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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
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the cbtb blog

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

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Author Q&A: Eva García Sáenz, Author of THE SILENCE OF THE WHITE CITY

January 28, 2021

Every year, there are one or two books that become what I like to call my “out-of-left-field favorites”—books that I picked up on a whim and ended up just absolutely loving. In 2020, one of my “out-of-left-field favorites” was Eva García Sáenz’s exceptional serial killer thriller THE SILENCE OF THE WHITE CITY. The first in a trilogy of crime novels set in the Basque country, THE SILENCE OF THE WHITE CITY is an immersive, intricate, compulsively readable crime novel perfect for fans of serial killer thriller classics like The Silence of the Lambs. This trilogy has already found great success with readers around the world, and it’s easy to see why: THE SILENCE OF THE WHITE CITY has crime fiction must-read written all over it, from its vivid characters to its chilling central mystery and its immersive sense of place. Today, author Eva García Sáenz is stopping by CBTB to answer my questions about her heart-pounding thriller THE SILENCE OF THE WHITE CITY, and to give us a little teaser for what’s to come in this trilogy’s second installment!

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In Author Q&A Tags Eva Garcia Saenz, The Silence of the White City, The Water Rituals, The White City Trilogy, Serial Killer Thriller
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CBTB's Best Crime Books of 2020

December 27, 2020

Another year is drawing to a close, and what a year it’s been. To call 2020 a challenge would be, frankly, the understatement of the year. I’ve always been thankful for the escape that a great crime book can bring, but I don’t think I’ve ever been quite as thankful for great books as I have been this year. 2020 brought with it outstanding new crime fiction from CBTB favorites and new-to-me authors alike; it saw some of my longtime favorite writers embarking on new directions in their writing careers; it introduced me to new series that I expect I’ll be following for years to come. From psychological thrillers to Nordic Noir to creepy, horror-inspired suspense and a little bit of everything in between, this year brought with it lots of new crime novels to love, and in today’s blog post, I’m sharing my picks for the very best of the best that this year had to offer. I’m thrilled to share with you my picks for Best Crime Books of 2020, this year with a fun twist! I’ve given each book included in this list a superlative: everything from “Best Plot Twist” to “Best ‘Popcorn Thriller’” to “Best Nordic Noir Series Installment” and more. Happy reading!

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In Best Crime Books of 2020 Tags Best Crime Books 2020, Best Thrillers 2020, The Kingdom, Jo Nesbo, Lazarus, Lars Kepler, His & Hers, Alice Feeney, The Silence of the White City, Eva Garcia Saenz, Invisible Girl, Lisa Jewell, Little Secrets, Jennifer Hillier, Best Crime Books, Best Thrillers, Best Crime Thrillers 2020, The Absolution, Yrsa Sigurdardottir, The Other People, CJ Tudor, The Mist, Ragnar Jonasson, Death in the Family, Tessa Wegert, Thomas Enger, Jorn Lier Horst, Catherine Ryan Howard, Rachel Howzell Hall, Camilla Lackberg
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CBTB's Halloween 2020 Reading List

October 6, 2020

Friends, it’s the most wonderful time of year: spooky season!! Halloween is my favorite time of year (yes, I consider it a time of year—not just a single day!), and it’s the perfect time to cozy up with an extra-chilling crime, suspense, or thriller read. I’m so excited to share with you a blog post that has been quite a while in the making: my Halloween 2020 Reading List! While many (if not most!) of the books I read and cover here on Crime by the Book could fit on a Halloween reading list, the books I’ve chosen for this blog post have that little something extra that will make each of them perfect for Halloween reading (think: ghosts, supernatural sightings, extra-creepy villains, and more!). Dive on in and find your perfect Halloween read!

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In Reading List Tags Halloween Books, Halloween Reading, Riley Sager, Home Before Dark, The Turn of the Key, Ruth Ware, C.J. Tudor, Kill Creek, Scott Thomas, Simone St. James, The Sun Down Motel, Final Girls, Halloween 2020, Rachel Harrison, The Sandman, Lars Kepler, Birdman, Mo Hayder, The Nesting, C.J. Cooke, The Craftsman, Sharon Bolton, The Silence of the White City, Catherine House, Elisabeth Thomas, In the Vines, Shannon Kirk
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Book Review: THE SILENCE OF THE WHITE CITY by Eva García Sáenz

August 20, 2020

What was the last book you read that turned out to be exactly the book you never knew you needed? For me, the answer to that question is easy: it was Eva García Sáenz’s outstanding trilogy launch, THE SILENCE OF THE WHITE CITY—published in the US for the first time this July. This gritty, intricate serial killer thriller is the perfect late-summer read for any crime fiction aficionado looking to get caught up in a truly immersive puzzle. Set in the Basque country, THE SILENCE OF THE WHITE CITY places readers in the heart of a terrifying series of events: a shadowy villain appears to be replicating the city of Vitoria’s most infamous crimes, twenty years after their initial occurrence. The perpetrator for the original crimes, an archaeologist whose charm and charisma propelled him to fame, has been locked away in prison for all these years. So who is committing these gruesome murders now? Is a copycat killer at work, or is there more to this story? Following an endearing and troubled detective known as “Kraken,” THE SILENCE OF THE WHITE CITY draws readers deep into the history and mythology of the Basque country—and into the mind of a sinister and shadowy villain whose reach and intelligence are far greater than the police ever suspected. Chilling crimes, page-turning pacing, endearing characters, and a healthy dose of local lore are woven together seamlessly in THE SILENCE OF THE WHITE CITY. This is a serial killer thriller for anyone who has loved genre greats like The Silence of the Lambs, and for anyone who just plain loves a great mystery to solve. Pick this book up for pure, chilling entertainment.

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In Book Review Tags The Silence of the White City, Eva Garcia Saenz, Serial Killer Thriller, Basque Noir
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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 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
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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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    RT @TheMysterious: Love mystery fiction? We’re hiring a part-time bookseller, beginning immediately. Email info@mysteriousbookshop.com… https://t.co/AJrBLH0Q1t
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