Jenna Bush Hager's 5 Must-Read Mysteries for Summer!
There’s nothing like escaping into the pages of a good book during a summer weekend—and few people know this more than Jenna Bush Hager, founder of the beloved book club Read With Jenna. Another great moment for book lovers? When someone recommends a must-read book. We sat down with Jenna to discuss books, reading and the power of a great recommendation.
“Recommending books is my love language. Because the thing is…people love books, but what they really love is somebody saying, Oh my gosh, you have to read this. It’s so good,” Jenna told First for Women and Woman’s World. “And I feel like summer is that special time when you want to open a book and just lose yourself in it.”
Jenna has long been championing stories through her book club, which she says originally started with her twin sister many moons ago, Barbara—her coauthor on four children’s books, including their latest, I Loved You First. “Barbara was the first and only member of my book club when we were younger,” says Jenna. “She still asks me what she should read next!”
Here, we gathered up five of Jenna’s must-read mysteries to dive into this summer—from bestselling authors like Amity Gage, Essie Chambers and more!
‘Swift River’ by Essie Chambers—A Story of Hope and History
What it’s about: Essie Chambers’ captivating debut transports readers to 1987. Ever since her Pop disappeared, Diamond Newberry has been the only Black person in the small town of Swift River. But when a relative she’s never met sends her a letter revealing new details about Pop’s life, Diamond begins uncovering the story of two generations of African-American Newberry women.
Why Jenna loves it: “This is a book that made me cry and then filled me with enormous hope.”
What readers are saying: “It only takes a couple paragraphs of Swift River to realize you are reading something special. I fell right into Diamond’s story. The story is told mostly in 1980 when her father disappears, and 1987, in the aftermath of that when she is a teenager, with letters sharing important history in her family interspersed throughout. The mystery of what happened to Diamond’s father is central to the story.”
‘All the Colors of the Dark’ by Chris Whitaker—A Mystery, Thriller and Love Story
What it’s about: A missing person mystery, a serial killer thriller and a love story—Chris Whitaker’s novel has it all. Set in 1975 Missouri, it follows a string of girls who have disappeared. When the daughter of a wealthy family becomes the next target, Patch, a local boy with one eye, steps in to help, setting off a chain of events that changes his life—and the lives of everyone around him.
Why Jenna loves it: “I’m obsessed with mysteries in the summer!” Jenna told us. “I loved this one—and also Liz Moore’s God of the Woods.”
What readers are saying: “This is very much a literary novel because it isn’t so much plot-driven and more of a character study. Still, there is a wonderful story between these pages and although it really isn’t a thriller there is a whodunit and many surprises.”
‘Heartwood’ by Amity Gage—A Gripping Tale on the Appalachian Trail
What it’s about: Set in Maine, this story centers on 42-year-old Valerie Gillis, an experienced hiker who vanishes on the Appalachian Trail. The gripping tale unfolds through the perspectives of Valerie, Maine State Game Warden Beverly and Lena, a 76-year-old birdwatcher following the case from her nursing home.
Why Jenna loves it: “This is like Cheryl Strayed’s Wild, but it reads like a mystery. It’s propulsive and will have you asking yourself, What happened to this woman?”
What readers are saying: “Although written calmly and without performative drama, I found this book genuinely hard to put down. The quiet despair that settles in the days after a woman goes missing on a long-distance trail is gripping. Probably best described as a wilderness suspense story, and a great read if you have a long flight or train ride ahead.”
‘Caller Unknown’ by Gillian MacAllister—A Riveting Race Against Time
What it’s about: After her mind-bending thriller Wrong Place Wrong Time, Gillian McAllister returns with another race-against-the-clock suspense novel. On a mother-daughter trip from the U.K. to Texas, Simone wakes to find her daughter, Lucy, missing—and a cell phone left behind. The caller has one demand: pay up. Agreeing to keep the police out of it, Simone heads alone to the ransom drop, where a shocking revelation changes everything.
Why Jenna loves it: “We rarely choose mysteries and thrillers in the book club, although I love them. Gillian McAllister’s newest hit just right.”
What readers are saying: “The queen of twists is back—and she does not disappoint! This newest thriller is a gripping, action-packed, adrenaline-fueled, feminist-charged rollercoaster that leaves you breathless. It’s the kind of story that keeps your heart in your throat, your palms clammy, and your nerves on edge as you frantically turn the pages.”
‘The Cloisters’ by Katy Hays—Jenna’s 2022 Pick That Still Enthralls
When Jenna chose this book as a Read With Jenna pick in 2022, she said it delighted her “mystery-obsessed” mind. The spellbinding tale—reminiscent of The Secret History—is set inside New York’s famed museum, Met Cloisters. When Ann Stilwell gets a job as a curatorial associate at the Cloisters, she’s thrilled to put her past behind her. Here, she gets to know a group of researchers studying the history of divination. But when Ann uncovers a long-hidden 15th-century tarot deck rumored to predict the future, intrigue transforms into obsession, ambition and deadly secrets. Hays’ novel is an atmospheric, immersive page-turner that will keep you on the edge of your seat!
Why Jenna loves it: “I have recommended it to everybody that I possibly can because I feel like it’s the perfect mystery. It reminds me of The Talented Mr. Ripley, but with twists that are Gone Girl. It’s a story about female ambition and what’s permissible when one person is born on Park Avenue and given everything, and the other person has to work hard for what they want.”
What readers are saying: “This was a slow burn that drew me in and made me appreciate every detail. Beautiful writing with a very unique premise. A wonderful debut.”
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This story was originally published July 2, 2026 at 5:30 PM.