This week marks the publication of the newest book by Sara Blaedel, Denmark’s Queen of Crime, in the US! HER FATHER’S SECRET is the second book in Blaedel’s Family Secrets trilogy, following a Danish woman who moves to the U.S. in pursuit of the truth about her estranged father. Set in Racine, Wisconsin, the Family Secrets books explore exactly what their title suggests: the secrets that can exist between those who should know each other best of all. In HER FATHER’S SECRET, series protagonist Ilka finds herself stuck in the middle of a bizarre - and potentially dangerous - situation. After discovering that her now-deceased father had been receiving threatening notes before his death, Ilka sets out to unveil the blackmailer. And when a series of increasingly sinister events begin to occur in Racine, Ilka has to wonder what she’s gotten herself caught up in… Thanks to Grand Central Publishing, I’m delighted to share with CBTB readers an excerpt from HER FATHER’S SECRET by Sara Blaedel, available this week at your favorite book retailer! Read on for plot details, praise for Sara’s work, and the excerpt.
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New Release Tuesday: March 5th, 2019
Talk about starting the month off right! March has a number of exciting new crime reads in store, but today’s bunch of brand-new releases might just be the most exciting of all. Today, March 5th, marks release day for a gripping work of domestic suspense, a bookish crime novel with a Gothic edge, and the newest release from Denmark’s Queen of Crime - and this blog post will give you a quick rundown of each. Clear your TBR - you’ll want to dive into these beauties as soon as possible! Read on for my picks for new crime fiction on sale this week.
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Q&A: Camilla Grebe, Author of AFTER SHE'S GONE
It’s such a pleasure to welcome crime writer Camilla Grebe to CBTB today to discuss her brand-new mystery, AFTER SHE’S GONE, which went on sale earlier this week! AFTER SHE’S GONE is a smart, timely piece of Scandinavian crime fiction - a story both entertaining and thought-provoking. Readers will be engrossed in Camilla Grebe’s chilling new slice of Nordic Noir. I was thrilled to have the chance to ask Camilla a few of my most pressing questions about AFTER SHE’S GONE, and am equally excited to share our conversation with CBTB readers today! In today’s blog post, you can find plot details on Camilla’s newest release, and a behind-the-scenes peek into this compelling crime read.
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Book Review: HUNTING GAME by Helene Tursten
Helene Tursten, best known for her Irene Huss crime fiction series, returns this week with HUNTING GAME—an atmospheric detective novel that launches her brand-new series featuring Detective Inspector Embla Nyström. And what a fantastic series launch it is. HUNTING GAME is in many ways a classic detective novel; its moody atmosphere, measured pacing, and down-to-earth plotting will make it a perfect fit for readers of traditional procedurals. However, thanks to its stellar protagonist, HUNTING GAME feels decidedly modern as well. At the heart of this superb mystery is Embla Nyström, a young woman working for the mobile unit of the police department in Gothenburg, Sweden. Fiercely independent and as physically tough as she is mentally strong, Embla is an inspiring character—but, even better, she’s relatable, too. She’s the kind of down-to-earth, realistic protagonist that readers will wish they could get to know in real life. In a genre where “damaged detectives” with all manner of bad habits and outlandish behavior can seem a dime a dozen, Embla’s realism and relatability set her apart. From its intriguing cast of characters to its immersive atmosphere and delightfully classic crime-inspired plotting, HUNTING GAME is an excellent read from first to last, and the start of a series I will look forward to following.
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Q&A: Yrsa Sigurdardottir, Author of THE RECKONING
No one writes crime fiction quite like Yrsa Sigurdardottir. Dark and gritty, layered and complex, Yrsa’s exceptional crime novels are must-reads for any fan of the Nordic Noir genre - or any reader who just wants a great procedural to sink their teeth into. In 2018, Yrsa launched her new series (the Children’s House series) in the U.S. with The Legacy - and this week, she’s back with book two, THE RECKONING - and it’s every bit as good as its predecessor. The Children’s House series is quickly becoming one of my personal favorites; these books are unflinching in their examination of the lasting legacy of childhood trauma, exploring difficult themes with sensitivity and thoughtfulness. And beyond that, they’re just fantastic crime reading, filled with all the atmosphere and intrigue of the best mysteries. I’m thrilled to welcome Yrsa to Crime by the Book today to give us the inside scoop on her newest release, THE RECKONING! In this Q&A, Yrsa touches on everything from her series’ two protagonists to her writing process to how dangerous Iceland really is. Read on for more details on THE RECKONING, and for my Q&A with Yrsa!
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