Grey skies, chilly weather, amazing new crime fiction—guess which one of these I'm most excited about this February?
I think this might be the first year of my life that I've been impatiently awaiting February's arrival, and it's all because of the books pictured above (and a few more, which I'll reveal later!). This February is brimming with intelligent, emotional, creepy, gruesome crime fiction, and in my opinion, many of the books released this month will be in the running for Best of 2016. Consider this blog post your book shopping list for the month of February! Without further ado, here are CBTB's February 2016 Must-Reads.
1. THE GIRL IN THE RED COAT by Kate Hamer (Melville House) - releases 2/16
This emotional, brooding mystery has made me a lifelong fan of Kate Hamer and her incredible talent. THE GIRL IN THE RED COAT takes a common mystery plot - a child's abduction - and turns it on its head. This book is insightful, heartbreaking, mysterious, and unpredictable—guaranteed to stick with you long after the final page.
Synopsis: Carmel was always a unique child, prone to running away and disappearing into her own dream world. But when daughter Carmel disappears one day and doesn't come home, her mother Beth is devastated—her worst nightmare has come true, her daughter has been kidnapped. Over the course of this story, both mother and daughter embark on their own unique and harrowing journeys in a desperate attempt to find one another.
This is truly a unique read: it's both a suspenseful mystery and an in-depth character study, all laced with a touch of mystical, fairy-tale like atmosphere. I can't recommend this book highly enough—this isn't just one of my favorite upcoming releases, it's now one of my all-time favorite books.
2. THE WIDOW by Fiona Barton (Berkley/NAL) - releases 2/16
THE WIDOW has all the makings of a bestseller. This story is a unique, intelligent twist on the recent popular trend of marriage-gone-wrong thrillers.
Synopsis: Jean's husband was a very bad man. When Jean was alive, she was the perfect wife: doting, dutiful, supportive, silent. Now that Jean's husband is dead, and the police are starting to ask questions about his past, is it time to break her silence?
Sure to please fans of GONE GIRL and THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN, THE WIDOW goes above and beyond its predecessors, giving its readers a story of truth, lies, and the dark places that can exist in a marriage. This is a gripping, sharp thriller with major commercial appeal that will keep you guessing until the very last page.
3. PERFECT DAYS by Raphael Montes (Penguin Press) - releases 2/16
This pretty little book packs a huge punch. PERFECT DAYS is sure to fill (and exceed) your quota for gruesome, disturbing, sickly inventive reads this February. This is guaranteed to be one of 2016's most-talked about thrillers.
Synopsis: Teo wasn't like other young men. A reclusive medical student, Teo only ever felt true human emotion in the presence of his medical school cadaver, whom he fondly nicknamed Gertrude. That all changed when Teo met aspiring screenwriter Clarice. Teo's obsession turns to crime when he kidnaps Clarice, taking her on a twisted road trip across Brazil.
I absolutely adored this book. It is brilliantly written—Montes strikes a perfect balance between shock value and moments of dark humor that had me laughing out loud in spite of myself. This book is not to be missed.
I am so excited about the new crime fiction releases that February has in store for us, and I highly recommend all three of the titles detailed above! These are books that I've been recommending over and over since reading them, and I'll continue to do so well after the month of February. If you decide to read any (or all!!) of these titles, definitely let me know how you enjoyed them!!
Happy crime reading!
Xx, A