Well, here we are: the last official week of summer. For some, it’s also the last week of summer vacation. That includes my daughter, who will be starting kindergarten next week (gulp!). And while I find myself looking at the future in her eyes, I also find myself reminiscing about my own school days, when the week before Labor Day was always our last week of summer vacation.

For many years, that last week of vacation was bittersweet. Sure, it was nice to be able to watch all the TV I wanted during the day, but I also looked forward to going back to school. Being home was, for me, boring. School was full of learning opportunities and activities. So, while part of me was always sad to see summer come to an end, most of me was thrilled to go back to school.

Later on, in my high school years, my dad began renting a beach house the last week in August on Long Beach Island in New Jersey. The Jersey Shore as we call it. And no, it’s nothing like the show. Don’t get me started on that one.

So, every year, my summer would end at the beach. And I loved it. Sun, sand, surf, fudge, miniature golf, the list goes on. It became tradition—a tradition that I miss to this day. It ended the year my dad moved to Savannah. And the last week of summer has never quite been the same. Perhaps I should start a new family vacation tradition…

August was always the hottest month in New Jersey, so we were often looking for ways to cool off. The beach was a great choice. A good book was a necessary accessory.

These days, we have oh so many ways to enjoy a good book, including several formats from our smartphones or ereaders or tablets. And if you want a good book that will entertain you but chill you to the bone and allow you to keep your eyes closed (unless you’re driving!) at the same time, do I have a recommendation for you.

You see, last week Cold Call, the second book in Dean Wesley Smith’s Cold Poker Gang series, released in audiobook.

Here’s the synopsis:

When retired detective Bayard Lott offers to help retired detective Julia Rogers search for her lost friend near a remote Idaho lake, they find clues that might lead them directly to the most dangerous serial killer in Las Vegas history.

Set in the rugged mountains of Idaho, this twisted mystery pits the Cold Poker Gang against a master criminal.

Cold, twisted, perfect for those last days of summer. Oh, and by the way, the first book in that series, Kill Game, is available in audiobook, too.

So, listen and enjoy.

Allyson Longueira is publisher of WMG Publishing. She is an award-winning writer, editor and designer.