Iceland’s Queen of Crime Yrsa Sigurdardottir brings her newest series to the US in February, and it’s an absolute knockout. THE LEGACY launches the Children’s House Series with a story that is equal parts measured police procedural and gripping suspense narrative. Weaving together dark family secrets both present and past with a chilling investigation, Sigurdardottir effortlessly delivers a standout Nordic thriller that will more than satisfy her longstanding fans, and is sure to open up new doors for her readership in the US. THE LEGACY is all the slow-burning, layered procedural a Nordic Noir reader could hope for, infused with the trademark dark imagination that has come to define Sigurdardottir’s own ever-developing legacy.
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CBTB's Top 5 "New to Me" Authors From 2017
There’s nothing like that feeling of finding a new-to-you author whose books you love. In this blog post, I’m thrilled to share with you the top five “new to me” authors whose work made a lasting impression on me this year! This list is a blend of debut authors and established writers -- what they all have in common is simple: 2017 marked the first time I explored their work, but it won’t be the last time I dig into their books. If you haven’t read these authors yet, let this be your inspiration to check them out - they’re fantastic.
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Book Review: THE PERFECT NANNY by Leila Slimani
Never will I ever pass up the chance to explore new international crime fiction, so when I heard of French-Moroccan author Leila Slimani’s award-winning crime novel THE PERFECT NANNY (on sale 1/9/18), I knew I had to give it a shot -- and I’m so glad I did. This subtle, sophisticated suspense story is unnerving in its simplicity: THE PERFECT NANNY traces the events leading up to the death of two children, focusing on the integration of a new nanny into a family. It’s easy to see why Slimani’s novel won the Goncourt Prize (France’s most prestigious literary award); this book’s elegant prose, sharp plotting, and masterful blend of suspense and literary fiction combine to deliver an outstanding crime novel that will appeal to readers looking for an understated - yet distinctly sinister - story of suspense.
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Tough Female Leads & Gripping Action Thrillers from Jon Land and Steph Broadribb
2017 was a year of trying new things - one of them being my foray into action thrillers for the first time ever. As someone sampling this crime fiction subgenre for the first time, I knew I wanted to try books from both established and debut authors, and I knew that, as a woman, I wanted to read action thrillers featuring strong female leads. My 2017 action thriller picks were spot-on for my personal qualifications. STRONG TO THE BONE by Jon Land (Forge Books; 12/5/17) and DEEP DOWN DEAD by Steph Broadribb (Orenda; 4/1/17) delivered thrills, emotionally-compelling characters, and a whole lot of high-stakes tension - the perfect introduction to action thrillers for this newcomer.
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Book Giveaway: LIES SHE TOLD by Cate Holahan
As 2017 comes to a close, it seems only fitting to take this opportunity to revisit memorable reads from the year. Today’s focus? The twisty, book-within-a-book psychological thriller LIES SHE TOLD by Cate Holahan! Holahan’s thriller will be an instant-hit for fans of EXQUISITE by Sarah Stovell and THE WEIGHT OF LIES by Emily Carpenter; readers looking for an addictive, layered suspense novel will feel right at home in Holahan's world. Enter to win a copy here!
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