Here are this summer's 11 hottest thrillers

These addictive page-turners are perfect for August's dog days
By David Canfield
August 07, 2018 at 03:40 PM EDT
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Summer thrills

Credit: Harper; Viking; Dutton; G.P. Putnam's Sons; Knopf

Summer reading wouldn't be complete without a few unnervingly suspenseful page-turners. As we head into the thick of August's dog days, we've rounded up our favorite thrillers of the season — all of which are worth catching up on.

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All These Beautiful Strangers, by Elizabeth Klehfoth

Credit: William Morrow

Think Donna Tartt’s The Secret History meets Curtis Sittenfeld’s Prep meets Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl. A new student at a prestigious East Coast school deals with the fallout from dalliances with a secret society and the long-ago disappearance of her mother. Buy it here.

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Bad Blood, by John Carreyrou

Credit: Knopf

Sure, it's a little unconventional to throw a nonfiction book onto a list of thrillers, but trust us Bad Blood is as gripping as it gets. Carreyrou's account of Silicon Valley startup Theranos' collapse and Elizabeth Holmes' grand corporate deceit will keep you up at night, in part because it's all too real. Buy it here.

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The Banker's Wife, by Cristina Alger

Credit: G.P. Putnam's Sons

Already optioned for adaptation by veteran TV writer Sherry Marsh (Pose, Vikings), The Banker's Wife is a feminist tale set in the world of high finance, where one woman has the choice to bring down some of the world's most powerful men. Buy it here.

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A Double Life, by Flynn Berry

Credit: Viking

Berry's debut, the delicious murder mystery Under the Harrow, won her the Edgar Award for Best First Novel. Now she's back with another page-turner, this time unfurling a saga that begins with the image of a woman dashing into a pub, desperately seeking help — and covered in blood. Buy it here.

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The Last Time I Lied, by Riley Sager

Credit: Dutton

"Two truths and a lie" goes the pitch for this sophomore effort from Sager. A New York Times best-seller, The Last Time I Lied follows an artist named Emma as she returns to her childhood summer camp, where the ghosts of a tragedy still loom. Buy it here.

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The Middleman, by Olen Steinhauer

Credit: Minotaur Books

Steinhauer, the author behind TV's Berlin Station, here offers a crime novel of an activist bent, exploring the disturbing fallout of a nationwide protest movement that turns deadly. Buy it here.

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The Other Woman, by Daniel Silva

Credit: Harper

The Other Woman is one of summer's biggest titles, topping the New York Times best-seller list for hardcover fiction over several weeks now. It's not hard to see why: This story of love and betrayal, set in the remote mountaints of Andalusia, is hard to put down. Buy it here.

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The Sinners, by Ace Atkins

Credit: G.P. Putnam's Sons

This new installment in Atkins' popular Quinn Colson series is an old-school saga of violence and greed, chronicling the latest chapter in the life of Sherriff Colson and the embattled Mississippi county he serves to protect. Buy it here.

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Sister of Mine, by Laurie Petrou

Credit: Crooked Lane Books

Calling all Liane Moriarty fans: Petrou's domestic thriller is a twisty, claustrophobic nail-biter. Orphaned sisters living in a small town find their bond tested and their resentments coming to the surface when they both fall hard for a new guy in town. Buy it here.

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Whistle in the Dark, by Emma Healey

Credit: Harper

For those who like their thrillers a little more literary, this one's for you. Healey's follow-up to her breakout Elizabeth Is Missing promises a psychologically arresting mystery surrounding the disappearance of a 15-year-old girl. Intriguing commentary on mental illness, trauma, and family life abounds. Buy it here.

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Pieces of Her, by Karin Slaughter

Credit: William Morrow

It hasn't been released just yet, but we'd be remiss if we didn't include the latest Slaughter title on our list. Pieces of Her marks a new standalone from the best-selling author, centering on a mother-daughter relationship unraveled by a stunning secret. This one's already in development as a TV series, with Emmy-winning director Lesli Linka Glatter (Homeland) attached to executive-produce. Pre-order it here.

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