Dark atmospheres, richly developed characters, vivid sense of place, complex plots—these are just a few of the qualities that the Scandinavian crime fiction genre boasts, and they are all qualities that shine in the books I’ve selected for my Best Scandinavian Crime Novels of 2018. As CBTB readers well know, there’s nothing I love more than a really great Nordic crime read, and the Scandinavian books I read in 2018 absolutely blew me away. From new series launches to the return of old favorite characters and everything in between, I loved every moment spent in these books’ pages - and I’m so excited to share them with you today, too! Read on for my favorite Scandinavian crime fiction releases of the year—and make sure you’re all caught up on the best Nordic Noir of 2018 before 2019 arrives!
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Buzzworthy 2019 Book #1: STALKER by Lars Kepler
With another new year on the horizon, it’s time to begin one of my personal favorite blog series: Buzzworthy 2019 Books! If you’re new to CBTB, my “Buzzworthy Books” picks are aimed at highlighting early 2019 releases that might still be a few months away, but are worth adding to your TBR now. In these posts, I will highlight three key elements that make the featured book a must-read. I will be periodically releasing these Buzzworthy Books selections as we approach the new year—and once 2019 arrives, I’ll have a blog post up giving you a complete list of my Buzzworthy 2019 Books! So now, on to my first pick… STALKER by Lars Kepler, available February 5th, 2019! When I want a crime novel that’s gritty, unputdownable, and very dark, Kepler is one of my go-to authors - and this is exactly the kind of reading experience that STALKER delivers.
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Author Interview: Lars Kepler, THE SANDMAN
I’m absolutely thrilled to share today’s interview with CBTB readers! Lars Kepler is the author behind the internationally-bestselling Joona Linna series - and this week, their brilliant thriller THE SANDMAN releases in the US. From the moment I first started reading THE SANDMAN by Lars Kepler (Knopf; 3/6/18) in the fall of 2017, I knew it would be a strong contender for my favorite read of 2018… and I stand by that first impression! Today's interview discusses everything from the book's vivid characters to the research that went into writing this dark thriller - and a whole lot more.
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