The Black Widow: The true crime book of the year

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Brookmyre excels at melding the true chills of a psychological thriller with rollicking–if dark–humor. I did find this book enjoyable for sure, but there were a few things that made me drop my rating slightly. Life is hard, living miles from no one in the barren desert of Utah, preparing food for the end of the world and being shunned from other Mormons who don’t support polygamous marriages.

Playful and irreverent, spine-tingling and spooky, The September House puts a fresh spin on the classic haunted house story, delivering an immersive tale about the secrets lurking within one building’s walls, and within the lives of its inhabitants. Full of engaging twists, Brookmyre’s latest thriller featuring unconventional journalist Jack Parlabane is as compelling as it is clever. Streeter’s many speaking engagements include annual appearances at Camp Widow, a national organization for widowed people reaching nearly 500,000, and a series of book club events for women.

We have come to expect no less from author Christopher Brookmyre, who combines memorable protagonists and sharp-elbowed antagonists with twists and turns, dark humor and pathos. There’s no better time to watch a slasher movie—or read a slasher book—than October, and if your idea of perfect Halloween entertainment involves villains like Michael Myers or Freddy Krueger, the book I’m recommending today is the Halloween read for you.

Without further ado, I’m so excited to share with you my personal picks for the Top 10 Crime Books of 2022 in today’s blog post! Blake Nelson has married to three women, Rachel the first wife, Emily the second wife and Tina the third wife. Brookmyre, always excellent at building beguiling narrative puzzles, darts nimbly here among the police, Parlabane, and Diana, making Black Widow . From internationally bestselling author Christopher Brookmyre, Black Widow tells the potent story of a woman who thought she was too late for love, the man who falls for her ambition, and the secret selves that are poised, at any moment, to end everything. I’m so honored to be able to reveal the cover for Vanessa Lillie’s buzz-worthy new mystery here on CBTB today!

But it is also a thoughtful journey into the new heart of darkness that will haunt readers long after they have turned the final page. Brookmyre’s exploration of the female tendency to allow self-doubt to infiltrate and concede fault when we know it isn’t warranted is as gripping and harrowing as any tale of murder.

It’s no surprise why this book was named Scottish Crime Book of the Year in 2016— there’s an undercurrent of intensity running throughout BLACK WIDOW that demands the reader’s attention from first page to last, and an assurance to Brookmyre’s writing that is an absolute pleasure to read. A pleasing mix of old and new, its country-hopping plot looks back to Grahame Greene and John Buchan, but the pop and media references are bang up-to-date -- John Dugdale Sunday Times One of Brookmyre's most accomplished books.Leslie looks back on her love story with Scott, recounting their journey through racism, religious differences, and persistent confusion about what kugel is. The mainstream Mormons she describes, however, are a caricature based on images of 19th century early Utah settlers and an amalgamation of early (largely discredited or abandoned) LDS church writings. This allows the reader to feel their emotions, their suspicions of each other and the determination to discover the truth. The two women strike up a remarkable friendship that threatens to challenge even the most diverse of experiences. Adelaide Nelson, Blake’s mother is a brittle but intriguing character and some of her actions make your jaw drop.