Caution: The best new thriller books of summer 2020 are so addicting you’ll find yourself glued to the page. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Update: Check out the Best Thrillers of 2020!
Summer is here!
My summer vacation plans have been seriously curtailed, so instead, we bought a paddleboard. I’m envisioning plenty of days at the lake, enjoying the hot sun and cool water.
Of course, I’ll have a book in tow. My summer reading list is full of all the best new thriller books I could find.
If you are a fan of page-turning mysteries, you’ll love this list of all the summer thrillers of 2020. On my search for the best thrillers books of the year, I’ve included all the best thriller books I could find.
Some I’ve read, so I’ve included my thoughts. Some I can’t wait to read. But all are getting plenty of buzz this summer.
Whether you are looking for the best new psychological thriller books or prefer a good domestic mystery, there’s something for everyone!
New Psychological Thriller Books
The Girl From Widow Hills
Megan Miranda
June 23, 2020 – As a child, Olivia disappeared one night while sleepwalking, only to be found safe days later. After years of enduring fame, Olivia moved away and changed her name. With the 20th anniversary of her miracle rescue coming up, she starts sleepwalking again, only to wake up to the dead body of someone she used to know. An edge-of-your-seat thriller, I couldn’t get enough of this mystery. With well-rounded characters and surprises that just keep coming, it’s on my shortlist for one of the best summer reads of 2020. Read more →
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Simon & Schuster through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
The Golden Cage
Camilla Läckberg
His & Hers
Alice Feeney
July 28, 2020 – In the best new thriller novels, there are two sides to every story, and usually the truth lies somewhere in-between. BBC correspondent Anna Andrews returns to her hometown to report on the murder of one of her high school best friends. Complicating matters, her ex-husband, DCI Jack Harper, is investigating the case. As the investigation continues, past secrets come to light and both Jack and Anna find themselves suspects in the case. A solid psychological thriller, Feeny keeps you guessing until the end – letting you believe you know the truth, then twisting it until you suspect you finally understand, before twisting it again. Read more →
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Flatiron Books through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
The Wicked Sister
Karen Dionne
Behind the Red Door
Megan Collins
August 4, 2020 – Fern Douglas has an overwhelming feeling of deja vu when watching the news. Astrid Sullivan has been kidnapped again. Fern doesn’t remember the story from twenty years ago when Astrid was kidnapped as a teen, but she can’t shake the sense that she somehow knows Astrid. With one-dimensional characters, I was underwhelmed by Collins’s middle of the road summer thriller. I was hoping her all-too-obvious plot would be a red herring, but sadly it ended exactly as I expected. Still, if you aren’t too picky about new release thrillers, this could be a satisfying choice for a quick read. Read more →
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Atria through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
New Domestic Thriller Books
The Last Flight
Julie Clark
The Safe Place
Anna Downes
July 14, 2020 – Broke and recently fired, Emily has hit rock bottom. Until she lands the perfect job as a housekeeper for a wealthy couple on a remote French estate. But is this offer too good to be true? Luckily, the rather flighty protagonist comes into her own as the novel progresses, or this novel would have been really hard to read. Right away, you know something is off about this family, but Downes does a good job keeping you guessing what the big reveal will be. Unfortunately, the climax wasn’t nearly as thrilling as I expected. If you are looking for new thriller novels for a summer vacation, this would be for a read, though not something you’ll be raving about to all your friends. Read more →
I received a complimentary copy of this book from St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
The Wife Who Knew Too Much
Michele Campbell
Three Perfect Liars
Heidi Perks
Little Disasters
Sarah Vaughan
August 18, 2020 – Pediatrician Liz Trenchard doesn’t know what to think when her friend shows up in the ER with her injured baby girl. Jess has always been the perfect mom, and yet her story of how Betsey suffered a skull fracture doesn’t add up. Vaughan’s new book was a difficult one for me to read. My heart broke for a mom who so obviously was having mental health problems unnoticed by her friends and family. With a slower pace, Little Disasters is a drama with a hint of mystery instead of an edge-of-your-seat read. Although probably only a three-star read for me, I think it would make a great book club choice from the summer 2020 books, sparking a conversation on postpartum depression and mental health. Read more →
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Atria through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
New Mystery Thriller Novels
A Good Marriage
Kimberly McCreight
The Guest List
Lucy Foley
The Shadows
Alex NOrth
The Night Swim
Megan Goldin
August 4, 2020 – Rachel Krall, the host of a popular true-crime podcast, gets more than she expected she begins to investigate a rape trial in a small town. A mysterious woman named Hannah is stalking Rachel, leaving her notes begging her to investigate the death of Hannah’s sister twenty-five years ago. Could that cold case be connected to the current trial?Captivating from start to finish, Goldin has penned one of the best thriller books of 2020. The coverage of the rape trial gives the feel of a good legal thriller, keeping you wondering how the jury will decide. Add in the cold case, and you’ll be guessing how the two cases connect. I was impressed with the ending, and predict people will be talking about this one. Read more →
I received a complimentary copy of this book from St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Best Thriller fiction about Ghosts
Home Before Dark
Riley Sager
June 30, 2020 – Maggie Holt has always lived in the shadow of her father’s bestselling horror book – a “true” story of their twenty days living in a haunted house when she was five. Having inherited the infamous house from her father, she is determined to fix it up. Ghosts aren’t real, so there’s nothing to worry about, right? Jumping between her father’s novel and Maggie’s return to the house, Sager keeps you on edge the whole time. With creepy happenings and crazy twists and turns, Home Before Dark will be one of the best thriller fiction books to curl up to this summer. Read more →
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Dutton through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Which of the best new thriller books of 2020 are you most excited to read?
If you like a little paranormal and horror and thrillers than I would recommend DM Shepard’s book The Dark Land. I just finished it last night and couldn’t help but think about it through out the night, I thought it was that good, dmshepard.com for the info. I love Thriller’s, actually my favorite genre out there. Home Before Dark is one I will add to my TBR for sure!!
I can’t wait to read this book
Debbie
Your doing a great job with reviewing books