The best tropical author thriller books

Armand Rosamilia Author Of Shake Down (First Coast Thriller Series Book 1)
By Armand Rosamilia

Who am I?

I am such a huge fan of Thrillers. Always have been, since I started reading Dean Koontz at 12. The Tropical Authors listed are some of my favorites, but they are a stepping stone to other great authors who write unique thrillers as well. I hope you’ll check them out, and let me know if you find a new favorite. I also love suggestions as well. (Of other authors, please don’t be tacky and suggest your own book!) 

I wrote...

Shake Down (First Coast Thriller Series Book 1)

By Armand Rosamilia

Shake Down (First Coast Thriller Series Book 1)

What is my book about?

Ex-cop Clayton Conway has made some mistakes. He's trying to work hard with a repo company, hooking cars and boats. Raise his daughter and stay friendly with his ex-wife. Make enough money to pay the rent on his tiny apartment over a bar in Jacksonville Beach. But when one of the Orenato Cartel's speedboats gets repossessed, they come looking for it. Putting Clayton, his family, and friends, in danger.

Can he protect them, or will the cartel get what they came for? And will his own weaknesses get the best of him... again?

This book is currently available for pre-order.

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The Books I Picked & Why

Low Tide (The Forgotten Coast Florida Suspense Series)

By Dawn Lee McKenna

Low Tide (The Forgotten Coast Florida Suspense Series)

Why this book?

Dawn Lee McKenna is no longer with us, but she left a legacy of great thriller writing. This is the start for me to delve into her great characters and settings and really fall in love with what she wrote. You cannot go wrong with this series, which is 10 amazing books. Still one of my favorite series of books, set in Apalachicola Florida (where I’ve vacationed a few times and got to meet the author at one of her signings years ago, too!)

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Coastal Conspiracy: Coastal Adventure Novel Number 1 (Coastal Adventure Series)

By Don Rich

Coastal Conspiracy: Coastal Adventure Novel Number 1 (Coastal Adventure Series)

Why this book?

Don Rich is one of those authors you immediately like, because his writing style is so flowing, but he never over-describes anything. He is a pulp writer (and that is the highest compliment!) This book kicks off his series, currently at 9 books. You’ll enjoy the characters and the settings in this start to a great series. 

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Deadly Sommer: Nora Sommer Caribbean Suspense - Book One

By Nicholas Harvey

Deadly Sommer: Nora Sommer Caribbean Suspense - Book One

Why this book?

A great start to a new series, but you really need to read anything by this author. He has an easy cadence with his stories, and his characters are layered and can surprise you. So can the ‘bad guy’ in this one, too. Lots of diving and puzzle-solving in this adventure story, with the secondary characters equally as exciting as the main one. I’m looking forward to the second book, coming in 2022. 

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Fallen Out: A Jesse McDermitt Novel (Caribbean Adventure Series)

By Wayne Stinnett

Fallen Out: A Jesse McDermitt Novel (Caribbean Adventure Series)

Why this book?

Jesse McDermitt is the star of over twenty books in this series, and Wayne is still full of stories for his main character. This book sets the pacing and the storytelling for the entire series, and it takes you on a rollercoaster ride. Reading it, you can smell the fresh Florida Keys air and hear the waves crashing on the beach and against the side of a boat. A fantastic start to this series, which continues to impress me as well as a lot of other readers. Once you start the first one, you’ll dive into the rest. Guaranteed. 

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Hold Back the Night: A Detective McDaniel Thriller

By Axel Blackwell

Hold Back the Night: A Detective McDaniel Thriller

Why this book?

The author’s work with Dawn Lee McKenna might be more fighting for this list (check out The Stillwaters Suspense Series) but I absolutely love this series because the main characters are fun to follow along with. They are so multi-dimensional, and the dialogue is outstanding. I could read chapter after chapter of them chatting about nothing, and still enjoy it. The action is well-written and not hokey, which I love. The twists and turns will leave you wanting more, and I cannot wait to read more from Axel in the future. You should, too! 

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