• 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.

Blog Tour | Book Review: BLOCK 46 by Johana Gustawsson

April 30, 2017

BLOCK 46 by Johana Gustawsson is a book that defies categorization. At surface level, this is a hardboiled serial killer thrillerβ€”but delve a little deeper and readers will discover a historical fiction component, and a touch of Nordic Noir as well. This book spans decades and countries, and draws readers into a dark web of twisted, brutal crimes and their fallout. BLOCK 46 sets the tone for Gustawsson's Roy and Castells series with a confident, ambitious story that will keep readers coming back for more.

Read More
In Blog Tour, Book Review Tags Blog Tour, Book Review, Orenda Books
1 Comment

Book Review: WHAT MY BODY REMEMBERS by Agnete Friis

April 24, 2017

Agnete Friis is one half of the writing duo responsible for the bestselling THE BOY IN THE SUITCASEβ€”and this May, she makes her solo U.S. debut in WHAT MY BODY REMEMBERS, a hypnotic, taut suspense novel that delves into the past of a young mother desperate to protect her son from social services, and from her own demons. This unique little book packs an emotional punch: it has all the brooding atmosphere and rich character development characteristic of Nordic Noir, but without the violence and police procedural angle typical of the genre.

Read More
In Book Review, Scandinavian Crime Tags Book Review, Scandinavian Crime
2 Comments

Book Review: THE FOURTH MONKEY by J.D. Barker

April 20, 2017

Sometimes you just need a seriously twisted and totally engaging serial killer thrillerβ€”and THE FOURTH MONKEY is that book. Author J.D. Barker serves up a twisty and original take on the classic cop vs. serial killer thriller in THE FOURTH MONKEY. Fans of Se7en and The Silence of the Lambs: listen up, this one’s for you. 

Read More
In Book Review, Book Recommendation Tags Book Review, Book Recommendation
1 Comment

Book Review: INTO THE WATER by Paula Hawkins

April 18, 2017

I've been sitting on this review for a little while now, not wanting to admit that a book as highly anticipated as INTO THE WATER just didn't work for me. But it's just the truth: INTO THE WATER didn't work for me. INTO THE WATER might be better appreciated as women's fiction or literary fiction rather than crime fiction. But of course, I'm writing this review from a crime fiction perspective, for readers who will see the name Paula Hawkins and think "psychological thriller"β€”so I can only be honest: this book didn't hold up against Hawkins' debut. 

Read More
In Book Review Tags Book Review, Psychological Thriller
8 Comments

Blog Tour | Book Review: FAITHLESS by Kjell Ola Dahl

April 15, 2017

I read a lot of Nordic Noir, and I just never, ever tire of it. It’s above and beyond my favorite subgenre of crime fiction, and I’m always on the lookout for opportunities to try books from Scandinavian authors whose work I haven’t read before. In that spirit, I’m delighted to be participating in the blog tour for FAITHLESS by Kjell Ola Dahl today!

Read More
In Blog Tour, Book Review, Scandinavian Crime Tags Blog Tour, Book Review, Scandinavian Crime Fiction, Orenda Books
Comment
← Newer Posts 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 πŸ•΅πŸ»‍β™€οΈπŸ–€ aka my favorite corner of my apartment. πŸ“šπŸ™ŒπŸ» 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. πŸ•΅πŸ»‍β™€οΈπŸ€πŸ–€ next on my TBR: THE SHADOWS by Alex North, available on my birthday, 7/7!!πŸ˜‰πŸ”Ž (huge thank you to @celadonbooks for this review copy!πŸ€“) •
Thank you guy
View fullsize Being stuck at home isn’t so bad when you’ve got a massive stack of books to read. πŸ•΅πŸ»‍β™€οΈπŸ–€ What’s on your social-distancing TBR?! πŸ“–
•
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 β˜•οΈ & a gripping crime read πŸ•΅πŸ»‍β™€οΈπŸ–€ aka the perfect combination πŸ™ŒπŸ»
•
This right here is my usual Sunday tradition πŸ‘†πŸ» 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 β˜•οΈπŸ–€ with my totally gripping current read πŸ•΅πŸ»‍♀️
•
Today is my last day in Manhattan for a while πŸ˜” 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. πŸ‘ŒπŸ»πŸ–€ NO BAD DEED by Heather Chavez is on sale now, and I can’t wait to dive in! πŸ•΅πŸ»‍♀️
•
Friends, I can&
View fullsize Happy Monday, friends! πŸ–€ Back in NYC and back to work after an amazing (if much too short) visit to Oslo πŸ‡³πŸ‡΄ annnd currently drinking a cold brew β˜•οΈ at my desk & hoping it keeps me awake this afternoon πŸ˜‚ jet lag + not enough sleep last night =
View fullsize Last looks at beautiful Oslo πŸ‡³πŸ‡΄ for this trip. ❀️ So very sad to leave, but I’m bringing wonderful memories & a suitcase stuffed with books πŸ“š back to NYC with me. πŸ˜‰ See you soon, Oslo... you know I can’t stay away for long. πŸ₯°β€οΈ
&
View fullsize Spent today doing all my favorite things in Oslo, so obviously a coffee stop was included. β˜•οΈπŸ–€ 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. πŸ•΅πŸ»‍β™€οΈπŸ–€ Best. Purchase. Ever. πŸ™ŒπŸ»
•
Does anyone else collect books by a favorite author?! πŸ“š I don’t have

Twitter

Powered by Squarespace