Amber Garza’s 2020 psychological suspense novel WHEN I WAS YOU was an instant-hit for me last summer, so when I saw Garza was releasing another thriller this summer, I knew it belonged on my TBR—and I’m so glad I made time for it! Garza’s 2021 thriller WHERE I LEFT HER is a juicy, page-turning work of domestic suspense that takes readers into the heart of a mother’s worst nightmare. In WHERE I LEFT HER, a woman drops her daughter off at a friend’s house for a sleepover, and returns the next day to discover that her daughter has gone missing. With her knack for gripping pacing and dramatic interpersonal relationships, Garza spins an engaging “popcorn read” from this sinister premise. While the book’s finale does veer a bit into the realm of the unrealistic, WHERE I LEFT HER is nevertheless a highly entertaining suspense novel well-suited to readers hoping to sink their teeth into a “popcorn thriller” as the summer draws to a close.
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Book Review: 56 DAYS by Catherine Ryan Howard
Catherine Ryan Howard is one of my favorite “hidden gem” psychological thriller writers who really isn’t that “hidden” anymore—her work is finally getting the widespread acclaim it so richly deserves with the publication of her much-buzzed-about new thriller 56 DAYS, available today in the US. In 56 DAYS, Catherine Ryan Howard gives readers an utterly riveting thriller that weaves timely topics into its gripping and twisty central mystery. In this psychological thriller, a new couple decides to move in together when Covid-19 reaches Ireland’s shores and a strict lockdown is imposed. But before the lockdown period is up, one of them will be dead. Tense, claustrophobic, and wholly original, Catherine Ryan Howard’s 56 DAYS brilliantly uses the geographic restriction of Ireland’s stringent early-2020 lockdown rules to turn up the pressure on our story’s unwitting pair of lovebirds. In 56 DAYS, nothing is what it seems, and no one is to be trusted. 56 DAYS is easily one of my favorite crime books of 2021—pick this one up for a high-concept thriller that brilliantly captures the honeymoon phase of a new relationship and twists it into something dark and sinister as only Catherine Ryan Howard can.
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Book Review: VICTIM WITHOUT A FACE by Stefan Ahnhem
I know I can’t be the only reader out there who seems to have a few books that have just been lingering on their TBR list for way too long… right?! One of my personal 2021 reading goals is to finally make a dent in that list and carve out some time to read crime novels that I’ve had sitting on my to-read pile for what feels like ages now. The latest book I’ve tackled from that list is Stefan Ahnhem’s serial killer thriller VICTIM WITHOUT A FACE, first published in the US in 2016. Set in Sweden and following a troubled detective on the trail of a very darkly inventive murderer, VICTIM WITHOUT A FACE has all the ingredients I look for in a thriller—and the reading experience here delivers. Centering around a killer who appears to be targeting classmates from his youth, VICTIM WITHOUT A FACE exemplifies the intricate plotting, grim mood, and complex character development that keeps me coming back for more Scandinavian crime fiction, book after book and year after year. With appeal for fans of Lars Kepler, Jo Nesbø, and Søren Sveistrup, Stefan Ahnhem’s first Fabian Risk novel made me an instant-fan of this gritty and gripping crime fiction series. If you’re looking for a dark, complex Nordic crime story to dig into as the fall season approaches, consider this oldie-but-a-goodie for your reading list—it’s a worthy addition.
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CBTB's Fall 2021 Most-Anticipated Crime Fiction Debuts
What an absolutely amazing year it’s been for crime books—and it’s far from over! This fall is bringing with it incredible new crime fiction releases from returning favorites and genre newcomers alike. Today I wanted to take a moment to celebrate some of the very exciting new voices in the crime genre whose first thriller novels will be published this fall! In today’s spotlight on buzzy fall crime fiction debuts, I’m rounding up six thrilling debut crime novels that I can’t wait for readers to get their hands on this fall! Some of these books I’ve been lucky enough to read already and others are still on my personal TBR list, but all of them look poised to deliver truly unique, compelling, twisty crime stories for us to devour in the months ahead. From new psychological suspense to legal thrillers, Nordic Noir, and beyond, this list has a little something for everyone. Read on for my picks for most-anticipated crime fiction debuts publishing from September - December 2021, and make space on your fall TBR for these thrilling new releases!
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August 2021 Most-Anticipated Crime Books
Summer is here, and it’s bringing with it some incredible new crime fiction releases for us to devour! Summer 2021 is jam-packed with amazing crime books, some of which I’ve been lucky enough to read already and others that are still on my personal TBR pile. To help you plan your own reading lists, each month this summer I’ll be sharing monthly lists of my personal most-anticipated new crime fiction releases for that respective month. I can’t wait to share these books with you, and I hope they will catch your eye as much as they’ve caught mine! In case you missed it, you can check out my list of Most-Anticipated June 2021 Crime Books here, and Most-Anticipated July 2021 Crime Books here. August 2021 brings with it a number of suspense novels that look perfect for a late-summer vacation, including one of my top favorite books of the year, a returning “popcorn thriller” writer, a highly-anticipated new release by an acclaimed crime writer who hasn’t had a new book in a few years now, and more. August’s new crime fiction lineup looks twisty, binge-worthy, and thrilling, and I can’t wait to share these books with you. Read on for my picks for most-anticipated August 2021 crime fiction!
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