5 Recommended Suspense Novels Set Within the World of Academia

April 15, 2021

What is it about dark academia that is just so appealing? I can never resist a suspense novel that draws on the world of academia, and if that sounds like your cup of tea, today’s reading list is for you! I was inspired to write this list after reading one of my most-anticipated suspense novels of 2021, THE MAIDENS by Alex Michaelides, which centers around a murder at Cambridge University. While we wait for the publication of THE MAIDENS in mid-June here in the US, I thought I would round up a few of my personal favorite (and currently-available!) suspense novels that each, in one way or another, dabble in the world of dark academia. From a story of Pretty Little Liars-level drama at a boarding school to a sinister tale of two academics whose work together takes a dangerous turn, this reading list rounds up a few of my personal favorite and most-recommended suspense and mystery novels that incorporate elements of dark academia. As an added bonus, at the end of this blog post I’ve also highlighted three Summer 2021 suspense novels that also put their own unique spins on the world of academic mysteries. Happy reading!

Best Psychological Thrillers of 2018

December 26, 2018

Twisty plots, unreliable characters, binge-worthy pacing—there’s so much to love about a really good psychological thriller, and 2018 gifted us crime readers with tons of excellent options to add to our reading lists. Over the course of the year, we saw fantastic new releases from longstanding authors to debut authors and everyone in between; we immersed ourselves in psychological thrillers laced with gothic suspense, creepy summer camps, murderous family members, and, yes, even beetle collecting. There truly was a fantastic variety of psychological suspense released in 2018—and today on the blog I’m rounding up my very favorite psychological thrillers of the year! Read on for my picks for twisty, addictive, page-turning 2018 suspense.

Recommended July 2018 Releases

August 2, 2018

How is it already August?! This summer is absolutely flying by - but it's brought with it some fantastic new crime novels, so I'm far from complaining! July was a stellar month for new releases. From new-to-me authors (like Lucy Atkins) to old favorites (like Riley Sager), my reading list was dominated by really stellar reads this month—and I'm so excited to share my picks for Recommended July Releases with you today!

June 2018 Wrap-Up

July 4, 2018

June was arguably my personal favorite month in reading so far this year—I read a number of highly-anticipated summer releases and also made time for an older novel I’ve been hoping to read for quite a while now! Not only did I find myself reading at a good pace this month, but (even more importantly) I loved the majority of the books I read. To me, that really is the best mark of a great reading month: not how many books you read, but how much you enjoyed the books you did read. All in all, June was a distinct success—and I’m looking forward to seeing what July has in store for me next. But first, a wrap-up of my June reads!

Lucy Atkins on Fiction’s Top Five Twisted Housekeepers and Nannies

July 3, 2018

What happens when the one place you should be safe - your home, and, by extension, your relationships with the people you welcome into it - becomes dangerous? The ever-growing domestic suspense genre is proof positive of the perennial appeal of novels examining this exact question. Perhaps the strongest (and most inventive!) example of this particular vein of suspense that I’ve read recently can be found in Lucy Atkins’ deliciously chilling psychological thriller THE NIGHT VISITOR, which releases in the US today (7/3/18). In keeping with one of the central characters of her superb thriller, Lucy Atkins is stopping by Crime by the Book today to share her picks for Fiction’s Top Five Twisted Housekeepers & Nannies! If you’re in the market for a chilling story of should-be "safe" relationships gone very wrong, listen up: Lucy has the reading list for you. Read on for Lucy's picks, and to learn more about her superb new release.

the cbtb blog

CBTb's Current Read:

Latest & Greatest

instagram

Twitter