There is something simultaneously comforting and eerie about the setting of a summer camp. As we move towards Spooky Season, it is the ideal time to explore books that blend this combination of nostalgia and unease into the perfect suspenseful story. Whether you are a horror junkie or a suspense reader, a fan of general fiction or a Young Adult aficionado, this curated list of four recommendations for books set in summer camps are sure to quicken your pulse and keep you turning pages well into the night.

Jordan Murray © 2021

The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager

Synopsis: 

Fifteen years ago at Camp Nightingale, Emma Davis watched her cabin mates sneak out into the night, her friend Vivian silencing her as she closed the door behind them. It was the last time anyone saw them.

Now a rising star in the NYC art scene, Emma channels her past into her paintings, catching the eye of wealthy socialite Francesca Harris-White, who owns Camp Nightingale. Francesca invites Emma to return to the camp as a visual arts counselor, offering her a chance for closure.

Upon her arrival, Emma realizes something is very wrong at Camp Nightingale. Old memories resurface, and she’s unsettled by a security camera aimed at her cabin, Francesca’s growing suspicion, and cryptic clues allegedly left by Vivian about the camp’s dark past. When three girls go missing again, Emma must uncover all the hidden secrets, including what truly happened fifteen years ago.

Why You’ll Love It: 

Riley Sager is no stranger to suspense thrillers, and one of his particular skill sets falls in the category of atmospheric settings that play directly into his story’s plots. The Last Time I Lied is no exception, with Camp Nightingale providing a transportative effect to many readers. The camp’s eerie description and the way in which the characters interact with the setting result in a setting that feels as tangible as the pages of the book itself.

You’re Not Supposed to Die Tonight by Kalynn Bayron

Synopsis:

Charity Curtis lands the summer job of her dreams at Camp Mirror Lake, playing the role of the “final girl” in an immersive, full-contact terror game where guests pay to experience the fright of their lives. Alongside her summer crew, Charity recreates scenes from the cult classic slasher film, Curse of Camp Mirror Lake, and is having the time of her life doing it. The more realistic the fear, the better the business.

However, as the season’s final weekend approaches, Charity’s co-workers begin to vanish. When one of them is discovered dead, Charity’s fictional role as the final girl suddenly turns horrifyingly real. To survive the night, Charity and her girlfriend, Bezi, must uncover the killer’s motives and identity. As they dig deeper, they realize there might be more to the sinister history of Mirror Lake than Charity ever imagined.

Why You’ll Love It:

In addition to its literal summer camp setting, readers will love You’re Not Supposed to Die Tonight for its campiness. Kalynn Bayron reappropriates beloved horror cliches such as The Final Girl, and tropes such as a killer at a summer camp with a dark past, and uses them in a self-aware, yet still playful, manner. The book itself feels very ‘meta’ to read because of its deliberate use of horror tropes and cliches, which is what elevates Camp Mirror Lake into an iconic setting to read about. 

You’re Not Supposed to Die Tonight is also written by a seasoned BIPOC author and features a BIPOC female main character in a queer relationship, making for a much-needed diversified take on the genre. 

The Box in the Woods by Maureen Johnson

Synopsis:

After solving a high school murder, amateur sleuth Stevie Bell returns home for the summer, craving her next mystery. 

She then receives a message from the owner of Sunny Pines, previously Camp Wonder Fall, the infamous site of the unsolved 1978 Box in the Woods Murders where four counselors were brutally killed and displayed, with the murderer never found. The new owner offers Stevie a job and the chance to assist with a true crime podcast about the case.

However, as Stevie delves into the mystery, she discovers that something sinister still haunts Barlow Corners. When she reopens the lid on this long-dormant case, she uncovers more than she bargained for. The Box in the Woods isn’t done claiming victims, and this time, Stevie might not make it out alive.

Why You’ll Love It:

The Box in the Woods by Maureen Johnson is the fourth book in the beloved Truly Devious series. However, it can absolutely be read as a standalone independent of the main trilogy. You can even read The Box in the Woods for its Summerween charm, fall in love with it, and decide to read its preceding trilogy.

The Counselors by Jessica Goodman

Synopsis: 

Goldie Easton has a deep connection to Camp Alpine Lake, a sacred place for her since childhood. The camp is a lifeline for her small town of Roxwood, offering jobs, money, and prestige, though only a few locals benefit directly from its high tuition and wealthy attendees. Goldie is one of those few.

Despite her “townie” background, Goldie has always felt at home at Camp Alpine Lake. Now a counselor, she eagerly awaits the summer and the arrival of her best friends, Ava and Imogen, needing their comfort more than ever due to a dark secret.

Goldie isn’t the only one hiding something. When a local teen is found dead in the lake, Goldie suspects it wasn’t an accident and realizes that Ava was there that night, too.

What did Ava see? What does she know? And why hasn’t she said anything to Goldie about the death? Even more troubling – what did Ava do?

Why You’ll Love It: 

Jessica Goodman brings a lot of nostalgic, campy vibes to the table in The Counselors. However, it is more a suspenseful mystery than a slasher horror, and the plot follows a slow-burn pacing. The payoff is well-worth the mellow pacing, though!

The Counselors may also spark some discourse on class divisions. The social commentary around this, makes it an ideal option for a summer book club read.

Jordan Murray © 2019

Born in Toronto, Canada, Jordan Murray is the Amazon best-selling author of three books, including her debut suspense novel, I Did It For You. When she isn’t reading or writing, she’s probably buying & collecting books. (which is a completely different hobby, thank you very much.) Or obsessing over videos of dogs on the internet.

You can find her books on  Amazon and keep in touch through her  Instagram and  TikTok accounts.