I’m delighted to welcome internationally-bestselling author Robert Bryndza to Crime by the Book today to discuss THE GIRL IN THE ICE, the first book in his Erika Foster series - which releases in the US tomorrow, April 24th! Fans of serial killer thrillers and police procedurals will find much to love in Bryndza’s page-turning series launch—this is one of those crime novels that feels like perfect comfort reading. From its compelling female lead to its breezy pacing and addictive tension, Bryndza’s police procedural struck exactly the right chord for me. Pick this one up for a weekend binge-read - you'll find Bryndza's world instantly-accessible, his characters compelling and endearing, and his story's central mystery wholly engrossing.
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Book Review: YOU WERE MADE FOR THIS by Michelle Sacks
Why do we love to observe catastrophe? It happens every day, in big ways and in small. We slow down to observe an accident on the side of the road; we seek out with fascination news stories involving all manner of unthinkable events; we pick up crime books like Michelle Sacks’ sharp-edged YOU WERE MADE FOR THIS. Sometimes I’m sure we do these things to better understand our world and all its dark corners—sometimes I’m sure we do it for no reason other than morbid curiosity. In Sacks’ caustic novel of secrets and lies, readers explore the everyday catastrophes of interpersonal relationships. There’s jealousy, revenge, insecurity, betrayals, and a whole lot more to be found within these pages, and it’s this potent blend of all too human experiences that give YOU WERE MADE FOR THIS its bite.
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Book Preview: THE BOY AT THE DOOR by Alex Dahl
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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