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5 Recommended Christmas Mysteries

December 11, 2022

Christmas is around the corner, and if you’re a reader who likes to theme your reads to the season, today’s blog post is for you! I honestly never used to read crime novels specifically themed to particular holidays, but last year (for I think the first time in my reading life?!) I intentionally read a couple of Christmas mysteries during the Christmas season… and I absolutely loved it. Today I wanted to round up 5 mysteries I personally love that all involve Christmas—but this blog post has a little twist! Today’s recommendations are organized by how much Christmas actually factors into the book’s plot. Ranked from Christmas level 1 - 5 (with Level 1 being Christmas in the background of the story, and Level 5 being a full-on, 100% Christmas-y plot!), this list will help you find your perfect Christmas season mystery read!

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CBTB'S MUST-READ SUMMER 2022 CRIME BOOKS

July 4, 2022

I have a confession to make: this blog post was originally supposed to be my “Most-Anticipated” summer books list…but then life got really busy! Before I knew it, I looked up and it was July, and not only had a bunch of the books on the list already been published, but I realized that I had actually already read all of the books I wanted to include in this list anyway. So instead of making this a “most-anticipated” list, I’ve culled my initial list a little bit and converted it into a “must-read” list, highlighting my picks for the best new crime fiction that Summer 2022 has to offer. In a way, I hope that this new format might actually be even more helpful for you; these aren’t just books I’m anticipating, they’re all books I’ve read and loved and highly recommend! From returning favorites to new-to-me voices, from twisty psychological thrillers to “book within a book”-style stories and more, Summer 2022 has some absolutely incredible new crime fiction releases in store for us. Whether your idea of a perfect “beach read” is a page-turning domestic suspense novel or a dark, visceral horror story, I’m betting (and hoping!) you’ll be able to find it on this list. Without further ado, let’s dive on in to my picks for Summer 2022’s Must-Read Crime Books!

CBTB's Favorite Lisa Unger Thrillers

April 26, 2022

You know that feeling when you start reading a new-to-you author and suddenly can’t believe you never made time to read their work sooner? That was me just a few short years ago when I first began exploring the work of New York Times bestselling thriller writer Lisa Unger. Fast forward a few years, and Lisa has become a go-to psychological suspense author for me—I always know that I can count on her books to deliver major entertainment value, twisty and original plotting, and psychologically-complex characters. If you’re not reading Lisa Unger yet, consider this your official reminder that it’s time to do so! Today happens to be Lisa’s birthday (Happy Birthday, Lisa!!!), and it’s also officially Lisa Unger Day on CBTB! Over on Instagram today, I’m so honored to be revealing the cover for Lisa’s 2022 release SECLUDED CABIN SLEEPS SIX—a locked-room mystery that centers around a group of friends who rent a luxury cabin the woods for a weekend getaway…and soon discover that a killer might be in their midst. (Yes, this does in fact sound like my perfect thriller, and I simply cannot wait to read it.) Pop on over to Instagram for the inside scoop on the book, and then come back to today’s blog post for an overview of my personal favorite Lisa Unger thrillers thus far!

CBTB'S RECOMMENDED "POPCORN THRILLERS"

February 8, 2022

We all know how much I love a dark, disturbing crime novel—but sometimes, even I need something lighter and more escapist. Enter what I like to call “popcorn thrillers.” Binge-worthy as a bowl of popcorn and brimming with as much entertainment value as your favorite movie, a “popcorn thriller” is one of those irresistible, lighter suspense novels that make for the perfect escapist, one-sitting read. This is an entirely arbitrary category of thriller, but it’s one that you’ve probably heard me refer to a lot here on CBTB—and it’s a category that (based on conversations I’ve had with folks in this community!) so many of you seem to really enjoy. Today’s blog post is exactly what its title says: a place for me to collect my recommendations for “popcorn thrillers,” and a resource for you to return to when you’re looking for your next read in this category! I’m keeping this blog post simple: there aren’t any bells & whistles here, simply a running list of “popcorn thrillers” that I personally love. Under each book’s listing, you’ll find the publisher-provided descriptive copy for the book, and a buy link so you can check it out for yourself.

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