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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.

Book Review: THE DEVIL CREPT IN by Ania Ahlborn

January 17, 2017

THE DEVIL CREPT IN by Ania Ahlborn
Gallery Books; On sale 2/7/17
CBTB Rating: 5/5
The Verdict: masterful, vivid horror

Each time I pick up an Ania Ahlborn book, I'm struck by her gift for storytelling. She has an unnerving ability to draw you into situations that are downright twisted, and make you want to stay there— and THE DEVIL CREPT IN is no exception. In this masterful and chilling horror novel, Ahlborn draws the reader into a story of evil things that surely can't be real... but just might be. 

THE DEVIL CREPT IN begins with a simple premise: a boy (Jude) goes missing, and his younger cousin (Stevie) is determined to find him. Stevie has always been different - prone to seeing things that just aren't there. But with Jude gone, Stevie's imagination really begins to run wild. What is that shadow lurking on the outskirts of town? And what about Max Larsen, another boy who disappeared a few years earlier? Soon Stevie's personal investigation into his cousin's disappearance will draw him into a years-old horror more terrifying than he could ever imagine. 

I have to say, I think sometimes horror books get a bad rap. Just like crime books, skeptics can sometimes write off horror books as somehow "easier" - easier to write, easier to read. Ahlborn's writing should be proof enough that horror writing is as much an art as any work of fiction. THE DEVIL CREPT IN has all the subtlety and intelligence of any family drama. Its intentional plotting and lifelike descriptions round out the read, making it impossible to ignore the skill of its author. 

My favorite aspect of this book was how intentionally Ahlborn lays out her plot. This book begins quite gently, lulling the reader into a false sense of security. Readers are immersed in Stevie's thought process, becoming familiar with his unique habits and ways of viewing the world. And just when readers begin to wonder whether they're really going to be scared by this book, Ahlborn pulls the rug out from under them, revealing a parallel storyline that will deliver all the chills and gore a horror reader might wish for. As the book progresses, these storylines will intersect - with disastrous results. Don't expect this book to come out of the gate with in-your-face scares; just sit back and trust that Ahlborn is setting you up to be very afraid. 

Ahlborn is never excessive, though - even when her story does take a dark turn. Yes, there will be blood and guts and otherworldly evil. But never in excess. Ahlborn knows exactly when and where to drop these moments of violence for maximum effect, keeping her readers on their toes. She also does an excellent job blending supernatural horror and horror that's all too man-made. I'm very particular when it comes to thrillers with a supernatural bent, and Ahlborn's story had just the right balance for me: something otherworldly is happening at its core, but the book's vivid cast of characters kept it grounded in reality, and made it all the more frightening. 

Whether or not you typically read horror, I'd bet that after reading this book, you'll agree that Ahlborn is just a great storyteller. Her writing is beautiful, even when she's describing the ugliest things. I highly recommend THE DEVIL CREPT IN for a bone-chilling, addictive horror story. 


Book Details:

Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Gallery Books (February 7, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-13: 978-1476783758

Amazon link here.

Thank you to Gallery Books and Ania Ahlborn for the review copy! All opinions my own.

In Book Recommendation, Book Review Tags Crime Fiction, Book Review, Book Recommendation, Horror Books
← Crime Book Giveaway: MIDNIGHT SUN by Jo NesboNew Release Tuesday: January 10, 2017 →

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Hunting Game (An Embla Nyström Investigation)
By Helene Tursten

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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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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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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
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🔎 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! 🕵🏻‍♀️🖤
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Fact: Central Park is beautiful in every season. 🖤🙌🏻
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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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Do you guys tend to prefer darker, more intense crime stories? Or are you a fan of lighter suspense reads? 🕵🏻‍♀️

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