Halloween is nearly here… and if you’re in the market for a chilling read to help set the mood for your Hallo-week, today’s post is for you! We’ve got two days to go until the 31st, so you’ll want something quick - and scary - to get you in the Halloween spirit fast. In this post, you’ll find a few of my personal favorite spine-tingling, binge-worthy scary stories that you can devour in a couple sittings. From straight-up horror fiction to psychological thrillers with an edge and more, there’s a little something for everyone in this post—and you can always find even more creepy books by perusing my Quick Reviews page. Happy reading, and happy (almost) Halloween!
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Book Review: THE SILENT WOMEN by Sara Blaedel
Nordic Noir fans, listen up - this fall is bringing with it some fantastic new crime novels to sink your teeth into, including Sara Blaedel’s THE SILENT WOMEN—the second book in the author’s internationally bestselling Louise Rick series. (Of note: this book was previously published in the US under the title Call Me Princess.) In THE SILENT WOMEN, Copenhagen detective Louise Rick faces a disturbing case when a young woman is found brutally assaulted in her home, the victim of a man who appears to use dating websites to identify and meet his prey. THE SILENT WOMEN was Blaedel’s breakout book in her native Denmark, and it’s easy to see why. Dark and visceral, this chilling crime story will get under readers’ skin and stay there long after the final page is turned. The crimes portrayed in this book are deeply disturbing, but Blaedel handles them with sensitivity; readers will find Louise Rick a fantastic advocate and champion for the women who fall victim to our story’s criminal. Where THE MIDNIGHT WITNESS, Book 1 in Blaedel’s Louise Rick series, is a more slow-burning story, THE SILENT WOMEN is gripping right from the outset; readers looking for a procedural with tense, page-turning pacing will thoroughly enjoy this series installment. THE SILENT WOMEN is sure to hook readers on Sara Blaedel’s Louise Rick series.
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Excerpt: RIVER BODIES by Karen Katchur
I’m delighted to share with CBTB readers an excerpt from RIVER BODIES by Karen Katchur, available November 1st from Thomas & Mercer! This mystery caught my eye first and foremost for its gorgeous cover (which, in all honesty, might be one of my favorite covers of the year!)—and second for its compelling plot. RIVER BODIES links past and present through two crimes in Portland, Pennsylvania, and follows a woman whose return to her hometown brings long-buried secrets to the surface. RIVER BODIES is the first book in a planned series, so this is the perfect opportunity to dip in and see if this forthcoming suspense novel might be a book for you. In anticipation of RIVER BODIES’ release in just a couple of weeks, you can dip into Chapter One from this intriguing mystery in today’s blog post!
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Recommended October 2018 Releases
There are few things I love more than a fall afternoon spent cozied up with a great crime novel - and October’s new releases have lots to offer if you’re in the market for a perfect fall read! This month, Icelandic author Ragnar Jonasson launches a new series in the US, Sharon Bolton serves up a perfect Halloween suspense novel, the very first book by Denmark’s Queen of Crime finally comes to America, and more! It’s been a great month for crime fiction, so let’s dive right in to this month’s Recommended Releases.
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Book Review: THE MIDNIGHT WITNESS by Sara Blaedel
Looking for a crime series perfect for fall weekend reading? Danish crime writer Sara Blaedel’s Louise Rick series belongs on your list. When I picture the kind of book I want to be reading on a crisp autumn evening, it’s a book exactly like Blaedel’s: something atmospheric, layered, immersive, and perfect for cozying up with when the weather gets cold. If this sounds up your alley, add Blaedel’s THE MIDNIGHT WITNESS to your TBR. Technically the first book in Blaedel’s internationally-bestselling series, THE MIDNIGHT WITNESS is now being made available to US readers in a brand-new edition from Grand Central—and it will work for both newcomers to Blaedel’s work and established fans of the series. In THE MIDNIGHT WITNESS, homicide detective Louise Rick is tasked with solving the brutal murder of a young woman in her hometown of Copenhagen, Denmark… but when her best friend, journalist Camilla Lind, asks her to investigate the murder of a local journalist as well, Louise finds herself in over her head - and in the crosshairs of two killers. THE MIDNIGHT WITNESS is the book that launched Blaedel’s internationally-bestselling Louise Rick series around the world—and American readers will fall in love with Blaedel’s endearing and headstrong detective in this compelling mystery.
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