Try as I might not to judge a book by its cover, some are just too pretty to resist—THE LAST MRS. PARRISH by Liv Constantine is a prime example. Unfortunately, my experience reading this book didn’t quite live up to how enamored I was with its cover. While undeniably entertaining and fast-paced, THE LAST MRS. PARRISH won’t work for crime readers looking for dark, twisty psychological suspense; on the other hand, this book does still tackle themes that might be too dark for readers looking to enjoy a work of women’s fiction. Is it dark romance? Psychological suspense? Contemporary fiction? This genre-bending wouldn't be an issue, aside from the fact that I've seen this book largely promoted as a "twisty psychological thriller". I would not recommend THE LAST MRS. PARRISH for crime readers, but I also would never deny that there is something very entertaining about this book—it’s just not quite the shocking thriller it’s billed to be.
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Meet the Author: Gilly Macmillan
I’m thrilled to welcome crime writer Gilly Macmillan to the blog today for a “Meet the Author” Q&A! Gilly’s 2016 psychological suspense novel THE PERFECT GIRL was an instant-hit for me, and to make things even better, she has a new book out this coming Tuesday: ODD CHILD OUT (10/3/17)! In this author interview, Gilly shares insight into the path that led her to become a crime writer, the sources of inspiration for her novels, what her writing routine looks like, and a whole lot more. Many thanks to Gilly for answering my questions so thoughtfully - her responses are absolutely fantastic, and I hope you’ll enjoy reading them as much as I have!
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Buzzworthy 2018 Books: THE CHALK MAN by C.J. Tudor
It’s that time of year again: time to start compiling a wishlist of 2018 crime fiction! There’s no better way to kick off this year’s “Buzzworthy 2018 Books” series than with a superb crime fiction debut: THE CHALK MAN by C.J. Tudor. Part dark coming of age story, part psychological thriller, this outstanding debut will be a must-read for fans of Stephen King, Ruth Ware, and Liz Nugent—a bit of an eclectic blend, perhaps, but an appropriate illustration of the many facets that will make this debut so widely-appealing. THE CHALK MAN releases January 9th, 2018—mark your calendars now, and stay tuned for a full review of THE CHALK MAN and an interview with author C.J. Tudor closer to publication!
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September 2017 Recommended New Releases
September is always the biggest month of the year for new books, and this year is proving to be no exception! September has been jam-packed with fantastic crime fiction releases, and it’s not done yet. If there’s any possible downside to this month full of new books, it’s simply that it can be hard to keep track of all the amazing releases publishers are serving up each week—so I’m here to fix that. Consider this post your guide to the best crime fiction September 2017 has to offer!
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Book Review: PERFECT REMAINS by Helen Fields (DI Callanach Series)
What’s a crime reader to do when visiting a new country for the first time? Find a crime book set there, of course! On my first-ever trip to Scotland this fall, I picked up a copy of PERFECT REMAINS by Helen Fields - a Scottish crime novel which came highly recommended to me by friends and a Waterstones bookseller alike! PERFECT REMAINS has all the gore and shock value that readers expect from a serial killer thriller, coupled with its uniquely-Scottish backdrop and roots. If you’re in the market for a visceral and relatively gory crime novel with a side of police procedural, PERFECT REMAINS will be right up your alley. While this book didn’t upend some of my recent favorite serial killer thrillers (THE FOURTH MONKEY by J.D. Barker and HIDE AND SEEK by M.J. Arlidge, to name a couple), I thoroughly enjoyed this chilling story.
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