CBTB's 10 Best Crime Books of 2021

December 20, 2021

I can hardly believe it, but we’re coming to the end of 2021… and that means that it’s time to celebrate the incredible crime books that this year has given us! Let’s be honest, every year is a great year for new crime fiction, and 2021 was no exception. This year saw the return of some of my personal all-time favorite authors and introduced me to debut and new-to-me crime writers whose work I will be following for years to come. From atmospheric mysteries to page-turning thrillers to Nordic crime fiction and everything in between, 2021 had so much to offer us crime fiction readers. In today’s blog post, I’m thrilled to share my picks for the best of the best that this year had to offer! Today’s blog post is dedicated to rounding up my 10 Best Crime Books of 2021 (and a few bonus selections at the end of this blog post as well!). In keeping with a tradition I started last year, I’ve given each of my selections in this blog post a superlative—everything from “Best Book of 2021” to “Best Plot Twist” to “Best Setting” and more. Whether you’re someone who has been closely following the books I’ve been reading and loving this year or someone who’s just stumbled upon CBTB and is curious what my favorites from the year were, I hope this blog post will be useful! I am so thankful for all of the amazing authors whose books kept us readers company this year, and I hope you’ll find a book or two on this list that catches your eye!

Cover Reveal + Author Q&A: LOCAL GONE MISSING by Fiona Barton

December 16, 2021

I am so honored to be able to exclusively reveal the cover for the newest novel by New York Times bestselling author Fiona Barton: LOCAL GONE MISSING, available in the US on June 21, 2022!! LOCAL GONE MISSING follows a detective investigating a man’s disappearance in a small seaside town, a place rife with tension between locals and weekenders. I’ve been reading Fiona’s work ever since the publication of her bestselling debut The Widow years ago—in fact, an advance copy of The Widow was one of the first advance copies I ever received for review here on Crime by the Book! I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Fiona in person over the years and have loved reading her carefully-crafted and character-driven crime novels. By the time Fiona’s new crime novel is published in 2022, it will have been three years since her last book released in the US, and I for one cannot wait to dig back into her work this coming year. I’m thrilled to be able to spotlight Fiona’s newest book LOCAL GONE MISSING for CBTB readers today! In today’s blog post, you can check out the book’s atmospheric cover, learn more about its plot, and read a mini Q&A with Fiona to get an early inside scoop on her newest release. Many thanks to Fiona for answering my questions about LOCAL GONE MISSING, and to her publisher for allowing me to reveal her book’s gorgeous cover here on CBTB!

Iceland Noir 2021 Festival Journal

December 3, 2021

As I write this, I’m sitting at Keflavik airport heading home from an amazing two weeks in Scandinavia which all revolved around the truly special crime fiction festival Iceland Noir. Iceland Noir 2021 took place from Wednesday, November 17 through Saturday, November 20 in downtown Reykjavik. This year’s festival marked my third time attending Iceland Noir, and I have to say, this was my favorite festival experience yet (and that’s really saying something—I’ve loved every Iceland Noir festival I’ve attended in the past!). In today’s blog post, I wanted to recap my experience at the festival, as well as share information and answer some frequently-asked questions for readers who might be curious about attending the festival in the future! Read on for an overview of my Iceland Noir 2021 experience, including a day-by-day recap of the festival, lots of photos, links to a bunch of book recommendations, frequently asked questions about the festival, and more information on Iceland Noir 2022!

Book Review: HELLO, TRANSCRIBER by Hannah Morrissey

December 2, 2021

Hannah Morrissey’s outstanding debut suspense novel HELLO, TRANSCRIBER delivers a blend I wouldn’t have thought possible if I hadn’t read it myself. In this gripping and rough-around-the-edges suspense story, Morrissey combines a fresh twist on a procedural with psychological suspense and even a touch of romance, all wrapped up in the gritty atmosphere of a small city that has seen better days. Following a woman who has just accepted a job as a transcriber for the local police force, and soon finds herself drawn into a dangerous world when she becomes obsessed with an ongoing investigation in the city, HELLO, TRANSCRIBER is an inventive and irresistible crime story perfect for your winter to-read list. The world Morrissey crafts in HELLO, TRANSCRIBER delivers the appeal of a police procedural—an insider’s glimpse into the inner machinations of policework—coupled with a fresh and engaging suspense plot, a combination sure to thrill genre newcomers and seasoned readers alike. HELLO, TRANCSRIBER is exactly the fresh twist on the procedural that I’ve personally been craving, and it makes Morrissey’s debut a perfect entrée into the world of the procedural for readers who typically gravitate towards lighter psychological suspense. Readers craving something dark and rough around the edges will devour this irresistible tale of intrigue, secrets, and murder.

BUZZWORTHY 2022 BOOKS: GREENWICH PARK by Katherine Faulkner

November 11, 2021

It’s hard to believe it, but a new year is almost upon us—and it’s promising to deliver some outstanding crime and suspense novels! In the lead up to the new year, I’m resurrecting my “Buzzworthy Books” series—a series of “preview” posts dedicated to highlighting a couple of early-2022 releases that I’m particularly excited about! For my first Buzzworthy 2022 Book, I’m so excited to recommend Katherine Faulkner’s outstanding domestic thriller GREENWICH PARK, which will hit US bookstores on January 25th. This exceptional domestic suspense novel delivers a delicious blend of paranoia-inducing plotting and engaging, entertaining interpersonal secrets and drama. Pick this book up for its stunning cover, stay for its wildly addictive and seriously unsettling cat-and-mouse plot. Read on for three reasons you should add GREENWICH PARK by Katherine Faulkner to your 2022 reading list!

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