June was arguably my personal favorite month in reading so far this year—I read a number of highly-anticipated summer releases and also made time for an older novel I’ve been hoping to read for quite a while now! Not only did I find myself reading at a good pace this month, but (even more importantly) I loved the majority of the books I read. To me, that really is the best mark of a great reading month: not how many books you read, but how much you enjoyed the books you did read. All in all, June was a distinct success—and I’m looking forward to seeing what July has in store for me next. But first, a wrap-up of my June reads!
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Lucy Atkins on Fiction’s Top Five Twisted Housekeepers and Nannies
What happens when the one place you should be safe - your home, and, by extension, your relationships with the people you welcome into it - becomes dangerous? The ever-growing domestic suspense genre is proof positive of the perennial appeal of novels examining this exact question. Perhaps the strongest (and most inventive!) example of this particular vein of suspense that I’ve read recently can be found in Lucy Atkins’ deliciously chilling psychological thriller THE NIGHT VISITOR, which releases in the US today (7/3/18). In keeping with one of the central characters of her superb thriller, Lucy Atkins is stopping by Crime by the Book today to share her picks for Fiction’s Top Five Twisted Housekeepers & Nannies! If you’re in the market for a chilling story of should-be "safe" relationships gone very wrong, listen up: Lucy has the reading list for you. Read on for Lucy's picks, and to learn more about her superb new release.
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Bill Clinton and James Patterson on Crime Fiction
There’s one thriller everyone is talking about this spring, and it’s the groundbreaking collaboration between James Patterson and Bill Clinton - THE PRESIDENT IS MISSING. You read that right—the 42nd President of the United States has penned a thriller alongside one of the most prolific and iconic crime writers at work today, and it’s been one of the most buzzed-about novels in recent memory. Thanks to the teams at Little, Brown and Knopf, I had the chance to ask a few of my most pressing questions of both Mr. Patterson and President Clinton—and I’m thrilled to share our conversation with you today! Read on to learn more about THE PRESIDENT IS MISSING, and to discover the enthusiasm for and knowledge of the genre that have fueled this buzzworthy collaboration.
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Book Review: THE NIGHT VISITOR by Lucy Atkins
Every summer that CBTB has been in existence, there’s been one out-of-left-field psychological thriller that has snuck up on me and totally blown me away. This year, I’ve found my “out-of-left-field” favorite: THE NIGHT VISITOR by Lucy Atkins. Atkins is an award-winning author and journalist, and THE NIGHT VISITOR is her third novel - but it’s the first of her work that has ever found its way onto my reading list, and boy, am I so glad that it did. After devouring this exceptional psychological thriller, Atkins has secured herself a spot on my list of must-read suspense writers. So impressed was I with Atkins’ writing that I did a little reading about her background, and discovered that she has extensive experience both as a book critic and a teacher of creative writing. Frankly, given the quality of her newest release, I wasn't the least bit surprised. Take it from me: her professional experience shows. Wholly original and utterly unputdownable, THE NIGHT VISITOR delivers a superb story of suspense with a personality all its own. If you love gripping psychological thrillers, quirky and compelling characters, and a story with a totally unique backdrop (an old estate + the world of academia!), THE NIGHT VISITOR belongs on your reading list. In short: every book should be as fun to read as this one.
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Book Review: CAGED by Ellison Cooper
I’m always on the lookout for new, buzzworthy serial killer thrillers to add to my reading list, and that’s how I came to find CAGED by Ellison Cooper, a chilling crime novel releasing from Minotaur Books this July. With a dark premise, complex female lead, and eye-catching cover, CAGED initially ticked all my boxes for serial killer thriller “must-haves.” While I certainly enjoyed CAGED, I would recommend it most of all for readers who are new to the genre; experienced readers of serial killer thrillers are likely to find that the book relies a bit too heavily on genre stereotypes and cliches. There’s nothing hugely, offensively wrong here—CAGED just never quite kicks into the gear I had hoped it would. I’m confident many readers will enjoy CAGED this summer, but I would hypothesize that those who will enjoy it most of all will be the readers dipping their toes into the genre for the first time - not a negative by any means, but a qualification to be aware of. To me, the story of CAGED is most of all a story of unfilled potential: a crime novel with an eye-catching cover and a chilling plot that delivers page-turning entertainment value, but doesn't quite reach the levels of darkness or psychological insight I had hoped it would.
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