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Crime by the Book

A girl investigates crime fiction from around the world, by the book.
  • Blog
  • Quick Reviews
  • Nordic Noir
    • Introduction
    • Background
    • Book Recommendations
    • By Country
    • Interviews
    • Reviews
    • Features
  • #ReadWithCBTB
  • Features
  • Reading Lists
  • Events
  • Go-to Book Recs
  • As Seen In
  • About
  • Connect

the cbtb blog

One girl's ongoing investigation of the crime fiction genre.

The Absolution_Yrsa Sigurdardottir.jpg

Book Review: THE ABSOLUTION by Yrsa Sigurdardottir

December 13, 2019

It’s the rare author who truly gets better with each new book, but then nothing about Yrsa Sigurdardottir is typical. A director at one of Iceland’s largest engineering firms, Yrsa’s second job just happens to be as a bestselling crime novelist with a growing international readership and a fantastic movie adaptation of one of her novels, I Remember You, under her belt, too. Yrsa’s qualifications alone make her a great candidate for your next author to investigate, and that’s before we even talk about her books themselves. Yrsa is currently in the middle of releasing her Children’s House series—a stellar Nordic crime series that is one of my favorite new series launches of the 2010’s. THE ABSOLUTION, the third installment in the Children’s House series, releases in the US on February 11, 2020, and it’s the best book in the series yet. True to theme for the Children’s House books, THE ABSOLUTION explores the lasting impact of childhood trauma; in this case, our story centers around the insidious nature of bullying. As with all of her series releases thus far, Yrsa displays in THE ABSOLUTION astute emotional intelligence and crafty, masterful plotting in equal measure. A rich, layered crime novel with a dark atmosphere and darker crimes, THE ABSOLUTION is a must-read this winter.

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In Book Review Tags The Absolution, Yrsa Sigurdardottir, Icelandic Crime Fiction, The Legacy, The Reckoning
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Cover Reveal and Mini Q&A: HIS & HERS by Alice Feeney

December 12, 2019

Alice Feeney has quickly become one of my favorite psychological thriller writers. From her addictive and twisty debut Sometimes I Lie to her dark and sinister I Know Who You Are, Feeney’s storytelling consistently delivers all the thrills, chills, and entertainment value a psychological suspense reader could want. A new novel from Alice Feeney is always cause for celebration, and today I’m absolutely thrilled to share with CBTB readers an exclusive cover reveal for her 2020 release, HIS & HERS, on sale July 2020! Read on for all the details on Alice Feeney’s 2020 release, including plot summary, a mini Q&A with the author herself, links to pre-order the book should you wish to do so, and, of course, a look at the book’s stunning (and creepy!) cover.

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In Cover Reveal Tags His & Hers, Alice Feeney, Sometimes I Lie, I Know Who You Are, Psychological Thriller
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Book Preview: THE OTHER PEOPLE by C.J. Tudor

November 26, 2019

Every reader has that select list of authors whose new books they simply must read, no matter what. C.J. Tudor is on my version of that list. Beginning with her stunning debut THE CHALK MAN, Tudor’s fierce originality and utterly original voice has captivated me. And if I thought I loved THE CHALK MAN, I was doubly obsessed with her sophomore novel, THE HIDING PLACE. Tudor’s work is a blend of fresh psychological scares and throwback horror nostalgia; in short, it’s a must if you’re someone who wants to be thoroughly entertained and really, really creeped out. Tudor is a brilliant new voice in suspense fiction, and one of the rare authors whose work really does seem to just get better and better with everything she writes. I’m absolutely thrilled, then, to share with CBTB readers an early glimpse into C.J. Tudor’s newest novel: THE OTHER PEOPLE, coming to a bookstore near you on January 28, 2020!

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In Book Preview, Excerpt Tags C.J. Tudor, The Other People, The Chalk Man, The Hiding Place
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Q&A with Lisa Jewell, Author of THE FAMILY UPSTAIRS

November 15, 2019

I’m a self-confessed latecomer to Lisa Jewell’s work, and I’ll be the first to admit it: I’ve been missing out. I devoured Jewell’s newest release THE FAMILY UPSTAIRS earlier this fall, and there’s no going back—I’m a Lisa Jewell fan for life. Jewell is the author of seventeen internationally bestselling novels, and her newest release, THE FAMILY UPSTAIRS, debuted on the New York Times bestsellers list. All of this is to say: Lisa Jewell really needs no introduction, but on the off chance that you, too, are a latecomer to Jewell and her binge-worthy brand of psychological suspense, allow this blog post to serve as your point of entry into this prolific author’s work. I’m absolutely thrilled to welcome Lisa Jewell to Crime by the Book today to discuss her newest release, THE FAMILY UPSTAIRS. In this twisty, dark story of psychological suspense, a young woman inherits her birth parents’ abandoned mansion in a posh London neighborhood—and inherits a dark legacy, too. Years earlier, that mansion was the site of a bizarre - and unsolved - tragedy, involving the deaths of the home’s adult residents, and the disappearance of children who were thought to be living at the house at the time, too. Using multiple narrators and shifting timelines to pitch-perfect effect, Jewell crafts an utterly addictive and engrossing story of family secrets in THE FAMILY UPSTAIRS. If you’re looking for a fresh take on a domestic suspense novel, this book might just be your perfect fit. I’m so excited to share my Q&A with Lisa Jewell on her newest release with you today! Many thanks to Lisa Jewell for taking the time to answer my questions so thoughtfully, and to her fantastic US publicist for facilitating this conversation. Read on for more information about THE FAMILY UPSTAIRS, a direct link to my full review of the book, and, of course, my conversation with Lisa Jewell.

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In Author Q&A Tags Lisa Jewell, The Family Upstairs, Psychological Suspense
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Cover Reveal and Mini Q&A: HE STARTED IT by Samantha Downing

November 12, 2019

Raise your hand if you loved Samantha Downing’s inventive, clever, personality-filled debut novel My Lovely Wife - I know I sure did, and I’m so honored to team up with her US publisher, Berkley, to reveal the cover for her sophomore novel: HE STARTED IT, releasing April 28, 2020. There’s nothing I love more than discovering an author with a voice and style uniquely her own, and that’s exactly how I would define Samantha Downing’s work. In My Lovely Wife, Downing centered a story of suspense around a married couple whose date nights involved serial murder; now, in HE STARTED IT, she turns her eye towards sibling relationships and a cross-country road trip fueled by secrets and revenge. I couldn’t be more excited to give CBTB readers this sneak peek into Samantha Downing’s newest release! In today’s blog post, you can check out the book’s gorgeous cover, learn more about its plot, catch a mini Q&A with the author herself, and pre-order the book, should you wish to do so!

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In Cover Reveal, Author Q&A Tags Cover Reveal, Samantha Downing, He Started It, My Lovely Wife, Psychological Thriller
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View fullsize My personal crime fiction collection 🕵🏻‍♀️🖤 aka my favorite corner of my apartment. 📚🙌🏻 If anyone feels so inclined, I’d love to see what YOUR bookshelves look like! Snap a pic, share in your stories, & tag me - I’d love to
View fullsize I can never say no to a creepy read with a gorgeous black & white cover. 🕵🏻‍♀️🤍🖤 next on my TBR: THE SHADOWS by Alex North, available on my birthday, 7/7!!😉🔎 (huge thank you to @celadonbooks for this review copy!🤓) •
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View fullsize Being stuck at home isn’t so bad when you’ve got a massive stack of books to read. 🕵🏻‍♀️🖤 What’s on your social-distancing TBR?! 📖
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I went WAY overboard with books I brought home to CT for my self-isolation TBR list. ?
View fullsize Early afternoon light & a large latte ☕️ & a gripping crime read 🕵🏻‍♀️🖤 aka the perfect combination 🙌🏻
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This right here is my usual Sunday tradition 👆🏻 BUT I’ll be spending this Sunday (and this coming week, and probabl
View fullsize My last day in the city for a while calls for a lunch break coffee stop ☕️🖤 with my totally gripping current read 🕵🏻‍♀️
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Today is my last day in Manhattan for a while 😔 we’re all transitioning to working from home to try and preve
View fullsize In the midst of a crazy week, my brain needs a quick, binge-worthy read, and I think this beauty right here is just the ticket. 👌🏻🖤 NO BAD DEED by Heather Chavez is on sale now, and I can’t wait to dive in! 🕵🏻‍♀️
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Friends, I can&
View fullsize Happy Monday, friends! 🖤 Back in NYC and back to work after an amazing (if much too short) visit to Oslo 🇳🇴 annnd currently drinking a cold brew ☕️ at my desk & hoping it keeps me awake this afternoon 😂 jet lag + not enough sleep last night =
View fullsize Last looks at beautiful Oslo 🇳🇴 for this trip. ❤️ So very sad to leave, but I’m bringing wonderful memories & a suitcase stuffed with books 📚 back to NYC with me. 😉 See you soon, Oslo... you know I can’t stay away for long. 🥰❤️
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View fullsize Spent today doing all my favorite things in Oslo, so obviously a coffee stop was included. ☕️🖤 How are you spending your Saturday?! •
Okay I used to always think the phrase “living your best life” was SO cheesy but if I’m bein
View fullsize *Years* of admiring this Norwegian edition of my favorite book (THE SNOWMAN by Jo Nesbø) have finally resulted in this. 🕵🏻‍♀️🖤 Best. Purchase. Ever. 🙌🏻
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Does anyone else collect books by a favorite author?! 📚 I don’t have

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