What is it about dark academia that is just so appealing? I can never resist a suspense novel that draws on the world of academia, and if that sounds like your cup of tea, todayβs reading list is for you! I was inspired to write this list after reading one of my most-anticipated suspense novels of 2021, THE MAIDENS by Alex Michaelides, which centers around a murder at Cambridge University. While we wait for the publication of THE MAIDENS in mid-June here in the US, I thought I would round up a few of my personal favorite (and currently-available!) suspense novels that each, in one way or another, dabble in the world of dark academia. From a story of Pretty Little Liars-level drama at a boarding school to a sinister tale of two academics whose work together takes a dangerous turn, this reading list rounds up a few of my personal favorite and most-recommended suspense and mystery novels that incorporate elements of dark academia. As an added bonus, at the end of this blog post Iβve also highlighted three Summer 2021 suspense novels that also put their own unique spins on the world of academic mysteries. Happy reading!
Read MoreCBTB's Most-Anticipated Spring & Summer 2021 Crime Books
Is it a little bit early to be talking about summer crime fiction releases? Maybeβ¦ though I donβt know about you, but I for one am already eagerly anticipating summer and all that it will bring with it! Itβs been a long year since the pandemic began, and I will take any and every excuse to look forward to the future - including looking forward to future crime fiction releases. In that spirit, rather than doing separate Spring 2021 and Summer 2021 Most-Anticipated lists, I decided to combine them both into one massive rundown of the upcoming crime fiction releases that Iβm most looking forward to in the coming months! Some of these books I have been fortunate enough to read already, others are waiting for me on my TBR pile, and others Iβve got on pre-order - but all of these books are on my wishlist as we look towards the months ahead. Whether youβre in the mood for light psychological suspense, gritty noir, creepy thrills, or anything in between, thereβs a little something on this list for everyone! Grab a cup of coffee and dig into my picks for Most-Anticipated Spring & Summer 2021 Crime Books. For ease of reference, and to help you plan your own summer TBR list, this list is organized by publication month and date.
Read MoreBook Review: THE DROWNING KIND by Jennifer McMahon
What do you get when you cross a dual-timeline mystery with a tale of supernatural suspense? Enter Jennifer McMahonβs haunting, immersive new novel THE DROWNING KIND, available today, April 6. In this chilling supernatural mystery, itβs not any old house thatβs hauntedβitβs a body of water, specifically, a pool fed by a natural spring that is said to have special powers. Jax and her sister Lexie grew up swimming in this pool most summers, their grandmother owning the land upon which the pool is set. Fast forward a couple decades, and one day, Jax gets an unthinkable call: her sister Lexie has been found dead, drowned in the very same pool that she loved so much as a child. As Jax returns to her grandmotherβs house, she is confronted by the poolβs dark history. Lexie wasnβt the poolβs first victim, and she might not be its last. THE DROWNING KIND weaves an atmospheric and sinister tale of supernatural suspense and heartbreaking family tragedy. This immersive and often quite poignant novel balance supernatural scares with authentic human drama and tragedy that keeps the story grounded in reality, even while exploring forces that are anything but. Expertly balanced dual timelines enhance the chill factor in this book, ratcheting up the tension bit by bit until the full horrors of the pool are revealed by the bookβs conclusion. THE DROWNING KIND may be a slow-burning story, but itβs a slow-burn that will captivate fans of spine-tingling supernatural suspense. THE DROWNING KIND was the first book Iβve ever read by bestselling author Jennifer McMahon, and it certainly wonβt be my last.
Read MoreBook Review: EVERY VOW YOU BREAK by Peter Swanson
Peter Swanson, author of acclaimed thrillers including The Kind Worth Killing and Eight Perfect Murders, returns this spring with his newest story of Hitchcockian suspense: EVERY VOW YOU BREAK. Following a bride whose honeymoon with her beloved new husband takes a dark and sinister turn, EVERY VOW YOU BREAK asks the age-old question that has fueled so many domestic and psychological thrillers: how well do we really know the people who we allow into our lives? In this book, itβs no spoiler to say that the answer to that question is not very well at allβand the things they are hiding just might be deadly. EVERY VOW YOU BREAK is dripping in sinister atmosphere and built to be devoured in one or two sittings. Unfortunately, the bookβs finale leaves something to be desired, managing to be both fairly predictable and over-the-top all at once. If you are a newcomer to Peter Swansonβs work, you may be better served trying one of his previous releases: check out his books Eight Perfect Murders (perfect for fans of classic mysteries and crime fiction!) or Her Every Fear (perfect for readers looking for top-notch suspense with shades of Hitchcock).
Read MoreBook Review: THE LOST VILLAGE by Camilla Sten
Camilla Stenβs outstanding debut thriller THE LOST VILLAGE has all the ingredients of a CBTB favorite. This chilling, horror-tinged story takes place in Sweden, following a compelling female protagonist as she embarks on a (possibly misguided) mission that feels like perfect fodder for your next favorite horror movie. THE LOST VILLAGE has been compared to films including The Blair Witch Project and Midsommarβhigh praise, to be sure, and praise that I actually felt this book completely deserved. In THE LOST VILLAGE, a documentary filmmaker travels with her crew to an abandoned mining town to begin gathering information and footage for her newest project. But as the group settles in and begins exploring, a series of bizarre and increasingly sinister events call into question just how abandoned the town really isβ¦ and whether they are actually welcome there. Blending the subtle sensibility of Scandinavian crime fiction with a plot that blends psychological thrills and horror to pitch-perfect effect, THE LOST VILLAGE is a thoroughly engrossing, read-with-all-the-lights-on book. I was fortunate enough to read a review copy of this stellar suspense novel back in January, and it became my first 5/5 star review of the new year. For readers who love sinister suspense stories with cinematic settings, and thrillers that incorporate elements of horror, THE LOST VILLAGE is a book you wonβt want to miss.
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