I have a confession to make: this blog post was originally supposed to be my βMost-Anticipatedβ summer books listβ¦but then life got really busy! Before I knew it, I looked up and it was July, and not only had a bunch of the books on the list already been published, but I realized that I had actually already read all of the books I wanted to include in this list anyway. So instead of making this a βmost-anticipatedβ list, Iβve culled my initial list a little bit and converted it into a βmust-readβ list, highlighting my picks for the best new crime fiction that Summer 2022 has to offer. In a way, I hope that this new format might actually be even more helpful for you; these arenβt just books Iβm anticipating, theyβre all books Iβve read and loved and highly recommend! From returning favorites to new-to-me voices, from twisty psychological thrillers to βbook within a bookβ-style stories and more, Summer 2022 has some absolutely incredible new crime fiction releases in store for us. Whether your idea of a perfect βbeach readβ is a page-turning domestic suspense novel or a dark, visceral horror story, Iβm betting (and hoping!) youβll be able to find it on this list. Without further ado, letβs dive on in to my picks for Summer 2022βs Must-Read Crime Books!
Read MoreCBTB'S MUST-READ SUMMER 2022 CRIME BOOKS
Book Review: RED SNOW by Will Dean
In 2018, Will Dean captured the attention of crime readers around the world with his chilling debut, DARK PINES. Now, heβs backβand his sophomore novel is even better than his first. In RED SNOW, readers return to the fictional town of Gavrik, Sweden, and to all its glorious quirkiness and personality. But thereβs something sinister happening in this quiet town. First, a suicide; then, a gruesome, almost ritualistic murderβwhat could be next? Rejoining series protagonist Tuva Moodyson, a reporter for the townβs local newspaper, readers will go down the rabbit hole and into the twisting, turning case of βthe Ferryman,β a killer so named due to the licorice coins he placed over the eyes of his victim. RED SNOW is, as expected, a highly atmospheric and chilling thriller. But even better is what I didnβt expect this story to be, and that is a touch zany and brimming with personality. Dean masterfully laces his crime novel with quirks and quiet jokes galore; this isnβt a comic novel by any stretch of the imagination, but it is a crime novel with a dark, eccentric sense of humor. (Fans of Twin Peaks, this oneβs for you.) RED SNOW is a fresh take on northern crime fiction, guaranteed to deliver thrills and a few laughs along the way.
Read More8 Wintry Mysteries to Read over the Holiday Break
Thereβs nothing better than spending your winter holidays with your nose buried in a chilling mystery. Holiday breaks just seem made for crime fiction reading, and today Iβm rounding up eight of my personal favorite wintry mysteries for your holiday TBR! I donβt personally read Christmas-themed mysteries, so you wonβt find any of those hereβbut you will find books with plenty of snow, chilling atmosphere, and, of course, murder. (Because what holiday break would be complete without it, right?!) Cozy up with a blanket and a cup of hot cocoa, and settle in for a mix of Scandinavian crime, classic mysteries, police procedurals, and more - all guaranteed to make your holiday break reading list complete.
Read MoreAuthor Q&A: Will Dean, Author of DARK PINES @willrdean @ptblankbks #DarkPines
Iβm delighted to welcome author Will Dean to Crime by the Book today to chat about his debut thriller, DARK PINES! This book has garnered major buzz in the book blogging community, and itβs easy to see why: from its gorgeous cover to its ambitious female protagonist to its authorβs fascinating backstory, this is a debut with huge appeal - and a read that delivers. I was thrilled to have a chance to ask a few questions of Will - and was fascinated by what I learned about his book. Read on for more information on DARK PINES, and to get a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the book from the author himself!
Read MoreNovember 2017 Wrap-Up
Am I the only one who can hardly believe weβre nearing the end of 2017?! It feels surreal to be writing my November 2017 Wrap-Upβ¦ and yet, here I am! In many ways, my November reading list pushed me outside my comfort zone: I tried crime novels that challenged my preconceived notions of what subgenres I would (and wouldnβt) like, explored new-to-me authors, and read one hugely anticipated crime book that releases in 2018 and will surely be a favorite of mine next year. Read on for a recap of my reads from the month of November, plus a roundup of the additional blog posts featured on Crime by the Book this past month!
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