I’m always on the lookout for the next Nordic crime novel to devour, and today I’m thrilled to share with CBTB readers a preview of a Scandinavian crime novel that is very much on my radar for summer reading! THE BOY AT THE DOOR by Alex Dahl releases in July, and promises to deliver the moody atmosphere and grim plotting that I love about Scandinavian crime fiction with a psychological suspense twist all its own. In today’s post, CBTB readers will have the chance to learn a bit more about this forthcoming summer suspense novel, plus read the book’s first chapter to see if it’s up your alley!
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If You Like That, Read This: Friday the 13th Edition
Happy Friday the 13th, CBTB readers!! Whenever a Friday the 13th rolls around, I always find myself in the mood to revisit some of my favorite horror movies—and in today’s blog post, I’m doing exactly that! I’m pairing a few of my personal favorite horror movies with crime novels that involve some of the same themes, topics, or tropes. Since CBTB is a crime fiction-focused blog, the books recommended here will primarily be crime fiction, rather than straight horror - though they’ll each have a certain element of something particularly chilling or even horror-inspired to them.
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Book Review: LYING IN WAIT by Liz Nugent
What an absolute talent Liz Nugent is. The Irish crime writer made a splash with her debut UNRAVELING OLIVER, and this June, her sophomore effort releases in the US. LYING IN WAIT is every bit a propulsive, compulsively-readable psychological suspense novel. You would be hard pressed to find another psychological suspense author who writes with the same unfussy dexterity as Nugent—her clean, to-the-point prose and candid observations of human nature come together here to deliver a truly outstanding summer read.
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Book Review: MACBETH by Jo Nesbø
Raw, gritty, and rough around the edges, Jo Nesbø’s MACBETH captures the ageless dark heart of Shakespeare’s original work, and packages it in the razor-sharp crime writing only Nesbø can deliver. Revenge, love, guilt—themes that permeate Nesbø’s own works are perfectly reflected in Shakespeare’s Macbeth, and come together in Nesbø’s remake to pitch-perfect effect. It takes a masterful writer to deliver what Nesbø does here: a remake as fiercely original and as it is faithful to its inspiration. MACBETH is a must-read for readers of Shakespeare and fans of Nordic Noir alike.
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March 2018 Wrap-Up
At the end of every month, I absolutely love looking back on my reading list and reliving what I loved about the books I devoured in the preceding month. I’ve been on a really good reading streak recently, and March was no exception! My month was dominated by psychological thrillers in March, even more so than usual—though I did have one totally engrossing police procedural in the mix, too. There’s nothing like the feeling when you’re in a great groove with the books you’re reading - and I’m excited to keep that going into the new month!
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