Happy New Release Tuesday!
This week brings with it a whole bunch of fantastic crime fiction releases. From on-trend psychological thrillers to classic detective novels and more, there's a little something for everyone releasing this week!
Read on for CBTB's top recommendations for new crime fiction releases this Tuesday, 6/27/17.
1. THE CHILD by Fiona Barton
The author of breakout 2016 debut THE WIDOW is back with a story that's even more intricate, engaging, and character-driven than her first. Barton weaves a compelling tale of long-buried secrets in THE CHILD. While perhaps not as fast paced as some of its peers, THE CHILD benefits from the detail-oriented and masterful plotting of its author -- this story is made by the complex women at its core. This book is highly recommended for readers looking for a layered, immersive story of psychological suspense.
PLOT SUMMARY:
As an old house is demolished in a gentrifying section of London, a workman discovers a tiny skeleton, buried for years. For journalist Kate Waters, it’s a story that deserves attention. She cobbles together a piece for her newspaper, but at a loss for answers, she can only pose a question: Who is the Building Site Baby?
As Kate investigates, she unearths connections to a crime that rocked the city decades earlier: A newborn baby was stolen from the maternity ward in a local hospital and was never found. Her heartbroken parents were left devastated by the loss.
But there is more to the story, and Kate is drawn—house by house—into the pasts of the people who once lived in this neighborhood that has given up its greatest mystery. And she soon finds herself the keeper of unexpected secrets that erupt in the lives of three women—and torn between what she can and cannot tell…
2. THE FOURTH MONKEY by J.D. Barker
Serial killer thriller readers, this one's for you. Barker has crafted an utterly addictive thriller that's aptly described by the publisher as a blend of Se7en and THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS. Gory, gruesome, and over the top, THE FOURTH MONKEY is an original and wholly engrossing addition to any crime reader's library. With a fresh twist on the genre - the serial killer is dead at the beginning of the book - 4MK is a breath of fresh air. But be prepared for blood and guts - this book has plenty.
PLOT SUMMARY:
For over five years, the Four Monkey Killer has terrorized the residents of Chicago. When his body is found, the police quickly realize he was on his way to deliver one final message, one which proves he has taken another victim who may still be alive.
As the lead investigator on the 4MK task force, Detective Sam Porter knows even in death, the killer is far from finished. When he discovers a personal diary in the jacket pocket of the body, Porter finds himself caught up in the mind of a psychopath, unraveling a twisted history in hopes of finding one last girl, all while struggling with personal demons of his own.
With only a handful of clues, the elusive killer’s identity remains a mystery. Time is running out and the Four Monkey Killer taunts from beyond the grave in this masterfully written fast-paced thriller.
3. THE BIRDWATCHER by William Shaw
I'm a self-proclaimed hesitant reader of classic British detective novels. While it goes without saying that I have immense respect for this subgenre of crime fiction, I often have a hard time connecting on a personal level with this particular style. Well, Shaw has made a convert out of me. What starts as a slow-burning mystery becomes an emotional, atmospheric puzzle - a whodunnit that left me in tears by the end. Shaw's impeccable procedural will delight fans of classic crime, and is sure to make many more converts along the way.
PLOT SUMMARY:
A methodical, diligent, and exceptionally bright detective, South is an avid birdwatcher and trusted figure in his small town on the rugged Kentish coast. He also lives with the deeply buried secret that, as a child in Northern Ireland, he may have killed a man. When a fellow birdwatcher is found murdered in his remote home, South's world flips.
The culprit seems to be a drifter from South's childhood; the victim was the only person connecting South to his early crime; and a troubled, vivacious new female sergeant has been relocated from London and assigned to work with South. As our hero investigates, he must work ever-harder to keep his own connections to the victim, and his past, a secret.
The Birdwatcher is British crime fiction at its finest; a stirring portrait of flawed, vulnerable investigators; a meticulously constructed mystery; and a primal story of fear, loyalty and vengeance.
PLUS: New in Paperback - THE CROW GIRL by Erik Axl Sund
If you've been following Crime by the Book for a while, you'll already know I will take any opportunity to praise the crime fiction genius that is THE CROW GIRL by Erik Axl Sund. Now available in paperback, this Swedish crime masterpiece is tied for my favorite book of all time. In turn repulsive, horrific, brilliant, and tender, THE CROW GIRL is simply a masterpiece of the genre. Pick this book up for its instantly engaging plot; stay for its unflinching and intelligent insight into the worst - and the best - of ourselves.
*Plus: stay tuned, because I'm going to be hosting some very exciting content to celebrate the release of THE CROW GIRL in paperback!
PLOT SUMMARY:
In a Stockholm city park, police find the tortured body of a youth. Then, they find two more, and it becomes clear that they are facing an extraordinary case—and an extraordinarily twisted killer. Detective Superintendent Jeanette Kihlberg heads the investigation, battling an apathetic prosecutor and a bureaucratic police force. She turns to the therapist Sofia Zetterlund for her expertise in psychopathic perpetrators, and under the pressure of the investigation, their lives become inextricably intertwined. As the two women draw closer to the truth about the killings, they begin to discover a hideous evil at work, and it’s much closer to them than they think. Mesmerizing and explosive, The Crow Girl is a tale of almost unfathomably heinous deeds and of the catastrophic damage, and the profound need for revenge, left in their wake.
READ THE CBTB REVIEW // READ ABOUT CBTB's LUNCH WITH ERIK AXL SUND
Are any of these titles on your to-read list? I'd love to hear from you!
Home ownership feel like a distant dream? Zillow listings have you convinced you’ll be renting for the rest of your life? The woman at the heart of Carissa Orlando’s debut The September House feels your pain—and she’s prepared to put up with a lot if it means she and her husband can finally have a place to call their own. In this case, that might just mean living in a house that’s haunted. Playful and irreverent, spine-tingling and spooky, The September House puts a fresh spin on the classic haunted house story, delivering an immersive tale about the secrets lurking within one building’s walls, and within the lives of its inhabitants.