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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
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the cbtb blog

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

Cover Reveal + Mini Q&A: IT'S ONE OF US by J.T. Ellison

July 11, 2022

If you’ve been around Crime by the Book for a little bit, you probably already know how much I love J.T. Ellison’s psychological suspense novels. Ellison’s thrillers always feature highly entertaining plots, compelling characters, and the kind of just-one-more-page pacing that will genuinely keep you up reading all night. I discovered J.T. Ellison’s work in the early days of CBTB, and I haven’t looked back since! In 2023, J.T. Ellison will return with her newest story of psychological suspense—and I am so honored to be able to reveal the cover for it right here on Crime by the Book! IT’S ONE OF US will be published in February 2023, but this beauty looks like it’s worth adding to your TBR pile right now. IT’S ONE OF US delves into the lies that we tell to keep our relationships together…lies that can also tear relationships apart. In today’s blog post, you can get a glimpse of the book’s stunning cover, plus read a mini Q&A with author J.T. Ellison that will give you a sneak peek into what’s sure to be one of 2023’s must-read suspense books. Bonus: since we do have a little bit of a wait until IT’S ONE OF US is published, I’ve also compiled a little rundown of my top recommendations for J.T. Ellison thrillers you should read while we wait for the publication of IT’S ONE OF US—you can find that list at the very bottom of this blog post! Huge thanks to J.T. Ellison and her publisher for allowing me to share this cover reveal on CBTB today—it’s an honor to be able to do so, and I can’t wait to read IT’S ONE OF US.

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In Cover Reveal Tags It's One of Us, J.T. Ellison, Psychological Thriller
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Q&A with J.T. Ellison, author of HER DARK LIES

March 14, 2021

No one writes a “popcorn thriller” quite like J.T. Ellison. I’ve come to rely on J.T. to deliver irresistible, impossible-to-put-down suspense novels that can sweep me away in their gripping tales—and that’s exactly the kind of thriller that J.T. Ellison has given us with her brand-new release HER DARK LIES. This immersive, Gothic-tinged suspense story gives readers an exclusive invitation to the wedding of the year: the marriage between up-and-coming artist Claire Hunter and Jack Compton, one of the heirs to the vast Compton family fortune. Readers follow Claire and Jack as they travel to Italy for what’s sure to be a picture-perfect wedding… but, in true J.T. Ellison form, things soon take a dark and shocking turn (and then a few more dark, shocking turns after that). I’m so thrilled to be able to share with CBTB readers a Q&A with author J.T. Ellison, in which we explore everything from the inspiration behind HER DARK LIES to the book’s Gothic influences to a secret that J.T. has to share with us about the book’s setting! Huge thanks to J.T. Ellison for stopping by CBTB to share this glimpse into her newest release with us! Read on for a (spoiler-free!) discussion of J.T. Ellison’s HER DARK LIES.

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In Author Q&A Tags J.T. Ellison, Her Dark Lies
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Book Review: HER DARK LIES by J.T. Ellison

March 9, 2021

If there’s one author I can always count on to deliver a binge-worthy “popcorn read,” it’s J.T. Ellison. The author of some of my personal favorite suspense novels including Good Girls Lie and Lie to Me returns today with her latest outing: HER DARK LIES, a darkly delicious concoction made of equal parts family drama, Gothic elements, and a wanderlust-worthy sense of place. In HER DARK LIES, readers meet Claire and Jack: a golden couple who are preparing for their wedding in the luxurious villa owned by Jack’s fabulously wealthy family. This villa, which sits perched atop a breathtaking island off the coast of Italy, is the perfect venue for what is sure to be the wedding of the year. But as Claire and Jack settle in for their big day, a series of inexplicable and increasingly sinister events begin to take place. And when a storm cuts off power to the island, Claire and Jack quickly realize these events aren’t just inconveniences—they’re a warning sign of greater dangers to come. Laced with elements of Gothic suspense and brimming with all the “popcorn thriller” entertainment value that I’ve come to expect in J.T. Ellison’s novels, HER DARK LIES is a deliciously readable and delightfully sinister suspense read. Pour yourself a glass of something sparkling and travel to Isle Isola for the wedding of the year—but watch your back, because not everyone is getting out of this wedding alive.

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In Book Review Tags Her Dark Lies, J.T. Ellison
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Crime Books to Read While You Stay at Home

March 19, 2020

It’s safe to say these are unprecedented times. With the rapid spread of the new coronavirus around the world, a whole lot of us (yours truly included!) are finding ourselves with a whole lot more solitary time on our hands as we stay home and self-isolate. If you’re in this position and looking for a new book or two to take your mind off the news cycle, you’ve come to the right place! I’ve compiled a big list of highly-recommended crime books for you to peruse—and my hope is that one of these (or a few of these!) can keep you company and give you a sense of escape during these very overwhelming times. To help you find a book that will suit your reading tastes, I’ve organized this reading list by mood. Whether you’re in the mood for something binge-worthy, something bookish, or something downright scary, there’s a book for you here.

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In Reading List, Recommendation Tags Crime Books to Read, Lars Kepler, Riley Sager, Sandie Jones, Dot Hutchison, Alex Michaelides, C.J. Tudor, Simone St. James, Catherine Ryan Howard, Stephanie Wrobel, Elly Griffiths, Peter Swanson, J.T. Ellison, M.J. Arlidge, Jo Nesbo, Sara Blaedel, Ragnar Jonasson
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8 Recommended Bookish Mysteries & Suspense Novels

January 5, 2020

What could be better than a crime novel about books? For so many of us bookworms (myself included!), there’s something especially fun about reading a book about books or authors. In today’s blog post, I’m rounding up 8 mystery and suspense novels that deal with exactly that! The books discussed here all relate to the world of books in one way or another. Some of them feature protagonists who are authors or aspiring writers, some have “book within a book” style plots, and all of them will satisfy your desire to dig into some good old bookish intrigue. This is a category of crime novel I personally never tire of, and I hope this list will help you find a book or two that catches your eye, too! Happy reading!

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In Book Recommendation, Reading List Tags Bookish Mysteries, Paul Cleave, Trust No One, J.T. Ellison, Lie To Me, The Weight of Lies, Emily Carpenter, The Stranger Diaries, Elly Griffiths, Lies She Told, Cate Holahan, Open Your Eyes, Paula Daly, Sarah Stovell, Michael J. Malone
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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
View fullsize I can never say no to a creepy read with a gorgeous black & white cover. 🕵🏻‍♀️🤍🖤 next on my TBR: THE SHADOWS by Alex North, available on my birthday, 7/7!!😉🔎 (huge thank you to @celadonbooks for this review copy!🤓) •
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View fullsize Being stuck at home isn’t so bad when you’ve got a massive stack of books to read. 🕵🏻‍♀️🖤 What’s on your social-distancing TBR?! 📖
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I went WAY overboard with books I brought home to CT for my self-isolation TBR list. ?
View fullsize Early afternoon light & a large latte ☕️ & a gripping crime read 🕵🏻‍♀️🖤 aka the perfect combination 🙌🏻
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This right here is my usual Sunday tradition 👆🏻 BUT I’ll be spending this Sunday (and this coming week, and probabl
View fullsize My last day in the city for a while calls for a lunch break coffee stop ☕️🖤 with my totally gripping current read 🕵🏻‍♀️
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Today is my last day in Manhattan for a while 😔 we’re all transitioning to working from home to try and preve
View fullsize In the midst of a crazy week, my brain needs a quick, binge-worthy read, and I think this beauty right here is just the ticket. 👌🏻🖤 NO BAD DEED by Heather Chavez is on sale now, and I can’t wait to dive in! 🕵🏻‍♀️
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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 =
View fullsize Last looks at beautiful Oslo 🇳🇴 for this trip. ❤️ So very sad to leave, but I’m bringing wonderful memories & a suitcase stuffed with books 📚 back to NYC with me. 😉 See you soon, Oslo... you know I can’t stay away for long. 🥰❤️
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View fullsize Spent today doing all my favorite things in Oslo, so obviously a coffee stop was included. ☕️🖤 How are you spending your Saturday?! •
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