”. But lawyer Lee Mitchell knows how easily prejudices can fuel convictions, so she steps in to defend him – and, in doing so, realises her colleagues can’t be trusted. This timely murder mystery is perfect for fans of John Grisham, Rob Rinder and David Baldacci.
The Missing Family by Tim Weaver
13. The Missing Family by Tim Weaver
A family takes a dinghy out on a lake, then suddenly disappears. Only the boat remains. Missing persons investigator David Raker finds parallels with another mystery: a man who vanished while being detained in a casino. As Raker investigates both cases with his long-time ally, former detective Colm Healy, his own life is put in danger. This is a compulsive, multi-layered story that, in typical Tim Weaver fashion, is full of corkscrew twists you’ll never see coming.
The 6:20 Man by David Baldacci
14. The 6:20 Man by David Baldacci
Every morning, Travis Devine boards the 6:20 commuter train to his high-pressure job in finance. But his routine is shattered when he receives a cryptic email: She is dead. Travis’ colleague and former girlfriend Sara Ewes is found in a storage room – seemingly dead by suicide. Travis is blackmailed into investigating his firm’s shady dealings and when he finds corruption beneath the surface, he must decide how far he’s willing to go to get justice. This high-powered, bestselling thriller has an explosive ending.
People Pleaser by Catriona Stewart
15. People Pleaser by Catriona Stewart
When Maggie Lathrop wins America’s most popular dating show, her life is transformed overnight: she moves into an immaculate LA mansion with a gorgeous husband and suddenly has a glamorous group of friends. But then Maggie is found murdered in a desolate warehouse. As her sister Emma investigates, she uncovers the truth about Maggie’s life, and the dark side of fame, in this razor-sharp, modern page-turner.
Have we missed any off our list? Let us know what you’ll be reading this summer, in the comments below…
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