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Crime by the Book

A girl investigates crime fiction from around the world, by the book.
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the cbtb blog

One girl's ongoing investigation of the crime fiction genre.

Review: In a Dark, Dark Wood

September 2, 2015

Looking for an excuse to stay up all night? You just found one. Ruth Ware's IN A DARK, DARK WOOD is a compulsively readable, spine-tingling thriller—an AND THEN THERE WERE NONE for the modern day. My only recommendation? Read with all the lights on.

Leonora (aka Lee, or Nora) is a writer by trade, living a reclusive life but happy life in London. After distancing herself from the toxic friendships of her childhood, Nora is content in her seclusion, and in the stability of her life. Then, an unexpected invitation arrives. Nora is being summoned to the bachelorette (hen) celebration for her childhood best friend, Clare. A train ride later, a very hesitant Nora finds herself trapped in a mansion in the middle of the woods, celebrating a former friend she hasn't spoken to in years. As tensions rise and circumstances grow strained, Nora begins to wonder if she will ever make it back to her happy life in London...

IN A DARK, DARK WOOD has been compared to Gillian Flynn's work, but to this reader, a more apt comparison can be made between Ruth Ware and Agatha Christie. Ware's addictive thriller exhibits all the characteristics of a classic Christie: unexpected invitation to an isolated location, the gathering together of an unlikely cast of characters, and proverbial breadcrumbs of information leading the reader deeper and deeper into a maze of deceit. Add in the amenities of 21st century life, a toxic friendship, and the pain of long-lost love, and you have yourself a masterful, and truly unique, piece of crime fiction.

One additional thought: Ware's exploration of toxic friendships elevated this novel for me, and left me thinking about the long-term effects of a really harmful friendship. Many of us have dealt with these friendships in one form or another; a friend who "chooses" you and makes you feel special, while also seriously undermining your self-worth and individuality. Ware's dramatization of this concept hits the nail on the head, and I consider it an unexpected bonus that this already totally entertaining read leaves us with some substantial food for thought.

In Book Recommendation Tags Book Recommendation, Book Review, Simon and Schuster, Gallery Books, Books, Thriller, Crime Fiction
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Hunting Game (An Embla Nyström Investigation)
By Helene Tursten

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Q&A: Lucy Foley, Author of THE HUNTING PARTY
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May this cute little bear latte art brighten your day as much as it brightened mine. 🥰🙌🏻 •
So... guess who finished her latest read in just about 2 sittings...?! 🤔 It’s been just about forever since I binge-read a book quite as quickly as I did HUNTING GAME by Helene Tursten. And the greatest irony of all? I thought this was going to be a really slow-burning read that would take me a little while to get through. 😂 Here’s the thing: HUNTING GAME *is* a slow-burner of a story, but it’s also delightfully readable. This is a quiet sort of mystery; it’s grounded in reality and focused more on atmosphere-building & character development than flashy twists or gory violence. It’s got a fantastic premise that feels inspired by the “locked room mystery”: a group of hunters in rural Sweden are struck by tragedy when two of their own go missing, and suspicion falls on the group. 🔎 Tursten does a fantastic job crafting an immersive mystery that will keep you engaged with steady pacing, spare prose, and compact chapters. If you’re a fan of classic detective novels, it will be RIGHT up your alley. 👌🏻 •
Who here loves a good classic detective story?! 🕵🏻‍♀️ What are some of your favorites?
Wintry Nordic mystery with a strong female protagonist? Sign me up. 🕵🏻‍♀️🖤 Many thanks to Soho Press for my review copy of Helene Tursten’s HUNTING GAME, on sale February 26th! 🔎
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One of the questions I get most often is “don’t you ever get tired of reading crime novels?!” And the answer is, invariably, no - because the crime genre encompasses SO much. 🙌🏻 My personal trick that helps keep things fresh for me as a reader = I mix up the sub-genres I’m reading back to back. SO because my last read (THE WOMAN IN THE DARK) was a fast-paced psychological suspense novel, I’m opting to make my next read something more atmospheric & slow-burning - and Helene Tursten’s HUNTING GAME looks just the thing to suit my mood. 👌🏻🖤
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A little backstory: Helene Tursten is best known for her Irene Huss series, which has been translated into 18 languages (!) *and* adapted into a television series. BUT with her new book, HUNTING GAME, she launches a brand-new series featuring a totally new protagonist: Detective Inspector Embla Nyström. 🕵🏻‍♀️
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Embla Nyström is a 28-year old detective working for the police in Gothenburg, Sweden. Plagued by chronic nightmares and anxiety for as long as she can remember, Embla has learned to channel her emotions and anxious energy into her work, and into sports - she is both a talented hunter and a prize-winning welterweight boxer. 💪🏻 When readers meet her in HUNTING GAME, Embla is taking a vacation from her high-stress job, traveling to her uncle’s cabin in the countryside with a group of fellow hunters. But when a string of unsettling incidents occur, culminating in the disappearance of two of the group, Embla takes charge, delving into the dark past of her traveling companions in search of a killer. 🔎
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I’ve been loving the resurgence of “locked room” style mysteries we’ve been seeing lately - and HUNTING GAME sounds like it might have some similar structures to it!! 👌🏻 I’m excited to give this one a read. 🤓 What do you think: does this sound up your alley?! 🔎
🕵🏻‍♀️ FRIDAY GIVEAWAY 🕵🏻‍♀️ I’m so excited to team up with @Minotaur_Books to give away 5 hardcover copies of THE RECKONING, the brilliant new book by Yrsa Sigurdardottir! 🔎
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Yrsa Sigurdardottir (aka Iceland’s Queen of Crime 🇮🇸) is one of my favorite authors. 👌🏻 If you’re a fan of Nordic Noir, her books belong on your TBR! 🤓 This week, Yrsa’s newest book THE RECKONING went on sale in the US, & today on the blog I’m sharing a Q&A with Yrsa giving you a behind-the-scenes peek into the read! 🔎 In our Q&A, you can learn about the characters central to this story, the inspiration behind the book, how dangerous Iceland *really* is, & a whole lot more!! Direct link in my IG profile 🕵🏻‍♀️🖤
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SO to celebrate this book’s release, I’m teaming up with Minotaur to give 5 lucky readers a copy! 🤓 Enter below! •
GIVEAWAY RULES: 🔎 Giveaway closes 2/22
🔎 US entrants only 
TO ENTER:
🔎 Follow @minotaur_books & @crimebythebook 🔎 Like this photo & tag 2 friends in the comments 🔎 For one extra entry, share in your stories! 🔎 Reminder: giveaway not affiliated with or sponsored by Instagram. 
GOOD LUCK! 🕵🏻‍♀️🖤
PSA to my future Valentine: I really only want books for Valentine’s Day. 😉❤️ (Or a trip back to Iceland to visit this gorgeous bookstore would work, too! 😂) •
If you’re celebrating Valentine’s Day today, I hope you’re having a wonderful day!! If, like me, you’re celebrating another Thriller Thursday filled with good books, I hope you’re having a great day too 😉🤓 BUT speaking of things to love: today on my blog I’m sharing a full review of THE STRANGER DIARIES by Elly Griffiths, available in the US on March 5th! I absolutely adored this bookish mystery & its Gothic touches, and can’t wait for you guys to get your hands on it. 👌🏻🙌🏻 Direct link to my review in my IG profile! 🕵🏻‍♀️
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My plans tonight will involve making progress in my current read (THE WOMAN IN THE DARK by Vanessa Savage) annnd probably watching a horror movie with my roomie. 😂 I’m just about done with THE WOMAN IN THE DARK, and I’m definitely enjoying a good deal about it... but I’m still just not 100% sold. 🤔 I will say, though, that this book has improved quite significantly the more it’s progressed - it’s definitely becoming creepier & creepier, which I’m loving. 👌🏻 Full review to come on this one soon! •
In the spirit of Valentine’s Day... Who are some of your favorite “book boyfriends” and/or “book girlfriends”?! My fave book boyfriend is (obviously😂) Harry Hole, from Jo Nesbø’s series!🕵🏻‍♀️
Halfway through the week & halfway through my current read 🕵🏻‍♀️, both thanks to coffee. 😉☕️
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In case you missed it: yesterday on the blog I shared a Q&A with Lucy Foley, author of THE HUNTING PARTY - which went on sale in the US yesterday!! 🎉 I absolutely *loved* learning more about this fantastic atmospheric locked room mystery from its very talented author ♡ head to my website via the link in my IG profile to read the Q&A! 🤓
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In reading news... I’m happy to report my experience with my current read (THE WOMAN IN THE DARK by Vanessa Savage, on sale in March) has improved quite a bit!! 👌🏻 This story definitely got off to a rocky start, with rushed pacing & abrupt character introductions. But the more time I spend reading it, the more I’m getting into the flow of the story. It has a VERY creepy atmosphere, which I’m loving: a house known as the “Murder House”, aka a home where a terrible crime was committed. 😳 It’s definitely quite chilling, which I’m enjoying!! So far, I’m leaning towards making this one a book I’d recommend you borrow from your library, rather than spend $$ buying - but I’ll keep you guys posted as I reach the book’s conclusion! 👍🏻
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It’s the middle of the week, so let’s do some cheerleading for ourselves! What’s one thing you’ve accomplished so far this week that you’re particularly excited about?! For me, I’m excited because I *finally* feel on top of my content plans for my website - which was no small task. 😂
Wishing I could be at this pretty little coffee shop this afternoon with my current read ♡ •
I’m about 70-ish pages into THE WOMAN IN THE DARK by Vanessa Savage, and so far I’m having some mixed feelings. I love the concept behind this book: it’s totally creepy & chilling, and reminds me of a scary movie, which I love. 😉👌🏻 It’s also got a nice gloomy, chilling sense of place in the seaside town where the “Murder House” is - not to mention I love stories that center around buildings with dark histories! BUT so far my experience has been that it’s a bit abrupt somehow. 🤔 As in, I felt like I was dropped into the story without much introduction, and then the story has pretty quickly forward without enough time spent setting the scene/establishing the personalities and stories of each character. I’m definitely going to continue reading with an open mind - I’m just hoping I get a bit more backstory & depth of character development as the book progresses! I’ll keep you guys posted! •
What kind of settings do you find most compelling in a crime story?! Personally, I’m always drawn to stories that center around creepy houses with bizarre histories, psychiatric institutions, and/or Scandinavian cities/towns!! 😉🖤
Headed back to NYC & ready to dig into my next read, courtesy of @GrandCentralPub 🕵🏻‍♀️ THE WOMAN IN THE DARK by Vanessa Savage is available March 12th, & sounds all kinds of creepy 👌🏻 sign me up! •
Who here loves all things horror?! 🙋🏻‍♀️ I’m a HUGE horror movie fan, and I love crime novels that incorporate horror-inspired touches. 👌🏻 (E.g. FINAL GIRLS by Riley Sager, THE WEIGHT OF LIES by Emily Carpenter, & THE HIDING PLACE by C.J. Tudor, to name a few!) If this describes you, too, then my next read is one to keep your eye on. 🤓 The plot of this book makes me think of Season 1 of American Horror Story - anyone else?! (Read on for plot info!)
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THE WOMAN IN THE DARK follows a married couple whose life is shattered by the passing of wife Sarah’s mother. Mired in grief and depression at the loss of her mother, Sarah begins to lose a grip on her life. Her husband, Patrick, is desperate to help his wife process her grief and find her footing again. To give the family a fresh start, he moves them to the idyllic beachside home where he grew up. The only problem? The house has stood empty for 15 years, ever since the previous occupants were murdered within its walls. Patrick has faith this can be their dream home... but with the locals whispering that the house is haunted, Sarah can’t shake the feeling that something isn’t right. Not with the house, not with the town, and not even with her beloved husband, whose stories of his childhood aren’t adding up... can Sarah uncover the secrets of the Murder House before another family is destroyed? 😳
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I’m totally here for thrillers that have horror touches to them, and this book sure sounds like it does!! I’m hoping this will be a creepy & spine-tingling read - I’ll keep you guys posted. 🕵🏻‍♀️ What do you think: does this sound up your alley?!
Saturday spent well: a latte ☕️, a good book 📖, & a whole lot of relaxation time 🙌🏻
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Feeling so pampered today & I’m loving it. 😉 I swapped out this latte ☝🏻 for a glass of wine 🍷 at my favorite hair salon this afternoon where I’m currently getting my hair done 😍 I haven’t had a real haircut in AGES and I’m feeling like a new woman already. 💁🏻‍♀️ PLUS I’ve got a great book to read while my hair dye processes, so that’s an added bonus. 🤓
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Guys, I’m HOOKED on MY LOVELY WIFE. 😱 I’ve gotten a TON of questions about this book, primarily relating to how dark or violent it is. Interestingly, this book is NOT violent or gory. It definitely deals with a dark premise, but there’s a levity to the story that’s super refreshing. I love a dark crime novel a whole lot, but sometimes it’s nice to mix it up - and if you’re in the mood for something lighter that still is definitely crime-y, this book is it. 👌🏻 This story is totally twisted: following a husband & wife who kill people for fun. 😳 BUT the author primarily focuses on the inner workings of their family/relationship, not on the actual murders. That’s something to keep in mind when deciding if this one is for you: if you want something that’s heavier or more focused on solving mysteries, this book won’t be what you’re looking for. BUT if you want something a bit wild & fun while still centering around dark subject matter, this will be up your alley. 🕵🏻‍♀️
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What are your Saturday plans?! I hope you’re having a great day!❤️
Fact: Central Park is beautiful in every season. 🖤🙌🏻
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Today on the blog I’m SO excited to share an author Q&A with the amazing C.J. Tudor, author of THE HIDING PLACE - a brilliant (& spine-tingling 😳) suspense novel that went on sale earlier this week!! 🕵🏻‍♀️ I had SO much fun reading C.J.’s responses to my questions, and am so excited to share them with you, too. 😍 in this Q&A, we cover everything from the inspiration behind THE HIDING PLACE to the crime books she’s recently read & loved to the next book she’s writing. 🤓🖤 Direct link to the Q&A in my IG profile!! •
In reading news, I’m CRUISING through MY LOVELY WIFE by Samantha Downing! I’m already ~150 pages in, and dying to keep reading. 🤓 This book is totally addictive and also CREEPY. I love the way the author takes a popular suspense concept - the idea that we don’t know our neighbors as well as we might think - and pushes it in a verrry unique & chilling direction. The comparison to Mr & Mrs Smith is spot-on. 👌🏻 There’s something deliciously wicked about this story - it’s unapologetically sinister and ALSO unapologetically fun to read. It’s an excellent, hugely entertaining combination. 🔎
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If you could interview ANY author out there... who would you pick?! 🤔
Not enough coffee in the world today guys. Not enough coffee in the world. ☕️😂 •
It’s been one of those “busy all day but what did I accomplish” kinda days today. 🙈 all I know is: at the end of a day like this, I’m SO glad I can look forward to going back to my apartment & digging in to an engrossing book. 🤓
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I started MY LOVELY WIFE by Samantha Downing on my subway ride to work this AM, and I’m totally hooked so far. 👌🏻 This book has a dark premise: a husband and wife who kill people together to keep their marriage interesting. 😳 BUT what I’m loving so far is that it somehow manages to be lighthearted too?! The premise for this book is undeniably a bit out there - and, going into it, my hope was that the author would have some fun with this wild concept... and  that’s exactly how it’s playing out so far! 🙌🏻 I’m still early in the book, but I’m already loving that the author doesn’t take herself too seriously. It’s definitely a dark story, no doubt about that, but there’s a certain levity to the author’s writing that makes the concept work really well - at least so far. 😉👌🏻 •
Do you guys tend to prefer darker, more intense crime stories? Or are you a fan of lighter suspense reads? 🕵🏻‍♀️

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