7 Things Readers Want from a Great Holiday Read

While the sun is shining, thoughts inevitably drift towards relaxing by the pool or on the beach with an engrossing book and a cocktail…

When it comes to books, these low cost treat or gift items peak in popularity at different times of the year. Books are always a popular Christmas present, I always see increased sales in November and December, then again in January when people spend their vouchers or fill their new Kindles up with books.

There is also an opportunity to sell more books in the summer because readers are planning their holidays and looking for some great books to read by the pool or on the beach.

There are plenty of lists out there with recommended reads to take on holiday; here are a few examples:

• Epic Reads has a great list of 20 books for young adults with a snapshot of information about each

• The Blaze has a list of 13 recommended books. On the list is a selection of both fiction and non fiction

• There’s a nice list of holiday reads on this Goodreads list

• Readers Digest has a list of 5 addictive books and another one of the best vacation reads

• Thomas Cook has a list of recommended books for summer 2015 in a mix of genres

I write mystery adventure books because these are what I love to read and these are the types of books I take on holiday with me.

The Sheridan and Blake Adventure Series

For me, there are 7 ingredients that a great holiday read must have:

1) A solid, well contained plot

2) A complementary mix of characters. For a mystery adventure novel you don’t want too many characters, it’s difficult for readers to be drawn in and have empathy if there are too many character to be emotionally invested in

3) Action. There has to be action and conflict

4) Violence. This goes hand in hand with action, it doesn’t have to be gratuitous, but there needs to be peril for a good adventure story. Just a sprinkling of it, not too much – it’s not a gore fest

5) Sex. I do like a love story. Our hero needs to have someone special to fight for. It should be sensuous and meaningful. Again, not too much – this isn’t erotic fiction

6) Sub plots. There should be a core narrative, but nothing draws me in more than a few curious threads of sub plots. Our heros and villains feel more real if they have depth.

7) A twist. More than one if you like. Nothing keeps me turning the pages like a twist, especially an unexpected one.

Read more on my Idea-ism blog

You can get all three of my novels; The Bronze Box, Solomon’s Secrets and Gabriel’s Game; Part 1, for less than the cost of a bottle of suncream.

 What holiday reads would you recommend?