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Beach Thriller
The next riveting summer suspense by the author of THE BLOCK PARTY, ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY, and THE LAKE ESCAPE Jamie Day.
Holly Sinclair, a struggling writer, is forced from her cherished New York apartment and returns to her family's seaside cottage in the charming town of Beauport, Massachusetts—a home she hasn't seen in nearly twenty years. Guilt grabs her the moment she arrives. Years ago, her sister died here, and Holly still blames herself.
She arrives on a mission from her literary agent to write a best-selling novel. Her future depends on it. But she’s not the only one with an agenda. Someone is watching Holly's every move from the shadows. Desperate for a good idea, Holly makes the fateful choice to write about her past. The Watcher sees all and knows what Holly doesn’t: Some secrets must remain buried.
As threats from the ominous Watcher become increasingly sinister, Holly realizes that, even though the past is a faint echo, it is still close enough to be deadly.
Holly Sinclair, a struggling writer, is forced from her cherished New York apartment and returns to her family's seaside cottage in the charming town of Beauport, Massachusetts—a home she hasn't seen in nearly twenty years. Guilt grabs her the moment she arrives. Years ago, her sister died here, and Holly still blames herself.
She arrives on a mission from her literary agent to write a best-selling novel. Her future depends on it. But she’s not the only one with an agenda. Someone is watching Holly's every move from the shadows. Desperate for a good idea, Holly makes the fateful choice to write about her past. The Watcher sees all and knows what Holly doesn’t: Some secrets must remain buried.
As threats from the ominous Watcher become increasingly sinister, Holly realizes that, even though the past is a faint echo, it is still close enough to be deadly.
356 pages, Hardcover
First published June 9, 2026
About the author
Jamie Day
5 books662 followersJamie Day lives in one of those picture-perfect, coastal New England towns you see in the movies. And just like the movies, Jamie has two children and an adorable dog to fawn over. When not writing or reading, Jamie enjoys yoga, the ocean, cooking, and long walks on the beach with the dog, or the kids, or sometimes both.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 865 reviews
July 1, 2026
Quick, predictible, entertaining summer read.
June 15, 2026
A quick & easy to read, if rather predictable, thriller, with a gothic touch. I like how Day (Daniel Palmer) dropped in references to his Dad's and other literary figures books - the FMC's a writer and her first, unfinished novel figures heavily. This one's perfect for summer reading!!🌞😎🏖️
June 22, 2026
Beach Thriller. The title says it all. This is a fast paced binge worthy summer read. Three POV with one being the Watcher. The Watcher? Reel me in.
Holly is a struggling author looking for inspiration for her next novel. When her mother passed, she inherited the beach house. Reluctant to move back to the house she grew up in and where her sister passed away, she moves in with no other options. Located in Beaumont, a small idyllic coastal town. So many secrets are buried here and then she finds more unexpected secrets in the attic when she comes across a stowaway.
Jade has been living in the house trying to find answers to her own perplexing questions. She has a necklace that she believes is tied to the house. Is there a connection here to the death of her sister? Jade and Holly become friends and maybe they can help each other out.
Piecing together all the mysterious circumstances, neighbors, and past is a high octane read that begs to be read in one sitting. Highly recommend for suspenseful beach reading.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an early copy.
Holly is a struggling author looking for inspiration for her next novel. When her mother passed, she inherited the beach house. Reluctant to move back to the house she grew up in and where her sister passed away, she moves in with no other options. Located in Beaumont, a small idyllic coastal town. So many secrets are buried here and then she finds more unexpected secrets in the attic when she comes across a stowaway.
Jade has been living in the house trying to find answers to her own perplexing questions. She has a necklace that she believes is tied to the house. Is there a connection here to the death of her sister? Jade and Holly become friends and maybe they can help each other out.
Piecing together all the mysterious circumstances, neighbors, and past is a high octane read that begs to be read in one sitting. Highly recommend for suspenseful beach reading.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an early copy.
March 28, 2026
Your sister is killed years ago. Your mother is never the same, then she dies. You inherit the beach house and return to the town where it all happened. Someone is watching. How's it all connected? Another great plot from Jamie Day who continues to deliver strong thrillers with potent character-driven plots. The setting pulls you, especially if you're a fan of homes with an amazing water view. Toss in a psychic, potential new love interest, and a cop who is good and bad at the same time. Solid Sunday afternoon read.
June 14, 2026
the setup…
Holly Sinclair returns to Beauport, Massachusetts, her family coastal home where she had her fondest and most awful childhood memories. Broke and grieving the recent loss of her mother, Holly is hoping to write her next bestseller and resurrect the investigation of her older sister Anna’s death. It’s been more than twenty years but she’s convinced Anna was murdered and the police complicit in covering it up as an accident. She later discovers 17-year old runaway Jade Jensen squatting in the attic of her house and decides to let her stay. When Jade finds the beginnings of the book called Beach Thriller that Holly started after Anna’s death, she encourages her to finish it…and surreptitiously starts snooping on her own to help write the ending.
the heart of the story…
At the center of everything is the wealthy Carmichael family headed by matriarch Maeve whose son was secretly seeing Anna and her home the site where she was killed. Holly, Jade and an unidentified character known as The Watcher provide the points of view but are surrounded by a host of others who kept sliding on and off my suspect list. Pretty soon I just gave up but held fast to one theory that ended up being right.
the narration…
Emily Shaffer, Jane Oppenheimer, Jennifer Pickens and Megan Tusing round out the full cast and they made this a great listening experience. They all represented their characters nicely and were excellent storytellers.
the bottom line…
I was expecting a little crazy sauce and it delivered that spectacularly at the end. But! This was a meaty puzzler with character depth. I avoided most of the red herrings but still got handed some surprises. This is a classic Day mystery sprinkled with a whiff of romance and I enjoyed the journey.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
Holly Sinclair returns to Beauport, Massachusetts, her family coastal home where she had her fondest and most awful childhood memories. Broke and grieving the recent loss of her mother, Holly is hoping to write her next bestseller and resurrect the investigation of her older sister Anna’s death. It’s been more than twenty years but she’s convinced Anna was murdered and the police complicit in covering it up as an accident. She later discovers 17-year old runaway Jade Jensen squatting in the attic of her house and decides to let her stay. When Jade finds the beginnings of the book called Beach Thriller that Holly started after Anna’s death, she encourages her to finish it…and surreptitiously starts snooping on her own to help write the ending.
the heart of the story…
At the center of everything is the wealthy Carmichael family headed by matriarch Maeve whose son was secretly seeing Anna and her home the site where she was killed. Holly, Jade and an unidentified character known as The Watcher provide the points of view but are surrounded by a host of others who kept sliding on and off my suspect list. Pretty soon I just gave up but held fast to one theory that ended up being right.
the narration…
Emily Shaffer, Jane Oppenheimer, Jennifer Pickens and Megan Tusing round out the full cast and they made this a great listening experience. They all represented their characters nicely and were excellent storytellers.
the bottom line…
I was expecting a little crazy sauce and it delivered that spectacularly at the end. But! This was a meaty puzzler with character depth. I avoided most of the red herrings but still got handed some surprises. This is a classic Day mystery sprinkled with a whiff of romance and I enjoyed the journey.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
February 5, 2026
I read Jamie Day’s debut novel, The Block Party a couple of years ago and remember enjoying it, so when I saw his newest novel on NetGalley I decided I’d give it a try.
After her publisher telling her that her latest book just wouldn’t sell, Holly Sinclair is short on cash and unable keep her NYC apartment without having a predicable and consistent income.
She returns to her hometown to live in the house that she inherited after her mother’s passing.
Beauport, Massachusetts is a small town where everyone seems to know each other, as well as a lot of their personal business.
In a way this read like two books in one, because we read from multiple POV’s of Holly, Jade, and “The Watcher”, as well as the unpublished manuscript of a book that she wrote about twenty years prior.
We don’t learn the identity of “The Watcher” until later in the book, and it was not who I initially thought it would be!
It took a few chapters for me to get into this, but once I did I enjoyed it.
There were some parts in the middle that dragged on a tad (it’s 368 pages and I think that it could have been written in the typical 300 page format by taking out some superfluous details here and there).
But I am SO glad that I kept reading!
It really picks up pace around the 70% mark, and at 90% it became great.
I LOVED the way this book ended!
Over half of the characters in this book are not who they appear to be.
There were some good people who I thought were going to be bad and some bad people who I thought were going to be good.
Some I just found myself questioning about at different parts of the book.
Being that the FMC is a published author, this book included a lot of details about the publishing industry and a view into the life of an author, which I found interesting.
Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Jamie Day for providing me with an ARC to review!
After her publisher telling her that her latest book just wouldn’t sell, Holly Sinclair is short on cash and unable keep her NYC apartment without having a predicable and consistent income.
She returns to her hometown to live in the house that she inherited after her mother’s passing.
Beauport, Massachusetts is a small town where everyone seems to know each other, as well as a lot of their personal business.
In a way this read like two books in one, because we read from multiple POV’s of Holly, Jade, and “The Watcher”, as well as the unpublished manuscript of a book that she wrote about twenty years prior.
We don’t learn the identity of “The Watcher” until later in the book, and it was not who I initially thought it would be!
It took a few chapters for me to get into this, but once I did I enjoyed it.
There were some parts in the middle that dragged on a tad (it’s 368 pages and I think that it could have been written in the typical 300 page format by taking out some superfluous details here and there).
But I am SO glad that I kept reading!
It really picks up pace around the 70% mark, and at 90% it became great.
I LOVED the way this book ended!
Over half of the characters in this book are not who they appear to be.
There were some good people who I thought were going to be bad and some bad people who I thought were going to be good.
Some I just found myself questioning about at different parts of the book.
Being that the FMC is a published author, this book included a lot of details about the publishing industry and a view into the life of an author, which I found interesting.
Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Jamie Day for providing me with an ARC to review!
June 13, 2026
Beach Thriller by Jamie Day
Mystery, thriller. Multiple POV’s.
Holly Sinclair is a successfully published author. When her agent tells her she’s only as good as her next book, she returns home to Beauport, Massachusetts hoping for inspiration.
The home she returns to is in disrepair. The town is mixed on welcoming her, and there is a squatter in the house that Holly can’t quite bring herself to kicking out. As her stay lengthens, Holly realizes there is something, or someone, intent on making her leave. Permanently.
🎧 I was able to alternate between an ebook and an audiobook. The narration is performed by Emily Shaffer, Jane Oppenheimer, Jennifer Pickens, and Megan Tusing. The performances are interwoven seamlessly and professionally. As the tension in the story ramps up, we can hear the pressure and worry from Holly, Jade’s youthful impatience and the creepy thoughts of The Watcher.
The audiobook and the multiple voices draw the listener in as the mystery unravels. And while there are multiple POV’s, it is easy to follow and understand as the story progresses.
An engrossing story with a creepy Watcher character, twists, and reveals that will surprise you until the end.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley and Macmillan Audio.
Mystery, thriller. Multiple POV’s.
Holly Sinclair is a successfully published author. When her agent tells her she’s only as good as her next book, she returns home to Beauport, Massachusetts hoping for inspiration.
The home she returns to is in disrepair. The town is mixed on welcoming her, and there is a squatter in the house that Holly can’t quite bring herself to kicking out. As her stay lengthens, Holly realizes there is something, or someone, intent on making her leave. Permanently.
🎧 I was able to alternate between an ebook and an audiobook. The narration is performed by Emily Shaffer, Jane Oppenheimer, Jennifer Pickens, and Megan Tusing. The performances are interwoven seamlessly and professionally. As the tension in the story ramps up, we can hear the pressure and worry from Holly, Jade’s youthful impatience and the creepy thoughts of The Watcher.
The audiobook and the multiple voices draw the listener in as the mystery unravels. And while there are multiple POV’s, it is easy to follow and understand as the story progresses.
An engrossing story with a creepy Watcher character, twists, and reveals that will surprise you until the end.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley and Macmillan Audio.
June 15, 2026
Holly, a moderately successful writer, is suffering from writer’s block, but needs to come up with her next book soon. Especially since she’s hurting for cash. Moving back to her childhood home, a rundown beach cottage isn’t something she wanted to do but it’s all she can afford. Holly just needs to hunker down and write a book. That’s difficult when reminders of her sister’s death which was ruled as “undetermined” are around every corner. Holly knows in her gut that Anna was murdered, but the police did little to solve it.
Jade, not quite eighteen, ran away from a troubled home has also landed in Beauford, her path intersecting with Holly’s.
Finding her old draft, “Beach Thriller”, which was based on those events motivates Holly to uncover the truth and finally get justice for her sister. Unfortunately, digging around for the truth puts both Holly and Jade in danger.
It took me a bit to get into the story and some of the dialogue and reactions felt a little off, but around the 30% mark I was fully invested. I enjoyed Beach Thriller and liked both Holly and Jade. I liked the “book within a book” aspect. I guessed at some of the reveals, but others were a surprise. I appreciated how it all was explained and made sense, wrapping up the story in a satisfying conclusion.
I listened to the audio version and having a full cast of narrators, one for each POV, definitely enhanced my enjoyment!
I voluntarily listened to a copy courtesy of the publisher. These are my thoughts and opinions.
Jade, not quite eighteen, ran away from a troubled home has also landed in Beauford, her path intersecting with Holly’s.
Finding her old draft, “Beach Thriller”, which was based on those events motivates Holly to uncover the truth and finally get justice for her sister. Unfortunately, digging around for the truth puts both Holly and Jade in danger.
It took me a bit to get into the story and some of the dialogue and reactions felt a little off, but around the 30% mark I was fully invested. I enjoyed Beach Thriller and liked both Holly and Jade. I liked the “book within a book” aspect. I guessed at some of the reveals, but others were a surprise. I appreciated how it all was explained and made sense, wrapping up the story in a satisfying conclusion.
I listened to the audio version and having a full cast of narrators, one for each POV, definitely enhanced my enjoyment!
I voluntarily listened to a copy courtesy of the publisher. These are my thoughts and opinions.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
You can always depend on Jamie Day to deliver a great beach read.
This story is set in Massachusetts, and the coastal setting was perfectly captured. As was the desperation of the main character, both in her current financial circumstances and in her unsettling past. There was plenty of spooky things sprinkled in as well. A psychic, a potentially haunted beach house, and, scariest of all, an all seeing eye known as The Watcher. The Watcher's chapters were so creepy and had me flipping through the pages to find out their motivation.
I read this is the dead of winter. But I'll definitely be reading this again in the summer (hopefully by the ocean).
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This story is set in Massachusetts, and the coastal setting was perfectly captured. As was the desperation of the main character, both in her current financial circumstances and in her unsettling past. There was plenty of spooky things sprinkled in as well. A psychic, a potentially haunted beach house, and, scariest of all, an all seeing eye known as The Watcher. The Watcher's chapters were so creepy and had me flipping through the pages to find out their motivation.
I read this is the dead of winter. But I'll definitely be reading this again in the summer (hopefully by the ocean).
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 15, 2026
This is another Day novel that left me reeling at the end. While I haven't loved everything she hasn't written, I am always left with a ton of emotion.
This novel in particular has me in a chokehold from the beginning as it has a great premise and setting. I love the isolated beach house trope and this one delivered spectacularly.
Thank you to NetGalley , the author Jamie Day, and Macmillan audio for my ARC of this audiobook.
This novel in particular has me in a chokehold from the beginning as it has a great premise and setting. I love the isolated beach house trope and this one delivered spectacularly.
Thank you to NetGalley , the author Jamie Day, and Macmillan audio for my ARC of this audiobook.
June 15, 2026
such a fun twisty bingeable thriller. A great beach read or just relaxing at home. This has short chapters and multiple perspectives - but never too many characters where I was lost! Loved it.
May 29, 2026
Beach Thriller by Jamie Day was exactly the kind of summer suspense read I gravitate toward: fast paced, addictive, and impossible not to binge. This is pure popcorn thriller energy, but with enough depth and sharpness to keep it from feeling forgettable. The coastal small town setting was one of my favorite parts, all the gossip, buried secrets, wealthy families, and long held grudges created such an immersive atmosphere. Beauport felt charming on the surface while still carrying that eerie undercurrent that something terrible happened here years ago and never truly stayed buried.
I also loved the structure of this one. Multiple POVs always make thrillers more entertaining for me, and the anonymous “Watcher” chapters added such a creepy, sinister edge throughout the story. The book within a book angle was another fun layer that made the mystery feel more layered and engaging. I kept changing my theories as the story unfolded, which is always a good sign, and I appreciated that the twists didn’t feel overly predictable. The pacing stays steady the entire time and moves quickly without sacrificing atmosphere or character drama.
At its core, this is a solid cold case mystery wrapped in a juicy beach town thriller full of secrets, suspicion, and simmering tension. If you love messy small town dynamics, coastal settings, unreliable vibes, and thrillers that feel tailor made for summer reading, this one absolutely delivers. It’s dramatic, creepy, and ridiculously easy to fly through in just a couple sittings.
I also loved the structure of this one. Multiple POVs always make thrillers more entertaining for me, and the anonymous “Watcher” chapters added such a creepy, sinister edge throughout the story. The book within a book angle was another fun layer that made the mystery feel more layered and engaging. I kept changing my theories as the story unfolded, which is always a good sign, and I appreciated that the twists didn’t feel overly predictable. The pacing stays steady the entire time and moves quickly without sacrificing atmosphere or character drama.
At its core, this is a solid cold case mystery wrapped in a juicy beach town thriller full of secrets, suspicion, and simmering tension. If you love messy small town dynamics, coastal settings, unreliable vibes, and thrillers that feel tailor made for summer reading, this one absolutely delivers. It’s dramatic, creepy, and ridiculously easy to fly through in just a couple sittings.
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June 11, 2026I really loved The Block Party and The Lake Escape, but I have to say Beach Thriller did not work as well for me.
Was it a "beach thriller?" Only in a "meta" way, as the book also has a story within a story.
Holly, one of the book's narrators, inherits a dilapidated old house in Beufort MA, and has no choice but to live there, even though she'd had a traumatic experience there as a teenager. This beach town has a creepy town busker (?!?!?) who sang ominous warnings to Holly (yes, really; this made me crack up every time he popped up), a wayward teenager squatting in Holly's house and a POV character called The Watcher.
At times the story felt a bit neo-Gothic in the way of The Housemaid, with a sinister rich family and . I even thought it might turn paranormal at one point. There was a meta "story within a story" element of a fictionalized version of past events written by Holly as a teenager.
The ending was pretty out-there and required a lot of explanation. I'm still sort of processing. It was a LOT and I'm not sure if I liked it or am just relieved I made it out in one piece!
Thanks to the publisher for providing an advance copy for review!
Was it a "beach thriller?" Only in a "meta" way, as the book also has a story within a story.
Holly, one of the book's narrators, inherits a dilapidated old house in Beufort MA, and has no choice but to live there, even though she'd had a traumatic experience there as a teenager. This beach town has a creepy town busker (?!?!?) who sang ominous warnings to Holly (yes, really; this made me crack up every time he popped up), a wayward teenager squatting in Holly's house and a POV character called The Watcher.
At times the story felt a bit neo-Gothic in the way of The Housemaid, with a sinister rich family and . I even thought it might turn paranormal at one point. There was a meta "story within a story" element of a fictionalized version of past events written by Holly as a teenager.
The ending was pretty out-there and required a lot of explanation. I'm still sort of processing. It was a LOT and I'm not sure if I liked it or am just relieved I made it out in one piece!
Thanks to the publisher for providing an advance copy for review!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Summer mystery thrillers are so fun! Is it over-the-top, sure. Is it edge-of-your seat "what on earth is going on?" - YES!
An author trying to write a new best seller - taking some time in a cottage that has been boarded up since her mother passed. We have a watcher POV, a questionable handy man, and a kid wondering what her past was and what's her future. There are troubling things happening and a rich family definitely hiding secrets. How does it all tie together?
Fun, easy, summer read! Definitely one to enjoy on the beach or in a cabin for the weekend!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
An author trying to write a new best seller - taking some time in a cottage that has been boarded up since her mother passed. We have a watcher POV, a questionable handy man, and a kid wondering what her past was and what's her future. There are troubling things happening and a rich family definitely hiding secrets. How does it all tie together?
Fun, easy, summer read! Definitely one to enjoy on the beach or in a cabin for the weekend!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
July 1, 2026
Read over several days by a pool and relaxing on the porch, this book is the epitome of a perfect beach read.
My first by the author, I LOVED the story within a story (really a thriller within a thriller)
Any story with a protagonist that is a writer just feels perfect to me, and in this, Holly Sinclair is returning home after the death of her mother.
She has to face figurative and almost literal ghosts when she gets to her childhood home. This book has twists, evil rich people, family secrets and a life long unsolved mystery. I couldn't put it down many times!
So a big thank you to St. Martin's Press for a copy, and another to the author-who I will be backlogging books on now!
My first by the author, I LOVED the story within a story (really a thriller within a thriller)
Any story with a protagonist that is a writer just feels perfect to me, and in this, Holly Sinclair is returning home after the death of her mother.
She has to face figurative and almost literal ghosts when she gets to her childhood home. This book has twists, evil rich people, family secrets and a life long unsolved mystery. I couldn't put it down many times!
So a big thank you to St. Martin's Press for a copy, and another to the author-who I will be backlogging books on now!
June 1, 2026
*audiobook
“Anna is there.”
“Closeness is pain. Caring is an illusion.”
“I was once a watcher, now I need to be something else, something I haven’t been in a long, long time.”
“I don’t know how the evening will unfold, but I’m certain of one thing, not everyone at the party will make it through the night.”
Thanks to Macmillan Audio for my #gifted copy of this audiobook. I was so excited to check it out and give my honest thoughts. As I started this one I was longing for the beach because as atmospheric as this one was, I wanted to be at the beach for real.
Holly is an author, and she’s struggling to pump out another manuscript. She needs a spark of creativity, an idea that can help to put her on the best seller’s list. Oh boy does she find it. She’s been going through it between her mother and sister Anna dying, this disaster of a beach house and a career at rock bottom. To make matters worse she find a a squatter named Jade in the dilapidated beach house when she arrives.
This book has a ton of interesting characters and it kept my interest from start to finish. I really enjoyed Jade’s character from the moment she came on the scene.
The creepy unknown narrator was a fun element in this book. There were a bunch of different POVs which works so well for a novel like this because you can gather so many clues as each person gives their portion of the story. You’ll find yourself asking what is fiction and what is reality.
There were a lot of twists and pivots in this one, so I appreciated how the author wrapped everything up at the end.
“Anna is there.”
“Closeness is pain. Caring is an illusion.”
“I was once a watcher, now I need to be something else, something I haven’t been in a long, long time.”
“I don’t know how the evening will unfold, but I’m certain of one thing, not everyone at the party will make it through the night.”
Thanks to Macmillan Audio for my #gifted copy of this audiobook. I was so excited to check it out and give my honest thoughts. As I started this one I was longing for the beach because as atmospheric as this one was, I wanted to be at the beach for real.
Holly is an author, and she’s struggling to pump out another manuscript. She needs a spark of creativity, an idea that can help to put her on the best seller’s list. Oh boy does she find it. She’s been going through it between her mother and sister Anna dying, this disaster of a beach house and a career at rock bottom. To make matters worse she find a a squatter named Jade in the dilapidated beach house when she arrives.
This book has a ton of interesting characters and it kept my interest from start to finish. I really enjoyed Jade’s character from the moment she came on the scene.
The creepy unknown narrator was a fun element in this book. There were a bunch of different POVs which works so well for a novel like this because you can gather so many clues as each person gives their portion of the story. You’ll find yourself asking what is fiction and what is reality.
There were a lot of twists and pivots in this one, so I appreciated how the author wrapped everything up at the end.
June 11, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
This one had an interesting premise and some entertaining moments, but overall it was just an okay read for me. The story felt pretty slow through most of the book, and I found myself waiting for things to really pick up. Unfortunately, a lot of the twists ended up being fairly predictable for me, so I wasn't as surprised or invested as I hoped to be.
That said, Day's writing kept me engaged enough to finish, and the beach-town setting added a fun summer vibe. I think if you enjoy slow burn thrillers with family drama and secrets, then you will most likely enjoy this one better than I did.
This one had an interesting premise and some entertaining moments, but overall it was just an okay read for me. The story felt pretty slow through most of the book, and I found myself waiting for things to really pick up. Unfortunately, a lot of the twists ended up being fairly predictable for me, so I wasn't as surprised or invested as I hoped to be.
That said, Day's writing kept me engaged enough to finish, and the beach-town setting added a fun summer vibe. I think if you enjoy slow burn thrillers with family drama and secrets, then you will most likely enjoy this one better than I did.
June 9, 2026
Grab your beach chair, cooler and towel. Go sit near the ocean and get ready for the read of your life! Two thrillers for the price of one in this incredibly suspenseful, story, Beach Thriller! Part mystery, part nail biter this has it all! With twists you will not see coming, and so many secrets and lies your head will spin. Told in chapter form by the three main characters, a flailing writer, a runaway teenager and a mysterious watcher who seems to know too much. How much more could you want?
Holly Sinclair is a writer who is going back to Beauport, MA to fix up the home her late mother, dead sister and herself lived in. She did not want to come home because of the memories but with no money and an eviction notice from her apartment, well, she had no choice.
Not only is she anxious about coming home but she knows if she doesn't come up with a great book idea, she's going to not only be in trouble with her agent, but she's so much in debt she will be living on the street. But their house has not been lived in for so long it has become dilapidated, and she has to hire someone to fix it up. But unfortunately, she is still waiting for her mother's estate to go through probate.
What she did not expect was for someone to take up residence in the attic! Jade is a runaway who has come to the town with a necklace she thinks comes from here. She's trying to figure out what it's meaning could possibly be. Jade discovers an unfinished manuscript in the attic Holly had begun years ago. It chronicles what was going on at the time of her sister's disappearance. This prompts Holly to delve into her sister's death and begin to ask questions.
Holly takes a liking to Jade and allows her to stay but when Jade gets a job at the powerful Carmichael family mansion, Holly is angered and scared for Jade. This family destroyed her family's life! Matriarch Maeve Charmichael ruined not only her Holly's life but put her sister on a path to death! Jade decides to keep working for Maeve and help with a beach party which years ago was held every year and a must attend! For some reason Maeve feels at her age, this may be the last of this type of party she will ever attend.
To Holly that party was the beginning of the end of her sister's life. Then Jade suddenly disappears and it's up to Holly, her realtor Gail and local psychic Serena to find out what happened to her. But unfortunately, there have been so many secrets and lies and deceptions throughout the years will they find her in time. Once again, it seems the Carmichael's are bent on wrecking lives!
Beach thriller will blow your mind! If you love deception, greed and plot twists, this is certainly the book for you! Two incredible mysteries for the price of one! Relax and enjoy! Oh, and don't forget the sunscreen!
Thank you #NetGalley #St.Martin'sPress #JamieDay #BeachThriller for the advanced copy!
Holly Sinclair is a writer who is going back to Beauport, MA to fix up the home her late mother, dead sister and herself lived in. She did not want to come home because of the memories but with no money and an eviction notice from her apartment, well, she had no choice.
Not only is she anxious about coming home but she knows if she doesn't come up with a great book idea, she's going to not only be in trouble with her agent, but she's so much in debt she will be living on the street. But their house has not been lived in for so long it has become dilapidated, and she has to hire someone to fix it up. But unfortunately, she is still waiting for her mother's estate to go through probate.
What she did not expect was for someone to take up residence in the attic! Jade is a runaway who has come to the town with a necklace she thinks comes from here. She's trying to figure out what it's meaning could possibly be. Jade discovers an unfinished manuscript in the attic Holly had begun years ago. It chronicles what was going on at the time of her sister's disappearance. This prompts Holly to delve into her sister's death and begin to ask questions.
Holly takes a liking to Jade and allows her to stay but when Jade gets a job at the powerful Carmichael family mansion, Holly is angered and scared for Jade. This family destroyed her family's life! Matriarch Maeve Charmichael ruined not only her Holly's life but put her sister on a path to death! Jade decides to keep working for Maeve and help with a beach party which years ago was held every year and a must attend! For some reason Maeve feels at her age, this may be the last of this type of party she will ever attend.
To Holly that party was the beginning of the end of her sister's life. Then Jade suddenly disappears and it's up to Holly, her realtor Gail and local psychic Serena to find out what happened to her. But unfortunately, there have been so many secrets and lies and deceptions throughout the years will they find her in time. Once again, it seems the Carmichael's are bent on wrecking lives!
Beach thriller will blow your mind! If you love deception, greed and plot twists, this is certainly the book for you! Two incredible mysteries for the price of one! Relax and enjoy! Oh, and don't forget the sunscreen!
Thank you #NetGalley #St.Martin'sPress #JamieDay #BeachThriller for the advanced copy!
May 30, 2026
This one felt different because of the *book within a book* setup. I’m honestly still not 100% sure how I feel about it 😅 I appreciated how unique it was and how much it stood out, but I definitely had moments where I had to remind myself, *okay wait… we’re in the book-inside-the-book right now*. That said, this story moved FAST for me. I kept questioning what was really going on, who was hiding what, and where the story was heading next. It felt like a messy little adventure full of secrets, suspicion, and people behaving badly (which, let’s be honest, is always entertaining).
Jade was absolutely the MVP for me. Sarcastic, funny, a little messy, and fully committed to amateur sleuthing, her POV was consistently entertaining. And speaking of POVs, the three perspectives actually worked really well here, each one added something to the mystery. Also? Watching rich people spiral and hide secrets is apparently one of my favorite thriller hobbies 😂 My only real hiccup was the ending. I didn’t hate it, but it leaned a little more YA-feeling than I expected and didn’t totally stick the landing for me. The story kept me peeking around the corner, suspicious of literally everyone in town. A fun, fast-paced thriller with messy characters, secrets galore, and plenty of drama. Solid 4 stars.
Jade was absolutely the MVP for me. Sarcastic, funny, a little messy, and fully committed to amateur sleuthing, her POV was consistently entertaining. And speaking of POVs, the three perspectives actually worked really well here, each one added something to the mystery. Also? Watching rich people spiral and hide secrets is apparently one of my favorite thriller hobbies 😂 My only real hiccup was the ending. I didn’t hate it, but it leaned a little more YA-feeling than I expected and didn’t totally stick the landing for me. The story kept me peeking around the corner, suspicious of literally everyone in town. A fun, fast-paced thriller with messy characters, secrets galore, and plenty of drama. Solid 4 stars.
June 17, 2026
Beach Thriller is a suspenseful book that keeps you guessing until the very end. Holly Sinclair is hesitant to return to her home town of Beauport, Massachusetts because of what happened 20 years ago. Beauport is a beautiful seaside town and holds many memories for Holly. Holly needs a change as she's struggling to write her next book and she can't afford to stay in her New York apartment any longer. Holly's sister, Anna, died here 20 years ago and Holly has never gotten over it. She feels guilty for being late to meet Anna as she was supposed to go with her when she told her boyfriend. she wanted to break up. She was a bit late and she never saw Anna ever again. Was it really an accident? Holly has always believed that someone killed Anna on purpose. She's coming back to write her new book and to try to find out what really happened to Anna. Holly's mom recently died so the seaside cottage is all hers. It needs a lot of work, but she's ready to settle in and get it done.
Someone in Beauport is watching Holly and doesn't want her to find out the truth. Holly begins getting threatening notes and is convinced she's right about Anna's death. The police aren't cooperating, but Holly finds help from some locals and keeps looking into things. When Holly comes across a story she wrote all those years ago, she decides that it might make a good start for her new book. It's about Anna and how she died, but not everyone wants that story to get out. As Holly visits people to get information from all those years ago, the person watching is getting more and more upset. Will Holly find out what really happened or will she become the next victim? Jamie Day does a great job of flipping between the 2 timelines to build the suspense more and more. I really enjoyed trying to figure the mystery out and rate Beach Thriller 4 stars with a high recommendation. I'd like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy of Beach Thriller in exchange for a fair review.
Someone in Beauport is watching Holly and doesn't want her to find out the truth. Holly begins getting threatening notes and is convinced she's right about Anna's death. The police aren't cooperating, but Holly finds help from some locals and keeps looking into things. When Holly comes across a story she wrote all those years ago, she decides that it might make a good start for her new book. It's about Anna and how she died, but not everyone wants that story to get out. As Holly visits people to get information from all those years ago, the person watching is getting more and more upset. Will Holly find out what really happened or will she become the next victim? Jamie Day does a great job of flipping between the 2 timelines to build the suspense more and more. I really enjoyed trying to figure the mystery out and rate Beach Thriller 4 stars with a high recommendation. I'd like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy of Beach Thriller in exchange for a fair review.
June 9, 2026
Beach Thriller (audio) 4⭐️
This truly embodies a great summer read! Some things the reader can expect:
-a 40-something returning to her childhood home that she vowed never to come back to.
-a book (“Beach Thriller”) within a book (also titled “Beach Thriller”).
-a mystery from 20 years earlier.
-multiple POVs, including an unknown “watcher”.
-small town/rich family/gothic mansion.
Holly returns to the neglected family summer home, still haunted by her sister’s death 20 years earlier. As an author Holly has had some success, but her first story “Beach Thriller” remains unfinished after the “based on true story” plot turned deadly. But the book becomes prevalent to Holly after she finds a teenage squatter in her home who read the book and wants to help solve the lingering mystery.
This has a lot of elements of your typical return-home-summer-mystery, but that’s what makes it entertaining and easy to breeze through.
The narrators did a great job and I appreciated having multiple voices.
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ALC. This review will be shared on NetGalley and Goodreads.
Pub Date Jun 09 2026
This truly embodies a great summer read! Some things the reader can expect:
-a 40-something returning to her childhood home that she vowed never to come back to.
-a book (“Beach Thriller”) within a book (also titled “Beach Thriller”).
-a mystery from 20 years earlier.
-multiple POVs, including an unknown “watcher”.
-small town/rich family/gothic mansion.
Holly returns to the neglected family summer home, still haunted by her sister’s death 20 years earlier. As an author Holly has had some success, but her first story “Beach Thriller” remains unfinished after the “based on true story” plot turned deadly. But the book becomes prevalent to Holly after she finds a teenage squatter in her home who read the book and wants to help solve the lingering mystery.
This has a lot of elements of your typical return-home-summer-mystery, but that’s what makes it entertaining and easy to breeze through.
The narrators did a great job and I appreciated having multiple voices.
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ALC. This review will be shared on NetGalley and Goodreads.
Pub Date Jun 09 2026
June 14, 2026
This was a very exciting story that had me quickly flipping through the pages. It had a great plot, surprising twists and relatable characters. I hope to read more by this author.
I’d like to thank NetGalley and St Martins Press for the opportunity to review this ARC that will be released in June 2026!
I’d like to thank NetGalley and St Martins Press for the opportunity to review this ARC that will be released in June 2026!
June 20, 2026
I have loved Jamie Days books in the past so I was very excited to pick this one up.
I was thrown off because it wasn’t what I was expecting. Jamie’s previous releases involved gossipy neighbors with lots of juicy secrets. This book was completely different.
It was a slow burn mystery about Holly moving back to a the small town she grew up in to investigate the death of her sister. I honestly felt bored in the middle of the book. There wasn’t a lot happening. I wasn’t a big fan of this one.
I was thrown off because it wasn’t what I was expecting. Jamie’s previous releases involved gossipy neighbors with lots of juicy secrets. This book was completely different.
It was a slow burn mystery about Holly moving back to a the small town she grew up in to investigate the death of her sister. I honestly felt bored in the middle of the book. There wasn’t a lot happening. I wasn’t a big fan of this one.
June 11, 2026
Beach Thriller was such a fun, fast-paced read! I figured out one of the twists pretty early on, but it didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the story at all. There were still plenty of surprises, and I stayed invested until the end. Definitely one I’d recommend to thriller fans looking for a great read.
April 18, 2026
4.1 ⭐️I got to read the advanced reader copy of this book for my work book club but unfortunately it is difficult for me to give an accurate review because I had the ending spoiled to me during book club before I was able to finish it. Anyways, here is my review. I have so many thoughts.
This book started out kind of slow going. It was a little hard to keep track of all of the different perspectives between Jade, Holly, the watcher, and the beach thriller. I don't love the concept of a book inside of a book. But about halfway through things really started to pick up as Jade and Holly were discovering more clues. I did predict that someone was going to be locked in the tower. My initial guess was that it was Anna or possibly Anna's child. So I was pretty surprised to find out that it was Elizabeth.
I don't think it was very believable that Anna was the watcher. The watcher just seemed to have this intention of harming Holly which you would not expect from her sister. It made me wonder where she has been this entire time. Where was she living while Holly and Jade were at the beach house?
The ending was very fast paced with so many details of so many different characters coming into play. But I feel like there are definitely some plot holes and a lot of unanswered questions. I wish we could've read how Jade found out that Anna was her mom and Conrad was her dad. I kept waiting for this scene where Jade would wake up in the hospital and then Anna would come and tell her the truth. And then it felt like such a big jump to go from the night that everything went down to Holly and Anna sitting on the beach talking and then an update 3 months later and another update one year later. Even one year later, it's hard to believe that Ethan, Holly, Anna, Conrad, and Jade would just be going about their normal lives again. I was definitely very suspicious of Ethan and was not expecting him to be normal/ one of the good guys.
This book started out kind of slow going. It was a little hard to keep track of all of the different perspectives between Jade, Holly, the watcher, and the beach thriller. I don't love the concept of a book inside of a book. But about halfway through things really started to pick up as Jade and Holly were discovering more clues. I did predict that someone was going to be locked in the tower. My initial guess was that it was Anna or possibly Anna's child. So I was pretty surprised to find out that it was Elizabeth.
I don't think it was very believable that Anna was the watcher. The watcher just seemed to have this intention of harming Holly which you would not expect from her sister. It made me wonder where she has been this entire time. Where was she living while Holly and Jade were at the beach house?
The ending was very fast paced with so many details of so many different characters coming into play. But I feel like there are definitely some plot holes and a lot of unanswered questions. I wish we could've read how Jade found out that Anna was her mom and Conrad was her dad. I kept waiting for this scene where Jade would wake up in the hospital and then Anna would come and tell her the truth. And then it felt like such a big jump to go from the night that everything went down to Holly and Anna sitting on the beach talking and then an update 3 months later and another update one year later. Even one year later, it's hard to believe that Ethan, Holly, Anna, Conrad, and Jade would just be going about their normal lives again. I was definitely very suspicious of Ethan and was not expecting him to be normal/ one of the good guys.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 21, 2026
Sadly, every Jamie Day read seems to lessen in quality for me. This book is SO far-fetched and cheesy. I didn't buy the rich-guy-falls-for-broke-local routine. Every villain was cartoonishly "evil." The entire hopping beach town was populated by the same five people that Holly kept "running into." This pushy realtor got away with being downright rude. And, while I rooted for Jade, who in their right mind would so flippantly tell a squatter to stay in the house they'd been unlawfully occupying.
I didn't buy the secrets or really much of the storyline for that matter and I thought the book-within-a-book was juvenile and poorly written.
I'm not usually such a touch critic, but I LOVED Block Party and, since reading that, Day's books have consistently slid downhill for me with this being by far the worst. IMO, obviously.
I don't regret reading it, but I got nothing from it and I'm glad it was quick. I wouldn't count Day out, but I wouldn't go out of my way for Beach Thriller.
I didn't buy the secrets or really much of the storyline for that matter and I thought the book-within-a-book was juvenile and poorly written.
I'm not usually such a touch critic, but I LOVED Block Party and, since reading that, Day's books have consistently slid downhill for me with this being by far the worst. IMO, obviously.
I don't regret reading it, but I got nothing from it and I'm glad it was quick. I wouldn't count Day out, but I wouldn't go out of my way for Beach Thriller.
June 18, 2026
Beach Thriller is more about the journey than the destination. It isn’t an express ride from one twist to the next, but nor is it a slow burn. It starts as a mystery, gradually builds in suspense, and by the time the story reaches its destination, the reveals come thick and fast.
Told through three POVs, each brought something different to the story.
Holly: After being evicted from her New York apartment, struggling author Holly Sinclair returns to Beauport hoping to get her life back on track and finish a book. Returning home also means returning to the mystery surrounding her sister Anna’s death nearly twenty years earlier. As a lifelong headache and migraine sufferer, I also connected strongly with Holly and felt her migraines with aura were authentically portrayed.
Jade: A teenage runaway with a history of run-ins with what she calls “baby jail”, aka juvi. The kinship that develops between Jade and Holly became one of my favourite parts of the novel.
The Watcher: The POV that kept me guessing right until the end. I never worked out who was behind those chapters, and that reveal genuinely caught me off guard.
I also loved the book within a book element, with Holly’s unfinished manuscript gradually filling in the gaps from eighteen years earlier. Once Jade discovers the manuscript, she becomes just as invested in uncovering the truth.
Also, any mention of Clair de Lune is always going to earn bonus points from me.
If you enjoy small-town secrets, wealthy families with influence, cold cases, corruption, and plenty of twists along the way, Beach Thriller is well worth adding to your TBR.
This was my first Jamie Day novel, but it certainly won’t be my last. The Block Party has moved even higher up my TBR.
Told through three POVs, each brought something different to the story.
Holly: After being evicted from her New York apartment, struggling author Holly Sinclair returns to Beauport hoping to get her life back on track and finish a book. Returning home also means returning to the mystery surrounding her sister Anna’s death nearly twenty years earlier. As a lifelong headache and migraine sufferer, I also connected strongly with Holly and felt her migraines with aura were authentically portrayed.
Jade: A teenage runaway with a history of run-ins with what she calls “baby jail”, aka juvi. The kinship that develops between Jade and Holly became one of my favourite parts of the novel.
The Watcher: The POV that kept me guessing right until the end. I never worked out who was behind those chapters, and that reveal genuinely caught me off guard.
I also loved the book within a book element, with Holly’s unfinished manuscript gradually filling in the gaps from eighteen years earlier. Once Jade discovers the manuscript, she becomes just as invested in uncovering the truth.
Also, any mention of Clair de Lune is always going to earn bonus points from me.
If you enjoy small-town secrets, wealthy families with influence, cold cases, corruption, and plenty of twists along the way, Beach Thriller is well worth adding to your TBR.
This was my first Jamie Day novel, but it certainly won’t be my last. The Block Party has moved even higher up my TBR.
May 30, 2026
Holly Sinclair, a struggling author, is dead broke. After being evicted from her New York apartment, she returns to her family’s dilapidated beach house in coastal New England with one urgent goal: write a book that sells. Fast.
Holly finds herself drawn back into to the small town community. Not everyone is glad to see Holly return. Someone in town is watching her every move. The Watcher knows something Holly doesn’t. The past may be a foggy echo, but it’s close enough to come rushing in with the tide.
This was a 4 star thriller for me. Jamie Day’s ability to keep the reader peering around the corner never fails.
* My suspicions of everyone in town was so fun. I truly didn’t know how far the secrets scattered and who was ready to tell theirs or die on the hill.
* Jade was exactly what the story needed. Sarcastically funny and an amateur sleuth. Her POV was always entertaining.
* The 3 POVs made this book! Sometimes too many POVs can be confusing but each perspective added to the story.
* Jamie always does well with rich people behaving badly.
* I always love a FMC who is slightly a hot mess express and never listens to the dangers lurking.
Absolutely your next summer thriller.
Thank you NetGalley for the eARC and thank you MacMillian Audio for the ALC.
Holly finds herself drawn back into to the small town community. Not everyone is glad to see Holly return. Someone in town is watching her every move. The Watcher knows something Holly doesn’t. The past may be a foggy echo, but it’s close enough to come rushing in with the tide.
This was a 4 star thriller for me. Jamie Day’s ability to keep the reader peering around the corner never fails.
* My suspicions of everyone in town was so fun. I truly didn’t know how far the secrets scattered and who was ready to tell theirs or die on the hill.
* Jade was exactly what the story needed. Sarcastically funny and an amateur sleuth. Her POV was always entertaining.
* The 3 POVs made this book! Sometimes too many POVs can be confusing but each perspective added to the story.
* Jamie always does well with rich people behaving badly.
* I always love a FMC who is slightly a hot mess express and never listens to the dangers lurking.
Absolutely your next summer thriller.
Thank you NetGalley for the eARC and thank you MacMillian Audio for the ALC.
July 8, 2026
A down on her luck author goes back to her family home after the passing of her mother to find the house in terrible shape. Not only her house but her finances are in terrible shape as well. She desperately needs to write a good selling book. While in her hometown, she also tries to put closure on the unsolved death of her sister twenty years ago. Very strange things start to happen that kept me turning the pages. This was so riveting and kept me guessing. A very good ending that I did not see coming.
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for this arc.
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for this arc.
June 9, 2026
One-word review: Satisfying
Emojis: 🌊😳🔍
Rating: 4 ⭐️
My thoughts:
I knew within the first few chapters that this was going to be one of those books where I kept saying, "Just one more chapter."
Part of that was the structure. The chapters are short, the pacing is quick, and the story keeps shifting in interesting ways. Most of the book is told through Holly and Jade's perspectives, but every now and then we get a chapter from The Watcher. Those chapters worked on me every single time. I'd finish one and immediately need to know what happened next.
I also ended up caring about Jade far more than I expected. She was probably my favorite character in the book. Holly grew on me as the story progressed, but Jade was the one I worried about. Every time she got pulled deeper into the Carmichaels' orbit, I found myself mentally yelling at the pages.
Speaking of the Carmichaels...they were probably the one thing that didn't fully work for me. They felt a little too much like the rich family everyone in town whispers about. I kept waiting for another layer to appear. It didn't hurt my enjoyment of the story, but I would have loved a little more complexity there.
What really surprised me was how invested I became in the family side of the story. Going in, I expected the suspense to be the main attraction. Instead, I found myself equally interested in the grief, guilt, and family relationships running underneath everything. Holly's return to Beauport isn't just about solving mysteries. She's carrying twenty years of emotional baggage back with her, and that gave the story more weight than I anticipated.
And the setting? Absolutely my kind of setting.
Give me a beach town, a boardwalk, old family secrets, and the Atlantic Ocean in the background, and I'm already halfway sold. Beauport felt like the sort of place that looks charming during the day and a little unsettling after dark, which is exactly what this story needed.
As for the twists, I had mixed results. A couple of reveals were visible from pretty far away. Others completely blindsided me. The good news is that the surprises that landed really landed.
But my favorite part might have been the ending.
Thrillers sometimes stumble at the finish line after a great setup. This one didn't. Jamie Day brought all the moving pieces together in a way that felt earned, and when I turned the last page, I had that rare feeling of being completely shocked with how it played out.
That's harder to pull off than it looks.
Emojis: 🌊😳🔍
Rating: 4 ⭐️
My thoughts:
I knew within the first few chapters that this was going to be one of those books where I kept saying, "Just one more chapter."
Part of that was the structure. The chapters are short, the pacing is quick, and the story keeps shifting in interesting ways. Most of the book is told through Holly and Jade's perspectives, but every now and then we get a chapter from The Watcher. Those chapters worked on me every single time. I'd finish one and immediately need to know what happened next.
I also ended up caring about Jade far more than I expected. She was probably my favorite character in the book. Holly grew on me as the story progressed, but Jade was the one I worried about. Every time she got pulled deeper into the Carmichaels' orbit, I found myself mentally yelling at the pages.
Speaking of the Carmichaels...they were probably the one thing that didn't fully work for me. They felt a little too much like the rich family everyone in town whispers about. I kept waiting for another layer to appear. It didn't hurt my enjoyment of the story, but I would have loved a little more complexity there.
What really surprised me was how invested I became in the family side of the story. Going in, I expected the suspense to be the main attraction. Instead, I found myself equally interested in the grief, guilt, and family relationships running underneath everything. Holly's return to Beauport isn't just about solving mysteries. She's carrying twenty years of emotional baggage back with her, and that gave the story more weight than I anticipated.
And the setting? Absolutely my kind of setting.
Give me a beach town, a boardwalk, old family secrets, and the Atlantic Ocean in the background, and I'm already halfway sold. Beauport felt like the sort of place that looks charming during the day and a little unsettling after dark, which is exactly what this story needed.
As for the twists, I had mixed results. A couple of reveals were visible from pretty far away. Others completely blindsided me. The good news is that the surprises that landed really landed.
But my favorite part might have been the ending.
Thrillers sometimes stumble at the finish line after a great setup. This one didn't. Jamie Day brought all the moving pieces together in a way that felt earned, and when I turned the last page, I had that rare feeling of being completely shocked with how it played out.
That's harder to pull off than it looks.
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