Beach Reading for Mystery Lovers

Books to Take on Vacation this Year

Jun 5, 2007 Sandy Mitchell

To me, the ideal beach read is one that draws you in immediately and keeps you engrossed, without regard to kids playing nearby, jet skis roaring, and husbands (or girlfriends) chatting insessantly. All of these picks for summer mystery beach reads pass that test. There are novels by first time writers and old favorites, but all are enjoyable, engrossing, and fun to read.

• The 6th Target -- The latest episode of James Patterson's Women's Murder Club series has one of the foursome fighting for her life while the others try to catch and convict a killer. As with all Patterson novels, it has non-stop action and easy-to-read, short chapters -- ideal for the beach.
• The Woods -- This latest from Harlan Coben grabs the reader from the first, short chapter, telling just enough to intrigue, but not to illuminate. The novel tells the story of a New Jersey County prosecutor that is confronted with ghosts and events from his past.
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows -- Due out on July 22, the last in the ever-popular Harry Potter series is sure to be full of surprises. Author J. K. Rowling has said that at least two of the series main characters die in the novel and that it might even be Harry himself.
• Revisit a classic Agatha Christie favorite -- Agatha Christie novels are timeless and make great beach reads. Read (or re-read) a favorite, such as The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, with its many plot twists or Murder on the Orient Express, with its host of characters. Or, seek out one of her 80 novels, plays, and short stories that you haven't had a chance to read. There's not a bad one in the bunch.
• The Thirteen Tale -- This debut mystery novel by Diane Setterfield is still the best mystery I've read in a long time. Her multi-layered Gothic tale is the story of Vida Winter, a best-selling British writer nearing the end of her life, and Margaret Lea, the youngish apprentice bookseller and part-time biographer, whom Ms. Winter has chosen to write her life story. Nothing in this gripping mystery is straightforward.

• Lean Mean Thirteen -- The latest installment of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series hits the bookstores on June 19. According to the advance press releases, this one has Stephanie re-united with her ex-husband, Dickie Orr. That can't be good.

So, call the library or visit your local bookstore and stock up on mysteries to take to the beach. You're sure to enjoy any or all of these.