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I can’t quite remember right now, but I believe I mentioned this in another post – I’m absolutely terrified of bodies of water.
I can’t swim, so I generally stay far away from swimming pools, and I definitely can’t imagine being on a yacht.
Honestly, I believe some of the scariest thrillers are the ones that take place on water. It’s such an uncontrollable force.
Whether it’s in the water, on the water, or even beside it, there’s just something about bodies of water that seem to invite all kinds of eerie and intense events.
In this post, I’m sharing a list of haunting and terrifying mystery books set at sea that I think everyone needs to read.
They’re creepy and also really well written.
The authors are so talented, and trust me, I was absolutely hooked from the first page.
The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware
This one gave me chills!
It’s about a travel writer, Lo, who’s on a small fancy cruise.
Everything seems perfect until she hears someone being thrown overboard.
The worst part? No one is missing.
The ship sails on like nothing happened, and Lo is stuck with this terrible secret, trying to get someone – anyone – to believe her.
It’s tense, twisty, and I was hooked the whole time.
Jaws by Peter Benchley
Even though I knew the story, reading the book still made me nervous to dip my toes in water.
It’s about a beach town that becomes terrified when a huge shark starts attacking swimmers.
The tension builds so well, and that feeling of helplessness in open water? So real.
The Boat Trip by Heather J. Fitt
This one feels like a real-life nightmare.
A yacht trip that starts off looking dreamy turns into pure chaos.
People go missing, tempers flare, and secrets come out at sea.
I kept guessing who the real danger was, and let’s just say – it had me flipping pages fast.
Dark Water by Koji Suzuki
Creepy and haunting, this one really stayed with me.
It’s a collection of scary short stories, all connected to water in some way.
The first story – about a mom and daughter living in a damp, eerie building – was especially spooky.
If you like quiet, creeping dread, these stories will give you goosebumps.
I loved the strange and moody vibes.
One Little Secret by Cate Holahan
This felt like Big Little Lies by the beach.
Three couples rent a beach house, drink too much, and spill secrets they probably shouldn’t.
Then one of them ends up dead.
I enjoyed the juicy drama and the slow reveal of what really happened.
It made me think twice about what people are hiding behind polite smiles.
From Below by Darcy Coates
A dive team goes to explore an old sunken ship, but something dark is still down there.
The deeper they go, the more trapped they become.
I could feel the claustrophobia and fear while reading it – like I was right there with them, running out of air.
This one is a real nail-biter.
The Perfect Storm by Sebastian Junger
This is a real story, and it broke my heart.
It’s about fishermen who went out to sea and were caught in a massive, terrifying storm.
You know from the start that it doesn’t end well, but the book still pulls you in with the bravery, the fear, and the awful power of nature.
It’s raw and unforgettable.
Below the Edge of Darkness by Edith Widder
This one isn’t scary like ghosts or murder – it’s the awe-inspiring, deep-sea kind of scary.
Edith Widder is a marine biologist, and she takes you deep under the ocean where it’s pitch black and glowing creatures light up the dark.
I loved learning about how strange and beautiful life is down there.
It’s science, but it feels like magic.
The Devil and the Dark Water by Stuart Turton
A historical sea mystery with a possible demon? Yes, please.
A detective is being sent to trial, but strange things start happening on the ship – symbols, deaths, and a creepy figure haunting everyone.
His bodyguard tries to solve it all. I loved the eerie mix of murder mystery and supernatural touches.
The Light Between Oceans by M. L. Stedman
Honestly, this one made me cry.
It’s not horror, but it has emotional mystery and heartbreaking choices.
A lighthouse keeper and his wife find a baby in a boat and decide to raise her as their own.
Years later, they learn the truth about her real family.
It’s quiet and beautiful and full of tough decisions.
I finished this one with a heavy heart, but I still think about it.
So, do you think you’re going to check out any of these amazing mystery books set at sea?
Let me know which ones you loved or which ones you’ve read in the past and couldn’t stop thinking about – drop a comment below!
And if you’re looking for even more thriller recommendations, check out these posts:
