Beach Thrills: Crime & Thriller Summer Reads

Monday 19 December 2022

In need of a gripping read to keep your heart racing over summer? From local Aussie crime to international legends, we’ve got you covered.

Latest news

Q&A with Penny Sunday

Meet Aussie dark romance author Penny Sunday!

Read an extract from The Wretched Divine

From the bestselling author of Belladonna

Ashleigh Barton's Letter to Readers

Ahead of Eighty-Nine Questions for After, Ashleigh shares her thoughts on why sad books are so important for kids.

Read an extract of True Crime

Start reading Patricia Cornwell's thrilling memoir

The Richell Prize Opens 2026

Announcing this year's round of The Richell Prize

Mum's Shelf, Sorted

Happy Mother's Day!

Read an extract from The Chateau on Sunset

Read the new book from bestselling author Natasha Lester

Read an extract from Rat Daniels

Dive into this unforgettable coming-of-age story from a stunning new voice in Australian fiction

Book Club Questions for Margaret, Are You Leaving?

We hope these questions help guide your book club discussion for this heartfelt novel. We’ve done our best to avoid spoilers, but don’t read these questions unless you’ve finished Margaret, Are You Leaving? – you don’t want to risk ruining any reveals!

Welcome to the World of Donovan Bixley

Entertain the kids at home

Read an Extract from Rebirth: A Love Story From the Depths of War

Antoun Issa powerfully captures his mother's true experiences of love, heartbreak and new hope during the violence of civil war.

Celebrating our CBCA 2026 Notables

The Children's Book Council of Australia's 2026 Notables list has been announced!

Meet J.P. Pomare and Candice Fox on tour across NSW

J.P. Pomare and Candice Fox are teaming up for a scintillating series of events across regional NSW. Hear J.P. discuss his highly charged thriller The Gambler and Candice discuss her addictive new novel Redbelly Crossing.

Natasha Lester On Tour | 2026

Meet bestselling author Natasha Lester as she tours Australia

Book Club Questions for The Gambler

We hope these questions help guide your book club discussion for this incredible thriller. We’ve done our best to avoid spoilers, but don’t read these questions unless you’ve finished The Gambler – you don’t want to run the risk of ruining any reveals!

J.P. Pomare Book Tour 2026

J.P. Pomare will tour Australia to discuss his highly charged new crime thriller, The Gambler, marking the start of an electrifying new series featuring PI Vince Reid.

Supporting our Adelaide Writers Week authors

A guide to our authors

Read an extract from Good People by Patmeena Sabit

A kaleidoscopic, urgent narrative, told through the chorus of voices surrounding the Sharafs, Good People is a riveting, provocative and unforgettable story of community, family and identity.

Read an extract from Finding Her Edge

A swoony YA sports romance coming soon to Netflix

Read an extract from The Swan's Daughter

Stardust meets Uprooted with a fairytale twist in this standalone fantasy.

Read an extract from The Weaver Bride

An unputdownable romantasy steeped in a lush magical world.

Read an extract from Hazelthorn

Knives Out meets Belladonna in this gorgeously gothic queer YA horror and dark romance.

Read an extract from I'll Find You Where the Timeline Ends

A cosy YA timeslip romance with a gorgeous Korean setting

Helping Your Kids Off Screens and into Books

Australia's social media ban is a great opportunity to find fun new activities to share!

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