October has come and gone, and what a great reading month it was! I genuinely enjoyed every single book I read this month. From dark and gritty Nordic Noir to a charming crime fiction short story collection and a Hitchcock-inspired psychological thriller, my bookish October was outstanding. (So much so that I had a hard time picking a "least favorite read of the month" below!) Read on for a recap of my reads from the month of October, plus a roundup of the additional blog posts featured on Crime by the Book this past month!
But first, let’s take a quick look at a few fun stats from my month in books:
Books Read: 7
Pages Read: 2,592
Favorite Read of the Month: *I’m going to exclude my re-read of Nesbo’s THE SNOWMAN from this because… that seems unfair, considering that’s my favorite book of all time!* THE SANDMAN by Lars Kepler
Least Favorite Read of the Month: THE SCENT OF ALMONDS by Camilla Lackberg
And now, on to my October 2017 wrap-up!
THE MAN WHO DIED by Antti Tuomainen
Orenda; 10/10/17 (UK) & 5/1/18 (US)
CBTB Rating: 4.5/5
The Verdict: Quirky crime fiction + dark humor
Read CBTB’s Review
Nordic Noir gets a fresh, darkly humorous twist in Tuomainen’s newest thriller. Where his previous book THE MINE is dark and unnerving, THE MAN WHO DIED is an irreverent and clever crime novel that reflects the personality and wit of its author. Readers follow Jaakko, a man in his mid-30’s whose life is disrupted when his doctor discovers that he has been the victim of long-term poisoning, and that the effects of this poison will be fatal. Suddenly, our main character finds himself in a race against the clock to figure out just who poisoned him. To make matters worse, his business (mushroom farming!) is being threatened by a new competitor - one who seems hell-bent on destroying his livelihood. THE MAN WHO DIED will appeal to fans of the Coen brothers, and delivers a read that’s as personable and engaging as is its author.
THE SNOWMAN by Jo Nesbø - Re-Read
Knopf; Movie Tie-In Edition 9/26/17
CBTB Rating: 5+++/5 (favorite book!)
The Verdict: gritty & gripping Nordic Noir with a cinematic edge
Read CBTB’s “Re-Read Review”
I’m not usually one for re-reading, but when the news broke that my all-time favorite book THE SNOWMAN by Jo Nesbø would be adapted into a movie, I knew it was time to break my “no re-reads” tendency. I led a virtual book club with readers around the world to read and discuss Jo Nesbø’s THE SNOWMAN, and I am so glad that I did. THE SNOWMAN has been my favorite book for years now, and my re-read only further cemented just how much I love this book. Nesbø’s THE SNOWMAN is Book 7 in his Harry Hole series; learn more about this series in my Beginner’s Guide to Jo Nesbø! THE SNOWMAN pits police officer Harry Hole against a vicious serial killer who is targeting women in Oslo, Norway, as whose killings seem timed to the freshly fallen snow. This is not a horror novel - it’s very firmly a police procedural - but it’s as close to horror as Nesbø gets, and the blend is fantastic. Gritty, gripping, and masterful.
THE SCENT OF ALMONDS & OTHER STORIES by Camilla Läckberg
HarperCollins; 2015
CBTB Rating: 3.5/5
The Verdict: clever & atmospheric short stories
Read CBTB’s Review
On a recent trip to Canada, I picked up a copy of Läckberg’s short story collection THE SCENT OF ALMONDS & OTHER STORIES - a slim little book that I have yet to find in US bookstores. Comprised of four short stories, THE SCENT OF ALMONDS will make an entertaining and clever addition to Läckberg fans’ personal libraries—though it won't deliver the best introduction to Läckberg for new readers. This collection is, admittedly, not be the most groundbreaking or dark short story collection - I definitely recommend Läckberg's full-length fiction over this collection if you're after interpersonal intrigue and chilling mysteries. That being said, this collection's accessibility and familiarity (series favorites appear in these stories!) make it a fun holiday gift if you know a Läckberg fan - or if you’re a fan of hers yourself! It plays directly into series fans' nostalgia for the world Läckberg has crafted, delivering a charming - if somewhat "light" - suspense collection.
THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW by A.J. Finn
William Morrow; 1/2/18
CBTB Rating: 4/5
The Verdict: Hitchcock-inspired yet fresh & original suspense
Read CBTB’s “Buzzworthy 2018 Books” Post
THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW is a masterful, immersive psychological suspense novel that will recall Hitchcock and Rear Window for its readers. At first glance, the plot of THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW feels quite familiar: a reclusive woman spends her days observing her neighbors from the windows of her home - a hobby that seems harmless, until she sees something she shouldn’t. Does this sound a bit too much like THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN at first glance? It did to me, too. But just trust me - what begins with a familiar premise quickly diverges. THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW in many ways marks a very welcome return to the basics of crime fiction storytelling - and I mean this in the best possible sense. Rather than a shock-value, twisty-turny psychological thriller, THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW proves that plotting and character development will always be the ultimate mark of a strong crime novel. Masterfully plotted and vividly told, THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW draws readers into the maze-like mind of a very solitary woman, and unravels the external circumstances that have made her who she is.
THE NIGHT WOMEN by Sara Blaedel
Grand Central; 1/2/18
CBTB Rating: 4/5
The Verdict: Entertaining glimpse into Copenhagen’s underbelly
Sara Blaedel’s Louise Rick series is one of my go-to’s when it comes to recommending Nordic Noir books for readers new to the genre. They're a great introduction to Scandinavian crime: not too gritty or dark, but atmospheric and compelling nonetheless. In January 2018, her US publisher will re-release the first three books in the Louise Rick series for American readers: THE NIGHT WOMEN, THE RUNNING GIRL, and THE STOLEN ANGEL. THE NIGHT WOMEN is, true to Blaedel’s style, an entertaining glimpse into the dark side of idyllic Copenhagen, complete with endearing and compelling characters. While not as dark or violent as other Nordic Noir books, THE NIGHT WOMEN delivers the entertainment value that has made the Louise Rick books international bestsellers. Blaedel’s books deliver an excellent blend of detailed police procedural and strong human interest storylines, and THE NIGHT WOMEN is no exception.
SNARE by Lilja Sigurdardottir
Orenda Books; 4/1/18 (US)
CBTB Rating: 4/5
The Verdict: fresh, propulsive Nordic Noir
Read CBTB’s Review
There’s nothing like finding a publisher whose books you know you can always trust, and Orenda Books is one of those publishers for me. Naturally, when I learned that Orenda was publishing Icelandic crime writer Lilja Sigurdardottir’s thriller SNARE in English, I jumped at the chance to read an early copy - and I’m so glad I did. SNARE is an addictive blend of high-stakes thriller and Nordic sensibility—a debut novel that delivers enough tension for action thriller readers, a chilling atmosphere for fans of Nordic Noir, and a plot twist strong enough to surprise seasoned psychological thriller devotees. Lilja Sigurdardottir is an author to watch in the Scandinavian crime space, and SNARE injects the genre with a personality and style all its own.
THE SANDMAN by Lars Kepler
Knopf; 3/6/18
CBTB Rating: 5/5
The Verdict: As close to perfect as a thriller can get
Read CBTB’s “Buzzworthy 2018 Books” Post
If you love gritty, cinematic, edge-of-your-seat thrillers, I've found one of your future contenders for favorite book of 2018. THE SANDMAN is one of those rare books that balances meticulous plotting, edge-of-your-seat suspense, and an almost mythic serial killer to pitch-perfect effect. Cinematic, action-packed, and bone-chilling, THE SANDMAN is poised to deliver a standout 2018 thriller read. It might release in March, but I’m betting it will top the “Best Of” lists for fans of Scandinavian greats like THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO by Stieg Larsson and THE SNOWMAN by Jo Nesbo. Read this book as part of the Joona Linna series or as a standalone (I did the latter!); either way, you’re guaranteed an utterly gripping ride. It’s been a while since I could so confidently recommend a crime book, but I’m recommending THE SANDMAN without hesitation or qualification. Nordic Noir fans and genre newcomers alike will find THE SANDMAN as chilling as the Swedish winter, and as utterly addictive as your favorite TV crime drama.
ADDITIONAL OCTOBER BLOG POSTS:
REVIEWS:
FEATURES:
- Cover Reveal - SOMEBODY’S DAUGHTER by David Bell (July 2018)
- CBTB's Recommended Halloween Reads
- Ania Ahlborn’s Recommended Halloween Reads
EVENTS:
Home ownership feel like a distant dream? Zillow listings have you convinced you’ll be renting for the rest of your life? The woman at the heart of Carissa Orlando’s debut The September House feels your pain—and she’s prepared to put up with a lot if it means she and her husband can finally have a place to call their own. In this case, that might just mean living in a house that’s haunted. Playful and irreverent, spine-tingling and spooky, The September House puts a fresh spin on the classic haunted house story, delivering an immersive tale about the secrets lurking within one building’s walls, and within the lives of its inhabitants.