Leave it to Alice Feeney to write Summer 2020’s twistiest psychological thriller yet. Feeney, author of CBTB-favorites Sometimes I Lie and I Know Who You Are, is back this year with her next (and arguably best) suspense novel, HIS & HERS. In what has become her trademark, Feeney’s newest release begins with a simple premise—in this case, a journalist reporting on a murder case that has sparked a media frenzy and a detective investigating that same case—and morphs and twists into one of the most intricate, cleverly-constructed psychological suspense novels I’ve had the pleasure of reading so far this year. In Feeney’s expert hands, nothing is as it initially seems—and that has never been more true than it is in her newest release. HIS & HERS is a psychologically-astute, genuinely-shocking thriller: a book that explores themes of family secrets, toxic teenage relationships, and the insidious ways loyalty and love can be used to justify horrific acts. Pick this book up for its instantly-intriguing plot, stay for its never-saw-that-coming final revelation—and all the many twists this journey will take on the way to its ultimate destination. HIS & HERS is a Summer 2020 must-read.
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Excerpt & Mini-Review: THE SHADOWS by Alex North
Love a creepy, suspenseful thriller? Looking for something dark and sinister to add to your summer reading list? I’ve got the perfect read for you. I had the absolute pleasure of reading an advance copy of Alex North’s sophomore thriller THE SHADOWS earlier this spring, and this spine-tingling book has stayed on my mind ever since. Part coming-of-age tale, part horror-inspired thriller, THE SHADOWS is a must-read for anyone who wants their summer reads served with a side of spine-tingling scares. Perfect for readers of C.J. Tudor and Stephen King, THE SHADOWS is sure to be one of the buzziest - and creepiest - thriller releases of the year. To celebrate the publication of this outstanding work of suspense, I’m thrilled to share a two-for-one blog post with you, spotlighting this exceptional book and sharing my quick thoughts on it! In today’s blog post, I’m thrilled to share a mini-review of the book and give readers a chance to dip into an excerpt from the book itself! Read on for more information on THE SHADOWS, my quick thoughts, and an excerpt from the book.
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CBTB's July Must-Read Crime Fiction
Summer is here, and it’s bringing with it all kinds of amazing new crime fiction releases. From binge-worthy psychological thrillers to the return of CBTB-favorite crime writers to sleep-with-the-lights-on creepy suspense stories and much more, July 2020 has a little something for everyone. In today’s blog post, I’m highlighting the new releases I personally recommend this month, and the July publications that are still on my TBR list! Dive on in for the best of the best of this month’s new crime fiction, and grab yourself a new read (or two!) to add to your summer reading list.
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Book Review: HOME BEFORE DARK by Riley Sager
Riley Sager has done it again. The New York Times bestselling author of LOCK EVERY DOOR, THE LAST TIME I LIED, and FINAL GIRLS is back this summer with another irresistible work of chilling psychological suspense—and it’s his best, and most ambitious, book yet. HOME BEFORE DARK is a modern-day ghost story-meets-family mystery sure to deliver all the page-turning entertainment value readers of Sager’s work have come to expect, but this time, with an extra-chilling twist. In HOME BEFORE DARK, readers follow protagonist Maggie Holt as she returns to the home her family owned—and fled—years prior, an experience that became the inspiration for her father’s bestselling nonfiction book, House of Horrors. There’s just one problem: Maggie doesn’t believe a word of what her father has written about her childhood, and she’s determined to prove that this storied home is nothing more than a dilapidated house in need of some TLC. But as Maggie settles into the house, events unfold that defy logic—and begin to call into question all that Maggie believed (or didn’t believe) about her family’s ordeal years prior. Ghosts aren’t real… are they? HOME BEFORE DARK will make you think twice. Blending a chilling present-day mystery of family secrets with a glimpse into the book that defined Maggie’s childhood, House of Horrors, HOME BEFORE DARK is as masterfully-plotted and relentlessly readable a thriller as you’ll read this summer. So turn on all the lights in your room, double-check that your closet is as empty as you think it is, and dive into the spine-tingling world of Riley Sager’s HOME BEFORE DARK.
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Book Review: THE MIST by Ragnar Jonasson
Very few recent crime fiction series have hooked me the way Ragnar Jonasson’s Hidden Iceland Trilogy has. This impeccably-crafted Icelandic crime series is an astonishing accomplishment: a trilogy plotted as beautifully as it is written, brimming with the humanity of its characters and immersing readers in the stunning landscape of Iceland.. In the Hidden Iceland books, author Ragnar Jonasson wraps readers up in the chilling atmosphere of his trilogy’s setting, and draws readers into the inner life of its endearing and compelling protagonist. The Hidden Iceland trilogy has captivated me with its stylish prose, clever plotting, and unputdownable suspense, and with THE MIST, Jonasson delivers a conclusion worthy of its exceptional predecessors. In THE MIST, readers follow series protagonist Hulda Hermansdottir as she returns to work following a personal leave necessitated by an undefined tragedy. Hulda will soon face a disturbing - and puzzling - case: a mysterious death at a remote farmhouse in the Icelandic countryside, where two bodies have been found. Weaving together Hulda’s personal life with an extended flashback at the farm in the lead-up to our victims’ deaths, THE MIST is a complex and heartbreaking mystery, a feather in the cap of an already-exceptional crime fiction series. If you’re in the market for elegant suspense that relies more on atmosphere and character development than blood and gore, Ragnar Jonasson’s superb Hidden Iceland trilogy might just be your perfect match. I will sincerely miss this series and its standout protagonist, but I am already looking forward to seeing what Ragnar will write next.
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