Favorite Summer Reading Picks
It’s mid July and we’re smack dab in the middle of summer. There’s still plenty of time to grab a comfy chair, a good book and a quiet place to do some summer reading.
All of our Favorite Reading Picks are fiction with the exception of Booze & Vinyl 2. Some are new books, some are older, but all are still Wonder Women Sixty’s favorites. They are listed alphabetically by author. Full reviews for most of these books (and others) can be found under our “books” category.
WONDER WOMEN SIXTY’S FAVORITE SUMMER PICKS:
DREAM TOWN by David Baldacci: Set in 1953, tough guy and hard-boiled P.I., Archer, gets caught in a web of deceit, blackmail, greed and murder as he maneuvers his way through both the glitzy and seedy side of Hollywood.
THE SEAT OF THE SCORNFUL – John Dickson Carr: A British Library Crime Classic that brings us a quietly woven tale of cold-blooded murder centered around a corpse being found in a prominent judge’s seaside bungalow. Another gem from the Golden Age of Mysteries.
THE HERON’S CRY by Ann Cleeves: Fans of her Shetland and Vera series will love the second book in her Two Rivers Series featuring Detective Venn. Venn is digging deep into the backgrounds of commune residents and staff at a questionable hospital to track down an elusive killer.
BOOZE & VINYL 2, the followup Booze and Vinyl by Andre Darlington & Tenaya Darlington: Just like the first edition, rockers and music lovers who like to kick back with a cocktail and classic vinyl, will want to grab this 2nd edition, compact coffee table book pairing the history of classic rock albums with cocktails (and their recipes). Brimming with nostalgia and stunning photography.
ALWAYS THE FIRST TO DIE by R. J. Jacobs. A subtle thriller and nail biter that shatters you with twists and turns you won’t see coming. A mother is desperately trying to save her teenage daughter from a killer in the midst of a hurricane – but is the killer a malevolent spirit or made of flesh and blood?
DEATH OF A BACHELORETTE by Laura Levine: Zany, madcap cozy mystery featuring struggling free-lance writer Jaine Austen and her aptly named cat, Prozac. Jaine’s new writing gig sends both of them to a tropical island in the South Pacific with hilarious results.
THE THERAPIST by B.A. Paris: This sophisticated thriller is a quiet, twisting thrill ride. The murder of a therapist and questionable new neighbors make this an impossible book to put down. One of the best thrillers we’ve ever read – sure to take your breath away!
THE 7 HUSBANDS OF EVELYN HUGO by Taylor Jenkins Reid: An intriguing story following a woman’s rise to fame in the 50’s heyday of glamorous Hollywood to the present. Filled with plenty of scandals and just as many husbands to boot, you’ll be drawn into the Hollywood scene and won’t want to leave!
MALIBU RISING by Taylor Jenkins Reid: A hard hitting and completely mesmerizing story of The Rivas, a famous high profile family bound together for life. The caveat is the BIG party – a party so wild you’ll be quietly shaking your head as you take it all in, along with the aftermath.
THE SWELL by Alley Reynolds: Suspenseful beach-fleshed tale set on a remote Australian beach. Filled with sinister intrigue fueled by hidden secrets from the past, dangerous encounters in the present and deadly plans for the future. Who will survive?
BEST SUMMER COZY MYSTERY SERIES WITH AN ISLAND VIBE: Maine Clambake Mysteries by Barbara Ross. You’ll feel like you’re on island time as you enjoy these stellar cozy mysteries. HIDDEN BENEATH is the newest release in this series – so grab your beach chair and a copy of this summery cozy laden with long buried secrets from the past.
BEST NEW COZY MYSTERY SERIES: Wanting to start a new cozy mystery series? Don’t miss this witty and delightful new series that just launched in July. A CRYPTIC CLUE by Victoria Gilbert is the first book in her new Hunter and Clewe Mysteries, featuring a semi-retired librarian paired with a young, (very) eccentric boss.
END OF SUMMER FAVORITE: Grab a copy of the newest thriller by author R.J. Jacobs, THIS IS HOW WE END THINGS, being released in early September by Sourcebooks Landmark. In the meantime, check out his other suspenseful thriller, Always The First To Die and our exclusive interview with the author himself under the “books/mystery” category.
Enjoy some summer downtime with a good book. Don’t forget to check out our other book reviews – so many books to keep you endlessly entertained all year ‘round.