THE GOOD SON is the first of South Korean writer You-jeong Jeong’s books to be made available to English-speaking audiences—and it’s a must-read, plain and simple. With harrowing precision and unflinching bluntness, Jeong draws readers into the mind of her tormented main character, Yu-jin - a young man with a faulty memory and some very dark secrets. THE GOOD SON will shock with blood and guts as much as it will delight with originality and unpredictability. In Jeong’s masterful hands, this story of memory loss and familial secrets is nothing short of spectacular. All I can hope for (beyond my hope that you pick up a copy of this book upon its release) is that more of Jeong’s work will be translated into English as soon as possible -- I, for one, will be waiting!
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Recommended April 2018 Releases
2018 has been a great year for crime fiction so far, but April 2018 is notably slower than its predecessors. Try as I might to find another book or two to add to this list, my April new release recommendations are few and far between - though that shouldn’t at all detract from your enthusiasm from the books that are included in this post. This month saw the release of my most-anticipated read of 2018, and the US paperback launch of a book that has already sold over a million copies worldwide - both books deserving of a trip to your local bookstore or library!
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Author Q&A: Robert Bryndza, The Girl in the Ice
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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