Watch Your Back

Just a few months ago, the book-publishing blog GalleyCat happened upon what it would go on to confirm was a peculiar trend in the design of novels marketed to women: shot-from-behind book jackets. (See some examples from our own collection here.)

Now, we’re starting to see a not-wholly-unrelated theme in crime-fiction covers: tattooed women’s backs.

The four fronts shown below come from: British editions of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, by Stieg Larsson (paperback from Quercus), and Bangkok Haunts, by John Burdett (recently released in paperback by Corgi Books); and the American editions of Stealing the Dragon, by Tim Maleeny (paperback from Midnight Ink), and The Abyssinian Proof, a historical mystery by Jenny White (Norton hardcover).

There’s no question that the images here are captivating. But can we please move on now to some new design ideas?