One of the season’s most hotly-anticipated new thrillers is finally here. From the mind that created the sensational television show The Killing now comes an equally-gripping - and equally-chilling - Nordic thriller: THE CHESTNUT MAN. In his debut crime novel, Søren Sveistrup instantly establishes himself as a must-read author for fans of Nordic Noir legends Jo Nesbø and Lars Kepler—and, for that matter, as a must-read for any reader who just wants a gripping thriller to sink their teeth into this fall. THE CHESTNUT MAN is good, old-fashioned Scandinavian crime fiction; it’s a hefty book, clocking in at 528 pages in the American hardcover edition, and immerses the reader in an intricate plot moving from the mundane details of police work to the cinematic (and gruesome) crimes of a twisted killer. If the plot of THE CHESTNUT MAN seems a bit familiar at first glance, don’t worry; Sveistrup sets up his debut novel in well-tread territory, but it quickly separates itself from the pack with richly-drawn characters, made-for-TV pacing, and, naturally, a killer with a modus operandi so sinister, you’ll want to read this book with all the lights on. The buzz surrounding the publication of THE CHESTNUT MAN has been significant; it’s earned incredible pre-publication praise, is a September Book of the Month Club selection, and is soon to be a Netflix original series. The buzz is warranted here; Sveistrup’s debut is a must-read for the crime reader looking for a big, bold, spend-all-day-reading thriller.
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Book Review: THE MIDNIGHT WITNESS by Sara Blaedel
Looking for a crime series perfect for fall weekend reading? Danish crime writer Sara Blaedel’s Louise Rick series belongs on your list. When I picture the kind of book I want to be reading on a crisp autumn evening, it’s a book exactly like Blaedel’s: something atmospheric, layered, immersive, and perfect for cozying up with when the weather gets cold. If this sounds up your alley, add Blaedel’s THE MIDNIGHT WITNESS to your TBR. Technically the first book in Blaedel’s internationally-bestselling series, THE MIDNIGHT WITNESS is now being made available to US readers in a brand-new edition from Grand Central—and it will work for both newcomers to Blaedel’s work and established fans of the series. In THE MIDNIGHT WITNESS, homicide detective Louise Rick is tasked with solving the brutal murder of a young woman in her hometown of Copenhagen, Denmark… but when her best friend, journalist Camilla Lind, asks her to investigate the murder of a local journalist as well, Louise finds herself in over her head - and in the crosshairs of two killers. THE MIDNIGHT WITNESS is the book that launched Blaedel’s internationally-bestselling Louise Rick series around the world—and American readers will fall in love with Blaedel’s endearing and headstrong detective in this compelling mystery.
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CBTB's Recommended February 2018 Releases
A new month, a new stack of brand-new crime books waiting to be read! This month is a bit lighter on my recommended reads, but that’s not to say it isn’t without some fantastic crime fiction selections. February 2018 seems to be all about Nordic Noir for me (which isn’t much of a surprise, let’s be honest…) but given the gloomy, chilly weather we’re having here in New York, this month’s new Scandinavian releases are perfectly timed! Along with these brand-new releases, one 2017 release that I absolutely loved is coming out in paperback this month, too - you'll find information on that book linked at the bottom of this post!
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Book Excerpt: THE UNDERTAKER'S DAUGHTER by Sara Blaedel
Denmark’s Queen of Crime launches a new series in the US next week with THE UNDERTAKER’S DAUGHTER (on sale February 6th) - and thanks to Grand Central, I’m thrilled to give CBTB readers an early chance to read the first two chapters from it! Blaedel, best known for her detective novels featuring Louise Rick, now branches out into a very different style of suspense writing—THE UNDERTAKER’S DAUGHTER shifts focus from solving crimes with Louise Rick to unraveling the family secrets of Ilka Jensen, a Danish woman with family in the US.
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CBTB's Essential Nordic Noir
Today’s blog post details my picks for essential Nordic Noir reads — aka the authors whose works you should check out to see if this crime fiction sub-genre is for you. This is by no means an exhaustive list - there are tons of fantastic crime writers hailing from Scandinavia - but it’s a great place to start if you’ve never tried Scandinavian crime fiction before, or if you’re trying to expand your Nordic Noir collection!
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