As the title states, I'm looking to read books with the beach as the primary setting, or at least playing a pivotal role in the development of the plot. Well, because it's summer. A thousand points to whoever knows of such a book that also fits in the thriller or noir/neo noir genre (I don't really have that many points, but if I did, they'd be yours). Dramas with great characters are also very welcomed. Thanks in advance!
'The beach' might be too restrictive. If 'the beach and the ocean' works, I've always liked Randy Wayne White's Doc Ford thrillers.
http://www.latimesmagazine.com/2012/04/dark-wave.html http://www.thenervousbreakdown.com/ajanes/2012/07/beach-noir/
Two of Peter Benchley's novels come to mind at once: The Deep, and (of course) Jaws. I preferred The Deep.
This is really obvious, but I seem to remember that quite a lot of Alex Garland's The Beach takes place on a beach. It's the one that was made into the Leonardo DiCaprio film.
Maybe, but not what I'm in the mood for at the moment. Concerning JAWS, I'm midway through it, and what is up with the 35-page stretch where all the characters eat dinner together? Two points of fact to consider... 1 - These characters are indoors. 2 - This is a suspense novel about a killer shark. I nearly blacked out from the inertia of the story stopping so suddenly. Yikes! I almost don't even want to finish it.
What do you mean 'not in the mood for'? You asked for books set primarily at the beach. This meets your sole criterion.
