It’s hard to believe it, but a new year is almost upon us—and it’s promising to deliver some outstanding crime and suspense novels! In the lead up to the new year, I’m resurrecting my “Buzzworthy Books” series—a series of “preview” posts dedicated to highlighting a couple of early-2022 releases that I’m particularly excited about! For my first Buzzworthy 2022 Book, I’m so excited to recommend Katherine Faulkner’s outstanding domestic thriller GREENWICH PARK, which will hit US bookstores on January 25th. This exceptional domestic suspense novel delivers a delicious blend of paranoia-inducing plotting and engaging, entertaining interpersonal secrets and drama. Pick this book up for its stunning cover, stay for its wildly addictive and seriously unsettling cat-and-mouse plot. Read on for three reasons you should add GREENWICH PARK by Katherine Faulkner to your 2022 reading list!
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Q&A: Annie Ward, Author of BEAUTIFUL BAD
I’m thrilled to welcome author Annie Ward to CBTB today to discuss her fantastic new psychological thriller, BEAUTIFUL BAD, which went on sale earlier this month! BEAUTIFUL BAD is a story both intimate and epic, taking readers around the world and into the innermost secrets of a troubled marriage. Told in multiple timelines, BEAUTIFUL BAD looks into the past, tracing the history of married couple Maddie and Ian, and into the future, building to a day known only as “The Day of the Killing,” when this family will be altered forever. Vividly and authentically told, BEAUTIFUL BAD rings true on so many levels, and I was fascinated to learn more about the highly personal inspiration behind this exceptional story—and in this Q&A, you can learn all about it, too. Many thanks to Annie Ward for taking the time to answer my questions, and to her publisher for facilitating this Q&A! Read on for more information about BEAUTIFUL BAD, an excerpt from my review of the book, and my conversation with Annie.
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Book Review: LIES by T.M. Logan
I’ve heard raves of LIES by T.M. Logan from friends across the pond and early readers here in the US alike, but my reading experience with this buzzy psychological thriller was unfortunately less than stellar. Though undeniably binge-worthy and easy to devour, LIES was quite significantly spoiled for this reader thanks to an entirely out-of-left-field finale - a conclusion so dramatic and over-the-top I couldn’t help but feel I’d been duped. There’s no fair play here - readers are never given the chance to piece together the story’s conclusion, with the author favoring pure shock value over logical plotting. If you’re a reader who considers that fair play important, you’ll want to avoid LIES—you will very likely be frustrated by its bizarre and melodramatic finale. If, however, you’re just in it for the entertainment value - and there’s absolutely no shame in that, I might add - LIES may deliver just enough of that shock value to make it worth your while. However, I would recommend adding this one to your library list rather than purchasing a copy - it may work for you in the end, but I wouldn’t feel comfortable sending you out to spend your hard-earned money on it.
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Book Review: THE OTHER WOMAN by Sandie Jones
Summer is winding down, but there’s still time to sneak in a beach trip before autumn arrives—and when you do, Sandie Jones’ debut THE OTHER WOMAN belongs in your beach bag. Fast-paced and binge-worthy, THE OTHER WOMAN is a strong example of what I like to call “popcorn reading”: a suspense novel with serious entertainment value that begs to be devoured in one sitting. THE OTHER WOMAN will appeal most to fans of domestic suspense novels like B.A. Paris’ BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, but Jones’ debut contributes a fresh angle to the genre that makes it a worthy addition to your TBR in its own right. The story’s titular “other woman” isn’t a mistress… it’s a mother-in-law named Pammie, and she’s bad news in the best way. What begins as a fairly standard psychological suspense setup (woman meets nearly-too-good-to-be-true man, and a romantic relationship ensues) quickly becomes deliciously dramatic and sinister; Pammie has no intention of letting her son marry our story’s protagonist, and the lengths she’s willing to go to will equal parts shock and entertain. Remember that romantic comedy Monster in Law? THE OTHER WOMAN is like that, but with a dark, vengeful twist. If you’re in the market for a lighter suspense read with a genuinely jaw-dropping finale, Sandie Jones’ debut belongs on your TBR.
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8 Gripping Domestic Thrillers to Add to Your TBR
If there’s one recommendation request I get all the time on Crime by the Book, it’s this one! I’ve had numerous inquiries from CBTB readers looking for a reading list of my most-recommended domestic thrillers - and today, I'm putting together a list exactly like that! Here you'll find a roundup of some of the addictive, twisty, entertaining domestic thrillers that I personally love - and that are also at the top of my most-recommended list. If you're in the mood for a suspense novel that's fast-paced and binge-worthy, you've come to the right place!
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