Are You Booked for the Summer? Escape into Summer Reading.
As the long, hot days of summer approach, many of us are looking forward to getting away from it all. Whether you're planning a vacation, opting for a staycation, or just lounging around the AC with no particular place to go, plan your escape into a season of good reads. Grab a cool drink, kick off the flip-flops, and book some time to explore Dover's list of summer reads featuring award-winning children's books, thrilling mystery novels, otherworldly sci-fi and fantasy, short story collections, and thought-provoking fiction and nonfiction. Get lost in the pages of a good book and relax.
Need to Know Whodunit? Page-Turning Thrillers
Lucy Beatrice Malleson kept her identity a secret for many years, publishing over sixty crime novels under four pseudonyms between 1925 and 1972. Anthony Gilbert was her pen name when The Tragedy at Freyne was published in 1927, introducing the amateur sleuth Scott Egerton. There's a party going on at Freyne Abbey and the lifeless body of its wealthy owner, Sir Simon Chandos, is discovered in his library, ostensibly a victim of self-inflicted demise. A riveting and suspenseful journey into the heart of a dark and intricate murder mystery explores the chilling atmosphere of an English manor house where secrets, scandals, and deadly intentions abound. Gilbert's compelling characters and expertly woven plot twists ensure that every page will keep you on the edge of your seat.
The disappearance of Agatha Christie in 1926 generated massive public interest and a substantial police investigation. During this period, the police examined various aspects of her life, including the unfinished manuscript of The Mystery of the Blue Train, which offered no clues to her whereabouts. Christie's eventual reappearance added an aura of mystery to the already intriguing manuscript, further captivating her audience. The novel begins on a scenic train ride to the South of France and turns ominous when heiress Ruth Kettering is brutally murdered, and her priceless ruby, the Heart of Fire, is stolen. With intrigue and danger lurking in every luxurious carriage, Belgian detective Hercule Poirot finds himself entangled in a complex web of deceit, betrayal, and hidden motives. Click here for more mystery, thrillers, and crime novels.
Intrigue and Suspense for Young Readers
The Hardy Boys mysteries have always been the go-to for young sleuths and adult mystery lovers diving into the world of detective stories. With their epic adventures and clever problem-solving, brothers Frank and Joe Hardy light up the intrigue and mystery vibes for anyone looking to get lost in some serious suspense. Each stand-alone story is packed with adrenaline and unforgettable exploits that fire up the imagination and can be read in any order. Pick up these original stories and kick off the season with excitement! Book 1: The Tower Treasure, Book 2: The House on the Cliff, Book 3: The Secret of the Old Mill. Coming soon in mid-June: Book 4: The Missing Chums, and Book 5: Hunting for Hidden Gold. Explore more children's books here.
The Frog News Network jumps when news happens in the Beastly Crimes series! Kids and adults will get a hoot out of this thrilling four-book mystery series making news throughout the forest: In the Wolf's Lair, A Predator's Rights, Claws of Rage, and The Plucker! Jump into more children's literature here.
Laugh Your Butt Off!
Check out this cheeky bestselling series for kids. You'll be rolling with giggles when reading the endless adventures of Butt Boy. These books are perfect for young readers looking for engaging stories to devour during the summer break. In our latest title, Dad's Runaway Butt, hilarity ensues when Dad's butt gets blown off. Hoot, holler, and giggle more here, and explore more popular series here.
Otherworldly Realms in Science Fiction and Fantasy
Philip K. Dick delivers moments stranger than fiction in this anthology of pulp sci-fi stories. The Variable Man and Other Stories is an excellent introduction to the mind that inspired popular films such as Blade Runner, Total Recall, Minority Report, and others. PKD ponders the very nature of humanity in five gripping short stories and novellas. These thought-provoking and often dystopian works challenge concepts of reality and identity, and feature characters dealing with altered states, corporate dominance, and existential crises.
Immerse yourself in a thrilling tale of technological marvel and unexpected chaos with Karel Čapek's The Absolute at Large. This gripping novel explores the explosive consequences of the unintended consequences of scientific advancement in atomic power. The story revolves around the invention of a machine that produces unlimited energy by releasing a mystical force, the "Absolute," which results in widespread chaos and societal upheaval. An early warning about technology's impact on society and the unpredictable nature of progress.
In John Cramer's sci-fi thriller Twistor, the concept of the multiverse appears in a tale of industrial espionage and corporate killers. Research scientist David Harrison discovers the "twistor effect," opening portals to countless alternate universes. This groundbreaking revelation attracts industrial spies and corporate killers, thrusting Dr. Harrison into a perilous shadow world filled with wonder and danger. With no assured escape, he must navigate this mysterious realm to survive.
In The Eternal Moment and Other Stories six spellbinding tales woven with fantasy illuminate the deep-seated humanism that E. M. Forster cultivated in his later works. From the eerily prophetic science fiction dystopia "The Machine Stops" to the awe-inspiring title story "The Eternal Moment," each tale draws you into a world where reality and illusion collide, prompting profound personal transformations. Get transported to otherworldly realms, from dystopian futures to magical kingdoms here.
From Idle Gossip and Speculation to Privacy, Identity, and Racial Discrimination, Dover Thrift Classics Tackles Issues Still Relevant Today!
Spend time on the Italian Riviera indulging in the gossip and speculation about a young lady's developing relationship with an older woman in Elizabeth Bowen's The Hotel.
Is it ok to sell your ex-lover's love letters? A financially strapped lawyer's incentive to sell love letters previously written by a now-deceased lover reveals a moral dilemma in The Touchstone.
Writers from the Harlem Renaissance gave voice to the emotions of love, joy, despair, and raging anger in the titles Dark Princess, Home to Harlem, and Walls of Jericho. Explore more Dover Thrifts here.
With so many genres and categories to choose from, escaping into summer reading has never been easier! Explore more of Dover's summer reading, choose a favorite book, find a cozy spot under the sun (or shade), and let your imagination soar as you immerse yourself in the wonderful world of literature.
Happy reading!
