THE BLOG
Crime by the Book is the result of one girl's ongoing exploration of crime fiction from around the world, by the book. This book review blog operates under the premise that there is a crime read for everyone. My favorite aspect of the crime fiction genre is how expansive and elastic it is: a crime book can include elements of classic literature, romance, historical fiction, action, drama... you name it, there's a crime book that has it. No matter your literary preferences, I can almost guarantee that there is a crime book that will reflect your particular tastes. This makes crime fiction an exciting, ever-changing genre to explore, and I'm thrilled to be connecting with and creating new crime readers every day.
As you read through my blog, you'll notice that my particular crime fiction interests skew towards Scandinavia. When Stieg Larsson's Millennium trilogy hit the U.S., my whole literary world was flung open: suddenly, I found stories that just clicked with me. Reading THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO was a revelation for this reader, and I've spent the years since exploring this genre to the best of my ability. Now, through Crime by the Book, I am thrilled to be able to connect you with exclusive content to give new and seasoned Nordic Noir readers alike a glimpse into the incredible crime fiction hailing from Scandinavia. You will see Scandinavian crime fiction reviews and interviews interspersed throughout my blog; for a detailed discussion of the genre and a consolidated list of my exclusive Scandinavian crime fiction content, check out my dedicated page: EXPERT WITNESS: NORDIC NOIR.
So what's your role in this crime fiction experiment? Explore the blog, find new reads, and let me introduce you to your next favorite read!
the blogger
Hi there! Welcome to Crime by the Book. I'm Abby, the blog's author.
I've been a crime fiction fan ever since I first discovered my mom's childhood collection of Nancy Drew books hiding in a dusty box in our attic. After going on one adventure with the strawberry-blonde sleuth, I was hooked. I've been exploring the best (and worst) in crime fiction ever since.
Now a 20-something working in publishing, I decided to put this love to good use, and this blog is the ever-developing product.
Take a look around, read my reviews, ask me your questions, and find your next favorite crime fiction read in the process.
xx Abby
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!