There are a handful of authors whose books have been central to Crime by the Book—and Clare Mackintosh is one of them. In her newest release LET ME LIE, Claire showcases yet another facet of her talent, delving into a story that is perhaps her lightest in suspense yet, but that explores family dynamics - and secrets - to great effect. LET ME LIE is heart-tugging, tense, and subtle… so subtle, in fact, that I didn’t even know how wrong everything I thought I knew was until the book’s gut-punch ending.
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Book Review: TANGERINE by Christine Mangan
TANGERINE by Christine Mangan (on sale March 27th, 2018) is a richly imagined and impeccably delivered suspense novel sets a plot worthy of Patricia Highsmith against the backdrop of dazzling, almost larger-than-life 1950’s Morocco. Come for TANGERINE’s stunning package and superb early praise; stay for its razor-sharp portrayal of obsession and manipulation, set against movie-worthy scenery. In a story humming with interpersonal tension and simmering with the heat and haze of Morocco, Mangan weaves an outstanding and transportive thriller that will delight fans of Patricia Highsmith, Gillian Flynn, and Alfred Hitchcock.
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Book Review: THE LEGACY by Yrsa Sigurdardottir (Children's House Series)
Iceland’s Queen of Crime Yrsa Sigurdardottir brings her newest series to the US in February, and it’s an absolute knockout. THE LEGACY launches the Children’s House Series with a story that is equal parts measured police procedural and gripping suspense narrative. Weaving together dark family secrets both present and past with a chilling investigation, Sigurdardottir effortlessly delivers a standout Nordic thriller that will more than satisfy her longstanding fans, and is sure to open up new doors for her readership in the US. THE LEGACY is all the slow-burning, layered procedural a Nordic Noir reader could hope for, infused with the trademark dark imagination that has come to define Sigurdardottir’s own ever-developing legacy.
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Book Review: THE PERFECT NANNY by Leila Slimani
Never will I ever pass up the chance to explore new international crime fiction, so when I heard of French-Moroccan author Leila Slimani’s award-winning crime novel THE PERFECT NANNY (on sale 1/9/18), I knew I had to give it a shot -- and I’m so glad I did. This subtle, sophisticated suspense story is unnerving in its simplicity: THE PERFECT NANNY traces the events leading up to the death of two children, focusing on the integration of a new nanny into a family. It’s easy to see why Slimani’s novel won the Goncourt Prize (France’s most prestigious literary award); this book’s elegant prose, sharp plotting, and masterful blend of suspense and literary fiction combine to deliver an outstanding crime novel that will appeal to readers looking for an understated - yet distinctly sinister - story of suspense.
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Tough Female Leads & Gripping Action Thrillers from Jon Land and Steph Broadribb
2017 was a year of trying new things - one of them being my foray into action thrillers for the first time ever. As someone sampling this crime fiction subgenre for the first time, I knew I wanted to try books from both established and debut authors, and I knew that, as a woman, I wanted to read action thrillers featuring strong female leads. My 2017 action thriller picks were spot-on for my personal qualifications. STRONG TO THE BONE by Jon Land (Forge Books; 12/5/17) and DEEP DOWN DEAD by Steph Broadribb (Orenda; 4/1/17) delivered thrills, emotionally-compelling characters, and a whole lot of high-stakes tension - the perfect introduction to action thrillers for this newcomer.
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