Another year is drawing to a close, and what a year itβs been. To call 2020 a challenge would be, frankly, the understatement of the year. Iβve always been thankful for the escape that a great crime book can bring, but I donβt think Iβve ever been quite as thankful for great books as I have been this year. 2020 brought with it outstanding new crime fiction from CBTB favorites and new-to-me authors alike; it saw some of my longtime favorite writers embarking on new directions in their writing careers; it introduced me to new series that I expect Iβll be following for years to come. From psychological thrillers to Nordic Noir to creepy, horror-inspired suspense and a little bit of everything in between, this year brought with it lots of new crime novels to love, and in todayβs blog post, Iβm sharing my picks for the very best of the best that this year had to offer. Iβm thrilled to share with you my picks for Best Crime Books of 2020, this year with a fun twist! Iβve given each book included in this list a superlative: everything from βBest Plot Twistβ to βBest βPopcorn Thrillerββ to βBest Nordic Noir Series Installmentβ and more. Happy reading!
Read MoreCBTB's Best Crime Books of 2020
Book Review: THE KINGDOM by Jo NesbΓΈ
Where to begin with this book review? If youβve been around Crime by the Book for more than a couple days, youβve probably already picked up on the fact that Norwegian crime writer Jo NesbΓΈ is my all-time, hands-down favorite author. I could go on and on about my long standing love of NesbΓΈβs books. I could tell you about the moment I was recommended his books while on my first trip to Norway years ago; I could share how his books got me through heartbreak, a cross-country move, job changes, health challenges, and a whole lot more; I could tell you about the time I spent a day in Oslo, Norway retracing the most significant locations from his bestselling crime fiction series. But (contrary to how it seems so far!) this blog post isnβt actually about me. Itβs about NesbΓΈβs outstanding new standalone novel THE KINGDOMβa book that captivated me and swept me up in its gritty, tragic tale of love and betrayal. In THE KINGDOM, NesbΓΈ departs from his beloved Harry Hole series with a standalone novel that trades serial killers and police procedure for long-buried interpersonal secrets and the fallout of their resurrection. THE KINGDOM is a masterful work of rural noir, a story that will pluck you up from wherever you are sitting and bring you to a small (fictional) town nestled in the mountains of western Norway. Slow-burning yet propulsive, THE KINGDOM showcases a new side of NesbΓΈβs crime writing talent. With THE KINGDOM, he has delivered another outstanding work of crime fiction, a story that explores themes of family, love, and loyalty, all wrapped up in a gritty, slow-burning, rural noir package.
Read MoreCBTB's Most-Anticipated Fall 2020 Crime Fiction Releases
The best time of year is upon us! As we head into the chillier months of the year, now is the perfect moment to start stocking up on some equally-chilling reads. In todayβs blog post, Iβm rounding up my personal most-anticipated releases of Fall 2020! This list by no means encompasses all of the thrilling new crime books that will be published this fall, but it does highlight the books Iβm personally most excited to read, and most excited to talk about with you! For ease of reference, Iβve organized this blog post in order of publication date. Some of these books Iβve already been lucky enough to read, others are still on my fall TBR listβbut all of them look poised to deliver some truly outstanding crime fiction storytelling. Dive into this blog post and start building your own Fall 2020 crime fiction reading list!
Read MoreCover Reveal + Q&A: THE KINGDOM by Jo NesbΓΈ
The stunning cover for one of Fall 2020βs biggest crime novels has arrived, and I am so honored to be able to reveal it here on Crime by the Book! In September, bestselling and beloved crime writer Jo NesbΓΈβs newest release will hit bookstores. THE KINGDOM is a standalone work of suspense that delves into the troubled relationship between brothers, and the deadly family secrets that they have been keeping for years. If youβve been around Crime by the Book for even just a little bit, you will already know how obsessed I am with Jo NesbΓΈβs writing. He is hands-down my favorite author, and any new book from him is cause for celebrationβbut I am particularly excited about THE KINGDOM (and not just because its cover is killer!). Jo NesbΓΈ is best known for his crime series featuring a troubled detective in Oslo, Norway, but THE KINGDOM is a standalone crime story that promises to explore a new side of NesbΓΈβs talentβand provide the perfect opportunity for readers new to NesbΓΈβs work to dive in and give it a try, too. Not only am I completely honored to be able to share the stunning cover for THE KINGDOM with you today, but I also had the incredible opportunity to ask Jo a couple of teaser questions about his newest release! In this blog post, you can catch the cover for THE KINGDOM, learn more about its plot, and get a little sneak-peek into the book from Jo NesbΓΈ himself.
Read MoreJo NesbΓΈ Announces New Thriller THE KINGDOM
My personal favorite crime writer broke the news today that he will be releasing a standalone thriller this fall, and longtime CBTB followers will know just how excited I am about this! THE KINGDOM is slated for publication in September, and promises to deliver all the gritty atmosphere and superb crime writing we have come to expect from NesbΓΈ, this time in a stand-alone thriller. A cover for THE KINGDOM has not yet been revealed, but Iβll be updating this post accordingly as soon as more information becomes available! In the meantime, read on for background information on NesbΓΈ and his work, plus all the details currently available on his forthcoming thriller THE KINGDOM.
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