I read a lot of books, and I love a lot of books, but I know I’ve found something particularly special when I find a book I genuinely cannot put down. I’ve been eyeing Irish writer Catherine Ryan Howard’s latest suspense novel REWIND for quite a while now, but I finally took the plunge and dove into it this spring—and I’m so glad that I did. REWIND is pure “popcorn reading”—a lighter suspense story with a compulsive, just-one-more-page plot and major entertainment value. In REWIND, readers are drawn into a cleverly-crafted work of psychological suspense, one that utilizes unconventional plot structures and shifting perspectives to build an irresistible story of betrayal, secrets, and suspense. REWIND begins with a shocking crime: a woman is murdered while she sleeps in her hotel room, the only witness to the crime the hotel’s manager, a man who really shouldn’t be watching… but is, thanks to the hidden cameras he has installed around the hotel. Why was our victim in this hotel in the first place? Who killed her, and why? And what does the voyeuristic hotel manager have to do with any of it? From a relatively simple premise, Catherine Ryan Howard unravels a deliciously dramatic and sinister story of psychological suspense. While I did guess the story’s ultimate conclusion, my enjoyment of this engaging suspense book wasn’t diminished in this least; this is a story that’s more about the journey than the ultimate destination. When I started reading REWIND, I simply couldn’t stop. This book’s clever structure and engaging storytelling beg to be devoured whole.
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Q&A with Peter Swanson, author of EIGHT PERFECT MURDERS
Crime fiction fanatics, listen up: Peter Swanson’s latest release is your next must-read. Eight Perfect Murders, which released earlier this month, is a mystery novel built for fans of mystery novels. Following a bookseller-turned-amateur-sleuth, Eight Perfect Murders imagines what would happen if a real-world criminal were inspired by some of the most infallible murders in the crime fiction genre. I devoured Eight Perfect Murders. Readers who love classic crime fiction or simply want to be swept up in a clever, witty, engaging mystery story will find Peter Swanson’s newest utterly irresistible. I was absolutely thrilled to have the chance to interview Peter Swanson about his excellent new crime novel, and am equally delighted to share the finished product with CBTB readers today! In this blog post, you’ll find more information on Eight Perfect Murders, including a snippet from my review of the book, and my full conversation with Peter Swanson. Huge thanks to Peter for taking the time to answer my questions, and to his publisher for facilitating this conversation! Eight Perfect Murders is available now at your favorite bookseller. Happy reading!
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Crime Books to Read While You Stay at Home
It’s safe to say these are unprecedented times. With the rapid spread of the new coronavirus around the world, a whole lot of us (yours truly included!) are finding ourselves with a whole lot more solitary time on our hands as we stay home and self-isolate. If you’re in this position and looking for a new book or two to take your mind off the news cycle, you’ve come to the right place! I’ve compiled a big list of highly-recommended crime books for you to peruse—and my hope is that one of these (or a few of these!) can keep you company and give you a sense of escape during these very overwhelming times. To help you find a book that will suit your reading tastes, I’ve organized this reading list by mood. Whether you’re in the mood for something binge-worthy, something bookish, or something downright scary, there’s a book for you here.
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Mini Review & Author Interview: DARLING ROSE GOLD by Stephanie Wrobel
I had the pleasure of reading Stephanie Wrobel’s stunning debut novel DARLING ROSE GOLD this past fall, and boy oh boy did I love it. Today marks the US publication day for this exceptional new suspense read, and to celebrate, I’m so excited to give CBTB readers a two-for-one feature on what is sure to be one of my favorite books of 2020. In this blog post, you’ll find a mini review of DARLING ROSE GOLD, plus an interview with author Stephanie Wrobel herself! I had the pleasure of sitting down with Stephanie to talk all things DARLING ROSE GOLD when she was in New York in advance of her book’s publication, and I absolutely loved our conversation. We talked true crime, mental health, getting into the heads of your characters, and a whole lot more. For any reader looking for a deliciously dark suspense novel to dig into this spring, consider DARLING ROSE GOLD a must-read. Read on for details on DARLING ROSE GOLD, my mini review, and an interview with the author!
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Crime Festival Preview: Krimfestivalen 2020
Each spring, Norwegian crime writers and crime writers from around Scandinavia - and the world - gather in Oslo for Krimfestivalen, an annual crime fiction festival that has quickly become one of my absolute favorites. I’ve been attending Krimfestivalen for a few years now (you can check out my very first trip to Krimfestivalen recapped here!) and it’s now something I look forward to every single spring. I’m in Oslo for Krimfestivalen this week, and can’t wait to take you guys along with me and share the crime festival fun with you all! I’ll be sharing live updates from Krimfestivalen on Instagram and Twitter, and I’ll also be recapping my time in Oslo for Krimfestivalen 2020 on my website once I return to New York. In the meantime, read on for a preview of this year’s festival, including my most-anticipated author appearances, an overview of the festival’s special events, and more!
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