As a reader, it sometimes feels like you’ve found a diamond in the rough when you crack open a book and discover a read that consumes your attention fully from first page to last. GRIST MILL ROAD by Christopher Yates provided this kind of escapist reading for me—if a dark, harrowing escape at that. GRIST MILL ROAD uncovers the little traumas that we inflict upon one another, and explores the lasting fallout of these deadly mistakes—all told through the varying perspectives of the three individuals involved in the book’s central crime.
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Book Review: THE ONE by John Marrs
Every so often, I feel like I just want something quick and lightly suspenseful to read. Nothing too dark or gritty, but something that also still falls within the crime fiction genre. This balance can be surprisingly hard to strike, but John Marrs’ THE ONE delivers a strong contender. THE ONE has been compared to the dark TV show Black Mirror, a comparison which - though perhaps not quite apt - nevertheless gives the reader a general sense of the tone of this book. THE ONE takes a very ordinary topic (an online dating service) and turns it on its head, exploring the secrets, manipulations, and conflict that can plague even the most picture-perfect (or scientifically "matched") couple. THE ONE is one of those books that will require a reader with the right expectations to enjoy it, but if you do have the right expectations, you won’t want to put this one down.
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Book Review: SIRENS by Joseph Knox
Joseph Knox’s debut thriller SIRENS has taken the U.K. by storm, and it’s no surprise why. Knox, a crime fiction buyer for Waterstones in the U.K., delivers a debut thriller that’s mature beyond its years; taut, sleek, and gritty, SIRENS is urban noir at its finest. Crime novels centering around the drug trade aren’t my typical preference, but having heard such outstanding things about this thriller from friends across the pond, I knew I had to give it a shot - and I’m so glad that I did. Knox is an undeniable talent, and SIRENS is a gut-punch of a thriller. Readers will come to SIRENS for its stunning package and grim plot, and they will stay for Knox’s lean, razor-sharp prose and heartbreaking characters. This is an outstanding debut sure to earn Knox as strong a legion of fans in the U.S. as he has already earned in the U.K.
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Book Review: BLACK WIDOW by Christopher Brookmyre
One of the highlights of my recent trip to Scotland was getting to meet and interview Christopher Brookmyre, an award-winning and internationally-bestselling Scottish crime author. During our conversation, I was particularly intrigued by Chris’ description of his thriller BLACK WIDOW; well, I finally had the chance to read it, and I was blown away by the sophistication, precision, and complexity of this book. BLACK WIDOW is a far cry from your average psychological thriller. Its intelligence, masterful plotting, and twisty, shocking plot make it a cut above. There’s an undercurrent of intensity running throughout BLACK WIDOW that demands the reader’s attention from first page to last, and an assurance to Brookmyre’s writing that is an absolute pleasure to read. If you haven’t read Christopher Brookmyre yet, now’s the time.
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Book Review: DARK PINES by Will Dean @willrdean #DarkPines
If I could move anywhere in the world, I would pack my bags and head to Scandinavia. When I learned of crime writer Will Dean, a former Londoner who did exactly that - moved to rural Sweden with his family - I knew this was an author whose debut novel I had to read. Dean’s forthcoming crime novel DARK PINES is a stylish blend of Nordic atmosphere, small-town life, and dark, chilling crimes - an excellent addition to your winter reading list. Readers of Crime by the Book will know that Nordic crime fiction is above and beyond my favorite, and I was fascinated to see if - and how - Dean’s style of crime fiction set in Scandinavia might differ from the work of the Scandinavian crime writers I know and love. DARK PINES certainly has a style and voice all its own, but Nordic Noir readers will nevertheless feel at home in the dark corners and chilling atmosphere of Dean’s thriller. DARK PINES is a compelling glimpse into small-town life, and a cleverly constructed maze of a thriller.
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