The wait is almost over! Liz Nugent’s sophomore novel LYING IN WAIT releases tomorrow (6/12/18)—I absolutely loved this astute, psychologically complex crime novel, and highly recommend it for your summer reading list! Readers looking for a crime novel with rich character development and a fresh take on psychological suspense will love Nugent’s newest offering. I had the chance to ask a few questions of Liz, and I’m thrilled to share our Q&A with CBTB readers today! In this conversation, Liz and I discuss everything from her affinity for writing complex characters to her advice for aspiring writers and much more.
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CBTB's Weekend Checklist - 6/9/18
Happy weekend, reader! I don't know about you, but I'm so ready to spend my weekend relaxing and immersing myself in all sorts of crime fiction (and true crime!) entertainment. In today's edition of my Weekend Checklist, I'm recommending a slightly-older (but no less worthy of devouring) weekend binge-read, my top two favorite true crime podcast episodes probably ever, a TV show I've been meaning to finish watching and am finally planning to find time for, and a whole lot more! Enjoy the weekend - and today's recommendations!
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6 Reasons to Read Scandinavian Crime Fiction This Summer
When you think “summer reading,” what kinds of books pop into your head? Something light and feel-good, maybe an inspiring memoir, or, if you want to venture into crime, a twisty domestic suspense novel... now, I love a good “beach read” as much as the next person, but today I want to make the case for why your summer reading list needs - or, dare I say, why it deserves - a dark and gritty Scandinavian crime novel, too. With each of the six reasons listed below, I’ll also provide an accompanying book recommendation that exemplifies that particular quality!
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Book Review: SLOWLY WE DIE by Emelie Schepp
Emelie Schepp is a self-made success story. Schepp self-published her debut novel, MARKED FOR LIFE, and went on to break records for self-published book sales in Sweden. Now an internationally-bestselling author, Schepp delivers her newest thriller to American audiences this June. SLOWLY WE DIE may be part of the Jana Berzelius series, but much of this book reads like a stand-alone. Shifting focus away from Jana’s personal backstory and towards a new - and chilling - case, SLOWLY WE DIE will be largely accessible to readers who have never dipped into this series before. Perhaps most interesting, though, is the decision by Schepp to take her Nordic thriller away from the traditional layered plotting and slow-burn pacing of Scandinavian crime, and towards a more commercial, brisk tone. With crimes plaguing the medical community at the center of this story, fans of medical thrillers by Tess Gerritsen and Patricia Cornwell are likely to be the audience best suited to Schepp’s story of decades-old vendettas in Sweden.
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May 2018 Wrap-Up
Happy June, reader! I feel like I say this every month, but I can’t believe how quickly this year is flying by. May has been a busy, busy month for me (as per usual), but it’s also been a fantastic month in books for me as well! I devoured the third installment in a trilogy I love (The Collector Trilogy by Dot Hutchison), I read a superb Nordic police procedural, and a whole lot more. I’m also about to wrap up a fantastic summer psychological suspense novel - OUR HOUSE by Louise Candlish - but I’ll save that one for my June Wrap-Up, since I still have a few pages of it left! Before we dive into my wrap-up, let’s take a look at a few quick stats from my month in books:
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