Hi friends!
It’s been quite a while since I wrote an actual blog post here, but I can think of no better first blog post back than the announcement I’ve got in store for you today. As you’ll know if you’ve been keeping up with all things Crime by the Book over on Instagram, a few months ago I left New York and moved back to Houston, Texas. There were many factors that influenced my decision to come back to Houston—and I’d be lying if I said one of them wasn’t the amazing independent bookstore Murder by the Book that’s based right here in town. MBTB was my local indie when I was in college here in Houston, and they’re a store I’ve loved keeping in touch with and visiting in the years since—and now I’m so excited to share a partnership that we’ve been working on ever since I moved back to town: Crime by the Box.
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. The book will be signed by the author, and the subscription will also include some little extras—a note from me explaining what I loved about the book, further reading recommendations, and exclusive author content, too!
As an added bonus, I’m also going to be hosting events with each of the Crime by the Box featured authors right here at Murder by the Book—if you’re in the Houston area (or want to come in town for the events!!), please join us!!! We’ll be arranging cocktail hours with the featured authors so you can chat with them over a drink before the formal book event begins, and Crime by the Box subscribers will get all those details sent in advance of each book event.
It’s been a longtime dream of mine to be able to do something like this. The greatest joy of Crime by the Book for me has been helping to connect readers with books that I think they will love, and now I get to do it in a more concrete way than ever before—all thanks to the amazing team at Murder by the Book, who have worked tirelessly to make this partnership come to fruition. This would not be possible without their team, and without all of you who have followed CBTB for all these years and endlessly supported this passion project. Thank you so much. I am truly so thrilled about this opportunity, and I hope you’ll love the books I’ve picked out for you as much as I did!!!
We’re going to kick off this subscription service by announcing my first three picks for Fall 2023, so you can get a taste of what kinds of books will be coming your way, should you choose to sign up! I’m so thrilled to announce that our first three picks for Crime by the Box are as follows:
OCTOBER 2023: MIDNIGHT IS THE DARKEST HOUR by Ashley Winstead
Event Details: 10/3 at 6:30 PM CT
Atmospheric, Gothic suspense about a small town in Louisiana where a local legend—that of a mysterious killer who stalks the land—might be coming true. Dark, brooding, totally immersive—I’ve loved all of Ashley’s thrillers so far, but this one is my new favorite.
NOVEMBER 2023: BLOOD SISTERS BY VANESSA LILLIE
Event Details: 11/1 at 6:30 PM CT
A gripping, heartfelt mystery following an archaeologist who is called back to her hometown to investigate a disappearance with deeply personal ties. Propulsive writing + characters who come alive on the page make for a thought-provoking, riveting read.
DECEMBER 2023: The Other Half by Charlotte Vassell
Event Details: 11/30 at 6:30 PM CT
Part classic whodunnit, part satire! A wickedly smart and playful murder mystery that involves a detective investigating a murder in the world of London’s aristocracy. It’s razor-sharp, it’s funny, and it’s a very satisfying whodunnit, too. Think: Knives Out meets White Lotus.
Frequently asked questions:
Is there a deadline to sign up?
There’s no one deadline to sign up—we’ll be accepting new subscribers on a rolling basis! However, if you know that you want to receive a particular upcoming month’s book pick, please be sure to sign up at least two weeks before the start of that month. For example: if you want your subscription to start with our November pick, please be sure you’ve signed up by October 15. This is to ensure we have adequate stock on hand for the upcoming month!
Will we know future book picks in advance, or will they be a surprise?
My current plan is to announce Crime by the Box picks in three-month batches! This way, you’ll always know what’s coming up, and you can decide if that season’s picks look up your alley. Just as we announced Fall 2023 in one batch, I’ll be announcing my early-2024 picks (January, February, and March) in one batch, too! And I’ll continue handling things that way unless I get lots of feedback that there’s a way you’d prefer it to be handled. Always open to your thoughts!!
Is international shipping available?
Yes, but with a couple caveats. International shipping is available to a select number of countries, and, despite our best efforts, international shipping is very expensive. (Just going to be totally transparent about that!!) You can visit the Crime by the Box order page and fill out your shipping address to see what the shipping would be to your country.
I am so excited for this new venture and truly hope you love the books I’ve selected for our first season of Crime by the Box. Thank you so much, as always, for all your support of CBTB!!! And a huge thank you to Murder By the Book for supporting this idea and being willing to run with it—I sincerely appreciate it. Here’s to a great fall filled with gripping new crime reads!! xx A
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