Don’t Forget to Pack the Perfect Vacation Read

By Sara Driscoll

It’s beach season, and nothing complements a refreshing dip in a pool, lake, or ocean like a red-hot thriller. Here are some recommended reads to consider while you pack; some are brand new, some are a little older, all are worth your time:

The Only Survivor by Megan Miranda

A decade after a tragic accident during a school field trip that left two teachers and ten students dead, the student survivors of the incident continue to meet annually on the Outer Banks for a week. Originally nine, now there are only seven following the recent death of one of their number. But all is not as it seems. Why did the two who have gone before commit suicide? Who is watching those in the beach-side vacation house? What really happened on that fateful night in the Tennessee mountains to force two vans off a mountain road and into a raging river? Did the incident hide a murder? Mostly told through the first-person point of view of one survivor, the story is interspersed with chapters told in reverse chronology of the crash aftermath by each of the other survivors. I listened to this one on audio and it was performed by a full cast which really brought the story to life. The Only Survivors is a slow burn as the story gradually builds, laying bare clues and motives, revealing that all is definitely not what it appears on the surface.

Twenty Years Later by Charlie Donlea

Donlea, a consummate plotter, hits one out of the park with this dual timeline thriller. The earlier timeline takes us back to September 11, 2001, where Victoria Ford, a murder suspect, meets with her lawyer in the North Tower of the World Trade Center, decrying her innocence, even as death streaks through the sky toward them to end her life. In modern day, journalist Avery Mason is drawn to Victoria’s story after her remains are identified, two decades following the terror attack. She joins forces with Victoria’s sister, Emma, who kept a voice message from Victoria, a call placed from the tower following the plane strike, begging Emma to prove her innocence in the murder of her married lover. But there are multiple mysteries and Avery Mason has some secrets of her own. In many ways, Twenty Years Later reads like an Atom Egoyan film, with multiple storylines that snap together magnificently at the end as all the layers come together. It’s a book that will leave you satisfied, with the urge to reread with fresh eyes, knowing what you’ve learned, to see the craftsmanship behind this solid mystery.

Catch Her Death by Melinda Leigh

I love a series with a group ensemble where the main cast expands over time and secondary characters get their own time to shine. This is one such book. While protagonist Sheriff Bree Taggert and her partner, investigator Matt Flynn, still fill the main roles in this seventh installment, it is Bree’s ex-Philadelphia PD homicide partner, Dana Romano, who steps into the spotlight when her date is shot in his own home as he’s preparing dinner for her, then later dies in hospital. This crime occurs in another jurisdiction, and even though Dana is injured in the attack, the investigating sheriff considers Dana to be the prime suspect. While this investigation is ongoing, Bree and Matt have their hands full with a local family which is attempting to take revenge on Bree for the arrest of one of their own when it becomes clear these cases are connected. This fast-moving story comes together in a satisfying ending that winds up every loose thread.

Open Carry by Marc Cameron

Cameron’s Arliss Cutter series is always a solid read, full of accurate law enforcement action (Cameron is a retired Chief Deputy US Marshall with decades of experience under his belt) and a visceral sense of place in the Alaskan wilderness. The sixth book in this excellent series, Bad River, but if you haven’t already started the series, I’d recommend going back to the beginning. Open Carry is the gripping introduction to US Deputy Marshall Arliss Cutter who works as part of the Fugitive Task Force. Cutter and his team are specialists in tracking and apprehension, and are called to a remote island when first a teenaged girl goes missing, then several individuals associated with a reality show shooting in that location also disappear. The case becomes increasingly convoluted and dangerous when a Mexican cartel boss enters the picture. The storytelling clearly demonstrates Cameron’s in-depth knowledge of law enforcement, giving the story a gritty, realistic feel. An interesting cast of characters and a fast-paced story punched up by short chapters makes this a compelling read. Bonus—a French onion soup that sounded so good, I asked the author for the recipe!

Identity by Nora Roberts

Roberts can always be counted on to write a tale that delves deep into the psyche of her characters. In this case, it’s bartender Morgan Albright, who lives in Baltimore with best friend and roommate, Nina. But everything goes to hell when she meets charismatic Luke at her bar and he insinuates himself into her life. Morgan comes home to find her house ransacked, Nina murdered, and the FBI pointing fingers at “Luke”—whose real name is Gavin—a criminal known to them from past crimes of targeting women, getting close to them, then murdering them and stealing their identity. Morgan is left with no assets, her identity stolen, and no choice but to return home to start over. In rebuilding her life, she meets Miles, someone who challenges her, but draws her into the life—and protection—of his family and family business. Suspense builds because it’s clear Gavin is out there, waiting for his next chance with the one who got away, right up to the explosive ending.

Echoes of Memory by Sara Driscoll

I’d also like to suggest my latest release, Echoes of Memory. This is the story of Quinn Fleming, a San Diego florist, who suffers silently from ongoing complications of a brutal assault several months before that left her with a traumatic brain injury. As a result, Quinn can remember everything from before the assault, but is incapable of forming lasting memories afterward. Every memory dissipates in roughly an hour, leaving Quinn constantly in the dark about her own life. She compensates by carrying a notebook and privately noting every aspect of her life for later reference. She is successful at hiding her challenges until the night she witnesses a murder in the dark alley behind her shop. Once she’s safe, she makes copious notes about the incident and then calls 911. But by the time officers arrive, Quinn’s memories are already fading and they don’t believe the story she reads for them from her notebook. Crippled by guilt, Quinn sets out to investigate the man’s death in an attempt to bring him justice, using art as a strategy to delve into her subconscious. But someone is watching from the shadows, and before long, she’s next in his sights…

Whatever your reading preferences, I wish you many happy hours this summer, engrossed in great books!