Joseph Knox’s debut thriller SIRENS has taken the U.K. by storm, and it’s no surprise why. Knox, a crime fiction buyer for Waterstones in the U.K., delivers a debut thriller that’s mature beyond its years; taut, sleek, and gritty, SIRENS is urban noir at its finest. Crime novels centering around the drug trade aren’t my typical preference, but having heard such outstanding things about this thriller from friends across the pond, I knew I had to give it a shot - and I’m so glad that I did. Knox is an undeniable talent, and SIRENS is a gut-punch of a thriller. Readers will come to SIRENS for its stunning package and grim plot, and they will stay for Knox’s lean, razor-sharp prose and heartbreaking characters. This is an outstanding debut sure to earn Knox as strong a legion of fans in the U.S. as he has already earned in the U.K.
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CBTB Recommends #1: Gripping Thrillers & Winter-Themed Reads
I’m so excited to unveil my first blog post in my CBTB Recommends holiday feature! The idea behind this feature is simple: you send me your bookish questions or recommendation requests, and I’ll feature them in a blog post exactly like this one. If you need help picking out a mystery to read this winter, are trying to decide on a thriller to give as a holiday gift, or just have a bookish question you’d like to ask, please feel free to fill out the form at the bottom of this post to submit your question! Think of this as a bookish advice column that's here to help you find your next perfect read.
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Book Review: BLACK WIDOW by Christopher Brookmyre
One of the highlights of my recent trip to Scotland was getting to meet and interview Christopher Brookmyre, an award-winning and internationally-bestselling Scottish crime author. During our conversation, I was particularly intrigued by Chris’ description of his thriller BLACK WIDOW; well, I finally had the chance to read it, and I was blown away by the sophistication, precision, and complexity of this book. BLACK WIDOW is a far cry from your average psychological thriller. Its intelligence, masterful plotting, and twisty, shocking plot make it a cut above. There’s an undercurrent of intensity running throughout BLACK WIDOW that demands the reader’s attention from first page to last, and an assurance to Brookmyre’s writing that is an absolute pleasure to read. If you haven’t read Christopher Brookmyre yet, now’s the time.
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CBTB's Holiday Gift Guide Part 1: Classic Crime
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! The holidays are upon us, which means it’s time to start thinking of the perfect gift for the bookworms in your life - or maybe even for yourself! This holiday season, I’m dividing my Holiday Gift Guide into two parts: Part 1, today's post, is themed "Classic Crime," and shares my top holiday gift recommendations for fans of classic mysteries and detective novels.
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CBTB Recommends: Holiday Reading Edition
Confession time: I secretly love reading advice columns, and have always thought that it would be so fun to write one someday. Well, this holiday season, I decided to put a bookish spin on an advice column—the result of which is this project, "CBTB Recommends"! Whether you're shopping for a book as a holiday gift, or are looking to build your winter reading list, you can use this little holiday feature to match you with the perfect winter crime fiction read. Think of “CBTB Recommends” as an advice column for crime fiction readers - this one particularly geared towards winter reading.
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