• Blog
  • Quick Reviews
    • Introduction
    • Background
    • Book Recommendations
    • By Country
    • Interviews
    • Reviews
    • Features
  • #ReadWithCBTB
  • Features
  • Reading Lists
  • Events
  • Go-to Book Recs
  • As Seen In
  • About
  • Connect
Menu

Crime by the Book

A girl investigates crime fiction from around the world, by the book.
  • Blog
  • Quick Reviews
  • Nordic Noir
    • Introduction
    • Background
    • Book Recommendations
    • By Country
    • Interviews
    • Reviews
    • Features
  • #ReadWithCBTB
  • Features
  • Reading Lists
  • Events
  • Go-to Book Recs
  • As Seen In
  • About
  • Connect

the cbtb blog

One girl's ongoing investigation of the crime fiction genre.

the locked door freida mcfadden.jpg
the housemaid freida mcfadden.jpg
do not disturb freida mcfadden.jpg
want to know a secret freida mcfadden.jpg

Ranking Freida McFadden Thrillers

September 19, 2022

If you follow me on Instagram, you might remember me going down the rabbit hole last month and binge-reading a whole bunch of psychological suspense novels by an author named Freida McFadden. I dove into Freida’s buzzy suspense novel THE HOUSEMAID earlier this summer on a whim—and quickly found myself hooked on the author’s deliciously binge-worthy popcorn thrillers. My August 2022 reading list ended up being dominated by Freida McFadden books, and I realized it’s about time I documented my journey with her work so far! The next time I find myself falling into a reading slump and just need something lighter and binge-worthy to pull me out of it, I can almost guarantee I’ll be turning to a Freida McFadden book for the perfect “popcorn read” solution. Without further ado: read on for my ranking of the Freida McFadden thrillers I’ve read so far!

Read More
In Book Recommendation, Popcorn Thrillers Tags Freida McFadden, Book Ranking, Book Recommendation, Popcorn Thriller, Popcorn Read, The Housemaid
22 Comments

BUZZWORTHY 2022 BOOKS: GREENWICH PARK by Katherine Faulkner

November 11, 2021

It’s hard to believe it, but a new year is almost upon us—and it’s promising to deliver some outstanding crime and suspense novels! In the lead up to the new year, I’m resurrecting my “Buzzworthy Books” series—a series of “preview” posts dedicated to highlighting a couple of early-2022 releases that I’m particularly excited about! For my first Buzzworthy 2022 Book, I’m so excited to recommend Katherine Faulkner’s outstanding domestic thriller GREENWICH PARK, which will hit US bookstores on January 25th. This exceptional domestic suspense novel delivers a delicious blend of paranoia-inducing plotting and engaging, entertaining interpersonal secrets and drama. Pick this book up for its stunning cover, stay for its wildly addictive and seriously unsettling cat-and-mouse plot. Read on for three reasons you should add GREENWICH PARK by Katherine Faulkner to your 2022 reading list!

Read More
In Book Recommendation, Buzzworthy Books Tags Buzzworthy Books, Greenwich Park, Katherine Faulkner, Domestic Suspense, Domestic Thriller
6 Comments
My Sweet Girl_Amanda Jayatissa.jpg
The Night She Disappeared_Lisa Jewell.jpg
Nice Girls Catherine Dang.jpg
The Ice Coven Max Seeck.jpg

September 2021 Most-Anticipated Crime Books

September 4, 2021

September is here, and what an incredible month it is for us crime fiction readers! This month is bringing with it an almost too-good-to-be-true lineup of new crime, mystery, and thriller books for readers to devour—and in today’s blog post, I’m rounding up the (many!) books releasing this month that are on my personal most-anticipated list. This month sees the return of fan-favorite authors including Lisa Jewell, Rachel Howzell Hall, and Alice Feeney, and it also includes a number of my most-anticipated debut crime novels of the entire year (of particular note: debuts by authors Amanda Jayatissa and Catherine Dang, among many more!). It’s got chilling Nordic crime novels, stories involving serial killers, psychological suspense that will make you suspicious of everyone, dark revenge stories, and lots more—in short, this September is a crime fiction reader’s dream. Many of the books on today’s list I’ve already been fortunate enough to read, and others are still on my TBR list for the fall season, but all of them look exceptional. Dig into today’s blog post and clear your calendar—we’ve got some amazing books in store for us this month!

Read More
In Book Recommendation, Reading List Tags New Releases, Most Anticipated Books, September Crime Books, Rachel Howzell Hall, These Toxic Things, Lisa Jewell, The Night She Disappeared, Alice Feeney, Rock Paper Scissors, Never Saw Me Coming, Vera Kurian, My Sweet Girl, Amanda Jayatissa, Nice Girls, Catherine Dang, Dark Things I Adore, Katie Lattari, We Know You Remember, Tove Alsterdal, The Ice Coven, Max Seeck
1 Comment
56 Days Catherine Ryan Howard.jpg
In My Dreams I Hold a Knife.jpg
Dark Roads Chevy Stevens.jpg
Where I Left Her.jpg

August 2021 Most-Anticipated Crime Books

August 3, 2021

Summer is here, and it’s bringing with it some incredible new crime fiction releases for us to devour! Summer 2021 is jam-packed with amazing crime books, some of which I’ve been lucky enough to read already and others that are still on my personal TBR pile. To help you plan your own reading lists, each month this summer I’ll be sharing monthly lists of my personal most-anticipated new crime fiction releases for that respective month. I can’t wait to share these books with you, and I hope they will catch your eye as much as they’ve caught mine! In case you missed it, you can check out my list of Most-Anticipated June 2021 Crime Books here, and Most-Anticipated July 2021 Crime Books here. August 2021 brings with it a number of suspense novels that look perfect for a late-summer vacation, including one of my top favorite books of the year, a returning “popcorn thriller” writer, a highly-anticipated new release by an acclaimed crime writer who hasn’t had a new book in a few years now, and more. August’s new crime fiction lineup looks twisty, binge-worthy, and thrilling, and I can’t wait to share these books with you. Read on for my picks for most-anticipated August 2021 crime fiction!

Read More
In Book Recommendation, Summer Reading List Tags Ashley Winstead, In My Dreams I Hold a Knife, Dark Roads, Chevy Stevens, Such a Good Wife, Seraphina Nova Glass, 56 Days, Catherine Ryan Howard, Where I Left Her, Amber Garza
1 Comment
Razorblade Tears.jpg
Silver Tears Camilla Lackberg.jpg
For Your Own Good Samantha Downing.jpg
False Witness Karin Slaughter.jpg

July 2021 Most-Anticipated Crime Books

July 3, 2021

Summer is here, and it’s bringing with it some incredible new crime fiction releases for us to devour! Summer 2021 is jam-packed with amazing crime books, some of which I’ve been lucky enough to read already and others that are still on my personal TBR list. To help you plan your own reading lists, each month this summer I’ll be sharing monthly lists of my personal most-anticipated new crime fiction releases for that respective month. I can’t wait to share these books with you, and I hope they will catch your eye as much as they’ve caught mine! In case you missed it, you can check out my list of Most-Anticipated June 2021 Crime Books here. July 2021 delivers a thrilling assortment of gritty noir, wickedly fun psychological suspense, and lots more. This month sees the return of fan-favorite crime writers S.A. Cosby, Samantha Downing, Karin Slaughter, and lots more. Whether you’re in the market for juicy suspense or blistering, action-packed thrillers, there’s a little something for everyone publishing this month. Read on for my picks for most-anticipated July 2021 crime fiction!

Read More
In Book Recommendation, Summer Reading List Tags S.A. Cosby, Razorblade Tears, Camilla Lackberg, Silver Tears, B.A. Paris, The Therapist, Samantha Downing, For Your Own Good, Karin Slaughter, False Witness
Comment
Older Posts →

Subscribe

The CBTB Newsletter

Thank you for subscribing to CBTB Reviews. Happy reading!

CBTb's Current Read:

The Family Game: A Novel
By Steadman, Catherine
Buy on Amazon

Latest & Greatest

Featured
The September House Carissa Orlando.jpg
Sep 6, 2023
Book Review: THE SEPTEMBER HOUSE by Carissa Orlando
Sep 6, 2023
Sep 6, 2023
Announcing Crime by the Box!
Aug 12, 2023
Announcing Crime by the Box!
Aug 12, 2023
Aug 12, 2023
Vanessa Lillie Blood Sisters cover reveal.png
Apr 3, 2023
Cover Reveal + Sneak Peek: BLOOD SISTERS by Vanessa Lillie
Apr 3, 2023
Apr 3, 2023
Follow

instagram

View fullsize My personal crime fiction collection 🕵🏻‍♀️🖤 aka my favorite corner of my apartment. 📚🙌🏻 If anyone feels so inclined, I’d love to see what YOUR bookshelves look like! Snap a pic, share in your stories, & tag me - I’d love to
View fullsize I can never say no to a creepy read with a gorgeous black & white cover. 🕵🏻‍♀️🤍🖤 next on my TBR: THE SHADOWS by Alex North, available on my birthday, 7/7!!😉🔎 (huge thank you to @celadonbooks for this review copy!🤓) •
Thank you guy
View fullsize Being stuck at home isn’t so bad when you’ve got a massive stack of books to read. 🕵🏻‍♀️🖤 What’s on your social-distancing TBR?! 📖
•
I went WAY overboard with books I brought home to CT for my self-isolation TBR list. ?
View fullsize Early afternoon light & a large latte ☕️ & a gripping crime read 🕵🏻‍♀️🖤 aka the perfect combination 🙌🏻
•
This right here is my usual Sunday tradition 👆🏻 BUT I’ll be spending this Sunday (and this coming week, and probabl
View fullsize My last day in the city for a while calls for a lunch break coffee stop ☕️🖤 with my totally gripping current read 🕵🏻‍♀️
•
Today is my last day in Manhattan for a while 😔 we’re all transitioning to working from home to try and preve
View fullsize In the midst of a crazy week, my brain needs a quick, binge-worthy read, and I think this beauty right here is just the ticket. 👌🏻🖤 NO BAD DEED by Heather Chavez is on sale now, and I can’t wait to dive in! 🕵🏻‍♀️
•
Friends, I can&
View fullsize Happy Monday, friends! 🖤 Back in NYC and back to work after an amazing (if much too short) visit to Oslo 🇳🇴 annnd currently drinking a cold brew ☕️ at my desk & hoping it keeps me awake this afternoon 😂 jet lag + not enough sleep last night =
View fullsize Last looks at beautiful Oslo 🇳🇴 for this trip. ❤️ So very sad to leave, but I’m bringing wonderful memories & a suitcase stuffed with books 📚 back to NYC with me. 😉 See you soon, Oslo... you know I can’t stay away for long. 🥰❤️
&
View fullsize Spent today doing all my favorite things in Oslo, so obviously a coffee stop was included. ☕️🖤 How are you spending your Saturday?! •
Okay I used to always think the phrase “living your best life” was SO cheesy but if I’m bein
View fullsize *Years* of admiring this Norwegian edition of my favorite book (THE SNOWMAN by Jo Nesbø) have finally resulted in this. 🕵🏻‍♀️🖤 Best. Purchase. Ever. 🙌🏻
•
Does anyone else collect books by a favorite author?! 📚 I don’t have

Twitter

  • Crime by the Book
    Loved speaking with @danspapers about the first panel I’ll be moderating at @HamptonsWhodun this year, featuring… https://t.co/hwrdV45fSz
    Apr 4, 2023, 11:48 AM
  • Crime by the Book
    RT @vanessalillie: I’ve had box of Blood Sister arcs unopened for two weeks waiting on tomorrow - cover reveal by @crimebythebook & IG… https://t.co/fnQ35GO1Nd
    Apr 2, 2023, 10:03 AM
  • Crime by the Book
    RT @TheMysterious: We’re making plans to head out to @HamptonsWhodun next month, Long Island’s exciting new crime fiction festival. Se… https://t.co/ra7RPgf7Fv
    Mar 30, 2023, 6:13 PM
  • Crime by the Book
    RT @TheMysterious: Love mystery fiction? We’re hiring a part-time bookseller, beginning immediately. Email info@mysteriousbookshop.com… https://t.co/AJrBLH0Q1t
    Mar 29, 2023, 7:44 PM
  • Crime by the Book
    RT @TheMysterious: BREAKING: We’re thrilled that our friend Michael Connelly is (finally) being recognized as a mystery fiction Grand… https://t.co/3QgWojXVVw
    Mar 28, 2023, 3:05 PM

Powered by Squarespace