Every so often, I feel like I just want something quick and lightly suspenseful to read. Nothing too dark or gritty, but something that also still falls within the crime fiction genre. This balance can be surprisingly hard to strike, but John Marrs’ THE ONE delivers a strong contender. THE ONE has been compared to the dark TV show Black Mirror, a comparison which - though perhaps not quite apt - nevertheless gives the reader a general sense of the tone of this book. THE ONE takes a very ordinary topic (an online dating service) and turns it on its head, exploring the secrets, manipulations, and conflict that can plague even the most picture-perfect (or scientifically "matched") couple. THE ONE is one of those books that will require a reader with the right expectations to enjoy it, but if you do have the right expectations, you won’t want to put this one down.
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Author Q&A: Ragnar Jonasson, NIGHTBLIND (Dark Iceland Series)
Today (12/5/17) is the US publication day for NIGHTBLIND, book two in Ragnar Jonasson’s brilliant Dark Iceland series! The Dark Iceland books have been a personal favorite of mine for quite a while now, and I’m thrilled to see this exceptional series releasing in the US. If you’re a newcomer to the Dark Iceland books, you’ve come to the right place: I’m delighted to have Ragnar Jonasson joining me on CBTB today to chat about his unmissable crime fiction series, and its newest installment: NIGHTBLIND.
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November 2017 Wrap-Up
Am I the only one who can hardly believe we’re nearing the end of 2017?! It feels surreal to be writing my November 2017 Wrap-Up… and yet, here I am! In many ways, my November reading list pushed me outside my comfort zone: I tried crime novels that challenged my preconceived notions of what subgenres I would (and wouldn’t) like, explored new-to-me authors, and read one hugely anticipated crime book that releases in 2018 and will surely be a favorite of mine next year. Read on for a recap of my reads from the month of November, plus a roundup of the additional blog posts featured on Crime by the Book this past month!
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Photo Tour of Siglufjörður with Ragnar Jonasson (DARK ICELAND)
If you haven't yet discovered Ragnar Jonasson's outstanding Dark Iceland mystery series, now is the perfect time to start. Influenced in equal measure by the stunning beauty of Iceland and the equally stunning plotting of Queen of Crime Agatha Christie, these books will make the perfect choice for winter reading material - or for any season, really. On December 5th, 2017, American readers are in for a treat: the second book in the Dark Iceland series, NIGHTBLIND, will be released in the US! To help celebrate this upcoming publication, I’m thrilled to provide you with an insider’s glimpse into Siglufjörður, the Icelandic town that provides the backdrop for this internationally-bestselling crime fiction series.
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CBTB Recommends #2: Lighter Suspense and Stalker Thrillers
I’m so excited to share my second blog post in my CBTB Recommends holiday feature! Today's post tackles lighter suspense novels and stalker thrillers. 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 or are trying to decide on a thriller to give as a holiday gift, 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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