2019 is shaping up to be a fantastic year for crime fiction, and today’s featured thriller is proof of exactly that! I’m thrilled to share with CBTB readers a sneak peek into one of the hottest crime novels releasing this spring: BEAUTIFUL BAD by Annie Ward, available March 19th. Thanks to the team at Park Row Books, CBTB readers can dig into the first two chapters of this gripping thriller right here! I’m absolutely hooked on what I’ve read of this book so far, and can’t wait to share this one with you. Read on for a preview of Annie Ward’s BEAUTIFUL BAD!
Read MoreCrime Festival Journal: Iceland Noir 2018
This past weekend, I had the incredible opportunity to travel to Reykjavik, Iceland for Iceland Noir 2018 - a crime fiction festival that takes place in Iceland's capital city every other year. And what an incredible trip it was! In this blog post, I’ll be sharing a day-by-day recap of my time in Iceland, including panel notes, book recommendations, lots of photos, and a whole lot more. A huge thanks to the entire Iceland Noir team for organizing such a memorable festival!
Read MoreCrime Festival Preview: Iceland Noir 2018
Two years ago, I went on my very first solo international trip to Reykjavik for Iceland Noir 2016. I had never met anyone at the conference in “real life”; I was still a relatively new blogger, and, to be honest, I wasn’t quite sure what I was getting into. Well, to make a long story short, it was the absolute best thing I could’ve done for myself and for the development of CBTB. I made great friends, learned about tons of new crime books, and fell head over heels in love with the beauty and magic of Iceland. Now, two years later, I’m more than ready to pack my bags and head back to Reykjavik for Iceland Noir 2018! I’ve been to quite a few crime festivals all around the world now, and I can honestly say that Iceland Noir remains my favorite festival yet. I can’t wait to see what Iceland Noir 2018 has in store for me!
Read MoreBuzzworthy 2019 Book #1: STALKER by Lars Kepler
With another new year on the horizon, it’s time to begin one of my personal favorite blog series: Buzzworthy 2019 Books! If you’re new to CBTB, my “Buzzworthy Books” picks are aimed at highlighting early 2019 releases that might still be a few months away, but are worth adding to your TBR now. In these posts, I will highlight three key elements that make the featured book a must-read. I will be periodically releasing these Buzzworthy Books selections as we approach the new year—and once 2019 arrives, I’ll have a blog post up giving you a complete list of my Buzzworthy 2019 Books! So now, on to my first pick… STALKER by Lars Kepler, available February 5th, 2019! When I want a crime novel that’s gritty, unputdownable, and very dark, Kepler is one of my go-to authors - and this is exactly the kind of reading experience that STALKER delivers.
Read MoreNordic Noir Series Recommendation: The Fjällbacka Series by Camilla Läckberg
One of the trickiest things about blogging for me personally is finding time to highlight books that I loved before starting Crime by the Book. Recently, though, I’ve been feeling particularly inspired to put together a post on one of the very first Scandinavian crime series I fell in love with—so that’s exactly what I’m doing today! After reading (and loving) Stieg Larsson’s Millennium trilogy many years ago, I found myself on a personal quest to learn as much as I could about the Nordic Noir genre. It was during this time period that I discovered Jo Nesbø, Sara Blaedel, and today’s featured author: Camilla Läckberg. In the years since, my love of Camilla Läckberg’s endearing, engrossing Fjällbacka Series has only grown. If you’re a reader who prefers mysteries that focus less on violence and more on character development, these books will be right up your alley; they are undeniably lighter novels than many of their Nordic peers, but that’s not at all a negative. Instead, think of these books as the kind of “comfort read” that you’ll want to come back to over and over, thanks to their rich atmosphere, endearing characters, and chilling (but not terrifying) mysteries. I couldn’t be more excited to finally be taking the time to share exactly why I love this series - and why I think you’ll love it, too.
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