The Summer House Murder

Praise for The Summer House Murder:“A sizzling mystery … will have readers guessing until the very end.”—Publishers Weekly“A whirlwind domestic thriller that’s also a pitiless anatomy of the costs of motherhood and sisterhood.”—Kirkus Review“This latest from Roberts is recommended for fans of Liane Moriarty and Sally Hepworth.”—Library Journal“[A] riveting little house of horror … The perfect summer read.”—First Clue“A perfectly crafted murder mystery that will have suspense thriller fans enthralled right up to the climatic finale.”—Midwest Book Review“Readers will be totally immersed in the drama of families unraveling while trying to uncover the real killer. A perfect read to take on your vacation.”—Wonder Woman Sixty“The Summer House Murder is a wildly entertaining, perfectly plotted action-packed thriller about how hard it is to outrun the past…and how dangerous that race can be. A beautiful house, estranged sisters, a body in the lake. Every delicious diabolical move on this strained family vacation ratchets up the tension until secrets explode and the ending hits with a satisfying punch.” —Darby Kane, #1 international bestselling author author of Such a Clever Girl“Dark and seriously creepy, The Summer House Murder is the perfect thriller. Expertly plotted and utterly gripping, the tension never, ever lets up. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough.”—Natalie Barelli, bestselling author of Finders Keepers“A perfectly twisted summer read to be enjoyed all year long.”—Amber Cowie, award-winning author of The Off Season“Tensions simmer and secrets resurface with deadly results in Ava Roberts’ explosive The Summer House Murder. This artfully-plotted shocker offers a fresh take on the inheritance whodunit, exploring the aftermath of a bequest, the power of place, and the cost of turning your back on family. You’ve never met sisters like these ones! Fans of Sally Hepworth will swoon.” —Tessa Wegert, author of the Shana Merchant series and In the Bones“The Summer House Murder is a twisted family drama brimming with secrets, betrayals, and flawed characters you won’t be able to put down. Darkly addictive, this is one twisted family. You’ll never look at a lake house the same way again.”—Katie Garner, author of The Night It Ended and The Family Inside“I had so much fun reading The Summer House Murder! It’s got a gorgeous lake house. Scorching summer heat. And a family with serious baggage. Ava Roberts delivers a twisty, fast-paced thriller where sisterhood curdles into secret alliances, shocking family secrets, and revenge—revealing just how far we’ll go to belong, even if it means dragging perfect lives under.”—Maia Chance, author of The Body Next Door and The Ravine

Ava Roberts is a clinical psychologist turned author who knows that the most unsettling things often lurk just beneath the surface. She is the author of The Vanishing Neighbor, Juniper Isle, the Thistler Thrillers series, and The Summer House Murder (2026). Kirkus Reviews called The Summer House Murder “a whirlwind domestic thriller that’s also a pitiless anatomy of the costs of motherhood and sisterhood.” She lives in Massachusetts with her husband, two kids, and an overactive imagination.