Beach Thriller: A Novel

by Jamie Day

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.

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Summer, Adult, Summer Reads, Suspense

368 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication June 9, 2026

About the author

Jamie 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.

Reviews

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Melissa Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited to hear Jamie Day had a new book out as she’s an auto read for me now. I find her books to be more well thought out than your typical popcorn thriller and this one was no exception!

It’s been 20 years since Holly’s been back to the beach town she grew up in. It holds many painful memories as her sister died in a tragic fire. But Holly believes the people who were responsible never paid for their crime.

I am not typically surprised at book twists but this book had me shocked on more than one occasion! Definitely did not see any of it coming. Lots of wow moments in this one.

[Melody Nait Sidenas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Small town, lots of fun and mystery…. It’s the perfect book for dare I say it , “ A beach Thriller”.

Written from multiple POV , I really enjoyed getting to know about each character and how their stories intertwine.

The book was well written, and super fun to follow. These characters are developed and easy to fall in love with.

Overall, I enjoyed the story line and was happily surprised that it took me a longer time to put certain plot points together than most mysteries, it kept me on my toes.

Thank you to NetGally for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

~ARC Review~

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this arc

Beach Thriller by Jamie Day is the second novel I have read by this author

✦ small beach town
✦ unsolved murder
✦ multiple POV

“Beach Thriller” is also the title of the book that our MC Holly started writing in high school- now a published author, she has to decide if she will revisit her past and continue the book she started. I loved getting to read parts of the book Holly wrote.
I also enjoyed the multiple POV’s of Holly, Jade and “The watcher”.

The book started with “The Watcher” characters POV and I was immediately so curious who they were and how much they were actually involved in what happened years ago to Holly’s sister (Anna) and what they might do now that Holly has returned to town.

The ending for me was unexpected, exciting and also heartfelt.

Overall, Beach Thriller is a captivating, fast paced and fun Summer thriller. I would recommend reading it!

Beach Thriller comes out in June!

[Barbara Marenick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beach Thriller by Jamie Day is a fast paced thriller with twists that will keep you guessing until the end.
Holly is struggling with her writing career and recently moved back into her family home. She discovers Jade hiding in her house. Jade a teenage runway, ends up staying with Holly.
Hollys sister died under mysterious circumstances years ago and being back in the town inspires Holly to go digging for answers however someone is watching her and knows what she’s up to.
The story is told through multiple POVs as well as chapters from Hollys unpublished book, “Beach Thriller”.
This book is filled with small town drama and family secrets.
Thank you to NetGalley for this free digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Tiffany Case · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher for my eARC.

Fans of The Housemaid and Revenge will really enjoy this. Beach Thriller is a slow burn told in 3 POVs that prove the love of a sister knows no bounds. It's full of suspense and a long list of suspects. I loved the overall plot. After being in a deep slump, Jamie Day was able to pull me out. I recommend adding this to your TBR.

[Amy Payne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Erica Martian for reaching out to offer an early read of Jamie Day’s latest book - Beach Thriller. I liked the different POV’s - especially The Watcher. I loved the settings of a cottage and a large mansion on the beach. The storyline kept me guessing right up until the end - which I loved! Be sure to check this out!

[Jane Perron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read! such a good summer read. I highly recommend.

[The Bookish Narwhal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This read delivers exactly what its name promises: a suspenseful, immersive ride that feels tailor-made for fans of atmospheric psychological mysteries and edge-of-your-seat tension.

Day skillfully balances character depth with gripping pacing, weaving together past regrets, new alliances, and the eerie sense that someone is watching from the shadows. The seaside setting isn’t just backdrop as it adds a haunting, almost cinematic quality to every twist and turn.

What makes this thriller stand out is its emotional undercurrent: it’s not just about secrets and danger, but about memory, guilt, and the complicated path toward redemption.

A compelling blend of rich atmosphere and well-crafted suspense, this is a five-star page-turner that will keep readers hooked until the final chapter.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a temporary e-ARC!

[Mary E Lawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my third Jamie Day novel, and Beach Thriller did not disappoint. Holly, a struggling author, returns to a beach town where she spent time with her family, which brings up family traumas and reconnects her with a variety of characters from her past. As you read, you’re constantly trying to figure out who is trustworthy and who might be the suspect. The alternating narrators add to the suspense, leaving you wondering who might be unreliable. I loved the setting, a beach town seemingly frozen in time, with a mysterious estate where the story’s secrets gradually unravel.

If you’re a fan of Alice Feeney or Rachel Hawkins and haven’t yet read Jamie Day, I highly recommend starting with Beach Thriller and, honestly, her other novels as well!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for sending this book for review consideration.

[Viktoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book. I loved it. Such a great story. So unexpected twist. Sisterhood and sudden mystery de@th! and then she is the watcher! Wow. So unexpected! Some places I would say little too long but overall storyline is amazing.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advance copy of this novel that takes place in an idyllic coast town, featuring an author trying to get past her problems writing, and trying to forget the bad things from her past, a mystery that might envelope her in trouble, and a strange watcher who knows so much, so much that might destroy her.

There is nothing a writer's fear more than writer's block. Bad reviews are just jealous people. Bad sales can be blamed on the marketing department. But to have the ideas dry up, to not be able to transcribe the dialogue that used to pour from the brain so freely. It is similar to a block in the heart, stopping blood from circulating. Death in different was. A death of a career, a death of financial independence. People both mourning, and pushing a writer to get past it, make that bestseller, or fade away. This fear might be so strong, that a certain writer decides there is only one choice. To return to where the worst thing in the writer's life happened. To try and make a new start, make new friends, help others. And hope that the writer's secrets don't come out, and cost the writer everything. Beach Thriller by Jamie Day is a book about the past, guilt, small towns, trying to rebuild, and the dread that comes from not doing what one loves, and the strange things that the shadows hide.

Holly has come to Beauport, Massachusetts with a plan. Holly is a writer who has the worst thing an author can have, writer's block. Holly's agent has given Holly one last chance, make a bestseller to save Holly's career. Which is easier said than done, as Holly has been priced out of living in New York. Holly has come to Beauport to rebuild the old family beach house, one that has been neglected since the night that Holly's sister died. Something Holly could have prevented. Things start to look up with Holly making friends, especially with the handyman who can help rebuild the beach house, and maybe something more. However Holly feels something is wrong. Someone is watching her. A local psychic feeds her fears with warning about a strange person who knows things about her. Added to this is Jade, a young runaway, with secrets, and ties to the richest family in town. Beauport is starting to not be the sleepy town Holly thought it was going to be, and Holly wonders if this will help her writer's block, or will the secrets block her life, forever.

A fun thriller, a literal beach read in many ways, but one told very well. There are lot of little surprises, a little unreliable narrator, and the mentions of the writing life are very interesting. Day does a good job letting the story unfold, dropping what is needed to keep the reader wanting to know more, and delivering. There are few obvious moments for plot reasons, but Day does such a good job moving things along, these occasional moments are fine. The characters are well-developed, including the secondary characters, a few who deserve their own stories. The story starts well and keeps things moving, never slowing down and is a genuine page turner. And again a lot of fun.

This is the second book by Day I have read and I really enjoyed it. Day has a light touch, good ideas and comes up with some very humorous lines, that really add to the story. A perfect book for a day enjoying the sun.

[Suesyn Zellmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holly has come home to Beauport, Massachusetts, to work on her new book, and really, because she’s out of options. She can’t afford her apartment in New York anymore, and her family still owns a beach house in Beauport, so in she moves. But it’s rundown as no one has lived there for years, so she needs to add fixing up the beach cottage to her to-do list. The local realtor is pressuring her to sell because of the prime location, but Holly’s conflicted because of the memories of her house and her sister who passed away years ago. Then, on top of dealing with all that, she discovers a teenage girl has been squatting in her family’s house. She wants to report Jade, but she ends up feeling bad for her and lets her stay.

So she and Jade settle into an uneasy relationship, living together in the house as Holly attempts to write. But then Jade gets a job with the wealthy family up the hill, and Holly’s warning bells go off. This is the same family responsible for her sister’s death. But Jade’s desperate for money and refuses to quit. We see from both points of view, along with ‘The Watcher, ’ another person in town who’s been following Holly and Jade. The reader doesn’t know what that person’s endgame is, but it can’t be good. You just know it’s going to end up with Jade in danger and Holly facing the past, confronting the Carmichaels about her sister.

There are a few good plot turns, but you’ll probably see them coming. There’s also one that stretches credibility, and I wasn’t sure how to feel. I like how it all turned out in the end, but it just felt a bit contrived. The characters are likable, but it was too easy to see who the red herrings were. But the story flew by and was easy to fall into - I just wanted to keep reading page after page. And that’s why this author never disappoints. My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the free advanced reading copy of this book.

[Martie Nees Record · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Beach Thriller” by Jamie Day

Genre: Suspenseful Summer Reading
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Pub. Date: June 9, 2026

Our heroine, Holly, is an author with a case of writer’s block. Having been evicted from her apartment, she is forced to return to her grand but eerie family home on the Massachusetts coast. In a fire twenty years ago, her sister died here; this is the first time Holly has returned home. She has never accepted the police’s assertion that her sister’s death was an accident. Now that she is back, Holly is determined to uncover the truth about the so-called accident. The author well depicts Holly’s mixed emotions about being home with its creepy atmosphere. This is a novel within a novel. We know that Holly has an unfinished manuscript, entitled “Beach Thriller,” which she began 20 years ago. Jamie Day’s book is a plot-driven suspense novel based on Holly’s unfinished book. Both storylines are easy to follow.

The story has an interesting premise, but it may have too much going on. There is Jade, a runaway teen on a secret mission, whom Holly takes in. Jade lands a job with the wealthy, ominous Carmichael family, who are directly connected to Holly’s sister’s death. There is a psychic helping Holly, who may or may not be trustworthy—a stereotypical bad police detective. Moreover, most importantly, there is the “Watcher,” portrayed as an unknown, menacing presence tracking Holly and Jade from the shadows. Although I found the big twist totally unbelievable and the plot too busy, I still enjoyed “Beach Thriller.” I probably would have liked it better if I were sitting on the beach with a drink that has an umbrella.

I received this Advance Review Copy (ARC) novel from the publisher at no cost in exchange for an honest review.

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[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of Uncorrected Digital Galley

Holly Sinclair rolls her eyes at the marketing brochure proclaiming Beauport, Massachusetts as “the perfect seaside getaway.” Although she’s inherited her family’s oceanfront beach cottage, this is the last place Holly wants to be . . . Beauport is the place where her sister, Anna, lost her life in a tragic fire.

After a series of successful books, Holly finds herself struggling with writer’s block. She’s hoping that a change of scenery will kick-start her creativity, allowing her to write another book. She’s desperate to revive her writing career.

But the house is in desperate need of repair and there’s a teenager hiding in the attic, Can Holly deal with all this and still find the wherewithal to write a book?

And what of the mysterious Watcher, the one who collects all the town’s secrets?

=========

Told from three points of view . . . Holly, The Watcher, and Jade . . . the unfolding story is filled with suspense. The characters are relatable and believable [although some are not particularly likeable]; the plot twists and turns, keeping readers guessing as secrets are revealed.

Readers are pulled into the telling of the tale from the outset; the sisterhood theme is particularly powerful. The story is riveting; readers are likely to find themselves turning pages as fast as possible to discover what comes next.

Readers who enjoy psychological suspense, mystery stories, and family dynamics will find much to appreciate here. However, the author’s unnecessary overuse of a particularly objectionable expletive is likely to be offensive to many readers . . . and this lowers the rating for this book.

I received a free copy of this eBook from St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving this review.
#BeachThriller #NetGalley

[Cordelia · Rating 3 out of 5]

SYNOPSIS
- Holly is a struggling writer who gets kicked out of her NYC apartment and ends up back at her family’s abandoned beach house in Beauport, Massachusetts.
- Beauport is the last place she wants to be. Her sister tragically died there twenty years ago, and Holly carries crushing guilt over doing nothing to stop it.
- Being back cracks open old wounds and unanswered questions she’s spent years avoiding.
- Holly meets Jade, a runaway teen hiding out on her property, and lets her stay. Jade clearly has secrets and a plan of her own.
- Jade lands a job with the wealthy Carmichael family, a family Holly has spent twenty years trying not to think about.
- And somewhere in the background, someone is watching. Always.
⸻
MY THOUGHTS
-This is a slow-burn thriller, and I mean slow.
-The premise had me right away. Small beach town, dead sister, buried secrets, creepy rich family. On paper, this should have been a hit for me.
-There’s a lot happening. Too much. Holly’s guilt, Jade’s secret mission, the Carmichaels, a psychic, a not-great cop, and the Watcher.
-I did really like the multiple POVs. We get Holly, Jade, and the Watcher.
-The Watcher chapters were kind of all over the place. I was either stressed or mildly cringing.
-The New England coastal setting was fun.
-The twist didn’t work for me. Predictable.
-The ending was not very satisfying.
-The writing wasn’t as strong as I expected. The writing relies on heavy-handed descriptions that feel more distracting than immersive.
-If you loved The Block Party, this one might feel a little underwhelming.
⸻
TL;DR: Three stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Slow burn, obvious twist, too much going on. Fun enough as a beach read, but not memorable.
⸻
THANKS: Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book will be published on June 9, 2026.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Decades after tragedy chased her away from Beauport, Massachusetts, Holly is returning to her family’s summer cottage to settle affairs following her mother’s death. With great reluctance, she settles in to write her next book. Her mediocre writing career isn’t supporting her financially, so she needs to come up with something exceptional. Luckily, drama has followed Holly to Beauport – or maybe it never left.

The Carmichaels are the richest family in Beauport and they’ve kept their secrets well-hidden for years. More than twenty years ago on the Carmichael’s estate a freak accident/possible homicide took the life of Holly’s sister Anna, and Holly is unsatisfied with the results of the investigation. Someone is watching Holly and warning her away from Beauport in sinister ways. This was an entertaining mystery with many seemingly unconnected threads that came together in the end.

I liked the spunky teenage runaway, Jade, that Holly takes under her wing. Jade had come to Beauport to solve her own mystery – the source of a Jade pendant with Beauport, Mass stamped on the back that she found hidden in her parents’ drawer. Jade’s origin story has more to do with Holly’s past than anyone could realize and the conclusion offered a nice explanation. I enjoyed how the chapters were interspersed with chapters from the book Holly had been writing prior to Anna’s death. The psychic spin was a little corny, but otherwise, the characters were decent, the locale was atmospheric, the mystery was solid, and I appreciated the idea of a book within the book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.

[Roslyn Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advanced copy of Beach Day from NetGalley, and as someone who already enjoyed The Block Party and One Big Happy Family, I went in expecting Jamie Day’s signature blend of small town secrets, simmering tension, and characters who are just messy enough to feel real. This one moat definitely delivered all of that. Holly Sinclair is the kind of protagonist you can’t help rooting for even when her life is falling apart in spectacular fashion. She is broke, newly evicted, and desperate to write a book that actually sell and she goes back to her family’s rundown beach house in coastal New England to make some magic happen! The setup alone feels like classic Jamie Day, a picturesque town with a whole lot of rot beneath the surface. I loved the cast of characters surrounding Holly. Gail the Realtor, Serena the psychic with her ominous warnings, and especially Jade, the runaway hiding in Holly’s attic who ends up being the emotional heart of the story. Their dynamic adds warmth to a plot that’s otherwise full of shadows, secrets, and people who definitely don’t want Holly back in town. The Carmichael family brings the perfect dose of old money decay, and the way their past intertwines with Holly’s gives the story its darker, more suspenseful edge. And of course, there’s "The Watcher", someone who knows far more about Holly’s past than she does and is keeping a very close eye on her return. The creeping dread in this book builds slowly until everything crashes together in a way that feels both dramatic and earned. This book delivered for me and it was really a quick read because I couldn't put it down. #Netgalley #BeachThriller

[Susan Poer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an entertaining thriller with a great cast, perfect pacing, and a big twist that I didn't see coming until the very end. Holly is a struggling writer, trying to piece together a 2nd book, when she decides to return to her childhood summer home of Beauport, MA for a change of scenery. Her mother and sister are dead, and the beach house is left to her, with all it's disrepair and creaky noises. As a young girl, her sister tragically died in a fire in a guest house working for the rich family in town, the Carmichaels. Soon memories begin to overflow and she belives someone may be watching her. A local psychic tells her she's in trouble. Her sister's death was ruled accidental, but Holly never believed that and starts doing some digging, thinking she can write about her own personal story.

She befriends a local realtor, takes in a runaway girl, Jade, and things begin to escalate as Jade also starts to work for the Carmichaels. There are so many secrets to uncover, and so many suspects still at large that might know something about what happened to Holly's sister Anna, that this keeps you on your toes. Despite being 384 pages, it's a fast read as more and more details come to light. Who can she trust? The new handyman, Ethan, that is quite handsome? Surely not the creepy local sheriff who might have hid evidence years ago. This is a book within a book as the author goes back and forth between present day events and the book Holly is writing about the past. So far, my favorite Jamie Day book yet!

[Angie Miale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holly is a successful author, but it has been a while since she has had a hit. She also has writers’ block, so she is leaving Manhattan for the small beach town that she spent summers in as a kid. Because she is the last surviving member of her family, she is going to inherit the home. What she finds there is a teenage squatter named Jade, who ends up being a very intriguing character as well. What is Jade‘s backstory? I loved Holly and found her to be very relatable, and I found Jade to be very spunky and intriguing as well. I trusted them both and was really surprised by the ending.

And what happened to Hollie‘s sister Anna? After working at the rich family the Carmichaels estate, she ends up dead in a gas explosion in their guest cottage. But was this an accident?

This is my favorite Jamie Day thriller so far, while technically it takes place in a beach town, that isn’t very important to the setting. However, I do think it would be the perfect popcorn thriller to read on the beach! I read the entire book on a flight, and was very engrossed in the story. I could have done without Ethan, I thought that Holly‘s character was intriguing enough without a romantic arc. I was shocked at the ending, and didn’t see that coming at all! If you like a twisty, popcorn thriller, add this one to your TBR.

Thanks to NetGalley and Saint Martin’s press for the arc. Booked to be published June 8, 2026

#SMPEarlyReaders

[Anne Wolters · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holly hasn’t returned to Beauport, Massachusetts since her sister died there in a tragic fire. Nearly twenty years later, the painful memories feel as vivid as ever. Now the sole owner of her late grandmother’s abandoned beach cottage, Holly hopes the familiar shoreline will spark creativity and help her overcome her writer’s block—and maybe even produce the bestseller her agent is urging her to write.
The cottage, however, is barely livable and in desperate need of repairs. To make matters worse, the funds she’s set to inherit are tied up in probate for another year. Then comes an even bigger shock: Holly discovers a runaway teenage girl hiding in the attic. Jade’s troubled home life and her mysterious personal mission tug at Holly’s heart, and the two form an unexpected bond. With Jade turning eighteen soon, Holly reluctantly agrees to let her stay.
But someone is watching. A mysterious “Watcher” seems to know far too much, and his threats toward Holly grow increasingly unsettling and dangerous.
The story is filled with twists, turns, and an intriguing mix of characters—some deeply unsavory, others loyal and supportive as Holly and Jade face unimaginable challenges together. While I felt the frequent use of the F word didn’t add to the narrative, the novel remains a riveting, suspenseful, and thoroughly engrossing read.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All comments and opinions are my own.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a good read. The premise isn’t super unique- woman returns to small town after a long absence to get to the bottom of what happened to her sister decades ago- but there were unique twists and the main characters were likable. It centers on struggling author Holly, who is haunted by the death of her sister Anna, and runaway Jade, who finds herself in the same small town to learn more about her own family secrets.

The story is fast paced and tells the events from 20 years ago via Holly's unfinished transcript, interspersed between chapters told in the current timeframe and alternating between Holly’s and Jade’s POVs. There are also some chapters from the vantage point of an unknown “watcher”. Both Holly and Jade are likable characters, though I do think Jade was sometimes a little naive for someone who was supposed to be so street smart. The mystery of Anna’s demise and the current happenings with the rich Carmichael family were both good ones and I thought I had it figured out a few times, only to be proven wrong later. The ending tied up loose ends maybe a bit too neatly, but I could appreciate it and I felt like it fit with the rest of the book and the type of story in general.

Overall, this was a fun and fast read that I would absolutely describe as a “beach thriller”. Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm unfortunately not a fan of this book, and that's disappointing because my last read of hers was a good novel.
I liked the new england coastal setting. There is a summery vibe. Suspense is in the room with us. The old-money thing... eh... could be good or bad, I'm not sure it's done that well here.
There are "watcher" chapters, and at first it threw me for a loop. They do add a strong contrast, but sometimes they were cheesy.

My big disappointments was the writing. It's super choppy, underdeveloped, simplistic and uneven. The dialogue is flat and rushed. The writing overall is immature and not as polished other books of hers. It almost feels like an entirely different author. 🙈

Here is a snippet from Ch 3: "The unexpected visitor had shoulder-length, wavy, beach-blond hair and dazzling white teeth, which she flashed in a smile that was more like a bite. Over her right shoulder hung a fluorescent pink purse that screamed young, hip, and now, despite being a woman decidedly in the middle of her middle age."

I was constantly stopping mid-sentence and re-reading passages because the flow just wasn't happening.

You might like this book if you love vibe over voice, and/or twisty turns over authentic plot development.

However, I cannot recommend this book.
Sadly.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

[callistoscalling · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher for a gifted copy; all thoughts are my own.

📖 Book Review 📖 We all know about the history of the possible of the witches of Salem but there is so much more lore surrounding The Bay State. Jamie Day brings the rugged beauty and the mysterious allure of the Cape Ann area to readers in the new riveting, gripping novel, Beach Thriller. If you ever have a chance to explore this area, take it! And make sure not to miss hiking the abandoned settlement in Gloucester, Dogtown, with its own legends of witches lurking in the shadows. With so much troubled history leaving its imprint, it’s no surprise some residual negative energy remains on this land.

When Holly returns to the family cottage in Beauport, MA for the first time in almost two decades, she must confront the ghosts from her past that she has been hiding from. Her sister’s suspicious death nearly destroyed her and with the loss of her mother, Holly feels compelled to revisit the past, including her unfinished novel. Something is amiss in this small coastal town as new faces emerge and old ones hover; and it truly seems the only escape from this limbo is to answer all the lingering questions from the past once and for all.

I have come to look forward to Jamie Day’s thrilling New England beach reads every year and this one was no exception. Beach Thriller delivers a psychological thriller with emotional layers, bringing a richly atmospheric novel with just the right amount of twists and turns.

[A Lane · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a fan of Jamie Day since her first book, I had high expectations for her latest, Beach Thriller, and it did NOT disappoint. The plot twists and suspense factors were masterful. The character's stories come out in teasingly slow increments, keeping the reader guessing.

Holly returns home to her childhood beachfront cottage hoping to do the necessary repairs it needs to sell it. After her sister's death in that town, she has avoided going back. Now she has no choice as the sole owner of the cottage. Along with the repairs, she also needs to finish writing her latest book, a more or less true crime story. Believing her sister's death was no suicide, Holly takes the investigation into her own hands, hoping for an ending to her book.

There were so many unexpected revelations woven in throughout the entire story. The timing of each twist was masterfully crafted sending the reader in a new direction. The layers of this story are deep. The story within a story was a brilliant theme that tied everything together. The characters are complex and likeable. Jamie ups her game with each new writing and I can't wait to see what she's got in store for her next thriller. If you love a great thriller that will keep you guessing, this is the one for you.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced copy

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my advanced copy.

The beach and a good thriller, two of my favorite things. The two of them together make for a great read! You have your typical wealthy family and their servants kind of story which sounds predictable, but there are a lot of other characters in here that keep you guessing as to where this is going and who plays what part in all of it and it leaves you with a few little surprises.
One thing for sure this author does not lack in is details, sometimes, almost too much because I found myself saying okay I don't care that the pearls she is clutching are a certain size round and from a certain kind of oyster found only in certain remote locations just tell me she clutched her pearls and if she used them as the murder weapon (no, that was not a spoiler and I can't remember if someone clutched pearls or not) but at the same time all those little details puts the image in your mind and in mine, I saw it playing out like a movie (silently hoping this becomes one) so maybe a bit much but certainly did not keep me from wanting to turn pages and figure this whodunit out. Which by the way, I thought several times that I did, I of course didn't.
It's got the beach scene, creepy old house, some creepy characters, family issues, murder and mayhem, all you could ask for, I recommend you give it a read.

[Jennifer Moore · Rating 3 out of 5]

Title: Beach Thriller
Author: Jamie Day
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Murder. Writer’s block. Wealth. Watcher. Runaway. Holly returns to her home on the Massachusetts coast almost twenty years after her sister died (was killed?) under suspicious circumstances hoping to find inspiration for her next book. Thinking her sister is haunting the house, she instead discovers a runaway teen in the attic. When the teen, Jade, finds work at the Carmichael mansion, Holly isn’t sure it’s the best way to earn some cash. Then Holly starts getting warnings about leaving the past alone and to leave town. She can’t leave until she knows the truth about the night her sister died. Will she live long enough to uncover the truth?

Takeaways:
1. This is my 2nd Jamie Day ARC. I would say this is more of a light thriller. I was more caught up in the setting and had this image of a Gothic mansion on a bluff looking out over the ocean where the wealthy laughed and drank and had zero regard for the little people.
2. Jade is a solid character who displays her will to survive and find information to help out Holly after she gave her a safe place to live. I liked how her story came full circle.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy. Opinions expressed are my own. This book will be published on June 9, 2026.

#arc #netgalley #bookstagram @stmartinspress @jamiedaybooks #beachthriller

[Monica Hills · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beach Thriller is an excellent thriller to bring on the beach or really anywhere. This is the second book I have read by Jamie Day and I am hooked.

Holly is a writer who is struggling financially. After the loss of her mother she heads to where her family had a beach home in Beauport, Massachusetts. She plans on fixing it up as she tries to get back on her feet. While there she ends up meeting Jade, a runaway, who is trying to find out answers about herself. There is also a third character called the watcher who gives some insight into the story. Jade finds Holly's half-finished manuscript titled "Beach Thriller" that is really about the mystery surrounding Holly's sister, Anna's death. Jade and Holly team up to try and find out what really happened to Anna. What they don't expect is that there is so much more to this story and their own lives may be in danger.

This was a thrilling thriller and I especially loved the last half of the book. I liked the different perspectives even the third one that was a mystery for most of the book. I really did not see the ending coming and I appreciated how everything came together. This is a must read for anyone who loves a good thriller!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC.