Today, I’m so excited to share a roundup of my frequently recommended supernatural-ish mysteries and thrillers! A bookseller protagonist? The store is located in Boston. Read on for a (spoiler-free!) Eight Perfect Murders was a compelling read. The books in this list exemplify that delicious blend of earthly mystery and supernatural touches that I’ve come to love so much, and I’m so excited to share this rundown of books in this category that I recommend most frequently with you today! Rules for Perfect Murders, published as Eight Perfect Murders in the US, is a murder mystery novel published on March 3rd 2020 by Faber & Faber. Paperback, 270 pages. “I thought about all the press conferences I’d seen over the years, parents trotted out for missing kids, killed kids, abused kids,” she says. Fast forward a couple decades, and one day, Jax gets an unthinkable call: her sister Lexie has been found dead, drowned in the very same pool that she loved so much as a child. THE LIGHTHOUSE WITCHES is a story of Gothic suspense that incorporates an exploration of witch trials in Scotland’s history, and looks absolutely perfect for anyone looking to add a sinister, extra-creepy suspense tale to their Fall 2021 wishlist. 2. THE AUTHOR: Peter Swanson is the author of six novels including The Kind Worth Killing, winner of the New England Society Book Award, and finalist for the CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger, Her Every Fear, an NPR book of the year, and his most recent thriller, Eight Perfect Murders. 4.3 out of 5 stars 3,843. Too many hiding places,” thinks Tuva. They are simple (and often laugh-out-loud funny) observations, but I read this paragraph over and over. Ellison has given us with her brand-new release HER DARK LIES. Book Title: Eight Perfect Murders Author: Peter Swanson Pub Date: 03/03/2020 Genres: Crime Fiction, Mystery, Suspense Goodreads 3.5 STARS Amazon Pre-Order Link. There's tension in simply waiting for the story to build to its inevitable end, where Malcolm's undelivered rage leaves him (and us) reeling. Eight Perfect Murders. A true tour de force." What is it about dark academia that is just so appealing? I’ve been a mystery reader since I was a little kid (I owe a debt of gratitude to Carolyn Keene and Nancy Drew for that! Share. Unfortunately, the book’s finale leaves something to be desired, managing to be both fairly predictable and over-the-top all at once. The Red House Mystery - A. It pulls together some of the best plots from past crime novels and combines them in a deliciously innovative way. : This is a mystery for book lovers of any kind, peppered with familiar titles and outcomes. Will Dean’s series about deaf Swedish reporter Tuva Moodyson is a must read – and this book is his best yet. Amy EngelHodder & Stoughton, £14.99, 256pp. This FBI agent comes bearing bizarre news: Malcolm’s expertise is needed on an ongoing string of unsolved murders. EIGHT PERFECT MURDERS is a love letter to the crime fiction genre. Read on to learn more about THE LIGHTHOUSE WITCHES, check out its gorgeous cover, and get the inside scoop on the book through a Q&A with C.J. Swanson tees these irresistible elements up beautifully right from this story’s outset, and, most importantly, he delivers on their promise. In the opening pages, we are introduced to Mal Kershaw, who is the co-owner of the Old Devils Bookstore, which specialises in mystery crime novels. Cooke’s Gothic suspense novel The Nesting, a sinister story set in the wilds of Norway. I’ve come to rely on J.T. In this book, it’s no spoiler to say that the answer to that question is not very well at all—and the things they are hiding just might be deadly. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Check. I couldn’t believe that someone had captured what it feels like to live your life so steeped in a genre that it colors your expectation of the world around you. Will these crimes prove as … £7.95 Every Vow You Break. This is a bookish book, for bookish people, and one I will be buying a hard copy of. For readers who love sinister suspense stories with cinematic settings, and thrillers that incorporate elements of horror, THE LOST VILLAGE is a book you won’t want to miss. The pace did build up toward the end when the twists and turns ramped up and the tone of the book became urgent as we close in on the killer. The narrative flowed and I was pulled in right from the beginning. 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. The book is narrated by Malcolm Kershaw, the owner and operator of Boston’s Old Devils Bookstore. Twenty years later, one is found… but she’s still the same age as she was when she disappeared. Any reader who feels similarly about crime fiction will adore following Malcolm as he steps outside his bookworm comfort zone and begins a twisty and shocking journey to discover the truth at the heart of a series of inexplicable crimes. It’s a story steeped in genre history and present-day in-jokes, and it’s one that no crime fiction reader will want to miss. and sees a killer in everyone around him. Blending the subtle sensibility of Scandinavian crime fiction with a plot that blends psychological thrills and horror to pitch-perfect effect, THE LOST VILLAGE is a thoroughly engrossing, read-with-all-the-lights-on book. Is it a little bit early to be talking about summer crime fiction releases? No, that was never a horror story I had entertained,” says Eve, who grew up in the poorest part of the Missouri Ozarks, and who now digs deep into the past she vowed to leave behind as she sets out to get justice for Junie. SYNOPSIS: Years ago, bookseller and mystery aficionado Malcolm Kershaw compiled a list of the genre’s most unsolvable murders, those that are almost impossible to crack—which he titled “Eight Perfect Murders”—chosen … Cooke is back—and this time, she is bringing readers along on a bookish journey to a remote Scottish island, where the secrets of Scotland’s history are reaching across the centuries. Camilla Sten’s outstanding debut thriller THE LOST VILLAGE has all the ingredients of a CBTB favorite. Gwen seems to think that someone out there is re-creating the murders from those books. As a reader who unapologetically values the “fun” factor, I found a perfect match in Swanson’s newest release. Grab your coziest blanket, turn on all the lights, and dive in to my frequently-recommended supernatural-ish mysteries & thrillers. If you haven’t read one of the books on Malcolm’s list and are interested in reading it for yourself, I would recommend either reading it before you dive into EIGHT PERFECT MURDERS, or just going into this book knowing that there will be spoilers along the way. THE LOST VILLAGE has been compared to films including The Blair Witch Project and Midsommar—high praise, to be sure, and praise that I actually felt this book completely deserved. A. Milne's Red House Mystery, Anthony Berkeley Cox's Malice Aforethought, James M. Cain's Double Indemnity, John D. Macdonald's The Drowner, and Donna Tartt's A Secret History. But not furious. What do you get when you cross a dual-timeline mystery with a tale of supernatural suspense? Ellison. I was fortunate enough to read a review copy of this stellar suspense novel back in January, and it became my first 5/5 star review of the new year. There are plenty of twists and turns, and secrets galore… We owe Swanson a debt of gratitude… You also owe it to yourself to read Eight Perfect Murders. “We can be sad, distraught, confused, pleading, forgiving. Ellison for stopping by CBTB to share this glimpse into her newest release with us! The story is told in Mal’s viewpoint. He reveals not only the method of each "perfect murder" but the motivations and the identity of each murderer. I was out walking, so I supposed the idea didn’t drop into my lap, per se. A. Milne's Red House Mystery, … My problem with Eight Perfect Murders is that Peter Swanson blatantly disregards one of the tacit rules of paying homage to any work of fiction, but especially a mystery novel. A real-world mystery that lets a bookseller (and devoted crime reader) solve crimes? Cooke’s newest release today. 5. THE DROWNING KIND was the first book I’ve ever read by bestselling author Jennifer McMahon, and it certainly won’t be my last. 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. So honored to be quoted on the Norwegian edition of, Book Review: EIGHT PERFECT MURDERS by Peter Swanson, Book Review: THE GIRL WHO DIED by Ragnar Jonasson, Book Review: HER THREE LIVES by Cate Holahan, 5 Recommended Suspense Novels Set Within the World of Academia, CBTB's Most-Anticipated Spring & Summer 2021 Crime Books, Book Review: THE DROWNING KIND by Jennifer McMahon, Book Review: EVERY VOW YOU BREAK by Peter Swanson, Book Review: THE LOST VILLAGE by Camilla Sten, CBTB's Frequently Recommended Supernatural-ish Mysteries & Thrillers, Cover Reveal + Q&A: THE LIGHTHOUSE WITCHES by C.J. As Jax returns to her grandmother’s house, she is confronted by the pool’s dark history. Enter Jennifer McMahon’s haunting, immersive new novel THE DROWNING KIND, available today, April 6. If you’re as crime fiction obsessed as I am, it’s probably a question that’s popped into your head once or twice in the context of the murder mysteries you are devouring. I’m not usually one to recognize myself in a lot of the characters I’m reading (while I may wish I had the mystery-solving prowess of Miss Marple or the tough-as-nails exterior of Lisbeth Salander, let’s be honest… I’m just a girl obsessed with books). Fury is reserved for other people. ), and over the years certain books - and certain murders found in the pages of those books - have stuck out as “perfect.” In Peter Swanson’s EIGHT PERFECT MURDERS, fictional crimes become a blueprint for real-life violence. Strangers on a Train - Patricia Highsmith. Rules for Perfect Murders: The ‘fiendishly good’ new thriller from the bestselling author . In this chilling supernatural mystery, it’s not any old house that’s haunted—it’s a body of water, specifically, a pool fed by a natural spring that is said to have special powers. To order Rules for Perfect Murders, The Familiar Dark, The Second Wife or Black River go to guardianbookshop.com. Peter Swanson is a master at crafting gripping suspense novels, and though EIGHT PERFECT MURDERS takes on a more directly “classic-crime” inspired tone than some of his previous books, it is no less gripping or addictive. discussion of J.T. To protect himself, Mal begins looking into possible suspects . Well handled and enjoyably twisty, this is most impressive for its chilling insights into obsession and where it can lead. This is so incredibly cool. This clever, irresistible “whodunit” draws on crime genre nostalgia and present-day in-jokes to deliver a book tailor made for the modern crime reader. To help you guide you through this list and narrow down which books might be of interest to you, I’ve divvied this list up into three categories: Ghosts & Haunted Houses, Folklore & The Occult, and Possessions & Inexplicable Events. Imagine my surprise, then, when I realized that Malcolm Kershaw might just be the most accurate representation of my inner bookworm life I’ve seen in a book in a long time. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. . I was inspired to write this list after reading one of my most-anticipated suspense novels of 2021, THE MAIDENS by Alex Michaelides, which centers around a murder at Cambridge University. Following the owner of a mystery-dedicated bookstore in Boston, EIGHT PERFECT MURDERS imagines what happens when a person with a desire to do harm gets his or her hands on a guide to some of the most infallible murders in the crime fiction genre. His wife, Natalie, has escaped, but his daughter, Jade, is still inside. Strangers on a Train by Patricia Highsmith, Malice Aforethought by Anthony Berkeley Cox, Publisher: William Morrow (March 3, 2020). In Rebecca Fleet’s The Second Wife, Alex is walking home along the seafront one evening when he smells smoke and realises his house is on fire. In the opening pages, we are introduced to Mal Kershaw, who is the co-owner of the Old Devils Bookstore, which specialises in mystery crime novels. Huge thanks to J.T. Following the owner of a mystery-dedicated bookstore in Boston, EIGHT PERFECT MURDERS imagines what happens when a person with a desire to do harm gets his or her hands on a guide to some of the most infallible murders in the crime fiction genre. Malcolm is equal parts horrified and intrigued—after all, though these crimes are terrible, is there anything more intriguing to a mystery reader than the opportunity to use their bookish knowledge help solve a real-life crime? All opinions my own. This story’s ingredients are promising right from the outset. Check. While I wouldn’t necessarily recommend this book to just anyone looking for a “twisty thriller” (classic crime fiction figures significantly here, and an appreciation of the genre will serve you well in fully enjoying this novel), I can say with absolute sincerity that if the other elements of this story appeal to you, you will love the clever and ever-shifting ways Swanson develops this plot. Perhaps my one word of caution here: because EIGHT PERFECT MURDERS delves so deeply into the crimes that take place in each of the eight crime novels on Malcolm’s original blog post, there will be spoilers in this novel for those eight books. I notice Anthony Horowitz has offered up a recommendation quote for the cover, which makes sense as it’s reminiscent of his (more traditional crime fiction) work as well. …. His list went largely unnoticed—but then, he never really expected a bookstore blog to gain much traction online. I can never resist a suspense novel that draws on the world of academia, and if that sounds like your cup of tea, today’s reading list is for you! Last year, I read and got totally hooked on author C.J. The deaths lead FBI Agent Gwen Mulvey to mystery bookshop Old Devils. Written by Peter Swanson — Anthony Horowitz calls this entertaining new puzzle mystery by Peter Swanson ‘fiendish good fun’, and that really hits the nail on the head. It’s a plot made in bookworm heaven: a bookseller is tapped by the FBI to provide expert feedback on a series of baffling cases. And the FBI agent isn’t the only one interested in this bookseller who spends almost every night at home reading. An FBI agent joins forces with a crime enthusiast bookshop owner, who once wrote an article on eight famous literary murders – for it now seems someone is acting them out, one by one. No matter what, all of these books have an extra-creepy edge to them that will have you reading with all the lights on. From a story of Pretty Little Liars-level drama at a boarding school to a sinister tale of two academics whose work together takes a dangerous turn, this reading list rounds up a few of my personal favorite and most-recommended suspense and mystery novels that incorporate elements of dark academia. His books have been translated into 30 languages, and his stories, poetry, and features have appeared in Asimov’s … Paperback. One of the main reasons I love the crime fiction genre so much is surprisingly simple: I love this genre because it is fun. It follows mystery bookshop owner Mal who is approached by an FBI agent regarding a string of murders that may be connected to a blog post he wrote citing eight perfect fictional murders. “Too much wilderness this far north. In his newest release, Swanson delivers a shocking, addictive mystery with a classic crime twist. Too much space. Once you encounter it, you will not be able to get it out of your head. So imagine Malcolm’s surprise when, years later, on a snowy day in Boston, an FBI agent appears on the doorstep of the bookstore he now co-owns. A 12-year-old is murdered in a park in Amy Engel’s ‘uncompromising’ The Familiar Dark. Mal is now the owner of an infamous bookstore in Boston when the FBI comes a knocking, he can't help but be intrigued. Hardcover. She is rescued by a firefighter, but when she wakes, she tells her father that she was hiding when the fire began, because there was a man in their house. Lexie wasn’t the pool’s first victim, and she might not be its last. These books are classics of the genre. Tuva has been off the booze and living in the south when she learns that her best friend, Tammy Yamnim, has gone missing from Gavrik. Peter Swanson. I enjoyed Swanson’s previous books, but “Eight Perfect Murders” stands far above the rest. I expect to read it again. £10.20 The Kind Worth Killing. Cooke, Q&A with J.T. Murders linked to fictional killings, a bereaved parent seeking justice, marital tension spilling into obsession, and a strange disappearance in Sweden’s midsummer. Malice Aforethought - Anthony Berkley Cox. It takes a lot to surprise me as a reader, and EIGHT PERFECT MURDERS did exactly that. Weight: 511 g. Dimensions: 234 x 153 x 20 mm. Rules for Perfect Murders. Previous Post Eight Perfect Murders By … Eight Perfect Murders A Novel Peter Swanson. In THE LIGHTHOUSE WITCHES, two sisters have gone missing on a remote Scottish island. What begins as a story about crime stories twists and morphs into a genuinely shocking and page-turning thriller. Suddenly, a series of shocking twists leaves more victims dead—and the noose around Mal’s neck grows so tight he might never escape. I haven’t had this much fun reading a crime novel in ages. Swanson continues to refer to other mysteries throughout the book - I have come away with a huge reading list! A series of unsolved murders with one thing in common: each of the deaths bears an eerie resemblance to the crimes depicted in classic mystery novels. The second adult novel from the author of The Roanoke Girls, this is uncompromising, fierce and brilliant. Happy reading! Peter Swanson, author of acclaimed thrillers including The Kind Worth Killing and Eight Perfect Murders, returns this spring with his newest story of Hitchcockian suspense: EVERY VOW YOU BREAK. Whether you’re in the mood for light psychological suspense, gritty noir, creepy thrills, or anything in between, there’s a little something on this list for everyone! While I think it will always be important to me as a reader that the crime novels I read, even the supernatural-ish ones, have an earthly, logical solution to the mysteries at their core, I’ve come to discover just how much fun a thriller with a dash of the supernatural can be. 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