Summer reading just got a whole lot spicier. May Cobb’s deliciously juicy and wickedly entertaining THE HUNTING WIVES might just be the most gossip-worthy suspense novel of Summer 2021. Centering around an elite clique of wealthy housewives with secrets as big as their home state of Texas, THE HUNTING WIVES invites readers into an exclusive and glamorous world with a dark side. When Sophie relocates her family from Chicago to a small East Texas town, she hopes to give them the kind of peaceful, stable upbringing that was missing from her own childhood. But Sophie’s world is turned upside down when she meets charismatic and mysterious Margot, the ringleader of a group of local affluent housewives who call themselves “The Hunting Wives.” As Sophie falls under Margot’s spell, she is drawn into a dark and dangerous world of parties and hookups. And when someone close to the group turns up dead, and suspicion falls on Sophie, her world threatens to be destroyed forever. THE HUNTING WIVES is dripping with glamour and excess, a razor-sharp thriller about the complexity of female relationships wrapped up in an irresistible, reality-TV-worthy package. Fans of Desperate Housewives and Liane Moriarty’s Big Little Lies will relish this irresistible story of wealthy women behaving very badly, and the (maybe not-so-) innocent woman caught in their crosshairs.
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Book Review: THE GIRL WHO DIED by Ragnar Jonasson
Icelandic crime writer Ragnar Jonasson has been a staple of Crime by the Book ever since I started this blog, and this coming week, Ragnar’s first-ever standalone novel will be published here in the US. THE GIRL WHO DIED is a significant departure for an author who has built an international brand on his classic-crime-inspired detective novels; now, in his newest release, Ragnar sets his sights on a story of psychological suspense that dabbles in the possibly-supernatural. In THE GIRL WHO DIED, readers follow a young woman who accepts a teaching position in a very remote Icelandic village, only to discover that she has unwittingly moved into a community that is even more insular and sinister than she could ever have imagined. Fans of Ragnar’s previous releases will recognize in his newest novel his elegant and subtle writing, and his masterful ability to paint a vivid picture of Iceland’s landscape and atmosphere; readers of Ragnar’s work both new and old will fall under the hypnotic spell of his most chilling story yet in THE GIRL WHO DIED. Though not a traditional Nordic Noir novel, THE GIRL WHO DIED nevertheless holds significant appeal for fans of the Scandinavian crime tradition, and will also appeal to readers who love suspense tinged with the supernatural, and crime stories set in small towns. Pick up THE GIRL WHO DIED for a brooding, slow-burning, haunting tale of suspense.
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Book Review: HER THREE LIVES by Cate Holahan
Cate Holahan is one of my personal must-read, hidden gem suspense writers—an author I can always count on to deliver unique, cleverly-plotted, deliciously entertaining suspense stories. Whether exploring the world of a writer whose new novel begins to blur the lines between fact and fiction in Lies She Told, or taking readers on a luxurious vacation to a summer house where a murder is about to occur in One Little Secret, the books of Cate Holahan’s that I have read have delivered wholly unique and highly entertaining reading experiences. The same can also be said of Cate Holahan’s newest psychological thriller HER THREE LIVES, which will be published this coming Tuesday. In HER THREE LIVES, Holahan weaves a domestic suspense tale of distrust and manipulation. When Jade and Greg’s home is subject to a home invasion, their house isn’t the only thing shattered. Trust between the couple quickly erodes, as both Jade and Greg begin to suspect that their partner may have had something to do with this violent attack. Whose suspicions are correct, and who is to blame? HER THREE LIVES tells a paranoia-inducing tale that will keep readers on their toes until the book’s final pages. Pick this one up for an engrossing vacation (or staycation!) read this spring.
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5 Recommended Suspense Novels Set Within the World of Academia
What is it about dark academia that is just so appealing? I can never resist a suspense novel that draws on the world of academia, and if that sounds like your cup of tea, today’s reading list is for you! I was inspired to write this list after reading one of my most-anticipated suspense novels of 2021, THE MAIDENS by Alex Michaelides, which centers around a murder at Cambridge University. While we wait for the publication of THE MAIDENS in mid-June here in the US, I thought I would round up a few of my personal favorite (and currently-available!) suspense novels that each, in one way or another, dabble in the world of dark academia. From a story of Pretty Little Liars-level drama at a boarding school to a sinister tale of two academics whose work together takes a dangerous turn, this reading list rounds up a few of my personal favorite and most-recommended suspense and mystery novels that incorporate elements of dark academia. As an added bonus, at the end of this blog post I’ve also highlighted three Summer 2021 suspense novels that also put their own unique spins on the world of academic mysteries. Happy reading!
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CBTB's Most-Anticipated Spring & Summer 2021 Crime Books
Is it a little bit early to be talking about summer crime fiction releases? Maybe… though I don’t know about you, but I for one am already eagerly anticipating summer and all that it will bring with it! It’s been a long year since the pandemic began, and I will take any and every excuse to look forward to the future - including looking forward to future crime fiction releases. In that spirit, rather than doing separate Spring 2021 and Summer 2021 Most-Anticipated lists, I decided to combine them both into one massive rundown of the upcoming crime fiction releases that I’m most looking forward to in the coming months! Some of these books I have been fortunate enough to read already, others are waiting for me on my TBR pile, and others I’ve got on pre-order - but all of these books are on my wishlist as we look towards the months ahead. Whether you’re in the mood for light psychological suspense, gritty noir, creepy thrills, or anything in between, there’s a little something on this list for everyone! Grab a cup of coffee and dig into my picks for Most-Anticipated Spring & Summer 2021 Crime Books. For ease of reference, and to help you plan your own summer TBR list, this list is organized by publication month and date.
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