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Crime by the Book

A girl investigates crime fiction from around the world, by the book.
  • Blog
  • Nordic Noir
    • Introduction
    • Background
    • Book Recommendations
    • By Country
    • Interviews
    • Reviews
    • Features
  • Features
  • Monthly Releases
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  • Quick Reviews: Psychological Thrillers
  • Quick Reviews: Detective Novels & Scandi Crime
  • Go-to Book Recs
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the cbtb blog

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

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CBTB's Weekend Checklist - 9/22/18

September 22, 2018

Happy weekend, readers! It’s been a little while since I did a Weekend Checklist - so I’m rectifying that today! In this post, you’ll find all the crime fiction entertainment I’m recommending - and loving myself! - this weekend, including a “Weekend Binge-Read,” a true-crime podcast recommendation, a TV series, and more. Without further ado, let’s dive right in. Happy reading!

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In Weekend Checklist Tags Weekend Checklist, Lars Kepler, Ragnar Jonasson, Picnic at Hanging Rock, Dr. Death
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Book Review: THE CRAFTSMAN by Sharon Bolton

September 18, 2018

Have you read a crime novel by Sharon Bolton yet? If not, make THE CRAFTSMAN your entree into this prolific UK-based author’s world. As a newcomer to Bolton’s work myself, I can safely say I have been missing out. Told primarily through an extended flashback, THE CRAFTSMAN immerses readers in the case that defined protagonist Florence Lovelady’s career as a police officer in the small village of Lancashire, England: a series of twisted child murders. THE CRAFTSMAN is just about everything you could hope for from a fall thriller: it’s deliciously chilling, rich in atmosphere, and laced with a touch of the supernatural. Add into this already-appealing mix a fiercely independent female protagonist and a decades-old mystery, and you’ve got yourself a recipe for fall reading success. Now, I consider myself quite skeptical when it comes to crime novels with supernatural elements, but my skepticism was, in this case, totally unnecessary. Much like the ghost stories of Icelandic crime writer Yrsa Sigurdardottir, Sharon Bolton’s newest thriller gracefully blends real world and supernatural scares. The result? A suspense novel that feels all the more immersive for the unique world built within its pages. In short, I savored every page of this spine-tingling mystery, and highly recommend THE CRAFTSMAN for your October (and Halloween, in particular!) reading lists.

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In Book Review Tags The Craftsman, Sharon Bolton
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Bouchercon Author Interview: Caz Frear

September 17, 2018

One of the very best things about attending crime conferences like Bouchercon is having the chance to learn about the books you love from their authors. While at this year’s Bouchercon, I had the wonderful opportunity to interview Caz Frear, author of SWEET LITTLE LIES - an exceptional debut that just released in August! SWEET LITTLE LIES tells the story of a young female police officer whose personal life collides with her professional life in a chilling and layered mystery. I absolutely loved this book, and was so excited to sit down with its very talented author to talk about her debut, her book’s protagonist, what comes next for her, and more.

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In Author Q&A Tags Sweet Little Lies, Caz Frear, Bouchercon
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Bouchercon Journal 2018.jpg

Crime Festival Journal: Bouchercon 2018

September 13, 2018

This past weekend, I had the incredible opportunity to attend Bouchercon 2018! Known as the “World Mystery Convention,” Bouchercon brings together crime writers, readers, industry members, and more for a long weekend of crime fiction fun. One of my personal favorite things about Bouchercon is that it changes location every year; last year, Bouchercon was held in Toronto, Canada, and this year it was held in St. Petersburg, Florida! There’s nothing more inspiring to me than spending time with folks who are as passionate about the crime fiction genre as I am, and I left Bouchercon 2018 feeling totally energized and excited by all that I learned over the course of the conference. In my Bouchercon 2018 Crime Festival Journal, you will find a day-by-day recap of my time in St. Petersburg, including book and author recommendations from the weekend, recaps of author interviews and panels, and lots of photos!

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In Crime Book Festival Tags Bouchercon 2018, Bouchercon, Crime Festival, Lee Child, Sara Blaedel, Yrsa Sigurdardottir, Ragnar Jonasson, Lisa Unger, Caz Frear, St. Petersburg
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Sweet Little Lies_Frear.jpg

Book Review: SWEET LITTLE LIES by Caz Frear

September 11, 2018

There’s something about the tried-and-true police procedural that always keeps me coming back for more—and finding an author who can write a police procedural in as fresh, modern a way as can Caz Frear is a genuine treat. SWEET LITTLE LIES follows a female policewoman in London whose personal life collides with her work in a dark and dangerous way. Cat Kinsella is called to the scene of a crime: the body of a young woman has been found not far from the pub that her estranged father still runs. Things become stranger still when Cat receives a mysterious call linking this murder to the disappearance of a young woman in Ireland years prior—a young woman whom Cat and her family saw just days before she went missing. Cat had long suspected that her father knew more about the young woman’s disappearance than he admitted… and her latest work assignment will now give her a new opportunity to investigate her own past. SWEET LITTLE LIES is an astonishingly assured debut; Cat Kinsella is a fantastic protagonist, and readers will love the complexity and precision of plotting Caz Frear puts forth in this mystery. With her first suspense novel, Frear has established herself as an author to watch - I have no doubt we’ll be hearing of Frear’s work for years to come. Highly recommended for readers looking for a slow-burning, layered mystery that puts a fresh spin on classic police procedurals, and injects a male-dominated genre with a fiercely feminist protagonist.

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In Book Review Tags Sweet Little Lies, Caz Frear, Police Procedural
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CBTb's Current Read:

Hunting Game (An Embla Nyström Investigation)
By Helene Tursten

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Feb 15, 2019
Q&A: Yrsa Sigurdardottir, Author of THE RECKONING
Feb 15, 2019
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Feb 14, 2019
Book Review: THE STRANGER DIARIES by Elly Griffiths
Feb 14, 2019
Feb 14, 2019
Feb 12, 2019
Q&A: Lucy Foley, Author of THE HUNTING PARTY
Feb 12, 2019
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May this cute little bear latte art brighten your day as much as it brightened mine. 🥰🙌🏻 •
So... guess who finished her latest read in just about 2 sittings...?! 🤔 It’s been just about forever since I binge-read a book quite as quickly as I did HUNTING GAME by Helene Tursten. And the greatest irony of all? I thought this was going to be a really slow-burning read that would take me a little while to get through. 😂 Here’s the thing: HUNTING GAME *is* a slow-burner of a story, but it’s also delightfully readable. This is a quiet sort of mystery; it’s grounded in reality and focused more on atmosphere-building & character development than flashy twists or gory violence. It’s got a fantastic premise that feels inspired by the “locked room mystery”: a group of hunters in rural Sweden are struck by tragedy when two of their own go missing, and suspicion falls on the group. 🔎 Tursten does a fantastic job crafting an immersive mystery that will keep you engaged with steady pacing, spare prose, and compact chapters. If you’re a fan of classic detective novels, it will be RIGHT up your alley. 👌🏻 •
Who here loves a good classic detective story?! 🕵🏻‍♀️ What are some of your favorites?
Wintry Nordic mystery with a strong female protagonist? Sign me up. 🕵🏻‍♀️🖤 Many thanks to Soho Press for my review copy of Helene Tursten’s HUNTING GAME, on sale February 26th! 🔎
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One of the questions I get most often is “don’t you ever get tired of reading crime novels?!” And the answer is, invariably, no - because the crime genre encompasses SO much. 🙌🏻 My personal trick that helps keep things fresh for me as a reader = I mix up the sub-genres I’m reading back to back. SO because my last read (THE WOMAN IN THE DARK) was a fast-paced psychological suspense novel, I’m opting to make my next read something more atmospheric & slow-burning - and Helene Tursten’s HUNTING GAME looks just the thing to suit my mood. 👌🏻🖤
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A little backstory: Helene Tursten is best known for her Irene Huss series, which has been translated into 18 languages (!) *and* adapted into a television series. BUT with her new book, HUNTING GAME, she launches a brand-new series featuring a totally new protagonist: Detective Inspector Embla Nyström. 🕵🏻‍♀️
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Embla Nyström is a 28-year old detective working for the police in Gothenburg, Sweden. Plagued by chronic nightmares and anxiety for as long as she can remember, Embla has learned to channel her emotions and anxious energy into her work, and into sports - she is both a talented hunter and a prize-winning welterweight boxer. 💪🏻 When readers meet her in HUNTING GAME, Embla is taking a vacation from her high-stress job, traveling to her uncle’s cabin in the countryside with a group of fellow hunters. But when a string of unsettling incidents occur, culminating in the disappearance of two of the group, Embla takes charge, delving into the dark past of her traveling companions in search of a killer. 🔎
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I’ve been loving the resurgence of “locked room” style mysteries we’ve been seeing lately - and HUNTING GAME sounds like it might have some similar structures to it!! 👌🏻 I’m excited to give this one a read. 🤓 What do you think: does this sound up your alley?! 🔎
🕵🏻‍♀️ FRIDAY GIVEAWAY 🕵🏻‍♀️ I’m so excited to team up with @Minotaur_Books to give away 5 hardcover copies of THE RECKONING, the brilliant new book by Yrsa Sigurdardottir! 🔎
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Yrsa Sigurdardottir (aka Iceland’s Queen of Crime 🇮🇸) is one of my favorite authors. 👌🏻 If you’re a fan of Nordic Noir, her books belong on your TBR! 🤓 This week, Yrsa’s newest book THE RECKONING went on sale in the US, & today on the blog I’m sharing a Q&A with Yrsa giving you a behind-the-scenes peek into the read! 🔎 In our Q&A, you can learn about the characters central to this story, the inspiration behind the book, how dangerous Iceland *really* is, & a whole lot more!! Direct link in my IG profile 🕵🏻‍♀️🖤
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SO to celebrate this book’s release, I’m teaming up with Minotaur to give 5 lucky readers a copy! 🤓 Enter below! •
GIVEAWAY RULES: 🔎 Giveaway closes 2/22
🔎 US entrants only 
TO ENTER:
🔎 Follow @minotaur_books & @crimebythebook 🔎 Like this photo & tag 2 friends in the comments 🔎 For one extra entry, share in your stories! 🔎 Reminder: giveaway not affiliated with or sponsored by Instagram. 
GOOD LUCK! 🕵🏻‍♀️🖤
PSA to my future Valentine: I really only want books for Valentine’s Day. 😉❤️ (Or a trip back to Iceland to visit this gorgeous bookstore would work, too! 😂) •
If you’re celebrating Valentine’s Day today, I hope you’re having a wonderful day!! If, like me, you’re celebrating another Thriller Thursday filled with good books, I hope you’re having a great day too 😉🤓 BUT speaking of things to love: today on my blog I’m sharing a full review of THE STRANGER DIARIES by Elly Griffiths, available in the US on March 5th! I absolutely adored this bookish mystery & its Gothic touches, and can’t wait for you guys to get your hands on it. 👌🏻🙌🏻 Direct link to my review in my IG profile! 🕵🏻‍♀️
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My plans tonight will involve making progress in my current read (THE WOMAN IN THE DARK by Vanessa Savage) annnd probably watching a horror movie with my roomie. 😂 I’m just about done with THE WOMAN IN THE DARK, and I’m definitely enjoying a good deal about it... but I’m still just not 100% sold. 🤔 I will say, though, that this book has improved quite significantly the more it’s progressed - it’s definitely becoming creepier & creepier, which I’m loving. 👌🏻 Full review to come on this one soon! •
In the spirit of Valentine’s Day... Who are some of your favorite “book boyfriends” and/or “book girlfriends”?! My fave book boyfriend is (obviously😂) Harry Hole, from Jo Nesbø’s series!🕵🏻‍♀️
Halfway through the week & halfway through my current read 🕵🏻‍♀️, both thanks to coffee. 😉☕️
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In case you missed it: yesterday on the blog I shared a Q&A with Lucy Foley, author of THE HUNTING PARTY - which went on sale in the US yesterday!! 🎉 I absolutely *loved* learning more about this fantastic atmospheric locked room mystery from its very talented author ♡ head to my website via the link in my IG profile to read the Q&A! 🤓
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In reading news... I’m happy to report my experience with my current read (THE WOMAN IN THE DARK by Vanessa Savage, on sale in March) has improved quite a bit!! 👌🏻 This story definitely got off to a rocky start, with rushed pacing & abrupt character introductions. But the more time I spend reading it, the more I’m getting into the flow of the story. It has a VERY creepy atmosphere, which I’m loving: a house known as the “Murder House”, aka a home where a terrible crime was committed. 😳 It’s definitely quite chilling, which I’m enjoying!! So far, I’m leaning towards making this one a book I’d recommend you borrow from your library, rather than spend $$ buying - but I’ll keep you guys posted as I reach the book’s conclusion! 👍🏻
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It’s the middle of the week, so let’s do some cheerleading for ourselves! What’s one thing you’ve accomplished so far this week that you’re particularly excited about?! For me, I’m excited because I *finally* feel on top of my content plans for my website - which was no small task. 😂
Wishing I could be at this pretty little coffee shop this afternoon with my current read ♡ •
I’m about 70-ish pages into THE WOMAN IN THE DARK by Vanessa Savage, and so far I’m having some mixed feelings. I love the concept behind this book: it’s totally creepy & chilling, and reminds me of a scary movie, which I love. 😉👌🏻 It’s also got a nice gloomy, chilling sense of place in the seaside town where the “Murder House” is - not to mention I love stories that center around buildings with dark histories! BUT so far my experience has been that it’s a bit abrupt somehow. 🤔 As in, I felt like I was dropped into the story without much introduction, and then the story has pretty quickly forward without enough time spent setting the scene/establishing the personalities and stories of each character. I’m definitely going to continue reading with an open mind - I’m just hoping I get a bit more backstory & depth of character development as the book progresses! I’ll keep you guys posted! •
What kind of settings do you find most compelling in a crime story?! Personally, I’m always drawn to stories that center around creepy houses with bizarre histories, psychiatric institutions, and/or Scandinavian cities/towns!! 😉🖤
Headed back to NYC & ready to dig into my next read, courtesy of @GrandCentralPub 🕵🏻‍♀️ THE WOMAN IN THE DARK by Vanessa Savage is available March 12th, & sounds all kinds of creepy 👌🏻 sign me up! •
Who here loves all things horror?! 🙋🏻‍♀️ I’m a HUGE horror movie fan, and I love crime novels that incorporate horror-inspired touches. 👌🏻 (E.g. FINAL GIRLS by Riley Sager, THE WEIGHT OF LIES by Emily Carpenter, & THE HIDING PLACE by C.J. Tudor, to name a few!) If this describes you, too, then my next read is one to keep your eye on. 🤓 The plot of this book makes me think of Season 1 of American Horror Story - anyone else?! (Read on for plot info!)
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THE WOMAN IN THE DARK follows a married couple whose life is shattered by the passing of wife Sarah’s mother. Mired in grief and depression at the loss of her mother, Sarah begins to lose a grip on her life. Her husband, Patrick, is desperate to help his wife process her grief and find her footing again. To give the family a fresh start, he moves them to the idyllic beachside home where he grew up. The only problem? The house has stood empty for 15 years, ever since the previous occupants were murdered within its walls. Patrick has faith this can be their dream home... but with the locals whispering that the house is haunted, Sarah can’t shake the feeling that something isn’t right. Not with the house, not with the town, and not even with her beloved husband, whose stories of his childhood aren’t adding up... can Sarah uncover the secrets of the Murder House before another family is destroyed? 😳
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I’m totally here for thrillers that have horror touches to them, and this book sure sounds like it does!! I’m hoping this will be a creepy & spine-tingling read - I’ll keep you guys posted. 🕵🏻‍♀️ What do you think: does this sound up your alley?!
Saturday spent well: a latte ☕️, a good book 📖, & a whole lot of relaxation time 🙌🏻
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Feeling so pampered today & I’m loving it. 😉 I swapped out this latte ☝🏻 for a glass of wine 🍷 at my favorite hair salon this afternoon where I’m currently getting my hair done 😍 I haven’t had a real haircut in AGES and I’m feeling like a new woman already. 💁🏻‍♀️ PLUS I’ve got a great book to read while my hair dye processes, so that’s an added bonus. 🤓
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Guys, I’m HOOKED on MY LOVELY WIFE. 😱 I’ve gotten a TON of questions about this book, primarily relating to how dark or violent it is. Interestingly, this book is NOT violent or gory. It definitely deals with a dark premise, but there’s a levity to the story that’s super refreshing. I love a dark crime novel a whole lot, but sometimes it’s nice to mix it up - and if you’re in the mood for something lighter that still is definitely crime-y, this book is it. 👌🏻 This story is totally twisted: following a husband & wife who kill people for fun. 😳 BUT the author primarily focuses on the inner workings of their family/relationship, not on the actual murders. That’s something to keep in mind when deciding if this one is for you: if you want something that’s heavier or more focused on solving mysteries, this book won’t be what you’re looking for. BUT if you want something a bit wild & fun while still centering around dark subject matter, this will be up your alley. 🕵🏻‍♀️
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What are your Saturday plans?! I hope you’re having a great day!❤️
Fact: Central Park is beautiful in every season. 🖤🙌🏻
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Today on the blog I’m SO excited to share an author Q&A with the amazing C.J. Tudor, author of THE HIDING PLACE - a brilliant (& spine-tingling 😳) suspense novel that went on sale earlier this week!! 🕵🏻‍♀️ I had SO much fun reading C.J.’s responses to my questions, and am so excited to share them with you, too. 😍 in this Q&A, we cover everything from the inspiration behind THE HIDING PLACE to the crime books she’s recently read & loved to the next book she’s writing. 🤓🖤 Direct link to the Q&A in my IG profile!! •
In reading news, I’m CRUISING through MY LOVELY WIFE by Samantha Downing! I’m already ~150 pages in, and dying to keep reading. 🤓 This book is totally addictive and also CREEPY. I love the way the author takes a popular suspense concept - the idea that we don’t know our neighbors as well as we might think - and pushes it in a verrry unique & chilling direction. The comparison to Mr & Mrs Smith is spot-on. 👌🏻 There’s something deliciously wicked about this story - it’s unapologetically sinister and ALSO unapologetically fun to read. It’s an excellent, hugely entertaining combination. 🔎
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If you could interview ANY author out there... who would you pick?! 🤔
Not enough coffee in the world today guys. Not enough coffee in the world. ☕️😂 •
It’s been one of those “busy all day but what did I accomplish” kinda days today. 🙈 all I know is: at the end of a day like this, I’m SO glad I can look forward to going back to my apartment & digging in to an engrossing book. 🤓
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I started MY LOVELY WIFE by Samantha Downing on my subway ride to work this AM, and I’m totally hooked so far. 👌🏻 This book has a dark premise: a husband and wife who kill people together to keep their marriage interesting. 😳 BUT what I’m loving so far is that it somehow manages to be lighthearted too?! The premise for this book is undeniably a bit out there - and, going into it, my hope was that the author would have some fun with this wild concept... and  that’s exactly how it’s playing out so far! 🙌🏻 I’m still early in the book, but I’m already loving that the author doesn’t take herself too seriously. It’s definitely a dark story, no doubt about that, but there’s a certain levity to the author’s writing that makes the concept work really well - at least so far. 😉👌🏻 •
Do you guys tend to prefer darker, more intense crime stories? Or are you a fan of lighter suspense reads? 🕵🏻‍♀️

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  • Crime by the Book
    May this cute little bear latte art brighten your day as much as it brightened mine. 🥰🙌🏻 • So... guess who finishe… https://t.co/kJyiiOZ1Zf
    about 9 hours ago
  • Crime by the Book
    RT @TheRealBookSpy: A Book Spy Review: ‘Her Father’s Secret’ by @sarablaedel @GrandCentralPub https://t.co/a8Til0Vm7R
    about 12 hours ago
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    Best use of time on my day off from work: a visit to @TheMysterious 🕵🏻‍♀️ https://t.co/BLav4rLrUC
    about a day ago
  • Crime by the Book
    So excited to dig into the newest from Helene Tursten: #HuntingGame, on sale in just about a week from @soho_press… https://t.co/H9QRbd7UjI
    about 2 days ago
  • Crime by the Book
    Wintry Nordic mystery with a strong female protagonist? Sign me up. 🕵🏻‍♀️🖤 Many thanks to Soho Press for my review… https://t.co/MZkrT18dox
    about 2 days ago

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