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Crime by the Book

A girl investigates crime fiction from around the world, by the book.
  • Blog
  • Quick Reviews
  • Nordic Noir
    • Introduction
    • Background
    • Book Recommendations
    • By Country
    • Interviews
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the cbtb blog

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

Iceland Noir Festival Journal.jpg

Crime Festival Journal: Iceland Noir 2018

November 23, 2018

This past weekend, I had the incredible opportunity to travel to Reykjavik, Iceland for Iceland Noir 2018 - a crime fiction festival that takes place in Iceland's capital city every other year. And what an incredible trip it was! In this blog post, I’ll be sharing a day-by-day recap of my time in Iceland, including panel notes, book recommendations, lots of photos, and a whole lot more. A huge thanks to the entire Iceland Noir team for organizing such a memorable festival!

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In Crime Book Festival, Event, Iceland Noir Tags Iceland Noir, Icelandic Crime Fiction, Iceland, Reykjavik, Yrsa Sigurdardottir, Ragnar Jonasson, Lilja Sigurdardottir, Crime Festival, Nordic Noir, Liz Nugent, Kevin Wignall, Simon Kernick, Karin Salvalaggio, Icepick Award, Jo Nesbo, Sonurinn
2 Comments
The Darkness Jonasson.jpg

Book Review: THE DARKNESS by Ragnar Jonasson

August 8, 2018

Ragnar Jonasson, you have simply outdone yourself. Just when I thought I couldn’t love Ragnar’s books more, he goes and writes THE DARKNESS - and man, is it excellent. Already known around the world for his modern classic Dark Iceland series, Ragnar proves with THE DARKNESS that his winning brand of crime fiction can work just as well - if not better - in a new series as it did in his Ari Thor books. THE DARKNESS has all the brooding atmosphere of the Dark Iceland books with a creativity and breath-of-fresh-air protagonist all its own. Readers will travel eagerly from the streets of Reykjavik to the desolate wilds of Iceland alongside Hulda, a detective whose retirement is on the horizon—and who is determined to make the most of her time left on the force. There’s an addictiveness to THE DARKNESS that elevates this read—Jonasson beautifully balances slow-burning plotting with binge-worthy tension, and the result is just plain gripping. There’s so much that works so well in this book, and I have a feeling Jonasson’s new series will become my favorite of his work… that is, until we see what this talented writer comes up with next.

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In Book Review Tags Ragnar Jonasson, The Darkness, Iceland, Icelandic Crime Fiction, Dark Iceland
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Cover Reveal red.png

Exclusive Cover Reveal: THE RECKONING by Yrsa Sigurdardottir

July 10, 2018

Earlier this year, Minotaur Books launched Sigurdardottir’s newest series (known as the Children's House series) with THE LEGACY. THE LEGACY is an engrossing blend of masterful police procedural and chilling Nordic backdrop; in short, it’s exactly the kind of crime writing I love most. Suffice it to say, I’ve been not-so-patiently awaiting more details on the second installment in this superb series - and today on Crime by the Book, I’m thrilled to share an exclusive first look at the cover of the second book in the Children’s House series: THE RECKONING, on sale February 12th, 2019 from Minotaur! 

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In Cover Reveal Tags Yrsa Sigurdardottir, The Legacy, The Reckoning, Children's House Series, Iceland, Icelandic Crime Fiction
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I Remember You Yrsa.jpg

Book Review: I REMEMBER YOU by Yrsa Sigurdardottir

July 6, 2018

Yrsa Sigurdardottir is a just-plain-incredible talent. Sigurdardottir is known as Iceland’s Queen of Crime, and every single book of hers that I read reinforces just how well-deserved this title really is. A hallmark of Yrsa’s crime writing is her ability to blend strong mystery writing with truly dark, almost horror-inspired plotlines—and in I REMEMBER YOU, she puts her dark imagination on full display. I REMEMBER YOU is, in fact, better described as a ghost story than a crime novel, though at its heart it certainly has a compelling mystery for readers to unravel. In this hair-raising story of suspense, a group of friends set out to a remote Icelandic village in order to renovate a house they have recently purchased. But as they settle in and begin their work, it becomes clear that something on the island doesn’t want them to stay... I REMEMBER YOU is slow-burning, immersive, utterly chilling suspense—I was glued to this book from the first page to the last. You know that feeling when you’re loving a book so much, you just want to savor every single page? That was me with I REMEMBER YOU.

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In Book Review Tags I Remember You, Yrsa Sigurdardottir, Iceland, Icelandic Crime Fiction
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The Legacy Sigurdardottir.jpg

Author Q&A: Yrsa Sigurdardottir, THE LEGACY (Children’s House Series)

February 12, 2018

Today (2/13/18) is publication day for THE LEGACY by Yrsa Sigurdardottir, an outstanding crime novel that launches a new series for Iceland’s Queen of Crime in the US! THE LEGACY is an exceptional blend of methodical police procedural and dark, horror-inspired imagination—a potent combination that delivered one of my early-favorite 2018 reads. I’m delighted to welcome Yrsa Sigurdardottir to Crime by the Book today to talk crime writing, her new series, where she gets all her twisted ideas from, and a whole lot more. 

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In Author Q&A Tags Iceland, Yrsa Sigurdardottir, The Legacy, Minotaur Books, Icelandic Crime Fiction
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View fullsize My personal crime fiction collection 🕵🏻‍♀️🖤 aka my favorite corner of my apartment. 📚🙌🏻 If anyone feels so inclined, I’d love to see what YOUR bookshelves look like! Snap a pic, share in your stories, & tag me - I’d love to
View fullsize I can never say no to a creepy read with a gorgeous black & white cover. 🕵🏻‍♀️🤍🖤 next on my TBR: THE SHADOWS by Alex North, available on my birthday, 7/7!!😉🔎 (huge thank you to @celadonbooks for this review copy!🤓) •
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View fullsize Being stuck at home isn’t so bad when you’ve got a massive stack of books to read. 🕵🏻‍♀️🖤 What’s on your social-distancing TBR?! 📖
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I went WAY overboard with books I brought home to CT for my self-isolation TBR list. ?
View fullsize Early afternoon light & a large latte ☕️ & a gripping crime read 🕵🏻‍♀️🖤 aka the perfect combination 🙌🏻
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This right here is my usual Sunday tradition 👆🏻 BUT I’ll be spending this Sunday (and this coming week, and probabl
View fullsize My last day in the city for a while calls for a lunch break coffee stop ☕️🖤 with my totally gripping current read 🕵🏻‍♀️
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Today is my last day in Manhattan for a while 😔 we’re all transitioning to working from home to try and preve
View fullsize In the midst of a crazy week, my brain needs a quick, binge-worthy read, and I think this beauty right here is just the ticket. 👌🏻🖤 NO BAD DEED by Heather Chavez is on sale now, and I can’t wait to dive in! 🕵🏻‍♀️
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Friends, I can&
View fullsize Happy Monday, friends! 🖤 Back in NYC and back to work after an amazing (if much too short) visit to Oslo 🇳🇴 annnd currently drinking a cold brew ☕️ at my desk & hoping it keeps me awake this afternoon 😂 jet lag + not enough sleep last night =
View fullsize Last looks at beautiful Oslo 🇳🇴 for this trip. ❤️ So very sad to leave, but I’m bringing wonderful memories & a suitcase stuffed with books 📚 back to NYC with me. 😉 See you soon, Oslo... you know I can’t stay away for long. 🥰❤️
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View fullsize Spent today doing all my favorite things in Oslo, so obviously a coffee stop was included. ☕️🖤 How are you spending your Saturday?! •
Okay I used to always think the phrase “living your best life” was SO cheesy but if I’m bein
View fullsize *Years* of admiring this Norwegian edition of my favorite book (THE SNOWMAN by Jo Nesbø) have finally resulted in this. 🕵🏻‍♀️🖤 Best. Purchase. Ever. 🙌🏻
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Does anyone else collect books by a favorite author?! 📚 I don’t have

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    Apr 4, 2023, 11:48 AM
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    RT @vanessalillie: I’ve had box of Blood Sister arcs unopened for two weeks waiting on tomorrow - cover reveal by @crimebythebook & IG… https://t.co/fnQ35GO1Nd
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    RT @TheMysterious: We’re making plans to head out to @HamptonsWhodun next month, Long Island’s exciting new crime fiction festival. Se… https://t.co/ra7RPgf7Fv
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    RT @TheMysterious: Love mystery fiction? We’re hiring a part-time bookseller, beginning immediately. Email info@mysteriousbookshop.com… https://t.co/AJrBLH0Q1t
    Mar 29, 2023, 7:44 PM
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    RT @TheMysterious: BREAKING: We’re thrilled that our friend Michael Connelly is (finally) being recognized as a mystery fiction Grand… https://t.co/3QgWojXVVw
    Mar 28, 2023, 3:05 PM

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