Some summer reading suggestions
- Brett Hiner: A Work in Progress
- May 16, 2025
- 52
In a column a few years back, I attempted to define the clichéd phrase of a summer beach read. The definition, provided by Merriam-Webster, seemed insulting: “a usually light work of escapist fiction.”
It is not the “escapist fiction” part I find insulting (after all, isn’t the escape part supposed to be what fiction reading does?), but rather the “light read” portion of the definition. Two years later I am no closer to actually figuring out the phrase, but here, still, are my annual summer reading suggestions, which can be read on a beach, a hammock, a favorite couch or even while sick in bed nursing those summer allergies.
In 2017 Stephen King began talking about Riley Sager and his debut novel, “Final Girls,” calling it the “first great thriller” of the year. Usually, when Stephen King speaks, I listen, and every year since, Sager has released a new novel. While I have been a fan of all of them, Sager’s latest, “With a Vengeance,” reads a bit differently, in the best of ways.
Aboard the Philadelphia Phoenix train, traveling from Philadelphia to Chicago, are six suspects and our protagonist, Anna Matheson. Due to an unspeakable tragedy involving her family in 1942, she has, 12 years later, lured those involved with an invite that all but forces them to comply.
However, when one of the invitees ends up dead, shortly after the train begins its trip, her plan for revenge goes out the window as she must protect those she most hates if the justice she seeks will be served.
The premise pays homage to the golden age of mystery writing, as a throwback to Agatha Christie and, to some extent, even Ed McBain with the crime noir style. Sure, some moments seem implausible, but I would argue that is what makes the train setting so perfect for a story of this nature: Because of the claustrophobic feel of an enclosed space, characters must take implausible risks to survive.
“With a Vengeance” release date is June 10.
If not “With a Vengeance,” try “The Last Time I Lied.” For anyone who ever spent time at a summer camp as a kid, this one will bring back some chilling memories you are glad only took place sitting around the campfire while telling ghost stories.
Author Michael Robotham’s strength has always been in his mastery of creating characters readers feel they know and care about. That may seem like an oversimplification, but pick up any of his Joe O’Loughlin books and you will see exactly what I mean.
In “The White Crow,” Robotham further develops the character dynamics of Philomena McCarthy as she fights the battle, literally and figuratively, of her two worlds: that of justice in her professional world as a London Metropolitan police officer and that of loyalty in her personal world — her father is Edward McCarthy, a notorious London gangster and the head of a criminal empire along with his brothers.
While on a 3 a.m. breakfast run with her partner, Philomena glances at a small child wandering the streets. She returns the child to her home and discovers the brutal aftermath of a home invasion, all while her colleagues respond to a robbery at a Hatton Garden jewelry store.
From there, the connections begin to pile up as Philomena’s family quickly becomes the prime suspects.
Torn between the doubting-of-her-skills police force and the reputation of her family, all that Phil most cares about comes into suspense-filled conflict. “The White Crow” reads a bit like a modern-day episode of “Peaky Blinders” … in the best of ways.
Note: This is Robotham’s second book with protagonist Philomena McCarthy, “When You Are Mine” being the first. “The White Crow” easily reads as a stand-alone, but book one does provide some foundational details, mostly related to her struggles with her colleagues.
“The White Crow” release date is July 1.
If not “The White Crow,” try “The Suspect,” the first of his renowned psychologist Joe O’Loughlin series, which ranks alongside Michael Connelly’s “Harry Bosch” and William Kent Kreuger’s “Cork O’Conner” as the best ongoing mystery series.
And finally, here is what I can tell you about Scott Carson’s latest, “Departure 37.” You have never read anything like it, and you will want to take the time to reflect on what you are reading while reading, not after.
As the book starts, pilots across the country are called by their mothers, some of whom have long since passed away, in the middle of the night, being begged not to fly the next day or otherwise they will die (and be responsible for the death of the souls they carry onboard). The kicker is none of these mothers even remembers making the call, which begs the question: If they didn’t, who did?
With that question in mind, Carson mostly follows two timelines: one involving 16-year-old Charlie, who spends her days making TikTok videos, and Cold War physicist Martin Hazelton, the discoverer and holder of a time-jumping secret.
Of course, the two timelines eventually converge, but not before Carson plays to his storytelling gifts: giving a history lesson on Cold War tensions, espionage, conspiracy theories, supernatural mystery, weather patterns and, yes, even a little romance in the best “Twilight Zone-ian” of ways. (It is not an accident Carson dedicates the book to Rod Serling, among others.)
Simply stated, “Departure 37,” at its best moments, is a scientific chess match.
The “Departure 37” release date is Aug. 5.
If not “Departure 37,” try “An Honest Man,” Michael Koryta’s (aka Scott Carson) page-turning mystery from a few years back that has all the twists and heart that make for a great story.
While I am still not sure if these titles fall under the “summer beach reading” category, I would suggest this: Worry less about where you are reading them and more that they make their way into your “to be read” book pile.
Brett Hiner is in his 28th year teaching English/language arts at Wooster High School, where he also serves as yearbook adviser and Drama Club adviser/director. When writing, he enjoys connecting cultural experiences, pop and otherwise to everyday life. He can be emailed at workinprogressWWN@gmail.com.