It’s hard to believe that summer is coming to an end! I, for one, am so excited about the encroaching autumn - can you say perfect mystery reading weather?! But before summer comes to an end, there’s still time to grab a few end-of-summer (and totally fantastic) reads. My August recommendations list has a whole variety of new crime fiction for your consideration: from claustrophobic Icelandic crime fiction to a modern spin on the police procedural to binge-worthy “popcorn reads.” There are some genuinely unique and very exciting new reads to add to your TBR this month, and I'm so excited to share this list with you today!
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Book Review: TEAR ME APART by J.T. Ellison
I fell head-over-heels for bestselling author J.T. Ellison’s 2017 standalone thriller LIE TO ME last summer—so you can imagine my excitement when a copy of her newest release, TEAR ME APART, landed on my doorstep. There’s something about Ellison’s writing that just seems to work for me; though my exposure to her writing has been relatively limited compared to the extensive bibliography she has under her belt, I’m now two-for-two on loving her binge-worthy brand of psychological suspense. Though totally distinct stories, LIE TO ME and TEAR ME APART both feature a deep-dive into the personal lives of individuals working in unique professions: in LIE TO ME, the protagonists were authors, and in TEAR ME APART, the story’s central character is a professional skier and Olympic hopeful. Ellison has a knack for using these unique backdrops as springboards for truly gripping suspense stories—the page-turning fun of her writing is rivaled by the fascinating worlds in which these stories take place. TEAR ME APART is a more-than-satisfying follow-up to 2017’s LIE TO ME, and an excellent choice for readers looking to sneak in another “summer read” before the season ends. I’d expect nothing less from Ellison than a book this fun to devour, and she delivers and then some in TEAR ME APART.
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Book Event Recap: Karin Slaughter at the Strand for PIECES OF HER
Crime writing powerhouse Karin Slaughter has a brand-new book out this week: PIECES OF HER, a gripping story of a young woman who discovers that the person she thought she knew best in the world - her mom - isn’t at all who she believed her to be. On Monday, I had the incredible opportunity to join Karin in conversation at New York’s legendary Strand Bookstore to discuss PIECES OF HER! Interviewing Karin at the Strand was an absolute highlight of my Crime by the Book years thus far, and I’m so excited to share a recap of the event with you today. In this post, you’ll find a recap of the event, including a video of it (courtesy of the Strand’s YouTube!), a rundown of where you can catch Karin on tour for her newest book, and more information on PIECES OF HER!
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Book Review: THE OTHER WOMAN by Sandie Jones
Summer is winding down, but there’s still time to sneak in a beach trip before autumn arrives—and when you do, Sandie Jones’ debut THE OTHER WOMAN belongs in your beach bag. Fast-paced and binge-worthy, THE OTHER WOMAN is a strong example of what I like to call “popcorn reading”: a suspense novel with serious entertainment value that begs to be devoured in one sitting. THE OTHER WOMAN will appeal most to fans of domestic suspense novels like B.A. Paris’ BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, but Jones’ debut contributes a fresh angle to the genre that makes it a worthy addition to your TBR in its own right. The story’s titular “other woman” isn’t a mistress… it’s a mother-in-law named Pammie, and she’s bad news in the best way. What begins as a fairly standard psychological suspense setup (woman meets nearly-too-good-to-be-true man, and a romantic relationship ensues) quickly becomes deliciously dramatic and sinister; Pammie has no intention of letting her son marry our story’s protagonist, and the lengths she’s willing to go to will equal parts shock and entertain. Remember that romantic comedy Monster in Law? THE OTHER WOMAN is like that, but with a dark, vengeful twist. If you’re in the market for a lighter suspense read with a genuinely jaw-dropping finale, Sandie Jones’ debut belongs on your TBR.
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CBTB's Most-Anticipated Crime Books of Late 2018
2018 is flying by - and it's been bringing with it some really outstanding new crime fiction. From Jo Nesbo's MACBETH to Lucy Atkins' THE NIGHT VISITOR and a whole lot more, there's been a little something for everyone to love in the year so far—and now that summer reading is winding down, it's time to look towards the fall. In this post, you'll find the tail-end-of-summer reads I'm most excited about (publication date of 8/28 and onward!), plus an assortment of the upcoming fall releases that are a priority on my reading list. There are psychological thrillers, horror story prequels, Nordic Noir novels, and a whole lot more—so settle in, grab a cup of coffee, and discover some upcoming releases to add to your TBR, too!
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