C.J. Tudor never writes the same book twice, but you can always count on her books to be consistently great. Tudor, author of fan-favorite thrillers including The Chalk Man and The Other People, returns this week with her latest offering: THE BURNING GIRLS, a sinister story that blends folk horror with small-town mystery to chilling end. Tudorβs genre-bending novels are some of my favorites, and THE BURNING GIRLS more than met my high expectations. In this spine-tingling story, Tudor invites readers to Chapel Croft, a small village with a dark history that seems to be informing the sinister events of its present. Things havenβt been right in Chapel Croft in quite some time, and for newcomer Jack and daughter Flo, a fresh start in the quiet village is going to be much more complicatedβand potentially dangerousβthan either could have imagined. Jack is the townβs new vicar, come to step in after the untimely death of their predecessor. As Jack and Flo navigate this new community, they find themselves confronted not only by the townβs brutal and violent history, but also by the ghosts of the past that seem to linger in Chapel Croft to this day. THE BURNING GIRLS is a story of folk horror perfect for fans of The Wicker Man; itβs also a compelling mystery, inviting readers to unravel the truth about a missing persons case that has long gone cold, but has never stopped haunting this small community. Written with C.J. Tudorβs trademark razor-sharp plotting and sinister, atmospheric suspense, THE BURNING GIRLS is perhaps the authorβs most ambitiousβand most hauntingβstory yet.
Read MoreBook Preview: THE OTHER PEOPLE by C.J. Tudor
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, Tudorβs 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. Tudorβs work is a blend of fresh psychological scares and throwback horror nostalgia; in short, itβs a must if youβre 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. Iβm absolutely thrilled, then, to share with CBTB readers an early glimpse into C.J. Tudorβs newest novel: THE OTHER PEOPLE, coming to a bookstore near you on January 28, 2020!
Read MoreBook Review: THE HIDING PLACE by C.J. Tudor
If my first read of 2019 is any indication, this year is going to be an outstanding one for crime fiction. In 2018, C.J. Tudor broke on to the crime fiction scene with her exceptional debut novel THE CHALK MAN; in 2019, sheβs back, and sheβs delivered something even better. THE HIDING PLACE is small-town noir meets dread-inducing horrorβa sharp, gritty story that draws readers into a community with an almost unthinkable secret at its core. In Tudorβs expert hands, readers will enthusiastically follow wayward protagonist Joe Thorne as he returns to his childhood hometown of Arnhill: a place where the past can never truly stay buried. Itβs impossible to narrow down which element of this outstanding suspense story I liked best; from its grimy, gloomy atmosphere and razor-sharp plotting to its thread of horror-inspired chills and gut-punch of a conclusion, THE HIDING PLACE is every bit a superb crime novel. C.J. Tudor has proven herself once again to be one of the most exciting, genuinely unique talents at work in the genre. Itβs not every day that your first read of the year turns out to be a (very early) contender for favorite book of the year, but here we are: THE HIDING PLACE is stellar, and a 2019 standout.
Read MoreBest Debut Crime Novels of 2018
Thereβs something so special about discovering a debut author whose work just clicks for you. Itβs that thrill of discovering something new - a hidden gem, an author whose work youβll want to follow for years to come. 2018 was a hugely exciting year for new crime fiction talent, but there were five debut crime writers whose work stood out to me in particular - and those are the authors whose work you will find in this list! The authors featured in this list write in very different crime fiction spaces, but their work has one very important thing in common: itβs exceptional. From a harrowing coming-of-age story to a Scandinavian domestic drama to a modern take on a classic procedural and much more, this list highlights the expansive, elastic quality of the crime fiction genreβand proves that women are leading the charge across the board. I canβt wait to see what these talented writers will do next. In no particular order (because I loved them all!), letβs dive in to my picks for Best Debut Crime Novels of 2018.
Read More7 Chilling Crime Books to Read This October
Itβs the most wonderful time of the yearβ¦ October! October also brings with it the perfect opportunity to inject your reading list with some seriously chilling crime novels in preparation for Halloween. If youβre in the market for some βSpooktoberβ reading recommendations, youβve come to the right place. Todayβs blog post will highlight a number of my favorite thrilling, chilling Halloween reads. Some are standard crime novels, some are crime novels with a supernatural twist, and some are true horrorβno matter your bookish preferences, youβll find a Halloween read to add to your TBR here. Match yourself to the category that most describes you, and find your perfect Halloween read! Plus, as an added bonus for my readers whoβve asked for TV and movie recommendationsβbelow each book recommendation listed in this post, you will also find a quick little blurb for a TV show or film that is likely to appeal to you, too!
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