If I could move anywhere in the world, I would pack my bags and head to Scandinavia. When I learned of crime writer Will Dean, a former Londoner who did exactly that - moved to rural Sweden with his family - I knew this was an author whose debut novel I had to read. Dean’s forthcoming crime novel DARK PINES is a stylish blend of Nordic atmosphere, small-town life, and dark, chilling crimes - an excellent addition to your winter reading list. Readers of Crime by the Book will know that Nordic crime fiction is above and beyond my favorite, and I was fascinated to see if - and how - Dean’s style of crime fiction set in Scandinavia might differ from the work of the Scandinavian crime writers I know and love. DARK PINES certainly has a style and voice all its own, but Nordic Noir readers will nevertheless feel at home in the dark corners and chilling atmosphere of Dean’s thriller. DARK PINES is a compelling glimpse into small-town life, and a cleverly constructed maze of a thriller.
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Buzzworthy 2018 Books: MACBETH by Jo Nesbø
If there’s one book that has been my most-anticipated ever since I started Crime by the Book, it’s this one. Jo Nesbø’s MACBETH (Hogarth; April 10, 2018) is part of the Hogarth Shakespeare’s collection of modern-day retellings in honor of the Bard’s 400th birthday—and it’s a story worthy of its namesake in every sense. This book doesn’t release until April 2018, but trust me: I wouldn’t bring this book up so early if it weren’t a must-read. Nesbø’s MACBETH is a modern-day crime novel with the beating heart of Shakespeare’s play: it captures the moral complexity, menace, and despair of the original, with a grim, gritty twist that is trademark Nesbø.
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Author Q&A: Pierre Lemaitre, THREE DAYS AND A LIFE
It’s my absolute pleasure to welcome to CBTB today Pierre Lemaitre, the author behind arguably my favorite psychological thriller, BLOOD WEDDING, and the brand-new THREE DAYS AND A LIFE, which releases from Quercus today, 11/7/17! This is truly one of the most thoughtful Q&A’s I’ve had the pleasure of hosting on Crime by the Book, and I hope you will enjoy reading it as much I have enjoyed putting it together! Many thanks to Pierre for taking the time to answer my questions so thoughtfully, and to the publisher for facilitating this Q&A.
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October 2017 Wrap-Up
October has come and gone, and what a great reading month it was! I genuinely enjoyed every single book I read this month. From dark and gritty Nordic Noir to a charming crime fiction short story collection and a Hitchcock-inspired psychological thriller, my bookish October was outstanding. (So much so that I had a hard time picking a "least favorite read of the month" below!) Read on for a recap of my reads from the month of October, plus a roundup of the additional blog posts featured on Crime by the Book this past month!
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Blog Tour | Book Review: WHITEOUT by Ragnar Jonasson
It’s hard to imagine an author whose work can genuinely be called an heir to Agatha Christie, but Iceland’s Ragnar Jonasson might be modern crime fiction’s strongest contender. In Jonasson’s newest Dark Iceland series installment, WHITEOUT, readers are treated to a Christmas-themed mystery that delivers all the atmosphere, intrigue, and charm that has made this series so popular. Jonasson’s books are not “cozy mysteries,” but they are the perfect choice for a cozy autumn or winter afternoon spent reading, and WHITEOUT is perfectly timed to the approaching holiday season. Readers of Agatha Christie will love the distinctly classic crime style of Jonasson’s writing, and will also be drawn to WHITEOUT for its quasi-“locked room mystery” structure—in this case, the “locked room” being a very small, very isolated little community in rural Iceland. Grab a cozy sweater and a cup of coffee and prepare to be drawn into Jonasson’s immersive and endearing mystery series.
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