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Crime by the Book

A girl investigates crime fiction from around the world, by the book.
  • Blog
  • Quick Reviews
  • Nordic Noir
    • Introduction
    • Background
    • Book Recommendations
    • By Country
    • Interviews
    • Reviews
    • Features
  • #ReadWithCBTB
  • Features
  • Reading Lists
  • Events
  • Go-to Book Recs
  • As Seen In
  • About
  • Connect

the cbtb blog

One girl's ongoing investigation of the crime fiction genre.

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CBTB's Most-Anticipated Early 2021 Crime Books

January 9, 2021

Most-Anticipated Early 2021 Crime Books

New Crime Fiction Publishing January - March 2021 

A new year is upon us, and it’s bringing with it some very exciting new crime, mystery, and thriller releases to devour! In today’s blog post, I’m rounding up my most-anticipated crime fiction releases publishing between January and March 2021. A few of these books I’ve already been fortunate enough to read, and the others are all on my TBR list as we head into the new year! From new psychological thrillers to suspense novels with horror movie-worthy plots to Nordic Noir and more, the first few months of 2021 have so many thrilling reads in store for us, and I hope this list will help you find a new book (or two, or three!) to look forward to in the coming months!

Looking for new releases publishing later in 2021? There are so many fantastic new crime books releasing this year that I decided to divvy the year up into seasonal lists. I’ll have another “Most-Anticipated” list covering Spring & Summer crime books coming soon, too—stay tuned! As always, happy reading! xx A

This blog post contains Amazon Affiliate links. CBTB may earn a small commission for items purchased through these links.


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BLOODLINE by Jess Lourey

Available January 1, 2021

Why I’m Excited: 

Author Jess Lourey has quickly become one of my go-to authors when I want a creepy, horror-inspired story of small-town suspense. Her newest release, BLOODLINE, has been compared to Rosemary’s Baby… and let me tell you, that is the perfect comparison. I’ve already read this book, and it completely blew me away! BLOODLINE is a sinister, paranoia-inducing story about a woman who agrees to move to her fiance’s hometown as they prepare to welcome their first child into the world. But as she settles into life in picture-perfect Lilydale, she can’t shake the feeling that she’s being watched… and that the town might have dark plans for her. Check out my full review here, and consider picking up BLOODLINE if you’re in the market for a sinister suspense novel that will have you looking over your shoulder and reading with all the lights on.

About the Book: 

Perfect town. Perfect homes. Perfect families. It’s enough to drive some women mad…

In a tale inspired by real events, pregnant journalist Joan Harken is cautiously excited to follow her fiancé back to his Minnesota hometown. After spending a childhood on the move and chasing the screams and swirls of news-rich city life, she’s eager to settle down. Lilydale’s motto, “Come Home Forever,” couldn’t be more inviting.

And yet, something is off in the picture-perfect village.

The friendliness borders on intrusive. Joan can’t shake the feeling that every move she makes is being tracked. An archaic organization still seems to hold the town in thrall. So does the sinister secret of a little boy who vanished decades ago. And unless Joan is imagining things, a frighteningly familiar figure from her past is on watch in the shadows.

Her fiancé tells her she’s being paranoid. He might be right. Then again, she might have moved to the deadliest small town on earth.

Bloodline
By Lourey, Jess
Buy on Amazon
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THE BUTTERFLY HOUSE by Katrine Engberg

Available January 5, 2021

Why I’m Excited: 

It’s no surprise that I’m always excited for new Nordic Noir novels, and I was thrilled to see Danish crime writer Katrine Engberg releasing a new installment in her Kørner and Werner novel this winter! I read and enjoyed Engberg’s debut novel The Tenant last year, and I loved THE BUTTERFLY HOUSE when I read it in late 2020. In this engaging mystery, two Danish police officers investigate a series of gruesome murders that appear to be linked to a local hospital. Engberg has a knack for crafting clever mysteries complemented by eccentric, vividly-crafted characters, and THE BUTTERFLY HOUSE is hands-down my favorite book I’ve read of hers yet! Pick this one up if you’re looking for Nordic Noir with a fresh and engaging twist. Check out my full review here! 

About the Book: 

Detectives Jeppe Kørner and Anette Werner from the #1 international bestseller The Tenant—which New York Times bestselling author Kathy Reichs heralded as a “stunning debut”—return in this compulsively readable thriller as they race to solve a series of sordid murders linked to some of the most vulnerable patients in a Danish hospital.

Hospitals are supposed to be places of healing. But in the coronary care unit at one of Copenhagen’s leading medical centers, a nurse fills a syringe with an overdose of heart medication and stealthily enters the room of an older male patient.

Six days earlier, a paperboy on his route in central Copenhagen stumbles upon a macabre find: the naked body of a dead woman, lying in a fountain with arms marked with small incisions. Cause of death? Exsanguination—the draining of all the blood in her body.

Clearly, this is no ordinary murder. Lead Investigator Jeppe Kørner, recovering from a painful divorce and in the throes of a new relationship, takes on the investigation. His partner, Anette Werner, now on maternity leave after an unexpected pregnancy, is restless at home with a demanding newborn and an equally demanding husband. While Jeppe pounds the streets looking for answers, Anette decides to do a little freelance sleuthing. But operating on her own exposes her to dangers she can’t even begin to fathom.

As the investigation ventures into dark corners, it uncovers the ambition and greed that festers beneath the surface of caregiving institutions—all the more shocking for their depravity—and what Jeppe and Anette discover will turn their blood as cold as ice….

The Butterfly House (Korner and Werner Book 2)
By Engberg, Katrine
Buy on Amazon
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THE SANATORIUM by Sarah Pearse

Available February 2, 2021

Why I’m Excited: 

This book just screams “read me, Abby!”. Give me a Gothic setting (an abandoned sanatorium turned hotel!) and a locked room premise and I am sold. THE SANATORIUM grabbed my attention from the moment I first read its title, and the more I’ve learned about it, the more excited I am to read it. In THE SANATORIUM, a woman taking time off from her job as a detective agrees to travel to a remote hotel to celebrate her brother’s engagement. But when a storm traps the guests in the hotel, and someone goes missing, things take a sinister turn. I absolutely love locked room mysteries, and I also love books where the story’s setting factors significantly into its plot, and THE SANATORIUM—a locked room-style suspense novel set in a former abandoned sanatorium—is truly an ideal combination for me as a reader. I suspect this book might become an instant-favorite for me, and can’t wait to get my hands on a copy.

About the Book: 

Everyone's in danger. Anyone could be next.

Half-hidden by forest and overshadowed by threatening peaks, Le Sommet has always been a sinister place. Long plagued by troubling rumors, the former abandoned sanatorium has since been renovated into a five-star minimalist hotel.

An imposing, isolated getaway spot high up in the Swiss Alps is the last place Elin Warner wants to be. But Elin's taken time off from her job as a detective, so when her estranged brother, Isaac, and his fiancée, Laure, invite her to celebrate their engagement at the hotel, Elin really has no reason not to accept.

Arriving in the midst of a threatening storm, Elin immediately feels on edge--there's something about the hotel that makes her nervous. And when they wake the following morning to discover Laure is missing, Elin must trust her instincts if they hope to find her. With the storm closing off all access to the hotel, the longer Laure stays missing, the more the remaining guests start to panic.

Elin is under pressure to find Laure, but no one has realized yet that another woman has gone missing. And she's the only one who could have warned them just how much danger they are all in. . 

The Sanatorium: A Novel
By Pearse, Sarah
Buy on Amazon
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THE BURNING GIRLS by C.J. Tudor

Available February 9, 2021

Why I’m Excited: 

C.J. Tudor is one of my go-to, must-read authors, and ever since I learned about her 2021 release THE BURNING GIRLS, I’ve been counting down the days until I can read it! If it’s possible, Tudor’s forthcoming release sounds like it might be my favorite book of hers yet—and that’s saying a lot, because I’ve absolutely loved her previous books. Did I mention she’s one of my must-read authors? I am obsessed with her work, and if you love suspense novels with extra-creepy, horror-inspired twists, you will be too. THE BURNING GIRLS centers around a remote village haunted by death and disappearance. When a new vicar arrives to the village hoping for a fresh start for him and his daughter, they are drawn into its dark secrets instead. This book’s plot is giving me major horror-movie vibes, which I absolutely love. Couple its wildly intriguing plot with its stunning cover, and I have a strong feeling I’m going to be obsessed with THE BURNING GIRLS. 

About the Book: 

An unconventional vicar must exorcise the dark past of a remote village haunted by death and disappearances in this explosive and unsettling thriller from the acclaimed author of The Chalk Man.

A dark history lingers in Chapel Croft. Five hundred years ago, Protestant martyrs were betrayed—then burned. Thirty years ago, two teenage girls disappeared without a trace. And a few weeks ago, the vicar of the local parish hanged himself in the nave of the church.

Reverend Jack Brooks, a single parent with a fourteen-year-old daughter and a heavy conscience, arrives in the village hoping for a fresh start. Instead, Jack finds a town rife with conspiracies and secrets, and is greeted with a strange welcome package: an exorcism kit and a note that warns, “But there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed and hidden that will not be known.”

The more Jack and daughter, Flo, explore the town and get to know its strange denizens, the deeper they are drawn into the age-old rifts, mysteries, and suspicions. And when Flo begins to see specters of girls ablaze, it becomes apparent there are ghosts here that refuse to be laid to rest.

Uncovering the truth can be deadly in a village with a bloody past, where everyone has something to hide and no one trusts an outsider.

The Burning Girls: A Novel
By Tudor, C. J.
Buy on Amazon
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MAGPIE LANE by Lucy Atkins

Available February 9, 2021

Why I’m Excited: 

Lucy Atkins is the author of a psychological thriller that’s one of my under-the-radar favorites, The Night Visitor. (If you haven’t read that book yet, check it out - it’s amazing!!) This February, Atkins is back with an atmospheric suspense novel that delves into the inner workings and harmful dynamics of a picture-perfect family. When the daughter of a College Master at Oxford disappears, suspicion falls on the nanny, Dee. MAGPIE LANE is told through Dee’s reflections on her time with the family leading up to the child’s disappearance. This is another one that I’ve been fortunate enough to read already, and I loved it. It’s slow-burning, atmospheric, and totally immersive, drawing readers deep into the dysfunctional dynamics of a family, and tracing their fallout. 

About the Book:

Roaming through Oxford's secret passages and hidden graveyards, Magpie Lane explores the true meaning of family--and what it is to be denied one.

When the eight-year old daughter of an Oxford College Master vanishes in the middle of the night, police turn to the Scottish nanny, Dee, for answers.

As Dee looks back over her time in the Master's Lodging--an eerie and ancient house--a picture of a high achieving but dysfunctional family emerges: Nick, the fiercely intelligent and powerful father; his beautiful Danish wife Mariah, pregnant with their child; and the lost little girl, Felicity, almost mute, seeing ghosts, grieving her dead mother.

But is Dee telling the whole story? Is her growing friendship with the eccentric house historian, Linklater, any cause for concern? And most of all, why was Felicity silent?

Magpie Lane: the most chilling and twisty read of 2020
By Atkins, Lucy
Buy on Amazon
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SMOKE SCREEN by Jørn Lier Horst & Thomas Enger 

Available February 18, 2021 (UK Edition) 

Why I’m Excited: 

SMOKE SCREEN is the second installment in the Blix & Ramm series, a Norwegian crime series co-authored by two of Norway’s preeminent crime writers. I absolutely loved the first installment in this series, Death Deserved, and SMOKE SCREEN has been very highly-anticipated for me ever since I finished the series’ first installment! The partnership between Jørn Lier Horst and Thomas Enger is a stroke of literary genius, a pairing that all of us Nordic Noir fans can be very thankful for. Jørn Lier Horst is a former police officer whose crime novels rely on detailed, realistic portrayals of policework; Thomas Enger is a former journalist whose crime novels are brimming with heart, emotion, and engaging characters. In the Blix & Ramm series, these two authors bring the best of their solo work to deliver page-turning, thrilling crime novels with intricate mysteries and highly compelling characters.

About the Book: 

When the mother of a missing two-year-old girl is seriously injured in a suspected terrorist attack in Oslo, crime-fighting duo Blix and Ramm join forces to investigate the case, and things aren’t adding up … The second instalment in the addictive, atmospheric, award-winning Blix & Ramm series.

Oslo, New Year’s Eve. The annual firework celebration is rocked by an explosion, and the city is put on terrorist alert.

Police officer Alexander Blix and blogger Emma Ramm are on the scene, and when a severely injured survivor is pulled from the icy harbour, she is identified as the mother of two-year-old Patricia Semplass, who was kidnapped on her way home from kindergarten ten years earlier … and never found.

Blix and Ramm join forces to investigate the unsolved case, as public interest heightens, the terror threat is raised, and it becomes clear that Patricia’s disappearance is not all that it seems…

Smoke Screen (Alexander Blix)
By Horst, Jorn Lier, Enger, Thomas
Buy on Amazon
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QUIET IN HER BONES by Nalini Singh

Available February 23, 2021

Why I’m Excited: 

Can I be honest… I don’t think I’ve ever read a crime novel set in New Zealand. I cannot wait for that to change in the coming months! QUIET IN HER BONES is the newest thriller by bestselling author Nalini Singh, and it sounds irresistibly dark and intriguing. QUIET IN HER BONES is a suspense novel that takes place in an exclusive neighborhood known as “The Cul-de-sac,” a place that shelters its wealthy residents from the outside world. In QUIET IN HER BONES, a socialite’s disappearance years prior takes center stage when her bones are found in the forest that surrounds the neighborhood. Her son is determined to uncover the truth. I absolutely love suspense novels that dig into family secrets, and suspense novels that feature a unique and sinister setting, and QUIET IN HER BONES sounds like it will fit both of those criteria beautifully. As an added bonus, this book has been praised as perfect for fans of Ruth Ware, who happens to be one of my favorite authors. I can’t wait to discover what this suspense novel has in store!

About the Book: 

In this gripping thriller set in New Zealand, New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh takes you into the twisted world of an exclusive cul-de-sac located on the edge of a sprawling forest.

My mother vanished ten years ago.

So did a quarter of a million dollars in cash.

Thief. Bitch. Criminal.

Now, she's back.

Her bones clothed in scarlet silk.

When socialite Nina Rai disappeared without a trace, everyone wrote it off as another trophy wife tired of her wealthy husband. But now her bones have turned up in the shadowed green of the forest that surrounds her elite neighborhood, a haven of privilege and secrets that’s housed the same influential families for decades.

The rich live here, along with those whose job it is to make their lives easier. And somebody knows what happened to Nina one rainy night ten years ago. Her son Aarav heard a chilling scream that night, and he’s determined to uncover the ugly truth that lives beneath the moneyed elegance…but  no one is ready for the murderous secrets about to crawl out of the dark.

Even the dead aren’t allowed to break the rules in this cul-de-sac.

Quiet in Her Bones
By Singh, Nalini
Buy on Amazon
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THE POSTSCRIPT MURDERS by Elly Griffiths

Available March 2, 2021

Why I’m Excited: 

I became completely obsessed with Elly Griffiths’ outstanding crime novel The Stranger Diaries when I read it a couple years ago, and I am absolutely thrilled that she’s back in 2021 with another standalone literary mystery! Show me a book about books or authors, and I’ll show you a book I simply must read—and that’s exactly what Griffiths will give us in THE POSTSCRIPT MURDERS. In this mystery, the death of an elderly woman appears innocent at first… until police begin to discover that writers across Scotland are being targeted, and this same woman seems to be connected to them. THE POSTSCRIPT MURDERS is a murder mystery that involves crime novels, making it basically my perfect book. There aren’t enough words to express how excited I am to dig into this new release from Elly Griffiths! (And, while I have you, if you haven’t yet read Griffiths’ previous standalone novel The Stranger Diaries, do yourself a favor and check it out while we wait for the release of THE POSTSCRIPT MURDERS. It’s a great one!)

About the Book: 

Murder leaps off the page when crime novelists begin to turn up dead in this intricate new novel by internationally best-selling author Elly Griffiths, a literary mystery perfect for fans of Anthony Horowitz and Agatha Christie.

The death of a ninety-year-old woman with a heart condition should not be suspicious. Detective Sergeant Harbinder Kaur certainly sees nothing out of the ordinary when Peggy’s caretaker, Natalka, begins to recount Peggy Smith’s passing.

But Natalka had a reason to be at the police station: while clearing out Peggy’s flat, she noticed an unusual number of crime novels, all dedicated to Peggy. And each psychological thriller included a mysterious postscript: PS: for PS. When a gunman breaks into the flat to steal a book and its author is found dead shortly thereafter—Detective Kaur begins to think that perhaps there is no such thing as an unsuspicious death after all.

And then things escalate: from an Aberdeen literary festival to the streets of Edinburgh, writers are being targeted. DS Kaur embarks on a road trip across Europe and reckons with how exactly authors can think up such realistic crimes . . .

The Postscript Murders
By Griffiths, Elly
Buy on Amazon
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EVERY LAST FEAR by Alex Finlay

Available March 2, 2021

Why I’m Excited: 

You know those days when you just want a thriller you can absolutely tear through and read in one or two settings? That’s Alex Finlay’s EVERY LAST FEAR in a nutshell. I was lucky enough to read this book this past fall, and it’s just as addictive and page-turning as its plot makes it sound! In EVERY LAST FEAR, a family that was the subject of a true crime documentary is found dead under suspicious circumstances, and their son is left to pick up the pieces and uncover the truth about this tragedy. EVERY LAST FEAR is both wildly entertaining and quite emotional—it’s a “popcorn thriller” with a dark edge to it, a story that’s action-packed and tragic in equal measure. For readers who want a thriller with relentless pacing, family secrets, and plenty of plot twists and turns, EVERY LAST FEAR will be the perfect addition to your spring TBR.

About the Book: 

“They found the bodies on a Tuesday.” So begins this twisty and breathtaking novel that traces the fate of the Pine family, a thriller that will both leave you on the edge of your seat and move you to tears.

After a late night of partying, NYU student Matt Pine returns to his dorm room to devastating news: nearly his entire family―his mom, his dad, his little brother and sister―have been found dead from an apparent gas leak while vacationing in Mexico. The local police claim it was an accident, but the FBI and State Department seem far less certain―and they won’t tell Matt why.

The tragedy makes headlines everywhere because this isn’t the first time the Pine family has been thrust into the media spotlight. Matt’s older brother, Danny―currently serving a life sentence for the murder of his teenage girlfriend Charlotte―was the subject of a viral true crime documentary suggesting that Danny was wrongfully convicted. Though the country has rallied behind Danny, Matt holds a secret about his brother that he’s never told anyone: the night Charlotte was killed Matt saw something that makes him believe his brother is guilty of the crime.

When Matt returns to his small hometown to bury his parents and siblings, he’s faced with a hostile community that was villainized by the documentary, a frenzied media, and memories he’d hoped to leave behind forever. Now, as the deaths in Mexico appear increasingly suspicious and connected to Danny’s case, Matt must unearth the truth behind the crime that sent his brother to prison―putting his own life in peril―and forcing him to confront his every last fear.

Told through multiple points-of-view and alternating between past and present, Alex Finlay's Every Last Fear is not only a page-turning thriller, it’s also a poignant story about a family managing heartbreak and tragedy, and living through a fame they never wanted.

Every Last Fear: A Novel
By Finlay, Alex
Buy on Amazon
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HER DARK LIES by J.T. Ellison

Available March 9, 2021

Why I’m Excited: 

J.T. Ellison is one of my go-to authors when I want a binge-worthy, up-all-night-reading psychological suspense novel, and her 2021 release HER DARK LIES sounds absolutely fantastic. Ellison’s books are always pure pleasure reading for me: deliciously dark, twisty, and jam-packed with entertainment value. That’s exactly how HER DARK LIES sounds, too. This suspense novel centers around a wedding that takes a deadly turn. Set in a villa on the Italian coast, HER DARK LIES imagines what happens when an idyllic wedding spirals into terror. Is someone trying to sabotage the wedding? What dark secrets is the fabulously wealthy Compton family hiding? HER DARK LIES sounds deliciously sinister and dramatic, which is exactly the combination that I love so much in Ellison’s standalone novels.

About the Book: 

Fast-paced and brilliantly unpredictable, J.T. Ellison’s breathtaking new novel invites you to a wedding none will forget—and some won’t survive.

Jutting from sparkling turquoise waters off the Italian coast, Isle Isola is an idyllic setting for a wedding. In the majestic cliff-top villa owned by the wealthy Compton family, up-and-coming artist Claire Hunter will marry handsome, charming Jack Compton, surrounded by close family, intimate friends…and a host of dark secrets.

From the moment Claire sets foot on the island, something seems amiss. Skeletal remains have just been found. There are other, newer disturbances, too. Menacing texts. A ruined wedding dress. And one troubling shadow hanging over Claire’s otherwise blissful relationship—the strange mystery surrounding Jack’s first wife.

Then a raging storm descends, the power goes out—and the real terror begins…

Her Dark Lies: A Novel
By Ellison, J.T.
Buy on Amazon
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EVERY VOW YOU BREAK by Peter Swanson

Available March 23, 2021

Why I’m Excited: 

Any new book from acclaimed psychological thriller writer Peter Swanson is cause for celebration, but I’m particularly excited for his 2021 release EVERY VOW YOU BREAK… not least because its protagonist has the same name that I do! Is this the first crime novel I’ve read with a protagonist named Abigail?! I think it just might be! But in all seriousness, Swanson’s EVERY VOW YOU BREAK looks outstanding. Swanson is a pro at writing devious characters and clever, sinister suspense plots, and EVERY VOW YOU BREAK looks poised to combine some of my favorite qualities of his writing into one gripping, deliciously entertaining thriller. In EVERY VOW YOU BREAK, a bride’s perfect honeymoon is shattered when a fling from her past shows up, and refuses to leave.

About the Book: 

A bride’s dream honeymoon becomes a nightmare when a man with whom she’s had a regrettable one-night stand shows up in this electrifying psychological thriller from the acclaimed author of Eight Perfect Murders.

Abigail Baskin never thought she’d fall in love with a millionaire. Then she met Bruce Lamb. He’s a good guy, stable, level-headed, kind—a refreshing twist from her previous relationships.

But right before the wedding, Abigail has a drunken one-night stand on her bachelorette weekend. She puts the incident—and the sexy guy who wouldn’t give her his real name—out of her mind, and now believes she wants to be with Bruce for the rest of her life.

Then the mysterious stranger suddenly appears—and Abigail’s future life and happiness are turned upside down. He insists that their passionate night was the beginning of something much, much more. Something special. Something real—and he’s tracked her down to prove it.

Does she tell Bruce and ruin their idyllic honeymoon—and possibly their marriage? Or should she handle this psychopathic stalker on her own? To make the situation worse, strange things begin to happen. She sees a terrified woman in the night shadows, and no one at the resort seems to believe anything is amiss… including her perfect new husband.

Every Vow You Break: A Novel
By Swanson, Peter
Buy on Amazon
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THE LOST VILLAGE by Camilla Sten

Available March 23, 2021 

Why I’m Excited: 

One look at the description for Camilla Sten’s THE LOST VILLAGE and you’ll know exactly why I can’t wait to dig into this creepy-looking psychological suspense novel. Camilla Sten is an acclaimed Swedish suspense writer, and her book THE LOST VILLAGE has been compared to The Blair Witch Project and Midsommar… sign me up. In THE LOST VILLAGE, a documentary filmmaker travels to an old mining town where nearly the entire village disappeared without a trace decades prior. But as Alice and her team set up camp, inexplicable things begin to happen, and it becomes clear that they might not be alone… THE LOST VILLAGE speaks to both my love of all things Scandinavian and my love of horror movies (anything compared to Midsommar is a must for me!), and I simply cannot wait to immerse myself in what’s sure to be a very creepy, spine-tingling read.

About the Book: 

The Blair Witch Project meets Midsommar in this brilliantly disturbing thriller from Camilla Sten, an electrifying new voice in suspense.

Documentary filmmaker Alice Lindstedt has been obsessed with the vanishing residents of the old mining town, dubbed “The Lost Village,” since she was a little girl. In 1959, her grandmother’s entire family disappeared in this mysterious tragedy, and ever since, the unanswered questions surrounding the only two people who were left―a woman stoned to death in the town center and an abandoned newborn―have plagued her. She’s gathered a small crew of friends in the remote village to make a film about what really happened.

But there will be no turning back.

Not long after they’ve set up camp, mysterious things begin to happen. Equipment is destroyed. People go missing. As doubt breeds fear and their very minds begin to crack, one thing becomes startlingly clear to Alice:

They are not alone.

They’re looking for the truth…

But what if it finds them first?

Come find out.

The Lost Village: A Novel
By Sten, Camilla
Buy on Amazon
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THE WATER RITUALS by Eva García Sáenz

Available March 30, 2021 

Why I’m Excited: 

Eva García Sáenz’s White City Trilogy was one of the best discoveries of 2020 for me. The first installment in the trilogy, The Silence of the White City, was one of my absolute favorite reads of 2020, and I cannot wait to delve back into this trilogy with its second installment, THE WATER RITUALS. From what I’ve read of it so far, the White City Trilogy is perfect for fans of both The Silence of the Lambs and The Da Vinci Code. Set in the Basque country, this trilogy follows a detective known as “Kraken”: a man haunted by his past, whose compelling characterization was one of the highlights of the trilogy’s first installment for me. These books blend the history and local lore of the Basque region with compulsively readable and quite dark mysteries. Fans of police procedurals with a historical element and vividly-drawn characters won’t want to miss this outstanding trilogy.

About the Book: 

Kraken is back for the second installment in the acclaimed White City Trilogy, and this time he investigates a series of ritualistic murders that target expectant parents, only to find that the key to uncovering the killer may be found in his own past.

A pregnant woman has been murdered in a brutal, ritualistic way: burned, hung, and then placed upside down in a Bronze Age cauldron. When Kraken discovers the victim is his first love, Ana Belén Liaño, memories of their time together come flooding back, and with them reminders of a dark secret long buried. Then the killer strikes again, enacting the same ritual against a second expectant parent. Kraken knows he must confront his past in order to unmask this fiend. And there's no time to waste, because Deputy Superintendent Díaz de Salvatierra has just found out she's carrying a child. And the father could very well be Kraken himself...

The Water Rituals (White City Trilogy)
By Sáenz, Eva Garcia
Buy on Amazon

Did any of these books catch your eye? Were any of them on your spring TBR list already? I’d love to hear from you! As always, happy reading! xx A

Featured
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Sep 6, 2023
Book Review: THE SEPTEMBER HOUSE by Carissa Orlando
Sep 6, 2023

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.

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Announcing Crime by the Box!
Aug 12, 2023
Announcing Crime by the Box!
Aug 12, 2023

I am so thrilled to announce a new partnership between Crime by the Book and the amazing Murder by the Book, a crime fiction-focused independent bookstore here in Houston, TX. Starting this October, I am going to be teaming up with the bookstore to curate a book subscription service! Crime by the Box will deliver a hand-selected, newly-released hardcover mystery, thriller, or suspense novel right to your door on a monthly basis. Read on for all the details!

Aug 12, 2023
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Apr 3, 2023
Cover Reveal + Sneak Peek: BLOOD SISTERS by Vanessa Lillie
Apr 3, 2023

I’m so honored to be able to reveal the cover for Vanessa Lillie’s buzz-worthy new mystery here on CBTB today! BLOOD SISTERS is a gripping mystery about a Cherokee archeologist for the Bureau of Indian Affairs who is summoned to rural Oklahoma to investigate the disappearance of two women…one of them her sister. The book has already been praised as “riveting” (Megan Miranda) and “bingeworthy” (Caroline Kepnes), and it’s sure to be one of fall’s must-read crime novels. BLOOD SISTERS will be published in September, but thanks to Vanessa and her publisher, we’re able to get an exclusive early glimpse into the book right here in today’s blog post! Read on to check out the book’s gorgeous cover, read a behind-the-scenes mini Q&A with Vanessa, and dip into the book’s first few pages! And make sure to preorder your copy of BLOOD SISTERS at your favorite bookstore while you’re at it. Huge thanks to Vanessa and her publisher for giving us this early sneak peek—I can’t wait to read BLOOD SISTERS this fall!

Apr 3, 2023
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Jan 10, 2023
Book Review: ALL THE DANGEROUS THINGS by Stacy Willingham
Jan 10, 2023

Stacy Willingham returns today with her sophomore thriller ALL THE DANGEROUS THINGS, a lyrical, immersive mystery that delves into one mother’s waking nightmare—and the dangerous secrets she will uncover as she seeks the truth about the two tragedies that have defined her life. I devoured ALL THE DANGEROUS THINGS over my holiday break this year, and found this to be one of those rare books that genuinely is impossible to put down. Moving between past and present, ALL THE DANGEROUS THINGS delves into the darkest corners of the life of one mother as she investigates the disappearance of her son one year prior—and, in the process, confronts long-buried secrets from her own childhood. Stacy Willingham’s masterful use of dual timelines adds intrigue and atmosphere to this compelling mystery, while her immersive writing draws readers into our protagonist’s increasingly unstable state of mind. Slow-burning yet simmering with tension and suspense, ALL THE DANGEROUS THINGS is hypnotic, immersive, and emotionally-impactful—the kind of mystery you’ll sink into, not coming up for air until you’ve turned the final page. Highly recommended for fans of Lisa Jewell’s THEN SHE WAS GONE and Jennifer Hillier’s LITTLE SECRETS, this is a 2023 mystery not to be missed.

Jan 10, 2023
CBTB's Top 10 Crime Books of 2022
Dec 31, 2022
CBTB's Top 10 Crime Books of 2022
Dec 31, 2022

I can hardly believe we’ve come to the end of 2022—and what a year it’s been! I’m pretty sure I say this every year, but 2022 has truly been another outstanding year for crime fiction readers. As I reflected on my year in books while writing this blog post, it felt nearly impossible to narrow down my picks. I genuinely think we might be in the golden age of crime writing; the books crime writers had in store for us this year were nothing short of superb. From the return of fan-favorite authors to thrilling new voices being published for the first time, the crime fiction genre was in top form in 2022—making it all the more challenging to pick just 10 books from the year to highlight here! But tough choices had to be made, and made they were. Without further ado, I’m so excited to share with you my personal picks for the Top 10 Crime Books of 2022 in today’s blog post! More than any other criteria, the key thing these books have in common is simple: they are all books I’ve continued to think about since I finished reading them. These are stories that entertained me, challenged me, thrilled me, and kept me on the edge of my seat; in this list you’ll find Gothic horror, Nordic Noir, psychological suspense, and much more; a wide array of crime fiction subgenres, but all excellent books that stood out from the pack for me in 2022.

Dec 31, 2022
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Dec 11, 2022
5 Recommended Christmas Mysteries
Dec 11, 2022

Christmas is around the corner, and if you’re a reader who likes to theme your reads to the season, today’s blog post is for you! I honestly never used to read crime novels specifically themed to particular holidays, but last year (for I think the first time in my reading life?!) I intentionally read a couple of Christmas mysteries during the Christmas season… and I absolutely loved it. Today I wanted to round up 5 mysteries I personally love that all involve Christmas—but this blog post has a little twist! Today’s recommendations are organized by how much Christmas actually factors into the book’s plot. Ranked from Christmas level 1 - 5 (with Level 1 being Christmas in the background of the story, and Level 5 being a full-on, 100% Christmas-y plot!), this list will help you find your perfect Christmas season mystery read!

Dec 11, 2022
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Nov 29, 2022
Iceland Noir 2022 Festival Journal
Nov 29, 2022

I can’t believe that this year’s Iceland Noir has already come and gone. If you’ve been around Crime by the Book for a little bit, you already know how much I absolutely love Iceland Noir: a crime fiction festival that takes place in Reykjavik, Iceland in November. Iceland Noir brings together crime fiction readers and writers from Scandinavia and around the world for a long weekend of crime fiction programming, including everything from author panels to spotlight interviews to special events and more. It is an incredible festival, and truly the perfect environment for us crime fiction readers: basically imagine a bunch of likeminded bookworms gathering to celebrate crime fiction in one of the most special cities in the world. Sound amazing? It really is. If you’ve been looking for an excuse to visit Iceland, or if you’re curious about attending a crime fiction festival in the future, I highly recommend adding Iceland Noir to your bucket list. I can’t say enough good things about it! In today’s blog post, I’m recapping my experience at Iceland Noir 2022, including a day-by-day recap of the festival, lots of photos, a rundown of the books I took home from the festival, and more!

Nov 29, 2022
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Nov 7, 2022
Book Review: THE FAMILY GAME by Catherine Steadman
Nov 7, 2022

Sometimes you just need to read a really fun psychological thriller—and that’s the boat I found myself in last week. After devoting my entire October to-read list to supernatural thrillers for spooky season, I was ready to get back to my psychological suspense roots this month—and ideally, I wanted something that was a little bit more lighthearted and “popcorn-y” for a change of pace. Luckily for me, I had the perfect book for the job waiting on my to-read pile: Catherine Steadman’s brand-new release, THE FAMILY GAME. THE FAMILY GAME is a page-turning suspense story about a writer, her fiancé, and her fiancé's dark family secrets. It was my first time reading a Catherine Steadman novel, and (spoiler alert!) it won’ t be my last. If you loved the movie Ready or Not or Jessica Knoll’s psychological thriller Luckiest Girl Alive, you’ll love Catherine Steadman’s THE FAMILY GAME. Page-turning, fresh, and just the right amount of weird, THE FAMILY GAME is a perfect choice for your winter to-read list. (Bonus: if you celebrate Christmas, this book takes place in the lead-up to the holiday! Plan accordingly.)

Nov 7, 2022
CBTB's Most-Anticipated November 2022 Crime Fiction
Nov 2, 2022
CBTB's Most-Anticipated November 2022 Crime Fiction
Nov 2, 2022

I honestly can’t believe it’s already November—but I’m not complaining! I (obviously) believe that thrillers and mystery novels can (and should!) be read year-round, but there’s something undeniably perfect about cozying up with a great crime novel as the weather gets colder. This month has an amazing lineup of new crime novels in store for us, and today I’m rounding up my picks for most-anticipated new crime, mystery, and suspense novels publishing in November 2022! This month sees the return of a couple of my longtime favorite authors, plus new installments in Nordic crime series I’m loving, a chilling isolated location thriller, and more. Whether you’re hoping to keep the spooky season Halloween vibes going a little bit longer or are ready to dive into a wintry, chilling crime story, this month’s selection of new releases has you covered. A few of the books on this list I’ve already been lucky enough to read, and the rest of them are all on my personal to-read pile for the weeks ahead—but I’m excited about all of them. Read on for my picks for November most-anticipated crime fiction!

Nov 2, 2022
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Oct 15, 2022
Book Review: CURSE OF THE REAPER by Brian McAuley
Oct 15, 2022

There’s no better time to watch a slasher movie—or read a slasher book—than October, and if your idea of perfect Halloween entertainment involves villains like Michael Myers or Freddy Krueger, the book I’m recommending today is the Halloween read for you. Brian McAuley’s CURSE OF THE REAPER is a thriller tailor-made for, as his dedication so aptly puts it, the “Halloween people.” Bloody, meta, occasionally self-deprecating, and always wickedly entertaining, CURSE OF THE REAPER draws inspiration from the world of slasher films to tell a delightfully devious tale of an actor, the silver screen villain to which he devoted his entire career, and the grip that villain might just have on him in the real world. This book is all kinds of bloody fun, a perfect Halloween reading choice for anyone who has ever contemplated which Ghostface killer(s) they would be most likely to survive, attended a genre convention, or, yes, set a timer to buy tickets for Halloween Ends the moment they went on sale (guilty on all counts).

Oct 15, 2022
In 2021 Most-Anticipated Tags New Crime Books, 2021 Crime Books, 2021 Crime Thrillers, 2021 Crime Fiction, Jess Lourey, Katrine Engberg, Sarah Pearse, CJ Tudor, The Sanatorium, The Burning Girls, Lucy Atkins, Jorn Lier Horst, Thomas Enger, Nalini Singh, Alex Finlay, JT Ellison, Peter Swanson, The Lost Village, Camilla Sten, Eva Garcia Saenz, Elly Griffiths
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Cover Reveal + Sneak Peek: BLOOD SISTERS by Vanessa Lillie
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View fullsize My personal crime fiction collection 🕵🏻‍♀️🖤 aka my favorite corner of my apartment. 📚🙌🏻 If anyone feels so inclined, I’d love to see what YOUR bookshelves look like! Snap a pic, share in your stories, & tag me - I’d love to
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View fullsize Happy Monday, friends! 🖤 Back in NYC and back to work after an amazing (if much too short) visit to Oslo 🇳🇴 annnd currently drinking a cold brew ☕️ at my desk & hoping it keeps me awake this afternoon 😂 jet lag + not enough sleep last night =
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