http://Darkstormybc.comenBooksCopyright Dark and Stormy Book Clubhttps://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/b781c2febe6b075c8d332187907ef198.jpghttp://Darkstormybc.comWed, 13 Mar 2024 23:14:41 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubDark and Stormy Book Clubdarkandstormybookclub@gmail.comLooking for a weekly podcast that's as fun as it is informative? Look no further than the Dark & Stormy Book Club Podcast! Our hosts, Ann Dark, Tracey Stormy, Kathy Night, and Misty Night, are passionate about books and love nothing more than...falseepisodichttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/saying-goodbye-to-ann-dark--59037414https://api.spreaker.com/episode/59037414Wed, 13 Mar 2024 23:01:08 +0000Dark and Stormy Book Club219falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-special-announcement--58671535https://api.spreaker.com/episode/58671535Tue, 13 Feb 2024 11:17:28 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubWe need to step away for about a month our beloved Ann Dark needs to take some time to heal. She can't wait to return to the podcast. Please join her family and freinds in wishing her well. We will be posting further updates on here or our facebook...90falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/recommendations-for-your-tbr-list--58582133Show Notes
On today's episode, we feature six books that we recommend for our listener's TBR. These are books that
have been sent to us for review. There is no way we can read every book but we want to make sure they
are highlighted in some way.
Ann reported on Good Girls Don't Die by Christina Henry (Berkeley 11/23). This is the story of three
woman with one way out.
Tracey reported on The Repurposed Spy by Oliver Dowson (self 3/22) A modern spy novel filled with
humor and intrigue.
Misty had Miss Blaine, The Prefect & the Weird Sisters by Olga Wojtas (Felony & Mayhem Press 3/23) A
prefect who time travels to help people.
Ann's second book is The Murder of Andrew Johnson by Burt Solomon (Forge Books 10/23) An inspector
looks to see if the president was killed in his home state of Tennessee
Tracey 's second book is Anna-O by Matthew Blake (Harper 1/24) The story of a woman who commits
two murders while sleepwalking and then never wakes up again.
Misty's second book is The Lies I tell by Julie Clark (Source books 12/22) The story of a con woman who
becomes what her mark needs her to be.
Tracey is currently reading “the Carrow Haunt” by Darcie Coates and the “Night Circus” by Erin
Morgenstern
Ann is currently reading “The Deepest Kill” by Lisa Black, “The Waxworks Man” by J.C. Briggs, and
“The Huntress” by Kate Quinn.
Misty is currently working on her new mystery series based on a diner with dead people.
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/58582133Tue, 06 Feb 2024 09:00:02 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubRecommendations For Your TBR Show Notes On today's episode, we feature six books that we recommend for our listener's TBR. These are books that have been sent to us for review. There is no way we can read every book but we want to make sure they are...Show Notes
On today's episode, we feature six books that we recommend for our listener's TBR. These are books that
have been sent to us for review. There is no way we can read every book but we want to make sure they
are highlighted in some way.
Ann reported on Good Girls Don't Die by Christina Henry (Berkeley 11/23). This is the story of three
woman with one way out.
Tracey reported on The Repurposed Spy by Oliver Dowson (self 3/22) A modern spy novel filled with
humor and intrigue.
Misty had Miss Blaine, The Prefect & the Weird Sisters by Olga Wojtas (Felony & Mayhem Press 3/23) A
prefect who time travels to help people.
Ann's second book is The Murder of Andrew Johnson by Burt Solomon (Forge Books 10/23) An inspector
looks to see if the president was killed in his home state of Tennessee
Tracey 's second book is Anna-O by Matthew Blake (Harper 1/24) The story of a woman who commits
two murders while sleepwalking and then never wakes up again.
Misty's second book is The Lies I tell by Julie Clark (Source books 12/22) The story of a con woman who
becomes what her mark needs her to be.
Tracey is currently reading “the Carrow Haunt” by Darcie Coates and the “Night Circus” by Erin
Morgenstern
Ann is currently reading “The Deepest Kill” by Lisa Black, “The Waxworks Man” by J.C. Briggs, and
“The Huntress” by Kate Quinn.
Misty is currently working on her new mystery series based on a diner with dead people.
]]>1152amreading,bookclub,bookpod,booktok,mustread,tbrfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/what-we-are-reading-january-2024--58494929New Beginnings
Show Notes
For our first WWAR for 2024, we discussed three books that feature new beginnings for the protagonist or
storyl
Misty reported on her book “Poison Ivy” by Misty Simon. This is the first book she had published in
2004. It has been re-released two more times since then and has just been again re-released. She says the
book is still a lot of fun to read.
Tracey reported on her book “What Waits In the Woods.” by Kieran Scott It features a ballerina who has
to begin over when she damages her leg and has to give up her dream of ballet. On the day she arrives
back in her hometown in rural Pennsylvania, a body is found behind her father's house.
Ann reported on “Conflicting Loyalties: My Life As A Mob Enforcer turned DOJ Informant” by Aiden
Gabor. It is a true story of a teenager who is forced to become an informant for the Justice Department in
order to stay out of jail. He remained an informant for almost 20 years when he got out. He then has to
start his life over a second time when he was diagnosed with ALS.
We also reported on the books we are currrently reading.
Misty is reading “Writing A Cozy Mystery” by Nancy J. Cohen, and says she reads it often to make sure
she is including everything in her books.
Tracey is reading “A Good House For Children” by Kate Collins
Ann is currently reading “Seed” by Anya Allborne and “Calico” by Lee Goldberg.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/58494929Tue, 30 Jan 2024 09:00:02 +0000Dark and Stormy Book Club1-24 WWAR New Beginnings Show Notes For our first WWAR for 2024, we discussed three books that feature new beginnings for the protagonist or storyl Misty reported on her book “Poison Ivy” by Misty Simon. This is the first book she had published in...New Beginnings
Show Notes
For our first WWAR for 2024, we discussed three books that feature new beginnings for the protagonist or
storyl
Misty reported on her book “Poison Ivy” by Misty Simon. This is the first book she had published in
2004. It has been re-released two more times since then and has just been again re-released. She says the
book is still a lot of fun to read.
Tracey reported on her book “What Waits In the Woods.” by Kieran Scott It features a ballerina who has
to begin over when she damages her leg and has to give up her dream of ballet. On the day she arrives
back in her hometown in rural Pennsylvania, a body is found behind her father's house.
Ann reported on “Conflicting Loyalties: My Life As A Mob Enforcer turned DOJ Informant” by Aiden
Gabor. It is a true story of a teenager who is forced to become an informant for the Justice Department in
order to stay out of jail. He remained an informant for almost 20 years when he got out. He then has to
start his life over a second time when he was diagnosed with ALS.
We also reported on the books we are currrently reading.
Misty is reading “Writing A Cozy Mystery” by Nancy J. Cohen, and says she reads it often to make sure
she is including everything in her books.
Tracey is reading “A Good House For Children” by Kate Collins
Ann is currently reading “Seed” by Anya Allborne and “Calico” by Lee Goldberg.]]>1500amreading,bookclub,bookpod,booktok,fyp,mustread,tbrlistfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/who-to-believe-edwin-hill-interview--58411334Show Notes
Today we talk with Edwin Hill about his book Who To Believe. It will release today from Kensington
Books.
Monreith, Massachusetts, was once a small community of whalers and farmers. These days it’s a well-to-do
town filled with commuters drawn to its rugged coastline and country roads. A peaceful, predictable place—
until popular restaurateur Laurel Thibodeau is found brutally murdered in her own home. Suspicion naturally
falls on Laurel’s husband, Simon, who had gambling debts that only her life insurance policy could fix. But
there are other rumors too . . .
Among the group of six friends gathered for Alice Stone’s fortieth birthday, theories abound concerning
Laurel’s death. Max Barbosa, police chief, has heard plenty of them, as has his longtime friend, Unitarian
minister Georgia Fitzhugh. Local psychiatrist Farley Drake is privy to even more, gleaning snippets of gossip
and information from his patients while closely guarding his own past.
But maybe everyone in Monreith has something to hide. Because before this late-summer evening has come
to a close, one of these six will be dead. And as jealousy, revenge, adultery, and greed converge, the
question becomes not who among these friends might be capable of such a thing, but—who isn’t?
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/58411334Tue, 23 Jan 2024 09:00:02 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubEdwin Hill Show Notes Today we talk with Edwin Hill about his book Who To Believe. It will release today from Kensington Books. Monreith, Massachusetts, was once a small community of whalers and farmers. These days it’s a well-to-do town filled with...Show Notes
Today we talk with Edwin Hill about his book Who To Believe. It will release today from Kensington
Books.
Monreith, Massachusetts, was once a small community of whalers and farmers. These days it’s a well-to-do
town filled with commuters drawn to its rugged coastline and country roads. A peaceful, predictable place—
until popular restaurateur Laurel Thibodeau is found brutally murdered in her own home. Suspicion naturally
falls on Laurel’s husband, Simon, who had gambling debts that only her life insurance policy could fix. But
there are other rumors too . . .
Among the group of six friends gathered for Alice Stone’s fortieth birthday, theories abound concerning
Laurel’s death. Max Barbosa, police chief, has heard plenty of them, as has his longtime friend, Unitarian
minister Georgia Fitzhugh. Local psychiatrist Farley Drake is privy to even more, gleaning snippets of gossip
and information from his patients while closely guarding his own past.
But maybe everyone in Monreith has something to hide. Because before this late-summer evening has come
to a close, one of these six will be dead. And as jealousy, revenge, adultery, and greed converge, the
question becomes not who among these friends might be capable of such a thing, but—who isn’t?
]]>1091amreading,bookclub,bookpod,booktok,darkandstormy,edwinhill,mustread,thriller,whotobelievefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/dark-stormy-s-top-5-books-of-2023--58313905Show notes
On today's episode we review our top 5 books we read over the past year.\
5
Ann – The Last Orphan by Greg Hurwitz
Tracey – The Devil's Chew Toy by Rob Osler
4
Ann - Last Known Port by Sue Anger
Tracey - Bone Rattler by Elliot Pattison
3
Ann – The Hunter by Jennifer Herera
Tracey – The Camp by Nancy Bush
2
Ann – Malibu Burning by Lee Goldberg
Tracey – Just Like Home by Sarah Gailey
1
Ann – The Bones of Birka by Cynthia Surrisi
Tracey – Blacktop Wasteland by S.A. Cosby
We had a few honorable mentions of books that we did not cover on the program but were so good they
deserve a mention
Ann's list
The Girl in the Eagle's Talons by Karen Schmirnoff
The Road To Station X by Sarah Baring
Holly by Stephen King
Tracey's list
The Only One Left by Riley Sager
Verity by Coleen Hoover
Carrie by Stephen King
TRIVIA
Last week's question
Which mystery author has a span of 29 years between the publishing of one of her mysteries?
a. Mary Roberts Reinhart
b. Ruth Rendell
c. Mildred Davis
d. Amanda Cross
The answer is c. Mildred Davis. She wrote 18 mystery novels between the years 1948 and 1977. She
didn't publish another until 2006 when she began the Murder in Maine mystery series with her daughter
Katherine Roome.
This week's question is:
Author Robert Barnard wrote over 40 mysteries. He wrote 4 mysteries under the name Bernard Bastable.
Who was his famous protagonist?
a. Wolfgang Mozart
b. Thomas Wolfe
c. Agatha Christie
d. Robert Barnard]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/58313905Tue, 16 Jan 2024 09:00:03 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubTop Five Rundown Show notes On today's episode we review our top 5 books we read over the past year.\ 5 Ann – The Last Orphan by Greg Hurwitz Tracey – The Devil's Chew Toy by Rob Osler 4 Ann - Last Known Port by Sue Anger Tracey - Bone Rattler by...Show notes
On today's episode we review our top 5 books we read over the past year.\
5
Ann – The Last Orphan by Greg Hurwitz
Tracey – The Devil's Chew Toy by Rob Osler
4
Ann - Last Known Port by Sue Anger
Tracey - Bone Rattler by Elliot Pattison
3
Ann – The Hunter by Jennifer Herera
Tracey – The Camp by Nancy Bush
2
Ann – Malibu Burning by Lee Goldberg
Tracey – Just Like Home by Sarah Gailey
1
Ann – The Bones of Birka by Cynthia Surrisi
Tracey – Blacktop Wasteland by S.A. Cosby
We had a few honorable mentions of books that we did not cover on the program but were so good they
deserve a mention
Ann's list
The Girl in the Eagle's Talons by Karen Schmirnoff
The Road To Station X by Sarah Baring
Holly by Stephen King
Tracey's list
The Only One Left by Riley Sager
Verity by Coleen Hoover
Carrie by Stephen King
TRIVIA
Last week's question
Which mystery author has a span of 29 years between the publishing of one of her mysteries?
a. Mary Roberts Reinhart
b. Ruth Rendell
c. Mildred Davis
d. Amanda Cross
The answer is c. Mildred Davis. She wrote 18 mystery novels between the years 1948 and 1977. She
didn't publish another until 2006 when she began the Murder in Maine mystery series with her daughter
Katherine Roome.
This week's question is:
Author Robert Barnard wrote over 40 mysteries. He wrote 4 mysteries under the name Bernard Bastable.
Who was his famous protagonist?
a. Wolfgang Mozart
b. Thomas Wolfe
c. Agatha Christie
d. Robert Barnard]]>1228amreading,bookclub,booklove,bookpod,booktok,mustread.,top5booksfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/david-simmons-interview-ghosts-of-east-baltimore--58235576Ghosts of E#ast Baltimore
Show Notes
On the first official episode of 2024, we talked with David Simmons about his book “Ghosts of East
Baltimore.: David was delightful. Worm, fresh out of jail, tries to make a little money to get back on his feet,
and make it back to the halfway house before his 9 pm curfew. But what should be a simple drop-off, spirals
into a nightmare. Worm is faced with a number of obstacles like Greek gangsters, gimps, mecha suits, wild
drugs, and more. This feels like the perfect cross-genre book written for me especially with the clone
conspiracy theory sprinkled in.
Ghosts of East Baltimore is a wild ride and the perfect mix of elegant yet literary cosmic hood horror with
textured prose that not many could pull off. Rich with history, and a deep-seated love for Baltimore, this is a
fantastic crime fiction debut.
TRIVIA
Author Gary Phillips has edited several anthologies over the years. One that won particular accolades was
one that paid homage to a past president. Which one?
a. Nixon
b. Bush
c. Washington
d. Obama
Phillips has edited a number of anthologies including Orange County Noir and The Obama Inheritance:
Fifteen Stories of Conspiracy Noir, with the latter receiving the 2018 Anthony Award for Best Anthology. The
Obama Inheritance was inspired by the many conspiracy theories generated about President Barack Obama.
Each story in the anthology focused on one conspiracy theory as a means to "Riff on it, take it apart and turn it
on its head, and give the reader a thrill ride of weirdo, noirish, pulpy goodness
Which mystery author has a span of 29 years between the publishing of one of her mysteries?
a. Mary Roberts Reinhart
b. Ruth Rendell
c. Mildred Davis
d. Amanda Cross
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/58235576Tue, 09 Jan 2024 09:00:03 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubDavid Simmons Ghosts of E#ast Baltimore Show Notes On the first official episode of 2024, we talked with David Simmons about his book “Ghosts of East Baltimore.: David was delightful. Worm, fresh out of jail, tries to make a little money to get back...Ghosts of E#ast Baltimore
Show Notes
On the first official episode of 2024, we talked with David Simmons about his book “Ghosts of East
Baltimore.: David was delightful. Worm, fresh out of jail, tries to make a little money to get back on his feet,
and make it back to the halfway house before his 9 pm curfew. But what should be a simple drop-off, spirals
into a nightmare. Worm is faced with a number of obstacles like Greek gangsters, gimps, mecha suits, wild
drugs, and more. This feels like the perfect cross-genre book written for me especially with the clone
conspiracy theory sprinkled in.
Ghosts of East Baltimore is a wild ride and the perfect mix of elegant yet literary cosmic hood horror with
textured prose that not many could pull off. Rich with history, and a deep-seated love for Baltimore, this is a
fantastic crime fiction debut.
TRIVIA
Author Gary Phillips has edited several anthologies over the years. One that won particular accolades was
one that paid homage to a past president. Which one?
a. Nixon
b. Bush
c. Washington
d. Obama
Phillips has edited a number of anthologies including Orange County Noir and The Obama Inheritance:
Fifteen Stories of Conspiracy Noir, with the latter receiving the 2018 Anthony Award for Best Anthology. The
Obama Inheritance was inspired by the many conspiracy theories generated about President Barack Obama.
Each story in the anthology focused on one conspiracy theory as a means to "Riff on it, take it apart and turn it
on its head, and give the reader a thrill ride of weirdo, noirish, pulpy goodness
Which mystery author has a span of 29 years between the publishing of one of her mysteries?
a. Mary Roberts Reinhart
b. Ruth Rendell
c. Mildred Davis
d. Amanda Cross
]]>1879amreading,baltimore,bookclub,booktok,frightreads,mustread,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/st-nicholas-short-story-by-bruce-robert-coffin--58168591https://api.spreaker.com/episode/58168591Tue, 02 Jan 2024 09:00:03 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubIn the last of our Holiday Break short stories We read a story that Bruce Robert Coffin sent to us. It is a perfect story to end this season of giving and caring. Please enjoy!! Tune in next week for our regularly scheduled episodes.825amreading,bookclub,booktok,mustread,podcast,shortstoryfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-noir-before-christmas-by-ang-pompano--58121247https://api.spreaker.com/episode/58121247Tue, 26 Dec 2023 13:37:28 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubThe Noir before Christmas written and read by Ang Pompano1729author,christmas,darkandstormy,holiday6,mustlisten,mystery,noir,podcast,pompano,shortstoryfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/disappear-by-sue-anger--58054063https://api.spreaker.com/episode/58054063Tue, 19 Dec 2023 09:25:01 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubThe second in our Holiday Vacation series, Disappear is written and performed by the author, Sue Angejr. It tells the story of a sister's love and loss over the holidays.2009familybetrayal,mormon,mustlisten,podcast,shortstory,sisterslove,sueanger,vacationfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/holiday-story-time-part-1--57978744https://api.spreaker.com/episode/57978744Tue, 12 Dec 2023 09:00:03 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubDark and Stormy is off enjoying the season. Please enjoy a few weeks of Holiday stories brought to you by some of our favorite authors. We will return in January with more original episodes.1020amreaing,bookclub,booktok,mustread,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/december-wwar-winter-cold-addition--57912412West Hall, Vermont, has always been a town of strange disappearances and old legends. The
most mysterious is that of Sara Harrison Shea, who, in 1908, was found dead in the field behind
her house just months after the tragic death of her daughter.
Now, in present day, nineteen-year-old Ruthie lives in Sara’s farmhouse with her mother, Alice,
and her younger sister. Alice has always insisted that they live off the grid, a decision that has
weighty consequences when Ruthie wakes up one morning to find that Alice has vanished. In
her search for clues, she is startled to find a copy of Sara Harrison Shea's diary hidden beneath
the floorboards of her mother's bedroom. As Ruthie gets sucked into the historical mystery, she
discovers that she’s not the only person looking for someone that they’ve lost. But she may be
the only one who can stop history from repeating itself.
Creepy, goosebumpy, scary ghost stories aren't only for cool fall evenings. It turns out that the
middle of January in remote Vermont when it's buried in snow is also the perfect setting for a
psychological thriller filled with ghosts.
Written by Jennifer McMahon, this is two stories in one with the common factor the setting of an
old farmhouse on a secluded road in the very small town of West Hall, Vermont. The stories
alternate: One takes place in January 1908, including flashbacks about 20 years earlier. The
other takes place in the present day, also in January. This thickly-wooded homestead includes
an outcropping of giant boulders that looks so much like a hand, the area has always been
called Devil's Hand. Wander too far into the woods, and you might not make it out alive.
Something is going on here, and those who have seen it believe there are ghosts in this spooky
forest.
It's January 1908. Sara Harrison Shea and her husband Martin Shea live in the farmhouse with
their little girl, Gertie, who is 8 years old. One day she is found dead, having fallen 50 feet down
a well. Sara collapses in grief, but writes her fears, anguish, and hopes into a secret diary. Sara
comes to an untimely and gruesome death, which remains the stuff of legend in West Hall a
hundred years later. She hid her diary in one of the hidey-holes in the old farmhouse, and many
people want to find it because in it she supposedly left instructions on how to raise the dead to
life.
Meanwhile in the present-day, Alice Washburne lives in the same farmhouse with her two
daughters, Ruthie, 19, and Fawn, 6. Alice, who is widowed, has lived off the grid for about 20
years. No computer. No cell phone. No links to anyone in the world. Even in this small town, not
everyone knows who she is. On New Year's Day, Alice disappears. More than anything, Alice
dislikes the police, so Ruthie knows she shouldn't call the cops. (This is one of several plot
points—some small, some big—that make the mystery work. If Ruthie did call the cops or
someone didn't lock her cell phone in the car so she didn't have it when she really needed it,
things would have worked out quite differently. A little cheesy, perhaps.) The two stories—past
and present—converge as Ruthie discovers dark secrets about her own past and those
surrounding this strange house.
This is one of the creepiest stories I have ever read, and while the plots from both time periods
are rather farfetched, the book is a page-turner. It will keep you up past your bedtime, and if you
read it then, you may very well have nightmares.
Tracey's book was A Dark and Snowy Night by Sally Goldenbaum, #5 in the Seaside Knitters
Mystery Series (Kensington 2022)
It’s holiday season in the picturesque, coastal town of Sea Harbor, Massachusetts! But in USA
Today bestselling author Sally Goldenbaum’s latest Seaside Knitters Society mystery, the
knitting club sleuths will have to take a break from crafting cozy Christmas gifts to investigate a
murder at the Mayor’s holiday party.
Winter in Sea Harbor is a feast for the senses—crackling bonfires, the scent of snow in the salty
air, carols ringing out on the village green. This year, the Seaside Knitters have a sackful of
obligations in addition to their usual Christmas preparations. Izzy is so overloaded with knitting
classes that she hires an extra salesperson, but the new addition has trouble fitting into the yarn
shop’s holiday spirit. Cass, juggling the stresses of running her lobster fishery, has finally found
a nanny for her active toddler. Molly Flanigan seems practically perfect in every way—until she
suddenly disappears, taking Cass’s beloved rescue mutt with her...
Meanwhile, the holidays are kicking off in style at Mayor Beatrice Scaglia’s holiday party, where
a well-dressed crowd admires the mayor’s sumptuous new home and the celebrity chef catering
the event. An additional treat for Ben and Nell Endicott at the festive affair is reconnecting with a
dear college friend, Oliver Bishop. But it’s not just reunions and the appetizers that are to-die-for.
Before the party-goers can toast the beginning of Sea Harbor’s festive season, the chef—and
young wife of the Endicott’s old Harvard friend—is found dead beneath the mistletoe.
Izzy, Birdie, Nell, and Cass must uncover the pattern to these mysteries to remove suspicion
from those they love, bring a murderer to justice—and keep Sea Harbor’s holiday magic from
vanishing into the chill winter air...
TRIVIA
Last week's question was:
Which mystery author was also a barrister?
a. Linda Howard
b. Patricia Moyes
c. Eileen Dewshurst
d. Nancy Spain
The answer is c. Eileen Dewhurst. She wrote the Hilary Tamar series This series of four
books, described as "legal whodunits", were written over a period of twenty years. Their primary
setting is the top floor of 62 New Square at Lincoln's Inn where four young junior barristers have
their chambers: Michael Cantrip, Desmond Ragwort, Selena Jardine and Timothy Shepherd.
While the last named only appears sporadically, taxes barrister Julia Larwood, who works in the
adjacent premises, is a regular visitor and is in effect the fifth member of the group. These
characters are in some ways thinly drawn (Selena is highly organized and efficient, Julia is
clumsy and chaotic, Cantrip is casual and modern, Ragwort is elegant and conservative), never
communicating in anything other than an ironic tone, so that even when they are in deadly
danger the atmosphere remains uniformly light-hearted.
This week's question is:
Author Gary Phillips has edited several anthologies over the years. One that won particular accolades was
one that paid homage to a past president. Which one?
a. Nixon
b. Bush
c. Washington
d. Obama
Tune in next week for the answer.
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/57912412Tue, 05 Dec 2023 09:00:03 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubAnn reported on The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon (Anchor 2015) West Hall, Vermont, has always been a town of strange disappearances and old legends. The most mysterious is that of Sara Harrison Shea, who, in 1908, was found dead in the field...West Hall, Vermont, has always been a town of strange disappearances and old legends. The
most mysterious is that of Sara Harrison Shea, who, in 1908, was found dead in the field behind
her house just months after the tragic death of her daughter.
Now, in present day, nineteen-year-old Ruthie lives in Sara’s farmhouse with her mother, Alice,
and her younger sister. Alice has always insisted that they live off the grid, a decision that has
weighty consequences when Ruthie wakes up one morning to find that Alice has vanished. In
her search for clues, she is startled to find a copy of Sara Harrison Shea's diary hidden beneath
the floorboards of her mother's bedroom. As Ruthie gets sucked into the historical mystery, she
discovers that she’s not the only person looking for someone that they’ve lost. But she may be
the only one who can stop history from repeating itself.
Creepy, goosebumpy, scary ghost stories aren't only for cool fall evenings. It turns out that the
middle of January in remote Vermont when it's buried in snow is also the perfect setting for a
psychological thriller filled with ghosts.
Written by Jennifer McMahon, this is two stories in one with the common factor the setting of an
old farmhouse on a secluded road in the very small town of West Hall, Vermont. The stories
alternate: One takes place in January 1908, including flashbacks about 20 years earlier. The
other takes place in the present day, also in January. This thickly-wooded homestead includes
an outcropping of giant boulders that looks so much like a hand, the area has always been
called Devil's Hand. Wander too far into the woods, and you might not make it out alive.
Something is going on here, and those who have seen it believe there are ghosts in this spooky
forest.
It's January 1908. Sara Harrison Shea and her husband Martin Shea live in the farmhouse with
their little girl, Gertie, who is 8 years old. One day she is found dead, having fallen 50 feet down
a well. Sara collapses in grief, but writes her fears, anguish, and hopes into a secret diary. Sara
comes to an untimely and gruesome death, which remains the stuff of legend in West Hall a
hundred years later. She hid her diary in one of the hidey-holes in the old farmhouse, and many
people want to find it because in it she supposedly left instructions on how to raise the dead to
life.
Meanwhile in the present-day, Alice Washburne lives in the same farmhouse with her two
daughters, Ruthie, 19, and Fawn, 6. Alice, who is widowed, has lived off the grid for about 20
years. No computer. No cell phone. No links to anyone in the world. Even in this small town, not
everyone knows who she is. On New Year's Day, Alice disappears. More than anything, Alice
dislikes the police, so Ruthie knows she shouldn't call the cops. (This is one of several plot
points—some small, some big—that make the mystery work. If Ruthie did call the cops or
someone didn't lock her cell phone in the car so she didn't have it when she really needed it,
things would have worked out quite differently. A little cheesy, perhaps.) The two stories—past
and present—converge as Ruthie discovers dark secrets about her own past and those
surrounding this strange house.
This is one of the creepiest stories I have ever read, and while the plots from both time periods
are rather farfetched, the book is a page-turner. It will keep you up past your bedtime, and if you
read it then, you may very well have nightmares.
Tracey's book was A Dark and Snowy Night by Sally Goldenbaum, #5 in the Seaside Knitters
Mystery Series (Kensington 2022)
It’s holiday season in the picturesque, coastal town of Sea Harbor, Massachusetts! But in USA
Today bestselling author...]]>1347amreading,bookclub,booklove,bookpod,booktok,mysterybooks,whatwearereadingfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/meet-the-jersey-ghouls--57828509Show notes
Today we talked with Marissa and Jacki, two women we met at Fright Reads They host the Jersey Ghouls
podcast which features horror movies with a feminist twist. We Are in the process of planning a
collaboration with them. They primarily feature movies in the horror genre and we will do a book versus
movie episode of Dark and Stormy Book Club.
We are happy we met up with the girls and look forward to working with them.
TRIVIA:
Last week's question was
Mark Andrew Twitchell is a Canadian filmmaker. He became famous in April 2011 for what?
a. He used a fictional murderer as a guideline for the crime
b. He pulled off the biggest jewel heist in history
c. He murdered his wife and 6 children
d. He murdered a man and filmed the murder
The answer is a. He used a fictional murder as a guideline for murder. He was convicted of first-
degree murder in April 2011 for the murder of John Brian Altinger His trial attracted particular
media attention because Twitchell had allegedly been inspired by the fictional characte
Which mystery author was also a barrister?
A/ Linda Howard
b. Patricia Moyes
c. Eileen Dewshurst
d. Nancy Spain
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/57828509Tue, 28 Nov 2023 10:17:28 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubJersey Ghouls Show notes Today we talked with Marissa and Jacki, two women we met at Fright Reads They host the Jersey Ghouls podcast which features horror movies with a feminist twist. We Are in the process of planning a collaboration with them. They...Show notes
Today we talked with Marissa and Jacki, two women we met at Fright Reads They host the Jersey Ghouls
podcast which features horror movies with a feminist twist. We Are in the process of planning a
collaboration with them. They primarily feature movies in the horror genre and we will do a book versus
movie episode of Dark and Stormy Book Club.
We are happy we met up with the girls and look forward to working with them.
TRIVIA:
Last week's question was
Mark Andrew Twitchell is a Canadian filmmaker. He became famous in April 2011 for what?
a. He used a fictional murderer as a guideline for the crime
b. He pulled off the biggest jewel heist in history
c. He murdered his wife and 6 children
d. He murdered a man and filmed the murder
The answer is a. He used a fictional murder as a guideline for murder. He was convicted of first-
degree murder in April 2011 for the murder of John Brian Altinger His trial attracted particular
media attention because Twitchell had allegedly been inspired by the fictional characte
Which mystery author was also a barrister?
A/ Linda Howard
b. Patricia Moyes
c. Eileen Dewshurst
d. Nancy Spain
]]>1926amreading,bookclub,booklove,booktok,bookworm,jerseyghouls,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/rapid-reads-speed-round-reviews--57739300Show Notes
For our first Rapid Reads episode we gave short reviews of six different books:
Militia House by John Milas
“This is a beautiful horror story told masterfully and elegantly. It is a brilliant, different kind of war
novel, one that reveals the insidious ways the violences of war can tear people apart from the inside
out. “
Midnight is the Darkest Hour by Ashley Winstead
“a gothic Southern thriller about a killer haunting a small Louisiana town, where two
outcasts―the preacher's daughter and the boy from the wrong side of the tracks―hold the key to
uncovering the truth. “
Murder with Chocolate Tea by Karen Rose Smith
Tea shop owner and bride-to-be Daisy Swanson must solve a murder before she can say “I do”
in the latest Daisy’s Tea Garden Mystery set in Pennsylvania’s Amish country...
What Wild Women Do by Karma Brown
Two women's lives unexpectedly collide at a camp in the Adirondacks in this fascinating dual-
timeline novel full of ambition, secrets, betrayal, mystery, intrigue, nature, inspiration, and a journey of
self-discovery.
Spy Coast by Tess Gerritsen
“This is a nice take on retirement—five old spooks whose bones may ache but whose minds
remain sharp. You can expect mystery, action, and bloodshed in this exciting thriller launched straight
from the peaceful shores of Maine.”
TRIVIA
Last week's question was:
Which mystery author used the pseudonym Mark Sadler, John Crowe, Carl Dekker and William Arden?
a. Dan Brown
b. John Grisham
c. Mickey Spillane
d. Michael Collins
The answer is d. Michael Collins but the name Michael Collins is actually a pseudonym for Dennis Lynds.
Beginning in 1968 with The Mystery of the Moaning Cave and ending in 1989 with Hot Wheels, Lynds wrote
fourteen novels under the pen name William Arden for the juvenile detective series The Three Investigators,
which was originated by Robert Arthur, Jr. Under this same name, he also wrote five novels featuring private
eye Kane Jackson, a former military policeman who has become an industrial security specialist after leaving
the military. The first Jackson novel, A Dark Power, appeared in 1968.
Prolific, explaining that he had more ideas than he knew what to do with, in addition to his Collins name, he
created additional series under the pseudonyms Mark Sadler, John Crowe, and Carl Dekker. For a few years,
he published under three of these pseudonyms at the same time at three different publishing houses
This week's question is::
Mark Andrew Twitchell (born July 4, 1979) is a Canadian filmmaker. He became famous in April 2011 for
what?
a. He used a fictional murderer as a guideline for the crime
b. He pulled off the biggest jewel heist in history
c. He murdered his wife and 6 children
d. He murdered a man and filmed the murder
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/57739300Tue, 21 Nov 2023 09:00:03 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubRapid Reads Show Notes For our first Rapid Reads episode we gave short reviews of six different books: Militia House by John Milas “This is a beautiful horror story told masterfully and elegantly. It is a brilliant, different kind of war novel, one...Show Notes
For our first Rapid Reads episode we gave short reviews of six different books:
Militia House by John Milas
“This is a beautiful horror story told masterfully and elegantly. It is a brilliant, different kind of war
novel, one that reveals the insidious ways the violences of war can tear people apart from the inside
out. “
Midnight is the Darkest Hour by Ashley Winstead
“a gothic Southern thriller about a killer haunting a small Louisiana town, where two
outcasts―the preacher's daughter and the boy from the wrong side of the tracks―hold the key to
uncovering the truth. “
Murder with Chocolate Tea by Karen Rose Smith
Tea shop owner and bride-to-be Daisy Swanson must solve a murder before she can say “I do”
in the latest Daisy’s Tea Garden Mystery set in Pennsylvania’s Amish country...
What Wild Women Do by Karma Brown
Two women's lives unexpectedly collide at a camp in the Adirondacks in this fascinating dual-
timeline novel full of ambition, secrets, betrayal, mystery, intrigue, nature, inspiration, and a journey of
self-discovery.
Spy Coast by Tess Gerritsen
“This is a nice take on retirement—five old spooks whose bones may ache but whose minds
remain sharp. You can expect mystery, action, and bloodshed in this exciting thriller launched straight
from the peaceful shores of Maine.”
TRIVIA
Last week's question was:
Which mystery author used the pseudonym Mark Sadler, John Crowe, Carl Dekker and William Arden?
a. Dan Brown
b. John Grisham
c. Mickey Spillane
d. Michael Collins
The answer is d. Michael Collins but the name Michael Collins is actually a pseudonym for Dennis Lynds.
Beginning in 1968 with The Mystery of the Moaning Cave and ending in 1989 with Hot Wheels, Lynds wrote
fourteen novels under the pen name William Arden for the juvenile detective series The Three Investigators,
which was originated by Robert Arthur, Jr. Under this same name, he also wrote five novels featuring private
eye Kane Jackson, a former military policeman who has become an industrial security specialist after leaving
the military. The first Jackson novel, A Dark Power, appeared in 1968.
Prolific, explaining that he had more ideas than he knew what to do with, in addition to his Collins name, he
created additional series under the pseudonyms Mark Sadler, John Crowe, and Carl Dekker. For a few years,
he published under three of these pseudonyms at the same time at three different publishing houses
This week's question is::
Mark Andrew Twitchell (born July 4, 1979) is a Canadian filmmaker. He became famous in April 2011 for
what?
a. He used a fictional murderer as a guideline for the crime
b. He pulled off the biggest jewel heist in history
c. He murdered his wife and 6 children
d. He murdered a man and filmed the murder
]]>696amreading,bookclub,booklove,bookreviews,booktok,mustread,mysterybookclub,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/lee-goldberg-interview-malibu-burning--57625078Malibu Burning Show Notes
Today we talked with our old friend Lee Goldberg about his bool Malibu Burning. It is the first in his
new seriues featuring arson investigators Walter Sharpe and Andrew Walker. It is published by Thomas &
Mercer and was released on September 1 of this year.
Hell comes to Southern California every October. It rides in on searing Santa Ana winds that blast at near
hurricane force, igniting voracious wildfires. Master thief Danny Cole longs for the flames. A tsunami of fire is
exactly what he needs to pull off a daring crime and avenge a fallen friend.
As the most devastating firestorms in Los Angeles’ history scorch the hills of Malibu, relentless arson
investigator Walter Sharpe and his wild card of a new partner, Andrew Walker, a former US marshal, suspect
that someone set the massive blazes intentionally, a terrifying means to an unknown end.
While the flames rage out of control, Danny pursues his brilliant scheme, unaware that Sharpe and Walker are
closing in. But when they all collide in a canyon of fire, everything changes, pitting them against an
unexpected enemy within an inescapable inferno.
TRIVIA
Last week's question was:
John Dickinson Carr is famous for writing what?
a. The most re-issued mysteries
b. Mysteries with hints given throughout the story
c. Impossible mysteries or locked room mysteries
d. First person mysteries.
The answer is c. Impossible or locked room mysteries. John Dickinson Carr is credited with writing the first
“impossible” mystery, Carr is generally regarded as one of the greatest writers of so-called "Golden Age"
mysteries; complex, plot-driven stories in which the puzzle is paramount. He was influenced in this regard by
the works of Gaston Leroux and by the Father Brown stories of G. K. Chesterton. He was a master of the so-
called locked room mystery, in which a detective solves apparently impossible crimes. The Dr. Fell
mystery The Hollow Man (1935), usually considered Carr's masterpiece, was selected in 1981 as the best
locked-room mystery of all time by a panel of 17 mystery authors and reviewers.[1] He also wrote a number of
historical mysteries.
This week's question is:
Which mystery author used the psynonym Mark Sadler, John Crowe, Carl Dekker and William Arden?
a. Dan Brown
b. John Grisham
c. Mickey Spillane
d. Michael Collins
Tune in next week for the answer.
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/57625078Tue, 14 Nov 2023 09:00:03 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubLee Goldberg Malibu Burning Show Notes Today we talked with our old friend Lee Goldberg about his bool Malibu Burning. It is the first in his new seriues featuring arson investigators Walter Sharpe and Andrew Walker. It is published by Thomas &...Malibu Burning Show Notes
Today we talked with our old friend Lee Goldberg about his bool Malibu Burning. It is the first in his
new seriues featuring arson investigators Walter Sharpe and Andrew Walker. It is published by Thomas &
Mercer and was released on September 1 of this year.
Hell comes to Southern California every October. It rides in on searing Santa Ana winds that blast at near
hurricane force, igniting voracious wildfires. Master thief Danny Cole longs for the flames. A tsunami of fire is
exactly what he needs to pull off a daring crime and avenge a fallen friend.
As the most devastating firestorms in Los Angeles’ history scorch the hills of Malibu, relentless arson
investigator Walter Sharpe and his wild card of a new partner, Andrew Walker, a former US marshal, suspect
that someone set the massive blazes intentionally, a terrifying means to an unknown end.
While the flames rage out of control, Danny pursues his brilliant scheme, unaware that Sharpe and Walker are
closing in. But when they all collide in a canyon of fire, everything changes, pitting them against an
unexpected enemy within an inescapable inferno.
TRIVIA
Last week's question was:
John Dickinson Carr is famous for writing what?
a. The most re-issued mysteries
b. Mysteries with hints given throughout the story
c. Impossible mysteries or locked room mysteries
d. First person mysteries.
The answer is c. Impossible or locked room mysteries. John Dickinson Carr is credited with writing the first
“impossible” mystery, Carr is generally regarded as one of the greatest writers of so-called "Golden Age"
mysteries; complex, plot-driven stories in which the puzzle is paramount. He was influenced in this regard by
the works of Gaston Leroux and by the Father Brown stories of G. K. Chesterton. He was a master of the so-
called locked room mystery, in which a detective solves apparently impossible crimes. The Dr. Fell
mystery The Hollow Man (1935), usually considered Carr's masterpiece, was selected in 1981 as the best
locked-room mystery of all time by a panel of 17 mystery authors and reviewers.[1] He also wrote a number of
historical mysteries.
This week's question is:
Which mystery author used the psynonym Mark Sadler, John Crowe, Carl Dekker and William Arden?
a. Dan Brown
b. John Grisham
c. Mickey Spillane
d. Michael Collins
Tune in next week for the answer.
]]>1165amreading,bookclub,booktok,leegoldberg,mustread,mystery,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/wwar-november-2023--57536407Show Notes
On today's episode, we selected mysteries that were set in Colonial America.
Misty reported on “A Shaker Murder” by Eleanor Kuhns. It is #6 in her Will Rees mystery series.
Fresh from facing allegations of witchcraft and murder, travelling weaver Will Rees, his heavily pregnant wife
Lydia and six adopted children take refuge in Zion, a Shaker community in rural Maine. Shortly after their
arrival, screams in the night reveal a drowned body ... but is it murder or an unfortunate accident? The Shaker
Elders argue it was just an accident, but Rees believes otherwise.
As Will investigates further, more deaths follow and a young girl vanishes from the community. Haunted by
nightmares for his family’s safety, Rees must rush to uncover the truth before the dreams can become reality
and more lives are lost. Yet can the Shaker Elders be trusted, or is an outsider involved? Misty highly
recommends this series.
Ann reported on “Brutalized” by J. R. Thompson. 17th-century Dublin, Ireland, preteen Callum McCarthy
is shipped to the English Colonies, where he will endure horrors of the Irish slave trade. Intense and powerful,
JR Thompson’s Brutalized explores ideas of greed, loneliness and despair, determination, and faith.
Growing up in an area where poor Irish families are as welcome as malaria, Callum, the son of a drunkard
father and neglectful mother, already has the odds stacked against him. But when the boy is kidnapped from
his own home, he’s plunged into a living nightmare.
Upon arrival in America, a cruel man by the name of Josiah Gillcrest makes Callum his ill-treated workhorse.
Bone-chilling secrets Callum uncovers on the tobacco plantation force him to make difficult decisions. Should
he make a run for it? Kill the wicked overseer, who happens to be his master’s son? Lead a slave uprising?
The possibilities are endless.
Mystery, brutality, and deep, dirty secrets saturate Brutalized as Thompson shares truths of white slavery from
Ireland and Germany to Colonial America. Callum’s detective skills could prove useful in bringing crucial
changes to the plantation if they don’t kill him first.
Finalkly Tracey reported on the book. Bone Rattler by Eliot Pattison. Unfairly convicted and force into
indentured servitude, young Highland Scot Duncan McCallum finds himself aboard a prisoner ship bound for
the New World. A series of mysterious deaths plagues the passengers and claims the life of Duncan’s dear
friend Adam Munroe. Enlisted by his captors to investigate, a strange trail of clues leads Duncan into the New
World and eventually thrusts him into the bloody maw of the French and Indian War.
Duncan is indentured to the British Lord Ramsey, whose estate in the uncharted New York woodlands is a
Heart of Darkness where multiple warring factions―the British, rogue Scots, the French, the Huron, and the
Iroquois―are engaged in battle. Exploring a frontier world shrouded in danger, Duncan, the exiled chief of his
near-extinct Scottish clan, finds that sometimes justice cannot be reached unless the cultures and spirits of
those involved are resolved.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/57536407Tue, 07 Nov 2023 09:00:03 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubWWAR October Show Notes On today's episode, we selected mysteries that were set in Colonial America. Misty reported on “A Shaker Murder” by Eleanor Kuhns. It is #6 in her Will Rees mystery series. Fresh from facing allegations of witchcraft and...Show Notes
On today's episode, we selected mysteries that were set in Colonial America.
Misty reported on “A Shaker Murder” by Eleanor Kuhns. It is #6 in her Will Rees mystery series.
Fresh from facing allegations of witchcraft and murder, travelling weaver Will Rees, his heavily pregnant wife
Lydia and six adopted children take refuge in Zion, a Shaker community in rural Maine. Shortly after their
arrival, screams in the night reveal a drowned body ... but is it murder or an unfortunate accident? The Shaker
Elders argue it was just an accident, but Rees believes otherwise.
As Will investigates further, more deaths follow and a young girl vanishes from the community. Haunted by
nightmares for his family’s safety, Rees must rush to uncover the truth before the dreams can become reality
and more lives are lost. Yet can the Shaker Elders be trusted, or is an outsider involved? Misty highly
recommends this series.
Ann reported on “Brutalized” by J. R. Thompson. 17th-century Dublin, Ireland, preteen Callum McCarthy
is shipped to the English Colonies, where he will endure horrors of the Irish slave trade. Intense and powerful,
JR Thompson’s Brutalized explores ideas of greed, loneliness and despair, determination, and faith.
Growing up in an area where poor Irish families are as welcome as malaria, Callum, the son of a drunkard
father and neglectful mother, already has the odds stacked against him. But when the boy is kidnapped from
his own home, he’s plunged into a living nightmare.
Upon arrival in America, a cruel man by the name of Josiah Gillcrest makes Callum his ill-treated workhorse.
Bone-chilling secrets Callum uncovers on the tobacco plantation force him to make difficult decisions. Should
he make a run for it? Kill the wicked overseer, who happens to be his master’s son? Lead a slave uprising?
The possibilities are endless.
Mystery, brutality, and deep, dirty secrets saturate Brutalized as Thompson shares truths of white slavery from
Ireland and Germany to Colonial America. Callum’s detective skills could prove useful in bringing crucial
changes to the plantation if they don’t kill him first.
Finalkly Tracey reported on the book. Bone Rattler by Eliot Pattison. Unfairly convicted and force into
indentured servitude, young Highland Scot Duncan McCallum finds himself aboard a prisoner ship bound for
the New World. A series of mysterious deaths plagues the passengers and claims the life of Duncan’s dear
friend Adam Munroe. Enlisted by his captors to investigate, a strange trail of clues leads Duncan into the New
World and eventually thrusts him into the bloody maw of the French and Indian War.
Duncan is indentured to the British Lord Ramsey, whose estate in the uncharted New York woodlands is a
Heart of Darkness where multiple warring factions―the British, rogue Scots, the French, the Huron, and the
Iroquois―are engaged in battle. Exploring a frontier world shrouded in danger, Duncan, the exiled chief of his
near-extinct Scottish clan, finds that sometimes justice cannot be reached unless the cultures and spirits of
those involved are resolved.]]>1784amreading,bookclub,booklove,booktok,historicalmysteries,mistysimon,mustread,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/lou-berney-interview-dark-ride--57448132by Lou Berney
9/23/23 William Morrow
This week we visited with an old friend, Lou Berney, about his new book “Dark Ride.:
From Lou Berney, the acclaimed, multi award-winning author of November Road and The Long and Faraway
Gone, comes a Dark Ride
Sometimes the person you least expect is just the hero you need
Twenty-one-year-old Hardy “Hardly” Reed—good-natured, easygoing, usually stoned—is drifting through life.
A minimum-wage scare actor at an amusement park, he avoids unnecessary effort and unrealistic ambitions.
Then one day he notices two children, around six or seven, sitting all alone on a bench. Hardly checks if
they’re okay and sees injuries on both children. Someone is hurting these kids.
He reports the incident to Child Protective Service.
That should be the end of it. After all, Hardly's not even good at looking out for himself so the last thing he
wants to do is look out for anyone else. But he's haunted by the two kids, his heart breaking for them. And the
more research he does the less he trusts that Child Protective Services —understaffed and overworked—will
do anything about it.
That leaves...Hardly. He is probably the last person you’d ever want to count on. But those two kids have
nobody else but him. Hardly has to do what's right and help them.
For the first time in his life, Hardly decides to fight for something. This might be the one point in his entire life,
he realizes, that is the entire point of his life. He will help those kids.
At first, trying to gather evidence that will force the proper authorities to intervene, Hardly is a total disaster.
Gradually, with assistance from unexpected allies, he develops investigative skills and discovers he’s smarter
and more capable than he ever imagined.
But Hardly also discovers that the situation is more dangerous than he ever expected. The abusive father who
has been hurting these children isn’t just a lawyer—he also runs a violent drug-dealing operation. The mother
claims she wants to escape with the kids—but Hardly isn't sure he can trust her.
Faced with a different version of himself than he has ever known, Hardly refuses to give up. But his
commitment to saving these kids from further harm might end up getting the kids, and Hardly himself, killed.
TRIVIA
Last week's question was:
Isaac Asminov was a prolific author but he had one serious phobia.. What was it?
a. Fear of the number 13
b. Fear of Heights
c. Fear of Closed spaces
d. Fear of flying
The answer is d. Fear of Flying.. Asimov was afraid of flying, doing so only twice: once in the course of
his work at the Naval Air Experimental Station and once returning home from Oahu In 1946. Consequently, he
seldom traveled great distances. This phobia influenced several of his fiction works, such as the Wendell Urth
mystery stories and the Robot novels featuring Elijah Baley. In his later years, Asimov found enjoyment
traveling on cruise ships, beginning in 1972 when he viewed the Appollo 11 launch from a cruise ship. On
several cruises, he was part of the entertainment program, giving science-themed talks aboard ships such as
the Queen Elizabeth 2. He sailed to England in June 1974 on the SS France for a trip mostly devoted to
lectures in London and Birmingham, though he also found time to visit Stonehenge.
This week's question is:
Mystery author Charlotte MacLeod had a family connection to which criminal
a. Whitey Bulger
b. John Gotti
c. Al Capone
d. Albert Anastasia
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/57448132Tue, 31 Oct 2023 08:00:04 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubDark Ride by Lou Berney 9/23/23 William Morrow This week we visited with an old friend, Lou Berney, about his new book “Dark Ride.: From Lou Berney, the acclaimed, multi award-winning author of November Road and The Long and Faraway Gone, comes a Dark...by Lou Berney
9/23/23 William Morrow
This week we visited with an old friend, Lou Berney, about his new book “Dark Ride.:
From Lou Berney, the acclaimed, multi award-winning author of November Road and The Long and Faraway
Gone, comes a Dark Ride
Sometimes the person you least expect is just the hero you need
Twenty-one-year-old Hardy “Hardly” Reed—good-natured, easygoing, usually stoned—is drifting through life.
A minimum-wage scare actor at an amusement park, he avoids unnecessary effort and unrealistic ambitions.
Then one day he notices two children, around six or seven, sitting all alone on a bench. Hardly checks if
they’re okay and sees injuries on both children. Someone is hurting these kids.
He reports the incident to Child Protective Service.
That should be the end of it. After all, Hardly's not even good at looking out for himself so the last thing he
wants to do is look out for anyone else. But he's haunted by the two kids, his heart breaking for them. And the
more research he does the less he trusts that Child Protective Services —understaffed and overworked—will
do anything about it.
That leaves...Hardly. He is probably the last person you’d ever want to count on. But those two kids have
nobody else but him. Hardly has to do what's right and help them.
For the first time in his life, Hardly decides to fight for something. This might be the one point in his entire life,
he realizes, that is the entire point of his life. He will help those kids.
At first, trying to gather evidence that will force the proper authorities to intervene, Hardly is a total disaster.
Gradually, with assistance from unexpected allies, he develops investigative skills and discovers he’s smarter
and more capable than he ever imagined.
But Hardly also discovers that the situation is more dangerous than he ever expected. The abusive father who
has been hurting these children isn’t just a lawyer—he also runs a violent drug-dealing operation. The mother
claims she wants to escape with the kids—but Hardly isn't sure he can trust her.
Faced with a different version of himself than he has ever known, Hardly refuses to give up. But his
commitment to saving these kids from further harm might end up getting the kids, and Hardly himself, killed.
TRIVIA
Last week's question was:
Isaac Asminov was a prolific author but he had one serious phobia.. What was it?
a. Fear of the number 13
b. Fear of Heights
c. Fear of Closed spaces
d. Fear of flying
The answer is d. Fear of Flying.. Asimov was afraid of flying, doing so only twice: once in the course of
his work at the Naval Air Experimental Station and once returning home from Oahu In 1946. Consequently, he
seldom traveled great distances. This phobia influenced several of his fiction works, such as the Wendell Urth
mystery stories and the Robot novels featuring Elijah Baley. In his later years, Asimov found enjoyment
traveling on cruise ships, beginning in 1972 when he viewed the Appollo 11 launch from a cruise ship. On
several cruises, he was part of the entertainment program, giving science-themed talks aboard ships such as
the Queen Elizabeth 2. He sailed to England in June 1974 on the SS France for a trip mostly devoted to
lectures in London and Birmingham, though he also found time to visit Stonehenge.
This week's question is:
Mystery author Charlotte MacLeod had a family connection to which criminal
a. Whitey Bulger
b. John Gotti
c. Al Capone
d. Albert Anastasia
]]>1128amreading,bookclub,booklove,louberney,mustread,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/vanessa-riley-interview--57361237Portraying the true diversity of the Regency-era and the hidden intrigue of England’s abolitionist movement, this vibrant, inclusive new historical mystery from acclaimed author Vanessa Riley features an engaging heroine with an independent streak, a notorious past, and a decided talent for sleuthing…

Pressed into a union of convenience, Lady Abigail Worthing knew better than to expect love. Her marriage to an absent lord does at least provide some comforts, including a box at the Drury Lane theater, owned by the playwright Richard Brinsley Sheridan. Abigail has always found respite at the theater, away from the ton’s judgmental stares and the risks of her own secret work to help the cause of abolition—and her fears that someone from her past wants her permanently silenced. But on one particular June evening everything collides, and the performance takes an unwelcome turn . . .

Onstage, a woman emits a scream of genuine terror. A man has been found dead in the prop room, stabbed through the heart. Abigail’s neighbor, Stapleton Henderson, is also in attendance, and the two rush backstage. The magistrate, keen to avoid bringing more attention to the case and making Lady Worthing more of a target, asks Abigail not to investigate. But she cannot resist, especially when the usually curmudgeonly Henderson offers his assistance.

Abigail soon discovers a tangled drama that rivals anything brought to the stage, involving gambling debts, a beautiful actress with a parade of suitors, and the very future of the Drury Lane theatre. For Abigail the case is complicated still further, for one suspect is a leading advocate for the cause dearest to her heart—the abolition of slavery within the British empire. Uncovering the truth always comes at a price. But this time, it may be far higher than she wishes to pay.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/57361237Tue, 24 Oct 2023 08:00:03 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubToday we visited wi6h Vanessa Riley about her bnook Murder at Drury Lane. Portraying the true diversity of the Regency-era and the hidden intrigue of England’s abolitionist movement, this vibrant, inclusive new historical mystery from acclaimed author...Portraying the true diversity of the Regency-era and the hidden intrigue of England’s abolitionist movement, this vibrant, inclusive new historical mystery from acclaimed author Vanessa Riley features an engaging heroine with an independent streak, a notorious past, and a decided talent for sleuthing…

Pressed into a union of convenience, Lady Abigail Worthing knew better than to expect love. Her marriage to an absent lord does at least provide some comforts, including a box at the Drury Lane theater, owned by the playwright Richard Brinsley Sheridan. Abigail has always found respite at the theater, away from the ton’s judgmental stares and the risks of her own secret work to help the cause of abolition—and her fears that someone from her past wants her permanently silenced. But on one particular June evening everything collides, and the performance takes an unwelcome turn . . .

Onstage, a woman emits a scream of genuine terror. A man has been found dead in the prop room, stabbed through the heart. Abigail’s neighbor, Stapleton Henderson, is also in attendance, and the two rush backstage. The magistrate, keen to avoid bringing more attention to the case and making Lady Worthing more of a target, asks Abigail not to investigate. But she cannot resist, especially when the usually curmudgeonly Henderson offers his assistance.

Abigail soon discovers a tangled drama that rivals anything brought to the stage, involving gambling debts, a beautiful actress with a parade of suitors, and the very future of the Drury Lane theatre. For Abigail the case is complicated still further, for one suspect is a leading advocate for the cause dearest to her heart—the abolition of slavery within the British empire. Uncovering the truth always comes at a price. But this time, it may be far higher than she wishes to pay.]]>1742amreading,bookclub,booklove,historicalmysteries,mustread,podcast,regencymysteries,vanessarileyfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/robert-bryndza-fear-the-silence--57261450
The question echoed off the white tiles in the hospital’s cold, cavernous morgue, and I studied my husband in peaceful repose. I leaned down and put my forehead against his. Silent tears ran down my cheeks. They felt hot, and he felt so cold. It was five days since his death, and my grief felt heavy, like a vast, dark mass pushing down on me.”

When Maggie’s husband, Will, is shot dead in their London home, she thinks he is the victim of a burglary until the police tell her the shocking news that Will was the one who pulled the trigger.

Maggie is consumed with grief and questions. Will wasn’t suicidal. He had so much to live for.

After the funeral, Maggie travels to their holiday home on a small Croatian island to escape London. She finds a disturbing letter written by Will, containing clues to a dark secret.

As Maggie puts the pieces together, she discovers Will’s death is connected to someone from his past… Someone who will go to extreme lengths to keep Maggie silent.

Three can keep a secret... If two of them are dead.

The international multi-million bestselling author of The Girl in the Ice is back with his first stand-alone thriller, a heart-racing, hold-your-breath read that will keep you hooked until the very last page.



]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/57261450Tue, 17 Oct 2023 09:30:02 +0000Dark and Stormy Book Club‘Do you believe Will took his own life?’ The question echoed off the white tiles in the hospital’s cold, cavernous morgue, and I studied my husband in peaceful repose. I leaned down and put my forehead against his. Silent tears ran down my cheeks....
The question echoed off the white tiles in the hospital’s cold, cavernous morgue, and I studied my husband in peaceful repose. I leaned down and put my forehead against his. Silent tears ran down my cheeks. They felt hot, and he felt so cold. It was five days since his death, and my grief felt heavy, like a vast, dark mass pushing down on me.”

When Maggie’s husband, Will, is shot dead in their London home, she thinks he is the victim of a burglary until the police tell her the shocking news that Will was the one who pulled the trigger.

Maggie is consumed with grief and questions. Will wasn’t suicidal. He had so much to live for.

After the funeral, Maggie travels to their holiday home on a small Croatian island to escape London. She finds a disturbing letter written by Will, containing clues to a dark secret.

As Maggie puts the pieces together, she discovers Will’s death is connected to someone from his past… Someone who will go to extreme lengths to keep Maggie silent.

Three can keep a secret... If two of them are dead.

The international multi-million bestselling author of The Girl in the Ice is back with his first stand-alone thriller, a heart-racing, hold-your-breath read that will keep you hooked until the very last page.



]]>1103island,murder,mustlisten,mustread,podcast,secrets,suspense,terror,thrillerfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/desmond-p-ryan-interview-and-fright-reads-recap--57172690Show Notes
On this episode we talked with old friend Desmond Ryan. His Mary Margaret O'Shea mystery series has
finally been published.
Mary Margaret and The Case of The Lapsed Parishoner (Level Best Books 8.28.23) When Mary-Margaret
O'Shea, a woman of a certain age with mildly Machiavellian tendencies, discovers a homicide scene and
meets an unimpressive lead investigator, she realizes that she has no choice but to solve the crime herself.
With little help from Michael, her police-detective son, she enlists Arthur, her eccentric housekeeper, to help
her find the killer.
In Mary-Margaret and The Case of The Lapsed Parishioner, a series of assumptions and misguided steps
may lead her to the killer, or they may make her the next victim.
Desmond is working on two new series and has begun a writers event at a local pub near his home in
Toronto. We wish him all the best and look forward to talking with him soon.
We then gave a quick recap of the Fright Reads Book Convention we attended last weekend. The event has
grown over the years and we were thrilled and had a wonderful time. We were honored to hose three author
panels during the event. We met many new friends and were very pleased to meet the Jersey Ghouls. They
have a podcast which mainly covers horror movies with a feminist twist.. We are planning on having a
collaboration with them next year. We thank Harry Carpenter and his team for their expertise on planning and
executing such a great event. We can't wait for next year.
Due to the length of today's episode, we will defer trivia until next week.
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/57172690Tue, 10 Oct 2023 08:00:03 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubDesmond P. Ryan and Fright Reads Recap Show Notes On this episode we talked with old friend Desmond Ryan. His Mary Margaret O'Shea mystery series has finally been published. Mary Margaret and The Case of The Lapsed Parishoner (Level Best Books...Show Notes
On this episode we talked with old friend Desmond Ryan. His Mary Margaret O'Shea mystery series has
finally been published.
Mary Margaret and The Case of The Lapsed Parishoner (Level Best Books 8.28.23) When Mary-Margaret
O'Shea, a woman of a certain age with mildly Machiavellian tendencies, discovers a homicide scene and
meets an unimpressive lead investigator, she realizes that she has no choice but to solve the crime herself.
With little help from Michael, her police-detective son, she enlists Arthur, her eccentric housekeeper, to help
her find the killer.
In Mary-Margaret and The Case of The Lapsed Parishioner, a series of assumptions and misguided steps
may lead her to the killer, or they may make her the next victim.
Desmond is working on two new series and has begun a writers event at a local pub near his home in
Toronto. We wish him all the best and look forward to talking with him soon.
We then gave a quick recap of the Fright Reads Book Convention we attended last weekend. The event has
grown over the years and we were thrilled and had a wonderful time. We were honored to hose three author
panels during the event. We met many new friends and were very pleased to meet the Jersey Ghouls. They
have a podcast which mainly covers horror movies with a feminist twist.. We are planning on having a
collaboration with them next year. We thank Harry Carpenter and his team for their expertise on planning and
executing such a great event. We can't wait for next year.
Due to the length of today's episode, we will defer trivia until next week.
]]>1932amreading,bookclub,booklove,desmondryan,frightreads,marymargaret,mistysimon,mustread,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/wwar-oct-2023-spooky-reads--57035695Show Notes
Today is WWAR for October and our theme is Horror or Spooky reads.
Tracey reported on Just Like Home by Sarah Gailey. Just Like Home is a darkly gothic thriller perfect for
fans of Netflix's The Haunting of Hill House as well as HBO's true crime masterpiece I'll Be Gone in the Dark.
“Come home.” Vera’s mother called and Vera obeyed. In spite of their long estrangement, in spite of the
memories ― she's come back to the home of a serial killer. Back to face the love she had for her father and
the bodies he buried there, beneath the house he'd built for his family.
Coming home is hard enough for Vera, and to make things worse, she and her mother aren’t alone. A
parasitic artist has moved into the guest house out back and is slowly stripping Vera’s childhood for spare
parts. He insists that he isn’t the one leaving notes around the house in her father’s handwriting... but who
else could it possibly be?
There are secrets yet undiscovered in the foundations of the notorious Crowder House. Vera must face them
and find out for herself just how deep the rot goes.
She then touched on Mary by Nat Cassidy (Tor Nightfire 7/22). Mary is a quiet, middle-aged woman doing
her best to blend into the background. Unremarkable. Invisible. Unknown even to herself.
But lately, things have been changing inside Mary. Along with the hot flashes and body aches, she can’t look
in a mirror without passing out, and the voices in her head have been urging her to do unspeakable things.
Fired from her job in New York, she moves back to her hometown, hoping to reconnect with her past and
inner self. Instead, visions of terrifying, mutilated specters overwhelm her with increasing regularity and she
begins auto-writing strange thoughts and phrases. Mary discovers that these experiences are echoes of an
infamous serial killer.
Then the killings begin again.
Mary’s definitely going to find herself.
Ann reported on the book Holly by Stephen King (Scribner 9/5/23). It really isn't a horror novel but it
does have a very spooky vibe.
Stephen King’s Holly marks the triumphant return of beloved King character Holly Gibney. Readers have
witnessed Holly’s gradual transformation from a shy (but also brave and ethical) recluse in Mr. Mercedes to
Bill Hodges’s partner in Finders Keepers to a full-fledged, smart, and occasionally tough private detective
in The Outsider. In King’s new novel, Holly is on her own, and up against a pair of unimaginably depraved and
brilliantly disguised adversaries.
When Penny Dahl calls the Finders Keepers detective agency hoping for help locating her missing daughter,
Holly is reluctant to accept the case. Her partner, Pete, has Covid. Her (very complicated) mother has just
died. And Holly is meant to be on leave. But something in Penny Dahl’s desperate voice makes it impossible
for Holly to turn her down.
Mere blocks from where Bonnie Dahl disappeared live Professors Rodney and Emily Harris. They are the
picture of bourgeois respectability: married octogenarians, devoted to each other, and semi-retired lifelong
academics. But they are harboring an unholy secret in the basement of their well-kept, book-lined home, one
that may be related to Bonnie’s disappearance. And it will prove nearly impossible to discover what they are
up to: they are savvy, they are patient, and they are ruthless.
Holly must summon all her formidable talents to outthink and outmaneuver the shockingly twisted professors
in this chilling new masterwork from Stephen King.
Her second book is much more or a horror novel. She reported on the book Knock, Knock, Open Wide by
Neil Sharpson. (Tor Nightfire 10/3/23)
Knock Knock, Open Wide weaves horror and Celtic myth into a terrifying, heartbreaking supernatural tale of
fractured family bonds, the secrets we carry, and the veiled forces that guide Irish life.
Driving home late one night, Etain Larkin finds a corpse on a pitch-black country road deep in the Irish
countryside. She takes the corpse to a remote farmhouse. So begins a night of unspeakable horror that will
take her to the very brink of sanity.
She will never speak of it again.
Two decades later, Betty Fitzpatrick, newly arrived at college in Dublin, has already fallen in love with the
drama society, and the beautiful but troubled Ashling Mallen. As their relationship blossoms, Ashling goes to
great lengths to keep Betty away from her family, especially her alcoholic mother, Etain.
As their relationship blossoms, Betty learns her lover's terrifying family history, and Ashling's secret obsession.
Ashling has become convinced that the horrors inflicted on her family are connected to a seemingly innocent
children's TV show. Everyone in Ireland watched this show in their youth, but Ash soon discovers that no one
remembers it quite the same way. And only Ashling seems to remember its star: a small black goat puppet
who lives in a box and only comes out if you don’t behave. They say he’s never come out.
Misty reported on the book “The 2nd
Grave On the Left” by Darynda Jones. It is the second book in the
Charley Davidson Mystery series. (St. Martins 8/2011)
When Charley Davidson and Cookie (her best friend/receptionist) have to track down a missing woman, the
case is not quite as open and shut as they anticipate. A friend of Cookie's named Mimi disappeared five days
earlier. This friend then sends Cookie a cryptic message telling them to meet her at a nearby coffee shop. The
coffee is brewing, but Mimi's still missing. There is, however, a clue left on the bathroom wall: a woman's
name, scribbled by Mimi. Mimi's husband explains that his wife had been acting strange since she found out
an old friend of hers from high school had been murdered a couple weeks prior. The same woman Mimi had
named in her message.
Meanwhile, Reyes Alexander Farrow (otherwise known as the Son of Satan. Yes. Literally) has left his
corporeal body and is haunting Charley. He's left his body because he's being tortured by demons who want
to lure Charley closer. But Reyes can't let that happen. Because if the demons get to Charley, they'll have a
portal to heaven. And if they have a portal to heaven...well, let's just say it wouldn't be pretty. Can Charley
handle hot nights with Reyes and even hotter days tracking down a missing woman? Can she keep those she
loves out of harm's way? And is there enough coffee and chocolate in the world to fuel her as she does?
Here is your signpost for the most hilarious read of the summer: Second Grave On The Left.
TRIVIA
Last week's question was:
Author Stephen King has become well known for appearing in film adaptations of his own
books. What made his first appearance in a movie notable?
a. He was just passing by
b. He wrote himself into the story
c. the movie was not from one of his books
d. He was high
The answer is c. The movie was not from one of his books. King appeared in George A
Romero's “Knightriders”. He played Hoagie Man and would go on to appear in the adaptation of
Creepshow in 1982.
This week's question is:
Which mystery author was born with the name Howard Allen Frances O'Brien?
a. Dick Francis
b. Ann Rice
c. Maureen Jennings
d. Harold Pinter
Tune in next week for4 the answer
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/57035695Tue, 03 Oct 2023 08:00:02 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubWWAR October 2023 Show Notes Today is WWAR for October and our theme is Horror or Spooky reads. Tracey reported on Just Like Home by Sarah Gailey. Just Like Home is a darkly gothic thriller perfect for fans of Netflix's The Haunting of Hill House as...Show Notes
Today is WWAR for October and our theme is Horror or Spooky reads.
Tracey reported on Just Like Home by Sarah Gailey. Just Like Home is a darkly gothic thriller perfect for
fans of Netflix's The Haunting of Hill House as well as HBO's true crime masterpiece I'll Be Gone in the Dark.
“Come home.” Vera’s mother called and Vera obeyed. In spite of their long estrangement, in spite of the
memories ― she's come back to the home of a serial killer. Back to face the love she had for her father and
the bodies he buried there, beneath the house he'd built for his family.
Coming home is hard enough for Vera, and to make things worse, she and her mother aren’t alone. A
parasitic artist has moved into the guest house out back and is slowly stripping Vera’s childhood for spare
parts. He insists that he isn’t the one leaving notes around the house in her father’s handwriting... but who
else could it possibly be?
There are secrets yet undiscovered in the foundations of the notorious Crowder House. Vera must face them
and find out for herself just how deep the rot goes.
She then touched on Mary by Nat Cassidy (Tor Nightfire 7/22). Mary is a quiet, middle-aged woman doing
her best to blend into the background. Unremarkable. Invisible. Unknown even to herself.
But lately, things have been changing inside Mary. Along with the hot flashes and body aches, she can’t look
in a mirror without passing out, and the voices in her head have been urging her to do unspeakable things.
Fired from her job in New York, she moves back to her hometown, hoping to reconnect with her past and
inner self. Instead, visions of terrifying, mutilated specters overwhelm her with increasing regularity and she
begins auto-writing strange thoughts and phrases. Mary discovers that these experiences are echoes of an
infamous serial killer.
Then the killings begin again.
Mary’s definitely going to find herself.
Ann reported on the book Holly by Stephen King (Scribner 9/5/23). It really isn't a horror novel but it
does have a very spooky vibe.
Stephen King’s Holly marks the triumphant return of beloved King character Holly Gibney. Readers have
witnessed Holly’s gradual transformation from a shy (but also brave and ethical) recluse in Mr. Mercedes to
Bill Hodges’s partner in Finders Keepers to a full-fledged, smart, and occasionally tough private detective
in The Outsider. In King’s new novel, Holly is on her own, and up against a pair of unimaginably depraved and
brilliantly disguised adversaries.
When Penny Dahl calls the Finders Keepers detective agency hoping for help locating her missing daughter,
Holly is reluctant to accept the case. Her partner, Pete, has Covid. Her (very complicated) mother has just
died. And Holly is meant to be on leave. But something in Penny Dahl’s desperate voice makes it impossible
for Holly to turn her down.
Mere blocks from where Bonnie Dahl disappeared live Professors Rodney and Emily Harris. They are the
picture of bourgeois respectability: married octogenarians, devoted to each other, and semi-retired lifelong
academics. But they are harboring an unholy secret in the basement of their well-kept, book-lined home, one
that may be related to Bonnie’s disappearance. And it will prove nearly impossible to discover what they are
up to: they are savvy, they are patient, and they are ruthless.
Holly must summon all her formidable talents to outthink and outmaneuver the shockingly twisted professors
in this chilling new masterwork from Stephen King.
Her second book is much more or a horror novel. She reported on the book Knock, Knock, Open Wide by
Neil Sharpson. (Tor Nightfire 10/3/23)
Knock Knock, Open Wide weaves horror and Celtic myth into a terrifying, heartbreaking supernatural tale of1399amreading,bookclub,booklove,mistysimon,mustread,podcast,spookybooksfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/annen-and-rada-episode--56931947Melissa C. Annen is an author who writes a series called the Agent Raines series. There are currently two books in the series and she is working on the third. She is planning to release a stand alone book at Fright Reads titled “The Familiar Stranger.”
Melissa also produces a podcast with her best friend. The podcast is called Nothing Happens In A Small Town. They grew up in a small town and, of course, things happen in a small town. It is available of Spreaker, Spotify and other podcast hosting sites.
Her website is https://melissacannen.com
We then talked with James Rada, Jr. Jim is an Amazon.com-bestselling author who writes non-fiction history and historical fiction. His books include the historical novels “Canawlers,” 'October Mourning,” “Between Rail and River,” and”The Rain Man.” His non-fiction books include “Battlefield Angels: The Daughters of Charity Work as Civil War Nurses” and “Looking Back: True Stories of Mountain Maryland.” Many of his books have been bestsellers in their categories on Amazon.com.
He also writes fantasy, horror, and young adult fiction under the pen name J. R. Rada. You can find out more about these books under the J. R. Rada tab. He lives in Gettysburg, Pa., where he works as a freelance writer. Jim has received numerous awards from the Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association, Associated Press, Maryland State Teachers Association and Community Newspapers Holdings, Inc. for his newspaper writing. His website is https://jamesrada.com]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/56931947Tue, 26 Sep 2023 08:30:03 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubOn today's episode, we spoke with two more of the authors who will be featured at Fright Reads. Melissa C. Annen is an author who writes a series called the Agent Raines series. There are currently two books in the series and she is working on the...Melissa C. Annen is an author who writes a series called the Agent Raines series. There are currently two books in the series and she is working on the third. She is planning to release a stand alone book at Fright Reads titled “The Familiar Stranger.”
Melissa also produces a podcast with her best friend. The podcast is called Nothing Happens In A Small Town. They grew up in a small town and, of course, things happen in a small town. It is available of Spreaker, Spotify and other podcast hosting sites.
Her website is https://melissacannen.com
We then talked with James Rada, Jr. Jim is an Amazon.com-bestselling author who writes non-fiction history and historical fiction. His books include the historical novels “Canawlers,” 'October Mourning,” “Between Rail and River,” and”The Rain Man.” His non-fiction books include “Battlefield Angels: The Daughters of Charity Work as Civil War Nurses” and “Looking Back: True Stories of Mountain Maryland.” Many of his books have been bestsellers in their categories on Amazon.com.
He also writes fantasy, horror, and young adult fiction under the pen name J. R. Rada. You can find out more about these books under the J. R. Rada tab. He lives in Gettysburg, Pa., where he works as a freelance writer. Jim has received numerous awards from the Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association, Associated Press, Maryland State Teachers Association and Community Newspapers Holdings, Inc. for his newspaper writing. His website is https://jamesrada.com]]>1858author,bookclub,darkadstormy,festival,frightreads,ghosts,halloween,horror,murder,mustlisten,mustread,mystery,paranoral,podcast,spookyfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/fright-reads-spotlight-joyce-elaine-and-roasalie-spielman--56847401?Rosalie Spielman
Today we talk with two of the authors for Fright Reads Book Conference which will be help September
30 and October 1 in Millersville, Maryland
Joyce Elaine is a hard working kind of gal who loves to get out and see new things
and have little adventures during her down time. She also loves to write. She has
enjoyed writing ever since she learned how to write. She can remember being 13
years old, with a notebook, and big yard at home to sit down in and write. She wrote
about many things. Sge made up stories, kept a journal, and wrote poems. As she
got older, she realized how much she really enjoy writing and that people actually
enjoy reading what she writes. Her dream is to be a published author and she is
currently working on that journey! She also wants to travel – get out and see the
world. She has a side project with her husband called Marylander’s Visiting. They
have set out to visit every single city in Maryland as time permits. They also plan to
visit more states and other countries to add to their project. You can find all my
Facebook pages by simply scrolling down and clicking on the one of your choice.
Check back often. Read. Comment. Share.
Her book series has three books – The Gift of Death, the Gift of Death – Revenge and she is working on
the third book called The Final Gift
Her website is joyceelainewrites.com
We then spoke with Rosalie Spielman. She is a contributing author for the Aloha Lagoon Mystery series
put out by Gemma Holiday Publishing. She also writes a Hometown Mystery Series based on a retired
veteran living in a small town in Oregon. Her books are titled “Welcome Home to Murder,”
“Home is Where the Murder Is” and the third book in her series will come out in November “Murder
Comes Home.”
Originally from a tiny town in the Palouse region of Idaho, as a military brat, Army officer, and
military spouse (retired), Rosalie has moved more times than she has fingers to count, ond she
has just broken her record of living six years at one address.
Somewhere along the way, she discovered that she could make other people laugh with her
writing. She enjoys reading to escape from the real world and hopes to give readers the same
with her stories.
Her website is https://rosalie-spielman-author.
Join us at Fright Reads and meet these and the other wonderful authors.
TRIVIA
Last week's question was:
Where did Carole Nelson Douglas find Midnight Louie?
a. At the ASPCA
b. A neighbor gave him to her
c, In the newspaper
d. He was found on her doorstep
The answer was C. In the newspaper. Douglas was a theater and English literature major in college. After
graduation, she worked as a newspaper reporter and then editor in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. During her
time there, she discovered a long, expensive classified advertisement offering a black cat named Midnight
Louie to the "right" home for one dollar and wrote a feature story on the plucky survival artist, putting it into the
cat's point of view. The cat found a country home but its name was revived for her feline PI mystery series
many years later. Some of the Midnight Louie series entries include the dedication "For the real and original
Midnight Louie. Nine lives were not enough.
This week's question is:
In 1991, Dutch writer Richard Klinkhamer wrote his book “Wednesday, Mince Day.” What did he
do right before he delivered the manuscript.
a. murdered his wife
b. Robbed a bank
c. Shot himself
d. Cashed a forged check
Tune in next week for the answer.
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/56847401Tue, 19 Sep 2023 08:00:03 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubJoyce Elaube ?Rosalie Spielman Today we talk with two of the authors for Fright Reads Book Conference which will be help September 30 and October 1 in Millersville, Maryland Joyce Elaine is a hard working kind of gal who loves to get out and see new...?Rosalie Spielman
Today we talk with two of the authors for Fright Reads Book Conference which will be help September
30 and October 1 in Millersville, Maryland
Joyce Elaine is a hard working kind of gal who loves to get out and see new things
and have little adventures during her down time. She also loves to write. She has
enjoyed writing ever since she learned how to write. She can remember being 13
years old, with a notebook, and big yard at home to sit down in and write. She wrote
about many things. Sge made up stories, kept a journal, and wrote poems. As she
got older, she realized how much she really enjoy writing and that people actually
enjoy reading what she writes. Her dream is to be a published author and she is
currently working on that journey! She also wants to travel – get out and see the
world. She has a side project with her husband called Marylander’s Visiting. They
have set out to visit every single city in Maryland as time permits. They also plan to
visit more states and other countries to add to their project. You can find all my
Facebook pages by simply scrolling down and clicking on the one of your choice.
Check back often. Read. Comment. Share.
Her book series has three books – The Gift of Death, the Gift of Death – Revenge and she is working on
the third book called The Final Gift
Her website is joyceelainewrites.com
We then spoke with Rosalie Spielman. She is a contributing author for the Aloha Lagoon Mystery series
put out by Gemma Holiday Publishing. She also writes a Hometown Mystery Series based on a retired
veteran living in a small town in Oregon. Her books are titled “Welcome Home to Murder,”
“Home is Where the Murder Is” and the third book in her series will come out in November “Murder
Comes Home.”
Originally from a tiny town in the Palouse region of Idaho, as a military brat, Army officer, and
military spouse (retired), Rosalie has moved more times than she has fingers to count, ond she
has just broken her record of living six years at one address.
Somewhere along the way, she discovered that she could make other people laugh with her
writing. She enjoys reading to escape from the real world and hopes to give readers the same
with her stories.
Her website is https://rosalie-spielman-author.
Join us at Fright Reads and meet these and the other wonderful authors.
TRIVIA
Last week's question was:
Where did Carole Nelson Douglas find Midnight Louie?
a. At the ASPCA
b. A neighbor gave him to her
c, In the newspaper
d. He was found on her doorstep
The answer was C. In the newspaper. Douglas was a theater and English literature major in college. After
graduation, she worked as a newspaper reporter and then editor in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. During her
time there, she discovered a long, expensive classified advertisement offering a black cat named Midnight
Louie to the "right" home for one dollar and wrote a feature story on the plucky survival artist, putting it into the
cat's point of view. The cat found a country home but its name was revived for her feline PI mystery series
many years later. Some of the Midnight Louie series entries include the dedication "For the real and original
Midnight Louie. Nine lives were not enough.
This week's question is:
In 1991, Dutch writer Richard Klinkhamer wrote his book “Wednesday, Mince Day.” What did he
do right before he delivered the manuscript.
a. murdered his wife
b. Robbed a bank
c. Shot himself
d. Cashed a forged check
Tune in next week for the answer.
]]>1684amreading,bookclub,booklove,fallreads,frightreads,mustread,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/harry-carpenter-fright-reads--56765629Harry goes into the guest celebrities and authors he has lined up. The event is to be held in Millersville Maryland on September 30 and October 1. For information on the event or for tickets, visit https://frightreads.com.
It was lovely talking with Harry and we look forward to the event. The next two weeks of Dark and Stormy Book Club Podcast will feature interviews with some of the authors we will meet at the event.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/56765629Tue, 12 Sep 2023 08:30:03 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubOn today's episode, we visit with Harry Carpenter, an author and the Founder and Producter of the Fright Reads Book Festival. This will be the third year for the event and it has grown over the past three years. Harry goes into the guest celebrities...Harry goes into the guest celebrities and authors he has lined up. The event is to be held in Millersville Maryland on September 30 and October 1. For information on the event or for tickets, visit https://frightreads.com.
It was lovely talking with Harry and we look forward to the event. The next two weeks of Dark and Stormy Book Club Podcast will feature interviews with some of the authors we will meet at the event.]]>1496authors,bookconference,bookfestival,conference,darkandstormy,event,frightreads,horrorauthors,millersvillemd,mustattend,mysteryauthorsfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/sept-2023-wwar-complete--56671814Misty reported on the book “Librarians and Larceny” (Book One in the Rebel Librarian Crime Fighter Mystery series by Cyndy Cypress
LARCENY! KIDNAPPING! MURDER! OH MY!

In the cozy college town of Kootenai Hills, Montana, a beloved librarian goes missing … right under the noses of Rebecca Fulton, the university's newest library coordinator, and Jenn Acosta, a mature grad student and aspiring librarian!

And it happened in broad daylight … during homecoming weekend, no less!

But that's not the only thing that's disappeared. An important historical manuscript tied to the missing librarian's past, leaves the women wondering just what Rebecca's boss and beloved mentor got himself into.

What happened to Professor Clifford Smith?

Rebecca and Jenn are determined to find out, but they have a few of their own challenges to work through first - a grumpy police captain being one of them.

Do these two polar opposites have what it takes to break away from their quiet, campus-librarian lifestyles and make it as amateur sleuths? Can they save the professor, find the manuscript, and stop those responsible from getting away with the perfect crime? Or will their naivety and inexperience put their lives in danger and land Rebecca behind bars?

There's only one way to find out.

Welcome to Cascade University, where you’ll meet the latest budding female detectives, along with Jenn’s uncommonly intelligent canine sidekick, and an eccentric old man who lives in his motorhome.

What could possibly go wrong?

Enjoy this totally addictive cozy mystery.
Tracey then reported on “The Librarian of Crooked Lane” (Book one in the Glass Library series) by C.J. Archer.

Librarian Sylvia Ashe knows nothing about her past, having grown up without a father and a mother who refused to discuss him. When she stumbles upon a diary that suggests she’s descended from magicians, she’s skeptical. After all, magicians are special, and she’s just an ordinary girl who loves books. She seeks the truth from a member of the most prominent family of magicians, but she quickly learns that finding the truth won’t be easy, especially when he turns out to be as artless as her, and more compelling and dangerous than books.

War hero Gabe is gifted with wealth, a loving family, and an incredible amount of luck that saw him survive four harrowing years of a brutal war without injury. But not all injuries are visible. Burying himself in his work as a consultant for Scotland Yard, Gabe is going through the motions as he investigates the theft of a magician-made painting. But his life changes when he unwittingly gets Sylvia dismissed from her job and places her in danger.

After securing her new employment in a library housing the world’s greatest collection of books about magic, Gabe and Sylvia’s lives become intwined as they work together to find both the painting and the truth about Sylvia’s past before powerful people can stop them.

But sometimes the past is better left buried…
Ann then reported on “Checked Out” (Number one in the Village Library Mystery Series) by Elizabeth Spann Craig.
There are no renewals when you’re permanently checked out. When librarian Ann Beckett finally reluctantly agrees to being set-up on a blind date by one of her over-eager patrons, she figures the worst that could happen would be the two of them wouldn’t hit it off.
Little did she know that she’d be stood up...because her date was murdered.
With help from her patrons, Ann tries to find out who might be responsible in the small town of Whitby before more residents are permanently checked out.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/56671814Tue, 05 Sep 2023 08:30:02 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubOn today's episode, we selected libraries and librarians for our WWAR subject for this month. Misty reported on the book “Librarians and Larceny” (Book One in the Rebel Librarian Crime Fighter Mystery series by Cyndy Cypress LARCENY! KIDNAPPING!...Misty reported on the book “Librarians and Larceny” (Book One in the Rebel Librarian Crime Fighter Mystery series by Cyndy Cypress
LARCENY! KIDNAPPING! MURDER! OH MY!

In the cozy college town of Kootenai Hills, Montana, a beloved librarian goes missing … right under the noses of Rebecca Fulton, the university's newest library coordinator, and Jenn Acosta, a mature grad student and aspiring librarian!

And it happened in broad daylight … during homecoming weekend, no less!

But that's not the only thing that's disappeared. An important historical manuscript tied to the missing librarian's past, leaves the women wondering just what Rebecca's boss and beloved mentor got himself into.

What happened to Professor Clifford Smith?

Rebecca and Jenn are determined to find out, but they have a few of their own challenges to work through first - a grumpy police captain being one of them.

Do these two polar opposites have what it takes to break away from their quiet, campus-librarian lifestyles and make it as amateur sleuths? Can they save the professor, find the manuscript, and stop those responsible from getting away with the perfect crime? Or will their naivety and inexperience put their lives in danger and land Rebecca behind bars?

There's only one way to find out.

Welcome to Cascade University, where you’ll meet the latest budding female detectives, along with Jenn’s uncommonly intelligent canine sidekick, and an eccentric old man who lives in his motorhome.

What could possibly go wrong?

Enjoy this totally addictive cozy mystery.
Tracey then reported on “The Librarian of Crooked Lane” (Book one in the Glass Library series) by C.J. Archer.

Librarian Sylvia Ashe knows nothing about her past, having grown up without a father and a mother who refused to discuss him. When she stumbles upon a diary that suggests she’s descended from magicians, she’s skeptical. After all, magicians are special, and she’s just an ordinary girl who loves books. She seeks the truth from a member of the most prominent family of magicians, but she quickly learns that finding the truth won’t be easy, especially when he turns out to be as artless as her, and more compelling and dangerous than books.

War hero Gabe is gifted with wealth, a loving family, and an incredible amount of luck that saw him survive four harrowing years of a brutal war without injury. But not all injuries are visible. Burying himself in his work as a consultant for Scotland Yard, Gabe is going through the motions as he investigates the theft of a magician-made painting. But his life changes when he unwittingly gets Sylvia dismissed from her job and places her in danger.

After securing her new employment in a library housing the world’s greatest collection of books about magic, Gabe and Sylvia’s lives become intwined as they work together to find both the painting and the truth about Sylvia’s past before powerful people can stop them.

But sometimes the past is better left buried…
Ann then reported on “Checked Out” (Number one in the Village Library Mystery Series) by Elizabeth Spann Craig.
There are no renewals when you’re permanently checked out. When librarian Ann Beckett finally reluctantly agrees to being set-up on a blind date by one of her over-eager patrons, she figures the worst that could happen would be the two of them wouldn’t hit it off.
Little did she know that she’d be stood up...because her date was murdered.
With help from her patrons, Ann tries to find out who might be responsible in the small town of Whitby before more residents are permanently checked out.]]>1704cozymystery,librarian,library,murder,mustlisten,mustread,mystery,podcast,wwarfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/teresa-peschel-agatha-christie-she-watched--56605705https://api.spreaker.com/episode/56605705Tue, 29 Aug 2023 09:25:01 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubAgatha Christie, She Watched: One Woman's Plot to Watch 201 Christie Adaptations Without Murdering the Director, Screenwriter, Cast, or Her Husband by Teresa Peschel Care to match wits with Hercule Poirot? Share tea and gossip with Miss Marple? Chase...1843agathachristie,agathachristieshewatched,bookreview,herculeporiot,missmarple,movies,mustlisten,mustread,mysteries,peschelpublishing,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/nancy-bush-the-camp--56549955by Nancy Bush
Kensington Books
6/27/23
There are always stories told around the fire at summer camp—tall tales about gruesome murders and
unhinged killers, concocted to scare new arrivals and lend an extra jolt of excitement to those hormone-
charged nights. At Camp Luft-Shawk, nicknamed Camp Love Shack, there are stories about a creeping fog
that brings death with it. But here, they’re not just campfire tales. Here, the stories are real.
Twenty years ago, a girl’s body was found on a ledge above the lake, arms crossed over her heart. Some said
it was part of a suicide pact, connected to the nearby Haven Commune. Brooke, Rona, and Wendywere
among the teenagers at camp that summer, looking for fun and sun, sex and adventure. They’ve never
breathed a word about what really happened—or about the night their friendship shattered.
Now the camp, renamed Camp Fog Lake, has reopened for a new generation, and many of those who were
there on that long-ago night are returning for an alumni weekend. But something is stirring at the lake again.
As the fog rolls in, evil comes with it. Those stories were a warning, and they didn’t listen. And the only
question is, who will live long enough to regret it?
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/56549955Tue, 22 Aug 2023 08:00:03 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubThe Camp by Nancy Bush Kensington Books 6/27/23 There are always stories told around the fire at summer camp—tall tales about gruesome murders and unhinged killers, concocted to scare new arrivals and lend an extra jolt of excitement to those hormone-...by Nancy Bush
Kensington Books
6/27/23
There are always stories told around the fire at summer camp—tall tales about gruesome murders and
unhinged killers, concocted to scare new arrivals and lend an extra jolt of excitement to those hormone-
charged nights. At Camp Luft-Shawk, nicknamed Camp Love Shack, there are stories about a creeping fog
that brings death with it. But here, they’re not just campfire tales. Here, the stories are real.
Twenty years ago, a girl’s body was found on a ledge above the lake, arms crossed over her heart. Some said
it was part of a suicide pact, connected to the nearby Haven Commune. Brooke, Rona, and Wendywere
among the teenagers at camp that summer, looking for fun and sun, sex and adventure. They’ve never
breathed a word about what really happened—or about the night their friendship shattered.
Now the camp, renamed Camp Fog Lake, has reopened for a new generation, and many of those who were
there on that long-ago night are returning for an alumni weekend. But something is stirring at the lake again.
As the fog rolls in, evil comes with it. Those stories were a warning, and they didn’t listen. And the only
question is, who will live long enough to regret it?
]]>1509amreading,bookclub,booklove,mustread,mysterybook,nancybush,podcast,thecampfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/john-glatt-tangled-vines-vines-power-privilege-and-the-murdaugh-family-murders--56468539Privilege and the Murdaugh Family Murders.” The author did a masterful job reconstructing the rise of the
prestigious Murdaugh family and the shocking double murder that led to the downfall of its patriarch, Alex
Murdaugh.
Among the lush, tree-lined waterways of South Carolina low country, the Murdaugh name means power. A
century-old, multimillion-dollar law practice has catapulted the family into incredible wealth and local
celebrity―but it was an unimaginable tragedy that would thrust them into the national spotlight. On June 7th,
2021, prominent attorney Alex Murdaugh discovered the bodies of his wife, Maggie, and son, Paul, on the
grounds of their thousand-acre hunting lodge. The mystery deepened only months later when Alex himself
was discovered shot in the head on a local roadside.
But as authorities scrambled for clues and the community reeled from the loss and media attention, dark
secrets about this Southern legal dynasty came to light. The Murdaughs, it turned out, were feared as much
as they were loved. And they wouldn’t hesitate to wield their influence to protect one of their own; two years
before he was killed, a highly intoxicated Paul Murdaugh was at the helm of a boat when it crashed and killed
a teenage girl, and his light treatment by police led to speculation that privilege had come into play. As
bombshells of financial fraud were revealed and more suspicious deaths were linked to the Murdaughs, a new
portrait of Alex Murdaugh emerged: a desperate man on the brink of ruin who would do anything, even plan
his own death, to save his family’s reputation.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/56468539Tue, 15 Aug 2023 08:00:02 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubOn this episode, we talk with bestselling true crime author John Glatt about his book “Tangled Vines Power, Privilege and the Murdaugh Family Murders.” The author did a masterful job reconstructing the rise of the prestigious Murdaugh family and the...Privilege and the Murdaugh Family Murders.” The author did a masterful job reconstructing the rise of the
prestigious Murdaugh family and the shocking double murder that led to the downfall of its patriarch, Alex
Murdaugh.
Among the lush, tree-lined waterways of South Carolina low country, the Murdaugh name means power. A
century-old, multimillion-dollar law practice has catapulted the family into incredible wealth and local
celebrity―but it was an unimaginable tragedy that would thrust them into the national spotlight. On June 7th,
2021, prominent attorney Alex Murdaugh discovered the bodies of his wife, Maggie, and son, Paul, on the
grounds of their thousand-acre hunting lodge. The mystery deepened only months later when Alex himself
was discovered shot in the head on a local roadside.
But as authorities scrambled for clues and the community reeled from the loss and media attention, dark
secrets about this Southern legal dynasty came to light. The Murdaughs, it turned out, were feared as much
as they were loved. And they wouldn’t hesitate to wield their influence to protect one of their own; two years
before he was killed, a highly intoxicated Paul Murdaugh was at the helm of a boat when it crashed and killed
a teenage girl, and his light treatment by police led to speculation that privilege had come into play. As
bombshells of financial fraud were revealed and more suspicious deaths were linked to the Murdaughs, a new
portrait of Alex Murdaugh emerged: a desperate man on the brink of ruin who would do anything, even plan
his own death, to save his family’s reputation.]]>2021amreading,bookclub,johnglatt,murdaugh,murder,mustread,podcast,truecrimefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/sue-anger-interview--56399014Show Notes
In our first episode together since vacation, we have 4 books that involve heat.
Misty reviewed When She Gets Hot by Miriam Allenson. Tootsie Goldberg was never one to rock
the boat. Witnessing tragedy after a seemingly harmless protest taught the Jersey native to
keep her mouth shut, even when she's fuming. But when her elderly coworkers lose their radio
station jobs due to a shady business deal, this feisty fifty-year-old decides it's never too late to
use her smart mouth for something other than talking in circles.
Standing up for her friends lights a fire in her to confront injustice, starting with the questionable
new owners of the station. But being a sassy sleuth sometimes means tweaking the rules. And
as her fight for the little guy garners the delicious attention of a stoic and sexy cop, can Tootsie
toe the line between what's right and what's legal?
When She Gets Hot is the scorchingly witty first book in the Tootsie Goldberg amateur sleuth
seBuy now to solve the mystery of what happens When She Gets Hot! fries. If you like strong
Jewish female leads, a dash of danger, and spicy heroines over fifty, then you'll love Miriam
Allenson's later-in-life take on growing older and bolder.
Tracey reviewed Hot Time by W. H. Flint. New York, August 1896. A “hot wave” has settled on
the city with no end in sight, leaving tempers short and the streets littered with dead horses
felled by the heat. In this presidential election year, the gulf between rich and poor has political
passions flaring, while anti-immigrant sentiment has turned virulent. At Police Headquarters, the
gruff, politically ambitious commissioner Theodore Roosevelt has been struggling to reform his
notoriously corrupt department. Meanwhile, the yellow press is ready to pounce on the
peccadilloes of the Four Hundred, the city’s social elite—the better to sell papers with lurid
stories and gossip or perhaps profit from a little blackmail on the side. When the body of Town
Topics publisher William d’Alton Mann is found at the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge, any number of
his ink-spattered victims may have a motive.
Hot Time is an immensely entertaining, deeply researched, and richly textured historical novel
set in a period that reflects our own, with cameos by figures ranging from financier J. P. Morgan
to muckraking journalist Jacob Riis. Our guides through New York's torrid, bustling streets are
Otto “Rafe” Raphael from the Lower East Side, one of the first Jewish officers in the heavily Irish
force, who finds as many enemies within the department as outside it; Minnie Kelly, the
department's first female stenographer; Theodore Roosevelt himself; and the plucky orphan
Dutch, one of the city's thousands of newsboys, who may have seen too much. lder and bolder.
Ann reviewed Sun Damage by Sabine Durrant. The heat is intense. The secrets are stifling.
And there is no escape.
In a tiny village in Provence, nine guests arrive at a luxury holiday home.
The visitors know each other well, or at least they think they do.
The only stranger among them is Lulu, the young woman catering their stay. But Lulu is not
exactly the woman on the video the guests thought they’d hired. Turns out Lulu has plenty to
hide—and nowhere to run as the heat rises.
In this seemingly idyllic getaway, under the scorching sun, loyalties will be tested, secrets
exposed, and tensions pushed to the brink . . .
Dripping in intrigue, Sun Damage is a glamorous, witty, and totally riveting story chock full of
secrets, lies and . . . more lies.
Finally, Ann reviewed a second book called Death In the Sunshine by Stef Broadribb.
After a long career as a police officer, Moira hopes a move to a luxury retirement community will
mean she can finally leave the detective work to the youngsters and focus on a quieter life. But
it turns out The Homestead is far from paradise. When she discovers the body of a young
woman floating in one of the pools, surrounded by thousands of dollar bills, her crime-fighting
instinct kicks back in and she joins up with fellow ex-cops—and new neighbours—Philip, Lizzie
and Rick to investigate the murder.
With the case officers dropping ball after ball, Moira and the gang take matters into their own
hands, turning into undercover homicide investigators. But the killer is desperate to destroy all
the evidence and Moira, Philip, Lizzie and Rick soon find themselves getting in the way—of the
murderer and the police.
Just when they think they can finally relax, they discover that someone has infiltrated their ‘safe’
community. Can they hunt down the murderer and get back to retiring in peace? And after all the
excitement, will they want to?
TRIVIA:
Last week's question was:
Which beloved author of children's literature also wrote songs that made the Top 100 Hits List?
a. Raold Dahl
b. Judy Blume
c. Shel Silverstein
d. Dr, Seuss
The answer is c. Shel Silverstein.
This week's question is:
Which author did not attend school full time until the age of 12?
a. Margaret Atwood
b. Robin Cook
c. Mary Robert Reinhart
d. Charles Todd
Tune in next week for the answer.
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/56399014Tue, 08 Aug 2023 08:00:02 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubWWAR August 2023 Show Notes In our first episode together since vacation, we have 4 books that involve heat. Misty reviewed When She Gets Hot by Miriam Allenson. Tootsie Goldberg was never one to rock the boat. Witnessing tragedy after a seemingly...Show Notes
In our first episode together since vacation, we have 4 books that involve heat.
Misty reviewed When She Gets Hot by Miriam Allenson. Tootsie Goldberg was never one to rock
the boat. Witnessing tragedy after a seemingly harmless protest taught the Jersey native to
keep her mouth shut, even when she's fuming. But when her elderly coworkers lose their radio
station jobs due to a shady business deal, this feisty fifty-year-old decides it's never too late to
use her smart mouth for something other than talking in circles.
Standing up for her friends lights a fire in her to confront injustice, starting with the questionable
new owners of the station. But being a sassy sleuth sometimes means tweaking the rules. And
as her fight for the little guy garners the delicious attention of a stoic and sexy cop, can Tootsie
toe the line between what's right and what's legal?
When She Gets Hot is the scorchingly witty first book in the Tootsie Goldberg amateur sleuth
seBuy now to solve the mystery of what happens When She Gets Hot! fries. If you like strong
Jewish female leads, a dash of danger, and spicy heroines over fifty, then you'll love Miriam
Allenson's later-in-life take on growing older and bolder.
Tracey reviewed Hot Time by W. H. Flint. New York, August 1896. A “hot wave” has settled on
the city with no end in sight, leaving tempers short and the streets littered with dead horses
felled by the heat. In this presidential election year, the gulf between rich and poor has political
passions flaring, while anti-immigrant sentiment has turned virulent. At Police Headquarters, the
gruff, politically ambitious commissioner Theodore Roosevelt has been struggling to reform his
notoriously corrupt department. Meanwhile, the yellow press is ready to pounce on the
peccadilloes of the Four Hundred, the city’s social elite—the better to sell papers with lurid
stories and gossip or perhaps profit from a little blackmail on the side. When the body of Town
Topics publisher William d’Alton Mann is found at the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge, any number of
his ink-spattered victims may have a motive.
Hot Time is an immensely entertaining, deeply researched, and richly textured historical novel
set in a period that reflects our own, with cameos by figures ranging from financier J. P. Morgan
to muckraking journalist Jacob Riis. Our guides through New York's torrid, bustling streets are
Otto “Rafe” Raphael from the Lower East Side, one of the first Jewish officers in the heavily Irish
force, who finds as many enemies within the department as outside it; Minnie Kelly, the
department's first female stenographer; Theodore Roosevelt himself; and the plucky orphan
Dutch, one of the city's thousands of newsboys, who may have seen too much. lder and bolder.
Ann reviewed Sun Damage by Sabine Durrant. The heat is intense. The secrets are stifling.
And there is no escape.
In a tiny village in Provence, nine guests arrive at a luxury holiday home.
The visitors know each other well, or at least they think they do.
The only stranger among them is Lulu, the young woman catering their stay. But Lulu is not
exactly the woman on the video the guests thought they’d hired. Turns out Lulu has plenty to
hide—and nowhere to run as the heat rises.
In this seemingly idyllic getaway, under the scorching sun, loyalties will be tested, secrets
exposed, and tensions pushed to the brink . . .
Dripping in intrigue, Sun Damage is a glamorous, witty, and totally riveting story chock full of
secrets, lies and . . . more lies.
Finally, Ann reviewed a second book called Death In the Sunshine by Stef Broadribb.
After a long career as a police officer, Moira hopes a move to a luxury retirement community will
mean she can finally leave...]]>2295amreading,bookclub,booklove,mustread,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/whar-ww-are-reading-august-2023--56326892Show Notes
In our first episode together since vacation, we have 4 books that involve heat.
Misty reviewed When She Gets Hot by Miriam Allenson. Tootsie Goldberg was never one to rock
the boat. Witnessing tragedy after a seemingly harmless protest taught the Jersey native to
keep her mouth shut, even when she's fuming. But when her elderly coworkers lose their radio
station jobs due to a shady business deal, this feisty fifty-year-old decides it's never too late to
use her smart mouth for something other than talking in circles.
Standing up for her friends lights a fire in her to confront injustice, starting with the questionable
new owners of the station. But being a sassy sleuth sometimes means tweaking the rules. And
as her fight for the little guy garners the delicious attention of a stoic and sexy cop, can Tootsie
toe the line between what's right and what's legal?
When She Gets Hot is the scorchingly witty first book in the Tootsie Goldberg amateur sleuth
seBuy now to solve the mystery of what happens When She Gets Hot! fries. If you like strong
Jewish female leads, a dash of danger, and spicy heroines over fifty, then you'll love Miriam
Allenson's later-in-life take on growing older and bolder.
Tracey reviewed Hot Time by W. H. Flint. New York, August 1896. A “hot wave” has settled on
the city with no end in sight, leaving tempers short and the streets littered with dead horses
felled by the heat. In this presidential election year, the gulf between rich and poor has political
passions flaring, while anti-immigrant sentiment has turned virulent. At Police Headquarters, the
gruff, politically ambitious commissioner Theodore Roosevelt has been struggling to reform his
notoriously corrupt department. Meanwhile, the yellow press is ready to pounce on the
peccadilloes of the Four Hundred, the city’s social elite—the better to sell papers with lurid
stories and gossip or perhaps profit from a little blackmail on the side. When the body of Town
Topics publisher William d’Alton Mann is found at the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge, any number of
his ink-spattered victims may have a motive.
Hot Time is an immensely entertaining, deeply researched, and richly textured historical novel
set in a period that reflects our own, with cameos by figures ranging from financier J. P. Morgan
to muckraking journalist Jacob Riis. Our guides through New York's torrid, bustling streets are
Otto “Rafe” Raphael from the Lower East Side, one of the first Jewish officers in the heavily Irish
force, who finds as many enemies within the department as outside it; Minnie Kelly, the
department's first female stenographer; Theodore Roosevelt himself; and the plucky orphan
Dutch, one of the city's thousands of newsboys, who may have seen too much. lder and bolder.
Ann reviewed Sun Damage by Sabine Durrant. The heat is intense. The secrets are stifling.
And there is no escape.
In a tiny village in Provence, nine guests arrive at a luxury holiday home.
The visitors know each other well, or at least they think they do.
The only stranger among them is Lulu, the young woman catering their stay. But Lulu is not
exactly the woman on the video the guests thought they’d hired. Turns out Lulu has plenty to
hide—and nowhere to run as the heat rises.
In this seemingly idyllic getaway, under the scorching sun, loyalties will be tested, secrets
exposed, and tensions pushed to the brink . . .
Dripping in intrigue, Sun Damage is a glamorous, witty, and totally riveting story chock full of
secrets, lies and . . . more lies.
Finally, Ann reviewed a second book called Death In the Sunshine by Stef Broadribb.
After a long career as a police officer, Moira hopes a move to a luxury retirement community will
mean she can finally leave the detective work to the youngsters and focus on a quieter life. But
it turns out The Homestead is far from paradise. When she discovers the body of a young
woman floating in one of the pools, surrounded by thousands of dollar bills, her crime-fighting
instinct kicks back in and she joins up with fellow ex-cops—and new neighbours—Philip, Lizzie
and Rick to investigate the murder.
With the case officers dropping ball after ball, Moira and the gang take matters into their own
hands, turning into undercover homicide investigators. But the killer is desperate to destroy all
the evidence and Moira, Philip, Lizzie and Rick soon find themselves getting in the way—of the
murderer and the police.
Just when they think they can finally relax, they discover that someone has infiltrated their ‘safe’
community. Can they hunt down the murderer and get back to retiring in peace? And after all the
excitement, will they want to?
TRIVIA:
Last week's question was:
Which beloved author of children's literature also wrote songs that made the Top 100 Hits List?
a. Raold Dahl
b. Judy Blume
c. Shel Silverstein
d. Dr, Seuss
The answer is c. Shel Silverstein.
This week's question is:
Which author did not attend school full time until the age of 12?
a. Margaret Atwood
b. Robin Cook
c. Mary Robert Reinhart
d. Charles Todd
Tune in next week for the answer.
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/56326892Tue, 01 Aug 2023 08:00:03 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubWWAR August 2023 Show Notes In our first episode together since vacation, we have 4 books that involve heat. Misty reviewed When She Gets Hot by Miriam Allenson. Tootsie Goldberg was never one to rock the boat. Witnessing tragedy after a seemingly...Show Notes
In our first episode together since vacation, we have 4 books that involve heat.
Misty reviewed When She Gets Hot by Miriam Allenson. Tootsie Goldberg was never one to rock
the boat. Witnessing tragedy after a seemingly harmless protest taught the Jersey native to
keep her mouth shut, even when she's fuming. But when her elderly coworkers lose their radio
station jobs due to a shady business deal, this feisty fifty-year-old decides it's never too late to
use her smart mouth for something other than talking in circles.
Standing up for her friends lights a fire in her to confront injustice, starting with the questionable
new owners of the station. But being a sassy sleuth sometimes means tweaking the rules. And
as her fight for the little guy garners the delicious attention of a stoic and sexy cop, can Tootsie
toe the line between what's right and what's legal?
When She Gets Hot is the scorchingly witty first book in the Tootsie Goldberg amateur sleuth
seBuy now to solve the mystery of what happens When She Gets Hot! fries. If you like strong
Jewish female leads, a dash of danger, and spicy heroines over fifty, then you'll love Miriam
Allenson's later-in-life take on growing older and bolder.
Tracey reviewed Hot Time by W. H. Flint. New York, August 1896. A “hot wave” has settled on
the city with no end in sight, leaving tempers short and the streets littered with dead horses
felled by the heat. In this presidential election year, the gulf between rich and poor has political
passions flaring, while anti-immigrant sentiment has turned virulent. At Police Headquarters, the
gruff, politically ambitious commissioner Theodore Roosevelt has been struggling to reform his
notoriously corrupt department. Meanwhile, the yellow press is ready to pounce on the
peccadilloes of the Four Hundred, the city’s social elite—the better to sell papers with lurid
stories and gossip or perhaps profit from a little blackmail on the side. When the body of Town
Topics publisher William d’Alton Mann is found at the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge, any number of
his ink-spattered victims may have a motive.
Hot Time is an immensely entertaining, deeply researched, and richly textured historical novel
set in a period that reflects our own, with cameos by figures ranging from financier J. P. Morgan
to muckraking journalist Jacob Riis. Our guides through New York's torrid, bustling streets are
Otto “Rafe” Raphael from the Lower East Side, one of the first Jewish officers in the heavily Irish
force, who finds as many enemies within the department as outside it; Minnie Kelly, the
department's first female stenographer; Theodore Roosevelt himself; and the plucky orphan
Dutch, one of the city's thousands of newsboys, who may have seen too much. lder and bolder.
Ann reviewed Sun Damage by Sabine Durrant. The heat is intense. The secrets are stifling.
And there is no escape.
In a tiny village in Provence, nine guests arrive at a luxury holiday home.
The visitors know each other well, or at least they think they do.
The only stranger among them is Lulu, the young woman catering their stay. But Lulu is not
exactly the woman on the video the guests thought they’d hired. Turns out Lulu has plenty to
hide—and nowhere to run as the heat rises.
In this seemingly idyllic getaway, under the scorching sun, loyalties will be tested, secrets
exposed, and tensions pushed to the brink . . .
Dripping in intrigue, Sun Damage is a glamorous, witty, and totally riveting story chock full of
secrets, lies and . . . more lies.
Finally, Ann reviewed a second book called Death In the Sunshine by Stef Broadribb.
After a long career as a police officer, Moira hopes a move to a luxury retirement community will
mean she can finally leave...]]>1827amreaing,bookclub,historicalmysteries,mistysimon,murder,mustread,podcast,wwarfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/stuart-gibbs-spy-school--56204437
Stuart Gibbs is an American author who has written mostly mystery and humor books that are aimed for tweens and teens. Gibbs' books have been described as "fun, fast-paced" and "entertaining]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/56204437Tue, 25 Jul 2023 08:00:03 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubSpy School - Can a normal kid become a secret agent? Ben Ripley may only be in middle school, but he’s already pegged his dream job: C.I.A. or bust. So he’s thrilled when he’s recruited to the C.I.A.’s top secret Academy of Espionage. Only, it turns...
Stuart Gibbs is an American author who has written mostly mystery and humor books that are aimed for tweens and teens. Gibbs' books have been described as "fun, fast-paced" and "entertaining]]>2008amreading,animated,bookclub,booklove,mistysimon,mustread,podcast,spyschoolfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/vacation-episode-3-misty-simon-reads-all-that-glitters--56133442Whit is up to her ears in this one with Goldy wanting a friend from the past cleared of a murder Whit isn't certain he didn't commit. Things are shady on Catalina Island right now and Whit has to figure out whodunnit before they do it again.

]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/56133442Tue, 18 Jul 2023 08:30:03 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubThe third vacation episode for the summer holiday features Misty Simon reading the first chapter of the book "All That Glitters Isn't Old" by her namesake Gabby Allan published by Kensington Publishing, which releases 7/25. Whit is up to her ears in...Whit is up to her ears in this one with Goldy wanting a friend from the past cleared of a murder Whit isn't certain he didn't commit. Things are shady on Catalina Island right now and Whit has to figure out whodunnit before they do it again.

]]>1230catalina,gabbyallan,mistysimon,murder,mustread,mystery,newbook,podcast,vacation,whitandwhiskersfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/vacation-short-stories-charles-dickens-the-trial-for-murder--56057069https://api.spreaker.com/episode/56057069Tue, 11 Jul 2023 08:00:03 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubWe interrupt your bright summer to bring you another ghost story by Mr. Charles Dickens, “The Trial for Murder.” It is, perhaps, the best known of his ghost stories, second only to “A Christmas Carol,” which, by the way, had far too many happy events...1960amreading,bookclub,dickens,podcast,shortstory,summerreadsfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/vacation-short-story-episode--55426380https://api.spreaker.com/episode/55426380Wed, 05 Jul 2023 09:30:02 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubThis episode is the first of our Vacation Short Stories. It is read by Ann Dark and the short story is "Sand Bar" by Ang Pompano. This story was first published in "Stone Cold: The Best New England Crime Stories"1756angpompano,crime,fraud,murder,mustlisten,podcast,sandbar,shortstory,vacationfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/leslie-karst-interview--55160089Show Notes
On this episode, we take a small break from mysteries and talk with an old friend, Leslie Karst,
about her book “Justice is Served: A Tale of Scallops, The Law, and Cooking For RBG”
When Leslie Karst learned that her offer to cook dinner for Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader
Ginsburg and her renowned tax law professor husband, Marty, had been accepted, she was
thrilled—and terrified. A small-town lawyer who hated her job and had taken up cooking as a
way to add a bit of spice to the daily grind of pumping out billable hours, Karst had never before
thrown such a high-stakes dinner party. Could she really pull this off?
Justice Is Served is Karst’s light-hearted, earnest account of the journey this unexpected
challenge launched her on—starting with a trip to Paris for culinary inspiration, and ending with
the dinner itself. Along the way, she imparts details of Ginsburg’s transformation from a young
Jewish girl from Flatbush, Brooklyn, to one of the most celebrated Supreme Court justices in our
nation’s history, and shares recipes for the mouthwatering dishes she came up with as she
prepared for the big night. But this memoir isn’t simply a tale of prepping for and cooking dinner
for the famous RBG; it’s also about how this event, and all the planning and preparation that
went into it, created a new sort of connection between Karst, her partner, and her parents, and
also inspired Karst to make life changes that would reverberate far beyond one dinner party.
A heartfelt story of simultaneously searching for delicious recipes and purpose in life, Justice Is
Served is an inspiring reminder that it’s never too late to discover—and follow—your deepest
passion.
We announced that we will be on vacation for 3 weeks in July. During that time, we have
decided to record short stories that have been submitted. Each of us will have an episode and
we will return on July 28 with regular episodes.
TRIVIA:
Other than a prolific mystery writer, what is Susan Wittig Albert's other claim to fame?
a. she writes for a gardening magazine
b. She is a professor of English
c. She writes self-help books for women
d. She was appointed the first female vice president of a university
The answer is all of them. She earned a degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana–
Champaign and a Ph.D.in English from the University of California, Berkeley. She became a
professor of English at the University of Texas, Austin and was a university administrator at
Sophie Newcomb College in New Orleans and was the first female vice president for academic
affairs at Southwest Texas State University. She also writes a column for Country Living
Gardener magazine.
There will be no new trivia for this week since we will be away on vacation until July 28 when we
will resume with full episodes and new trivia.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/55160089Tue, 27 Jun 2023 08:00:03 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubLeslie Karst Show Notes On this episode, we take a small break from mysteries and talk with an old friend, Leslie Karst, about her book “Justice is Served: A Tale of Scallops, The Law, and Cooking For RBG” When Leslie Karst learned that her offer to...Show Notes
On this episode, we take a small break from mysteries and talk with an old friend, Leslie Karst,
about her book “Justice is Served: A Tale of Scallops, The Law, and Cooking For RBG”
When Leslie Karst learned that her offer to cook dinner for Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader
Ginsburg and her renowned tax law professor husband, Marty, had been accepted, she was
thrilled—and terrified. A small-town lawyer who hated her job and had taken up cooking as a
way to add a bit of spice to the daily grind of pumping out billable hours, Karst had never before
thrown such a high-stakes dinner party. Could she really pull this off?
Justice Is Served is Karst’s light-hearted, earnest account of the journey this unexpected
challenge launched her on—starting with a trip to Paris for culinary inspiration, and ending with
the dinner itself. Along the way, she imparts details of Ginsburg’s transformation from a young
Jewish girl from Flatbush, Brooklyn, to one of the most celebrated Supreme Court justices in our
nation’s history, and shares recipes for the mouthwatering dishes she came up with as she
prepared for the big night. But this memoir isn’t simply a tale of prepping for and cooking dinner
for the famous RBG; it’s also about how this event, and all the planning and preparation that
went into it, created a new sort of connection between Karst, her partner, and her parents, and
also inspired Karst to make life changes that would reverberate far beyond one dinner party.
A heartfelt story of simultaneously searching for delicious recipes and purpose in life, Justice Is
Served is an inspiring reminder that it’s never too late to discover—and follow—your deepest
passion.
We announced that we will be on vacation for 3 weeks in July. During that time, we have
decided to record short stories that have been submitted. Each of us will have an episode and
we will return on July 28 with regular episodes.
TRIVIA:
Other than a prolific mystery writer, what is Susan Wittig Albert's other claim to fame?
a. she writes for a gardening magazine
b. She is a professor of English
c. She writes self-help books for women
d. She was appointed the first female vice president of a university
The answer is all of them. She earned a degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana–
Champaign and a Ph.D.in English from the University of California, Berkeley. She became a
professor of English at the University of Texas, Austin and was a university administrator at
Sophie Newcomb College in New Orleans and was the first female vice president for academic
affairs at Southwest Texas State University. She also writes a column for Country Living
Gardener magazine.
There will be no new trivia for this week since we will be away on vacation until July 28 when we
will resume with full episodes and new trivia.]]>1615amreading,bookclun,booklove,mistysimon,mustread,podcast,rgbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/elle-marr-interview--54527023Show Notes
On this episode, we visit with Elle Marr to talk about her book “The Family Bones,” Thomas & Mercer.
What makes a psychopath? A young woman delves into her family’s shadowy legacy in a terrifying
novel by the #1 Amazon Charts bestselling author of Strangers We Know.
Psychology student Olivia Eriksen’s family is notorious among true-crime buffs. Faced with a legacy of
psychopathy that spans generations, Olivia has spent much of her academic life trying to answer one chilling
question: Nature or nurture?
Although she’s kept a safe distance from her blood relatives for years, Olivia agrees to attend a weekend
reunion. After all, her fiancé is eager to meet his future in-laws, and the gathering may give her a chance to
interview her elusive grandfather about the family traits.
But nothing is ever peaceful among the Eriksens for long. Olivia’s favorite cousin is found dead in a nearby
lake. Then another family member disappears. As a violent storm isolates the group further, Olivia’s fears rise
faster than the river.
And an uninvited guest is about to join the party. True-crime podcaster Birdie Tan has uncovered a disturbing
mystery in her latest investigation―and she’s following it right to the Eriksens’ mountain resort. There’s a
deadly twist in the family plot that even Olivia doesn’t see coming.
TRIVIA
Last week's question was:
Which mystery author also writes under the pen name of Tom Johanson?
a. Steig Larson
b. Jo Nesbo
c. Peter Hoeg
d. Gunnar Staalesen
The answer is b. Jo Nesbo. It was announced in October 2013 that, writing under the pen-name of Tom
Johansen, Nesbø had written at least two novels provisionally entitled Blood on Snow and More Blood on the
Water, scheduled to be published in autumn 2014 and spring 2015. The books Blood on Snow and its sequel
Midnight Sun: Blood on Snow 2 were published in 2015, but under Jo Nesbø's name.
This week's question is:
Other than being a prolific mystery writer, what is susan Wittig Albert's other claim to fame?
a. She writes for a gardening magazine
b. She is a professor of English
c. She writes self-help books for women
d. She was the first female Vice President of a University
Tune in next week for the answer]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/54527023Tue, 20 Jun 2023 08:00:02 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubElle Marr Show Notes On this episode, we visit with Elle Marr to talk about her book “The Family Bones,” Thomas & Mercer. What makes a psychopath? A young woman delves into her family’s shadowy legacy in a terrifying novel by the #1 Amazon Charts...Show Notes
On this episode, we visit with Elle Marr to talk about her book “The Family Bones,” Thomas & Mercer.
What makes a psychopath? A young woman delves into her family’s shadowy legacy in a terrifying
novel by the #1 Amazon Charts bestselling author of Strangers We Know.
Psychology student Olivia Eriksen’s family is notorious among true-crime buffs. Faced with a legacy of
psychopathy that spans generations, Olivia has spent much of her academic life trying to answer one chilling
question: Nature or nurture?
Although she’s kept a safe distance from her blood relatives for years, Olivia agrees to attend a weekend
reunion. After all, her fiancé is eager to meet his future in-laws, and the gathering may give her a chance to
interview her elusive grandfather about the family traits.
But nothing is ever peaceful among the Eriksens for long. Olivia’s favorite cousin is found dead in a nearby
lake. Then another family member disappears. As a violent storm isolates the group further, Olivia’s fears rise
faster than the river.
And an uninvited guest is about to join the party. True-crime podcaster Birdie Tan has uncovered a disturbing
mystery in her latest investigation―and she’s following it right to the Eriksens’ mountain resort. There’s a
deadly twist in the family plot that even Olivia doesn’t see coming.
TRIVIA
Last week's question was:
Which mystery author also writes under the pen name of Tom Johanson?
a. Steig Larson
b. Jo Nesbo
c. Peter Hoeg
d. Gunnar Staalesen
The answer is b. Jo Nesbo. It was announced in October 2013 that, writing under the pen-name of Tom
Johansen, Nesbø had written at least two novels provisionally entitled Blood on Snow and More Blood on the
Water, scheduled to be published in autumn 2014 and spring 2015. The books Blood on Snow and its sequel
Midnight Sun: Blood on Snow 2 were published in 2015, but under Jo Nesbø's name.
This week's question is:
Other than being a prolific mystery writer, what is susan Wittig Albert's other claim to fame?
a. She writes for a gardening magazine
b. She is a professor of English
c. She writes self-help books for women
d. She was the first female Vice President of a University
Tune in next week for the answer]]>1703amreading,bookclub,booklove,dark&stormy,ellemarr,mistysimon,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/tove-alsterdal-you-will-never-be-found--54306393Show Notes
On today's episode, we visit Sweden and talk to the author Tove Alsterdal about her book “You Will
Never Be Found” which was published by Harper.
In the small mining town of Malmberget, north of the Arctic Circle, residents and their houses are being
relocated. As the mine that built the town slowly swallows it street by street, building by building, the
memories of the community have collapsed into the huge pit they call “the hole.” Only a few stubborn
souls cling to their homes, refusing to leave. When two workers making their final preparations hear a
sound coming from a basement, they break a cellar window and find a terrified man curled up in a
corner.
In Ådalen, 700 kilometers away, police officer Eira Sjödin is investigating the disappearance of a man
reported missing by his ex-wife. Eira and her colleagues search his apartment, contact his friends and
relatives, and query local hospitals, but the man has vanished without a trace.
Eira knows the pain of loss—she mourns for her mother, whose mind has been stolen by dementia. To
escape her loneliness and her memories, Eira loses herself in a casual affair. But she’s wholly
unprepared when her feelings deepen for GG, who is twenty years her senior–and her boss.
When the diligent GG doesn’t show up for work two days in a row, Eira and her colleagues quickly
realize that something is wrong—their boss has gone missing. In the dramatic second installment of the
High Coast Series, Eira Sjödin finds herself at the mercy of an elusive perpetrator—and of a love she
can no longer deny.
TRIVIA
Last week's question was:
We all know and love Angela Lansbury as Jessica Fletcher is the series Murder She Wrote. Her agent at
the time advised her to accept a role in a sitcom instead of this series but she (wisely) chose this
instead. Who is the other actress producers had chosen for the part?
a. Bea Arthur
b. Victoria Principal
c. Jean Stapleton
d. Goldie Hawn
The answer is c. Jean Stapelton. In 1983, Lansbury was offered two main television roles, one in a
sitcom and the other in a detective drama series, Murder, She Wrote. As she was unable to do both, her
agents advised her to accept the former, although Lansbury chose the latter. Her decision was based on
the appeal of the series' central character, Jessica Fletcher, a retired school teacher from the fictional
town of Cabot Cove, Maine. As portrayed by Lansbury, Fletcher was a successful detective novelist who
also solved murders encountered during her travels. Lansbury described the character as "an American
Miss Marple".
Murder, She Wrote had been created by Peter S. Fischer, Richard Levinson, and William Link, who had
earlier had success with Columbo, and the role of Fletcher had been first offered to Jean Stapleton, who
had declined it
This week's question is:
Which mystery author also writes under the pen name of Tom Johanson?
a. Steig Larson
b. Jo Nesbo
c. Peter Hoeg
d. Gunnar Staalesen
Tune in next week for the answer]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/54306393Tue, 13 Jun 2023 08:00:02 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubTove Alsterdal Show Notes On today's episode, we visit Sweden and talk to the author Tove Alsterdal about her book “You Will Never Be Found” which was published by Harper. In the small mining town of Malmberget, north of the Arctic Circle, residents...Show Notes
On today's episode, we visit Sweden and talk to the author Tove Alsterdal about her book “You Will
Never Be Found” which was published by Harper.
In the small mining town of Malmberget, north of the Arctic Circle, residents and their houses are being
relocated. As the mine that built the town slowly swallows it street by street, building by building, the
memories of the community have collapsed into the huge pit they call “the hole.” Only a few stubborn
souls cling to their homes, refusing to leave. When two workers making their final preparations hear a
sound coming from a basement, they break a cellar window and find a terrified man curled up in a
corner.
In Ådalen, 700 kilometers away, police officer Eira Sjödin is investigating the disappearance of a man
reported missing by his ex-wife. Eira and her colleagues search his apartment, contact his friends and
relatives, and query local hospitals, but the man has vanished without a trace.
Eira knows the pain of loss—she mourns for her mother, whose mind has been stolen by dementia. To
escape her loneliness and her memories, Eira loses herself in a casual affair. But she’s wholly
unprepared when her feelings deepen for GG, who is twenty years her senior–and her boss.
When the diligent GG doesn’t show up for work two days in a row, Eira and her colleagues quickly
realize that something is wrong—their boss has gone missing. In the dramatic second installment of the
High Coast Series, Eira Sjödin finds herself at the mercy of an elusive perpetrator—and of a love she
can no longer deny.
TRIVIA
Last week's question was:
We all know and love Angela Lansbury as Jessica Fletcher is the series Murder She Wrote. Her agent at
the time advised her to accept a role in a sitcom instead of this series but she (wisely) chose this
instead. Who is the other actress producers had chosen for the part?
a. Bea Arthur
b. Victoria Principal
c. Jean Stapleton
d. Goldie Hawn
The answer is c. Jean Stapelton. In 1983, Lansbury was offered two main television roles, one in a
sitcom and the other in a detective drama series, Murder, She Wrote. As she was unable to do both, her
agents advised her to accept the former, although Lansbury chose the latter. Her decision was based on
the appeal of the series' central character, Jessica Fletcher, a retired school teacher from the fictional
town of Cabot Cove, Maine. As portrayed by Lansbury, Fletcher was a successful detective novelist who
also solved murders encountered during her travels. Lansbury described the character as "an American
Miss Marple".
Murder, She Wrote had been created by Peter S. Fischer, Richard Levinson, and William Link, who had
earlier had success with Columbo, and the role of Fletcher had been first offered to Jean Stapleton, who
had declined it
This week's question is:
Which mystery author also writes under the pen name of Tom Johanson?
a. Steig Larson
b. Jo Nesbo
c. Peter Hoeg
d. Gunnar Staalesen
Tune in next week for the answer]]>1152bookclub,booklove,darkandstormy,murder,mustread,mysteryauthor,podcast,thrillerfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/what-we-are-reading-june-2023--54106233Show Notes
As we enter summer, we have two new books to suggest.
Tracey reported on DOOMSDAY MOTHER by John Glatt (St. Martin's True Crime Press).
In The Doomsday Mother, bestselling true crime author John Glatt tells the twisted tale of Lori Vallow,
accused of having her two children murdered to start a new life with her new husband, doomsday
prepper Chad Daybell.
At first, the residents of Kauai Beach Resort took little notice of their new neighbors. The glamorous blonde
and her tall husband fit the image of the ritzy gated community. The couple seemed to keep to
themselves―until the police knocked on their door with a search warrant. Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell had
fled to Hawaii in the midst of being investigated for the disappearance of Lori’s children back in Idaho―Tylee
and JJ―who hadn’t been seen alive in five months.
For years, Lori Vallow had been devoted to her children and her Mormon faith. But when her path crossed
with Chad Daybell, a religious zealot who taught his followers how to prepare for the end-times, the
tumultuous relationship transformed her into someone unrecognizable. As authorities searched for Lori’s
children, they uncovered more suspicious deaths with links to both Lori and Chad, including the death of Lori’s
third and fourth husbands, her brother, and Chad’s wife. In June 2020, the gruesome remains of JJ and Tylee
were discovered on Chad’s property, and the newlyweds were arrested and charged with murder. And in a
shocking development, horrifying statements revealed that the couple’s fanatical beliefs had convinced them
the children had become zombies--a belief that may have led to their deaths.
Bestselling author and journalist John Glatt takes readers deeper into the devastating story of Lori Vallow and
Chad Daybell in an attempt to unravel the lethal relationship of this doomsday couple.
Ann reported on ROSSI'S GAMBLE by Paul Papa, one of the Dark and Stormy Family (STACGroup
LLC)
When Meyer Lansky makes you an offer, how can you refuse? Even if it's one you don't want.
The Highwaymen, a group of grifters and conmen, have come to town and it is up to Massimo "Max" Rossi,
the Sands Hotel and Casino's newest house detective to stop them before they hit. But finding a group that
specializes in hitting quick and getting out fast isn't as easy as it sounds. Even if Rossi does find the
Highwaymen and identify the leader, is he willing to help fill a hole in the desert?
Rossi is forced into a choice he doesn't want to make!
Drawn into a world of sex and drugs, where every move could be his last, Rossi must navigate his way out
before it's too late. He's got to find the head of the Highwaymen, then decide how to stop them without
sacrificing his morals and convictions. If he can't, there might just be two holes filled in the desert.
TRIVIA
Which mystery author had a stained glass window installed in her memory at the Shrewsbury Abbey?
a. Edith Pargeter (Ellis Peters)
b. Agatha Christie
c. Josephine Tey
d. Emily Dickinson
The answer is a. Edith Pargeter (Ellis Peters). She passed away from a stroke at age 82. On September
14, 1997, a new stained glass window depicting St Benedict was installed in Shrewsbury Abbey and was
dedicated to the memory of Edith Pargeter, with funds raised by donations from admirers of the author.
This week's question is:
We all know and love Angela Lansbury as Jessica Fletcher is the series Murder She Wrote. Her agent at
the time advised her to accept a role in a sitcom instead of this series but she (wisely) chose this instead.
Who is the other actress producers had chosen for the part?
a. Bea Arthur
b. Victoria Principal
c. Jean Stapleton
d. Goldie Hawn
Tune in next week for the answer
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/54106233Tue, 06 Jun 2023 08:00:02 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubWWAR For June Show Notes As we enter summer, we have two new books to suggest. Tracey reported on DOOMSDAY MOTHER by John Glatt (St. Martin's True Crime Press). In The Doomsday Mother, bestselling true crime author John Glatt tells the twisted tale of...Show Notes
As we enter summer, we have two new books to suggest.
Tracey reported on DOOMSDAY MOTHER by John Glatt (St. Martin's True Crime Press).
In The Doomsday Mother, bestselling true crime author John Glatt tells the twisted tale of Lori Vallow,
accused of having her two children murdered to start a new life with her new husband, doomsday
prepper Chad Daybell.
At first, the residents of Kauai Beach Resort took little notice of their new neighbors. The glamorous blonde
and her tall husband fit the image of the ritzy gated community. The couple seemed to keep to
themselves―until the police knocked on their door with a search warrant. Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell had
fled to Hawaii in the midst of being investigated for the disappearance of Lori’s children back in Idaho―Tylee
and JJ―who hadn’t been seen alive in five months.
For years, Lori Vallow had been devoted to her children and her Mormon faith. But when her path crossed
with Chad Daybell, a religious zealot who taught his followers how to prepare for the end-times, the
tumultuous relationship transformed her into someone unrecognizable. As authorities searched for Lori’s
children, they uncovered more suspicious deaths with links to both Lori and Chad, including the death of Lori’s
third and fourth husbands, her brother, and Chad’s wife. In June 2020, the gruesome remains of JJ and Tylee
were discovered on Chad’s property, and the newlyweds were arrested and charged with murder. And in a
shocking development, horrifying statements revealed that the couple’s fanatical beliefs had convinced them
the children had become zombies--a belief that may have led to their deaths.
Bestselling author and journalist John Glatt takes readers deeper into the devastating story of Lori Vallow and
Chad Daybell in an attempt to unravel the lethal relationship of this doomsday couple.
Ann reported on ROSSI'S GAMBLE by Paul Papa, one of the Dark and Stormy Family (STACGroup
LLC)
When Meyer Lansky makes you an offer, how can you refuse? Even if it's one you don't want.
The Highwaymen, a group of grifters and conmen, have come to town and it is up to Massimo "Max" Rossi,
the Sands Hotel and Casino's newest house detective to stop them before they hit. But finding a group that
specializes in hitting quick and getting out fast isn't as easy as it sounds. Even if Rossi does find the
Highwaymen and identify the leader, is he willing to help fill a hole in the desert?
Rossi is forced into a choice he doesn't want to make!
Drawn into a world of sex and drugs, where every move could be his last, Rossi must navigate his way out
before it's too late. He's got to find the head of the Highwaymen, then decide how to stop them without
sacrificing his morals and convictions. If he can't, there might just be two holes filled in the desert.
TRIVIA
Which mystery author had a stained glass window installed in her memory at the Shrewsbury Abbey?
a. Edith Pargeter (Ellis Peters)
b. Agatha Christie
c. Josephine Tey
d. Emily Dickinson
The answer is a. Edith Pargeter (Ellis Peters). She passed away from a stroke at age 82. On September
14, 1997, a new stained glass window depicting St Benedict was installed in Shrewsbury Abbey and was
dedicated to the memory of Edith Pargeter, with funds raised by donations from admirers of the author.
This week's question is:
We all know and love Angela Lansbury as Jessica Fletcher is the series Murder She Wrote. Her agent at
the time advised her to accept a role in a sitcom instead of this series but she (wisely) chose this instead.
Who is the other actress producers had chosen for the part?
a. Bea Arthur
b. Victoria Principal
c. Jean Stapleton
d. Goldie Hawn
Tune in next week for the answer
]]>2091amreading,bookclub,doomsdaymother,johnglatt,mistysimon,mysterybookclub,paulpapa,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/matt-cahill-radioland--54036384by Matt Cahill

Show Notes

Dead bodies are being found in Toronto; bodies that have been altered in disturbing ways. There are whispers
on the streets of a murderer stalking the bars and clubs. No one knows who the killer could be. Maybe it’s
Kris, a troubled musician who has just reached a level of fame only to have his life collapse around him.
Maybe it’s Jill, a young woman cursed with a dangerous magic that calls strangers to her.
As Kris struggles to deal with a childhood experience of sexual abuse he finds a strange advertisement
pinned to a tree. By answering it he begins texting Jill, another lost soul reaching out for connection. In bits
and pieces, they share their stories, discovering truths about themselves and the people surrounding them,
until they must face the danger that is stalking them both.
TRIVIA
Last week's question was:
Which author was a cook at the Fair Isle Bird Observatory?
a. Sharon McCrumb
b. Ann Cleeves
c. Jeffrey Deaver
d. Anthony Horowitz
Tune in next week for the answer and to hear from some of the authors who attended Malice this year.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/54036384Tue, 30 May 2023 08:00:02 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubRadioland by Matt Cahill Show Notes Dead bodies are being found in Toronto; bodies that have been altered in disturbing ways. There are whispers on the streets of a murderer stalking the bars and clubs. No one knows who the killer could be. Maybe...by Matt Cahill

Show Notes

Dead bodies are being found in Toronto; bodies that have been altered in disturbing ways. There are whispers
on the streets of a murderer stalking the bars and clubs. No one knows who the killer could be. Maybe it’s
Kris, a troubled musician who has just reached a level of fame only to have his life collapse around him.
Maybe it’s Jill, a young woman cursed with a dangerous magic that calls strangers to her.
As Kris struggles to deal with a childhood experience of sexual abuse he finds a strange advertisement
pinned to a tree. By answering it he begins texting Jill, another lost soul reaching out for connection. In bits
and pieces, they share their stories, discovering truths about themselves and the people surrounding them,
until they must face the danger that is stalking them both.
TRIVIA
Last week's question was:
Which author was a cook at the Fair Isle Bird Observatory?
a. Sharon McCrumb
b. Ann Cleeves
c. Jeffrey Deaver
d. Anthony Horowitz
Tune in next week for the answer and to hear from some of the authors who attended Malice this year.]]>1776amreading,bookclub,booklove,murder,mustread,mysterypodcast,podcast,radiolandfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/malice-domestic-recap--53964841Show Notes
Ann, Tracey and Misty discuss our observations of the Malice Domestic Conference this year. We loved
every minute of the event and the awards banquet where the Agatha Awards for 2022 were presented: We
thoroughly enjoyed every minute of the conference and look forward to next year.
2022
**WINNERS
Best Contemporary Novel
A World of Curiosities, Louise Penny (Minotaur)**
Best Historical Novel
Because I Could Not Stop for Death, Amanda Flower (Berkley)**
Best First Novel
Cheddar Off Dead, Korina Moss (St. Martin’s)**
Best Short Story
"Beauty and the Beyotch," Barb Goffman (Sherlock Holmes Mystery Magazine, Feb.
2022)**
Best Non-Fiction
Promophobia: Taking the Mystery Out of Promoting Crime Fiction, Diane Vallere
Ed. (Sisters in Crime)**
Best Children's/YA Mystery
Enola Holmes and the Elegant Escapade, Nancy Springer (Wednesday Books)**
We send our sincere congratulations to all of the winners.
TRIVIA
Last week's question was:
Jeffrey Deaver was ahead of his time in 2001 when he?
a. He had characters in space
b. He had characters use social media
c. He had characters use small sized cell phones
d. He had characters cured of cancer
The answer is b. He had characters use social media. Deaver's 2001 book The Blue Nowhere features
criminal hackers (one using social engineering to commit murder), as well as a law enforcement computer
crime unit.
This week's question is::
Which author was a cook at the Fair Isle Bird Observatory?
a. Sharon McCrumb
b. Ann Cleeves
c. Jeffrey Deaver
d. Anthony Horowitz
Tune in next week for the answer
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/53964841Tue, 23 May 2023 08:00:04 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubMalice Recap Show Notes Ann, Tracey and Misty discuss our observations of the Malice Domestic Conference this year. We loved every minute of the event and the awards banquet where the Agatha Awards for 2022 were presented: We thoroughly enjoyed every...Show Notes
Ann, Tracey and Misty discuss our observations of the Malice Domestic Conference this year. We loved
every minute of the event and the awards banquet where the Agatha Awards for 2022 were presented: We
thoroughly enjoyed every minute of the conference and look forward to next year.
2022
**WINNERS
Best Contemporary Novel
A World of Curiosities, Louise Penny (Minotaur)**
Best Historical Novel
Because I Could Not Stop for Death, Amanda Flower (Berkley)**
Best First Novel
Cheddar Off Dead, Korina Moss (St. Martin’s)**
Best Short Story
"Beauty and the Beyotch," Barb Goffman (Sherlock Holmes Mystery Magazine, Feb.
2022)**
Best Non-Fiction
Promophobia: Taking the Mystery Out of Promoting Crime Fiction, Diane Vallere
Ed. (Sisters in Crime)**
Best Children's/YA Mystery
Enola Holmes and the Elegant Escapade, Nancy Springer (Wednesday Books)**
We send our sincere congratulations to all of the winners.
TRIVIA
Last week's question was:
Jeffrey Deaver was ahead of his time in 2001 when he?
a. He had characters in space
b. He had characters use social media
c. He had characters use small sized cell phones
d. He had characters cured of cancer
The answer is b. He had characters use social media. Deaver's 2001 book The Blue Nowhere features
criminal hackers (one using social engineering to commit murder), as well as a law enforcement computer
crime unit.
This week's question is::
Which author was a cook at the Fair Isle Bird Observatory?
a. Sharon McCrumb
b. Ann Cleeves
c. Jeffrey Deaver
d. Anthony Horowitz
Tune in next week for the answer
]]>1136amreading,bookclub,booklove,cozy,malicedomestic,mistysimon,murdermystery,mustread,podcast,winnersfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/malice-domestic-2023-pop-up-interviews--53881152On this episode we visit with six authors who visited our room during Malice Domestic.
Lynn McPherson, is a Canadian author. She is a cozy mystery writer and author of The Izzy
Walsh Mystery Series. Her books are fun, light-hearted whodunits. They pair well with a strong
coffee or a light chardonnay, and are a recommended way to spend a relaxing afternoon. She
also writes under the name Sydney Leigh. Her newest book, The Girls Dressed For Murder...
When Izzy gets a killer dress for her birthday, she isn’t expecting to accessorize it with murder...
It’s 1958 in the cozy coastal town of Twin Oaks and amateur sleuth Isabelle Walsh is armed with
a fresh perspective, two years after tragedy strikes. The first stop on her journey back to joy is
the best little dress shop in town—introduced to her by best friend and fashion fiend, Ava
Russell.
Izzy falls in love with the store and its style. So, when the boutique is marred by murder, Izzy
wants to help. But with more suspects to choose from than a spring collection, she isn’t sure
where to start. Can Izzy unravel the twisted truth or will she become the victim of a deadly
trend? Find out in the third book in the Izzy Walsh Mystery Series! Lynn's website is
Sydneyleighbooks.com
Olivia Blacke joined us to talk about her Record Shop Mysteries.
She is the author of the Record Shop Mysteries, beginning with Vinyl Resting Place, and
the Brooklyn Murder Mysteries (Killer Content and No Memes of Escape), finally found a way to
put her criminology degree to good use by writing quirky, unconventional, character-driven cozy
mysteries. Olivia is a little nerdy, a lot awkward, and just the right amount of weird. She is a
recovering ex-Texan who resides with her husband, Potassium, and Baileycakes, their roly-poly
rescue puggle. When not writing, reading, or spending way too much time on social media,
Olivia enjoys amigurumi crochet, scuba diving, collecting tattoos, watching hockey, and baking
dog cookies. She wants to be a unicorn when she grows up. Her website is oliviablacke.com
Desmond P. Ryan is a friend of the show from Canada. He is an ex-police detective and
wsrites the Mike O'Shea mysteries. One of the main characters in his books is Mike O'Shea's
motheer, Mary Margaret. She is a typical Irish woman who rules the household with an iron fist
and takes no prisoners. She so encompassed the Mike books that we (that's right WE)
suggested that she needed a series of her own. That brought Desmond to Malice this year. He
has a contract for both Mike O'Shea and Mary Margaret books. He can be found at the website
realdesmondryan.com
We then talked with Marilyn Levinson who writes under the name of Allison Brook. She has
the Haunted Library Mystery series; Allison Brook is a former Spanish teacher who grew up in
Brooklyn, New York, then Long Island, off the coast of New York. She has studied in Mexico and
Spain to become fluent in Spanish, and has written in the genres of mysteries, romantic
suspense, and young adult fiction. She can be found at Crooked Lane's website .
We then talked with Sue Anger, a delightful author. We talked about her book Last Known
Port. While growing up in Beaufort, North Carolina, she often heard rum-running stories from
the Prohibition era. Although fern bars, yachts, and supermarkets may have replaced the old
working-boat waterfront, the town still values its unique Southern history. Since she became a
freela nce writer in 2014, She's written short stories, essays, magazine articles, content, and
blogs.She is also a bona fide, dyed-in-the-wool fan of historical fiction and mysteries. She's also
a long-time member of Sisters in Crime and the Triangle Area Freelancers in Raleigh, North
Carolina.Her website is sueanger.com
Finally, we talked with Vicki Delany. She is a friend of the show and a prolific author. She has
over 40 books out and writes the Tea By the Sea, The Sherlock Holmes Bookshop, The Year-
round Christmas, The Lighthouse Library mysteries as well as several others. Her latest book is
The Game Is A Footnote. Gemma Doyle and Jayne Wilson are back on the case when a body is
discovered in a haunted museum in bestselling author Vicki Delany's eighth Sherlock Holmes
Bookshop mystery.
Scarlet House, now a historical re-enactment museum, is the oldest building in West London,
Massachusetts. When things start moving around on their own, board members suggest that
Gemma Doyle, owner of the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium, might be able to get to
the bottom of it. Gemma doesn’t believe in ghosts, but she agrees to ‘eliminate the impossible’.
But when Gemma and Jayne stumble across a dead body on the property, they’re forced to
consider an all too physical threat.
Gemma and Jayne suspect foul play as they start to uncover more secrets about the museum.
With the museum being a revolving door for potential killers, they have plenty of options for who
might be the actual culprit.
Despite Gemma's determination not to get further involved, it would appear that once again, and
much to the displeasure of Detective Ryan Ashburton, the game is afoot.
Will Gemma and Jayne be able to solve the mystery behind the haunted museum, or will they
be the next to haunt it? Her website is Vickidelany.com
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/53881152Tue, 16 May 2023 08:00:03 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubPopup Show Notes On this episode we visit with six authors who visited our room during Malice Domestic. Lynn McPherson, is a Canadian author. She is a cozy mystery writer and author of The Izzy Walsh Mystery Series. Her books are fun, light-hearted...On this episode we visit with six authors who visited our room during Malice Domestic.
Lynn McPherson, is a Canadian author. She is a cozy mystery writer and author of The Izzy
Walsh Mystery Series. Her books are fun, light-hearted whodunits. They pair well with a strong
coffee or a light chardonnay, and are a recommended way to spend a relaxing afternoon. She
also writes under the name Sydney Leigh. Her newest book, The Girls Dressed For Murder...
When Izzy gets a killer dress for her birthday, she isn’t expecting to accessorize it with murder...
It’s 1958 in the cozy coastal town of Twin Oaks and amateur sleuth Isabelle Walsh is armed with
a fresh perspective, two years after tragedy strikes. The first stop on her journey back to joy is
the best little dress shop in town—introduced to her by best friend and fashion fiend, Ava
Russell.
Izzy falls in love with the store and its style. So, when the boutique is marred by murder, Izzy
wants to help. But with more suspects to choose from than a spring collection, she isn’t sure
where to start. Can Izzy unravel the twisted truth or will she become the victim of a deadly
trend? Find out in the third book in the Izzy Walsh Mystery Series! Lynn's website is
Sydneyleighbooks.com
Olivia Blacke joined us to talk about her Record Shop Mysteries.
She is the author of the Record Shop Mysteries, beginning with Vinyl Resting Place, and
the Brooklyn Murder Mysteries (Killer Content and No Memes of Escape), finally found a way to
put her criminology degree to good use by writing quirky, unconventional, character-driven cozy
mysteries. Olivia is a little nerdy, a lot awkward, and just the right amount of weird. She is a
recovering ex-Texan who resides with her husband, Potassium, and Baileycakes, their roly-poly
rescue puggle. When not writing, reading, or spending way too much time on social media,
Olivia enjoys amigurumi crochet, scuba diving, collecting tattoos, watching hockey, and baking
dog cookies. She wants to be a unicorn when she grows up. Her website is oliviablacke.com
Desmond P. Ryan is a friend of the show from Canada. He is an ex-police detective and
wsrites the Mike O'Shea mysteries. One of the main characters in his books is Mike O'Shea's
motheer, Mary Margaret. She is a typical Irish woman who rules the household with an iron fist
and takes no prisoners. She so encompassed the Mike books that we (that's right WE)
suggested that she needed a series of her own. That brought Desmond to Malice this year. He
has a contract for both Mike O'Shea and Mary Margaret books. He can be found at the website
realdesmondryan.com
We then talked with Marilyn Levinson who writes under the name of Allison Brook. She has
the Haunted Library Mystery series; Allison Brook is a former Spanish teacher who grew up in
Brooklyn, New York, then Long Island, off the coast of New York. She has studied in Mexico and
Spain to become fluent in Spanish, and has written in the genres of mysteries, romantic
suspense, and young adult fiction. She can be found at Crooked Lane's website .
We then talked with Sue Anger, a delightful author. We talked about her book Last Known
Port. While growing up in Beaufort, North Carolina, she often heard rum-running stories from
the Prohibition era. Although fern bars, yachts, and supermarkets may have replaced the old
working-boat waterfront, the town still values its unique Southern history. Since she became a
freela nce writer in 2014, She's written short stories, essays, magazine articles, content, and
blogs.She is also a bona fide, dyed-in-the-wool fan of historical fiction and mysteries. She's also
a long-time member of Sisters in Crime and the Triangle Area Freelancers in Raleigh, North
Carolina.Her website is sueanger.com
Finally,...]]>1600amreading,authorinterviews,bookclub,cozymysteries,mustread,mysterybooks,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/verena-rose-interview--53784830Best Contemporary Novel
A World of Curiosities, Louise Penny (Minotaur)
Best Historical Novel
Because I Could Not Stop for Death, Amanda Flower (Berkley)
Best First Novel
Cheddar Off Dead, Korina Moss (St. Martin’s)
Best Short Story
"Beauty and the Beyotch," Barb Goffman (Sherlock Holmes Magazine, Feb. 2022)
Best Non-Fiction
Promophobia: Taking the Mystery Out of Promoting Crime Fiction, Diane Vallere
Ed. (Sisters in Crime)
Best Children/Young Adult Novel
Enola Holmes and the Elegant Escapade, Nancy Springer (Wednesday Books)
We sincerely congratulate each of the winners and also the nominees. We look forward to next year's Malice
We talked with Verena Rose, Chair of the Board of Directors of Malice Domestic. She is a fount of knowledge
about the history of Malice.
Verena is a short story writer, an editor and co-publisher at Level Best Books. She has been the chair of the
Board of Directors of Malice for 17 years.
TRIVIA
Last week's question was:
Midnight In The Garden of Good and Evil spent how many weeks on the NY Times Best Seller list?
a. 52
b. 100
c. 150
d. 216
The answer is d. 216 weeks. John Berendt published Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil in 1994 and it
became an overnight success; The book spent a record-breaking 216 weeks on the New York
Times bestseller list[2] — still, to this day, the longest standing best seller of the Times.
This week's question is:
Jeffrey Deaver was ahead of his time in 2001 when he?
a. He had characters in space
b. He had characters use social media
c. He had characters use small sized cell phones
d. He had characters cured of cancer
Tune in next week for the answer and to hear from some of the authors who attended Malice this year.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/53784830Tue, 09 May 2023 08:00:02 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubAs we wrap another Malice Domestic under our belts, we announce the winners of this year;s Agatha Awards: Best Contemporary Novel A World of Curiosities, Louise Penny (Minotaur) Best Historical Novel Because I Could Not Stop for Death, Amanda Flower...Best Contemporary Novel
A World of Curiosities, Louise Penny (Minotaur)
Best Historical Novel
Because I Could Not Stop for Death, Amanda Flower (Berkley)
Best First Novel
Cheddar Off Dead, Korina Moss (St. Martin’s)
Best Short Story
"Beauty and the Beyotch," Barb Goffman (Sherlock Holmes Magazine, Feb. 2022)
Best Non-Fiction
Promophobia: Taking the Mystery Out of Promoting Crime Fiction, Diane Vallere
Ed. (Sisters in Crime)
Best Children/Young Adult Novel
Enola Holmes and the Elegant Escapade, Nancy Springer (Wednesday Books)
We sincerely congratulate each of the winners and also the nominees. We look forward to next year's Malice
We talked with Verena Rose, Chair of the Board of Directors of Malice Domestic. She is a fount of knowledge
about the history of Malice.
Verena is a short story writer, an editor and co-publisher at Level Best Books. She has been the chair of the
Board of Directors of Malice for 17 years.
TRIVIA
Last week's question was:
Midnight In The Garden of Good and Evil spent how many weeks on the NY Times Best Seller list?
a. 52
b. 100
c. 150
d. 216
The answer is d. 216 weeks. John Berendt published Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil in 1994 and it
became an overnight success; The book spent a record-breaking 216 weeks on the New York
Times bestseller list[2] — still, to this day, the longest standing best seller of the Times.
This week's question is:
Jeffrey Deaver was ahead of his time in 2001 when he?
a. He had characters in space
b. He had characters use social media
c. He had characters use small sized cell phones
d. He had characters cured of cancer
Tune in next week for the answer and to hear from some of the authors who attended Malice this year.]]>894agatha,amreading,bookclub,booklove,malicedomestic,mustread,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/cynthia-surrisi-interview-patron-spotlight--53710642have just come out. She is a very successful middle school novel author.
The Bones of Birka: Unraveling the Mystery of A Female Viking Warrior.(Chicago Review
Press). When archaeologist Dr. Charlotte Hedenstierna-Jonson discovers that the bones
contained in the most significant Viking warrior grave ever opened are, in fact, female, she and
her team upend centuries of historically accepted conclusions and ignite a furious debate
around the reality of female Viking warriors and the role of gender in both ancient and modern
times.
In The Bones of Birka, author C. M. Surrisi introduces young readers to the events that led up to
this discovery and the impact it has had on scientists’ and historians’ views of gender roles in
ancient societies and today. This is the inside account of the Birka warrior grave Bj 581
archaeological endeavor, including all of the dreams, setbacks, frustrations, excitement, politics,
and personalities that went into this history-changing discovery.
Her other book is The Unofficial Lola Bay Fan Club (G.P. Putnam's Sons Publishers). Pop star
Lola Bay is everything to Iris and her best friend, Leeza. Her songs speak right to
their souls and they can’t wait to start a Lola Bay fan club when middle school starts. But then
mean girls take over the fan club and Leeza seems to be interested in other things.
Enter Dana. She’s bold and cool and not afraid to stand up for herself. Plus, she’s a massive
Lola Bay fan and knows how to get free merch online. She even has big ideas for getting them
to a concert.
When some of Dana’s ideas make Iris a little nervous, she pushes the feelings down—Dana
seems to know what she’s doing. Only as Dana’s plans get bigger and bigger, Iris feels worse
and worse. And then Dana crosses a line that causes trouble for Iris’s whole family.
How could someone who is supposed to be a friend do that? And, Iris wonders, how did I let
things go this far?
TRIVIA
Last week's question was:
What is author Laura Lippmans familyh connection to “The Wire?”
a. her brother
b. Her sister
c. Her cousin
d. Her husband
The answer is D. Her husband. Lippman is married to David Simon, another former Baltimore
Sun reporter, and creator and an executive producer of the HBO series The Wire.The character
Bunk is shown to be reading one of her books, In a Strange City, in episode eight of the first
season of The Wire. Lippman appeared in a scene in the first episode of the last season of The
Wire as a reporter working in the Baltimore Sun newsroom
This week's question is:
Midnight In The Garden of Good and Evil spent how many weeks on the NY Times Best Seller
list?
a. 52
b. 100
c. 150
d. 216]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/53710642Tue, 02 May 2023 08:00:02 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubOn this episode, we talked with our longest patron, Cynthia Surrisi. She has two books that have just come out. She is a very successful middle school novel author. The Bones of Birka: Unraveling the Mystery of A Female Viking Warrior.(Chicago Review...have just come out. She is a very successful middle school novel author.
The Bones of Birka: Unraveling the Mystery of A Female Viking Warrior.(Chicago Review
Press). When archaeologist Dr. Charlotte Hedenstierna-Jonson discovers that the bones
contained in the most significant Viking warrior grave ever opened are, in fact, female, she and
her team upend centuries of historically accepted conclusions and ignite a furious debate
around the reality of female Viking warriors and the role of gender in both ancient and modern
times.
In The Bones of Birka, author C. M. Surrisi introduces young readers to the events that led up to
this discovery and the impact it has had on scientists’ and historians’ views of gender roles in
ancient societies and today. This is the inside account of the Birka warrior grave Bj 581
archaeological endeavor, including all of the dreams, setbacks, frustrations, excitement, politics,
and personalities that went into this history-changing discovery.
Her other book is The Unofficial Lola Bay Fan Club (G.P. Putnam's Sons Publishers). Pop star
Lola Bay is everything to Iris and her best friend, Leeza. Her songs speak right to
their souls and they can’t wait to start a Lola Bay fan club when middle school starts. But then
mean girls take over the fan club and Leeza seems to be interested in other things.
Enter Dana. She’s bold and cool and not afraid to stand up for herself. Plus, she’s a massive
Lola Bay fan and knows how to get free merch online. She even has big ideas for getting them
to a concert.
When some of Dana’s ideas make Iris a little nervous, she pushes the feelings down—Dana
seems to know what she’s doing. Only as Dana’s plans get bigger and bigger, Iris feels worse
and worse. And then Dana crosses a line that causes trouble for Iris’s whole family.
How could someone who is supposed to be a friend do that? And, Iris wonders, how did I let
things go this far?
TRIVIA
Last week's question was:
What is author Laura Lippmans familyh connection to “The Wire?”
a. her brother
b. Her sister
c. Her cousin
d. Her husband
The answer is D. Her husband. Lippman is married to David Simon, another former Baltimore
Sun reporter, and creator and an executive producer of the HBO series The Wire.The character
Bunk is shown to be reading one of her books, In a Strange City, in episode eight of the first
season of The Wire. Lippman appeared in a scene in the first episode of the last season of The
Wire as a reporter working in the Baltimore Sun newsroom
This week's question is:
Midnight In The Garden of Good and Evil spent how many weeks on the NY Times Best Seller
list?
a. 52
b. 100
c. 150
d. 216]]>2243amreading,bookclub,booklove,middlegrade,mustread,podcast,vikingwarriorfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/wwar-april-2023-part-2--53646634:
Tracey reported on “Operation Blackbird: A Cold War Spy Novel” by Ellen Butler. Ellen appeared on
episode 19 in August of 2018 on her book “Isabella's Painting.”
October, 1952. The war is over, but for CIA officer Miriam Becker, memories of the horrors she witnessed
remain jagged in her mind. While vacationing in Argentina, recovering from a mission that nearly killed her,
she’s seeing more ghosts from the past than the sights.
When a longtime family friend and fellow operative, Jake Devlin, tracks her down, Miriam is forced to push
everything to the back of her mind for the next mission: help a highly prized and heavily guarded rocket
scientist defect from Soviet-controlled East Berlin—right out from under the KGB’s nose.
Well aware that one wrong move could spark World War III, Miriam, Jake, and the team plan their strategy to
the last detail. But when a betrayal brings everything crashing down, Jake’s quick thinking creates the
diversion to get Miriam out alive—but leaves him trapped behind the Iron Curtain.
Unsure of whom she can trust, Miriam must complete the mission by relying on contacts outside of the
agency, even though her heart longs to return to East Berlin to rescue the man who is the last link to her
troubled past ... before the KGB gets to him first.
Last but not least, Misty reported on Cathy Ace, one of our favorite authros, whose first appearance on the
podcast was on episode 27 for her book “The Corpse With The Silver Tongue.” She has appeared several
times since then.
Misty reported on “The Case of The Cursed Cottage: A WISE Enquiries Agent Mystery.” Henry
Twyst, eighteenth Duke of Chellingworth, is convinced his mother is losing her marbles. The dowager claims
to have seen a corpse on the dining-room floor, but all she has to prove it is a bloodied bobble hat.
A BODY IN THE DINING ROOM. A BEAUTIFUL OLD MANSION. FOUR LADIES WHO WILL SOLVE THE
MYSTERY.
Henry hires the women of the WISE Enquiries Agency. The duke wants the strange matter explained.
But the truth of what happened at the Chellingworth Estate, set in the rolling Welsh countryside near the
quaint village of Anwen by Wye, is more complex, dangerous, and deadly, than anyone could have foreseen .
. .
THE DETECTIVES
The WISE Enquiries Agency consists of Mavis, Annie, Carol and Christine. One is Welsh, one Irish, one
Scottish and one English, hence the name. Drawn together by chance – and a killer – the women of the WISE
Enquiries Agency turned their backs on their previous careers to work together to help others. Combining their
unique skills, and reveling in their differences, they’re doing their best to make the business succeed. But
being private investigators isn’t a bed of roses – there are bills to pay, clients to be managed, and dangers to
be faced. Can they manage to do it all, and survive?
We thank our listeners and especially our patrons who support what we do and look forward to five more
years of fun.
TRIVIA
Last week's question was:
P.D. James began her writing career while she worked where?
a. A school
b. a Law firm
c. a factory
d. a hospital
The answer is d. A hospital. She married Ernest Connor Bantry White (called "Connor"), an army doctor,
on 8 August 1941. They had two daughters, Clare and Jane. White returned from the Second World War
mentally ill and was institutionalised. With her daughters being mostly cared for by Connor's parents,James
studied hospital administration, and from 1949 to 1968 worked for a hospital board in London. She began
writing in the mid-1950s, using her maiden name ("My genes are James genes")
This week's question is:
What is author Laura Lippmans family connection to “The Wire?”
a. her brother
b. Her sister
c. Her cousin
Tune in next week for the answer.
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/53646634Wed, 26 Apr 2023 08:00:02 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubPART 2 WWAR : Tracey reported on “Operation Blackbird: A Cold War Spy Novel” by Ellen Butler. Ellen appeared on episode 19 in August of 2018 on her book “Isabella's Painting.” October, 1952. The war is over, but for CIA officer Miriam Becker, memories...:
Tracey reported on “Operation Blackbird: A Cold War Spy Novel” by Ellen Butler. Ellen appeared on
episode 19 in August of 2018 on her book “Isabella's Painting.”
October, 1952. The war is over, but for CIA officer Miriam Becker, memories of the horrors she witnessed
remain jagged in her mind. While vacationing in Argentina, recovering from a mission that nearly killed her,
she’s seeing more ghosts from the past than the sights.
When a longtime family friend and fellow operative, Jake Devlin, tracks her down, Miriam is forced to push
everything to the back of her mind for the next mission: help a highly prized and heavily guarded rocket
scientist defect from Soviet-controlled East Berlin—right out from under the KGB’s nose.
Well aware that one wrong move could spark World War III, Miriam, Jake, and the team plan their strategy to
the last detail. But when a betrayal brings everything crashing down, Jake’s quick thinking creates the
diversion to get Miriam out alive—but leaves him trapped behind the Iron Curtain.
Unsure of whom she can trust, Miriam must complete the mission by relying on contacts outside of the
agency, even though her heart longs to return to East Berlin to rescue the man who is the last link to her
troubled past ... before the KGB gets to him first.
Last but not least, Misty reported on Cathy Ace, one of our favorite authros, whose first appearance on the
podcast was on episode 27 for her book “The Corpse With The Silver Tongue.” She has appeared several
times since then.
Misty reported on “The Case of The Cursed Cottage: A WISE Enquiries Agent Mystery.” Henry
Twyst, eighteenth Duke of Chellingworth, is convinced his mother is losing her marbles. The dowager claims
to have seen a corpse on the dining-room floor, but all she has to prove it is a bloodied bobble hat.
A BODY IN THE DINING ROOM. A BEAUTIFUL OLD MANSION. FOUR LADIES WHO WILL SOLVE THE
MYSTERY.
Henry hires the women of the WISE Enquiries Agency. The duke wants the strange matter explained.
But the truth of what happened at the Chellingworth Estate, set in the rolling Welsh countryside near the
quaint village of Anwen by Wye, is more complex, dangerous, and deadly, than anyone could have foreseen .
. .
THE DETECTIVES
The WISE Enquiries Agency consists of Mavis, Annie, Carol and Christine. One is Welsh, one Irish, one
Scottish and one English, hence the name. Drawn together by chance – and a killer – the women of the WISE
Enquiries Agency turned their backs on their previous careers to work together to help others. Combining their
unique skills, and reveling in their differences, they’re doing their best to make the business succeed. But
being private investigators isn’t a bed of roses – there are bills to pay, clients to be managed, and dangers to
be faced. Can they manage to do it all, and survive?
We thank our listeners and especially our patrons who support what we do and look forward to five more
years of fun.
TRIVIA
Last week's question was:
P.D. James began her writing career while she worked where?
a. A school
b. a Law firm
c. a factory
d. a hospital
The answer is d. A hospital. She married Ernest Connor Bantry White (called "Connor"), an army doctor,
on 8 August 1941. They had two daughters, Clare and Jane. White returned from the Second World War
mentally ill and was institutionalised. With her daughters being mostly cared for by Connor's parents,James
studied hospital administration, and from 1949 to 1968 worked for a hospital board in London. She began
writing in the mid-1950s, using her maiden name ("My genes are James genes")
This week's question is:
What is author Laura Lippmans family connection to “The Wire?”
a. her brother
b. Her sister
c. Her cousin1284amreading,bookclub,booklove,malicedomestic,mistysimon,podcast,tbrfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/wwar-april-2023-part-1--53635852th
Podiversary and
WWAR For April
Show Notes
We are celebrating our 5th
“Podiversary” this month and, as a subject, we have decided to return to year
one and revisit some of the authors from our very first year.
Kathy reported on Jana DeLeon who was featured on episode 8 for her book “Louisiana Longshot.”
Kathy found that she has 24 books in the series now and reported on “Flame and Fortune” the 22nd
book
in the series.
It’s New Year’s in Sinful, and the competition for the New Year’s Queen is heating up as the warring churches
go head-to-head. Fortune Redding is not the sequined dress kind of woman, but reluctantly agrees to partake
in the debacle so that Ida Belle and Gertie can best their nemesis, Celia, who’s put up former Sinful mean girl
RJ Rogers.
RJ and her friend Brock Benoit left plenty of devastation in their wake when they fled Sinful after high school.
So when they return and Brock is found dead, there’s no shortage of suspects. Fortune, Ida Belle, and Gertie
know all too well what it’s like to live under suspicion of a crime with no resolution. When good people become
the targets of gossip, they know they have to rush to unravel the tangled lives of RJ and Brock and expose a
killer before the wrong person’s reputation is ruined. Or worse—they’re arrested for a crime they didn’t
commit.
Ann then reported on “A White Hot Plan” by Michael H. Rubin. Mike appeared as our second author
we actually interviewed on episode 9 for his book “The Cottoncrest Curse.” Michael writes his books in
collaboration with his wife Ayan Rubin.
A group of alt-right terrorists decides that now is the time―and New Orleans is the place―to make an
explosive statement that will force the world to acknowledge the superiority of the white supremacist
movement. Disgraced former New Orleans homicide detective Starner Gautreaux is now a poorly paid
sheriff’s deputy relegated to writing his weekly quota of speeding tickets in a sleepy south Louisiana parish.
His mundane life is all-too-predictable until several unusual events cause him to suspect something is
seriously amiss. While the local coroner classifies the resulting deaths as accidental, Starner’s prior
experience leads him to believe that not only are they homicides, but also that they signal something far more
sinister. Taut action bubbles up from the swamps of Louisiana to the hidden haunts of underworld bosses,
from small-town life to urban grit, and from a high-speed highway shootout to a terrifying confrontation in the
heart of the French Quarter. White supremacists seek to impose their will on a city swamped with carefree
tourists, but Starner Gautreaux is determined not to let that happen.
We broke the episode into two parts due to the length and will broadcast part 2 tomorrow.
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/53635852Tue, 25 Apr 2023 08:00:02 +0000Dark and Stormy Book Club5 th Podiversary and WWAR For April Show Notes We are celebrating our 5th “Podiversary” this month and, as a subject, we have decided to return to year one and revisit some of the authors from our very first year. Kathy reported on Jana DeLeon who was...th
Podiversary and
WWAR For April
Show Notes
We are celebrating our 5th
“Podiversary” this month and, as a subject, we have decided to return to year
one and revisit some of the authors from our very first year.
Kathy reported on Jana DeLeon who was featured on episode 8 for her book “Louisiana Longshot.”
Kathy found that she has 24 books in the series now and reported on “Flame and Fortune” the 22nd
book
in the series.
It’s New Year’s in Sinful, and the competition for the New Year’s Queen is heating up as the warring churches
go head-to-head. Fortune Redding is not the sequined dress kind of woman, but reluctantly agrees to partake
in the debacle so that Ida Belle and Gertie can best their nemesis, Celia, who’s put up former Sinful mean girl
RJ Rogers.
RJ and her friend Brock Benoit left plenty of devastation in their wake when they fled Sinful after high school.
So when they return and Brock is found dead, there’s no shortage of suspects. Fortune, Ida Belle, and Gertie
know all too well what it’s like to live under suspicion of a crime with no resolution. When good people become
the targets of gossip, they know they have to rush to unravel the tangled lives of RJ and Brock and expose a
killer before the wrong person’s reputation is ruined. Or worse—they’re arrested for a crime they didn’t
commit.
Ann then reported on “A White Hot Plan” by Michael H. Rubin. Mike appeared as our second author
we actually interviewed on episode 9 for his book “The Cottoncrest Curse.” Michael writes his books in
collaboration with his wife Ayan Rubin.
A group of alt-right terrorists decides that now is the time―and New Orleans is the place―to make an
explosive statement that will force the world to acknowledge the superiority of the white supremacist
movement. Disgraced former New Orleans homicide detective Starner Gautreaux is now a poorly paid
sheriff’s deputy relegated to writing his weekly quota of speeding tickets in a sleepy south Louisiana parish.
His mundane life is all-too-predictable until several unusual events cause him to suspect something is
seriously amiss. While the local coroner classifies the resulting deaths as accidental, Starner’s prior
experience leads him to believe that not only are they homicides, but also that they signal something far more
sinister. Taut action bubbles up from the swamps of Louisiana to the hidden haunts of underworld bosses,
from small-town life to urban grit, and from a high-speed highway shootout to a terrifying confrontation in the
heart of the French Quarter. White supremacists seek to impose their will on a city swamped with carefree
tourists, but Starner Gautreaux is determined not to let that happen.
We broke the episode into two parts due to the length and will broadcast part 2 tomorrow.
]]>1561amreading,bookclub,booklove,mistysimon,mustread,podcast,podiversaryfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/jennifer-chow-rob-osler-and-harini-nagendra-agatha-nominee-interviews--53564939Show Notes
On this episode we finish our interviews with nominees for the Agatha Awards which will be
given at Malice Domestic this year.
We first talked with Jennifer Chow who is nominated for her book “Death By Bubble Tea”
(Berkley) for Best Contemporary Novel.
When Yale Yee discovers her cousin Celine is visiting from Hong Kong, she is obliged to play
tour guide to a relative she hasn't seen in twenty years. Not only that, but her father thinks it's a
wonderful idea for them to bond by running a food stall together at the Eastwood Village Night
Market. Yale hasn't cooked in years, and she hardly considers Celine's career as a social media
influencer as adequate experience, but because she's just lost her job at her local bookstore,
she feels she has no choice.
Yale and Celine serve small dishes and refreshing drinks, and while business is slow, it
eventually picks up thanks to Celine's surprisingly useful marketing ideas. They're quite shocked
that their bubble tea, in particular, is a hit--literally--when one of their customers turns up dead.
Yale and Celine are prime suspects due to the gold flakes that Celine added to the sweet drink
as a garnish. Though the two cousins are polar opposites in every way, they must work together
to find out what really happened to the victim or the only thing they'll be serving is time.
We talked then with Rob Osler who is nominated for a Best First Novel for his book “Devil's
Chew Toy” (Level Best).
Seattle teacher and part-time blogger Hayden McCall wakes sporting one hell of a shiner, with
the police knocking at his door. It seems that his new crush, dancer Camilo Rodriguez, has
gone missing and they suspect foul play. What happened the night before? And where is
Camilo?
Determined to find answers, pint-sized, good-hearted Hayden seeks out two of Camilo’s friends
—Hollister and Burley—both lesbians and both fiercely devoted to their friend. From them,
Hayden learns that Camilo is a “Dreamer” whose parents had been deported years earlier, and
whose sister, Daniela, is presumed to have returned to Venezuela with them. Convinced that the
cops won’t take a brown boy’s disappearance seriously, the girls join Hayden’s hunt for Camilo.
The first clues turn up at Barkingham Palace, a pet store where Camilo had taken a part-time
job. The store’s owner, Della Rupert, claims ignorance, but Hayden knows something is up. And
then there’s Camilo’s ex-boyfriend, Ryan, who’s suddenly grown inexplicably wealthy. When
Hayden and Hollister follow Ryan to a secure airport warehouse, they make a shocking
connection between him and Della—and uncover the twisted scheme that’s made both of them
rich.
The trail of clues leads them to the grounds of a magnificent estate on an island in Puget
Sound, where they’ll finally learn the truth about Camilo’s disappearance—and the fate of his
family.
And Finally, we talked with Harini Nagendra who is nominated for a Best First Novel for her book
:The Bangladore Detective's Club” (Constable)
Solving crimes isn't easy.
Add a jealous mother-in-law and having to wear a flowing sari into the mix, and you've got a
problem.
When clever, headstrong Kaveri moves to Bangalore to marry doctor Ramu, she's resigned
herself to a quiet life.
But that all changes the night of the party at the Century Club, where she escapes to the garden
for some peace - and instead spots an uninvited guest in the shadows. Half an hour later, the
party turns into a murder scene.
When a vulnerable woman is connected to the crime, Kaveri becomes determined to save her
and launches a private investigation to find the killer, tracing his steps from an illustrious brothel
to an Englishman's mansion. She soon finds that sleuthing in a sari isn't as hard as it seems
when you have a talent for maths, a head for logic and a doctor for a husband.
And she's going to need them all as the case leads her deeper into a hotbed of danger, sedition
and intrigue in Bangalore's darkest alleyways . . .
We congratulate each and every nominee and wish them all the best of luck with their writing
and in life.
TRIVIA
Last week's question was:
Which author used the following pseudonyms in their career. Deanna Dwyer, K. R. Dwyer,
Aaron Wolfe, David Axton, Brian Coffey, John Hill, Leigh Nichols, Owen West, Richard Paige,
and Anthony North?
a. Dean Koontz
b. James Patterson
c. John LeCarre
d. Michael Connelly
The answer is a. Dean Koontz. Known pseudonyms used by Koontz during his career include
Deanna Dwyer, K. R. Dwyer, Aaron Wolfe, David Axton, Brian Coffey, John Hill, Leigh Nichols,
Owen West, Richard Paige, and Anthony North. As Brian Coffey, he wrote the "Mike Tucker"
trilogy (Blood Risk, Surrounded, Wall of Masks) in acknowledged tribute to the Parker novels of
Richard Stark (Donald E. Westlake). Many of Koontz's pseudonymous novels are now available
under his real name. Many others remain suppressed by Koontz, who bought back the rights to
ensure they could not be republished; he has, on occasion, said that he might revise some for
republication, but only three have appeared — Demon Seed and Invasion were both heavily
rewritten before they were republished, and Prison of Ice had certain sections bowdlerised.
This week's question is:
P.D. James began her writing career while she worked where?
a. A school
b. a Law firm
c. a factory
d. a hospital
Tune in next week for the answer.
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/53564939Tue, 18 Apr 2023 08:00:07 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubJennifer Chow, Rob Osler and Harini Nagendra Show Notes On this episode we finish our interviews with nominees for the Agatha Awards which will be given at Malice Domestic this year. We first talked with Jennifer Chow who is nominated for her book...Show Notes
On this episode we finish our interviews with nominees for the Agatha Awards which will be
given at Malice Domestic this year.
We first talked with Jennifer Chow who is nominated for her book “Death By Bubble Tea”
(Berkley) for Best Contemporary Novel.
When Yale Yee discovers her cousin Celine is visiting from Hong Kong, she is obliged to play
tour guide to a relative she hasn't seen in twenty years. Not only that, but her father thinks it's a
wonderful idea for them to bond by running a food stall together at the Eastwood Village Night
Market. Yale hasn't cooked in years, and she hardly considers Celine's career as a social media
influencer as adequate experience, but because she's just lost her job at her local bookstore,
she feels she has no choice.
Yale and Celine serve small dishes and refreshing drinks, and while business is slow, it
eventually picks up thanks to Celine's surprisingly useful marketing ideas. They're quite shocked
that their bubble tea, in particular, is a hit--literally--when one of their customers turns up dead.
Yale and Celine are prime suspects due to the gold flakes that Celine added to the sweet drink
as a garnish. Though the two cousins are polar opposites in every way, they must work together
to find out what really happened to the victim or the only thing they'll be serving is time.
We talked then with Rob Osler who is nominated for a Best First Novel for his book “Devil's
Chew Toy” (Level Best).
Seattle teacher and part-time blogger Hayden McCall wakes sporting one hell of a shiner, with
the police knocking at his door. It seems that his new crush, dancer Camilo Rodriguez, has
gone missing and they suspect foul play. What happened the night before? And where is
Camilo?
Determined to find answers, pint-sized, good-hearted Hayden seeks out two of Camilo’s friends
—Hollister and Burley—both lesbians and both fiercely devoted to their friend. From them,
Hayden learns that Camilo is a “Dreamer” whose parents had been deported years earlier, and
whose sister, Daniela, is presumed to have returned to Venezuela with them. Convinced that the
cops won’t take a brown boy’s disappearance seriously, the girls join Hayden’s hunt for Camilo.
The first clues turn up at Barkingham Palace, a pet store where Camilo had taken a part-time
job. The store’s owner, Della Rupert, claims ignorance, but Hayden knows something is up. And
then there’s Camilo’s ex-boyfriend, Ryan, who’s suddenly grown inexplicably wealthy. When
Hayden and Hollister follow Ryan to a secure airport warehouse, they make a shocking
connection between him and Della—and uncover the twisted scheme that’s made both of them
rich.
The trail of clues leads them to the grounds of a magnificent estate on an island in Puget
Sound, where they’ll finally learn the truth about Camilo’s disappearance—and the fate of his
family.
And Finally, we talked with Harini Nagendra who is nominated for a Best First Novel for her book
:The Bangladore Detective's Club” (Constable)
Solving crimes isn't easy.
Add a jealous mother-in-law and having to wear a flowing sari into the mix, and you've got a
problem.
When clever, headstrong Kaveri moves to Bangalore to marry doctor Ramu, she's resigned
herself to a quiet life.
But that all changes the night of the party at the Century Club, where she escapes to the garden
for some peace - and instead spots an uninvited guest in the shadows. Half an hour later, the
party turns into a murder scene.
When a vulnerable woman is connected to the crime, Kaveri becomes determined to save her
and launches a private investigation to find the killer, tracing his steps from an illustrious brothel
to an Englishman's mansion. She soon finds...]]>1947agatha,amreading,bookclub,booklove,mustread,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/agatha-nominee-interviews-part-iii-nina-wachsman-and-martin-edwards--53496435Show Notes
We talked to two more of the Agatha Nominees for this episode.
First, we talked with Nina Wachsmann who is nominated for a Best First Novel for her book
The Gallery of Beauties (Level Best Books) In the city that invented the concept of the ‘Ghetto,’
it is surprising to learn that the Jews lived separately but not isolated from the culture around
them in the seventeenth century. Rabbis were not only leaders in the Jewish community, but
scholars, mathematicians, statesmen and playwrights who were well known and respected in
Venetian society and throughout Europe. The music, art and innovative foods which filled the
city, filtered into the Ghetto, finding its way into synagogues and homes.
In a salon-like discussion with trustee David Sable, Nina Wachsman will bring to life this unusual
city and its unusually modern Jews, from her research for her novel of historical suspense, The
Gallery of Beauties.
We then talked with Martin Edwards who is nominated for Best Non-Fiction for his book
The Life of Crime: Detecting the History of Mysteries and Their Creators (Harper Collins)
In the first major history of crime fiction in 50 years, The Life of Crime: Detecting the History of
Mysteries and Their Creators traces the evolution of the genre from the 18th century to the
present, offering brand-new perspective on the world’s most popular form of fiction.
Author Martin Edwards is a multi-award-winning crime novelist, the president of the Detection
Club, archivist of the Crime Writers’ Association and series consultant to the British Library’s
highly successful series of crime classics, and therefore uniquely qualified to write this book. He
has been a widely respected genre commentator for more than 30 years, winning the CWA
Diamond Dagger for making a significant contribution to crime writing in 2020, when he also
compiled and published Howdunit: A Masterclass in Crime Writing by Members of the Detection
Club and the novel Mortmain Hall. His critically acclaimed The Golden Age of Murder (Collins
Crime Club, 2015) was a landmark study of detective fiction between the wars.
The Life of Crime is the result of a lifetime of reading and enjoying all types of crime fiction, old
and new, from around the world. In what will surely be regarded as his magnum opus, Martin
Edwards has thrown himself undaunted into the breadth and complexity of the genre to write an
authoritative—and enjoyable—study of its development and evolution. With crime fiction being
read more widely than ever around the world, and with individual authors increasingly the
subject of extensive academic study, his expert distillation of more than two centuries of
extraordinary books and authors—from the tales of E.T.A. Hoffmann to the novels of Patricia
Cornwell—into one coherent history is an extraordinary feat and makes for a compelling listen.
TRIVIA
Last week's question was:
Author Harlan Coben made a deal with whom in 2016 to adapt 14 of his novels into film?
a. Fox Entertainment
b. Paramout
c. Blue Sky Productions
d. Netflix
The answer is d. Netflix. In August 2018, Coben signed a multi-million-dollar five-year deal with
American company Netflix. Under the deal, 14 of Coben's novels would be developed into
original Netflix series or films, with him serving as executive producer on all projects.[30] The
first title released under the deal was The Stranger, based on his novel of the same name,
which premiered in January 2020.[31] In October 2022, it was announced that Netflix had re-
upped the deal for another four years, with the Myron Bolitar series now also available for
adaptation
This week's question is:
Which author used the following pseudonyms in their career. Deanna Dwyer, K. R. Dwyer,
Aaron Wolfe, David Axton, Brian Coffey, John Hill, Leigh Nichols, Owen West, Richard Paige,
and Anthony North?
a. Dean Koontz
b. James Patterson
c. John LeCarre
d. Michael Connelly
Tune in next week for the answer.
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/53496435Tue, 11 Apr 2023 08:00:03 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubNina Wachsman and Martin Edwards Show Notes We talked to two more of the Agatha Nominees for this episode. First, we talked with Nina Wachsmann who is nominated for a Best First Novel for her book The Gallery of Beauties (Level Best Books) In the city...Show Notes
We talked to two more of the Agatha Nominees for this episode.
First, we talked with Nina Wachsmann who is nominated for a Best First Novel for her book
The Gallery of Beauties (Level Best Books) In the city that invented the concept of the ‘Ghetto,’
it is surprising to learn that the Jews lived separately but not isolated from the culture around
them in the seventeenth century. Rabbis were not only leaders in the Jewish community, but
scholars, mathematicians, statesmen and playwrights who were well known and respected in
Venetian society and throughout Europe. The music, art and innovative foods which filled the
city, filtered into the Ghetto, finding its way into synagogues and homes.
In a salon-like discussion with trustee David Sable, Nina Wachsman will bring to life this unusual
city and its unusually modern Jews, from her research for her novel of historical suspense, The
Gallery of Beauties.
We then talked with Martin Edwards who is nominated for Best Non-Fiction for his book
The Life of Crime: Detecting the History of Mysteries and Their Creators (Harper Collins)
In the first major history of crime fiction in 50 years, The Life of Crime: Detecting the History of
Mysteries and Their Creators traces the evolution of the genre from the 18th century to the
present, offering brand-new perspective on the world’s most popular form of fiction.
Author Martin Edwards is a multi-award-winning crime novelist, the president of the Detection
Club, archivist of the Crime Writers’ Association and series consultant to the British Library’s
highly successful series of crime classics, and therefore uniquely qualified to write this book. He
has been a widely respected genre commentator for more than 30 years, winning the CWA
Diamond Dagger for making a significant contribution to crime writing in 2020, when he also
compiled and published Howdunit: A Masterclass in Crime Writing by Members of the Detection
Club and the novel Mortmain Hall. His critically acclaimed The Golden Age of Murder (Collins
Crime Club, 2015) was a landmark study of detective fiction between the wars.
The Life of Crime is the result of a lifetime of reading and enjoying all types of crime fiction, old
and new, from around the world. In what will surely be regarded as his magnum opus, Martin
Edwards has thrown himself undaunted into the breadth and complexity of the genre to write an
authoritative—and enjoyable—study of its development and evolution. With crime fiction being
read more widely than ever around the world, and with individual authors increasingly the
subject of extensive academic study, his expert distillation of more than two centuries of
extraordinary books and authors—from the tales of E.T.A. Hoffmann to the novels of Patricia
Cornwell—into one coherent history is an extraordinary feat and makes for a compelling listen.
TRIVIA
Last week's question was:
Author Harlan Coben made a deal with whom in 2016 to adapt 14 of his novels into film?
a. Fox Entertainment
b. Paramout
c. Blue Sky Productions
d. Netflix
The answer is d. Netflix. In August 2018, Coben signed a multi-million-dollar five-year deal with
American company Netflix. Under the deal, 14 of Coben's novels would be developed into
original Netflix series or films, with him serving as executive producer on all projects.[30] The
first title released under the deal was The Stranger, based on his novel of the same name,
which premiered in January 2020.[31] In October 2022, it was announced that Netflix had re-
upped the deal for another four years, with the Myron Bolitar series now also available for
adaptation
This week's question is:
Which author used the following pseudonyms in their career. Deanna Dwyer, K....]]>1249agatha,amreading,bookclub,booklove,cozymysteries,malicedomestic,mustread,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/agatha-nominees-fleur-bradley-korina-moss-interviews--53435022Show Notes
The first thing we did on this episode is to announce that we have a new patron in Jan H. from
Illinois and we are thrilled. We also had a donation made to our tip jar on our website from Joan
Long. We are very appreciative of both.
Korina Moss is nominated for an Agatha Award for Best First Novel for her book “Cheddar Off
Dead.”
Cheesemonger Willa Bauer is proving that sweet dreams are made of cheese. She’s opened
her very own French-inspired cheese shop, Curds & Whey, in the heart of the Sonoma Valley.
The small town of Yarrow Glen is Willa's fresh start, and she's determined to make it a success
– starting with a visit from the local food critic. What Willa didn’t know is that this guy never gives
a good review, and when he shows up nothing goes according to plan. She doesn’t think the
night can get any worse... until she finds the critic’s dead body, stabbed with one of her shop’s
cheese knives. Now a prime suspect, Willa has always believed life’s problems can be solved
with cheese, but she’s never tried to apply it to murder...
We then talked with Fleur Bradley who is nominated for An Agatha Award for Best Children or
Young Adult Novel for her book “Daybreak on Raven Island.”
Tori, Marvin, and Noah would rather be anywhere else than on the seventh grade class field trip
to Raven Island prison. Tori would rather be on the soccer field, but her bad grades have
benched her until further notice; Marvin would rather be at the first day of a film festival with his
best friend, Kevin; and Noah isn't looking forward to having to make small talk with his
classmates at this new school.
But when the three of them stumble upon a dead body in the woods, miss the last ferry back
home, and then have to spend the night on Raven Island, they find that they need each other
now more than ever. They must work together to uncover a killer, outrun a motley ghost-hunting
crew, and expose the age-old secrets of the island all before daybreak.
We thank both of these ladies and wish them good luck.
TRIVIA
Last Week's question was:
“High Tower Court” building had what influence on author Michael Connelly?
a. He thought it was haunted
b. He featured it in his book
c. He wanted to live there
d. He wanted it renamed
The answer is c. He wanted to live there.
After moving to Los Angeles, Connelly went to see High Tower Court where Raymond
Chandler's character Philip Marlowe had lived (in his 1942 novel The High Window), and Robert
Altman had used for his film The Long Goodbye(1973). Connelly got the manager of the
building to promise to phone him if the apartment ever became available. Ten years later, the
manager tracked Connelly down, and Connelly decided to rent the place. This apartment served
as a place to write for several years
This week's question is:
Author Harlan Coben made a deal with whom in 2016 to adapt 14 of his novels into film?
a. Fox Entertainment
b. Paramout
c. Blue Sky Productions
d. Netflix]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/53435022Tue, 04 Apr 2023 08:00:02 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubKorina Moss and Fleur Bradley Show Notes The first thing we did on this episode is to announce that we have a new patron in Jan H. from Illinois and we are thrilled. We also had a donation made to our tip jar on our website from Joan Long. We are very...Show Notes
The first thing we did on this episode is to announce that we have a new patron in Jan H. from
Illinois and we are thrilled. We also had a donation made to our tip jar on our website from Joan
Long. We are very appreciative of both.
Korina Moss is nominated for an Agatha Award for Best First Novel for her book “Cheddar Off
Dead.”
Cheesemonger Willa Bauer is proving that sweet dreams are made of cheese. She’s opened
her very own French-inspired cheese shop, Curds & Whey, in the heart of the Sonoma Valley.
The small town of Yarrow Glen is Willa's fresh start, and she's determined to make it a success
– starting with a visit from the local food critic. What Willa didn’t know is that this guy never gives
a good review, and when he shows up nothing goes according to plan. She doesn’t think the
night can get any worse... until she finds the critic’s dead body, stabbed with one of her shop’s
cheese knives. Now a prime suspect, Willa has always believed life’s problems can be solved
with cheese, but she’s never tried to apply it to murder...
We then talked with Fleur Bradley who is nominated for An Agatha Award for Best Children or
Young Adult Novel for her book “Daybreak on Raven Island.”
Tori, Marvin, and Noah would rather be anywhere else than on the seventh grade class field trip
to Raven Island prison. Tori would rather be on the soccer field, but her bad grades have
benched her until further notice; Marvin would rather be at the first day of a film festival with his
best friend, Kevin; and Noah isn't looking forward to having to make small talk with his
classmates at this new school.
But when the three of them stumble upon a dead body in the woods, miss the last ferry back
home, and then have to spend the night on Raven Island, they find that they need each other
now more than ever. They must work together to uncover a killer, outrun a motley ghost-hunting
crew, and expose the age-old secrets of the island all before daybreak.
We thank both of these ladies and wish them good luck.
TRIVIA
Last Week's question was:
“High Tower Court” building had what influence on author Michael Connelly?
a. He thought it was haunted
b. He featured it in his book
c. He wanted to live there
d. He wanted it renamed
The answer is c. He wanted to live there.
After moving to Los Angeles, Connelly went to see High Tower Court where Raymond
Chandler's character Philip Marlowe had lived (in his 1942 novel The High Window), and Robert
Altman had used for his film The Long Goodbye(1973). Connelly got the manager of the
building to promise to phone him if the apartment ever became available. Ten years later, the
manager tracked Connelly down, and Connelly decided to rent the place. This apartment served
as a place to write for several years
This week's question is:
Author Harlan Coben made a deal with whom in 2016 to adapt 14 of his novels into film?
a. Fox Entertainment
b. Paramout
c. Blue Sky Productions
d. Netflix]]>1557agatha,amreaing,bookclub,booklove,malicedomestic,mustread,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/agatha-nominee-interviews-part-i-joan-long-and-m-a-monin--53360833Show notes
Our first episode dedicated to the nominees for Agatha Awards begins today. Our first nominee
is Joan Long who is nominated for Best First Novel for her book “The Finalist”
The Finalist (Level Best Books) Five authors, each with their own secrets, are chosen to
complete a deceased novelist's unfinished manuscript. For single mom Risa Marr, the
competition is the opportunity of a lifetime. At stake is a million dollars and a contract to continue
the famous novelist's bestselling thriller series.
Transported to the tropical paradise of Key Island, the finalists are cut off from the world and
given seven days to draft their best ending for the book. But when one of them turns up dead,
theories and accusations abound. Accident? Suicide? Or Murder? To what lengths will
competitors go to win? And who, if anyone, will leave the island alive?
We then chatted with M.A. (Mary) Monin who is nominated for Best First Novel for her book
“Death In The Aegean”
Death in the Aegean (An Intrepid Traveler Mystery) Level Best Books. When private banker
Stefanie Adams takes a much-needed vacation to the Greek isles, vowing to embrace
opportunities as they come, instead of finding romance and adventure she is suspected of
murdering a bride who accused her deceased father of artifact theft. Unfortunately, the
newlywed's accusation also ties Stefanie, a former archaeology student, to the robbery of a
newly discovered Minoan statue, the golden Akrotiri Snake Goddess.
With two high-profile crimes to solve, Greek police are under pressure, and both crimes lead
straight to Stefanie. To avoid Greek prison and maintain her career, Stefanie must identify which
of her fellow travelers is the real killer.
Between the light-fingered backpacker with an eye on the bride's jewelry, the travel blogger
whose career the dead woman ruined, a flirtatious German tourist who is after more than
romance, and the long-suffering bridegroom, Stefanie's task won't be easy. Everyone, it seems,
had a motive for wanting to see the last of Emma Keller.
We wish both of these lovely ladies good luck. We will have two more nominees on our podcast
next week so be sure and join us.
TRIVIA
Last week's question was:
Which author worked at a job and had to dress up as a tuxedo wearing yogurt?
a. Elly Griffiths
b. Sue Grafton
c. Louise Penny
d. Gillian Flynn
The answer is d. Gillian Flynn. Flynn attended Bishop Miege High School and graduated in
1989.. As a young woman, she worked odd jobs which required her to do things such as dress
up as a giant "yogurt cone who wore a tuxedo
This week's question is:
“High Tower Court” building had what influence on author Michael Connelly?
a. He thought it was haunted
b. He featured it in his book
c. He wanted to live there
d. He wanted it renamed
Tune in next week for the answer.
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/53360833Tue, 28 Mar 2023 08:00:03 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubJoan Long/M.A. Monin Show notes Our first episode dedicated to the nominees for Agatha Awards begins today. Our first nominee is Joan Long who is nominated for Best First Novel for her book “The Finalist” The Finalist (Level Best Books) Five authors,...Show notes
Our first episode dedicated to the nominees for Agatha Awards begins today. Our first nominee
is Joan Long who is nominated for Best First Novel for her book “The Finalist”
The Finalist (Level Best Books) Five authors, each with their own secrets, are chosen to
complete a deceased novelist's unfinished manuscript. For single mom Risa Marr, the
competition is the opportunity of a lifetime. At stake is a million dollars and a contract to continue
the famous novelist's bestselling thriller series.
Transported to the tropical paradise of Key Island, the finalists are cut off from the world and
given seven days to draft their best ending for the book. But when one of them turns up dead,
theories and accusations abound. Accident? Suicide? Or Murder? To what lengths will
competitors go to win? And who, if anyone, will leave the island alive?
We then chatted with M.A. (Mary) Monin who is nominated for Best First Novel for her book
“Death In The Aegean”
Death in the Aegean (An Intrepid Traveler Mystery) Level Best Books. When private banker
Stefanie Adams takes a much-needed vacation to the Greek isles, vowing to embrace
opportunities as they come, instead of finding romance and adventure she is suspected of
murdering a bride who accused her deceased father of artifact theft. Unfortunately, the
newlywed's accusation also ties Stefanie, a former archaeology student, to the robbery of a
newly discovered Minoan statue, the golden Akrotiri Snake Goddess.
With two high-profile crimes to solve, Greek police are under pressure, and both crimes lead
straight to Stefanie. To avoid Greek prison and maintain her career, Stefanie must identify which
of her fellow travelers is the real killer.
Between the light-fingered backpacker with an eye on the bride's jewelry, the travel blogger
whose career the dead woman ruined, a flirtatious German tourist who is after more than
romance, and the long-suffering bridegroom, Stefanie's task won't be easy. Everyone, it seems,
had a motive for wanting to see the last of Emma Keller.
We wish both of these lovely ladies good luck. We will have two more nominees on our podcast
next week so be sure and join us.
TRIVIA
Last week's question was:
Which author worked at a job and had to dress up as a tuxedo wearing yogurt?
a. Elly Griffiths
b. Sue Grafton
c. Louise Penny
d. Gillian Flynn
The answer is d. Gillian Flynn. Flynn attended Bishop Miege High School and graduated in
1989.. As a young woman, she worked odd jobs which required her to do things such as dress
up as a giant "yogurt cone who wore a tuxedo
This week's question is:
“High Tower Court” building had what influence on author Michael Connelly?
a. He thought it was haunted
b. He featured it in his book
c. He wanted to live there
d. He wanted it renamed
Tune in next week for the answer.
]]>1283agathaaward,amreading,bookclub,booklove,bookpodcast,malicedomestic,murder,mysteryauthor,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/wwar-2023-march-part-2--53273525Show Notes
Part 1
The Agatha Awards are coming up at end end of April and our next few episodes will be interviews with
several of the nominees for this year's awards. Therfore, we decided to devote our March WWAR episodes to
books that have been nominated for awards this year.
Joan Long is nominated for an Agatha for Best First Novel for “The Finalist” (Level Best Books)
Five authors, each with their own secrets, are chosen to complete a deceased novelist's unfinished
manuscript. For single mom Risa Marr, the competition is the opportunity of a lifetime. At stake is a million
dollars and a contract to continue the famous novelist's bestselling thriller series.
Transported to the tropical paradise of Key Island, the finalists are cut off from the world and given seven days
to draft their best ending for the book. But when one of them turns up dead, theories and accusations abound.
Accident? Suicide? Or Murder? To what lengths will competitors go to win? And who, if anyone, will leave the
island alive?
Dr. Lucy Worsley is nominated for an Agatha for Best Non-Fiction for her book “Agatha Christie: An
Elusive Woman” (Pegasus Crime)
"Nobody in the world was more inadequate to act the heroine than I was."
Why did Agatha Christie spend her career pretending that she was "just" an ordinary housewife, when clearly
she wasn't? Her life is fascinating for its mysteries and its passions and, as Lucy Worsley says, "She was
thrillingly, scintillatingly modern." She went surfing in Hawaii, she loved fast cars, and she was intrigued by the
new science of psychology, which helped her through devastating mental illness.
So why—despite all the evidence to the contrary—did Agatha present herself as a retiring Edwardian lady of
leisure?
She was born in 1890 into a world that had its own rules about what women could and couldn't do. Lucy
Worsley's biography is not just of a massively, internationally successful writer. It's also the story of a person
who, despite the obstacles of class and gender, became an astonishingly successful working woman.
With access to personal letters and papers that have rarely been seen, Lucy Worsley's biography is both
authoritative and entertaining and makes us realize what an extraordinary pioneer Agatha Christie was—truly
a woman who wrote the twentieth century.
Part 2
Rob Osler is nominated for a Best First Novel for his book “The Devil's Chew Toy” (Crooked Lane Books)
Seattle teacher and part-time blogger Hayden McCall wakes sporting one hell of a shiner, with the police
knocking at his door. It seems that his new crush, dancer Camilo Rodriguez, has gone missing and they
suspect foul play. What happened the night before? And where is Camilo?
Determined to find answers, pint-sized, good-hearted Hayden seeks out two of Camilo’s friends—Hollister
and Burley—both lesbians and both fiercely devoted to their friend. From them, Hayden learns that Camilo is
a “Dreamer” whose parents had been deported years earlier, and whose sister, Daniela, is presumed to have
returned to Venezuela with them. Convinced that the cops won’t take a brown boy’s disappearance seriously,
the girls join Hayden’s hunt for Camilo.
The first clues turn up at Barkingham Palace, a pet store where Camilo had taken a part-time job. The store’s
owner, Della Rupert, claims ignorance, but Hayden knows something is up. And then there’s Camilo’s ex-
boyfriend, Ryan, who’s suddenly grown inexplicably wealthy. When Hayden and Hollister follow Ryan to a
secure airport warehouse, they make a shocking connection between him and Della—and uncover the twisted
scheme that’s made both of them rich.
The trail of clues leads them to the grounds of a magnificent estate on an island in Puget Sound, where they’ll
finally learn the truth about Camilo’s disappearance—and the fate of his family.
Karen Odden is nominated for Best Historical Novel for “Under A Veiled Moon” (Crooked Lane Books)
September 1878. One night, as the pleasure boat The Princess Alice makes her daily trip up the Thames, she
collides with the Bywell Castle, a huge iron-hulled collier. The Princess Alice shears apart, throwing all 600
passengers into the river; only 130 survive. It is the worst maritime disaster London has ever seen, and early
clues point to sabotage by the Irish Republican Brotherhood, who believe violence is the path to restoring Irish
Home Rule.
For Scotland Yard Inspector Michael Corravan, born in Ireland and adopted by the Irish Doyle family, the case
presents a challenge. Accused by the Home Office of willfully disregarding the obvious conclusion, and
berated by his Irish friends for bowing to prejudice, Corravan doggedly pursues the truth, knowing that if the
Princess Alice disaster is pinned on the IRB, hopes for Home Rule could be dashed forever.
Corrovan’s dilemma is compounded by Colin, the youngest Doyle, who has joined James McCabe’s Irish
gang. As violence in Whitechapel rises, Corravan strikes a deal with McCabe to get Colin out of harm’s way.
But unbeknownst to Corravan, Colin bears longstanding resentments against his adopted brother and scorns
his help.
As the newspapers link the IRB to further accidents, London threatens to devolve into terror and chaos. With
the help of his young colleague, the loyal Mr. Stiles, and his friend Belinda Gale, Corravan uncovers the
harrowing truth—one that will shake his faith in his countrymen, the law, and himself.
TRIVIA
C.J. Box won what award for his first novel “Open Season?”
a. Anthony
b. Macavity
c. Gumshoe
d. Barry
The answer is All of them For Open Season, Box won the Anthony Award, the Macavity Award, the Gumshoe
Award, and the Barry Award, all in the Best First Novel category.
This week's question is:
Which author worked at a job and had to dress up as a tuxedo wearing yogurt?
a. Elly Griffiths
b. Sue Grafton
c. Louise Penny
d. Gillian Flynn
Tune in next week for the answer
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/53273525Wed, 22 Mar 2023 08:00:03 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubWWAR for March 2023 Show Notes Part 1 The Agatha Awards are coming up at end end of April and our next few episodes will be interviews with several of the nominees for this year's awards. Therfore, we decided to devote our March WWAR episodes to books...Show Notes
Part 1
The Agatha Awards are coming up at end end of April and our next few episodes will be interviews with
several of the nominees for this year's awards. Therfore, we decided to devote our March WWAR episodes to
books that have been nominated for awards this year.
Joan Long is nominated for an Agatha for Best First Novel for “The Finalist” (Level Best Books)
Five authors, each with their own secrets, are chosen to complete a deceased novelist's unfinished
manuscript. For single mom Risa Marr, the competition is the opportunity of a lifetime. At stake is a million
dollars and a contract to continue the famous novelist's bestselling thriller series.
Transported to the tropical paradise of Key Island, the finalists are cut off from the world and given seven days
to draft their best ending for the book. But when one of them turns up dead, theories and accusations abound.
Accident? Suicide? Or Murder? To what lengths will competitors go to win? And who, if anyone, will leave the
island alive?
Dr. Lucy Worsley is nominated for an Agatha for Best Non-Fiction for her book “Agatha Christie: An
Elusive Woman” (Pegasus Crime)
"Nobody in the world was more inadequate to act the heroine than I was."
Why did Agatha Christie spend her career pretending that she was "just" an ordinary housewife, when clearly
she wasn't? Her life is fascinating for its mysteries and its passions and, as Lucy Worsley says, "She was
thrillingly, scintillatingly modern." She went surfing in Hawaii, she loved fast cars, and she was intrigued by the
new science of psychology, which helped her through devastating mental illness.
So why—despite all the evidence to the contrary—did Agatha present herself as a retiring Edwardian lady of
leisure?
She was born in 1890 into a world that had its own rules about what women could and couldn't do. Lucy
Worsley's biography is not just of a massively, internationally successful writer. It's also the story of a person
who, despite the obstacles of class and gender, became an astonishingly successful working woman.
With access to personal letters and papers that have rarely been seen, Lucy Worsley's biography is both
authoritative and entertaining and makes us realize what an extraordinary pioneer Agatha Christie was—truly
a woman who wrote the twentieth century.
Part 2
Rob Osler is nominated for a Best First Novel for his book “The Devil's Chew Toy” (Crooked Lane Books)
Seattle teacher and part-time blogger Hayden McCall wakes sporting one hell of a shiner, with the police
knocking at his door. It seems that his new crush, dancer Camilo Rodriguez, has gone missing and they
suspect foul play. What happened the night before? And where is Camilo?
Determined to find answers, pint-sized, good-hearted Hayden seeks out two of Camilo’s friends—Hollister
and Burley—both lesbians and both fiercely devoted to their friend. From them, Hayden learns that Camilo is
a “Dreamer” whose parents had been deported years earlier, and whose sister, Daniela, is presumed to have
returned to Venezuela with them. Convinced that the cops won’t take a brown boy’s disappearance seriously,
the girls join Hayden’s hunt for Camilo.
The first clues turn up at Barkingham Palace, a pet store where Camilo had taken a part-time job. The store’s
owner, Della Rupert, claims ignorance, but Hayden knows something is up. And then there’s Camilo’s ex-
boyfriend, Ryan, who’s suddenly grown inexplicably wealthy. When Hayden and Hollister follow Ryan to a
secure airport warehouse, they make a shocking connection between him and Della—and uncover the twisted
scheme that’s made both of them rich.
The trail of clues leads them to the grounds of a magnificent estate on an island in Puget Sound, where they’ll
finally...]]>2083agatha,amreading,bookclub,cozybooks,malicedomestic,murdermystery,mustread,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/wwar-march-2023-part-1--53273489Show Notes
Part 1
The Agatha Awards are coming up at end end of April and our next few episodes will be interviews with
several of the nominees for this year's awards. Therfore, we decided to devote our March WWAR episodes to
books that have been nominated for awards this year.
Joan Long is nominated for an Agatha for Best First Novel for “The Finalist” (Level Best Books)
Five authors, each with their own secrets, are chosen to complete a deceased novelist's unfinished
manuscript. For single mom Risa Marr, the competition is the opportunity of a lifetime. At stake is a million
dollars and a contract to continue the famous novelist's bestselling thriller series.
Transported to the tropical paradise of Key Island, the finalists are cut off from the world and given seven days
to draft their best ending for the book. But when one of them turns up dead, theories and accusations abound.
Accident? Suicide? Or Murder? To what lengths will competitors go to win? And who, if anyone, will leave the
island alive?
Dr. Lucy Worsley is nominated for an Agatha for Best Non-Fiction for her book “Agatha Christie: An
Elusive Woman” (Pegasus Crime)
"Nobody in the world was more inadequate to act the heroine than I was."
Why did Agatha Christie spend her career pretending that she was "just" an ordinary housewife, when clearly
she wasn't? Her life is fascinating for its mysteries and its passions and, as Lucy Worsley says, "She was
thrillingly, scintillatingly modern." She went surfing in Hawaii, she loved fast cars, and she was intrigued by the
new science of psychology, which helped her through devastating mental illness.
So why—despite all the evidence to the contrary—did Agatha present herself as a retiring Edwardian lady of
leisure?
She was born in 1890 into a world that had its own rules about what women could and couldn't do. Lucy
Worsley's biography is not just of a massively, internationally successful writer. It's also the story of a person
who, despite the obstacles of class and gender, became an astonishingly successful working woman.
With access to personal letters and papers that have rarely been seen, Lucy Worsley's biography is both
authoritative and entertaining and makes us realize what an extraordinary pioneer Agatha Christie was—truly
a woman who wrote the twentieth century.
Part 2
Rob Osler is nominated for a Best First Novel for his book “The Devil's Chew Toy” (Crooked Lane Books)
Seattle teacher and part-time blogger Hayden McCall wakes sporting one hell of a shiner, with the police
knocking at his door. It seems that his new crush, dancer Camilo Rodriguez, has gone missing and they
suspect foul play. What happened the night before? And where is Camilo?
Determined to find answers, pint-sized, good-hearted Hayden seeks out two of Camilo’s friends—Hollister
and Burley—both lesbians and both fiercely devoted to their friend. From them, Hayden learns that Camilo is
a “Dreamer” whose parents had been deported years earlier, and whose sister, Daniela, is presumed to have
returned to Venezuela with them. Convinced that the cops won’t take a brown boy’s disappearance seriously,
the girls join Hayden’s hunt for Camilo.
The first clues turn up at Barkingham Palace, a pet store where Camilo had taken a part-time job. The store’s
owner, Della Rupert, claims ignorance, but Hayden knows something is up. And then there’s Camilo’s ex-
boyfriend, Ryan, who’s suddenly grown inexplicably wealthy. When Hayden and Hollister follow Ryan to a
secure airport warehouse, they make a shocking connection between him and Della—and uncover the twisted
scheme that’s made both of them rich.
The trail of clues leads them to the grounds of a magnificent estate on an island in Puget Sound, where they’ll
finally learn the truth about Camilo’s disappearance—and the fate of his family.
Karen Odden is nominated for Best Historical Novel for “Under A Veiled Moon” (Crooked Lane Books)
September 1878. One night, as the pleasure boat The Princess Alice makes her daily trip up the Thames, she
collides with the Bywell Castle, a huge iron-hulled collier. The Princess Alice shears apart, throwing all 600
passengers into the river; only 130 survive. It is the worst maritime disaster London has ever seen, and early
clues point to sabotage by the Irish Republican Brotherhood, who believe violence is the path to restoring Irish
Home Rule.
For Scotland Yard Inspector Michael Corravan, born in Ireland and adopted by the Irish Doyle family, the case
presents a challenge. Accused by the Home Office of willfully disregarding the obvious conclusion, and
berated by his Irish friends for bowing to prejudice, Corravan doggedly pursues the truth, knowing that if the
Princess Alice disaster is pinned on the IRB, hopes for Home Rule could be dashed forever.
Corrovan’s dilemma is compounded by Colin, the youngest Doyle, who has joined James McCabe’s Irish
gang. As violence in Whitechapel rises, Corravan strikes a deal with McCabe to get Colin out of harm’s way.
But unbeknownst to Corravan, Colin bears longstanding resentments against his adopted brother and scorns
his help.
As the newspapers link the IRB to further accidents, London threatens to devolve into terror and chaos. With
the help of his young colleague, the loyal Mr. Stiles, and his friend Belinda Gale, Corravan uncovers the
harrowing truth—one that will shake his faith in his countrymen, the law, and himself.
TRIVIA
C.J. Box won what award for his first novel “Open Season?”
a. Anthony
b. Macavity
c. Gumshoe
d. Barry
The answer is All of them For Open Season, Box won the Anthony Award, the Macavity Award, the Gumshoe
Award, and the Barry Award, all in the Best First Novel category.
This week's question is:
Which author worked at a job and had to dress up as a tuxedo wearing yogurt?
a. Elly Griffiths
b. Sue Grafton
c. Louise Penny
d. Gillian Flynn
Tune in next week for the answer
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/53273489Tue, 21 Mar 2023 08:00:03 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubWWAR for March 2023 Show Notes Part 1 The Agatha Awards are coming up at end end of April and our next few episodes will be interviews with several of the nominees for this year's awards. Therfore, we decided to devote our March WWAR episodes to books...Show Notes
Part 1
The Agatha Awards are coming up at end end of April and our next few episodes will be interviews with
several of the nominees for this year's awards. Therfore, we decided to devote our March WWAR episodes to
books that have been nominated for awards this year.
Joan Long is nominated for an Agatha for Best First Novel for “The Finalist” (Level Best Books)
Five authors, each with their own secrets, are chosen to complete a deceased novelist's unfinished
manuscript. For single mom Risa Marr, the competition is the opportunity of a lifetime. At stake is a million
dollars and a contract to continue the famous novelist's bestselling thriller series.
Transported to the tropical paradise of Key Island, the finalists are cut off from the world and given seven days
to draft their best ending for the book. But when one of them turns up dead, theories and accusations abound.
Accident? Suicide? Or Murder? To what lengths will competitors go to win? And who, if anyone, will leave the
island alive?
Dr. Lucy Worsley is nominated for an Agatha for Best Non-Fiction for her book “Agatha Christie: An
Elusive Woman” (Pegasus Crime)
"Nobody in the world was more inadequate to act the heroine than I was."
Why did Agatha Christie spend her career pretending that she was "just" an ordinary housewife, when clearly
she wasn't? Her life is fascinating for its mysteries and its passions and, as Lucy Worsley says, "She was
thrillingly, scintillatingly modern." She went surfing in Hawaii, she loved fast cars, and she was intrigued by the
new science of psychology, which helped her through devastating mental illness.
So why—despite all the evidence to the contrary—did Agatha present herself as a retiring Edwardian lady of
leisure?
She was born in 1890 into a world that had its own rules about what women could and couldn't do. Lucy
Worsley's biography is not just of a massively, internationally successful writer. It's also the story of a person
who, despite the obstacles of class and gender, became an astonishingly successful working woman.
With access to personal letters and papers that have rarely been seen, Lucy Worsley's biography is both
authoritative and entertaining and makes us realize what an extraordinary pioneer Agatha Christie was—truly
a woman who wrote the twentieth century.
Part 2
Rob Osler is nominated for a Best First Novel for his book “The Devil's Chew Toy” (Crooked Lane Books)
Seattle teacher and part-time blogger Hayden McCall wakes sporting one hell of a shiner, with the police
knocking at his door. It seems that his new crush, dancer Camilo Rodriguez, has gone missing and they
suspect foul play. What happened the night before? And where is Camilo?
Determined to find answers, pint-sized, good-hearted Hayden seeks out two of Camilo’s friends—Hollister
and Burley—both lesbians and both fiercely devoted to their friend. From them, Hayden learns that Camilo is
a “Dreamer” whose parents had been deported years earlier, and whose sister, Daniela, is presumed to have
returned to Venezuela with them. Convinced that the cops won’t take a brown boy’s disappearance seriously,
the girls join Hayden’s hunt for Camilo.
The first clues turn up at Barkingham Palace, a pet store where Camilo had taken a part-time job. The store’s
owner, Della Rupert, claims ignorance, but Hayden knows something is up. And then there’s Camilo’s ex-
boyfriend, Ryan, who’s suddenly grown inexplicably wealthy. When Hayden and Hollister follow Ryan to a
secure airport warehouse, they make a shocking connection between him and Della—and uncover the twisted
scheme that’s made both of them rich.
The trail of clues leads them to the grounds of a magnificent estate on an island in Puget Sound, where they’ll
finally...]]>1391agatha,bookclub,malicedomestic,podcast,whatwearereadingfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/wendy-eckel-interview-mystery-at-windswept-farm--53188077by Wendy Sand Eckel
Show Notes
We visited with Wendy Sand Eckel about her book Mystery at Windswept Farm (Level
Best Books).
This is the third book in theRosalie Hart Mystery Series,
Rosalie's hard-earned organic farm certification is threatened by a toxic neighbor who is
about to crop dust his winter wheat. When their impulsive farm hand decides to confront
him, she finds his lifeless body inside the door of his home on Windswept Farm.
In the midst of the mayhem, Rosalie's beloved Day Lily Café hosts a 5-day cooking
school. Marco Giovanelli, a celebrated Italian chef, arrives in Cardigan and a sumptuous
situation ensues. When one of the students falls ill with the same poison that killed the
farmer, Rosalie and her best friend and head waiter, Glenn, take matters, and
homemade pasta dough, into their own hands.
With Mystery at Windswept Farm, Eckel once again brings the fictional town of Cardigan
to life and delights with suspense, humor, and mouth-watering menus.
Degrees in criminology and social work, followed by years of clinical practice, helped
WENDY SAND ECKEL explore her fascination with how relationships impact motivation,
desire, and inhibition. Combined with her passion for words and meaning, writing
mystery is a dream realized.
She is the award-winning author of the Rosalie Hart Mystery Series. Murder at Barclay
Meadow and Death at the Day Lily Café were published by Minotaur Books in 2015 and
2016. Death at the Day Lily Café was selected “Best Cozy of 2016” by Suspense
Magazine. She is an active member of the Mystery Writers of America and the
International Association of Crime Writers.
Eckel lives on the Eastern Shore of Maryland in her dream house where she alternately
gazes out her windows at the Chester River and hovers over the stove, creating
succulent, sometimes experimental, meals for family and friends. She lives with the love
of her life and two rescued orange tabbies, Frodo and Sam. Her website is
https://wendysandeckelauthor.com
The episode ran a bit long so Trivia will return next week.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/53188077Tue, 14 Mar 2023 08:00:03 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubMystery at Windswept Farm by Wendy Sand Eckel Show Notes We visited with Wendy Sand Eckel about her book Mystery at Windswept Farm (Level Best Books). This is the third book in theRosalie Hart Mystery Series, Rosalie's hard-earned organic farm...by Wendy Sand Eckel
Show Notes
We visited with Wendy Sand Eckel about her book Mystery at Windswept Farm (Level
Best Books).
This is the third book in theRosalie Hart Mystery Series,
Rosalie's hard-earned organic farm certification is threatened by a toxic neighbor who is
about to crop dust his winter wheat. When their impulsive farm hand decides to confront
him, she finds his lifeless body inside the door of his home on Windswept Farm.
In the midst of the mayhem, Rosalie's beloved Day Lily Café hosts a 5-day cooking
school. Marco Giovanelli, a celebrated Italian chef, arrives in Cardigan and a sumptuous
situation ensues. When one of the students falls ill with the same poison that killed the
farmer, Rosalie and her best friend and head waiter, Glenn, take matters, and
homemade pasta dough, into their own hands.
With Mystery at Windswept Farm, Eckel once again brings the fictional town of Cardigan
to life and delights with suspense, humor, and mouth-watering menus.
Degrees in criminology and social work, followed by years of clinical practice, helped
WENDY SAND ECKEL explore her fascination with how relationships impact motivation,
desire, and inhibition. Combined with her passion for words and meaning, writing
mystery is a dream realized.
She is the award-winning author of the Rosalie Hart Mystery Series. Murder at Barclay
Meadow and Death at the Day Lily Café were published by Minotaur Books in 2015 and
2016. Death at the Day Lily Café was selected “Best Cozy of 2016” by Suspense
Magazine. She is an active member of the Mystery Writers of America and the
International Association of Crime Writers.
Eckel lives on the Eastern Shore of Maryland in her dream house where she alternately
gazes out her windows at the Chester River and hovers over the stove, creating
succulent, sometimes experimental, meals for family and friends. She lives with the love
of her life and two rescued orange tabbies, Frodo and Sam. Her website is
https://wendysandeckelauthor.com
The episode ran a bit long so Trivia will return next week.]]>2037amlisting,booklove,cozyauthor,murder,mustread,podcast,wendysandeckelfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/jennifer-herrara-the-hunter-interview--53116032Show Notes
The Hunter by Jennifer Herrera published by G. P Putnam Sons 1/12/23
After reckless behavior costs NYPD detective Leigh O’Donnell her job and her marriage, she returns with her
four-year-old daughter to her beautiful hometown of Copper Falls, Ohio. Leigh had stayed away for more than
a decade—even though her brother and a trio of loving uncles still call it home—because, while the town may
seem idyllic, something rotten lies at its core. Three men in town have drowned in what Leigh suspects to be
a triple homicide. She hopes that by finding out who killed them, she just might get her life back on course.
Headstrong and intuitive, Leigh isn’t afraid to face a killer, but she has to do more than that to discover the
truth about what happened to those men. She must unravel a web of secrets going back generations, and, in
doing so, plumb the darkness within herself.
Jennifer Herrera is a former philosophy grad student turned literary agent, who is fascinated by the
stories we tell ourselves to live and the lies we cling to that sabotage our chances at a good life. She
has lived in six states and five countries (so far) and now resides in Philadelphia with her husband,
daughter, and cat.
TRIVIA
Last Week's question was:
Which author created the charity “Save the Libraries?”
a. Karin Slaughter
b. Jane Winspear
c. Martha Grimes
d. Robert Ludlum
The answer is a. Karin Slaughter. Slaughter is a library advocate and founded Save the Libraries, a non-profit
organization that campaigns to support US public libraries. The Save the Libraries fund has provided more
than $300,000 to the DeKalb County Public Library in Atlanta, Georgia
This week's question is:
C.J. Box won what award for his first novel “Open Season?”
a. Anthony
b. Macavity
c. Gumshoe
d. Barry
Tune in next week for the answer. Good luck!]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/53116032Tue, 07 Mar 2023 09:00:02 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubJennifer Herrera Show Notes The Hunter by Jennifer Herrera published by G. P Putnam Sons 1/12/23 After reckless behavior costs NYPD detective Leigh O’Donnell her job and her marriage, she returns with her four-year-old daughter to her beautiful...Show Notes
The Hunter by Jennifer Herrera published by G. P Putnam Sons 1/12/23
After reckless behavior costs NYPD detective Leigh O’Donnell her job and her marriage, she returns with her
four-year-old daughter to her beautiful hometown of Copper Falls, Ohio. Leigh had stayed away for more than
a decade—even though her brother and a trio of loving uncles still call it home—because, while the town may
seem idyllic, something rotten lies at its core. Three men in town have drowned in what Leigh suspects to be
a triple homicide. She hopes that by finding out who killed them, she just might get her life back on course.
Headstrong and intuitive, Leigh isn’t afraid to face a killer, but she has to do more than that to discover the
truth about what happened to those men. She must unravel a web of secrets going back generations, and, in
doing so, plumb the darkness within herself.
Jennifer Herrera is a former philosophy grad student turned literary agent, who is fascinated by the
stories we tell ourselves to live and the lies we cling to that sabotage our chances at a good life. She
has lived in six states and five countries (so far) and now resides in Philadelphia with her husband,
daughter, and cat.
TRIVIA
Last Week's question was:
Which author created the charity “Save the Libraries?”
a. Karin Slaughter
b. Jane Winspear
c. Martha Grimes
d. Robert Ludlum
The answer is a. Karin Slaughter. Slaughter is a library advocate and founded Save the Libraries, a non-profit
organization that campaigns to support US public libraries. The Save the Libraries fund has provided more
than $300,000 to the DeKalb County Public Library in Atlanta, Georgia
This week's question is:
C.J. Box won what award for his first novel “Open Season?”
a. Anthony
b. Macavity
c. Gumshoe
d. Barry
Tune in next week for the answer. Good luck!]]>1628amlistening,bookclub,booklove,murdermystery,mustread,podcast,thehunterfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/gary-edgington-interview-outside-the-wire--52871835Show Notes
On today's episode we had a delightful conversation with Gary Edgington, the author of
“Outside The Wire” (not the science fiction film of the same name). It was publsihed by Koehler
Press and was released in August of 2022.
A retired LA counterterrorism cop and a fearless Army doctor risk everything, including their
burgeoning romance, as they battle clandestine Iranian operatives bent on the slaughter of
thousands of innocents and ultimately the destruction of America.
After a yearlong lull, local Iraqi insurgents launch a deadly mortar barrage at the sprawling
Camp Victory Base in Baghdad, Iraq. Rick Sutherland, a retired LAPD lieutenant working as an
embedded counterterrorism advisor, is wounded in the attack, and a local interpreter is killed.
Along with Major Nancy Weaver, his former doctor and now partner, Rick embarks on an off-the-
books investigation that quickly morphs into a race to stop murderous Iranian operatives from
exploding multiple dirty bombs during a critical meeting of US and foreign heads of state.
Working together, Nancy and Rick make a formidable team-but will it be enough?
Gary Edgington is a 30-year law enforcement veteran. Gary is also the son of a law
enforcement officer who was tragically murdered in the line of duty in 1979. This event occurred
while Gary was in the third week of L.A. Sheriff’s Academy training. Gary graduated with his
class and began his career with the Manhattan Beach Police Department. Gary later transferred
to the Beverly Hills Police Department, then the LA Co DA’s office, before being appointed a
Special Agent with the California DOJ-Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement in 1994.
Throughout his career, Gary has held assignments in major narcotics, internal affairs,
intelligence, government corruption, counter-terrorism, and as a firearms and tactics instructor.
As a Ca. DOJ Special Agent, Gary served from 1999 to 2008 as a member of the Los Angeles
FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force. After 9/11, Gary was promoted to Task Force Commander and
took command of a multi-agency counter-terrorism task force based in Los Angeles. Gary has
also served in an assignment at the National Counter Terrorism Center in Va. Additionally, he
has received counter-terrorism training from agencies such as the FBI, CIA, US Army, and DIA.
He is currently working on volume two in this series.
His website is https://garyedgingtonauthor.com
TRIVIA:
Last week's question was:
Author Elly Griffiths received inspiration for Her Ruth Galloway serief from?
a. Relatives
b. Neighbors
c. Street names
d. Friends from school
This answer is a. Relatives. The character of Ruth Galloway was inspired by Griffiths' husband,
who gave up a city job to train as an archaeologist. The location is credited to her aunt, "who
lives on the Norfolk coast and filled her niece's head with the myths and legends of that area
This week's question is:
Which author created the charity “Save the Libraries?”
a. Karin Slaughter
b. Jane Winspear
c. Martha Grimes
Tune in next week for the answer. Good luck!
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/52871835Tue, 28 Feb 2023 09:00:03 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubGary Edgington Show Notes On today's episode we had a delightful conversation with Gary Edgington, the author of “Outside The Wire” (not the science fiction film of the same name). It was publsihed by Koehler Press and was released in August of 2022....Show Notes
On today's episode we had a delightful conversation with Gary Edgington, the author of
“Outside The Wire” (not the science fiction film of the same name). It was publsihed by Koehler
Press and was released in August of 2022.
A retired LA counterterrorism cop and a fearless Army doctor risk everything, including their
burgeoning romance, as they battle clandestine Iranian operatives bent on the slaughter of
thousands of innocents and ultimately the destruction of America.
After a yearlong lull, local Iraqi insurgents launch a deadly mortar barrage at the sprawling
Camp Victory Base in Baghdad, Iraq. Rick Sutherland, a retired LAPD lieutenant working as an
embedded counterterrorism advisor, is wounded in the attack, and a local interpreter is killed.
Along with Major Nancy Weaver, his former doctor and now partner, Rick embarks on an off-the-
books investigation that quickly morphs into a race to stop murderous Iranian operatives from
exploding multiple dirty bombs during a critical meeting of US and foreign heads of state.
Working together, Nancy and Rick make a formidable team-but will it be enough?
Gary Edgington is a 30-year law enforcement veteran. Gary is also the son of a law
enforcement officer who was tragically murdered in the line of duty in 1979. This event occurred
while Gary was in the third week of L.A. Sheriff’s Academy training. Gary graduated with his
class and began his career with the Manhattan Beach Police Department. Gary later transferred
to the Beverly Hills Police Department, then the LA Co DA’s office, before being appointed a
Special Agent with the California DOJ-Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement in 1994.
Throughout his career, Gary has held assignments in major narcotics, internal affairs,
intelligence, government corruption, counter-terrorism, and as a firearms and tactics instructor.
As a Ca. DOJ Special Agent, Gary served from 1999 to 2008 as a member of the Los Angeles
FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force. After 9/11, Gary was promoted to Task Force Commander and
took command of a multi-agency counter-terrorism task force based in Los Angeles. Gary has
also served in an assignment at the National Counter Terrorism Center in Va. Additionally, he
has received counter-terrorism training from agencies such as the FBI, CIA, US Army, and DIA.
He is currently working on volume two in this series.
His website is https://garyedgingtonauthor.com
TRIVIA:
Last week's question was:
Author Elly Griffiths received inspiration for Her Ruth Galloway serief from?
a. Relatives
b. Neighbors
c. Street names
d. Friends from school
This answer is a. Relatives. The character of Ruth Galloway was inspired by Griffiths' husband,
who gave up a city job to train as an archaeologist. The location is credited to her aunt, "who
lives on the Norfolk coast and filled her niece's head with the myths and legends of that area
This week's question is:
Which author created the charity “Save the Libraries?”
a. Karin Slaughter
b. Jane Winspear
c. Martha Grimes
Tune in next week for the answer. Good luck!
]]>2300amreading,bookclub,booklove,counterterrorism,mustread,outsidethewire,podcast,thrillerfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ann-claire-dead-and-gondola-christie-bookshop-mystery-series-1--52796317(Bantam Books 11/22). It is the first in her Christie Bookshop Mystery series.
.
Ellie Christie is thrilled to begin a new chapter. She’s recently returned to her tiny Colorado
hometown to run her family’s historic bookshop with her elder sister, Meg, and their beloved cat,
Agatha. Perched in a Swiss-style hamlet accessible by ski gondola and a twisty mountain road,
the Book Chalet is a famed bibliophile destination known for its maze of shelves and relaxing
reading lounge. At least, until trouble blows in with a wintry whiteout. A man is found dead on
the gondola, and a rockslide throws the town into lockdown—no one in, no one out.
The victim was a mysterious stranger who’d visited the bookshop. At the time, his only blunders
had been disrupting a book club and leaving behind a first-edition Agatha Christie novel, written
under a pseudonym. However, once revealed, the man’s identity shocks the town. Motives and
secrets swirl like the snow, but when the police narrow in on the sisters’ close friends, the
Christies have to act.
Although the only Agatha in their family tree is their cat, Ellie and Meg know a lot about
mysteries and realize they must summon their inner Miss Marple to trek through a blizzard of
clues before the killer turns the page to their final chapter.
Ann Claire earned degrees in geography, which took her across the world. Now Claire lives with
her geographer husband in Colorado, where the mountains beckon from their kitchen windows.
When she’s not writing, you can find her hiking, gardening, herding housecats, and enjoying a
good mystery, especially one by Agatha Christie. She is on Instagram @annclaireauthor or on
the Penguin Random House author page. Https://penguinrandomhouse.com/annclaire
TRIVIA:
Last week's question was:
Gregg Hurwitz received the Harvard Undergraduate-Scholar Award for what?
a. Chess
b. Boxing
c. Pole vault
d. Croquet
The answer is c. Pole Vault. He was the undergraduate scholar-athlete of the year at Harvard
for pole vaulting and played college soccer in England, where he was a Knox Fellow.[4]
This week's question is:
Author Elly Griffiths received inspiration for Her Ruth Galloway serief from?
a. Relatives
b. Neighbors
c. Street names
d. Friends from school
Good luck!]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/52796317Tue, 21 Feb 2023 09:00:02 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubOn today's episode, we interviewed author Ann Claire about her book Dead and Gondola (Bantam Books 11/22). It is the first in her Christie Bookshop Mystery series. . Ellie Christie is thrilled to begin a new chapter. She’s recently returned to her...(Bantam Books 11/22). It is the first in her Christie Bookshop Mystery series.
.
Ellie Christie is thrilled to begin a new chapter. She’s recently returned to her tiny Colorado
hometown to run her family’s historic bookshop with her elder sister, Meg, and their beloved cat,
Agatha. Perched in a Swiss-style hamlet accessible by ski gondola and a twisty mountain road,
the Book Chalet is a famed bibliophile destination known for its maze of shelves and relaxing
reading lounge. At least, until trouble blows in with a wintry whiteout. A man is found dead on
the gondola, and a rockslide throws the town into lockdown—no one in, no one out.
The victim was a mysterious stranger who’d visited the bookshop. At the time, his only blunders
had been disrupting a book club and leaving behind a first-edition Agatha Christie novel, written
under a pseudonym. However, once revealed, the man’s identity shocks the town. Motives and
secrets swirl like the snow, but when the police narrow in on the sisters’ close friends, the
Christies have to act.
Although the only Agatha in their family tree is their cat, Ellie and Meg know a lot about
mysteries and realize they must summon their inner Miss Marple to trek through a blizzard of
clues before the killer turns the page to their final chapter.
Ann Claire earned degrees in geography, which took her across the world. Now Claire lives with
her geographer husband in Colorado, where the mountains beckon from their kitchen windows.
When she’s not writing, you can find her hiking, gardening, herding housecats, and enjoying a
good mystery, especially one by Agatha Christie. She is on Instagram @annclaireauthor or on
the Penguin Random House author page. Https://penguinrandomhouse.com/annclaire
TRIVIA:
Last week's question was:
Gregg Hurwitz received the Harvard Undergraduate-Scholar Award for what?
a. Chess
b. Boxing
c. Pole vault
d. Croquet
The answer is c. Pole Vault. He was the undergraduate scholar-athlete of the year at Harvard
for pole vaulting and played college soccer in England, where he was a Knox Fellow.[4]
This week's question is:
Author Elly Griffiths received inspiration for Her Ruth Galloway serief from?
a. Relatives
b. Neighbors
c. Street names
d. Friends from school
Good luck!]]>2080amreading,bookclub,bookclubpodcast,booklove,murdermystery,mustread,mysterypodcast,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/gregg-hurwitz-the-last-orphan-38-in-the-orphan-x-series--52721773#8 in the Orphan X series by Gregg Hurwitz (Minotaur Books 2/14.23
Evan Smoak returns in The Last Orphan, the latest New York Times bestselling Orphan X
thriller--when everything changes and everything is at risk.
As a child, Evan Smoak was plucked out of a group home, raised and trained as an off-the-
books assassin for the government as part of the Orphan program. When he broke with the
program and went deep underground, he left with a lot of secrets in his head that the
government would do anything to make sure never got out.
When he remade himself as The Nowhere Man, dedicated to helping the most desperate in
their times of trouble, Evan found himself slowly back on the government's radar. Having
eliminated most of the Orphans in the program, the government will stop at nothing to eliminate
the threat they see in Evan. But Orphan X has always been several steps ahead of his
pursuers.
Until he makes one little mistake...
Now the President has him in her control and offers Evan a deal - eliminate a rich, powerful man
she says is too dangerous to live and, in turn, she'll let Evan survive. But when Evan left the
Program he swore to only use his skills against those who really deserve it. Now he has to
decide what's more important - his principles or his life.
TRIVIA
Last Week's Question Was:
Where did Dorothy L. Sayers get the names for her characters in “The Nine Tailors”
a. graves in the cemetery
b. the neighbors
c. school friends
d. the baptism role in church
She grew up in the tiny village of Bluntisham in Huntingdonshire after her father was given the
living there as rector of Bluntisham-cum-Earith. The church graveyard next to the elegant
Regency-style rectory features the surnames of several characters from her mystery The Nine
Tailors.
This week's question is:
Gregg Hurwitz received the Harvard Undergraduate-Scholar Award for what?
a. Chess
b. Boxing
c. Pole vault
d. Croquet
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/52721773Tue, 14 Feb 2023 09:00:02 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubOn this episode, we had a lively interview with Gregg Hurwitz, the author of The Last Orphan, #8 in the Orphan X series by Gregg Hurwitz (Minotaur Books 2/14.23 Evan Smoak returns in The Last Orphan, the latest New York Times bestselling Orphan X...#8 in the Orphan X series by Gregg Hurwitz (Minotaur Books 2/14.23
Evan Smoak returns in The Last Orphan, the latest New York Times bestselling Orphan X
thriller--when everything changes and everything is at risk.
As a child, Evan Smoak was plucked out of a group home, raised and trained as an off-the-
books assassin for the government as part of the Orphan program. When he broke with the
program and went deep underground, he left with a lot of secrets in his head that the
government would do anything to make sure never got out.
When he remade himself as The Nowhere Man, dedicated to helping the most desperate in
their times of trouble, Evan found himself slowly back on the government's radar. Having
eliminated most of the Orphans in the program, the government will stop at nothing to eliminate
the threat they see in Evan. But Orphan X has always been several steps ahead of his
pursuers.
Until he makes one little mistake...
Now the President has him in her control and offers Evan a deal - eliminate a rich, powerful man
she says is too dangerous to live and, in turn, she'll let Evan survive. But when Evan left the
Program he swore to only use his skills against those who really deserve it. Now he has to
decide what's more important - his principles or his life.
TRIVIA
Last Week's Question Was:
Where did Dorothy L. Sayers get the names for her characters in “The Nine Tailors”
a. graves in the cemetery
b. the neighbors
c. school friends
d. the baptism role in church
She grew up in the tiny village of Bluntisham in Huntingdonshire after her father was given the
living there as rector of Bluntisham-cum-Earith. The church graveyard next to the elegant
Regency-style rectory features the surnames of several characters from her mystery The Nine
Tailors.
This week's question is:
Gregg Hurwitz received the Harvard Undergraduate-Scholar Award for what?
a. Chess
b. Boxing
c. Pole vault
d. Croquet
]]>1598amreading,bookclub,booklove,mustread,orphanx,podcast,thelastorphanfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/desmond-p-ryan-10-33-assist-pc--52656089Show Notes
For almost thirty years, Desmond P. Ryan began every day of his working life with either a victim
waiting in a hospital emergency room, or a call to a street corner or a blood-soaked room where
someone had been left for dead. Murder, assaults on a level that defied humanity, sexual
violations intended to demean, shame, and haunt the individuals who were no more than
objects to the offenders: all in a day's work.
It was exhilarating, exhausting, and often heartbreaking.
As a Detective with the Toronto Police Service, Desmond P. Ryan wrote thousands of reports
detailing the people, places, and events that led up to the moment he came along. He
investigated the crimes and wrote synopses for guilty pleas detailing the circumstances that
brought the accused individuals before the Courts. He also wrote a number of files to have
individuals deemed either Not Criminally Responsible due to mental incapacity, or Dangerous
Offenders to be held in custody indefinitely.
Now, as a retired investigator with three decades of research opportunities under his belt,
Desmond P. Ryan writes crime fiction.
Real Detective. Real Crime. Fiction.
One of the reader favorite in the Mike O'Shea series was his mother, Mary Margaret O'Shea.
She is a very tiny Irish woman with a BIG presence. Now Desmond has given Mary Margaret
her very own series in the Mary Margaret O'Shea Cozy Series which will debut later this year.
Desmond contacted us back in our first year and quickly became a favorite. We are very happy
to catch up with him again.
His website is https://realdesmondryan.com
TRIVIA
Last week's question was:
What did Anthony Horowitz receive from his mother for his 13th
birthday?
a. a card
b. a skull
c. a car
d. a telephone call
Horowitz's mother introduced him to Frankenstein and Dracula. She also gave him a human
skull for his 13th birthday. Horowitz said in an interview that it reminds him to get to the end of
each story since he will soon look like the skull.
This week's question is:
Where did Dorothy L. Sayers get the names for her characters in “The Nine Tailors”
a. Graves in the cemetery
b. The neighbors
c. School friends
d. From the church baptism roles
Tune in next week for the answer.
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/52656089Tue, 07 Feb 2023 09:00:02 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubDesmond Ryan Show Notes For almost thirty years, Desmond P. Ryan began every day of his working life with either a victim waiting in a hospital emergency room, or a call to a street corner or a blood-soaked room where someone had been left for dead....Show Notes
For almost thirty years, Desmond P. Ryan began every day of his working life with either a victim
waiting in a hospital emergency room, or a call to a street corner or a blood-soaked room where
someone had been left for dead. Murder, assaults on a level that defied humanity, sexual
violations intended to demean, shame, and haunt the individuals who were no more than
objects to the offenders: all in a day's work.
It was exhilarating, exhausting, and often heartbreaking.
As a Detective with the Toronto Police Service, Desmond P. Ryan wrote thousands of reports
detailing the people, places, and events that led up to the moment he came along. He
investigated the crimes and wrote synopses for guilty pleas detailing the circumstances that
brought the accused individuals before the Courts. He also wrote a number of files to have
individuals deemed either Not Criminally Responsible due to mental incapacity, or Dangerous
Offenders to be held in custody indefinitely.
Now, as a retired investigator with three decades of research opportunities under his belt,
Desmond P. Ryan writes crime fiction.
Real Detective. Real Crime. Fiction.
One of the reader favorite in the Mike O'Shea series was his mother, Mary Margaret O'Shea.
She is a very tiny Irish woman with a BIG presence. Now Desmond has given Mary Margaret
her very own series in the Mary Margaret O'Shea Cozy Series which will debut later this year.
Desmond contacted us back in our first year and quickly became a favorite. We are very happy
to catch up with him again.
His website is https://realdesmondryan.com
TRIVIA
Last week's question was:
What did Anthony Horowitz receive from his mother for his 13th
birthday?
a. a card
b. a skull
c. a car
d. a telephone call
Horowitz's mother introduced him to Frankenstein and Dracula. She also gave him a human
skull for his 13th birthday. Horowitz said in an interview that it reminds him to get to the end of
each story since he will soon look like the skull.
This week's question is:
Where did Dorothy L. Sayers get the names for her characters in “The Nine Tailors”
a. Graves in the cemetery
b. The neighbors
c. School friends
d. From the church baptism roles
Tune in next week for the answer.
]]>1378amreading,bookclub,booklove,cozy,desmondpryan,mustread,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/feb-wwar-featuring-black-mystery-authors-part-ii--52599816Show Notes
Part 1
In honor of Black History Month, we are featuring four books by Black authors.
Tracey reported on Blacktop Wasteland by SA Crosby (Flatiron Books) A husband, a father, a
son, a business owner...And the best getaway driver east of the Mississippi.
Beauregard “Bug” Montage is an honest mechanic, a loving husband, and a hard-working dad.
Bug knows there’s no future in the man he used to be: known from the hills of North Carolina to
the beaches of Florida as the best wheelman on the East Coast.
He thought he'd left all that behind him, but as his carefully built new life begins to crumble, he
finds himself drawn inexorably back into a world of blood and bullets. When a smooth-talking
former associate comes calling with a can't-miss jewelry store heist, Bug feels he has no choice
but to get back in the driver's seat. And Bug is at his best where the scent of gasoline mixes with
the smell of fear.
Haunted by the ghost of who he used to be and the father who disappeared when he needed
him most, Bug must find a way to navigate this blacktop wasteland...or die trying.
S. A. Cosby (Shawn Cosby) is a "Southern noir" crime fiction writer. He resides in Gloucester,
Virginia, on the Chesapeake Bay. Cosby has published three crime novels: A fourth novel, All
the Sinners Bleed, is expected to release in June 2023, in hardback form, and published, like its
two successors, by Flatiron Books, an imprint of Macmillan
He is on Twitter as @blacklionking73
Kathy reported on A Killer Sundae by Abby Collette (Berkeley Books 1/22) This is #3 in the Ice
Cream Parlor Mysteries. Ice cream shop owner Bronwyn Crewse is in for two scoops of murder
in this charming mystery from Abby Collette.
Chagrin Falls, Ohio, is gorgeous in the fall, and Bronwyn Crewse, owner of Crewse Creamery,
knows just how to welcome the new season. At the annual Harvest Time Festival, residents will
get a chance to enjoy hot-air balloons and hayrides, crown a new Harvest Time Festival Queen,
and eat delicious frozen treats sold at Win’s freshly purchased ice cream truck. But she gets into
a sprinkle of trouble when a festivalgoer is poisoned and Win is implicated.
Although the victim was a former Harvest Time Festival Queen, her once-sunny disposition had
dimmed into bitterness, leaving no shortage of suspects at the festival. To clear her name before
the chill of winter sets in, Win will have to investigate and hope that her detective skills won’t
“dessert” her.
bestselling author Abby Collette loves a good mystery. She was born and raised in Cleveland,
and it’s a mystery even to her why she hasn’t yet moved to a warmer place. As Abby Collette,
she is the author of the Ice Cream Parlor mystery series, about a millennial MBA-holding
granddaughter running a family-owned ice cream shop in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, and the
upcoming Books & Biscuits mystery series, starring a set of fraternal twins who reunite and
open a bookstore and soul food café. Writing as Abby L. Vandiver, she is the author of the
Logan Dickerson Mysteries, featuring a second-generation archaeologist and a nonagenarian,
as well as the Romaine Wilder Mysteries, pairing an East Texas medical examiner and her
feisty, funeral-home-owning auntie as sleuths. Abby spends her time writing, facilitating writing
workshops at local libraries and hanging out with her grandchildren, each of whom are her
favorite. Her website is https://abbycollette.com
Tune in tomorrow for part 2 where we discuss “One Part Sugar, One Part Mueder” by Valerie
Burns and “A Killing Rain” by Faye Snowden.
Part 2
Misty reported on Two Parts Sugar, One Part Murder by Valerie Burns (Kensington 6/22) In a
brand-new culinary cozy series with a fresh edge and a delightful small-town setting, the
acclaimed author introduces Maddy Montgomery, a social media expert who’s #StartingOver in
small town Michigan after inheriting her great-aunt’s bakery...and a 200-pound English Mastiff
named Baby.
When Maddy Montgomery’s groom is a no-show to their livestream wedding, it’s a disaster that
no amount of filtering can fix. But a surprise inheritance offers a chance to regroup and rebrand
—as long as Maddy is willing to live in her late, great-aunt Octavia’s house in New Bison,
Michigan, for a year, running her bakery and caring for a 250-pound English mastiff named
Baby.
Maddy doesn’t bake, and her Louboutins aren’t made for walking giant dogs around Lake
Michigan, but the locals are friendly and the scenery is beautiful. With help from her aunt’s loyal
friends, aka the Baker Street Irregulars, Maddy feels ready to tackle any challenge, including
Octavia’s award-winning cake recipes. That is, until New Bison’s mayor is fatally stabbed, and
Maddy’s fingerprints are found on the knife . . .
Something strange is going on in New Bison. It seems Aunt Octavia had her suspicions, too.
But Maddy’s going to need a whole lot more than a trending hashtag to save her reputation—
and her life.
Valerie (V. M.) Burns was born and raised in the Midwestern United States. She currently
resides in the warmer region of the country with her two poodles, Kenzie and Chloe. Valerie is a
member of Mystery Writers of America, Dog Writers of America, Crime Writers of Color,
International Thriller Writers, and Sisters in Crime. Valerie is also a mentor in the Writing
Popular Fiction MFA program at Seton Hill University. As V.M. Burns, she writes the Next
Generation Indie Finalist, RJ Franklin Mysteries, Dog Club Mysteries, and Agatha award-
nominated, Mystery Bookshop Mysteries. She is also an Edgar award-nominated short story
author.
Finally, Ann reported on A Killing Rain by Faye Snowdon (Flame Tree Press 2/22) Dark,
Southern gothic tale of homicide detective Raven Burns, with a complicated past and a
desperate case to solve. Black Girls Lit recommends the first book, A Killing Fire "to crime fiction
and mystery lovers and fans of Ruth Ware and Gillian Flynn.”
After former homicide Raven Burns returns to Byrd’s Landing, Louisiana to begin a new life, she
soon finds herself trapped by the old one when her nephew is kidnapped by a ruthless serial
killer, and her foster brother becomes the main suspect. To make matters worse, she is being
pursued by two men— one who wants to redeem her soul for the murder Raven felt she had no
choice but to commit, and another who wants to lock her away forever.
Faye Snowden is the author of three published mysteries with Kensington— Spiral of Guilt
(1999), The Savior (2003, 2004) and Fatal Justice (2005, 2006). She has published short stories
and poems in various literary journals and small presses including The African American
Review, Calliope, Red Ochre Lit, Bay Area Poets Coalition and Occam’s Razor.
Although born in San Fernando, California, she was uprooted while young to a place where
supposedly people had swamps in their backyards and alligators for pets. She didn’t have any
pet alligators in Shreveport, Louisiana, but an amazing, resourceful single mother raised the
family of six in a shotgun house. And she had a cat named Blue.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/52599816Wed, 01 Feb 2023 09:00:02 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubWWAR February Show Notes Part 1 In honor of Black History Month, we are featuring four books by Black authors. Tracey reported on Blacktop Wasteland by SA Crosby (Flatiron Books) A husband, a father, a son, a business owner...And the best getaway...Show Notes
Part 1
In honor of Black History Month, we are featuring four books by Black authors.
Tracey reported on Blacktop Wasteland by SA Crosby (Flatiron Books) A husband, a father, a
son, a business owner...And the best getaway driver east of the Mississippi.
Beauregard “Bug” Montage is an honest mechanic, a loving husband, and a hard-working dad.
Bug knows there’s no future in the man he used to be: known from the hills of North Carolina to
the beaches of Florida as the best wheelman on the East Coast.
He thought he'd left all that behind him, but as his carefully built new life begins to crumble, he
finds himself drawn inexorably back into a world of blood and bullets. When a smooth-talking
former associate comes calling with a can't-miss jewelry store heist, Bug feels he has no choice
but to get back in the driver's seat. And Bug is at his best where the scent of gasoline mixes with
the smell of fear.
Haunted by the ghost of who he used to be and the father who disappeared when he needed
him most, Bug must find a way to navigate this blacktop wasteland...or die trying.
S. A. Cosby (Shawn Cosby) is a "Southern noir" crime fiction writer. He resides in Gloucester,
Virginia, on the Chesapeake Bay. Cosby has published three crime novels: A fourth novel, All
the Sinners Bleed, is expected to release in June 2023, in hardback form, and published, like its
two successors, by Flatiron Books, an imprint of Macmillan
He is on Twitter as @blacklionking73
Kathy reported on A Killer Sundae by Abby Collette (Berkeley Books 1/22) This is #3 in the Ice
Cream Parlor Mysteries. Ice cream shop owner Bronwyn Crewse is in for two scoops of murder
in this charming mystery from Abby Collette.
Chagrin Falls, Ohio, is gorgeous in the fall, and Bronwyn Crewse, owner of Crewse Creamery,
knows just how to welcome the new season. At the annual Harvest Time Festival, residents will
get a chance to enjoy hot-air balloons and hayrides, crown a new Harvest Time Festival Queen,
and eat delicious frozen treats sold at Win’s freshly purchased ice cream truck. But she gets into
a sprinkle of trouble when a festivalgoer is poisoned and Win is implicated.
Although the victim was a former Harvest Time Festival Queen, her once-sunny disposition had
dimmed into bitterness, leaving no shortage of suspects at the festival. To clear her name before
the chill of winter sets in, Win will have to investigate and hope that her detective skills won’t
“dessert” her.
bestselling author Abby Collette loves a good mystery. She was born and raised in Cleveland,
and it’s a mystery even to her why she hasn’t yet moved to a warmer place. As Abby Collette,
she is the author of the Ice Cream Parlor mystery series, about a millennial MBA-holding
granddaughter running a family-owned ice cream shop in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, and the
upcoming Books & Biscuits mystery series, starring a set of fraternal twins who reunite and
open a bookstore and soul food café. Writing as Abby L. Vandiver, she is the author of the
Logan Dickerson Mysteries, featuring a second-generation archaeologist and a nonagenarian,
as well as the Romaine Wilder Mysteries, pairing an East Texas medical examiner and her
feisty, funeral-home-owning auntie as sleuths. Abby spends her time writing, facilitating writing
workshops at local libraries and hanging out with her grandchildren, each of whom are her
favorite. Her website is https://abbycollette.com
Tune in tomorrow for part 2 where we discuss “One Part Sugar, One Part Mueder” by Valerie
Burns and “A Killing Rain” by Faye Snowden.
Part 2
Misty reported on Two Parts Sugar, One Part Murder by Valerie Burns (Kensington 6/22) In a
brand-new culinary cozy series with a fresh edge and a delightful small-town...]]>1250amreading,blackhistorymonth,bookclub,mustread,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/wwar-featuring-black-mystery-authors--52588966Show Notes
Part 1
In honor of Black History Month, we are featuring four books by Black authors.
Tracey reported on Blacktop Wasteland by SA Crosby (Flatiron Books) A husband, a father, a
son, a business owner...And the best getaway driver east of the Mississippi.
Beauregard “Bug” Montage is an honest mechanic, a loving husband, and a hard-working dad.
Bug knows there’s no future in the man he used to be: known from the hills of North Carolina to
the beaches of Florida as the best wheelman on the East Coast.
He thought he'd left all that behind him, but as his carefully built new life begins to crumble, he
finds himself drawn inexorably back into a world of blood and bullets. When a smooth-talking
former associate comes calling with a can't-miss jewelry store heist, Bug feels he has no choice
but to get back in the driver's seat. And Bug is at his best where the scent of gasoline mixes with
the smell of fear.
Haunted by the ghost of who he used to be and the father who disappeared when he needed
him most, Bug must find a way to navigate this blacktop wasteland...or die trying.
S. A. Cosby (Shawn Cosby) is a "Southern noir" crime fiction writer. He resides in Gloucester,
Virginia, on the Chesapeake Bay. Cosby has published three crime novels: A fourth novel, All
the Sinners Bleed, is expected to release in June 2023, in hardback form, and published, like its
two successors, by Flatiron Books, an imprint of Macmillan
He is on Twitter as @blacklionking73
Kathy reported on A Killer Sundae by Abby Collette (Berkeley Books 1/22) This is #3 in the Ice
Cream Parlor Mysteries. Ice cream shop owner Bronwyn Crewse is in for two scoops of murder
in this charming mystery from Abby Collette.
Chagrin Falls, Ohio, is gorgeous in the fall, and Bronwyn Crewse, owner of Crewse Creamery,
knows just how to welcome the new season. At the annual Harvest Time Festival, residents will
get a chance to enjoy hot-air balloons and hayrides, crown a new Harvest Time Festival Queen,
and eat delicious frozen treats sold at Win’s freshly purchased ice cream truck. But she gets into
a sprinkle of trouble when a festivalgoer is poisoned and Win is implicated.
Although the victim was a former Harvest Time Festival Queen, her once-sunny disposition had
dimmed into bitterness, leaving no shortage of suspects at the festival. To clear her name before
the chill of winter sets in, Win will have to investigate and hope that her detective skills won’t
“dessert” her.
bestselling author Abby Collette loves a good mystery. She was born and raised in Cleveland,
and it’s a mystery even to her why she hasn’t yet moved to a warmer place. As Abby Collette,
she is the author of the Ice Cream Parlor mystery series, about a millennial MBA-holding
granddaughter running a family-owned ice cream shop in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, and the
upcoming Books & Biscuits mystery series, starring a set of fraternal twins who reunite and
open a bookstore and soul food café. Writing as Abby L. Vandiver, she is the author of the
Logan Dickerson Mysteries, featuring a second-generation archaeologist and a nonagenarian,
as well as the Romaine Wilder Mysteries, pairing an East Texas medical examiner and her
feisty, funeral-home-owning auntie as sleuths. Abby spends her time writing, facilitating writing
workshops at local libraries and hanging out with her grandchildren, each of whom are her
favorite. Her website is https://abbycollette.com
Tune in tomorrow for part 2 where we discuss “One Part Sugar, One Part Mueder” by Valerie
Burns and “A Killing Rain” by Faye Snowden.
Part 2
Misty reported on Two Parts Sugar, One Part Murder by Valerie Burns (Kensington 6/22) In a
brand-new culinary cozy series with a fresh edge and a delightful small-town setting, the
acclaimed author introduces Maddy Montgomery, a social media expert who’s #StartingOver in
small town Michigan after inheriting her great-aunt’s bakery...and a 200-pound English Mastiff
named Baby.
When Maddy Montgomery’s groom is a no-show to their livestream wedding, it’s a disaster that
no amount of filtering can fix. But a surprise inheritance offers a chance to regroup and rebrand
—as long as Maddy is willing to live in her late, great-aunt Octavia’s house in New Bison,
Michigan, for a year, running her bakery and caring for a 250-pound English mastiff named
Baby.
Maddy doesn’t bake, and her Louboutins aren’t made for walking giant dogs around Lake
Michigan, but the locals are friendly and the scenery is beautiful. With help from her aunt’s loyal
friends, aka the Baker Street Irregulars, Maddy feels ready to tackle any challenge, including
Octavia’s award-winning cake recipes. That is, until New Bison’s mayor is fatally stabbed, and
Maddy’s fingerprints are found on the knife . . .
Something strange is going on in New Bison. It seems Aunt Octavia had her suspicions, too.
But Maddy’s going to need a whole lot more than a trending hashtag to save her reputation—
and her life.
Valerie (V. M.) Burns was born and raised in the Midwestern United States. She currently
resides in the warmer region of the country with her two poodles, Kenzie and Chloe. Valerie is a
member of Mystery Writers of America, Dog Writers of America, Crime Writers of Color,
International Thriller Writers, and Sisters in Crime. Valerie is also a mentor in the Writing
Popular Fiction MFA program at Seton Hill University. As V.M. Burns, she writes the Next
Generation Indie Finalist, RJ Franklin Mysteries, Dog Club Mysteries, and Agatha award-
nominated, Mystery Bookshop Mysteries. She is also an Edgar award-nominated short story
author.
Finally, Ann reported on A Killing Rain by Faye Snowdon (Flame Tree Press 2/22) Dark,
Southern gothic tale of homicide detective Raven Burns, with a complicated past and a
desperate case to solve. Black Girls Lit recommends the first book, A Killing Fire "to crime fiction
and mystery lovers and fans of Ruth Ware and Gillian Flynn.”
After former homicide Raven Burns returns to Byrd’s Landing, Louisiana to begin a new life, she
soon finds herself trapped by the old one when her nephew is kidnapped by a ruthless serial
killer, and her foster brother becomes the main suspect. To make matters worse, she is being
pursued by two men— one who wants to redeem her soul for the murder Raven felt she had no
choice but to commit, and another who wants to lock her away forever.
Faye Snowden is the author of three published mysteries with Kensington— Spiral of Guilt
(1999), The Savior (2003, 2004) and Fatal Justice (2005, 2006). She has published short stories
and poems in various literary journals and small presses including The African American
Review, Calliope, Red Ochre Lit, Bay Area Poets Coalition and Occam’s Razor.
Although born in San Fernando, California, she was uprooted while young to a place where
supposedly people had swamps in their backyards and alligators for pets. She didn’t have any
pet alligators in Shreveport, Louisiana, but an amazing, resourceful single mother raised the
family of six in a shotgun house. And she had a cat named Blue. Her website is
https://fayesnowden.com
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/52588966Tue, 31 Jan 2023 09:00:02 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubWWAR February Show Notes Part 1 In honor of Black History Month, we are featuring four books by Black authors. Tracey reported on Blacktop Wasteland by SA Crosby (Flatiron Books) A husband, a father, a son, a business owner...And the best getaway...Show Notes
Part 1
In honor of Black History Month, we are featuring four books by Black authors.
Tracey reported on Blacktop Wasteland by SA Crosby (Flatiron Books) A husband, a father, a
son, a business owner...And the best getaway driver east of the Mississippi.
Beauregard “Bug” Montage is an honest mechanic, a loving husband, and a hard-working dad.
Bug knows there’s no future in the man he used to be: known from the hills of North Carolina to
the beaches of Florida as the best wheelman on the East Coast.
He thought he'd left all that behind him, but as his carefully built new life begins to crumble, he
finds himself drawn inexorably back into a world of blood and bullets. When a smooth-talking
former associate comes calling with a can't-miss jewelry store heist, Bug feels he has no choice
but to get back in the driver's seat. And Bug is at his best where the scent of gasoline mixes with
the smell of fear.
Haunted by the ghost of who he used to be and the father who disappeared when he needed
him most, Bug must find a way to navigate this blacktop wasteland...or die trying.
S. A. Cosby (Shawn Cosby) is a "Southern noir" crime fiction writer. He resides in Gloucester,
Virginia, on the Chesapeake Bay. Cosby has published three crime novels: A fourth novel, All
the Sinners Bleed, is expected to release in June 2023, in hardback form, and published, like its
two successors, by Flatiron Books, an imprint of Macmillan
He is on Twitter as @blacklionking73
Kathy reported on A Killer Sundae by Abby Collette (Berkeley Books 1/22) This is #3 in the Ice
Cream Parlor Mysteries. Ice cream shop owner Bronwyn Crewse is in for two scoops of murder
in this charming mystery from Abby Collette.
Chagrin Falls, Ohio, is gorgeous in the fall, and Bronwyn Crewse, owner of Crewse Creamery,
knows just how to welcome the new season. At the annual Harvest Time Festival, residents will
get a chance to enjoy hot-air balloons and hayrides, crown a new Harvest Time Festival Queen,
and eat delicious frozen treats sold at Win’s freshly purchased ice cream truck. But she gets into
a sprinkle of trouble when a festivalgoer is poisoned and Win is implicated.
Although the victim was a former Harvest Time Festival Queen, her once-sunny disposition had
dimmed into bitterness, leaving no shortage of suspects at the festival. To clear her name before
the chill of winter sets in, Win will have to investigate and hope that her detective skills won’t
“dessert” her.
bestselling author Abby Collette loves a good mystery. She was born and raised in Cleveland,
and it’s a mystery even to her why she hasn’t yet moved to a warmer place. As Abby Collette,
she is the author of the Ice Cream Parlor mystery series, about a millennial MBA-holding
granddaughter running a family-owned ice cream shop in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, and the
upcoming Books & Biscuits mystery series, starring a set of fraternal twins who reunite and
open a bookstore and soul food café. Writing as Abby L. Vandiver, she is the author of the
Logan Dickerson Mysteries, featuring a second-generation archaeologist and a nonagenarian,
as well as the Romaine Wilder Mysteries, pairing an East Texas medical examiner and her
feisty, funeral-home-owning auntie as sleuths. Abby spends her time writing, facilitating writing
workshops at local libraries and hanging out with her grandchildren, each of whom are her
favorite. Her website is https://abbycollette.com
Tune in tomorrow for part 2 where we discuss “One Part Sugar, One Part Mueder” by Valerie
Burns and “A Killing Rain” by Faye Snowden.
Part 2
Misty reported on Two Parts Sugar, One Part Murder by Valerie Burns (Kensington 6/22) In a
brand-new culinary cozy series with a fresh edge and a delightful small-town...]]>1398amreading,blackauthors,blackhistorymonth,bookclub,murder,mustread,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/dark-and-stormy-takes-on-the-movies--52523437Show Notes
On this episode of Dark and Stormy Book Club, we talked about a few of the new movies that
we have enjoyed over the past few weeks. Each of these movies is currently available on
Netflix.
Misty reported on The Glass Onion, A Knives Out Mystery by Rian Johnson starring Daniel
Craig, Edward Norton, Kate Hudson, and a host of quirky characters. Benoit Blanc returns to
peel back the layers in a new Rian Johnson whodunit. This fresh adventure finds the intrepid
detective at a lavish private estate on a Greek island, but how and why he comes to be there is
only the first of many puzzles. Blanc soon meets a distinctly disparate group of friends gathering
at the invitation of billionaire Miles Bron for their yearly reunion. Among those on the guest list
are Miles' former business partner Andi Brand, current Connecticut governor Claire Debella,
cutting-edge scientist Lionel Toussaint, fashion designer and former model Birdie Jay and her
conscientious assistant Peg, and influencer Duke Cody and his sidekick girlfriend Whiskey. As
in all the best murder mysteries, each character harbors their own secrets, lies and motivations.
When someone turns up dead, everyone is a suspect.
Tracey reported on A Pale Blue Eye by Scott Cooper starring Christian Bale, Henry Melling,
Gillian Anderson, Lucy Boynton, Robert Duvall. West Point, 1830. In the early hours of a gray
winter morning, a cadet is found dead. But after the body arrives at the morgue, tragedy
becomes savagery when it's discovered that the young man's heart has been skillfully removed.
Fearing irreparable damage to the fledgling military academy, its leaders turn to a local
detective, Augustus Landor (Christian Bale), to solve the murder. Stymied by the cadets' code of
silence, Landor enlists the help of one of their own to pursue the case, an eccentric cadet with a
disdain for the rigors of the military and a penchant for poetry -- a young man named Edgar
Allan Poe (Harry Melling). This book is taken from the book of the same name written by Louis
Bayard.
Finally, Ann reported on Enola Holmes II By Harry Bradbeer starring Millie Bobbie Brown,
Helena Bonham Carter, and Henry Cavill. Fresh off the triumph of solving her first case, Enola
Holmes (Millie Bobby Brown) follows in the footsteps of her famous brother, Sherlock (Henry
Cavill), and opens her own agency -- only to find that life as a female detective-for-hire isn't as
easy as it seems. Resigned to accepting the cold realities of adulthood, she is about to close
shop when a penniless matchstick girl offers Enola her first official job: to find her missing sister.
But this case proves to be far more puzzling than expected, as Enola is thrown into a dangerous
new world -- from London's sinister factories and colorful music halls, to the highest echelons of
society and 221B Baker Street itself. As the sparks of a deadly conspiracy ignite, Enola must
call upon the help of friends -- and Sherlock himself -- to unravel her mystery. The game, it
seems, has found its feet again! Be sure and check out the Enola Holmes book series by Nancy
Springer.
TRIVIA
Last week's question was:
How long did it take Mickey Spillane to write his first mystery novel?
a. 3 years
b. a month
c. 9 day
d. 3 weeks
Mickey and his wife wanted to buy a country house in the town of Newburgh, New York, 60
miles north of New York City, so Spillane decided to boost his bank account by writing a novel.
He wrote I, the Jury in just 9 days.
This week's question is:
In the Sue Grafton Kinsey Milhone mystery series, what California town is the town of Santa
Teresa based on?
a. Santa Rosa
b. Malibu
c. San Diego
d. Santa Barbara
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/52523437Tue, 24 Jan 2023 09:00:02 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubDark and Stormy Takes On The Movies Show Notes On this episode of Dark and Stormy Book Club, we talked about a few of the new movies that we have enjoyed over the past few weeks. Each of these movies is currently available on Netflix. Misty reported...Show Notes
On this episode of Dark and Stormy Book Club, we talked about a few of the new movies that
we have enjoyed over the past few weeks. Each of these movies is currently available on
Netflix.
Misty reported on The Glass Onion, A Knives Out Mystery by Rian Johnson starring Daniel
Craig, Edward Norton, Kate Hudson, and a host of quirky characters. Benoit Blanc returns to
peel back the layers in a new Rian Johnson whodunit. This fresh adventure finds the intrepid
detective at a lavish private estate on a Greek island, but how and why he comes to be there is
only the first of many puzzles. Blanc soon meets a distinctly disparate group of friends gathering
at the invitation of billionaire Miles Bron for their yearly reunion. Among those on the guest list
are Miles' former business partner Andi Brand, current Connecticut governor Claire Debella,
cutting-edge scientist Lionel Toussaint, fashion designer and former model Birdie Jay and her
conscientious assistant Peg, and influencer Duke Cody and his sidekick girlfriend Whiskey. As
in all the best murder mysteries, each character harbors their own secrets, lies and motivations.
When someone turns up dead, everyone is a suspect.
Tracey reported on A Pale Blue Eye by Scott Cooper starring Christian Bale, Henry Melling,
Gillian Anderson, Lucy Boynton, Robert Duvall. West Point, 1830. In the early hours of a gray
winter morning, a cadet is found dead. But after the body arrives at the morgue, tragedy
becomes savagery when it's discovered that the young man's heart has been skillfully removed.
Fearing irreparable damage to the fledgling military academy, its leaders turn to a local
detective, Augustus Landor (Christian Bale), to solve the murder. Stymied by the cadets' code of
silence, Landor enlists the help of one of their own to pursue the case, an eccentric cadet with a
disdain for the rigors of the military and a penchant for poetry -- a young man named Edgar
Allan Poe (Harry Melling). This book is taken from the book of the same name written by Louis
Bayard.
Finally, Ann reported on Enola Holmes II By Harry Bradbeer starring Millie Bobbie Brown,
Helena Bonham Carter, and Henry Cavill. Fresh off the triumph of solving her first case, Enola
Holmes (Millie Bobby Brown) follows in the footsteps of her famous brother, Sherlock (Henry
Cavill), and opens her own agency -- only to find that life as a female detective-for-hire isn't as
easy as it seems. Resigned to accepting the cold realities of adulthood, she is about to close
shop when a penniless matchstick girl offers Enola her first official job: to find her missing sister.
But this case proves to be far more puzzling than expected, as Enola is thrown into a dangerous
new world -- from London's sinister factories and colorful music halls, to the highest echelons of
society and 221B Baker Street itself. As the sparks of a deadly conspiracy ignite, Enola must
call upon the help of friends -- and Sherlock himself -- to unravel her mystery. The game, it
seems, has found its feet again! Be sure and check out the Enola Holmes book series by Nancy
Springer.
TRIVIA
Last week's question was:
How long did it take Mickey Spillane to write his first mystery novel?
a. 3 years
b. a month
c. 9 day
d. 3 weeks
Mickey and his wife wanted to buy a country house in the town of Newburgh, New York, 60
miles north of New York City, so Spillane decided to boost his bank account by writing a novel.
He wrote I, the Jury in just 9 days.
This week's question is:
In the Sue Grafton Kinsey Milhone mystery series, what California town is the town of Santa
Teresa based on?
a. Santa Rosa
b. Malibu
c. San Diego
d. Santa Barbara
]]>2387bookclub,enolaholmes,mysterymovies,podcast,theglassonion,thepaleblueeyefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/clair-douglas-interview--52458921Show Notes
On today's episode we visit with Claire Douglas, the author of The Girls Who Disappeared
Harper Collins (1/2023)
A car accident.
Three missing girls.
A twenty-year mystery.
A woman on the verge of discovering the truth . . .
In a rural Wilshire town lies the Devil’s Corridor—a haunted road which has witnessed eerie
happenings, from unexplained deaths to the sounds of a child crying in the night.
In this bucolic stretch of Southwest England famous for its otherworldly sites, nothing is more
puzzling than the Olivia Rutherford case. Four girls were driving home. After their car crashed
only one—Olivia—was found.
What happened to the girls who disappeared? On the twentieth anniversary of the tragedy,
journalist Jenna Halliday has arrived in Wiltshire to cover the case. The locals aren’t happy with
this outsider determined to dig into the past. Least of all Olivia.
Soon, Jenna starts receiving menacing notes. The locals have made it clear she’s not welcome.
But someone is going to make her leave one way or another. Jenna’s been warned: she must
get out of this town before she suffers a dark fate . . . and becomes another mystery attached to
this place.
Claire Douglas has worked as a journalist for fifteen years writing features for women's
magazines and national newspapers, but she's dreamed of being a novelist since the age of
seven. She finally got her wish after winning the Marie Claire Debut Novel Award, with her first
novel, THE SISTERS. She lives in Bath with her husband and two children. You can find Claire
on the Harper Collins author's page.
TRIVIA
Last week's question was:
Which mystery author is famously quoted as saying :If it sounds like writing, then I rewrite it.”
a. Elmore Leonard
b. Dan Brown
c. Clive Cussler
d. F. Scott Fitzgerald
The answer is a. Elmore Leonard. Commended by critics for his gritty realism and strong
dialogue, Leonard sometimes took liberties with grammar in the interest of speeding the story
along. In his essay "Elmore Leonard's Ten Rules of Writing" he said: "My most important rule is
one that sums up the 10: If it sounds like writing, I rewrite it." He also hinted: "I try to leave out
the parts that readers tend to skip
This week's question is:
How long did it take Mickey Spillane to write his first mystery novel?
a. 3 years
b. a month
c. 9 days
d. 3 weeks]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/52458921Tue, 17 Jan 2023 09:00:02 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubClaire Douglas Show Notes On today's episode we visit with Claire Douglas, the author of The Girls Who Disappeared Harper Collins (1/2023) A car accident. Three missing girls. A twenty-year mystery. A woman on the verge of discovering the truth . . ....Show Notes
On today's episode we visit with Claire Douglas, the author of The Girls Who Disappeared
Harper Collins (1/2023)
A car accident.
Three missing girls.
A twenty-year mystery.
A woman on the verge of discovering the truth . . .
In a rural Wilshire town lies the Devil’s Corridor—a haunted road which has witnessed eerie
happenings, from unexplained deaths to the sounds of a child crying in the night.
In this bucolic stretch of Southwest England famous for its otherworldly sites, nothing is more
puzzling than the Olivia Rutherford case. Four girls were driving home. After their car crashed
only one—Olivia—was found.
What happened to the girls who disappeared? On the twentieth anniversary of the tragedy,
journalist Jenna Halliday has arrived in Wiltshire to cover the case. The locals aren’t happy with
this outsider determined to dig into the past. Least of all Olivia.
Soon, Jenna starts receiving menacing notes. The locals have made it clear she’s not welcome.
But someone is going to make her leave one way or another. Jenna’s been warned: she must
get out of this town before she suffers a dark fate . . . and becomes another mystery attached to
this place.
Claire Douglas has worked as a journalist for fifteen years writing features for women's
magazines and national newspapers, but she's dreamed of being a novelist since the age of
seven. She finally got her wish after winning the Marie Claire Debut Novel Award, with her first
novel, THE SISTERS. She lives in Bath with her husband and two children. You can find Claire
on the Harper Collins author's page.
TRIVIA
Last week's question was:
Which mystery author is famously quoted as saying :If it sounds like writing, then I rewrite it.”
a. Elmore Leonard
b. Dan Brown
c. Clive Cussler
d. F. Scott Fitzgerald
The answer is a. Elmore Leonard. Commended by critics for his gritty realism and strong
dialogue, Leonard sometimes took liberties with grammar in the interest of speeding the story
along. In his essay "Elmore Leonard's Ten Rules of Writing" he said: "My most important rule is
one that sums up the 10: If it sounds like writing, I rewrite it." He also hinted: "I try to leave out
the parts that readers tend to skip
This week's question is:
How long did it take Mickey Spillane to write his first mystery novel?
a. 3 years
b. a month
c. 9 days
d. 3 weeks]]>1833amreading,authorinterview,bookclub,mustread,mysteryauthor,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/book-review-death-and-the-conjuror-by-tom-mead--52397098by Tom Mead
Show Notes
Mysterious Press July 2022
ON episode 242 and we are finally back after our holiday hiatus. We are fiinally reporting on the book Death
and the Conjuror: A Locked Room Mystery by Tom Mead. We assigned this book back in September but
have not been able to publish our findings until now.
This a throwback locked room mystery set in 1936 London. Renowned psychiatrist Anselm Rees is found
dead in his study.
The cast of characters includes his adult daughter who he trained in the field, her fiancé, the housekeeper,
Detective Flint, Spector the conjurer, along with a variety of interesting character walk-ons and Patients 1, 2
and 3, all successful in the arts.
There's an actress, a writer and a famed musician and the notes on their sessions reveal much. Having been
a fan in my earliest years of mystery ready of the classic authors to produced these confections, this had
great characters and was well plotted. A bit of magic and old fashioned police work save the day.
At the time of his death, both the room and the windows were locked from the inside. There were other people
in the residence who swore that no one else entered or left the house. To make it more confounding, the
murder happened within a five minute window of time.
Inspector George Flint is delegated to solve the “murder as a puzzle,” as our author has it. He knows he
needs help, and calls upon Joseph Spector -- the “old magician.” The conjuror of our title. The novel boasts
not one, but three locked room mysteries. Two are murders, one is an art theft.
The body count increases by one, in another impossible crime. The press begins looking for “the phantom
killer.” Readers may begin to agree that, as Spector says, they’re faced with a “puzzle with too many pieces.”
But he is a magician, after all.
Tom Mead's website is tommeadauthor.com
TRIVIA
The last question (before the holiday break) was:
Tim Dorsey writes a mystery series featuring Serge A. Slorm. What makes him unique among
mystery protagonists?
a. He is blind
b. He is transgender
c. He has amnesia
d. He suffers from several types of mental illness
The answer is d. He suffers from several types of mental illness. He is described as tall and
thin, but muscular, with dark hair shot through with gray. Serge has been diagnosed with a
variety of mental illnesses, and has been prescribed a "cocktail" of drugs to keep him stable His
name is a pun on storm surge. Most often described as "intense" in personality, he is
a vagrant with a voracious intellect and an encyclopedic knowledge of Florida history, but prone
to periods of "focus" that lead him to commit brutal - and often elaborately planned and staged -
acts of violence.
This week's question is:
Which mystery author is famously quoted as saying :”If it sounds like writing, then I rewrite it.”
a. Elmore Leonard
b. Dan Brown
c. Clive Cussler
F. Scott Fitzgerald
Tune in next week for the answe.
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/52397098Tue, 10 Jan 2023 09:00:03 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubDeath and the Conjuror by Tom Mead Show Notes Mysterious Press July 2022 ON episode 242 and we are finally back after our holiday hiatus. We are fiinally reporting on the book Death and the Conjuror: A Locked Room Mystery by Tom Mead. We assigned this...by Tom Mead
Show Notes
Mysterious Press July 2022
ON episode 242 and we are finally back after our holiday hiatus. We are fiinally reporting on the book Death
and the Conjuror: A Locked Room Mystery by Tom Mead. We assigned this book back in September but
have not been able to publish our findings until now.
This a throwback locked room mystery set in 1936 London. Renowned psychiatrist Anselm Rees is found
dead in his study.
The cast of characters includes his adult daughter who he trained in the field, her fiancé, the housekeeper,
Detective Flint, Spector the conjurer, along with a variety of interesting character walk-ons and Patients 1, 2
and 3, all successful in the arts.
There's an actress, a writer and a famed musician and the notes on their sessions reveal much. Having been
a fan in my earliest years of mystery ready of the classic authors to produced these confections, this had
great characters and was well plotted. A bit of magic and old fashioned police work save the day.
At the time of his death, both the room and the windows were locked from the inside. There were other people
in the residence who swore that no one else entered or left the house. To make it more confounding, the
murder happened within a five minute window of time.
Inspector George Flint is delegated to solve the “murder as a puzzle,” as our author has it. He knows he
needs help, and calls upon Joseph Spector -- the “old magician.” The conjuror of our title. The novel boasts
not one, but three locked room mysteries. Two are murders, one is an art theft.
The body count increases by one, in another impossible crime. The press begins looking for “the phantom
killer.” Readers may begin to agree that, as Spector says, they’re faced with a “puzzle with too many pieces.”
But he is a magician, after all.
Tom Mead's website is tommeadauthor.com
TRIVIA
The last question (before the holiday break) was:
Tim Dorsey writes a mystery series featuring Serge A. Slorm. What makes him unique among
mystery protagonists?
a. He is blind
b. He is transgender
c. He has amnesia
d. He suffers from several types of mental illness
The answer is d. He suffers from several types of mental illness. He is described as tall and
thin, but muscular, with dark hair shot through with gray. Serge has been diagnosed with a
variety of mental illnesses, and has been prescribed a "cocktail" of drugs to keep him stable His
name is a pun on storm surge. Most often described as "intense" in personality, he is
a vagrant with a voracious intellect and an encyclopedic knowledge of Florida history, but prone
to periods of "focus" that lead him to commit brutal - and often elaborately planned and staged -
acts of violence.
This week's question is:
Which mystery author is famously quoted as saying :”If it sounds like writing, then I rewrite it.”
a. Elmore Leonard
b. Dan Brown
c. Clive Cussler
F. Scott Fitzgerald
Tune in next week for the answe.
]]>1397amreading,bookclub,booklove,bookreview,mustread,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/anthony-horowitz-interview-recast--52302604Show Notes
On episode 222, we visit with the wonderful author, Anthony Horowitz. We talked about
his new James Bond book, “With a Mind to Kill” which was published by Harper on May
24. This is internationally bestselling author Anthony Horowitz’s third and final James
Bond novel, after “Forever and a Day.”
It is M's funeral. One man is missing from the graveside: the traitor who pulled the trigger
and who is now in custody, accused of M's murder - James Bond.
Behind the Iron Curtain, a group of former Smersh agents want to use the British spy in
an operation that will change the balance of world power. Bond is smuggled into the
lion's den - but whose orders is he following, and will he obey them when the moment of
truth arrives?
In a mission where treachery is all around and one false move means death, Bond must
grapple with the darkest questions about himself. But not even he knows what has
happened to the man he used to be.
Anthony resides in England with his wife and his website is https://anthonyhorowitz.com
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/52302604Tue, 03 Jan 2023 09:00:02 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubAnthony Horowitz Show Notes On episode 222, we visit with the wonderful author, Anthony Horowitz. We talked about his new James Bond book, “With a Mind to Kill” which was published by Harper on May 24. This is internationally bestselling author...Show Notes
On episode 222, we visit with the wonderful author, Anthony Horowitz. We talked about
his new James Bond book, “With a Mind to Kill” which was published by Harper on May
24. This is internationally bestselling author Anthony Horowitz’s third and final James
Bond novel, after “Forever and a Day.”
It is M's funeral. One man is missing from the graveside: the traitor who pulled the trigger
and who is now in custody, accused of M's murder - James Bond.
Behind the Iron Curtain, a group of former Smersh agents want to use the British spy in
an operation that will change the balance of world power. Bond is smuggled into the
lion's den - but whose orders is he following, and will he obey them when the moment of
truth arrives?
In a mission where treachery is all around and one false move means death, Bond must
grapple with the darkest questions about himself. But not even he knows what has
happened to the man he used to be.
Anthony resides in England with his wife and his website is https://anthonyhorowitz.com
]]>1149amlistening,amreading,anthonyhorowitz,bookclub,bookloe,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/joel-schwartz-recast--52285976The first will be a recast of episode 210 and we visited with Joel Schwartz. He is an attorney and the author of “Bone Deep: Untangling the Twisted True Story of the Tragic Betsy Faria Murder Case.” He wrote the book with Charles Bosworth Jr. and it was published February 22, 2022 by Citadel Press.
On December 27th, 2011, Russell Faria returned to his Troy, Missouri, home after his weekly game night with friends to an unthinkable, grisly scene: His wife, Betsy, lay dead, a knife still lodged in her neck. She’d been stabbed fifty-five times.

First responders concluded that Betsy was dead for hours when Russ discovered her. No blood was found implicating Russ, and surveillance video, receipts, and friends’ testimony all supported his alibi. Yet incredibly, police and the prosecuting attorney ignored the evidence. In their minds, Russ was guilty. But prominent defense attorney Joel J. Schwartz quickly recognized the real killer.

The motive was clear. Days before her murder, the terminally ill Betsy replaced her husband with her friend, Pamela Hupp, as her life insurance beneficiary. Still, despite the prosecution’s flimsy case and Hupp’s transparent lies, Russ was convicted—leaving Hupp free to kill again.

Bone Deep takes readers through the perfect storm of miscalculations and missteps that led to an innocent man’s conviction—and recounts Schwartz’s successful battle to have that conviction overturned. Written with Russ Faria’s cooperation, and filled with chilling new revelations and previously undisclosed evidence, this is the story of what can happen when police, prosecutor, judge, and jury all fail in their duty to protect the innocent—and let a killer get away with murder..
Joel was the defense attorney for both of the trials that Russ Faria had to endure and gives his insight into this strange and terrible case of justice gone wrong for too long.

]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/52285976Tue, 27 Dec 2022 09:00:02 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubWe are taking a few weeks off to spend the holidays with our families. During this time, we will be replaying a few of our favorite episodes from this year. The first will be a recast of episode 210 and we visited with Joel Schwartz. He is an...The first will be a recast of episode 210 and we visited with Joel Schwartz. He is an attorney and the author of “Bone Deep: Untangling the Twisted True Story of the Tragic Betsy Faria Murder Case.” He wrote the book with Charles Bosworth Jr. and it was published February 22, 2022 by Citadel Press.
On December 27th, 2011, Russell Faria returned to his Troy, Missouri, home after his weekly game night with friends to an unthinkable, grisly scene: His wife, Betsy, lay dead, a knife still lodged in her neck. She’d been stabbed fifty-five times.

First responders concluded that Betsy was dead for hours when Russ discovered her. No blood was found implicating Russ, and surveillance video, receipts, and friends’ testimony all supported his alibi. Yet incredibly, police and the prosecuting attorney ignored the evidence. In their minds, Russ was guilty. But prominent defense attorney Joel J. Schwartz quickly recognized the real killer.

The motive was clear. Days before her murder, the terminally ill Betsy replaced her husband with her friend, Pamela Hupp, as her life insurance beneficiary. Still, despite the prosecution’s flimsy case and Hupp’s transparent lies, Russ was convicted—leaving Hupp free to kill again.

Bone Deep takes readers through the perfect storm of miscalculations and missteps that led to an innocent man’s conviction—and recounts Schwartz’s successful battle to have that conviction overturned. Written with Russ Faria’s cooperation, and filled with chilling new revelations and previously undisclosed evidence, this is the story of what can happen when police, prosecutor, judge, and jury all fail in their duty to protect the innocent—and let a killer get away with murder..
Joel was the defense attorney for both of the trials that Russ Faria had to endure and gives his insight into this strange and terrible case of justice gone wrong for too long.

]]>1593amlistening,bookclub,booklove,murder,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/what-we-are-reading-for-december-22-part-2--52232647Part 2
Show Notes
On this episode of Dark and Stormy Book Club, we have the second part of our WWAR for
December.
Tracey reported on “The Christmas Scarf Murder” anthology by Carlene O'Connor, Maddie Day,
and Peggy Ehrhart. (Kensington Cozies 9/22)
They’re coziest of wintertime accessories...unless, of course, they become accessories to
murder! USA Today bestselling author Carlene O’Connor teams up with Maddie Day and Peggy
Ehrhart for a holly jolly Christmas collection of seasonal stories, as their beloved series sleuths
each solve cases revolving around handknit Christmas scarves.
CHRISTMAS SCARF MURDER by CARLENE O’CONNOR
When grinchy thefts steal the good cheer at a local nursing home, Siobhan O’Sullivan manages
to identify one missing item before Kilbane, Ireland’s Christmas tractor parade—a hideous
shamrock scarf wrapped around a very dead body. Now, with her holiday farmhouse bash
approaching, Siobhan must dash to stop a deadly Secret Santa from gifting another unwanted
surprise.
SCARFED DOWN by MADDIE DAY
It’s beginning to taste a lot like Christmas at Pans ‘N Pancakes, as twelve days of menu
specials dazzle hungry locals. But the festivities go cold the instant a diner dies while knitting a
brilliant green scarf. With Aunt Adele tied into a murder investigation, it’s all on Robbie Jordan to
find out who’s really been naughty or nice in South Lick, Indiana.
DEATH BY CHRISTMAS SCARF by PEGGY EHRHART
Suspects pile up faster than New Jersey snow when frosty-tempered Carys Walnutt is found
strangled by a handmade scarf auctioned at Arborville’s tree-lighting ceremony. Between a
winning bidder hiding behind the alias “S. Claws” and a victim who deserved coal in her
stocking, can Pamela Paterson and the crafty Knit and Nibble ladies freeze a killer’s merry
murder plot?
Finally, Misty reported on “Varnished Without a Trace” by herself. (Kensington Cozies 9/2020)
This Christmas, Tallie Graver would like to take a break from running her cleaning business to
be with her boyfriend, Max, and enjoy their first holiday together--alone. Instead, she’s stuck
keeping her mother and grandmother from duking it out during the town’s annual Christmas Eve
bingo game. As for festive spirit, she’ll have to settle for her mean-spirited Aunt Ronda, whose
mouth could use some soap.
The night only gets worse after Tallie discovers Ronda’s body. It seems someone cleaned her
clock with a can of varnish. While all the evidence points to Ronda’s husband, Tallie doesn’t
believe her beloved Uncle Hoagie could do such a dirty deed. Of course, his sudden
disappearance doesn’t help his case. If Tallie hopes to clear his name, she’ll need to dig up
some dirt to locate the real killer. Otherwise, someone else could get rubbed out . . .
This is our final live episode for 2022. During our hiatus, we will be broadcasting some of the
most popular episodes from this year. We wish all of our Dark and Stormy Family and friends
the happiest, healthiest, and safest of the season. We will see you on January 10.
TRIVIA
Last week's question was:
Tony Hillerman was inspired by what writer?
a. Mark Twain
b. Charles Dickens
c. Louis Lamore
d. Arthur W. Upfield
The answer is d. Arthur W/. Upfield. Hillerman repeatedly acknowledged his debt to an earlier
series of mystery novels written by British-born Australian author Arthur W. Upfield and set
among Australian Aborigines in remote desert regions of tropical and subtropical Australia. The
Upfield novels were first published in 1928 and featured a half-European, half-aboriginal
Australian hero, Detective-Inspector Napoleon (Bony) Bonaparte. Bony worked with deep
understanding of Aboriginal traditions. The character was based on the achievements of an
Aboriginal person known as Tracker Leon, whom Upfield had met during his years in the
Australian bush.
This week's question is:
Tim Dorsey writes a mystery series featuring Serge A. Slorm. What makes him unique among
mystery protagonists?
a. He is blind
b. He is transgender
c. He has amnesia
d. He suffers from several types of mental illness
Tune in January 10 for the answer.
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/52232647Tue, 20 Dec 2022 09:00:02 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubWWAR for December Part 2 Show Notes On this episode of Dark and Stormy Book Club, we have the second part of our WWAR for December. Tracey reported on “The Christmas Scarf Murder” anthology by Carlene O'Connor, Maddie Day, and Peggy Ehrhart....Part 2
Show Notes
On this episode of Dark and Stormy Book Club, we have the second part of our WWAR for
December.
Tracey reported on “The Christmas Scarf Murder” anthology by Carlene O'Connor, Maddie Day,
and Peggy Ehrhart. (Kensington Cozies 9/22)
They’re coziest of wintertime accessories...unless, of course, they become accessories to
murder! USA Today bestselling author Carlene O’Connor teams up with Maddie Day and Peggy
Ehrhart for a holly jolly Christmas collection of seasonal stories, as their beloved series sleuths
each solve cases revolving around handknit Christmas scarves.
CHRISTMAS SCARF MURDER by CARLENE O’CONNOR
When grinchy thefts steal the good cheer at a local nursing home, Siobhan O’Sullivan manages
to identify one missing item before Kilbane, Ireland’s Christmas tractor parade—a hideous
shamrock scarf wrapped around a very dead body. Now, with her holiday farmhouse bash
approaching, Siobhan must dash to stop a deadly Secret Santa from gifting another unwanted
surprise.
SCARFED DOWN by MADDIE DAY
It’s beginning to taste a lot like Christmas at Pans ‘N Pancakes, as twelve days of menu
specials dazzle hungry locals. But the festivities go cold the instant a diner dies while knitting a
brilliant green scarf. With Aunt Adele tied into a murder investigation, it’s all on Robbie Jordan to
find out who’s really been naughty or nice in South Lick, Indiana.
DEATH BY CHRISTMAS SCARF by PEGGY EHRHART
Suspects pile up faster than New Jersey snow when frosty-tempered Carys Walnutt is found
strangled by a handmade scarf auctioned at Arborville’s tree-lighting ceremony. Between a
winning bidder hiding behind the alias “S. Claws” and a victim who deserved coal in her
stocking, can Pamela Paterson and the crafty Knit and Nibble ladies freeze a killer’s merry
murder plot?
Finally, Misty reported on “Varnished Without a Trace” by herself. (Kensington Cozies 9/2020)
This Christmas, Tallie Graver would like to take a break from running her cleaning business to
be with her boyfriend, Max, and enjoy their first holiday together--alone. Instead, she’s stuck
keeping her mother and grandmother from duking it out during the town’s annual Christmas Eve
bingo game. As for festive spirit, she’ll have to settle for her mean-spirited Aunt Ronda, whose
mouth could use some soap.
The night only gets worse after Tallie discovers Ronda’s body. It seems someone cleaned her
clock with a can of varnish. While all the evidence points to Ronda’s husband, Tallie doesn’t
believe her beloved Uncle Hoagie could do such a dirty deed. Of course, his sudden
disappearance doesn’t help his case. If Tallie hopes to clear his name, she’ll need to dig up
some dirt to locate the real killer. Otherwise, someone else could get rubbed out . . .
This is our final live episode for 2022. During our hiatus, we will be broadcasting some of the
most popular episodes from this year. We wish all of our Dark and Stormy Family and friends
the happiest, healthiest, and safest of the season. We will see you on January 10.
TRIVIA
Last week's question was:
Tony Hillerman was inspired by what writer?
a. Mark Twain
b. Charles Dickens
c. Louis Lamore
d. Arthur W. Upfield
The answer is d. Arthur W/. Upfield. Hillerman repeatedly acknowledged his debt to an earlier
series of mystery novels written by British-born Australian author Arthur W. Upfield and set
among Australian Aborigines in remote desert regions of tropical and subtropical Australia. The
Upfield novels were first published in 1928 and featured a half-European, half-aboriginal
Australian hero, Detective-Inspector Napoleon (Bony) Bonaparte. Bony worked with deep
understanding of Aboriginal traditions. The character was based on the...]]>1911amreading,bookclub,booklove,cozychristmas,mustread,podcast,whatwearereadingfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/wwar-december-part-1-complete--52168520
The Case of the Ghost of Christmas Morning (Anty Boisjoly Mysteries #2)
by P.J. Fitzsimmons
Published July 2022 by Indefensible Publishing

Anty Boisjoly tackles the strange case of a war hero who visits his old friends on Christmas morning — after being murdered on Christmas Eve.

In The Case of the Ghost of Christmas Morning, Wodehousian clubman, flaneur, idler and sleuth Anty Boisjoly pits his sardonic wits against another pair of impossible murders. This time, Anty Boisjoly’s Aunty Boisjoly is the only possible suspect when a murder victim stands his old friends a farewell drink at the local, hours after being murdered.


What Child is This? (A Sherlock Holmes Adventure #5)
by Bonnie MacBird
Published October 13th 2022 by Collins Crime Club

It’s the season of peace and goodwill, but a Victorian Christmas is no holiday for the world’s most popular detective in this new book from Bonnie MacBird, author of the bestselling Sherlock Holmes novel Art in the Blood.

It’s Christmas time in London, and Sherlock Holmes takes on two cases. The angelic three-year-old child of a wealthy couple is the target of a vicious kidnapper, and a country aristocrat worries that his handsome, favourite son has mysteriously vanished from his London pied à terre. Holmes and Watson, aided by the colourful Heffie O’Malley, slip slide in the ice to ensure a merry Christmas is had by nearly everybody .

Tune in next week for two more selections for your holiday reading pleasure.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/52168520Tue, 13 Dec 2022 09:00:02 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubThe Dark and Stormy Elves settled in for a long winters tale and shared what they read. The Case of the Ghost of Christmas Morning (Anty Boisjoly Mysteries #2) by P.J. Fitzsimmons Published July 2022 by Indefensible Publishing Anty Boisjoly...
The Case of the Ghost of Christmas Morning (Anty Boisjoly Mysteries #2)
by P.J. Fitzsimmons
Published July 2022 by Indefensible Publishing

Anty Boisjoly tackles the strange case of a war hero who visits his old friends on Christmas morning — after being murdered on Christmas Eve.

In The Case of the Ghost of Christmas Morning, Wodehousian clubman, flaneur, idler and sleuth Anty Boisjoly pits his sardonic wits against another pair of impossible murders. This time, Anty Boisjoly’s Aunty Boisjoly is the only possible suspect when a murder victim stands his old friends a farewell drink at the local, hours after being murdered.


What Child is This? (A Sherlock Holmes Adventure #5)
by Bonnie MacBird
Published October 13th 2022 by Collins Crime Club

It’s the season of peace and goodwill, but a Victorian Christmas is no holiday for the world’s most popular detective in this new book from Bonnie MacBird, author of the bestselling Sherlock Holmes novel Art in the Blood.

It’s Christmas time in London, and Sherlock Holmes takes on two cases. The angelic three-year-old child of a wealthy couple is the target of a vicious kidnapper, and a country aristocrat worries that his handsome, favourite son has mysteriously vanished from his London pied à terre. Holmes and Watson, aided by the colourful Heffie O’Malley, slip slide in the ice to ensure a merry Christmas is had by nearly everybody .

Tune in next week for two more selections for your holiday reading pleasure.]]>1816amreading,bookclub,booklove,cozychristmas,holidayreads,mustread,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-strange-case-of-dr-jekyll-and-mr-hyde-annotated-review--52105030Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Edited by Leslie S. Klinger
Forward by Joe Hill
Mysterious Press 10/18/22
Show Notes

The definitive edition of Robert Louis Stevenson’s immortal tale of depraved murder and
unrelenting horror, introduced by Joe Hill, annotated by Edgar-winner Leslie S. Klinger, &
illustrated with over 100 color images
There’s no question that The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is one of the most
influential texts of all time. The now-iconic tale, which has confounded and thrilled readers for
more than a century, was described by one scholar as the only detective-crime story in which
the solution is more terrifying than the problem. And even as its plot gets continually
reinterpreted and reimagined in literature, film, and theater, the main themes persist, as do the
titular characters, now so familiar as to have become a part of the English language.
This new edition gives the classic tale of depraved murder and unrelenting horror its most
complete and illuminating presentation yet. Heavily illustrated with over a hundred and fifty full
color images from the history of this cultural touchstone―including reproductions of rare books,
film stills, theatrical posters, and the true-life people associated with the adventure―and
extensively annotated by Edgar Award winning editor and noted Victorian literature expert Leslie
S. Klinger, this thorough and authoritative approach is both an invaluable resource for scholars
and a sumptuous treat for fans of the text.
Introduced by a compelling and erudite essay from bestselling novelist and short story writer
Joe Hill, this complete illustrated and annotated edition of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and
Mr. Hyde is the ultimate tribute to an enduring classic, combining revelatory and surprising
information and in-depth historical context with beautiful illustrations and photographs. It is sure
to please anyone interested in the Victorian era, mystery fiction, and horror tales.
TRIVIA
Last week's question was:
Which author knew they would become a professional writer at age 8?
a. Mickey Spillane
b. Anthony Horowitz
c. Tom Clancy
d. Laura Lippman
The answer is b. Anthony Horowitz. Horowitz started writing at the age of 8 or 9 and he
instantly "knew" he would be a professional writer. This was because he was an underachiever
in school and was not physically fit, and found his escape in books and telling stories. In a 2006
interview Horowitz stated "I was quite certain, from my earliest memory, that I would be a
professional writer and nothing but.
This week's question is:
Which author began his journalism career with an assignment to cover the Democratic
Convention in 1984
a. Danial Silva
b. Walter Moseley
c. Donald Westlake
d. Joseph Thorne
Tune in next week for the answer.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/52105030Tue, 06 Dec 2022 09:00:02 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubThe New Annotated Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Edited by Leslie S. Klinger Forward by Joe Hill Mysterious Press 10/18/22 Show Notes The definitive edition of Robert Louis Stevenson’s immortal tale of depraved murder and unrelenting...Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Edited by Leslie S. Klinger
Forward by Joe Hill
Mysterious Press 10/18/22
Show Notes

The definitive edition of Robert Louis Stevenson’s immortal tale of depraved murder and
unrelenting horror, introduced by Joe Hill, annotated by Edgar-winner Leslie S. Klinger, &
illustrated with over 100 color images
There’s no question that The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is one of the most
influential texts of all time. The now-iconic tale, which has confounded and thrilled readers for
more than a century, was described by one scholar as the only detective-crime story in which
the solution is more terrifying than the problem. And even as its plot gets continually
reinterpreted and reimagined in literature, film, and theater, the main themes persist, as do the
titular characters, now so familiar as to have become a part of the English language.
This new edition gives the classic tale of depraved murder and unrelenting horror its most
complete and illuminating presentation yet. Heavily illustrated with over a hundred and fifty full
color images from the history of this cultural touchstone―including reproductions of rare books,
film stills, theatrical posters, and the true-life people associated with the adventure―and
extensively annotated by Edgar Award winning editor and noted Victorian literature expert Leslie
S. Klinger, this thorough and authoritative approach is both an invaluable resource for scholars
and a sumptuous treat for fans of the text.
Introduced by a compelling and erudite essay from bestselling novelist and short story writer
Joe Hill, this complete illustrated and annotated edition of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and
Mr. Hyde is the ultimate tribute to an enduring classic, combining revelatory and surprising
information and in-depth historical context with beautiful illustrations and photographs. It is sure
to please anyone interested in the Victorian era, mystery fiction, and horror tales.
TRIVIA
Last week's question was:
Which author knew they would become a professional writer at age 8?
a. Mickey Spillane
b. Anthony Horowitz
c. Tom Clancy
d. Laura Lippman
The answer is b. Anthony Horowitz. Horowitz started writing at the age of 8 or 9 and he
instantly "knew" he would be a professional writer. This was because he was an underachiever
in school and was not physically fit, and found his escape in books and telling stories. In a 2006
interview Horowitz stated "I was quite certain, from my earliest memory, that I would be a
professional writer and nothing but.
This week's question is:
Which author began his journalism career with an assignment to cover the Democratic
Convention in 1984
a. Danial Silva
b. Walter Moseley
c. Donald Westlake
d. Joseph Thorne
Tune in next week for the answer.]]>2213amreading,bookclub,booklove,mistysimon,mustread,mysterybooks,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/what-we-are-reading-november-22-part-ii--52039263Ann reported on the book “Cleopatra's Dagger” a historical novel by Carole Lawrence. It was
published by Thomas & Mercer in April of 2022
Is New York, 1880. and Elizabeth van den Broek is the only female reporter at the Herald, the
city’s most popular newspaper. Then she and her friend find a woman’s body wrapped like a
mummy in a freshly dug hole in Central Park―the intended site of an obelisk called Cleopatra’s
Needle. The macabre discovery takes Elizabeth away from the society pages to follow an
investigation into New York City’s darkest shadows.
When more bodies turn up, each tied to Egyptian lore, Elizabeth is onto a headline-making
scoop more sinister than she could have imagined. Her reporting has readers spellbound, and
each new clue implicates New York’s richest and most powerful citizens. And a serial killer is
watching every headline.
Now a madman with an indecipherable motive is coming after Elizabeth and everyone she
loves. She wants a good story? She may have to die to get it.
The protagonist, Elizabeth, represents a woman striving against a patriarchal society. To see
how much resistance Elizabeth faces as a female journalist and a woman in the workplace in
general, I think the writer's portrayal was probably realistic and accurate. At the newspaper, it is
common knowledge that Elizabeth's father used his influence to secure her role as a journalist.
This adds to the division between Elizabeth and her male counterparts, a theme that is seen
throughout the novel.
Across the story, Lawrence emphasizes the social and gender gap existing at the time. Given
permission by her editor, Elizabeth and a photographer visit the morgue and get a chance to
see and photograph the body. There, Elizabeth learns that the young woman had been
strangled and had all her blood drained through an incision that looks like an Egyptian symbol of
some kind.
As Elizabeth pursues her leads and writes stories that make her a celebrity, the villain who
believes he is the reincarnated Osiris is planning and executing more murders all with an
Egyptian theme. Meanwhile, Elizabeth is facing prejudice and assault at work, dealing with the
mental illness of her older sister Laura, and trying to understand her place in the man's world of
journalism
Fans of historical mysteries will enjoy getting to know Elizabeth.
Carole Lawrence can be found at her website https://celawrence.com
Misty then reported on her book “Killer Content” by Olivia Blacke. It was published by Mercer in
February 2021.
Bayou transplant Odessa Dean has a lot to learn about life in Brooklyn. So far she's scored a
rent free apartment in one of the nicest neighborhoods around by cat-sitting, and has a new job
working at Untapped Books & Café. Hand-selling books and craft beers is easy for Odessa, but
making new friends and learning how to ride the subway? Well, that might take her a little extra
time.
But things turn more sour than an IPA when the death of a fellow waitress goes viral, caught on

camera in the background of a couple's flash-mob proposal video. Nothing about Bethany's
death feels right to Odessa--neither her sudden departure mid-shift nor the clues that only
Odessa seems to catch. As an up-and-coming YouTube star, Bethany had more than one
viewer waiting for her to fall from grace.
Determined to prove there's a killer on the loose, Odessa takes matters into her own hands. But
can she pin down Bethany's killer before they take Odessa offline for good?
Olivia's website is https://oliviablacke.com
TRIVIA
Last week's question was :
The author Thomas Harris gives very few interviews. But in one he described his working style
as:
a. sometimes you really have to shove and grunt and sweat.
b. Sometimes words come faster than you can write them down
c. There is no style. It is pure luck
d. There are months that I don't even try to write
The answer is A., sometimes you really have to shove and grunt and sweat. He also says some
days you go to your office and you're the only one who shows up, none of the characters show
up, and you sit there by yourself, feeling like an idiot. And some days everybody shows up
ready to work. You have to show up at your office every day. If an idea comes by, you want to be
there to get it in."
This week's question is:
Which author knew they would become a professional writer at age 8?
a. Mickey Spillane
b. Anthony Horowitz
c. Tom Clancy
d, Laura Lippman
Tune in next week for the answer and we wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/52039263Tue, 29 Nov 2022 09:00:03 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubOn today's episode we finish the WWAR for November that we started last week. Ann reported on the book “Cleopatra's Dagger” a historical novel by Carole Lawrence. It was published by Thomas & Mercer in April of 2022 Is New York, 1880. and Elizabeth...Ann reported on the book “Cleopatra's Dagger” a historical novel by Carole Lawrence. It was
published by Thomas & Mercer in April of 2022
Is New York, 1880. and Elizabeth van den Broek is the only female reporter at the Herald, the
city’s most popular newspaper. Then she and her friend find a woman’s body wrapped like a
mummy in a freshly dug hole in Central Park―the intended site of an obelisk called Cleopatra’s
Needle. The macabre discovery takes Elizabeth away from the society pages to follow an
investigation into New York City’s darkest shadows.
When more bodies turn up, each tied to Egyptian lore, Elizabeth is onto a headline-making
scoop more sinister than she could have imagined. Her reporting has readers spellbound, and
each new clue implicates New York’s richest and most powerful citizens. And a serial killer is
watching every headline.
Now a madman with an indecipherable motive is coming after Elizabeth and everyone she
loves. She wants a good story? She may have to die to get it.
The protagonist, Elizabeth, represents a woman striving against a patriarchal society. To see
how much resistance Elizabeth faces as a female journalist and a woman in the workplace in
general, I think the writer's portrayal was probably realistic and accurate. At the newspaper, it is
common knowledge that Elizabeth's father used his influence to secure her role as a journalist.
This adds to the division between Elizabeth and her male counterparts, a theme that is seen
throughout the novel.
Across the story, Lawrence emphasizes the social and gender gap existing at the time. Given
permission by her editor, Elizabeth and a photographer visit the morgue and get a chance to
see and photograph the body. There, Elizabeth learns that the young woman had been
strangled and had all her blood drained through an incision that looks like an Egyptian symbol of
some kind.
As Elizabeth pursues her leads and writes stories that make her a celebrity, the villain who
believes he is the reincarnated Osiris is planning and executing more murders all with an
Egyptian theme. Meanwhile, Elizabeth is facing prejudice and assault at work, dealing with the
mental illness of her older sister Laura, and trying to understand her place in the man's world of
journalism
Fans of historical mysteries will enjoy getting to know Elizabeth.
Carole Lawrence can be found at her website https://celawrence.com
Misty then reported on her book “Killer Content” by Olivia Blacke. It was published by Mercer in
February 2021.
Bayou transplant Odessa Dean has a lot to learn about life in Brooklyn. So far she's scored a
rent free apartment in one of the nicest neighborhoods around by cat-sitting, and has a new job
working at Untapped Books & Café. Hand-selling books and craft beers is easy for Odessa, but
making new friends and learning how to ride the subway? Well, that might take her a little extra
time.
But things turn more sour than an IPA when the death of a fellow waitress goes viral, caught on

camera in the background of a couple's flash-mob proposal video. Nothing about Bethany's
death feels right to Odessa--neither her sudden departure mid-shift nor the clues that only
Odessa seems to catch. As an up-and-coming YouTube star, Bethany had more than one
viewer waiting for her to fall from grace.
Determined to prove there's a killer on the loose, Odessa takes matters into her own hands. But
can she pin down Bethany's killer before they take Odessa offline for good?
Olivia's website is https://oliviablacke.com
TRIVIA
Last week's question was :
The...]]>1791amreading,bookclub,booklovers,historicalmysteries,literarypodcast,mustread,mysterylovers,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/what-we-are-reading-november-22-part-1--51975182Show Notes

On today's episode, we welcome the wonderful Misty Night, the newest member of our club.
Misty lives in central Pennsylvania and has been writing for a long time. She has over 50 books
published in several genres. She started out writing greeting cards and then went on to write children's
books with little or no success. She began to write romance novels but soon gravitated to the world of
mysteries. She writes the Ivy Morris series as well as the Tallie Graver and her latest is the Whit and
Whiskers series (under the name Gabby Allen). Her other series include the Adventures in Ghosisitting,
Magically Suspicious Mystery, and the Kissinger Killes series.
We are thrilled to have Misty join us and look forward to visiting with her whenever she can join us.
In duscussing things our listeners might not know about us....Ann talked about her dream of becoming a
Rockette dancer. She was crushed to learn that there was a strict height limit and her own measurement
of 5'0” would not make the grade. Tracey talked about the contest she won 10 years earlier. She won the
Grand Prize from Sony Pictures contest for the movie 2012. Then Misty surprised us to find out that she
was mentored by a well-known opera singer and that she was on her way to becoming an opera singer
(with a 3-octave range).
Down to business, Tracey gave a review of the book “Coached Red Handed” by Victoria Laurie and was
published in July 2022 by Kensington Books.
With Gilley heartbroken over the collapse of his marriage, Cat has the perfect remedy—a three-week-long
getaway to Italy. But before the duo can pack their bags and sip prosecco on the sunny riviera, they first must
help a troubled client carve out a fresh start of her own. Wealthy Scarlet Rubi desperately seeks a greater
purpose and immediate distance from her toxic descendants. The urgency of the situation isn’t quite so clear
until Scarlet takes healthy steps towards progress, only to turn up dead . . .
The matriarch of a wealthy family has been murdered in her home after finding a new lease on life. Cat’s
suspicions deepen when she discovers Scarlet was set on cutting off her children and grandchildren, each
one more money-hungry and dependent on financial support than the last. As Cat and Gilley investigate a
slew of sketchy alibis and concrete motives from the corrupt Rubi clan while preparing to leave the East End
for Europe, they soon realize the question isn’t who had a deadly vendetta against Scarlet—it’s who didn’t?
This episode ran a bit long so we have decided to end this episode here and then we will finish the
episode next week.

TRIVIA:
Last week's question was:
Which mystery author wrote the book “Dinosaurs In the Attic?”
a. Craig T. Johnson
b. Ray Bradbury
c. John Bradford
d. Douglas Preston
The answer is d. Douglas Preston. Preston began his writing career at the American Museum
of Natural History in New York.From 1978 to 1985, Preston worked for the American Museum of
Natural History as a writer, editor, and manager of publications. He served as managing editor for
the journal Curator and was a columnist for Natural History magazine.[ In 1985 he published a
history of the museum, Dinosaurs In The Attic: An Excursion into the American Museum of
Natural History, which chronicled the explorers and expeditions of the museum's early days.
The editor of that book at St. Martin's Press was his future writing partner, Lincoln Child. They

soon collaborated on a thriller set in the museum titled Relic, published in 1995. It was
subsequently made into a motion picture by Paramount Pictures starring Penelope Ann Miller,
Tom Sizemore, and Linda Hunt.

This week's question is:
The author Thomas Harris gives very few interviews. But in one he described his working style
as:
a. sometimes you really have to shove and grunt and sweat.
b. Sometimes words come faster than you can write them down
c. There is no style. It is pure luck
d. There are months that I don't even try to write
Tune in next week for the answer and part 2 of What We Are Reading in November.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving to all of our American listeners.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/51975182Tue, 22 Nov 2022 09:00:02 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubWWAR w/Misty Part 1 Show Notes On today's episode, we welcome the wonderful Misty Night, the newest member of our club. Misty lives in central Pennsylvania and has been writing for a long time. She has over 50 books published in several genres....Show Notes

On today's episode, we welcome the wonderful Misty Night, the newest member of our club.
Misty lives in central Pennsylvania and has been writing for a long time. She has over 50 books
published in several genres. She started out writing greeting cards and then went on to write children's
books with little or no success. She began to write romance novels but soon gravitated to the world of
mysteries. She writes the Ivy Morris series as well as the Tallie Graver and her latest is the Whit and
Whiskers series (under the name Gabby Allen). Her other series include the Adventures in Ghosisitting,
Magically Suspicious Mystery, and the Kissinger Killes series.
We are thrilled to have Misty join us and look forward to visiting with her whenever she can join us.
In duscussing things our listeners might not know about us....Ann talked about her dream of becoming a
Rockette dancer. She was crushed to learn that there was a strict height limit and her own measurement
of 5'0” would not make the grade. Tracey talked about the contest she won 10 years earlier. She won the
Grand Prize from Sony Pictures contest for the movie 2012. Then Misty surprised us to find out that she
was mentored by a well-known opera singer and that she was on her way to becoming an opera singer
(with a 3-octave range).
Down to business, Tracey gave a review of the book “Coached Red Handed” by Victoria Laurie and was
published in July 2022 by Kensington Books.
With Gilley heartbroken over the collapse of his marriage, Cat has the perfect remedy—a three-week-long
getaway to Italy. But before the duo can pack their bags and sip prosecco on the sunny riviera, they first must
help a troubled client carve out a fresh start of her own. Wealthy Scarlet Rubi desperately seeks a greater
purpose and immediate distance from her toxic descendants. The urgency of the situation isn’t quite so clear
until Scarlet takes healthy steps towards progress, only to turn up dead . . .
The matriarch of a wealthy family has been murdered in her home after finding a new lease on life. Cat’s
suspicions deepen when she discovers Scarlet was set on cutting off her children and grandchildren, each
one more money-hungry and dependent on financial support than the last. As Cat and Gilley investigate a
slew of sketchy alibis and concrete motives from the corrupt Rubi clan while preparing to leave the East End
for Europe, they soon realize the question isn’t who had a deadly vendetta against Scarlet—it’s who didn’t?
This episode ran a bit long so we have decided to end this episode here and then we will finish the
episode next week.

TRIVIA:
Last week's question was:
Which mystery author wrote the book “Dinosaurs In the Attic?”
a. Craig T. Johnson
b. Ray Bradbury
c. John Bradford
d. Douglas Preston
The answer is d. Douglas Preston. Preston began his writing career at the American Museum
of Natural History in New York.From 1978 to 1985, Preston worked for the American Museum of
Natural History as a writer, editor, and manager of publications. He served as managing editor for
the journal Curator and was a columnist for Natural History magazine.[ In 1985 he published a
history of the museum, Dinosaurs In The Attic: An Excursion into the American Museum of
Natural History, which chronicled the explorers and expeditions of the museum's early days.
The editor of that book at St. Martin's Press was his future writing partner, Lincoln Child. They

soon collaborated on a thriller set in the museum titled Relic, published in 1995. It was
subsequently made into a motion picture by Paramount Pictures starring Penelope Ann Miller,
Tom Sizemore, and Linda Hunt.

This week's question is:
The author Thomas Harris gives very...]]>1647amreading,bookclub,booklove,mistynight,mustread,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/misty-simon-recast-and-introduction--51892867https://api.spreaker.com/episode/51892867Tue, 15 Nov 2022 09:30:01 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubA rebroadcast of an interview from July 2019. We are introducing Misty Simon as the 4th member of our book club and the episode is the first time we met Misty and interviewed her.1636bookclub,interview,library,mistynight,mistysimon,mustread,mystery,podcast,rebroadcast,romancefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/gregg-olson-interview-american-mother--51817900
At 5.02 pm on June 5, 1986, an emergency call came into the local sheriff’s office in the small town of Auburn, Washington State. A distressed housewife, Stella Nickell, said her husband Bruce was having a seizure. Officers rushed to the Nickell’s mobile home, to find Stella standing frozen at the door… Bruce was on the floor fighting for his life.

As Stella became the beneficiary of over $175,000 in a life insurance pay-out, forensics discovered that Bruce had consumed painkillers laced with cyanide.

A week later, fifteen-year-old Hayley was getting ready for another school day. Her mom, Sue, called out ‘I love you’ before heading into the bathroom and moments later collapsed on the floor. Sue never regained consciousness, and the autopsy revealed she had been poisoned by cyanide tainted headache pills. Just like Bruce.

While a daughter grieved the sudden and devastating loss of her mother, a young woman, Cindy, was thinking about her own mom Stella. She thought about the years of neglect and abuse, the tangled web of secrets Stella had shared with her, and Cindy contemplated turning her mom into the FBI…

Gripping and heart-breaking, Gregg Olsen uncovers the shocking true story of a troubled family. He delves into a complex mother-daughter relationship rooted in mistrust and deception, and the journey of the sweet curly-haired little girl from Oregon whose fierce ambition to live the American Dream led her to make the ultimate betrayal.

Gregg Olsen is a New York Times, USA Today and The Wall Street Journal bestselling author of nonfiction books and novels, most of which are crime-related.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/51817900Tue, 08 Nov 2022 09:40:02 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubFrom the #1 New York Times bestselling author of If You Tell comes the absolutely unputdownable and chilling true-crime story of Stella Nickell—a mother and wife who did the unthinkable… and the unforgiveable. At 5.02 pm on June 5, 1986, an...
At 5.02 pm on June 5, 1986, an emergency call came into the local sheriff’s office in the small town of Auburn, Washington State. A distressed housewife, Stella Nickell, said her husband Bruce was having a seizure. Officers rushed to the Nickell’s mobile home, to find Stella standing frozen at the door… Bruce was on the floor fighting for his life.

As Stella became the beneficiary of over $175,000 in a life insurance pay-out, forensics discovered that Bruce had consumed painkillers laced with cyanide.

A week later, fifteen-year-old Hayley was getting ready for another school day. Her mom, Sue, called out ‘I love you’ before heading into the bathroom and moments later collapsed on the floor. Sue never regained consciousness, and the autopsy revealed she had been poisoned by cyanide tainted headache pills. Just like Bruce.

While a daughter grieved the sudden and devastating loss of her mother, a young woman, Cindy, was thinking about her own mom Stella. She thought about the years of neglect and abuse, the tangled web of secrets Stella had shared with her, and Cindy contemplated turning her mom into the FBI…

Gripping and heart-breaking, Gregg Olsen uncovers the shocking true story of a troubled family. He delves into a complex mother-daughter relationship rooted in mistrust and deception, and the journey of the sweet curly-haired little girl from Oregon whose fierce ambition to live the American Dream led her to make the ultimate betrayal.

Gregg Olsen is a New York Times, USA Today and The Wall Street Journal bestselling author of nonfiction books and novels, most of which are crime-related.]]>1302amreading,bookclub,booklove,murder,mustread,podcast,truecrimefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/book-lovers-gift-guide-liz-decker--51744844
Caprichos Books - a mobile bookshop now serving the Delmarva Peninsula and beyond -

books@caprichosbooks.com 410-929-6081 Opening soon in Ocean Pines MD!]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/51744844Tue, 01 Nov 2022 08:00:03 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubLiz Decker from Caprichos Books talks gift giving and digs deep for ideas. Never too early to start buying and what better way than ordering from an independent book store! Caprichos Books - a mobile bookshop now serving the Delmarva Peninsula and...
Caprichos Books - a mobile bookshop now serving the Delmarva Peninsula and beyond -

books@caprichosbooks.com 410-929-6081 Opening soon in Ocean Pines MD!]]>1700amreading,bookclub,booklove,bookreview,holidaygiftguide,independentbookstore,mustread,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/rapid-reviews-october-2022--51677892
A Margin for Murder- Lauren Elliott
The Prison Minyan - Jonathan Stone
The Falling Girls- Hayley Krircther
Our Little World - Karen Winn
All the Broken Girls - Linda Hurtado Bond]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/51677892Tue, 25 Oct 2022 08:00:02 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubWe do some down and dirty reviews A Margin for Murder- Lauren Elliott The Prison Minyan - Jonathan Stone The Falling Girls- Hayley Krircther Our Little World - Karen Winn All the Broken Girls - Linda Hurtado Bond
A Margin for Murder- Lauren Elliott
The Prison Minyan - Jonathan Stone
The Falling Girls- Hayley Krircther
Our Little World - Karen Winn
All the Broken Girls - Linda Hurtado Bond]]>890bookclub,booklove,bookreview,mustread,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/do-police-procedurals-get-it-right-bruce-robert-coffin--51603816
Bruce Robert Coffin is a retired police detective sergeant and bestselling author of the Detective Byron Mysteries. He lives and writes in Maine. He is currently working on several new projects.

brucerobertcoffin.com]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/51603816Tue, 18 Oct 2022 08:00:02 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubWe ask our favorite detective Bruce Robert Coffin about his opinion of the accuracy of Police Procedurals. Bruce Robert Coffin is a retired police detective sergeant and bestselling author of the Detective Byron Mysteries. He lives and writes in...
Bruce Robert Coffin is a retired police detective sergeant and bestselling author of the Detective Byron Mysteries. He lives and writes in Maine. He is currently working on several new projects.

brucerobertcoffin.com]]>1660bookclub,booklove,brucerobertcoffin,detective,mustread,podcast,policeproceduralsfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/patron-spotlight-tame-prince--51532351https://api.spreaker.com/episode/51532351Tue, 11 Oct 2022 08:00:02 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubWE LOVE OUR PATRONS!!! Tame Prince has been with us from the beginning. She is a busy Doctor from Arizona who finds time to listen to all of our episodes. We asked Tame what she likes to read and she chose Charles Todd as her favorite author,1177amreading,bookclub,booklove,charlestodd,mustread,patron,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/fright-reads-2-recap-episode-final--51459749https://api.spreaker.com/episode/51459749Tue, 04 Oct 2022 08:30:02 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubAn interview with author Eileen McIntire and then recap of the Dark and Stormy team's visit to Fright Reads 2 in Annapolis, MD730authors,books,convention,event,frightreads,horror,mystery,readingfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/fright-reads-book-festival-2022-author-roundup--51391341
Rosalie Spielman
Originally from a tiny town in the Palouse region of Idaho, as a military brat, veteran and military spouse (retired), I've moved more times than I have fingers to count on! I hope to break my record of six years at one address...someday.

Somewhere along the way, I discovered that I could make other people laugh with my writing. I enjoy reading to escape from the real world and hope to give you the same with my stories. She writes the Hometown Mysteries and she is a contributing author for Aloha Lagoon Mystery series.


Jenny Allen
Author of Blood Lily and Rose of Jericho as well as several published poems and short stories in University journals. She also spent time as a reporter and photographer for the Chattanooga State College newspaper. Ms. Allen has studied forensic science, done extensive research in world cultures and myths, and is currently pursuing a degree in Registered Nursing. Her background as a published photographer and an award winning artist helps her visualize the scenes when writing, contributing to her unique style of vivid imagery.

Born on a Royal Air base in Lakenheath England, she left the U.K. at the age of 9 to travel all over the United States and Germany. She turned to writing poetry after the suicide of a close friend in her sophomore year of high school. She graduated to short stories and narratives until, in 2002, she wrote her first novel, Lilith in London, which was never published. Over the course of twelve years the novel underwent a lengthy metamorphosis, eventually becoming her first published novel, Blood Lily.

Jenny Allen attributes her success to the people in her life that provided not only encouragement, but constructive criticism including longtime friends Jason Ratcliff, Emily Kirk, Matthew Pace, Travis Tramble, Adrian Stranik, Chris Howard and Robin Sullivan.
Currently, Ms. Allen is engaged to be married, living in York, Pennsylvania, and working full time as an RN. She is continuing her book series while pursuing her medical career.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/51391341Tue, 27 Sep 2022 08:00:02 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubFright Reads Book Festival Rosalie Spielman Originally from a tiny town in the Palouse region of Idaho, as a military brat, veteran and military spouse (retired), I've moved more times than I have fingers to count on! I hope to break my record of...
Rosalie Spielman
Originally from a tiny town in the Palouse region of Idaho, as a military brat, veteran and military spouse (retired), I've moved more times than I have fingers to count on! I hope to break my record of six years at one address...someday.

Somewhere along the way, I discovered that I could make other people laugh with my writing. I enjoy reading to escape from the real world and hope to give you the same with my stories. She writes the Hometown Mysteries and she is a contributing author for Aloha Lagoon Mystery series.


Jenny Allen
Author of Blood Lily and Rose of Jericho as well as several published poems and short stories in University journals. She also spent time as a reporter and photographer for the Chattanooga State College newspaper. Ms. Allen has studied forensic science, done extensive research in world cultures and myths, and is currently pursuing a degree in Registered Nursing. Her background as a published photographer and an award winning artist helps her visualize the scenes when writing, contributing to her unique style of vivid imagery.

Born on a Royal Air base in Lakenheath England, she left the U.K. at the age of 9 to travel all over the United States and Germany. She turned to writing poetry after the suicide of a close friend in her sophomore year of high school. She graduated to short stories and narratives until, in 2002, she wrote her first novel, Lilith in London, which was never published. Over the course of twelve years the novel underwent a lengthy metamorphosis, eventually becoming her first published novel, Blood Lily.

Jenny Allen attributes her success to the people in her life that provided not only encouragement, but constructive criticism including longtime friends Jason Ratcliff, Emily Kirk, Matthew Pace, Travis Tramble, Adrian Stranik, Chris Howard and Robin Sullivan.
Currently, Ms. Allen is engaged to be married, living in York, Pennsylvania, and working full time as an RN. She is continuing her book series while pursuing her medical career.]]>1137amreading,frightreads2022,mustread,podcast,scaryfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/fright-reads-authors-recast--51312508https://api.spreaker.com/episode/51312508Tue, 20 Sep 2022 08:30:02 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubA recast of the episode introducing authors from the Fright Reads Book Conference in October 0f 2021.1266authors,bookconference,books,event,frightreads,halloween,mustread,mystery,podcast,scifi,thrillers,yaauthorsfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/paranormal-mystery-roundup-recast--51235874https://api.spreaker.com/episode/51235874Tue, 13 Sep 2022 08:00:02 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubEnjoy a recast of a spooky roundup of ghosts and goblins. We will return next week with a new episode.1675falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/on-a-quiet-street-full-review--51153366On a Quiet Street

Seraphina Nova Glass

May 17, 2022 by Graydon House

The perfect neighborhood can be the perfect place to hide…

Who wouldn’t want to live in Brighton Hills? This exclusive community on the Oregon coast is the perfect mix of luxury and natural beauty. Stunning houses nestle beneath mighty Douglas firs, and lush backyards roll down to the lakefront. It’s the kind of place where neighbors look out for one another. Sometimes a little too closely…

Cora thinks her husband, Finn, is cheating—she just needs to catch him in the act. That’s where Paige comes in. Paige lost her son to a hit-and-run last year, and she’s drowning in the kind of grief that makes people do reckless things. Like spying on the locals, searching for proof that her son’s death was no accident. And agreeing to Cora’s plan to reveal what kind of man Finn really is. All the while, their reclusive new neighbor, Georgia, is acting more strangely every day. But what could such a lovely young mother possibly be hiding?

When you really start to look beyond the airy open floor plans and marble counters, Brighton Hills is filled with secrets. Some big, some little, some deadly. And one by one, they’re about to be revealed…]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/51153366Tue, 06 Sep 2022 08:00:03 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubWe Spill all the T on this amazing book. Spoiler alert!! On a Quiet Street Seraphina Nova Glass May 17, 2022 by Graydon House The perfect neighborhood can be the perfect place to hide… Who wouldn’t want to live in Brighton Hills? This...On a Quiet Street

Seraphina Nova Glass

May 17, 2022 by Graydon House

The perfect neighborhood can be the perfect place to hide…

Who wouldn’t want to live in Brighton Hills? This exclusive community on the Oregon coast is the perfect mix of luxury and natural beauty. Stunning houses nestle beneath mighty Douglas firs, and lush backyards roll down to the lakefront. It’s the kind of place where neighbors look out for one another. Sometimes a little too closely…

Cora thinks her husband, Finn, is cheating—she just needs to catch him in the act. That’s where Paige comes in. Paige lost her son to a hit-and-run last year, and she’s drowning in the kind of grief that makes people do reckless things. Like spying on the locals, searching for proof that her son’s death was no accident. And agreeing to Cora’s plan to reveal what kind of man Finn really is. All the while, their reclusive new neighbor, Georgia, is acting more strangely every day. But what could such a lovely young mother possibly be hiding?

When you really start to look beyond the airy open floor plans and marble counters, Brighton Hills is filled with secrets. Some big, some little, some deadly. And one by one, they’re about to be revealed…]]>2548amreading,bookclub,bookreview,mustread,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/bill-and-teresa-peschel-interview--51072947
Bill Peschel, like his heroes Batman and Superman, believes in truth, justice, and the American way. But he prefers to lead his crusade through words.

That’s why the Pulitzer-prize winning editor wrote about famous authors and the fun they got up to away from their desks (“Writers Gone Wild”), annotations of the novels of Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers, revivals of three books about Victorian poisoner William Palmer, and eight books of annotated fan fiction about Sherlock Holmes, including short stories about Mark Twain’s encounters with Holmes, Watson, Mycroft and Irene Adler.

As co-owner of Peschel Press with his wife, Teresa, he publishes her books on sewing and preparedness (“Sew Cloth Grocery Bags” and “Fed, Safe, and Sheltered”) and her Steppes of Mars series (“The Bride from Dairapaska” and “The White Elephant of Panschin.”

To help indie writers, he also publishes books in his Career Indie Author series and advice at https://www.careerindieauthor.com

Currently, we’re working on more Christie novels in the Complete, Annotated series, another Steppes of Mars book, and “Murder, She Watched,” about the movie adaptations of Agatha Christie, portions of which can be found at

Bill and Teresa can also be found at these places on the Interwebs. Hang out with us and see what we’re up to next: https://peschelpress.com/teresa-peschels-agatha-christie-movie-reviews/

We have our website with an offer to sign up for our newsletter (no spamming, of course) at https:www.peschelpress.com

We’re also found on our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/PeschelPress

We also regularly post author quotes, book reviews, and cat photos on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/peschel_press/

Teresa Peschel lives with her family, her dog Muffy, and two mostly useless cats in the Sweetest Place on Earth, Hershey, Pennsylvania. She has long been interested in sustainability, resource depletion, and finding a balanced life, not too much and not too little.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/51072947Tue, 30 Aug 2022 08:00:03 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubWe had so much fun geeking out about all things Christie and Doyle. Bill Peschel, like his heroes Batman and Superman, believes in truth, justice, and the American way. But he prefers to lead his crusade through words. That’s why the...
Bill Peschel, like his heroes Batman and Superman, believes in truth, justice, and the American way. But he prefers to lead his crusade through words.

That’s why the Pulitzer-prize winning editor wrote about famous authors and the fun they got up to away from their desks (“Writers Gone Wild”), annotations of the novels of Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers, revivals of three books about Victorian poisoner William Palmer, and eight books of annotated fan fiction about Sherlock Holmes, including short stories about Mark Twain’s encounters with Holmes, Watson, Mycroft and Irene Adler.

As co-owner of Peschel Press with his wife, Teresa, he publishes her books on sewing and preparedness (“Sew Cloth Grocery Bags” and “Fed, Safe, and Sheltered”) and her Steppes of Mars series (“The Bride from Dairapaska” and “The White Elephant of Panschin.”

To help indie writers, he also publishes books in his Career Indie Author series and advice at https://www.careerindieauthor.com

Currently, we’re working on more Christie novels in the Complete, Annotated series, another Steppes of Mars book, and “Murder, She Watched,” about the movie adaptations of Agatha Christie, portions of which can be found at

Bill and Teresa can also be found at these places on the Interwebs. Hang out with us and see what we’re up to next: https://peschelpress.com/teresa-peschels-agatha-christie-movie-reviews/

We have our website with an offer to sign up for our newsletter (no spamming, of course) at https:www.peschelpress.com

We’re also found on our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/PeschelPress

We also regularly post author quotes, book reviews, and cat photos on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/peschel_press/

Teresa Peschel lives with her family, her dog Muffy, and two mostly useless cats in the Sweetest Place on Earth, Hershey, Pennsylvania. She has long been interested in sustainability, resource depletion, and finding a balanced life, not too much and not too little.]]>1832agatha,amreading,booklove,doyle,mustread,podcast,sherlockfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/mysteries-in-the-news--51001786WHAT CAN COOKING SCHOOL TEACH A MYSTERY WRITER?
"Many of the skills taught in cooking school...are similar and parallel to those required to write a compelling story."
AUGUST 5, 2022 BY LESLIE KARST Crimereads.com


Riveting Crime Novels That Reimagine William Shakespeare
Let us count the books...

By Harry Pearson | Published Jul 12, 2022 https://murder-mayhem.com/]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/51001786Tue, 23 Aug 2022 08:00:03 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubThis week we take a breather and talk about a few articles that we found that are interesting WHAT CAN COOKING SCHOOL TEACH A MYSTERY WRITER? "Many of the skills taught in cooking school...are similar and parallel to those required to write a...WHAT CAN COOKING SCHOOL TEACH A MYSTERY WRITER?
"Many of the skills taught in cooking school...are similar and parallel to those required to write a compelling story."
AUGUST 5, 2022 BY LESLIE KARST Crimereads.com


Riveting Crime Novels That Reimagine William Shakespeare
Let us count the books...

By Harry Pearson | Published Jul 12, 2022 https://murder-mayhem.com/]]>1288amreading,bookclub,booklove,culinarycozy,mustread,podcast,shakespearefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/kathy-reichs-interview-cold-cold-bones-temperance-brennan-21--50924481Cold, Cold Bones
July 5, 2022 by Scribner

Kathy Reichs

Winter has come to North Carolina and, with it, a drop in crime. Freed from a heavy work schedule, Tempe Brennan is content to dote on her daughter Katy, finally returned to civilian life from the army. But when mother and daughter meet at Tempe’s place one night, they find a box on the back porch. Inside: a very fresh human eyeball.

GPS coordinates etched into the eyeball lead to a Benedictine monastery where an equally macabre discovery awaits. Soon after, Tempe examines a mummified corpse in a state park, and her anxiety deepens.

There seems to be no pattern to the subsequent killings uncovered, except that each mimics in some way a homicide that a younger Tempe had been called in to analyze. Who or what is targeting her, and why?

Helping Tempe search for answers is detective Erskine “Skinny” Slidell, retired but still volunteering with the CMPD cold case unit—and still displaying his gallows humor. Also pulled into the mystery: Andrew Ryan, Tempe’s Montreal-based beau, now working as a private detective.

Could this elaborately staged skein of mayhem be the prelude to a twist that is even more shocking? Tempe is at a loss to establish the motive for what is going on…and then her daughter disappears.

At its core, Cold, Cold Bones is a novel of revenge—one in which revisiting the past may prove the only way to unravel the present.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/50924481Tue, 16 Aug 2022 08:00:03 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubTemperance Brennan #21 Cold, Cold Bones July 5, 2022 by Scribner Kathy Reichs Winter has come to North Carolina and, with it, a drop in crime. Freed from a heavy work schedule, Tempe Brennan is content to dote on her daughter Katy, finally...Cold, Cold Bones
July 5, 2022 by Scribner

Kathy Reichs

Winter has come to North Carolina and, with it, a drop in crime. Freed from a heavy work schedule, Tempe Brennan is content to dote on her daughter Katy, finally returned to civilian life from the army. But when mother and daughter meet at Tempe’s place one night, they find a box on the back porch. Inside: a very fresh human eyeball.

GPS coordinates etched into the eyeball lead to a Benedictine monastery where an equally macabre discovery awaits. Soon after, Tempe examines a mummified corpse in a state park, and her anxiety deepens.

There seems to be no pattern to the subsequent killings uncovered, except that each mimics in some way a homicide that a younger Tempe had been called in to analyze. Who or what is targeting her, and why?

Helping Tempe search for answers is detective Erskine “Skinny” Slidell, retired but still volunteering with the CMPD cold case unit—and still displaying his gallows humor. Also pulled into the mystery: Andrew Ryan, Tempe’s Montreal-based beau, now working as a private detective.

Could this elaborately staged skein of mayhem be the prelude to a twist that is even more shocking? Tempe is at a loss to establish the motive for what is going on…and then her daughter disappears.

At its core, Cold, Cold Bones is a novel of revenge—one in which revisiting the past may prove the only way to unravel the present.]]>1600amreading,bones,bookclub,kathyreichs,murder,mustreads,podcast,serialkiller,thrillerfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/what-we-are-reading-summer-2022-edition--50857810The Agathas

May 3, 2022 by Delacorte Press
Kathleen Glasgow, Liz Lawson

Last summer, Alice Ogilve’s basketball-star boyfriend Steve dumped her. Then she disappeared for five days. Where she went and what happened to her is the biggest mystery in Castle Cove, because she’s not talking. Or it was, at least. But now, another one of Steve’s girlfriends has vanished: Brooke Donovan, Alice’s ex–best friend. And it doesn’t look like Brooke will be coming back. . .

Enter Iris Adams, Alice’s tutor. Iris has her own reasons for wanting to disappear, though unlike Alice, she doesn’t have the money or the means. That could be changed by the hefty reward Brooke’s grandmother is offering to anyone who can share information about her granddaughter’s whereabouts. The police are convinced Steve is the culprit, but Alice isn’t so sure, and with Iris on her side, she just might be able to prove her theory.

In order to get the reward and prove Steve’s innocence, they need to figure out who killed Brooke Donovan. And luckily Alice has exactly what they need—the complete works of Agatha Christie. If there’s anyone that can teach the girls how to solve a mystery it’s the master herself. But the town of Castle Cove holds many secrets, and Alice and Iris have no idea how much danger they're about to walk into.


The Woman in the Library

June 7, 2022 by Sourcebooks
Sulari Gentill


The ornate reading room at the Boston Public Library is quiet, until the tranquility is shattered by a woman's terrified scream. Security guards take charge immediately, instructing everyone inside to stay put until the threat is identified and contained. While they wait for the all-clear, four strangers, who'd happened to sit at the same table, pass the time in conversation and friendships are struck. Each has his or her own reasons for being in the reading room that morning—it just happens that one is a murderer.


Eve Ronin #4
Movieland

June 21, 2022 by Thomas & Mercer
Lee Goldberg

Malibu Creek State Park is a beautiful locale for campers, tourists, hikers, and Hollywood. For Detective Eve Ronin, it’s a backdrop for murder in a riveting thriller by #1 New York Times bestselling author Lee Goldberg.

For decades Malibu Creek State Park was the spectacular natural setting where Hollywood fantasies were made. But when a female camper is gunned down, it becomes a real-life killing ground. Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department homicide detectives Eve Ronin and Duncan Pavone are assigned the case…which Duncan fears is the latest in a series of sniper attacks that began long before Eve came to Lost Hills.

Seven victims over fourteen months…and top officials still refuse to see a connection. Eve and Duncan are stonewalled, threatened, and ordered to keep quiet. But Eve won’t back down. She’s no stranger to intimidation or corruption—she’s had a target on her back from day one at Lost Hills station.

Despite finding no evidentiary links between the shootings, Eve and Duncan follow their instincts into the shadows of Malibu Creek, where it’s not enough to expose the secrets and break the conspiracy of silence. They also have to make it out alive.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/50857810Tue, 09 Aug 2022 08:00:02 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubThe Agathas #1 The Agathas May 3, 2022 by Delacorte Press Kathleen Glasgow, Liz Lawson Last summer, Alice Ogilve’s basketball-star boyfriend Steve dumped her. Then she disappeared for five days. Where she went and what happened to her is the...The Agathas

May 3, 2022 by Delacorte Press
Kathleen Glasgow, Liz Lawson

Last summer, Alice Ogilve’s basketball-star boyfriend Steve dumped her. Then she disappeared for five days. Where she went and what happened to her is the biggest mystery in Castle Cove, because she’s not talking. Or it was, at least. But now, another one of Steve’s girlfriends has vanished: Brooke Donovan, Alice’s ex–best friend. And it doesn’t look like Brooke will be coming back. . .

Enter Iris Adams, Alice’s tutor. Iris has her own reasons for wanting to disappear, though unlike Alice, she doesn’t have the money or the means. That could be changed by the hefty reward Brooke’s grandmother is offering to anyone who can share information about her granddaughter’s whereabouts. The police are convinced Steve is the culprit, but Alice isn’t so sure, and with Iris on her side, she just might be able to prove her theory.

In order to get the reward and prove Steve’s innocence, they need to figure out who killed Brooke Donovan. And luckily Alice has exactly what they need—the complete works of Agatha Christie. If there’s anyone that can teach the girls how to solve a mystery it’s the master herself. But the town of Castle Cove holds many secrets, and Alice and Iris have no idea how much danger they're about to walk into.


The Woman in the Library

June 7, 2022 by Sourcebooks
Sulari Gentill


The ornate reading room at the Boston Public Library is quiet, until the tranquility is shattered by a woman's terrified scream. Security guards take charge immediately, instructing everyone inside to stay put until the threat is identified and contained. While they wait for the all-clear, four strangers, who'd happened to sit at the same table, pass the time in conversation and friendships are struck. Each has his or her own reasons for being in the reading room that morning—it just happens that one is a murderer.


Eve Ronin #4
Movieland

June 21, 2022 by Thomas & Mercer
Lee Goldberg

Malibu Creek State Park is a beautiful locale for campers, tourists, hikers, and Hollywood. For Detective Eve Ronin, it’s a backdrop for murder in a riveting thriller by #1 New York Times bestselling author Lee Goldberg.

For decades Malibu Creek State Park was the spectacular natural setting where Hollywood fantasies were made. But when a female camper is gunned down, it becomes a real-life killing ground. Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department homicide detectives Eve Ronin and Duncan Pavone are assigned the case…which Duncan fears is the latest in a series of sniper attacks that began long before Eve came to Lost Hills.

Seven victims over fourteen months…and top officials still refuse to see a connection. Eve and Duncan are stonewalled, threatened, and ordered to keep quiet. But Eve won’t back down. She’s no stranger to intimidation or corruption—she’s had a target on her back from day one at Lost Hills station.

Despite finding no evidentiary links between the shootings, Eve and Duncan follow their instincts into the shadows of Malibu Creek, where it’s not enough to expose the secrets and break the conspiracy of silence. They also have to make it out alive.]]>1472amreading,bookclub,bookpodcast,bookreview,murder,mustread,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/molly-macrae-argyles-and-arsenic-the-highland-bookshop-mystery-series-book-five--50784404
Janet Marsh and Christine Robertson, two of the women who own Yon Bonnie Books in Inversgail, enjoy themselves at the party. Not everyone who attends has a good time, though. Wendy Erskine, director of the Inversgail museum, is found dead, and rumors swirl about food poisoning from a local food truck. Then Violet tells Constable Hobbs that a tin of rat poison is missing. And when Hobbs’ own grandmother comes under suspicion for murder, he enlists the women from Yon Bonnie Books, and the race is on to find the murderer.

But where do they begin? Are there clues in the “Shocking Stockings” exhibit at the museum? Will the antique scrapbook pasted full of trivia about arsenic and bygone poisoners offer a solution? Or does the answer lie closer to home—is one of Violet’s friends truly toxic? Poisonous games are afoot in Inversgail and the women of Yon Bonnie Books are playing to win.


About Molly MacRae
Molly MacRae writes the Highland Bookshop Mysteries, about four women who reinvent their lives when they buy a bookshop in Inversgail on the west coast of Scotland, and the award-winning Haunted Yarn Shop Mysteries, about a textile preservation specialist in Blue Plum, Tennessee, who ends up with a depressed ghost on her hands.

Molly spent twenty years in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in northeast Tennessee, where she managed the Book Place, an independent bookstore; may it rest in peace. Before the lure of books hooked her, she was the curator of the history museum in Jonesborough, Tennessee's oldest town. Her short stories have appeared in Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine for more than twenty years, and she won the Sherwood Anderson Award for Short Fiction. Molly lives with her family in Champaign, Illinois, where she connects children with books at the public library.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/50784404Tue, 02 Aug 2022 08:00:03 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubAfter 93 well-lived years, Violet MacAskill is ready to simplify her life. Her eccentric solution? She’ll throw a decanting and decluttering party at her family home—a Scottish Baronial manor near the seaside town of Inversgail, Scotland. Violet sets...
Janet Marsh and Christine Robertson, two of the women who own Yon Bonnie Books in Inversgail, enjoy themselves at the party. Not everyone who attends has a good time, though. Wendy Erskine, director of the Inversgail museum, is found dead, and rumors swirl about food poisoning from a local food truck. Then Violet tells Constable Hobbs that a tin of rat poison is missing. And when Hobbs’ own grandmother comes under suspicion for murder, he enlists the women from Yon Bonnie Books, and the race is on to find the murderer.

But where do they begin? Are there clues in the “Shocking Stockings” exhibit at the museum? Will the antique scrapbook pasted full of trivia about arsenic and bygone poisoners offer a solution? Or does the answer lie closer to home—is one of Violet’s friends truly toxic? Poisonous games are afoot in Inversgail and the women of Yon Bonnie Books are playing to win.


About Molly MacRae
Molly MacRae writes the Highland Bookshop Mysteries, about four women who reinvent their lives when they buy a bookshop in Inversgail on the west coast of Scotland, and the award-winning Haunted Yarn Shop Mysteries, about a textile preservation specialist in Blue Plum, Tennessee, who ends up with a depressed ghost on her hands.

Molly spent twenty years in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in northeast Tennessee, where she managed the Book Place, an independent bookstore; may it rest in peace. Before the lure of books hooked her, she was the curator of the history museum in Jonesborough, Tennessee's oldest town. Her short stories have appeared in Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine for more than twenty years, and she won the Sherwood Anderson Award for Short Fiction. Molly lives with her family in Champaign, Illinois, where she connects children with books at the public library.]]>1447amreading,bookclub,knitting,murder,mustread,podcast,scotlandfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/james-bond-with-a-mind-to-kill-anthony-horowitz-interview--50710970
In a mission where treachery is all around and one false move means death, Bond must grapple with the darkest questions about himself. But not even he knows what has happened to the man he used to be.

Anthony Horowitz is one of the most prolific and successful writers working in the UK – and is unique for working across so many media. Anthony is a born polymath; juggling writing books, TV series, films, plays and journalism.

Anthony has written over 40 books including the bestselling teen spy series Alex Rider, which he adapted into a movie that was released worldwide in 2006. The Alex Rider series is estimated to have sold 19 million copies worldwide. His highly anticipated novel, Oblivion, the epic conclusion to the Power of Five series, was published in October 2012. Anthony is also an acclaimed writer for adults and was commissioned by the Conan Doyle Estate and Orion Books to write two new Sherlock Holmes novels. The House of Silk was published in November 2011 and was internationally lauded as the top title of the autumn. The sequel, Moriarty, was published in October 2014 with similar success. Most recently he was commissioned by the Ian Fleming Estate to write the James Bond novel Trigger Mortis, which was published on 8th September 2015.

Anthony is responsible for creating and writing some of the UK’s most beloved and successful television series, producing the first seven episodes (and the title) of Midsomer Murders. He is the writer and creator of award-winning drama series Foyle’s War, which was the Winner of the Lew Grade Audience award for BAFTA. DCS Foyle was voted the nation’s favourite detective in 2011. Anthony has also written other original complex dramas for ITV, particularly thrillers. Collision, a major five part “state of the nation” piece was transmitted on ITV1 in November 2009 to seven million viewers a night. He followed this with the equally successful legal thriller Injustice, also for ITV 1 - transmitted in June 2011. Foyle’s War returned in March 2013 as a Cold War thriller and was greeted with such critical acclaim and demands for more that he wrote one final series, bringing the show to an end in January 2015. Anthony's latest show New Blood will premiere on BBC iPlayer later this year.

Anthony is on the board of the Old Vic Theatre. He regularly contributes to a wide variety of national newspapers and magazines on subjects ranging from politics to education and currently has a travel column in The Telegraph. He has been a patron to East Anglia Children’s Hospices and the anti-bullying charity, Kidscape, since 2008.

In 2019 Anthony became a Patron to Home-Start in Suffolk, a small local family support charity working with families across the Suffolk county, as they navigate through challenging circumstances such as mental health issues, bereavement, long term or terminal illness, isolation, domestic abuse, poverty and so much more. The valuable work the organization does right in the heart of the community – bringing together trained volunteers into families lives to support them both practically and emotionally, helping them to grow in confidence and empowering them with the skills to raise their children to flourish – is why Anthony chose to support this dedicated and hardworking charity. And in Anthony’s own word – “For me, charity begins at Home-Start.”

Anthony was awarded an OBE for his services to literature in January 2014.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/50710970Tue, 26 Jul 2022 08:00:03 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubWith a Mind to Kill - Behind the Iron Curtain, a group of former Smersh agents want to use the British spy in an operation that will change the balance of world power. Bond is smuggled into the lion's den - but whose orders is he following, and will...
In a mission where treachery is all around and one false move means death, Bond must grapple with the darkest questions about himself. But not even he knows what has happened to the man he used to be.

Anthony Horowitz is one of the most prolific and successful writers working in the UK – and is unique for working across so many media. Anthony is a born polymath; juggling writing books, TV series, films, plays and journalism.

Anthony has written over 40 books including the bestselling teen spy series Alex Rider, which he adapted into a movie that was released worldwide in 2006. The Alex Rider series is estimated to have sold 19 million copies worldwide. His highly anticipated novel, Oblivion, the epic conclusion to the Power of Five series, was published in October 2012. Anthony is also an acclaimed writer for adults and was commissioned by the Conan Doyle Estate and Orion Books to write two new Sherlock Holmes novels. The House of Silk was published in November 2011 and was internationally lauded as the top title of the autumn. The sequel, Moriarty, was published in October 2014 with similar success. Most recently he was commissioned by the Ian Fleming Estate to write the James Bond novel Trigger Mortis, which was published on 8th September 2015.

Anthony is responsible for creating and writing some of the UK’s most beloved and successful television series, producing the first seven episodes (and the title) of Midsomer Murders. He is the writer and creator of award-winning drama series Foyle’s War, which was the Winner of the Lew Grade Audience award for BAFTA. DCS Foyle was voted the nation’s favourite detective in 2011. Anthony has also written other original complex dramas for ITV, particularly thrillers. Collision, a major five part “state of the nation” piece was transmitted on ITV1 in November 2009 to seven million viewers a night. He followed this with the equally successful legal thriller Injustice, also for ITV 1 - transmitted in June 2011. Foyle’s War returned in March 2013 as a Cold War thriller and was greeted with such critical acclaim and demands for more that he wrote one final series, bringing the show to an end in January 2015. Anthony's latest show New Blood will premiere on BBC iPlayer later this year.

Anthony is on the board of the Old Vic Theatre. He regularly contributes to a wide variety of national newspapers and magazines on subjects ranging from politics to education and currently has a travel column in The Telegraph. He has been a patron to East Anglia Children’s Hospices and the anti-bullying charity, Kidscape, since 2008.

In 2019 Anthony became a Patron to Home-Start in Suffolk, a small local family support charity working with families across the Suffolk county, as they navigate through challenging circumstances such as mental health issues, bereavement, long term or terminal illness, isolation, domestic abuse, poverty and so much more. The valuable work the organization does right in the heart of the community – bringing together trained volunteers into families lives to support them both practically and emotionally, helping them to grow in confidence and empowering them with the skills to raise their children to flourish – is why Anthony chose to support this dedicated and hardworking charity. And in Anthony’s own word – “For me, charity begins at Home-Start.”

Anthony was awarded an OBE for his services to literature in January 2014.]]>1204007,amreading,anthonyhorowitz,bookclub,jamesbond,mustread,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/mystery-tidbits-and-stuff--50641222https://api.spreaker.com/episode/50641222Tue, 19 Jul 2022 08:00:03 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubWe discuss some interesting articles pertaining to the mystery genre. We also talk about some of the authors who have been on the program and the new books they are releasing.1355amreaing,bookclub,murder,mustread,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/vacation-recast-200th-episode-finished--50542129https://api.spreaker.com/episode/50542129Tue, 12 Jul 2022 08:30:03 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubVacation rebroadcast of the 200th episode of Dark and Stormy Book Club1467authors,bookclub,books,celebration,episode200,inagatha'sfootsteps,interviews,library,mustread,mystery,willreadfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/lost-apothecary-recast--50461487https://api.spreaker.com/episode/50461487Tue, 05 Jul 2022 08:30:02 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubVacation recast of episode 177 "The Lost Apothecary" by Sarah Penner1663apothecary,bookclub,england,london,mudlarking,mystery,poison,thames,wanttoreadfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/what-we-are-reading-june-2022--50384885
A Jane Wunderly Mystery #3 Danger on the Atlantic
PublishedMarch 29, 2022 by Kensington
- Erica Ruth Neubauer

For young American widow Jane Wunderly, there are worse fates than adventuring aboard a transatlantic liner with the only man who could change her mind about romance. Unfortunately, her first-class itinerary has an unexpected—and deadly—addition waiting just below deck . . .

Atlantic Ocean, 1926: Voyaging from Southampton to New York, self-reliant Jane is determined to prove herself a worthy investigator on the stately ship—even awkwardly going undercover as the fashionable wife of her magnetic partner, Mr. Redvers. Few details are known about the rumored German spy the duo have been tasked with identifying among fellow passengers, but new troubles unfold once wealthy newlywed Vanessa FitzSimmons announces the sudden disappearance of her husband at sea . . .

Miles Van de Meter, the man Vanessa rushed to marry in Monte Carlo, has allegedly vanished into thin air along with his luggage. Redvers guesses the shifty heiress may be weaving tall tales for fun between flutes of champagne, yet Jane isn’t convinced—not after the stunning murder of a trusted acquaintance sends them into uncharted waters. Facing two dangerous mysteries and a boat load of suspects, Jane must navigate a claustrophobic quest for answers before the culprits can slip from her grasp on land . . . or, worse, ensure she and Redvers never reach their destination.

Last Call: A True Story of Love, Lust, and Murder in Queer New York
PublishedMarch 9, 2021 by Celadon Books

By Elon Green


The gripping true story, told here for the first time, of the Last Call Killer and the gay community of New York City that he preyed upon.

The Townhouse Bar, midtown, July 1992: The piano player seems to know every song ever written, the crowd belts out the lyrics to their favorites, and a man standing nearby is drinking a Scotch and water. The man strikes the piano player as forgettable.

He looks bland and inconspicuous. Not at all what you think a serial killer looks like. But that’s what he is, and tonight, he has his sights set on a gray haired man. He will not be his first victim.

Nor will he be his last.

The Last Call Killer preyed upon gay men in New York in the ‘80s and ‘90s and had all the hallmarks of the most notorious serial killers. Yet because of the sexuality of his victims, the skyhigh murder rates, and the AIDS epidemic, his murders have been almost entirely forgotten.

This gripping true-crime narrative tells the story of the Last Call Killer and the decades-long chase to find him. And at the same time, it paints a portrait of his victims and a vibrant community navigating threat and resilience.


The Last Party By Cassidy Lucas

For Los Angeleno Dani Sanders, turning 50 seems like one more disappointment. Her career has stalled, her nineteen-year-old daughter with developmental issues is regressing, and Dani’s ex-husband Craig, a fertility doctor worshipped by Hollywood’s elite, is forever upending her life. Though she doesn’t feel much like celebrating, she can’t say no when her best friend Mia Markle, a flamboyant and strong-willed actress, insists on planning a “creative” birthday weekend in the wild, wealthy bohemian enclave of Topanga Canyon.

On the weekend of the Summer Solstice, Dani and her six closest friends gather in the hills above the canyon at “Celestial Ranch,” 18-acres of rugged, wooded mountainside where they’ll spend three glorious days hiking, practicing meditation and reiki, and enjoying lavish catered cuisine. They will also indulge in a little DMT, a short-acting psychedelic drug meant to open their senses and transport them to a higher plain. But as the weekend unfolds, long-buried tensions, unresolved grievances, and old secrets emerge, leaving Dani desperate for clarity about her life.

Dani and her friends take the drug late at night on an open hillside beneath the glittering stars. When Dani returns from her intense and revelatory "trip," she learns that one of her friends has gone missing. Then another disappears. And soon, Dani finds herself alone on the dark mountainside, seemingly abandoned by the people who are supposed to love her most.

Or have they somehow been taken from her?

What could Dani have possibly done to deserve a devastating birthday night like this—and how will she make it to the morning alone?]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/50384885Tue, 28 Jun 2022 08:00:03 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubThree books to help those long days of summer heat. Grab a cool drink and find a cozy hammock or lounge chair and enjoy. A Jane Wunderly Mystery #3 Danger on the Atlantic PublishedMarch 29, 2022 by Kensington - Erica Ruth Neubauer For young...
A Jane Wunderly Mystery #3 Danger on the Atlantic
PublishedMarch 29, 2022 by Kensington
- Erica Ruth Neubauer

For young American widow Jane Wunderly, there are worse fates than adventuring aboard a transatlantic liner with the only man who could change her mind about romance. Unfortunately, her first-class itinerary has an unexpected—and deadly—addition waiting just below deck . . .

Atlantic Ocean, 1926: Voyaging from Southampton to New York, self-reliant Jane is determined to prove herself a worthy investigator on the stately ship—even awkwardly going undercover as the fashionable wife of her magnetic partner, Mr. Redvers. Few details are known about the rumored German spy the duo have been tasked with identifying among fellow passengers, but new troubles unfold once wealthy newlywed Vanessa FitzSimmons announces the sudden disappearance of her husband at sea . . .

Miles Van de Meter, the man Vanessa rushed to marry in Monte Carlo, has allegedly vanished into thin air along with his luggage. Redvers guesses the shifty heiress may be weaving tall tales for fun between flutes of champagne, yet Jane isn’t convinced—not after the stunning murder of a trusted acquaintance sends them into uncharted waters. Facing two dangerous mysteries and a boat load of suspects, Jane must navigate a claustrophobic quest for answers before the culprits can slip from her grasp on land . . . or, worse, ensure she and Redvers never reach their destination.

Last Call: A True Story of Love, Lust, and Murder in Queer New York
PublishedMarch 9, 2021 by Celadon Books

By Elon Green


The gripping true story, told here for the first time, of the Last Call Killer and the gay community of New York City that he preyed upon.

The Townhouse Bar, midtown, July 1992: The piano player seems to know every song ever written, the crowd belts out the lyrics to their favorites, and a man standing nearby is drinking a Scotch and water. The man strikes the piano player as forgettable.

He looks bland and inconspicuous. Not at all what you think a serial killer looks like. But that’s what he is, and tonight, he has his sights set on a gray haired man. He will not be his first victim.

Nor will he be his last.

The Last Call Killer preyed upon gay men in New York in the ‘80s and ‘90s and had all the hallmarks of the most notorious serial killers. Yet because of the sexuality of his victims, the skyhigh murder rates, and the AIDS epidemic, his murders have been almost entirely forgotten.

This gripping true-crime narrative tells the story of the Last Call Killer and the decades-long chase to find him. And at the same time, it paints a portrait of his victims and a vibrant community navigating threat and resilience.


The Last Party By Cassidy Lucas

For Los Angeleno Dani Sanders, turning 50 seems like one more disappointment. Her career has stalled, her nineteen-year-old daughter with developmental issues is regressing, and Dani’s ex-husband Craig, a fertility doctor worshipped by Hollywood’s elite, is forever upending her life. Though she doesn’t feel much like celebrating, she can’t say no when her best friend Mia Markle, a flamboyant and strong-willed actress, insists on planning a “creative” birthday weekend in the wild, wealthy bohemian enclave of Topanga Canyon.

On the weekend of the Summer Solstice, Dani and her six closest friends gather in the hills above the canyon at “Celestial Ranch,” 18-acres of rugged, wooded mountainside where they’ll spend three glorious days hiking, practicing meditation and reiki, and enjoying lavish catered cuisine. They will also indulge in a little DMT, a short-acting psychedelic drug meant to open their senses and transport them...]]>1625amreading,bookclub,booklove,murder,mustread,podcast,whatwearereadingfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/karen-odden-down-a-dark-river--50255769
London, 1878. One April morning, a small boat bearing a young woman’s corpse floats down the murky waters of the Thames. When the victim is identified as Rose Albert, daughter of a prominent judge, the Scotland Yard director gives the case to Michael Corravan, one of the only Senior Inspectors remaining after a corruption scandal the previous autumn left the division in ruins. Reluctantly, Corravan abandons his ongoing case, a search for the missing wife of a shipping magnate, handing it over to his young colleague, Mr. Stiles.

An Irish former bare-knuckles boxer and dockworker from London’s seedy East End, Corravan has good street sense and an inspector’s knack for digging up clues. But he’s confounded when, a week later, a second woman is found dead in a rowboat, and then a third. The dead women seem to have no connection whatsoever. Meanwhile, Mr. Stiles makes an alarming discovery: the shipping magnate’s missing wife, Mrs. Beckford, may not have fled her house because she was insane, as her husband claims, and Mr. Beckford may not be the successful man of business that he appears to be.

Slowly, it becomes clear that the river murders and the case of Mrs. Beckford may be linked through some terrible act of injustice in the past—for which someone has vowed a brutal vengeance. Now, with the newspapers once again trumpeting the Yard’s failures, Corravan must dredge up the truth—before London devolves into a state of panic and before the killer claims another innocent victim.

Karen received her Ph.D. in English literature from New York University and subsequently taught at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Her first novel, A Lady in the Smoke, was a USA Today bestseller and A Dangerous Duet and A Trace of Deceit have won awards for historical mystery and historical fiction. Her fourth mystery, Down a Dark River, is available in hardcover, e-book, and audio book. The sequel, Under a Veiled Moon, will be available in November 2022.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/50255769Tue, 21 Jun 2022 08:00:03 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubDown a Dark River - Inspector Corravan #1 by Karen Odden London, 1878. One April morning, a small boat bearing a young woman’s corpse floats down the murky waters of the Thames. When the victim is identified as Rose Albert, daughter of a prominent...
London, 1878. One April morning, a small boat bearing a young woman’s corpse floats down the murky waters of the Thames. When the victim is identified as Rose Albert, daughter of a prominent judge, the Scotland Yard director gives the case to Michael Corravan, one of the only Senior Inspectors remaining after a corruption scandal the previous autumn left the division in ruins. Reluctantly, Corravan abandons his ongoing case, a search for the missing wife of a shipping magnate, handing it over to his young colleague, Mr. Stiles.

An Irish former bare-knuckles boxer and dockworker from London’s seedy East End, Corravan has good street sense and an inspector’s knack for digging up clues. But he’s confounded when, a week later, a second woman is found dead in a rowboat, and then a third. The dead women seem to have no connection whatsoever. Meanwhile, Mr. Stiles makes an alarming discovery: the shipping magnate’s missing wife, Mrs. Beckford, may not have fled her house because she was insane, as her husband claims, and Mr. Beckford may not be the successful man of business that he appears to be.

Slowly, it becomes clear that the river murders and the case of Mrs. Beckford may be linked through some terrible act of injustice in the past—for which someone has vowed a brutal vengeance. Now, with the newspapers once again trumpeting the Yard’s failures, Corravan must dredge up the truth—before London devolves into a state of panic and before the killer claims another innocent victim.

Karen received her Ph.D. in English literature from New York University and subsequently taught at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Her first novel, A Lady in the Smoke, was a USA Today bestseller and A Dangerous Duet and A Trace of Deceit have won awards for historical mystery and historical fiction. Her fourth mystery, Down a Dark River, is available in hardcover, e-book, and audio book. The sequel, Under a Veiled Moon, will be available in November 2022.]]>1418amreading,bookclub,booklove,downadarkriver,historicalmystery,karenodden,mustread,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/patron-spotlight-art-kilmer--50173639https://api.spreaker.com/episode/50173639Tue, 14 Jun 2022 08:00:03 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubWe love our patrons and wanted to know their interests. One of our most loyal is Art Kilmer. He just happens to have two podcasts that he hosts. The Bookshelf Odyssey and A Cozy Christmas. Check them out. We love them both.1872amreading,bookclub,booklove,booktalk,cozymystery,murder,patronspotlight,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/maureen-jennings-murdoch-mysteries--50094007
She was awarded a Certificate of Commendation from Heritage Toronto in 1998; the Grant Allen award for on-going contribution to the genre in 2011, and has received a total of Eight nominations from Crime Writers of Canada, for best novel and short story of the year. Her books have been translated into other languages, including Polish; Korean; French; German, Italian and Czech and are also published in the UK by Titan Books.

Except The Dying 25th Anniversary Her first series was set in Victorian Toronto and has been adapted for television first as three movies of the week, and now The Murdoch Mysteries tv series which is shown in over 120 territories world wide, and is now in production for its 16th th season for CBC television. Since 2011, she has written, and co-written, 11 scripts for the series including the adaption of “Shipwreck”, the novella which deals with the origins of Murdoch’s interest in detection.

2016, the 4th book in a series of novels, Dead Ground In Between, set in England during WW2 and Featuring DCI Tom Tyler, was published. The first book, Season of Darkness, was released August 2011. The second book, Beware This Boy, was published November 2012. The third No Known Grave, was nominated for the Arthur Ellis award for Best Crime novels.

The second book in the Tyler series, Beware this Boy, served as the inspiration for the concept that she developed with a partner for the television series, Bomb Girls. Broadcast on Global TV in Canada, Bomb Girls was nominated for the Canadian Screen awards for Best Drama in its first two seasons as well as Best Movie of the week for its third and final season, and won in that category. Bomb Girls also won the Gracie Award in the US for its first season. All of the Tyler series is now under option for television with Pelee Entertainment in Canada and Apollo Media in London UK.Entertainment

In November 2017, the 8th novel in the Murdoch series, Let Darkness Bury the Dead, which is set during the Canadian WW 1 home front 1917, 22 years after we last saw Murdoch in novel form, was published by McClelland & Stewart to great critical acclaim.

Maureen Jennings' Heat Wave Maureen is currently working on her new series set in 1936 Toronto where we meet PI Charlotte Frayne, who is presented with her first case entitled “The Paradise Café, book one, Heat Wave” followed by November Rain, and Cold Snap, the third book in the series will be published in September 2022.

The Charlotte series is published by Cormorant Books in Canada and Historia (Level Best Books) in the USA.

Maureen lives in Toronto with her husband, photographer Iden Ford, and her Dog, Murdoch.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/50094007Tue, 07 Jun 2022 08:00:02 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubMaureen Jennings, now a Canadian citizen, was born in the UK and emigrated to Canada as a teenager. After a long career as a psychotherapist, she is now writing full time and has published one novella, thirteen novels of crime fiction and one book of...
She was awarded a Certificate of Commendation from Heritage Toronto in 1998; the Grant Allen award for on-going contribution to the genre in 2011, and has received a total of Eight nominations from Crime Writers of Canada, for best novel and short story of the year. Her books have been translated into other languages, including Polish; Korean; French; German, Italian and Czech and are also published in the UK by Titan Books.

Except The Dying 25th Anniversary Her first series was set in Victorian Toronto and has been adapted for television first as three movies of the week, and now The Murdoch Mysteries tv series which is shown in over 120 territories world wide, and is now in production for its 16th th season for CBC television. Since 2011, she has written, and co-written, 11 scripts for the series including the adaption of “Shipwreck”, the novella which deals with the origins of Murdoch’s interest in detection.

2016, the 4th book in a series of novels, Dead Ground In Between, set in England during WW2 and Featuring DCI Tom Tyler, was published. The first book, Season of Darkness, was released August 2011. The second book, Beware This Boy, was published November 2012. The third No Known Grave, was nominated for the Arthur Ellis award for Best Crime novels.

The second book in the Tyler series, Beware this Boy, served as the inspiration for the concept that she developed with a partner for the television series, Bomb Girls. Broadcast on Global TV in Canada, Bomb Girls was nominated for the Canadian Screen awards for Best Drama in its first two seasons as well as Best Movie of the week for its third and final season, and won in that category. Bomb Girls also won the Gracie Award in the US for its first season. All of the Tyler series is now under option for television with Pelee Entertainment in Canada and Apollo Media in London UK.Entertainment

In November 2017, the 8th novel in the Murdoch series, Let Darkness Bury the Dead, which is set during the Canadian WW 1 home front 1917, 22 years after we last saw Murdoch in novel form, was published by McClelland & Stewart to great critical acclaim.

Maureen Jennings' Heat Wave Maureen is currently working on her new series set in 1936 Toronto where we meet PI Charlotte Frayne, who is presented with her first case entitled “The Paradise Café, book one, Heat Wave” followed by November Rain, and Cold Snap, the third book in the series will be published in September 2022.

The Charlotte series is published by Cormorant Books in Canada and Historia (Level Best Books) in the USA.

Maureen lives in Toronto with her husband, photographer Iden Ford, and her Dog, Murdoch.]]>1587amreading,booklove,murdochmysteries,mustread,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/what-we-are-reading-may-2022--49977009
Blood Royal: A True Tale of Crime and Detection in Medieval Paris
By Eric Jager First published February 25, 2014

On a chilly November night in 1407, Louis of Orleans was murdered by a band of masked men. The crime stunned and paralyzed France since Louis had often ruled in place of his brother King Charles, who had gone mad. As panic seized Paris, an investigation began. In charge was the Provost of Paris, Guillaume de Tignonville, the city's chief law enforcement officer -- and one of history's first detectives. As de Tignonville began to investigate, he realized that his hunt for the truth was much more dangerous than he ever could have imagined.

A rich portrait of a distant world, Blood Royal is a gripping story of conspiracy, crime and an increasingly desperate hunt for the truth. And in Guillaume de Tignonville, we have an unforgettable detective for the ages, a classic gumshoe for a cobblestoned era.


Charles Jenkins #3 The Silent Sisters
By Robert Dugoni Published March 8, 2022 by Thomas & Mercer

After a harrowing escape from Russian agents on his last mission, Charles Jenkins thinks he’s finally done with the spy game. But then the final two of the seven sisters—American assets who have been deep undercover in Russia for decades—cut off all communication with their handlers. Are they in hiding after detecting surveillance? Or have they turned and become double agents? It’s Jenkins’s duty to find out, but he’s been added to a Russian kill list. It will require all of Jenkins’s knowledge of spycraft—and an array of disguises—to return to the country undetected.

But plans go awry his first night in Moscow when Jenkins gets involved in an altercation that ends in the death of the son of one of Russia’s most powerful organized crime leaders. Pursued by mafia henchmen, Russian agents, and a particularly dogged Moscow police detective, Jenkins is determined to track down the final two sisters and get them to America—or die trying. As various forces close in, Jenkins fears this time he might’ve pushed his luck too far.


Dry Heat: A Novel
By Len Joy PublishedMarch 1, 2022 by BQB Publishing

The high school bonfire is supposed to be the kickoff to a great night: Joey has just won a football scholarship and he's hoping for a sex breakthrough with his new girlfriend. Then his true love--but ex-girlfriend--Mallory tells his she's pregnant. He's reeling from that news when the bonfire explodes.

Joey, his new girlfriend and her drug dealer friend TJ, flee in her truck. When the police pursue, TJ shoots at the cop's car. It crashes and in the ensuing chaos TJ slips away undetected. Joey, the only adult in the truck, is hauled off to jail.

Joey is charged with attempted murder and released on bail. TJ is nowhere to be found. When Joey discovers that Mallory's father is pressuring her to terminate the pregnancy, Joey has to remain free to prevent that from happening. In desperation, he reaches out to notorious gang leader, Chico Torres, whom he met in jail, for help locating TJ.

When Joey is offered a deal--his freedom in exchange for his cooperation in nailing Chico--he faces a decision that will change the course of his life and Mallory's.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/49977009Tue, 31 May 2022 08:00:02 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubThree books to get you started for Summer reading Blood Royal: A True Tale of Crime and Detection in Medieval Paris By Eric Jager First published February 25, 2014 On a chilly November night in 1407, Louis of Orleans was murdered by a band of...
Blood Royal: A True Tale of Crime and Detection in Medieval Paris
By Eric Jager First published February 25, 2014

On a chilly November night in 1407, Louis of Orleans was murdered by a band of masked men. The crime stunned and paralyzed France since Louis had often ruled in place of his brother King Charles, who had gone mad. As panic seized Paris, an investigation began. In charge was the Provost of Paris, Guillaume de Tignonville, the city's chief law enforcement officer -- and one of history's first detectives. As de Tignonville began to investigate, he realized that his hunt for the truth was much more dangerous than he ever could have imagined.

A rich portrait of a distant world, Blood Royal is a gripping story of conspiracy, crime and an increasingly desperate hunt for the truth. And in Guillaume de Tignonville, we have an unforgettable detective for the ages, a classic gumshoe for a cobblestoned era.


Charles Jenkins #3 The Silent Sisters
By Robert Dugoni Published March 8, 2022 by Thomas & Mercer

After a harrowing escape from Russian agents on his last mission, Charles Jenkins thinks he’s finally done with the spy game. But then the final two of the seven sisters—American assets who have been deep undercover in Russia for decades—cut off all communication with their handlers. Are they in hiding after detecting surveillance? Or have they turned and become double agents? It’s Jenkins’s duty to find out, but he’s been added to a Russian kill list. It will require all of Jenkins’s knowledge of spycraft—and an array of disguises—to return to the country undetected.

But plans go awry his first night in Moscow when Jenkins gets involved in an altercation that ends in the death of the son of one of Russia’s most powerful organized crime leaders. Pursued by mafia henchmen, Russian agents, and a particularly dogged Moscow police detective, Jenkins is determined to track down the final two sisters and get them to America—or die trying. As various forces close in, Jenkins fears this time he might’ve pushed his luck too far.


Dry Heat: A Novel
By Len Joy PublishedMarch 1, 2022 by BQB Publishing

The high school bonfire is supposed to be the kickoff to a great night: Joey has just won a football scholarship and he's hoping for a sex breakthrough with his new girlfriend. Then his true love--but ex-girlfriend--Mallory tells his she's pregnant. He's reeling from that news when the bonfire explodes.

Joey, his new girlfriend and her drug dealer friend TJ, flee in her truck. When the police pursue, TJ shoots at the cop's car. It crashes and in the ensuing chaos TJ slips away undetected. Joey, the only adult in the truck, is hauled off to jail.

Joey is charged with attempted murder and released on bail. TJ is nowhere to be found. When Joey discovers that Mallory's father is pressuring her to terminate the pregnancy, Joey has to remain free to prevent that from happening. In desperation, he reaches out to notorious gang leader, Chico Torres, whom he met in jail, for help locating TJ.

When Joey is offered a deal--his freedom in exchange for his cooperation in nailing Chico--he faces a decision that will change the course of his life and Mallory's.]]>1335amreading,bookclub,booklove,murder,mustread,podcast,whatwearereadingfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/edwin-hill-the-secrets-we-share--49894470
At first glance, Natalie Cavanaugh and Glenn Abbott hardly look like sisters. Even off-duty, Natalie dresses like a Boston cop, preferring practical clothes and unfussy, pinned-up hair. Her younger sister, Glenn, seems tailor-made for the spotlight, from her signature red mane to her camera-ready smile. Glenn has spent years cultivating her brand through her baking blog, and with the publication of her new book, that hard work seems about to pay off. But her fans have no idea about the nightmare in Glenn and Natalie’s past.

Twenty years ago, their father’s body was discovered in the woods behind their house. A trauma like that doesn’t fit with Glenn’s public image. Yet, maybe someone reading her blog does know something. There have been anonymous online messages, vague yet ominous, hinting that she’s being watched. And with unsettling coincidences hitting ever closer to home, both Glenn and Natalie soon have more pressing matters to worry about, especially when a dead body is found in an abandoned building . . .

Natalie is starting to wonder how much Glenn really knows about the people closest to her. But are there also secrets Natalie has yet to uncover about those she herself trusts? For two decades, she’s believed their father was murdered by their neighbor, with whom he was having an affair. But if those events are connected to what’s happening now, maybe there’s much more that Natalie doesn’t know. About their father. About their neighbors. About her friends. Maybe even about herself.

But there are no secrets between sisters . . . are there?


Edwin Hill is the author of LITTLE COMFORT, THE MISSING ONES and his latest Hester Thursby WATCH HER. He was born in Duxbury, Massachusetts, and spent most of his childhood obsessing over The Famous Five, Agatha Christie, and somehow finding a way into C.S. Lewis’s wardrobe. His parents were fond of taking his sister and him on month-long family camping trips across the U.S. and Canada, and one of his best memories is of finishing a copy of The Seven Dials Mystery while the rest of the family visited Mount Rushmore. Growing up when VHS tapes were new meant that watching Alien, Jaws, The Shining, or Halloween whenever he wanted seemed luxurious, and still does today. Like Hester Thursby, he watched these movies – and others like them – a lot.

After attending Wesleyan University and graduating with a B.A. in American Studies, he headed west to San Francisco for the original dotcom boom. Later, he returned to Boston, earned an MFA from Emerson College, and switched gears to work in educational publishing, where he served as the vice president and editorial director for Bedford/St. Martin's, a division of Macmillan Learning, for many years before turning to writing full time.

He lives in Roslindale, Massachusetts with his partner Michael and his favorite reviewer, their lab Edith Ann, who likes his first drafts enough to eat them.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/49894470Tue, 24 May 2022 08:00:02 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubThe Secrets We Share - A mesmerizing, twisty suspense novel perfect for fans of Mary Kubica and Riley Sager from an acclaimed author! Explore the deep bonds—and deadly secrets—between two very different sisters haunted by the crimes of their father...
At first glance, Natalie Cavanaugh and Glenn Abbott hardly look like sisters. Even off-duty, Natalie dresses like a Boston cop, preferring practical clothes and unfussy, pinned-up hair. Her younger sister, Glenn, seems tailor-made for the spotlight, from her signature red mane to her camera-ready smile. Glenn has spent years cultivating her brand through her baking blog, and with the publication of her new book, that hard work seems about to pay off. But her fans have no idea about the nightmare in Glenn and Natalie’s past.

Twenty years ago, their father’s body was discovered in the woods behind their house. A trauma like that doesn’t fit with Glenn’s public image. Yet, maybe someone reading her blog does know something. There have been anonymous online messages, vague yet ominous, hinting that she’s being watched. And with unsettling coincidences hitting ever closer to home, both Glenn and Natalie soon have more pressing matters to worry about, especially when a dead body is found in an abandoned building . . .

Natalie is starting to wonder how much Glenn really knows about the people closest to her. But are there also secrets Natalie has yet to uncover about those she herself trusts? For two decades, she’s believed their father was murdered by their neighbor, with whom he was having an affair. But if those events are connected to what’s happening now, maybe there’s much more that Natalie doesn’t know. About their father. About their neighbors. About her friends. Maybe even about herself.

But there are no secrets between sisters . . . are there?


Edwin Hill is the author of LITTLE COMFORT, THE MISSING ONES and his latest Hester Thursby WATCH HER. He was born in Duxbury, Massachusetts, and spent most of his childhood obsessing over The Famous Five, Agatha Christie, and somehow finding a way into C.S. Lewis’s wardrobe. His parents were fond of taking his sister and him on month-long family camping trips across the U.S. and Canada, and one of his best memories is of finishing a copy of The Seven Dials Mystery while the rest of the family visited Mount Rushmore. Growing up when VHS tapes were new meant that watching Alien, Jaws, The Shining, or Halloween whenever he wanted seemed luxurious, and still does today. Like Hester Thursby, he watched these movies – and others like them – a lot.

After attending Wesleyan University and graduating with a B.A. in American Studies, he headed west to San Francisco for the original dotcom boom. Later, he returned to Boston, earned an MFA from Emerson College, and switched gears to work in educational publishing, where he served as the vice president and editorial director for Bedford/St. Martin's, a division of Macmillan Learning, for many years before turning to writing full time.

He lives in Roslindale, Massachusetts with his partner Michael and his favorite reviewer, their lab Edith Ann, who likes his first drafts enough to eat them.]]>941falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/patron-spotlight-jackie-flaum-s-favorite-books--49824582

Jackie Ross Flaum, avid water aerobics swimmer, amateur jewelry-maker and eclectic writer, began as a reporter for The Hartford Courant in Hartford, Conn. After moving to Memphis and abandoning reality for fiction, she won first place for romantic suspense in the 21st annual Duel on the Delta and second place in the spring 2019 Short Story Land online competition. Thus encouraged, she tested several flavors of writing--chic lit, mystery, suspense, crime—and had short stories published in anthologies of all genres. To her shock, her first novel of the South in the 1960s is considered historical fiction. “Justice Tomorrow,” introduces investigator Madeline Sterling and Socrates Gray, who are also featured in a short story published in “Now There Was A Story.”. The sequel, “Price of a Future” is due out soon. She is happily married with two daughters, four grandchildren, and one disobedient dog. Currently, she is president of Malice in Memphis a Killer Writing Group. https://www.amazon.com/author/jackieflaum]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/49824582Tue, 17 May 2022 08:00:03 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubWe love our Patrons!!! What better way to show our appreciation then to let them run the show and tell us about their favorite books. Jackie loves anthologies and now we do too!!! Jackie Ross Flaum, avid water aerobics swimmer, amateur...

Jackie Ross Flaum, avid water aerobics swimmer, amateur jewelry-maker and eclectic writer, began as a reporter for The Hartford Courant in Hartford, Conn. After moving to Memphis and abandoning reality for fiction, she won first place for romantic suspense in the 21st annual Duel on the Delta and second place in the spring 2019 Short Story Land online competition. Thus encouraged, she tested several flavors of writing--chic lit, mystery, suspense, crime—and had short stories published in anthologies of all genres. To her shock, her first novel of the South in the 1960s is considered historical fiction. “Justice Tomorrow,” introduces investigator Madeline Sterling and Socrates Gray, who are also featured in a short story published in “Now There Was A Story.”. The sequel, “Price of a Future” is due out soon. She is happily married with two daughters, four grandchildren, and one disobedient dog. Currently, she is president of Malice in Memphis a Killer Writing Group. https://www.amazon.com/author/jackieflaum]]>1011amreading,anthologies,bookclub,booklove,mustread,patrons,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/malice-domestic-pop-up-interviews-part-ii--49734147
Charlaine Harris Schulz is an American author who specializes in mysteries. She is best known for her book series The Southern Vampire Mysteries, which was adapted as the TV series True Blood. The television show was a critical and financial success for HBO, running seven seasons, from 2008 through 2014.

Leslie Karst The daughter of a law professor and a potter, Leslie Karst learned early, during family dinner conversations, the value of both careful analysis and the arts—ideal ingredients for a mystery story. Leslie is the author of the Lefty Award-nominated Sally Solari mystery series.

Laurie R. King is the New York Times bestselling author of 30 novels and other works, including the Mary Russell-Sherlock Holmes stories, beginning with The Beekeeper’s Apprentice (named “One of the 20th Century’s Best Crime Novels” by the IMBA.) She has won the Agatha, Anthony, Edgar, Lambda, Wolfe, Macavity, Creasey dagger, and Romantic Times Career Achievement awards, has an honorary doctorate in theology, and has been guest of honor at several mystery conventions. And yes, she is a Baker Street Irregular.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/49734147Tue, 10 May 2022 08:00:03 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubOur second part of our Pop Up Interviews. Charlaine Harris Schulz is an American author who specializes in mysteries. She is best known for her book series The Southern Vampire Mysteries, which was adapted as the TV series True Blood. The...
Charlaine Harris Schulz is an American author who specializes in mysteries. She is best known for her book series The Southern Vampire Mysteries, which was adapted as the TV series True Blood. The television show was a critical and financial success for HBO, running seven seasons, from 2008 through 2014.

Leslie Karst The daughter of a law professor and a potter, Leslie Karst learned early, during family dinner conversations, the value of both careful analysis and the arts—ideal ingredients for a mystery story. Leslie is the author of the Lefty Award-nominated Sally Solari mystery series.

Laurie R. King is the New York Times bestselling author of 30 novels and other works, including the Mary Russell-Sherlock Holmes stories, beginning with The Beekeeper’s Apprentice (named “One of the 20th Century’s Best Crime Novels” by the IMBA.) She has won the Agatha, Anthony, Edgar, Lambda, Wolfe, Macavity, Creasey dagger, and Romantic Times Career Achievement awards, has an honorary doctorate in theology, and has been guest of honor at several mystery conventions. And yes, she is a Baker Street Irregular.]]>1321agathaaward,amreading,bookclub,malicedomestic,mustread,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/malice-domestic-popup-author-interviews--49631146
Ang Pompano is a reputed American writer of mystery and thriller stories. He is particularly famous for writing his debut novel called When It's Time For Leaving. Pompano says that he has been involved in writing mysteries for over twenty years.

Raquel V. Reyes writes stories with Latina characters. Her Cuban-American heritage, Miami, and the Caribbean feature prominently in her work. Raquel is a co-chair for SleuthFest.

Elaine Viets has written 34 mysteries in four series: the bestselling Dead-End Job series with South Florida PI Helen Hawthorne, the cozy Josie Marcus Mystery Shopper mysteries, and the dark Francesca Vierling mysteries. With the Angela Richman Death Investigator series,

S.C. Perkins is the Agatha Award-nominated author of the Ancestry Detective mystery series featuring professional genealogist Lucy Lancaster.

Karen Neary Smithson has been a child advocate, human right commissioner, and an art educator. As an author of traditional and cozy mysteries Karen finds writing magical. In addition to writing, she is a professional artist whose paintings are displayed in galleries.

Next we will conclude our popup interview with more facinating authors.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/49631146Tue, 03 May 2022 08:00:02 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubWhile attending Malice Domestic we tried to interview a wide variety of authors. This Episode we interiewed Ang Pompano is a reputed American writer of mystery and thriller stories. He is particularly famous for writing his debut novel called...
Ang Pompano is a reputed American writer of mystery and thriller stories. He is particularly famous for writing his debut novel called When It's Time For Leaving. Pompano says that he has been involved in writing mysteries for over twenty years.

Raquel V. Reyes writes stories with Latina characters. Her Cuban-American heritage, Miami, and the Caribbean feature prominently in her work. Raquel is a co-chair for SleuthFest.

Elaine Viets has written 34 mysteries in four series: the bestselling Dead-End Job series with South Florida PI Helen Hawthorne, the cozy Josie Marcus Mystery Shopper mysteries, and the dark Francesca Vierling mysteries. With the Angela Richman Death Investigator series,

S.C. Perkins is the Agatha Award-nominated author of the Ancestry Detective mystery series featuring professional genealogist Lucy Lancaster.

Karen Neary Smithson has been a child advocate, human right commissioner, and an art educator. As an author of traditional and cozy mysteries Karen finds writing magical. In addition to writing, she is a professional artist whose paintings are displayed in galleries.

Next we will conclude our popup interview with more facinating authors.]]>2582amlisting,authorinterview,bookclub,malicedomestic,murder,mustread,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/malice-domestic-agatha-winners-for-2021--49551357https://api.spreaker.com/episode/49551357Tue, 26 Apr 2022 10:45:02 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubA recap of the winners of the 2021 Agatha Awards from Malice Domestic awarded 4/23/223482021awards,agathaaward,authors,bestof,malice,malicedomestic,mystery,winnersfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/agatha-nominee-roundup--49472936
Best Contemporary Novel

Cajun Kiss of Death by Ellen Byron (Crooked Lane Books)
Watch Her by Edwin Hill (Kensington)
The Madness of Crowds by Louise Penny (Minotaur)
Her Perfect Life by Hank Phillippi Ryan (Forge)
Symphony Road by Gabriel Valjan (Level Best Books)

Best Historical Novel

Murder at Mallowan Hall by Colleen Cambridge (Kensington)
Clark and Division by Naomi Hirahara (Soho Crime)
The Bombay Prince by Sujata Massey (Soho Crime)
Death at Greenway by Lori Rader-Day (HarperCollins)
The Devil's Music by Gabriel Valjan (Winter Goose Publishing)

Best First Novel

The Turncoat's Widow by Mally Becker (Level Best Books)
A Dead Man's Eyes by Lori Duffy Foster (Level Best Books)
Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Manansala (Berkley)
Murder in the Master by Judy L. Murray (Level Best Books)
Mango, Mambo, and Murder by Raquel V. Reyes (Crooked Lane Books)

Best Short Story

"A Family Matter" by Barb Goffman (Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine Jan/Feb 2021)
"A Tale of Two Sisters" by Barb Goffman in Murder on the Beach (Destination Murders)
"Doc's at Midnight" by Richie Narvaez in Midnight Hour (Crooked Lane Books)
"The Locked Room Library" by Gigi Pandian (Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine July/Aug 2021)
"Bay of Reckoning" by Shawn Reilly Simmons in Murder on the Beach (Destination Murders)

Best Non-Fiction

The Combat Zone: Murder, Race, and Boston's Struggle for Justice by Jan Brogan (Bright Leaf Press)
Murder Most Grotesque: The Comedic Crime Fiction of Joyce Porter by Chris Chan (Level Best Books)
The Irish Assassins: Conspiracy, Revenge, and the Phoenix Park Murders that Stunned Victorian England by Julie Kavanaugh (Atlantic Monthly Press)
How to Write a Mystery: A Handbook from Mystery Writers of America by MWA with editors Lee Child and Laurie R. King (Simon & Schuster)

Best Children's/YA Mystery

Cold-Blooded Myrtle by Elizabeth C. Bunce (Algonquin Young Readers)
The Forest of Stolen Girls by June Hur (Fiewel and Friends/Macmillan)
I Play One on TV by Alan Orloff (Down & Out Books)
Leisha's Song by Lynn Slaughter (Fire and Ice/Melange Books)
Enola Holmes and the Black Barouche by Nancy Springer (Wednesday Books)

Congratulations to all of the nominees!]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/49472936Wed, 20 Apr 2022 01:40:02 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubAs we head to Malice Domestic to rub elbows with all of our favorite authors. We take this opportunity to give you one last look at the nominees for the Agatha awards that will be given out at the banquet on Saturday April 23rd. Best Contemporary...
Best Contemporary Novel

Cajun Kiss of Death by Ellen Byron (Crooked Lane Books)
Watch Her by Edwin Hill (Kensington)
The Madness of Crowds by Louise Penny (Minotaur)
Her Perfect Life by Hank Phillippi Ryan (Forge)
Symphony Road by Gabriel Valjan (Level Best Books)

Best Historical Novel

Murder at Mallowan Hall by Colleen Cambridge (Kensington)
Clark and Division by Naomi Hirahara (Soho Crime)
The Bombay Prince by Sujata Massey (Soho Crime)
Death at Greenway by Lori Rader-Day (HarperCollins)
The Devil's Music by Gabriel Valjan (Winter Goose Publishing)

Best First Novel

The Turncoat's Widow by Mally Becker (Level Best Books)
A Dead Man's Eyes by Lori Duffy Foster (Level Best Books)
Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Manansala (Berkley)
Murder in the Master by Judy L. Murray (Level Best Books)
Mango, Mambo, and Murder by Raquel V. Reyes (Crooked Lane Books)

Best Short Story

"A Family Matter" by Barb Goffman (Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine Jan/Feb 2021)
"A Tale of Two Sisters" by Barb Goffman in Murder on the Beach (Destination Murders)
"Doc's at Midnight" by Richie Narvaez in Midnight Hour (Crooked Lane Books)
"The Locked Room Library" by Gigi Pandian (Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine July/Aug 2021)
"Bay of Reckoning" by Shawn Reilly Simmons in Murder on the Beach (Destination Murders)

Best Non-Fiction

The Combat Zone: Murder, Race, and Boston's Struggle for Justice by Jan Brogan (Bright Leaf Press)
Murder Most Grotesque: The Comedic Crime Fiction of Joyce Porter by Chris Chan (Level Best Books)
The Irish Assassins: Conspiracy, Revenge, and the Phoenix Park Murders that Stunned Victorian England by Julie Kavanaugh (Atlantic Monthly Press)
How to Write a Mystery: A Handbook from Mystery Writers of America by MWA with editors Lee Child and Laurie R. King (Simon & Schuster)

Best Children's/YA Mystery

Cold-Blooded Myrtle by Elizabeth C. Bunce (Algonquin Young Readers)
The Forest of Stolen Girls by June Hur (Fiewel and Friends/Macmillan)
I Play One on TV by Alan Orloff (Down & Out Books)
Leisha's Song by Lynn Slaughter (Fire and Ice/Melange Books)
Enola Holmes and the Black Barouche by Nancy Springer (Wednesday Books)

Congratulations to all of the nominees!]]>1655agathaaward,amreading,bookclub,malicedomestic,mustread,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/joel-schwartz-bone-deep-untangling-the-twisted-true-story-of-the-tragic-betsy-faria-murder--49404456by Charles Bosworth Jr., Joel J. Schwartz
Published February 22nd 2022 by Citadel Press

The explosive, first-ever insider’s account of the case that’s captivated millions--the murder of Betsy Faria and the wrongful conviction of her husband--told by Joel J. Schwartz, the defense attorney who fought for justice on behalf of Russell Faria, and New York Times bestselling author Charles Bosworth Jr.

On December 27th, 2011, Russell Faria returned to his Troy, Missouri, home after his weekly game night with friends to an unthinkable, grisly scene: His wife, Betsy, lay dead, a knife still lodged in her neck. She’d been stabbed fifty-five times.

First responders concluded that Betsy had been dead for hours when Russ discovered her. No blood was found implicating Russ, and surveillance video, receipts, and friends’ testimony all supported his alibi--yet incredibly, police and the prosecuting attorney ignored the evidence. In their minds, Russ was guilty, but prominent defense attorney Joel J. Schwartz quickly recognized the real killer.

The motive was clear. Days before her murder, the terminally ill Betsy replaced her husband with her friend, Pamela Hupp, as her life insurance beneficiary. Still, despite the prosecution’s flimsy case and Hupp’s transparent lies, Russ was convicted--leaving Hupp free to kill again.

Bone Deep takes readers through the perfect storm of miscalculations and missteps that led to an innocent man’s conviction, and recounts Schwartz’s successful battle to have that conviction overturned. Written with Russ Faria’s cooperation, and filled with chilling new revelations and previously undisclosed evidence, this is the story of what can happen when police, prosecutor, judge, and jury all fail in their duty to protect the innocent and let a killer get away with murder.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/49404456Tue, 12 Apr 2022 08:00:06 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubBone Deep: Untangling the Twisted True Story of the Tragic Betsy Faria Murder Case by Charles Bosworth Jr., Joel J. Schwartz Published February 22nd 2022 by Citadel Press The explosive, first-ever insider’s account of the case that’s captivated...by Charles Bosworth Jr., Joel J. Schwartz
Published February 22nd 2022 by Citadel Press

The explosive, first-ever insider’s account of the case that’s captivated millions--the murder of Betsy Faria and the wrongful conviction of her husband--told by Joel J. Schwartz, the defense attorney who fought for justice on behalf of Russell Faria, and New York Times bestselling author Charles Bosworth Jr.

On December 27th, 2011, Russell Faria returned to his Troy, Missouri, home after his weekly game night with friends to an unthinkable, grisly scene: His wife, Betsy, lay dead, a knife still lodged in her neck. She’d been stabbed fifty-five times.

First responders concluded that Betsy had been dead for hours when Russ discovered her. No blood was found implicating Russ, and surveillance video, receipts, and friends’ testimony all supported his alibi--yet incredibly, police and the prosecuting attorney ignored the evidence. In their minds, Russ was guilty, but prominent defense attorney Joel J. Schwartz quickly recognized the real killer.

The motive was clear. Days before her murder, the terminally ill Betsy replaced her husband with her friend, Pamela Hupp, as her life insurance beneficiary. Still, despite the prosecution’s flimsy case and Hupp’s transparent lies, Russ was convicted--leaving Hupp free to kill again.

Bone Deep takes readers through the perfect storm of miscalculations and missteps that led to an innocent man’s conviction, and recounts Schwartz’s successful battle to have that conviction overturned. Written with Russ Faria’s cooperation, and filled with chilling new revelations and previously undisclosed evidence, this is the story of what can happen when police, prosecutor, judge, and jury all fail in their duty to protect the innocent and let a killer get away with murder.]]>1583amreading,bonedeep,bookclub,booklove,murder,mustread,pamhupp,podcast,thethingaboutpamfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/agatha-nominees-judy-l-murray-and-jan-brogan--49322793
Judy L. Murray - Murder in the Master(Level Best Books). It isn't the first time real estate agent Helen Morrisey has found someone naked in bed while showing a house. But this one is different. One glance at the bluish cast around his lips and the vacant, staring eyes, and Helen knows developer Al Capelli is never going to sign another sales agreement.

His death is big news for a small Chesapeake water town where a family empire is built around secrets and their brash money style is resented by locals. Within days, his lover, her old friend, begs Helen to find the killer before she's arrested for murder. Helen quickly realizes that solving a murder mystery in real life is a lot more dangerous than reading one. She decides to create her own Detection Club of expert sleuths-Miss Marple, Jessica Fletcher, Nora Charles, Agatha Raisin, and, yes, Nancy Drew to help unearth the truth.

Detective Joe McAlister recognizes Helen's insight into back office real estate deals and local players. And for the first time since her husband's death, Helen meets a man who might return zingers as quick as she tosses them out. Mystery lovers hungry for a smart gutsy woman, a fast-moving plot, and an insider's look into a business everyone talks about, but few understand, will devour this first in a series.


Jan Brogan - The Combat Zone: Murder, Race, and Boston's Struggle for Justice (Bright Leaf Press). At the end of the 1976 football season, more than forty Harvard athletes went to Boston's Combat Zone to celebrate. In the city's adult entertainment district, drugs and prostitution ran rampant, violent crime was commonplace, and corrupt police turned the other way. At the end of the night, Italian American star athlete Andy Puopolo, raised in the city's North End, was murdered in a stabbing. Three African American men were accused of the crime. His murder made national news and led to the eventual demise of the city's red-light district.

Starting with this brutal murder, The Combat Zone tells the story of the Puopolo family's struggle with both a devastating loss and a criminal justice system that produced two trials with opposing verdicts, all within the context of a racially divided Boston. Brogan traces the contentious relationship between Boston’s segregated neighborhoods during the busing crisis; shines a light on a court system that allowed lawyers to strike potential jurors based purely on their racial or ethnic identity; and lays bare the deep-seated corruption within the police department and throughout the Combat Zone. What emerges is a fascinating snapshot of the city at a transitional moment in its recent past.
Product Details About the Author]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/49322793Tue, 05 Apr 2022 08:00:03 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubIn our final installment of Agatha Nominees interviews. Judy L. Murray who is nominated for Best First novel and Jan Brogan nominated for Best non-fiction. Judy L. Murray - Murder in the Master(Level Best Books). It isn't the first time real estate...
Judy L. Murray - Murder in the Master(Level Best Books). It isn't the first time real estate agent Helen Morrisey has found someone naked in bed while showing a house. But this one is different. One glance at the bluish cast around his lips and the vacant, staring eyes, and Helen knows developer Al Capelli is never going to sign another sales agreement.

His death is big news for a small Chesapeake water town where a family empire is built around secrets and their brash money style is resented by locals. Within days, his lover, her old friend, begs Helen to find the killer before she's arrested for murder. Helen quickly realizes that solving a murder mystery in real life is a lot more dangerous than reading one. She decides to create her own Detection Club of expert sleuths-Miss Marple, Jessica Fletcher, Nora Charles, Agatha Raisin, and, yes, Nancy Drew to help unearth the truth.

Detective Joe McAlister recognizes Helen's insight into back office real estate deals and local players. And for the first time since her husband's death, Helen meets a man who might return zingers as quick as she tosses them out. Mystery lovers hungry for a smart gutsy woman, a fast-moving plot, and an insider's look into a business everyone talks about, but few understand, will devour this first in a series.


Jan Brogan - The Combat Zone: Murder, Race, and Boston's Struggle for Justice (Bright Leaf Press). At the end of the 1976 football season, more than forty Harvard athletes went to Boston's Combat Zone to celebrate. In the city's adult entertainment district, drugs and prostitution ran rampant, violent crime was commonplace, and corrupt police turned the other way. At the end of the night, Italian American star athlete Andy Puopolo, raised in the city's North End, was murdered in a stabbing. Three African American men were accused of the crime. His murder made national news and led to the eventual demise of the city's red-light district.

Starting with this brutal murder, The Combat Zone tells the story of the Puopolo family's struggle with both a devastating loss and a criminal justice system that produced two trials with opposing verdicts, all within the context of a racially divided Boston. Brogan traces the contentious relationship between Boston’s segregated neighborhoods during the busing crisis; shines a light on a court system that allowed lawyers to strike potential jurors based purely on their racial or ethnic identity; and lays bare the deep-seated corruption within the police department and throughout the Combat Zone. What emerges is a fascinating snapshot of the city at a transitional moment in its recent past.
Product Details About the Author]]>1643agatha,amreading,bookclub,booklove,combatzone,murder,murderinthemaster,mustread,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/agatha-nominees-mally-becker-and-mia-p-manansala--49231761by Mally Becker
Published February 16th 2021 by Level Best Books

Set during the darkest days of the American Revolution, The Turncoat’s Widow tells the fictional story of General Washington’s most reluctant spy, a young widow who races times and traitors in New York City and Morristown circa 1780 to uncover a plot that threatens the new nation’s future. With elements of romance and suspense, this historical mystery also explores themes of resilience, loss, and the courage needed to leave the past behind.

Arsenic and Adobo
(Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mystery #1)
by Mia P. Manansala
Published May 4th 2021 by Berkley

The first book in a new culinary cozy series full of sharp humor and delectable dishes—one that might just be killer....

When Lila Macapagal moves back home to recover from a horrible breakup, her life seems to be following all the typical rom-com tropes. She's tasked with saving her Tita Rosie's failing restaurant, and she has to deal with a group of matchmaking aunties who shower her with love and judgment. But when a notoriously nasty food critic (who happens to be her ex-boyfriend) drops dead moments after a confrontation with Lila, her life quickly swerves from a Nora Ephron romp to an Agatha Christie case.

With the cops treating her like she's the one and only suspect, and the shady landlord looking to finally kick the Macapagal family out and resell the storefront, Lila's left with no choice but to conduct her own investigation. Armed with the nosy auntie network, her barista best bud, and her trusted Dachshund, Longanisa, Lila takes on this tasty, twisted case and soon finds her own neck on the chopping block…]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/49231761Tue, 29 Mar 2022 08:00:03 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubThe Turncoat's Widow (Revolutionary War Mysteries #1) by Mally Becker Published February 16th 2021 by Level Best Books Set during the darkest days of the American Revolution, The Turncoat’s Widow tells the fictional story of General Washington’s...by Mally Becker
Published February 16th 2021 by Level Best Books

Set during the darkest days of the American Revolution, The Turncoat’s Widow tells the fictional story of General Washington’s most reluctant spy, a young widow who races times and traitors in New York City and Morristown circa 1780 to uncover a plot that threatens the new nation’s future. With elements of romance and suspense, this historical mystery also explores themes of resilience, loss, and the courage needed to leave the past behind.

Arsenic and Adobo
(Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mystery #1)
by Mia P. Manansala
Published May 4th 2021 by Berkley

The first book in a new culinary cozy series full of sharp humor and delectable dishes—one that might just be killer....

When Lila Macapagal moves back home to recover from a horrible breakup, her life seems to be following all the typical rom-com tropes. She's tasked with saving her Tita Rosie's failing restaurant, and she has to deal with a group of matchmaking aunties who shower her with love and judgment. But when a notoriously nasty food critic (who happens to be her ex-boyfriend) drops dead moments after a confrontation with Lila, her life quickly swerves from a Nora Ephron romp to an Agatha Christie case.

With the cops treating her like she's the one and only suspect, and the shady landlord looking to finally kick the Macapagal family out and resell the storefront, Lila's left with no choice but to conduct her own investigation. Armed with the nosy auntie network, her barista best bud, and her trusted Dachshund, Longanisa, Lila takes on this tasty, twisted case and soon finds her own neck on the chopping block…]]>964amreading,bookclub,malicedomestic,murder,mustread,nominee,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/agatha-nominees-edwin-hill-lori-duffy-foster--49143870
Watch Her by Edwin Hill (Kensington)
Best Contemporary Fiction

Edwin Hill is the author of LITTLE COMFORT and THE MISSING ONES. He was born in Duxbury, Massachusetts, and spent most of his childhood obsessing over The Famous Five, Agatha Christie, and somehow finding a way into C.S. Lewis’s wardrobe. His parents were fond of taking his sister and him on month-long family camping trips across the U.S. and Canada, and one of his best memories is of finishing a copy of The Seven Dials Mystery while the rest of the family visited Mount Rushmore. Growing up when VHS tapes were new meant that watching Alien, Jaws, The Shining, or Halloween whenever he wanted seemed luxurious, and still does today. Like Hester Thursby, he watched these movies – and others like them – a lot. After attending Wesleyan University and graduating with a B.A. in American Studies, he headed west to San Francisco for the original dotcom boom. Later, he returned to Boston, earned an MFA from Emerson College, and switched gears to work in educational publishing, where he served as the vice president and editorial director for Bedford/St. Martin's, a division of Macmillan Learning, for many years before turning to writing full time. He lives in Roslindale, Massachusetts with his partner Michael and his favorite reviewer, their lab Edith Ann, who likes his first drafts enough to eat them.

A Dead Man's Eyes by Lori Duffy Foster (Level Best Books)
Best First Novel

Lori Duffy Foster is a former crime reporter who writes from the hills of Northern Pennsylvania, where she lives with her family. She was born and raised in the Adirondack Mountains of New York State, where part of her heart remains. Never Broken is book two in her Lisa Jamison mystery/suspense series.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/49143870Tue, 22 Mar 2022 08:00:03 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubIt is that time of year again where we interview some of the Agatha Award Nominees. Watch Her by Edwin Hill (Kensington) Best Contemporary Fiction Edwin Hill is the author of LITTLE COMFORT and THE MISSING ONES. He was born in Duxbury,...
Watch Her by Edwin Hill (Kensington)
Best Contemporary Fiction

Edwin Hill is the author of LITTLE COMFORT and THE MISSING ONES. He was born in Duxbury, Massachusetts, and spent most of his childhood obsessing over The Famous Five, Agatha Christie, and somehow finding a way into C.S. Lewis’s wardrobe. His parents were fond of taking his sister and him on month-long family camping trips across the U.S. and Canada, and one of his best memories is of finishing a copy of The Seven Dials Mystery while the rest of the family visited Mount Rushmore. Growing up when VHS tapes were new meant that watching Alien, Jaws, The Shining, or Halloween whenever he wanted seemed luxurious, and still does today. Like Hester Thursby, he watched these movies – and others like them – a lot. After attending Wesleyan University and graduating with a B.A. in American Studies, he headed west to San Francisco for the original dotcom boom. Later, he returned to Boston, earned an MFA from Emerson College, and switched gears to work in educational publishing, where he served as the vice president and editorial director for Bedford/St. Martin's, a division of Macmillan Learning, for many years before turning to writing full time. He lives in Roslindale, Massachusetts with his partner Michael and his favorite reviewer, their lab Edith Ann, who likes his first drafts enough to eat them.

A Dead Man's Eyes by Lori Duffy Foster (Level Best Books)
Best First Novel

Lori Duffy Foster is a former crime reporter who writes from the hills of Northern Pennsylvania, where she lives with her family. She was born and raised in the Adirondack Mountains of New York State, where part of her heart remains. Never Broken is book two in her Lisa Jamison mystery/suspense series.]]>1209agathaaward,amreading,bookclub,mustread,nominees,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/jacquelyn-mitchard-the-good-son--49063146by Jacquelyn Mitchard
Published January 18th 2022 by MIRA

What do you do when the person you love best becomes unrecognizable to you? For Thea Demetriou, the answer is both simple and agonizing: you keep loving him somehow.

Stefan was just seventeen when he went to prison for the drug-fueled murder of his girlfriend, Belinda. Three years later, he’s released to a world that refuses to let him move on. Belinda’s mother, once Thea’s good friend, galvanizes the community to rally against him to protest in her daughter’s memory. The media paints Stefan as a symbol of white privilege and indifferent justice. Neighbors, employers, even some members of Thea's own family turn away.

Meanwhile Thea struggles to understand her son. At times, he is still the sweet boy he has always been; at others, he is a young man tormented by guilt and almost broken by his time in prison. But as his efforts to make amends meet escalating resistance and threats, Thea suspects more forces are at play than just community outrage. And if there is so much she never knew about her own son, what other secrets has she yet to uncover—especially about the night Belinda died?



Jacquelyn Mitchard’s first novel, The Deep End of the Ocean, was named by USA Today as one of the ten most influential books of the past 25 years – second only to the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling (but second by a long shot, it must be said.)

The Deep End of the Ocean was chosen as the first novel in the book club made famous by the TV host Oprah Winfrey, and transformed into a feature film produced by and starring Michelle Pfeiffer.

All of Mitchard’s novels have been greater or lesser bestsellers – and include The Most Wanted, A Theory of Relativity, Twelve Times Blessed, The Breakdown Lane and Cage of Stars. Critics have praised them for their authentic humanity and skilful command of story. Readers identify because they see reflected, in her characters – however extreme their circumstances – emotions they already understand.

Mitchard’s first story of adventure and her eighth novel of realistic contemporary fiction is Still Summer (August, 2007). In the same month, the paperback version of her most critically acclaimed novel, Cage of Stars (August 2007), appears from Warner Books.

Mitchard also has embarked on four novels for young adults.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/49063146Tue, 15 Mar 2022 08:00:03 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubThe Good Son by Jacquelyn Mitchard Published January 18th 2022 by MIRA What do you do when the person you love best becomes unrecognizable to you? For Thea Demetriou, the answer is both simple and agonizing: you keep loving him somehow....by Jacquelyn Mitchard
Published January 18th 2022 by MIRA

What do you do when the person you love best becomes unrecognizable to you? For Thea Demetriou, the answer is both simple and agonizing: you keep loving him somehow.

Stefan was just seventeen when he went to prison for the drug-fueled murder of his girlfriend, Belinda. Three years later, he’s released to a world that refuses to let him move on. Belinda’s mother, once Thea’s good friend, galvanizes the community to rally against him to protest in her daughter’s memory. The media paints Stefan as a symbol of white privilege and indifferent justice. Neighbors, employers, even some members of Thea's own family turn away.

Meanwhile Thea struggles to understand her son. At times, he is still the sweet boy he has always been; at others, he is a young man tormented by guilt and almost broken by his time in prison. But as his efforts to make amends meet escalating resistance and threats, Thea suspects more forces are at play than just community outrage. And if there is so much she never knew about her own son, what other secrets has she yet to uncover—especially about the night Belinda died?



Jacquelyn Mitchard’s first novel, The Deep End of the Ocean, was named by USA Today as one of the ten most influential books of the past 25 years – second only to the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling (but second by a long shot, it must be said.)

The Deep End of the Ocean was chosen as the first novel in the book club made famous by the TV host Oprah Winfrey, and transformed into a feature film produced by and starring Michelle Pfeiffer.

All of Mitchard’s novels have been greater or lesser bestsellers – and include The Most Wanted, A Theory of Relativity, Twelve Times Blessed, The Breakdown Lane and Cage of Stars. Critics have praised them for their authentic humanity and skilful command of story. Readers identify because they see reflected, in her characters – however extreme their circumstances – emotions they already understand.

Mitchard’s first story of adventure and her eighth novel of realistic contemporary fiction is Still Summer (August, 2007). In the same month, the paperback version of her most critically acclaimed novel, Cage of Stars (August 2007), appears from Warner Books.

Mitchard also has embarked on four novels for young adults.]]>1163amreading,bookclub,murder,mustread,mysterybook,podcast,revenge,thegoodsonfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/what-we-are-reading-march-strong-women--48986244
Her Perfect Family
by Teresa Driscoll
Published November 1st 2021 by Thomas & Mercer

A gripping psychological thriller from the bestselling author of I Am Watching You. The perfect family? Or the perfect lie?

It’s their daughter’s graduation and Rachel and Ed Hartley are expecting it to be one of their family’s happiest days. But when she stumbles and falls on stage during the ceremony, a beautiful moment turns to chaos: Gemma has been shot, and just like that, she’s fighting for her life.

PI Matthew Hill is one of the first on the scene. A cryptic message Gemma received earlier in the day suggests someone close to her was about to be exposed. But who? As Matthew starts to investigate, he finds more and more layers obscuring the truth. He even begins to suspect the Hartleys are hiding something big—from him and from each other.

While Gemma lies in hospital in a coma, her would-be killer is still out there. Can Matthew unravel the family’s secrets before the attacker strikes again?

Murder at the Royal Botanic Gardens(Wrexford & Sloane #5)
by Andrea Penrose
Published September 28th 2021 by Kensington Publishing Corporation

The upcoming marriage of the Earl of Wrexford and Lady Charlotte Sloane promises to be a highlight of the season, if they can first untangle--and survive--a web of intrigue and murder involving the most brilliant scientific minds in Regency London...


One advantage of being caught up in a whirl of dress fittings and decisions about flower arrangements and breakfast menus is that Charlotte Sloane has little time for any pre-wedding qualms. Her love for Wrexford isn't in question. But will being a wife--and a Countess--make it difficult for her to maintain her independence--not to mention, her secret identity as famed satirical artist A.J. Quill?

Despite those concerns, there are soon even more urgent matters to attend to during Charlotte and Wrexford's first public outing as an engaged couple. At a symposium at the Royal Botanic Gardens, a visiting botanist suffers a fatal collapse. The traces of white powder near his mouth reveal the dark truth--he was murdered. Drawn into the investigation, Charlotte and the Earl learn of the victim's involvement in a momentous medical discovery. With fame and immense fortune at stake, there's no shortage of suspects, including some whose ruthlessness is already known. But neither Charlotte nor her husband-to-be can realize how close the danger is about to get--or to what lengths this villain is prepared to go...

No One Notices the Boys
by Michelle Birkby
Published November 7th 2020 by Felony & Mayhem

Patients are dying in the hospital ward. Surely this isn't news. But to Mrs. Hudson, ill and dizzy from medication, the deaths--one patient, then another, and all of them women!--seem sinisterly connected. Even if she's the only person who sees the connection. Mary Watson knows just how she feels, though her focus is less on sick women than on missing boys--the skinny, grubby, poor ones that nobody wanted in the first place. Sherlock Holmes isn't interested in either issue; he and Dr. Watson have more important puzzles to solve. So once again, it is left to Mary and Mrs. Hudson to help the truly vulnerable, to draw lines between the dying women and the disappearing boys, and to follow those lines to their grim conclusion.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/48986244Tue, 08 Mar 2022 09:00:03 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubWe hgglight books that feature strong woman for Womans History month. Her Perfect Family by Teresa Driscoll Published November 1st 2021 by Thomas & Mercer A gripping psychological thriller from the bestselling author of I Am Watching You....
Her Perfect Family
by Teresa Driscoll
Published November 1st 2021 by Thomas & Mercer

A gripping psychological thriller from the bestselling author of I Am Watching You. The perfect family? Or the perfect lie?

It’s their daughter’s graduation and Rachel and Ed Hartley are expecting it to be one of their family’s happiest days. But when she stumbles and falls on stage during the ceremony, a beautiful moment turns to chaos: Gemma has been shot, and just like that, she’s fighting for her life.

PI Matthew Hill is one of the first on the scene. A cryptic message Gemma received earlier in the day suggests someone close to her was about to be exposed. But who? As Matthew starts to investigate, he finds more and more layers obscuring the truth. He even begins to suspect the Hartleys are hiding something big—from him and from each other.

While Gemma lies in hospital in a coma, her would-be killer is still out there. Can Matthew unravel the family’s secrets before the attacker strikes again?

Murder at the Royal Botanic Gardens(Wrexford & Sloane #5)
by Andrea Penrose
Published September 28th 2021 by Kensington Publishing Corporation

The upcoming marriage of the Earl of Wrexford and Lady Charlotte Sloane promises to be a highlight of the season, if they can first untangle--and survive--a web of intrigue and murder involving the most brilliant scientific minds in Regency London...


One advantage of being caught up in a whirl of dress fittings and decisions about flower arrangements and breakfast menus is that Charlotte Sloane has little time for any pre-wedding qualms. Her love for Wrexford isn't in question. But will being a wife--and a Countess--make it difficult for her to maintain her independence--not to mention, her secret identity as famed satirical artist A.J. Quill?

Despite those concerns, there are soon even more urgent matters to attend to during Charlotte and Wrexford's first public outing as an engaged couple. At a symposium at the Royal Botanic Gardens, a visiting botanist suffers a fatal collapse. The traces of white powder near his mouth reveal the dark truth--he was murdered. Drawn into the investigation, Charlotte and the Earl learn of the victim's involvement in a momentous medical discovery. With fame and immense fortune at stake, there's no shortage of suspects, including some whose ruthlessness is already known. But neither Charlotte nor her husband-to-be can realize how close the danger is about to get--or to what lengths this villain is prepared to go...

No One Notices the Boys
by Michelle Birkby
Published November 7th 2020 by Felony & Mayhem

Patients are dying in the hospital ward. Surely this isn't news. But to Mrs. Hudson, ill and dizzy from medication, the deaths--one patient, then another, and all of them women!--seem sinisterly connected. Even if she's the only person who sees the connection. Mary Watson knows just how she feels, though her focus is less on sick women than on missing boys--the skinny, grubby, poor ones that nobody wanted in the first place. Sherlock Holmes isn't interested in either issue; he and Dr. Watson have more important puzzles to solve. So once again, it is left to Mary and Mrs. Hudson to help the truly vulnerable, to draw lines between the dying women and the disappearing boys, and to follow those lines to their grim conclusion.]]>1185amreading,bookclub,murder,podcast,womanshistoryfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/meredith-jaeger-the-pilot-s-daughter--48902922by Meredith Jaeger
Published November 2nd 2021 by Dutton Books

The glitzy days of 1920s New York meet the devastation of those left behind in World War II in a new, delectable historical novel from USA Today bestselling author Meredith Jaeger.

In the final months of World War II, San Francisco newspaper secretary Ellie Morgan should be planning her wedding and subsequent exit from the newsroom into domestic life. Instead, Ellie, who harbors dreams of having her own column, is using all the skills she's learned as a would-be reporter to try to uncover any scrap of evidence that her missing pilot father is still alive. But when she discovers a stack of love letters from a woman who is not her mother in his possessions, her already fragile world goes into a tailspin, and she vows to find out the truth about the father she loves--and the woman who loved him back.

When Ellie arrives on her aunt Iris's doorstep, clutching a stack of letters and uttering a name Iris hasn't heard in decades, Iris is terrified. She's hidden her past as a Ziegfeld Follies showgirl from her family, and her experiences in New York City in the 1920s could reveal much more than the origin of her brother-in-law's alleged affair. Iris's heady days in the spotlight weren't enough to outshine the darker underbelly of Jazz Age New York, and she's spent the past twenty years believing that her actions in those days led to murder.

Together the two women embark on a cross-country mission to find the truth in the City That Never Sleeps, a journey that just might shatter everything they thought they knew--not only about the past but about their own futures.

Inspired by a true Jazz Age murder cold case that captivated the nation, and the fact that more than 72,000 Americans still remain unaccounted for from World War II, The Pilot's Daughter is a page-turning exploration of the stories we tell ourselves and of how well we can truly know those we love.


Meredith Jaeger is the USA Today bestselling author of THE PILOT'S DAUGHTER, BOARDWALK SUMMER and THE DRESSMAKER'S DOWRY. She's a native of the San Francisco Bay Area, where she was raised by a Swiss father and an American mother. A graduate of the University of California, Santa Cruz, Meredith wrote her debut novel, THE DRESSMAKER'S DOWRY, while working for a San Francisco startup.

THE PILOT'S DAUGHTER has been called "unputdownable" (NYT bestselling author Sally Hepworth) "stirring and powerful" (NYT bestselling author Fiona Davis) and "historical fiction at its finest" (NYT bestselling author Lori Nelson Spielman).

Meredith lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband, daughter and crazy rescue dog. Follow her on Instagram @meredithjaegerauthor]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/48902922Tue, 01 Mar 2022 09:32:51 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubThe Pilot's Daughter by Meredith Jaeger Published November 2nd 2021 by Dutton Books The glitzy days of 1920s New York meet the devastation of those left behind in World War II in a new, delectable historical novel from USA Today bestselling...by Meredith Jaeger
Published November 2nd 2021 by Dutton Books

The glitzy days of 1920s New York meet the devastation of those left behind in World War II in a new, delectable historical novel from USA Today bestselling author Meredith Jaeger.

In the final months of World War II, San Francisco newspaper secretary Ellie Morgan should be planning her wedding and subsequent exit from the newsroom into domestic life. Instead, Ellie, who harbors dreams of having her own column, is using all the skills she's learned as a would-be reporter to try to uncover any scrap of evidence that her missing pilot father is still alive. But when she discovers a stack of love letters from a woman who is not her mother in his possessions, her already fragile world goes into a tailspin, and she vows to find out the truth about the father she loves--and the woman who loved him back.

When Ellie arrives on her aunt Iris's doorstep, clutching a stack of letters and uttering a name Iris hasn't heard in decades, Iris is terrified. She's hidden her past as a Ziegfeld Follies showgirl from her family, and her experiences in New York City in the 1920s could reveal much more than the origin of her brother-in-law's alleged affair. Iris's heady days in the spotlight weren't enough to outshine the darker underbelly of Jazz Age New York, and she's spent the past twenty years believing that her actions in those days led to murder.

Together the two women embark on a cross-country mission to find the truth in the City That Never Sleeps, a journey that just might shatter everything they thought they knew--not only about the past but about their own futures.

Inspired by a true Jazz Age murder cold case that captivated the nation, and the fact that more than 72,000 Americans still remain unaccounted for from World War II, The Pilot's Daughter is a page-turning exploration of the stories we tell ourselves and of how well we can truly know those we love.


Meredith Jaeger is the USA Today bestselling author of THE PILOT'S DAUGHTER, BOARDWALK SUMMER and THE DRESSMAKER'S DOWRY. She's a native of the San Francisco Bay Area, where she was raised by a Swiss father and an American mother. A graduate of the University of California, Santa Cruz, Meredith wrote her debut novel, THE DRESSMAKER'S DOWRY, while working for a San Francisco startup.

THE PILOT'S DAUGHTER has been called "unputdownable" (NYT bestselling author Sally Hepworth) "stirring and powerful" (NYT bestselling author Fiona Davis) and "historical fiction at its finest" (NYT bestselling author Lori Nelson Spielman).

Meredith lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband, daughter and crazy rescue dog. Follow her on Instagram @meredithjaegerauthor]]>1064amreaing,bookclub,murder,mustread,mystery,pilotsdaughter,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/honoring-black-woman-mystery-writers--48823901

Body and Soul Food (Books & Biscuits Mystery #1)
by Abby Collette
Published November 9th 2021 by Berkley Books

When Koby Hill and Keaton Rutledge were orphaned at age two, they were separated, but their unbreakable connection lingered. Year later, they reunite and decide to make up for lost time and capitalize on their shared interests by opening up a well-stocked bookstore and cozy soul-food café in the quaint Pacific Northwest town of Timber Lake. But this new chapter of their lives could end on a cliffhanger after Koby's foster brother is found murdered.

The murder, which occurred in public between light-rail stops, seems impossible for the police to solve. But as Keaton and Koby know, two heads are always better than one, especially when it comes to mysteries. With just a week to go before the grand opening of their new café, the twins will use their revitalized connection with each other to make sure this is the killer's final page.


All That Is Secret(An Annalee Spain Mystery #1)
by Patricia Raybon
Published October 5th 2021 by Tyndale House Publishers

From award-winning author Patricia Raybon comes a compelling new historical mystery series, a riveting puzzle confronting the hidden secrets of class, race, family, and love.

Can an amateur detective solve the cold case mystery of her lost father's murder?

In the winter of 1923, Professor Annalee Spain--a daring but overworked theologian at a small Chicago Bible college--receives a cryptic telegram calling her home to Denver to solve the mystery of the murder of her beloved but estranged father.

For a young Black woman, searching for answers in a city ruled by the KKK could mean real danger. Still, with her literary hero Sherlock Holmes as inspiration, Annalee launches her hunt for clues, attracting two surprising allies: Eddie, a relentless young white boy searching for his missing father, and Jack, a handsome Black pastor who loves nightclub dancing and rides in his sporty car, awakening Annalee's heart to the surprising highs and lows of romantic love.

With their help, Annalee follows clues that land her among Denver's powerful elite. But when their sleuthing unravels sinister motives and deep secrets, Annalee confronts the
dangerous truths and beliefs that could make her a victim too.


Saving Ruby King
by Catherine Adel West
Published June 16th 2020 by Park Row

Set in the South Side of Chicago, an epic, enthralling story of a young woman determined to protect her best friend while a long-buried secret threatens to unravel both their families.

Family. Faith. Secrets. Everything in this world comes full circle.

When Ruby King’s mother is found murdered in their home in Chicago’s South Side, the police dismiss it as another act of violence in a black neighborhood. But for Ruby, it means she’ll be living alone with her violent father. The only person who understands the gravity of her situation is Ruby’s best friend, Layla. Their closeness is tested when Layla’s father, the pastor of their church, demands that Layla stay away. But what are his true motives? And what is the price for turning a blind eye?

In a relentless quest to save Ruby, Layla comes to discover the murky loyalties and dark secrets tying their families together for three generations. A crucial pilgrimage through the racially divided landscape of Chicago, Saving Ruby King traces the way trauma is passed down through generations and the ways in which communities can come together to create sanctuary.

Saving Ruby King is an emotional and revelatory story of race, family secrets, faith and redemption. This is an unforgettable debut novel from an exciting new voice in fiction and a powerful testament that history doesn’t determine the present, and that the bonds of friendship can forever shape the future.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/48823901Tue, 22 Feb 2022 10:04:09 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubIn honor of Black History Month we feature three books by black woman mystery authors Body and Soul Food (Books & Biscuits Mystery #1) by Abby Collette Published November 9th 2021 by Berkley Books When Koby Hill and Keaton Rutledge were...

Body and Soul Food (Books & Biscuits Mystery #1)
by Abby Collette
Published November 9th 2021 by Berkley Books

When Koby Hill and Keaton Rutledge were orphaned at age two, they were separated, but their unbreakable connection lingered. Year later, they reunite and decide to make up for lost time and capitalize on their shared interests by opening up a well-stocked bookstore and cozy soul-food café in the quaint Pacific Northwest town of Timber Lake. But this new chapter of their lives could end on a cliffhanger after Koby's foster brother is found murdered.

The murder, which occurred in public between light-rail stops, seems impossible for the police to solve. But as Keaton and Koby know, two heads are always better than one, especially when it comes to mysteries. With just a week to go before the grand opening of their new café, the twins will use their revitalized connection with each other to make sure this is the killer's final page.


All That Is Secret(An Annalee Spain Mystery #1)
by Patricia Raybon
Published October 5th 2021 by Tyndale House Publishers

From award-winning author Patricia Raybon comes a compelling new historical mystery series, a riveting puzzle confronting the hidden secrets of class, race, family, and love.

Can an amateur detective solve the cold case mystery of her lost father's murder?

In the winter of 1923, Professor Annalee Spain--a daring but overworked theologian at a small Chicago Bible college--receives a cryptic telegram calling her home to Denver to solve the mystery of the murder of her beloved but estranged father.

For a young Black woman, searching for answers in a city ruled by the KKK could mean real danger. Still, with her literary hero Sherlock Holmes as inspiration, Annalee launches her hunt for clues, attracting two surprising allies: Eddie, a relentless young white boy searching for his missing father, and Jack, a handsome Black pastor who loves nightclub dancing and rides in his sporty car, awakening Annalee's heart to the surprising highs and lows of romantic love.

With their help, Annalee follows clues that land her among Denver's powerful elite. But when their sleuthing unravels sinister motives and deep secrets, Annalee confronts the
dangerous truths and beliefs that could make her a victim too.


Saving Ruby King
by Catherine Adel West
Published June 16th 2020 by Park Row

Set in the South Side of Chicago, an epic, enthralling story of a young woman determined to protect her best friend while a long-buried secret threatens to unravel both their families.

Family. Faith. Secrets. Everything in this world comes full circle.

When Ruby King’s mother is found murdered in their home in Chicago’s South Side, the police dismiss it as another act of violence in a black neighborhood. But for Ruby, it means she’ll be living alone with her violent father. The only person who understands the gravity of her situation is Ruby’s best friend, Layla. Their closeness is tested when Layla’s father, the pastor of their church, demands that Layla stay away. But what are his true motives? And what is the price for turning a blind eye?

In a relentless quest to save Ruby, Layla comes to discover the murky loyalties and dark secrets tying their families together for three generations. A crucial pilgrimage through the racially divided landscape of Chicago, Saving Ruby King traces the way trauma is passed down through generations and the ways in which communities can come together to create sanctuary.

Saving Ruby King is an emotional and revelatory story of race, family secrets, faith and redemption. This is an unforgettable debut novel from an exciting new voice in fiction and a powerful testament that...]]>1388amreading,blackauthors,blackhistorymonth,bookclub,booklove,mustread,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/colleen-cambridge-murder-at-mallowan-hall--48733800(Phyllida Bright Mystery #1)
by Colleen Cambridge

Colleen Cambridge's charming and inventive new historical series introduces an unforgettable heroine in Phyllida Bright, fictional housekeeper for none other than famed mystery novelist Agatha Christie. When a dead body is found during a house party at the home of Agatha Christie and her husband Max Mallowan, it's up to famous author's head of household, Phyllida Bright, to investigate...

Tucked away among Devon's rolling green hills, Mallowan Hall combines the best of English tradition with the modern conveniences of 1930. Housekeeper Phyllida Bright, as efficient as she is personable, manages the large household with an iron fist in her very elegant glove. In one respect, however, Mallowan Hall stands far apart from other picturesque country houses...

The manor is home to archaeologist Max Mallowan and his famous wife, Agatha Christie. Phyllida is both loyal to and protective of the crime writer, who is as much friend as employer. An aficionado of detective fiction, Phyllida has yet to find a gentleman in real life half as fascinating as Mrs. Agatha's Belgian hero, Hercule Poirot. But though accustomed to murder and its methods as frequent topics of conversation, Phyllida is unprepared for the sight of a very real, very dead body on the library floor...

A former Army nurse, Phyllida reacts with practical common sense--and a great deal of curiosity. It soon becomes clear that the victim arrived at Mallowan Hall under false pretenses during a weekend party. Now, Phyllida not only has a houseful of demanding guests on her hands--along with a distracted, anxious staff--but hordes of reporters camping outside. When another dead body is discovered--this time, one of her housemaids--Phyllida decides to follow in M. Poirot's footsteps to determine which of the Mallowans' guests is the killer. With help from the village's handsome physician, Dr. Bhatt, Mr. Dobble, the butler, along with other household staff, Phyllida assembles the clues. Yet, she is all too aware that the killer must still be close at hand and poised to strike again. And only Phyllida's wits will prevent her own story from coming to an abrupt end...

Colleen Cambridge is the pen name of an award-winning USA Today and New York Times bestselling author.

Under several pseudonyms, she has written more than 36 books in a variety of genres and is always plotting her next murder—er, book.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/48733800Tue, 15 Feb 2022 09:00:03 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubMurder at Mallowan Hall (Phyllida Bright Mystery #1) by Colleen Cambridge Colleen Cambridge's charming and inventive new historical series introduces an unforgettable heroine in Phyllida Bright, fictional housekeeper for none other than famed...(Phyllida Bright Mystery #1)
by Colleen Cambridge

Colleen Cambridge's charming and inventive new historical series introduces an unforgettable heroine in Phyllida Bright, fictional housekeeper for none other than famed mystery novelist Agatha Christie. When a dead body is found during a house party at the home of Agatha Christie and her husband Max Mallowan, it's up to famous author's head of household, Phyllida Bright, to investigate...

Tucked away among Devon's rolling green hills, Mallowan Hall combines the best of English tradition with the modern conveniences of 1930. Housekeeper Phyllida Bright, as efficient as she is personable, manages the large household with an iron fist in her very elegant glove. In one respect, however, Mallowan Hall stands far apart from other picturesque country houses...

The manor is home to archaeologist Max Mallowan and his famous wife, Agatha Christie. Phyllida is both loyal to and protective of the crime writer, who is as much friend as employer. An aficionado of detective fiction, Phyllida has yet to find a gentleman in real life half as fascinating as Mrs. Agatha's Belgian hero, Hercule Poirot. But though accustomed to murder and its methods as frequent topics of conversation, Phyllida is unprepared for the sight of a very real, very dead body on the library floor...

A former Army nurse, Phyllida reacts with practical common sense--and a great deal of curiosity. It soon becomes clear that the victim arrived at Mallowan Hall under false pretenses during a weekend party. Now, Phyllida not only has a houseful of demanding guests on her hands--along with a distracted, anxious staff--but hordes of reporters camping outside. When another dead body is discovered--this time, one of her housemaids--Phyllida decides to follow in M. Poirot's footsteps to determine which of the Mallowans' guests is the killer. With help from the village's handsome physician, Dr. Bhatt, Mr. Dobble, the butler, along with other household staff, Phyllida assembles the clues. Yet, she is all too aware that the killer must still be close at hand and poised to strike again. And only Phyllida's wits will prevent her own story from coming to an abrupt end...

Colleen Cambridge is the pen name of an award-winning USA Today and New York Times bestselling author.

Under several pseudonyms, she has written more than 36 books in a variety of genres and is always plotting her next murder—er, book.]]>1096agatha,amreading,bookclub,historicalmystery,murder,mustread,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/what-we-are-reading-february-2022--48635518
The Pickwick Murders (A Dickens of a Crime #4)
by Heather Redmond
Published October 26th 2021 by Kensington Publishing Corporation
In a reimagining of Charles Dickens' classic The Pickwick Papers, Heather Redmond's fourth Victorian-era mystery in the Dickens of a Crime series finds a young Charles tossed into Newgate Prison for a murder he didn't commit, and his fiance Kate Hogarth striving to clear his name...


London, January 1836: Just weeks before the release of his first book, Charles is intrigued by an invitation to join the exclusive Lightning Club. But his initiation in a basement maze takes a wicked turn when he stumbles upon the corpse of Samuel Pickwick, the club's president. With the victim's blood literally on his hands, Charles is locked away in notorious Newgate Prison.

Now it's up to Kate to keep her framed fianc� from the hangman's noose. To solve this labyrinthine mystery, she is forced to puzzle her way through a fiendish series of baffling riddles sent to her in anonymous poison pen letters. With the help of family and friends, she must keep her wits about her to corner the real killer--before time runs out and Charles Dickens meets a dead end...

The Wife Upstairs
by Freida McFadden
Published March 23rd 2020 by Hollywood Upstairs Press
Victoria Barnett has it all.

A great career. A handsome and loving husband. A beautiful home in the suburbs and a plan to fill it with children. Life is perfect—or so it seems.

Then she’s in a terrible accident… and everything falls apart.

Now Victoria is unable to walk. She can’t feed or dress herself. She can’t even speak. She is confined to the top floor of her house with twenty-four-hour care.

Sylvia Robinson is hired by Victoria’s husband to help care for her. But it turns out Victoria isn’t as impaired as Sylvia was led to believe. There’s a story Victoria desperately wants to tell... if only she could get out the words.

Then Sylvia discovers Victoria’s diary hidden away in a drawer.

And what’s inside is shocking.


The Mystery of the Sorrowful Maiden (A Laetitia Rodd Mystery #3)
by Kate Saunders
Published December 7th 2021 by Bloomsbury Publishing
From internationally bestselling author Kate Saunders, a delightful new cozy mystery that finds detective Laetitia Rodd entangled in the shocking world of the Victorian theater.



In the spring of 1853, private detective Laetitia Rodd receives a delicate request from a retired actor, whose days on the stage were ended by a theater fire ten years before. His great friend, and the man he rescued from the fire, Thomas Transome, has decided to leave his wife, who now needs assistance in securing a worthy settlement. Though Mrs. Rodd is reluctant to get involved with the scandalous world of the theater, she cannot turn away the woman in need. She agrees to take the case.

But what starts out as a simple matter of negotiation becomes complicated when a body is discovered in the burnt husk of the old theater. Soon Mrs. Rodd finds herself embroiled in family politics, rivalries that put the Capulets and Montagues to shame, and betrayals on a Shakespearean scale. Mrs. Rodd will need all her investigatory powers, not to mention her famous discretion, to solve the case before tragedy strikes once more.

For readers of the Grantchester Mysteries, The Mystery of the Sorrowful Maiden is the charming third mystery in Kate Saunder's series about Laetitia Rodd, the indomitable lady detective.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/48635518Tue, 08 Feb 2022 09:00:02 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubFor February we chose three books featuring woman The Pickwick Murders (A Dickens of a Crime #4) by Heather Redmond Published October 26th 2021 by Kensington Publishing Corporation In a reimagining of Charles Dickens' classic The Pickwick...
The Pickwick Murders (A Dickens of a Crime #4)
by Heather Redmond
Published October 26th 2021 by Kensington Publishing Corporation
In a reimagining of Charles Dickens' classic The Pickwick Papers, Heather Redmond's fourth Victorian-era mystery in the Dickens of a Crime series finds a young Charles tossed into Newgate Prison for a murder he didn't commit, and his fiance Kate Hogarth striving to clear his name...


London, January 1836: Just weeks before the release of his first book, Charles is intrigued by an invitation to join the exclusive Lightning Club. But his initiation in a basement maze takes a wicked turn when he stumbles upon the corpse of Samuel Pickwick, the club's president. With the victim's blood literally on his hands, Charles is locked away in notorious Newgate Prison.

Now it's up to Kate to keep her framed fianc� from the hangman's noose. To solve this labyrinthine mystery, she is forced to puzzle her way through a fiendish series of baffling riddles sent to her in anonymous poison pen letters. With the help of family and friends, she must keep her wits about her to corner the real killer--before time runs out and Charles Dickens meets a dead end...

The Wife Upstairs
by Freida McFadden
Published March 23rd 2020 by Hollywood Upstairs Press
Victoria Barnett has it all.

A great career. A handsome and loving husband. A beautiful home in the suburbs and a plan to fill it with children. Life is perfect—or so it seems.

Then she’s in a terrible accident… and everything falls apart.

Now Victoria is unable to walk. She can’t feed or dress herself. She can’t even speak. She is confined to the top floor of her house with twenty-four-hour care.

Sylvia Robinson is hired by Victoria’s husband to help care for her. But it turns out Victoria isn’t as impaired as Sylvia was led to believe. There’s a story Victoria desperately wants to tell... if only she could get out the words.

Then Sylvia discovers Victoria’s diary hidden away in a drawer.

And what’s inside is shocking.


The Mystery of the Sorrowful Maiden (A Laetitia Rodd Mystery #3)
by Kate Saunders
Published December 7th 2021 by Bloomsbury Publishing
From internationally bestselling author Kate Saunders, a delightful new cozy mystery that finds detective Laetitia Rodd entangled in the shocking world of the Victorian theater.



In the spring of 1853, private detective Laetitia Rodd receives a delicate request from a retired actor, whose days on the stage were ended by a theater fire ten years before. His great friend, and the man he rescued from the fire, Thomas Transome, has decided to leave his wife, who now needs assistance in securing a worthy settlement. Though Mrs. Rodd is reluctant to get involved with the scandalous world of the theater, she cannot turn away the woman in need. She agrees to take the case.

But what starts out as a simple matter of negotiation becomes complicated when a body is discovered in the burnt husk of the old theater. Soon Mrs. Rodd finds herself embroiled in family politics, rivalries that put the Capulets and Montagues to shame, and betrayals on a Shakespearean scale. Mrs. Rodd will need all her investigatory powers, not to mention her famous discretion, to solve the case before tragedy strikes once more.

For readers of the Grantchester Mysteries, The Mystery of the Sorrowful Maiden is the charming third mystery in Kate Saunder's series about Laetitia Rodd, the indomitable lady detective.]]>1314amreading,bookclub,booklove,murder,podcast,whatwearereadingfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/our-200th-episode--48531589https://api.spreaker.com/episode/48531589Tue, 01 Feb 2022 10:30:02 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubThe 200th episode of Dark and Stormy Book club features snippets from some of our favorite interviews from the past.1315200thepisode,darkandstormy,interviews,mystery,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/spooky-baltimore-green-mount-cemetery--48430832
The cemetery was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. Guided tours are available at various times of the year.

A Baltimore City Landmark plaque at the entrance reads:

Green Mount Cemetery was dedicated in 1839 on the site of the former country estate of Robert Oliver. This was at the beginning of the "rural cemetery movement"; Green Mount was Baltimore's first such rural cemetery and one of the first in the U.S. The movement began both as a response to the health hazard posed by overcrowded church graveyards, and as part of the larger Romantic movement of the mid-1800s, which glorified nature and appealed to emotions.

Green Mount reflects the romanticism of its age, not only by its very existence, but also by its buildings and sculpture. The gateway, designed by Robert Cary Long, Jr., and the hilltop chapel, designed by J. Rudolph Niernsee and J. Crawford Neilson, are Gothic Revival, a romantic style recalling medieval buildings remote in time.

Nearly 65,000 people are buried here, including the poet Sydney Lanier, philanthropists Johns Hopkins and Enoch Pratt, Napoleon Bonaparte's sister-in-law Betsy Patterson, John Wilkes Booth, and numerous military, political and business leaders.

In addition to John Wilkes Booth, two other conspirators in the assassination of Abraham Lincoln are buried here, Samuel Arnold and Michael O'Laughlen. It is common for visitors to the cemetery to leave pennies on the graves of the three men; the one-cent coin features the likeness of the president they successfully sought to murder.[2]

The abdicated King Edward VIII and his wife, the Duchess of Windsor, had planned for a burial in a purchased plot in Rose Circle at Green Mount Cemetery, near where the father of the Duchess was interred. However, in 1965 an agreement with Queen Elizabeth II allowed for the king and duchess to be buried near other members of the royal family in the Royal Burial Ground near Windsor Castle]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/48430832Tue, 25 Jan 2022 09:00:02 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubGreen Mount Cemetery is a historic rural cemetery in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. Established on March 15, 1838, and dedicated on July 13, 1839, it is noted for the large number of historical figures interred in its grounds as well as many...
The cemetery was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. Guided tours are available at various times of the year.

A Baltimore City Landmark plaque at the entrance reads:

Green Mount Cemetery was dedicated in 1839 on the site of the former country estate of Robert Oliver. This was at the beginning of the "rural cemetery movement"; Green Mount was Baltimore's first such rural cemetery and one of the first in the U.S. The movement began both as a response to the health hazard posed by overcrowded church graveyards, and as part of the larger Romantic movement of the mid-1800s, which glorified nature and appealed to emotions.

Green Mount reflects the romanticism of its age, not only by its very existence, but also by its buildings and sculpture. The gateway, designed by Robert Cary Long, Jr., and the hilltop chapel, designed by J. Rudolph Niernsee and J. Crawford Neilson, are Gothic Revival, a romantic style recalling medieval buildings remote in time.

Nearly 65,000 people are buried here, including the poet Sydney Lanier, philanthropists Johns Hopkins and Enoch Pratt, Napoleon Bonaparte's sister-in-law Betsy Patterson, John Wilkes Booth, and numerous military, political and business leaders.

In addition to John Wilkes Booth, two other conspirators in the assassination of Abraham Lincoln are buried here, Samuel Arnold and Michael O'Laughlen. It is common for visitors to the cemetery to leave pennies on the graves of the three men; the one-cent coin features the likeness of the president they successfully sought to murder.[2]

The abdicated King Edward VIII and his wife, the Duchess of Windsor, had planned for a burial in a purchased plot in Rose Circle at Green Mount Cemetery, near where the father of the Duchess was interred. However, in 1965 an agreement with Queen Elizabeth II allowed for the king and duchess to be buried near other members of the royal family in the Royal Burial Ground near Windsor Castle]]>735amreading,bookclub,ghosts,mustread,podcast,spooky,spookybaltimorefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/what-we-are-reading-january-2022--48340760Three books to start the year off right.

For Your Own Good
by Samantha Downing
Published July 20th 2021 by Berkley
Teddy Crutcher has won Teacher of the Year at the esteemed Belmont Academy, home to the best and brightest.

He says his wife couldn't be more proud—though no one has seen her in a while.

Teddy really can’t be bothered with the death of a school parent that’s looking more and more like murder or the student digging a little too deep into Teddy’s personal life. His main focus is on pushing these kids to their full academic potential.

All he wants is for his colleagues—and the endlessly meddlesome parents—to stay out of his way.

It's really too bad that sometimes excellence can come at such a high cost.

USA Today bestselling author Samantha Downing is back with her latest sneaky thriller set at a prestigious private school—complete with interfering parents, overeager students, and one teacher who just wants to teach them all a lesson…


A Good Day for Chardonnay (Sunshine Vicram #2)
by Darynda Jones
Published July 27th 2021 by St. Martin's Press
Running a small-town police force in the mountains of New Mexico should be a smooth, carefree kind of job. Sadly, full-time Sheriff--and even fuller-time coffee guzzler--Sunshine Vicram, didn't get that memo.

All Sunshine really wants is one easy-going day. You know, the kind that starts with coffee and a donut (or three) and ends with take-out pizza and a glass of chardonnay (or seven). Turns out, that's about as easy as switching to decaf. (What kind of people do that? And who hurt them?)

Before she can say iced mocha latte, Sunny's got a bar fight gone bad, a teenage daughter hunting a serial killer and, oh yes, the still unresolved mystery of her own abduction years prior. All evidence points to a local distiller, a dangerous bad boy named Levi Ravinder, but Sun knows he's not the villain of her story. Still, perhaps beneath it all, he possesses the keys to her disappearance. At the very least, beneath it all, he possesses a serious set of abs. She's seen it. Once. Accidentally.

Between policing a town her hunky chief deputy calls four cents short of a nickel, that pesky crush she has on Levi which seems to grow exponentially every day, and an irascible raccoon that just doesn't know when to quit, Sunny's life is about to rocket to a whole new level of crazy.



The Night We Burned
by S.F. Kosa
Published August 10th 2021 by Sourcebooks Landmark
A new psychological thriller from suspense powerhouse S.F. Kosa featuring a decades-old secret, a mysterious cult fire, and a woman looking to outrun the ashes of her past...until they come roaring back once more.

Dora is always aware of the line between fact and fiction. As a fact checker at an online magazine, her job depends on it. And as a woman outrunning her secrets, so does her life. But when a murder crops up in her old town, one linked to a deadly fire at a cult compound twenty years prior, suddenly all of Dora's carefully spun deceptions are at risk.

Because she's seen a murder like this before. She knows what the police missed.
And if she doesn't stop the story, she may be next.

As Dora follows the journalist, altering facts to hide her identity along the way, she's thrown back into a world she tried desperately to leave behind. One of ritual and belonging, of danger and darkness. A world where two girls promised to help each other through...until it all went up in flames.

And Dora knows, she won't be lucky enough to escape twice.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/48340760Tue, 18 Jan 2022 09:00:03 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubHappy New Year!! Three books to start the year off right. For Your Own Good by Samantha Downing Published July 20th 2021 by Berkley Teddy Crutcher has won Teacher of the Year at the esteemed Belmont Academy, home to the best and brightest....Three books to start the year off right.

For Your Own Good
by Samantha Downing
Published July 20th 2021 by Berkley
Teddy Crutcher has won Teacher of the Year at the esteemed Belmont Academy, home to the best and brightest.

He says his wife couldn't be more proud—though no one has seen her in a while.

Teddy really can’t be bothered with the death of a school parent that’s looking more and more like murder or the student digging a little too deep into Teddy’s personal life. His main focus is on pushing these kids to their full academic potential.

All he wants is for his colleagues—and the endlessly meddlesome parents—to stay out of his way.

It's really too bad that sometimes excellence can come at such a high cost.

USA Today bestselling author Samantha Downing is back with her latest sneaky thriller set at a prestigious private school—complete with interfering parents, overeager students, and one teacher who just wants to teach them all a lesson…


A Good Day for Chardonnay (Sunshine Vicram #2)
by Darynda Jones
Published July 27th 2021 by St. Martin's Press
Running a small-town police force in the mountains of New Mexico should be a smooth, carefree kind of job. Sadly, full-time Sheriff--and even fuller-time coffee guzzler--Sunshine Vicram, didn't get that memo.

All Sunshine really wants is one easy-going day. You know, the kind that starts with coffee and a donut (or three) and ends with take-out pizza and a glass of chardonnay (or seven). Turns out, that's about as easy as switching to decaf. (What kind of people do that? And who hurt them?)

Before she can say iced mocha latte, Sunny's got a bar fight gone bad, a teenage daughter hunting a serial killer and, oh yes, the still unresolved mystery of her own abduction years prior. All evidence points to a local distiller, a dangerous bad boy named Levi Ravinder, but Sun knows he's not the villain of her story. Still, perhaps beneath it all, he possesses the keys to her disappearance. At the very least, beneath it all, he possesses a serious set of abs. She's seen it. Once. Accidentally.

Between policing a town her hunky chief deputy calls four cents short of a nickel, that pesky crush she has on Levi which seems to grow exponentially every day, and an irascible raccoon that just doesn't know when to quit, Sunny's life is about to rocket to a whole new level of crazy.



The Night We Burned
by S.F. Kosa
Published August 10th 2021 by Sourcebooks Landmark
A new psychological thriller from suspense powerhouse S.F. Kosa featuring a decades-old secret, a mysterious cult fire, and a woman looking to outrun the ashes of her past...until they come roaring back once more.

Dora is always aware of the line between fact and fiction. As a fact checker at an online magazine, her job depends on it. And as a woman outrunning her secrets, so does her life. But when a murder crops up in her old town, one linked to a deadly fire at a cult compound twenty years prior, suddenly all of Dora's carefully spun deceptions are at risk.

Because she's seen a murder like this before. She knows what the police missed.
And if she doesn't stop the story, she may be next.

As Dora follows the journalist, altering facts to hide her identity along the way, she's thrown back into a world she tried desperately to leave behind. One of ritual and belonging, of danger and darkness. A world where two girls promised to help each other through...until it all went up in flames.

And Dora knows, she won't be lucky enough to escape twice.]]>1317amreading,bookclub,booklove,mustread,mysterybooks,podcast,thrillersfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/lorie-lewis-ham-interview-one-of-us--48243842
At 35, children’s book author Roxi Carlucci finds herself starting over again after her publisher drops her book series. With no income, she has to pack up her life on the California Coast, along with her pet rat Merlin, and move in with her cousin, P.I. Stephen Carlucci, who lives in Fresno, CA. The one redeeming factor is that Stephen lives in the Tower District—the cultural oasis of Fresno.

Stephen talks Roxi into helping out with a community theatre production, which is also a fundraiser for a local animal rescue. Little did she know that someone would be murdered during a rehearsal, and that she and Stephen would be hired to find the killer. The killer has to be one of Roxi’s new acquaintances since the theatre was locked at the time of the murder, but no one seems to have a motive. How can they solve a murder without a motive? Could the local gossip website hold any clues? Can they stop the killer before they strike again?

Lorie Lewis Ham lives in Reedley, California and has been writing ever since she was a child—her first stories were about her stuffed animals. Her first song and poem were published when she was 13, and she has gone on to publish many articles, short stories, and poems throughout the years, as well as write for a local newspaper. Four out of 5 of her previously published mystery novels feature gospel singer Alexandra Walters and are set in the San Joaquin Valley. Those books were inspired by the many years she spent traveling and singing gospel music with her family. One Of Us is the first in a brand new mystery series set in the Tower District of Fresno, California featuring podcaster and part time detective Roxi Carlucci. Lorie has also been the publisher of the online magazine Kings River Life for the past 11 years (kingsriverlife.com), and of its sister website KRL News & Reviews (krlnews.com). She also launched a mystery podcast called Mysteryrat’s Maze (mysteryratsmaze.podbean.com) 3 years ago which features mystery short stories and first chapters read by local actors, including the first chapter of this book. You can find the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and all of the other usual places. You can learn more about Lorie on her website mysteryrat.com and find her on Twitter @mysteryrat and Facebook. Another way to keep up with Lorie’s writing is to subscribe to her newsletter—you can find info on doing that on her website.

Lorie has been married to Larry for 30 years and they have 2 grown children—Jayce and Joseph Ham. She currently has 5 cats (Merlin, Sam, Dean, Sidney, and Willow), 4 dogs (Lestat, Huey, Xander, and Phoebe), and a pet dwarf rabbit (Sherlock). For many years, she worked in pet rat rescue, and has had many pet rats of her own over the years.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/48243842Tue, 11 Jan 2022 09:00:02 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubOne of Us (A Tower District Mystery #1) by Lorie Lewis Ham At 35, children’s book author Roxi Carlucci finds herself starting over again after her publisher drops her book series. With no income, she has to pack up her life on the California Coast,...
At 35, children’s book author Roxi Carlucci finds herself starting over again after her publisher drops her book series. With no income, she has to pack up her life on the California Coast, along with her pet rat Merlin, and move in with her cousin, P.I. Stephen Carlucci, who lives in Fresno, CA. The one redeeming factor is that Stephen lives in the Tower District—the cultural oasis of Fresno.

Stephen talks Roxi into helping out with a community theatre production, which is also a fundraiser for a local animal rescue. Little did she know that someone would be murdered during a rehearsal, and that she and Stephen would be hired to find the killer. The killer has to be one of Roxi’s new acquaintances since the theatre was locked at the time of the murder, but no one seems to have a motive. How can they solve a murder without a motive? Could the local gossip website hold any clues? Can they stop the killer before they strike again?

Lorie Lewis Ham lives in Reedley, California and has been writing ever since she was a child—her first stories were about her stuffed animals. Her first song and poem were published when she was 13, and she has gone on to publish many articles, short stories, and poems throughout the years, as well as write for a local newspaper. Four out of 5 of her previously published mystery novels feature gospel singer Alexandra Walters and are set in the San Joaquin Valley. Those books were inspired by the many years she spent traveling and singing gospel music with her family. One Of Us is the first in a brand new mystery series set in the Tower District of Fresno, California featuring podcaster and part time detective Roxi Carlucci. Lorie has also been the publisher of the online magazine Kings River Life for the past 11 years (kingsriverlife.com), and of its sister website KRL News & Reviews (krlnews.com). She also launched a mystery podcast called Mysteryrat’s Maze (mysteryratsmaze.podbean.com) 3 years ago which features mystery short stories and first chapters read by local actors, including the first chapter of this book. You can find the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and all of the other usual places. You can learn more about Lorie on her website mysteryrat.com and find her on Twitter @mysteryrat and Facebook. Another way to keep up with Lorie’s writing is to subscribe to her newsletter—you can find info on doing that on her website.

Lorie has been married to Larry for 30 years and they have 2 grown children—Jayce and Joseph Ham. She currently has 5 cats (Merlin, Sam, Dean, Sidney, and Willow), 4 dogs (Lestat, Huey, Xander, and Phoebe), and a pet dwarf rabbit (Sherlock). For many years, she worked in pet rat rescue, and has had many pet rats of her own over the years.]]>799amreading,bookclub,booklove,murder,mustread,mysteryrat,podcast,towerdistrictfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/recast-ellery-adams-interview--48156383https://api.spreaker.com/episode/48156383Tue, 04 Jan 2022 09:00:02 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubWe finalize our holiday break with a recast of one of our favorites from this past year. Ellery Adams. Enjoy2104amreading,bookclub,booklove,bookworm,elleryadams,mustread,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/holiday-recast-caitlin-rother-death-on-ocean-boulevard-episode-163--48067064https://api.spreaker.com/episode/48067064Tue, 28 Dec 2021 09:30:03 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubRecast of episode 163 featuring an interview with Caitlin Rother about her book Death on Ocean Boulevard: Inside the Coronado Mansion Case" It was released in April of 2021 by Citadel Press2209ambien,bookclub,darkandstormy,library,mustread,mystery,podcast,suicide,truecrimefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/anne-perry-interview-recast--48005828https://api.spreaker.com/episode/48005828Tue, 21 Dec 2021 09:00:02 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubWe are taking a long winter's nap. for the next 3 episodes we will play some of our favorites from this past year. This week is the unforgettable Anne Perry. Enjoy!!!2084amreading,anneperry,bookclub,mustread,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/what-we-are-reading-christmas-cozy-mysteries--47911270by Maria DiRico
Published October 26th 2021 by Kensington Publishing Corporation

Astoria, Queens, is decorated within an inch of its life for the Christmas season, and Mia Carina is juggling her job at the Belle View catering hall with a case of murder...

Mia's busy with a full schedule of events at the family business--among them an over-the-top Nativity-themed first birthday party and a Sweet Sixteen for a teen drama queen. But her personal life is even more challenging. Her estranged mother has returned--and her lifelong friend Jamie has discovered a shocking secret about his past. He's so angry that he starts hanging out with Lorenzo, who claims to be his long-lost brother--even after it becomes clear that Lorenzo's story is as fake as a plastic Christmas tree.

Then a body turns up among the elves in a Santa's-workshop lawn display, and amateur sleuth Mia has a buffet of suspects to choose from. Amid the holiday celebrations, she intends to find out who's the guilty party...

Christmas Corpse (A Christmas Cozy Mystery #1)
by Mona Marple
Published December 3rd 2020 self published
Welcome to Candy Cane Hollow, where every day feels like Christmas!
Holly Wood (yes, that's her real name) is driving home for Christmas and not feeling too happy about the empty house waiting for her.

When her car skids into a snow bank, she's rescued by a sweet old lady who promises her name is Mrs. Claus.

Holly is taken to Candy Cane Hollow to recover, and finds herself in a genuine winter wonderland.

As Christmas Day approaches, the grouchy medical receptionist appears to have been poisoned by a mince pie.

And to Holly's surprise, Mrs Claus is the prime suspect.

With Mrs Claus under suspicion, Holly vows to return the woman's generosity by clearing her name.

Maybe it will impress Mrs. Claus' dimpled dish of a son, too?


Christmas Candy Corpse (Courtney Archer #3)
by Rosemarie Ross
Published November 30th 2021
Christmas has come early to the beautiful Poconos resort that’s the setting for the American Baking Battle’s holiday special, where chef Courtney Archer is on hand to sample festive fare—and lift the lid off a killer...

Six ambitious bakers are competing for glory and a grand prize, showcasing their most delicious candies, cookies, and desserts. Courtney detects some on-set grinchiness from her coworkers, especially judge Shannon Collins, but she’s hoping the sweet treats will restore everyone’s festive spirits. That Christmas wish swiftly fizzles when assistant director Kinzy Hummel is found strangled—with an apron from Shannon’s new product line...

Shannon insists she’s innocent. Meanwhile, Kinzy had been under pressure from a disgruntled attorney to settle her late grandfather’s estate. But could that be a motive for murder? The show must go on even as Courtney sifts through competitors and crew for likely suspects. But unless she can quickly get to the truth, there’ll be another helping of homicide amid the pinwheel cookies and fruitcakes...]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/47911270Tue, 14 Dec 2021 09:00:02 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubIt's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Murder (Catering Hall Mystery #3) by Maria DiRico Published October 26th 2021 by Kensington Publishing Corporation Astoria, Queens, is decorated within an inch of its life for the Christmas season, and Mia Carina is...by Maria DiRico
Published October 26th 2021 by Kensington Publishing Corporation

Astoria, Queens, is decorated within an inch of its life for the Christmas season, and Mia Carina is juggling her job at the Belle View catering hall with a case of murder...

Mia's busy with a full schedule of events at the family business--among them an over-the-top Nativity-themed first birthday party and a Sweet Sixteen for a teen drama queen. But her personal life is even more challenging. Her estranged mother has returned--and her lifelong friend Jamie has discovered a shocking secret about his past. He's so angry that he starts hanging out with Lorenzo, who claims to be his long-lost brother--even after it becomes clear that Lorenzo's story is as fake as a plastic Christmas tree.

Then a body turns up among the elves in a Santa's-workshop lawn display, and amateur sleuth Mia has a buffet of suspects to choose from. Amid the holiday celebrations, she intends to find out who's the guilty party...

Christmas Corpse (A Christmas Cozy Mystery #1)
by Mona Marple
Published December 3rd 2020 self published
Welcome to Candy Cane Hollow, where every day feels like Christmas!
Holly Wood (yes, that's her real name) is driving home for Christmas and not feeling too happy about the empty house waiting for her.

When her car skids into a snow bank, she's rescued by a sweet old lady who promises her name is Mrs. Claus.

Holly is taken to Candy Cane Hollow to recover, and finds herself in a genuine winter wonderland.

As Christmas Day approaches, the grouchy medical receptionist appears to have been poisoned by a mince pie.

And to Holly's surprise, Mrs Claus is the prime suspect.

With Mrs Claus under suspicion, Holly vows to return the woman's generosity by clearing her name.

Maybe it will impress Mrs. Claus' dimpled dish of a son, too?


Christmas Candy Corpse (Courtney Archer #3)
by Rosemarie Ross
Published November 30th 2021
Christmas has come early to the beautiful Poconos resort that’s the setting for the American Baking Battle’s holiday special, where chef Courtney Archer is on hand to sample festive fare—and lift the lid off a killer...

Six ambitious bakers are competing for glory and a grand prize, showcasing their most delicious candies, cookies, and desserts. Courtney detects some on-set grinchiness from her coworkers, especially judge Shannon Collins, but she’s hoping the sweet treats will restore everyone’s festive spirits. That Christmas wish swiftly fizzles when assistant director Kinzy Hummel is found strangled—with an apron from Shannon’s new product line...

Shannon insists she’s innocent. Meanwhile, Kinzy had been under pressure from a disgruntled attorney to settle her late grandfather’s estate. But could that be a motive for murder? The show must go on even as Courtney sifts through competitors and crew for likely suspects. But unless she can quickly get to the truth, there’ll be another helping of homicide amid the pinwheel cookies and fruitcakes...]]>1253amreading,bookclub,christmascozy,murder,mustread,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/yasmin-angoe-her-name-is-knight--47813598by Yasmin Angoe
Published November 1st 2021 by Thomas & Mercer
Her Name Is Knight revolves around Nena Knight, codename Echo, a highly trained assassin for The Tribe – a clandestine international organization dedicated to the protection and advancement of the peoples and countries of Africa around the world. Her Name Is Knight is a propulsive character story and action thriller driven by retribution, passion, strength — and coming to terms with your own true self, regardless of what anyone calls you.


Websitehttps://yasminangoe.com
Twitter yasawriter

Yasmin Angoe is the debut author of the bestselling and award-winning thriller Her Name Is Knight. She is a first-generation Ghanaian American and has worked in education for nearly twenty years as a middle and high school teacher and instructional coach. Currently, Yasmin works as a developmental editor and sensitivity reader for publishers and authors.

Yasmin received the 2020 Eleanor Taylor Bland Award for Emerging Writers of Color from Sisters in Crime of which she is a member. She is also a proud member of numerous crime, mystery, and thriller writing groups and organizations like Crime Writers of Color, Mystery Writers of America, and International Thriller Writers.

When she’s not writing, Yasmin’s editing for clients, searching what show or movie to binge, absorbed in an audiobook, or obsessing the fact she should probably be writing at that very moment.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/47813598Tue, 07 Dec 2021 09:00:02 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubHer Name Is Knight (Nena Knight #1) by Yasmin Angoe Published November 1st 2021 by Thomas & Mercer Her Name Is Knight revolves around Nena Knight, codename Echo, a highly trained assassin for The Tribe – a clandestine international organization...by Yasmin Angoe
Published November 1st 2021 by Thomas & Mercer
Her Name Is Knight revolves around Nena Knight, codename Echo, a highly trained assassin for The Tribe – a clandestine international organization dedicated to the protection and advancement of the peoples and countries of Africa around the world. Her Name Is Knight is a propulsive character story and action thriller driven by retribution, passion, strength — and coming to terms with your own true self, regardless of what anyone calls you.


Websitehttps://yasminangoe.com
Twitter yasawriter

Yasmin Angoe is the debut author of the bestselling and award-winning thriller Her Name Is Knight. She is a first-generation Ghanaian American and has worked in education for nearly twenty years as a middle and high school teacher and instructional coach. Currently, Yasmin works as a developmental editor and sensitivity reader for publishers and authors.

Yasmin received the 2020 Eleanor Taylor Bland Award for Emerging Writers of Color from Sisters in Crime of which she is a member. She is also a proud member of numerous crime, mystery, and thriller writing groups and organizations like Crime Writers of Color, Mystery Writers of America, and International Thriller Writers.

When she’s not writing, Yasmin’s editing for clients, searching what show or movie to binge, absorbed in an audiobook, or obsessing the fact she should probably be writing at that very moment.]]>1323amreading,assassin,bookclub,booklove,covert,podcast,thrillerfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/what-we-are-reading-november-2021--47712778by Mary Lou Kirwin
Published November 5th 2013 by Gallery Books
In the second novel in the “engaging” (Booklist) cozy library mystery series, Karen must work to clear her beau’s name after his ex-girlfriend is killed by a falling bookshelf while staying at his inn.

Spunky librarian Karen Nash is back in London and planning to open a bookstore with her beau, Caldwell Perkins, who owns a B&B. Unexpectedly, Sally, Caldwell’s tall, gorgeous, and blonde ex-girlfriend shows up—possibly to reclaim the B&B—and just maybe Caldwell, too. Sally’s current boyfriend, Alfredo, joins her, and they take a room.

That night, Karen is awakened by a horrible crash. Caldwell isn’t in bed with her. She rushes out to the hall to find him standing in the doorway of the inn’s library with a look of horror on his face. Inside the room all Karen can see is a woman’s hand sticking out from under a massive pile of pages and wood. While Sally’s death appears an accident, Karen finds it hard to believe. How did the heavy oak bookshelf topple over? Karen fears Sally has been murdered. The detective on the case comes to the same conclusion and decides Caldwell is the most likely suspect.

In order to save her boyfriend, Karen must figure out what Sally was looking for in the library and what Caldwell was doing up in the middle of the night. A story of intrigue and revenge, Death Overdue is a page-turning mystery featuring a loveable heroine who loves books almost as much as she loves her man.

The Matchmaker by Helene Fermont
Published April 14th 2021 by West Harbour Books

Perfect Lives Don’t Come Cheap.

Marcia Bailey has it all: a passionate marriage to a rich and handsome man who is utterly devoted to her; fame and success as London’s premier matchmaker; a beautiful home in a posh neighbourhood, and fabulous holidays in exotic places.

But her perfect life turns into a nightmare overnight when a mysterious caller suddenly threatens to reveal secrets from her past she thought she had left behind forever. Who is he and what does he really want? He says he wants three million pounds to keep quiet, and she’s willing to pay. After all, she has already sacrificed so much, and perfect lives don’t come cheap.

But Marcia has a hunch her caller wants more than money from her. He wants to hurt and humiliate her. But why?

As police investigate a brutal murder in a wealthy London neighborhood, they untangle a web of lies, violence, sex and jealousy surrounding Marcia Bailey and the group of wealthy and powerful men who have secrets of their own to keep.

The Matchmaker is filled with unexpected twists and turns — and characters that will haunt you long after you’ve read the last page.


Down Range (Garrett Kohl #1)
by Taylor Moore
Published August 3rd 2021 by William Morrow

In this action-packed debut thriller for fans of C. J. Box and Jack Carr, DEA agent Garrett Kohl fights to protect his home on the Texas High Plains when a vicious criminal enterprise comes after his family.

As a decorated undercover DEA special agent, Garrett Kohl has traveled the world—and fought in most of it—but it’s the High Plains of northwest Texas he calls home and dreams of returning to one day. Kohl is in the middle of an assignment in Afghanistan when his commander orders him back to Texas on a short mission expected to take a week at most. But he’s unsettled to discover that he’s moved from one kind of war to another.

The once-peaceful ranching community he loves is under attack by a band of criminals who have infiltrated law enforcement, corrupted local businesses, and is now terrorizing Kohl’s own family. Hoping to prevent bloodshed, Kohl tries to resolve matters peacefully. But when the group strikes first, he has no choice but to go on the attack.

Unfortunately for the criminal crew, besides being an elite undercover officer for the DEA, Garrett Kohl is a battle-hardened Green Beret who spent the better part of his career hunting terrorists. Although outnumbered and outgunned, Kohl knows the wild and forsaken Llano Estacado region of Texas better than anyone. And like so many trespassers before them, these murderers will find out the hard way that the only thing tougher than this land is the people who call it home.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/47712778Tue, 30 Nov 2021 09:00:02 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubDeath Overdue (Killer Librarian #2) by Mary Lou Kirwin Published November 5th 2013 by Gallery Books In the second novel in the “engaging” (Booklist) cozy library mystery series, Karen must work to clear her beau’s name after his ex-girlfriend is...by Mary Lou Kirwin
Published November 5th 2013 by Gallery Books
In the second novel in the “engaging” (Booklist) cozy library mystery series, Karen must work to clear her beau’s name after his ex-girlfriend is killed by a falling bookshelf while staying at his inn.

Spunky librarian Karen Nash is back in London and planning to open a bookstore with her beau, Caldwell Perkins, who owns a B&B. Unexpectedly, Sally, Caldwell’s tall, gorgeous, and blonde ex-girlfriend shows up—possibly to reclaim the B&B—and just maybe Caldwell, too. Sally’s current boyfriend, Alfredo, joins her, and they take a room.

That night, Karen is awakened by a horrible crash. Caldwell isn’t in bed with her. She rushes out to the hall to find him standing in the doorway of the inn’s library with a look of horror on his face. Inside the room all Karen can see is a woman’s hand sticking out from under a massive pile of pages and wood. While Sally’s death appears an accident, Karen finds it hard to believe. How did the heavy oak bookshelf topple over? Karen fears Sally has been murdered. The detective on the case comes to the same conclusion and decides Caldwell is the most likely suspect.

In order to save her boyfriend, Karen must figure out what Sally was looking for in the library and what Caldwell was doing up in the middle of the night. A story of intrigue and revenge, Death Overdue is a page-turning mystery featuring a loveable heroine who loves books almost as much as she loves her man.

The Matchmaker by Helene Fermont
Published April 14th 2021 by West Harbour Books

Perfect Lives Don’t Come Cheap.

Marcia Bailey has it all: a passionate marriage to a rich and handsome man who is utterly devoted to her; fame and success as London’s premier matchmaker; a beautiful home in a posh neighbourhood, and fabulous holidays in exotic places.

But her perfect life turns into a nightmare overnight when a mysterious caller suddenly threatens to reveal secrets from her past she thought she had left behind forever. Who is he and what does he really want? He says he wants three million pounds to keep quiet, and she’s willing to pay. After all, she has already sacrificed so much, and perfect lives don’t come cheap.

But Marcia has a hunch her caller wants more than money from her. He wants to hurt and humiliate her. But why?

As police investigate a brutal murder in a wealthy London neighborhood, they untangle a web of lies, violence, sex and jealousy surrounding Marcia Bailey and the group of wealthy and powerful men who have secrets of their own to keep.

The Matchmaker is filled with unexpected twists and turns — and characters that will haunt you long after you’ve read the last page.


Down Range (Garrett Kohl #1)
by Taylor Moore
Published August 3rd 2021 by William Morrow

In this action-packed debut thriller for fans of C. J. Box and Jack Carr, DEA agent Garrett Kohl fights to protect his home on the Texas High Plains when a vicious criminal enterprise comes after his family.

As a decorated undercover DEA special agent, Garrett Kohl has traveled the world—and fought in most of it—but it’s the High Plains of northwest Texas he calls home and dreams of returning to one day. Kohl is in the middle of an assignment in Afghanistan when his commander orders him back to Texas on a short mission expected to take a week at most. But he’s unsettled to discover that he’s moved from one kind of war to another.

The once-peaceful ranching community he loves is under attack by a band of criminals who have infiltrated law enforcement, corrupted local businesses, and is now terrorizing Kohl’s own family. Hoping to prevent bloodshed, Kohl tries to resolve matters peacefully. But when the group strikes first, he has no choice but to go on the attack.
642amreading,bookclub,booklove,mustread,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/true-crime-round-up-2021--47610608by Michael Benson, Frank DiMatteo, Eric Jason Martin
Published September 28th 2021 by Citadel Press

Who really killed Crazy Joe Gallo? It wasn't Frank The Irishman Sheeran as he claimed. Sober, he was nothing, but drunk he would blow your head off. That's how Pete the Greek described Carmine Sonny DiBiase, the Colombo crime family hitman who'd been terrorizing Manhattan's Little Italy since he was a kid. After beating and robbing a local tailor and doing time in reformatory, Sonny set up operations at the Mayfair Boys Civic and Social Club, an illegal poolroom where he shot and killed his best friend on Christmas day . . . A prime suspect of this and other crimes, Sonny went on the lam and off the grid for seven years. He then surrendered himself to police, was tried for murderm and sentenced to death. But after a second trial, he walked away a free man--free to kill again. Joey Crazy Joe Gallo and his President Street mob waged a deadly Mafia civil war with the Colombo crime family, and in particular, Carmine the Snake Persico. And on that fateful night of April 7, 1972, in a Little Italy restaurant, Gallo was assassinated . . . by Carmine Sonny DiBiasi . . . This is the true story of who really whacked Crazy Joey Gallo on that fateful night of April 7, 1972.


We Keep the Dead Close: A Murder at Harvard and a Half Century of Silence
by Becky Cooper
Published November 10th 2020 by Grand Central Publishing


1969: the height of counterculture and the year universities would seek to curb the unruly spectacle of student protest; the winter that Harvard University would begin the tumultuous process of merging with Radcliffe, its all-female sister school; and the year that Jane Britton, an ambitious twenty-three-year-old graduate student in Harvard's Anthropology Department and daughter of Radcliffe Vice President J. Boyd Britton, would be found bludgeoned to death in her Cambridge, Massachusetts apartment. Forty years later, Becky Cooper a curious undergrad, will hear the first whispers of the story. In the first telling the body was nameless. The story was this: a Harvard student had had an affair with her professor, and the professor had murdered her in the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology because she'd threatened to talk about the affair. Though the rumor proves false, the story that unfolds, one that Cooper will follow for ten years, is even more complex: a tale of gender inequality in academia, a 'cowboy culture' among empowered male elites, the silencing effect of institutions, and our compulsion to rewrite the stories of female victims.


We Keep the Dead Close is a memoir of mirrors, misogyny, and murder. It is at once a rumination on the violence and oppression that rules our revered institutions, a ghost story reflecting one young woman's past onto another's present, and a love story for a girl who was lost to history.


Notes on a Killing: Love, Lies, and Murder in a Small New Hampshire Town
by Kevin Flynn, Rebecca Lavoie
Published April 2nd 2013 by Berkley

Weaver and fiber artist Edith “Pen” Meyer knew her friend Sandy Merritt’s relationship with a married man was wrong. She had even urged Sandy to take out a restraining order against Kenneth Carpenter. Which was why her call to Sandy on February 23, 2005, seemed to come from out of the blue. During it, she told Sandy to drop the restraining order and get back together with Ken.

Pen was never seen again.

One man stood to gain from Pen’s disappearance: Ken Carpenter. But evidence was bleak: no blood, no DNA, no body. Until detectives found notes hidden beneath a leather chair that turned out to be a playbook for murder…]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/47610608Tue, 23 Nov 2021 09:00:05 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubMafia Hitman Lib/E: Carmine Dibiase, the Wiseguy Who Really Killed Joey Gallo by Michael Benson, Frank DiMatteo, Eric Jason Martin Published September 28th 2021 by Citadel Press Who really killed Crazy Joe Gallo? It wasn't Frank The Irishman Sheeran...by Michael Benson, Frank DiMatteo, Eric Jason Martin
Published September 28th 2021 by Citadel Press

Who really killed Crazy Joe Gallo? It wasn't Frank The Irishman Sheeran as he claimed. Sober, he was nothing, but drunk he would blow your head off. That's how Pete the Greek described Carmine Sonny DiBiase, the Colombo crime family hitman who'd been terrorizing Manhattan's Little Italy since he was a kid. After beating and robbing a local tailor and doing time in reformatory, Sonny set up operations at the Mayfair Boys Civic and Social Club, an illegal poolroom where he shot and killed his best friend on Christmas day . . . A prime suspect of this and other crimes, Sonny went on the lam and off the grid for seven years. He then surrendered himself to police, was tried for murderm and sentenced to death. But after a second trial, he walked away a free man--free to kill again. Joey Crazy Joe Gallo and his President Street mob waged a deadly Mafia civil war with the Colombo crime family, and in particular, Carmine the Snake Persico. And on that fateful night of April 7, 1972, in a Little Italy restaurant, Gallo was assassinated . . . by Carmine Sonny DiBiasi . . . This is the true story of who really whacked Crazy Joey Gallo on that fateful night of April 7, 1972.


We Keep the Dead Close: A Murder at Harvard and a Half Century of Silence
by Becky Cooper
Published November 10th 2020 by Grand Central Publishing


1969: the height of counterculture and the year universities would seek to curb the unruly spectacle of student protest; the winter that Harvard University would begin the tumultuous process of merging with Radcliffe, its all-female sister school; and the year that Jane Britton, an ambitious twenty-three-year-old graduate student in Harvard's Anthropology Department and daughter of Radcliffe Vice President J. Boyd Britton, would be found bludgeoned to death in her Cambridge, Massachusetts apartment. Forty years later, Becky Cooper a curious undergrad, will hear the first whispers of the story. In the first telling the body was nameless. The story was this: a Harvard student had had an affair with her professor, and the professor had murdered her in the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology because she'd threatened to talk about the affair. Though the rumor proves false, the story that unfolds, one that Cooper will follow for ten years, is even more complex: a tale of gender inequality in academia, a 'cowboy culture' among empowered male elites, the silencing effect of institutions, and our compulsion to rewrite the stories of female victims.


We Keep the Dead Close is a memoir of mirrors, misogyny, and murder. It is at once a rumination on the violence and oppression that rules our revered institutions, a ghost story reflecting one young woman's past onto another's present, and a love story for a girl who was lost to history.


Notes on a Killing: Love, Lies, and Murder in a Small New Hampshire Town
by Kevin Flynn, Rebecca Lavoie
Published April 2nd 2013 by Berkley

Weaver and fiber artist Edith “Pen” Meyer knew her friend Sandy Merritt’s relationship with a married man was wrong. She had even urged Sandy to take out a restraining order against Kenneth Carpenter. Which was why her call to Sandy on February 23, 2005, seemed to come from out of the blue. During it, she told Sandy to drop the restraining order and get back together with Ken.

Pen was never seen again.

One man stood to gain from Pen’s disappearance: Ken Carpenter. But evidence was bleak: no blood, no DNA, no body. Until detectives found notes hidden beneath a leather chair that turned out to be a playbook for murder…]]>1387amreading,bookclub,booklove,mustread,podcast,truecrimefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/spooky-baltimore-the-death-of-poe--47492668This week we explore The Death of Edgar Allen Poe and the haunted graveyard of Westminster Presbyterian where he is buried.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/47492668Tue, 16 Nov 2021 09:00:08 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubWe are excited to announce a new monthly feature. Spooky Baltimore tales from the most haunted city in the United States. This week we explore The Death of Edgar Allen Poe and the haunted graveyard of Westminster Presbyterian where he is buried.This week we explore The Death of Edgar Allen Poe and the haunted graveyard of Westminster Presbyterian where he is buried.]]>896amreading,baltimore,bookclub,haunted,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/fright-reads-author-followup--47382220

The Burgers Brothers' Family Funeral Home
Published December 3rd 2019 by Clayton Tune

The Burgers Brothers' Family Funeral Home is dying and Donnie Burgers wants out. When Donnie expresses his desire to sell the company, he expects the passionate resistance he receives from his younger brother, Frank. What he didn't expect from his brother was the dirt covered, bulky trash bag now hiding on his closet floor.

Convincing Frank to close the home won't be as easy as Donnie imagined. When a local, stuttering cop begins asking questions about a recent grave robbery, Donnie realizes his brother's plan to save the family business is disturbing more than just their relationship.

What Lies Between the Lakes
Published September 2021 by Clayton Tune
For a competitive price, Donnie and Frank Burgers’ Funeral Home will help bury your loved ones.

For the right price, Frank Burgers will dig them back up.

This scheme brings in extra money for the home but lands Frank in a morbid mess. Picking up where The Burgers Brothers’ Family Funeral Home left off, Frank discovers an anonymous package left at his front door. Inside is damning evidence of his lucrative grave robbing.

The person who left the package blackmails Frank into recovering a bizarre object from a teenager’s coffin, setting off an amateur investigation that will lead Frank and his friends to unearth a disturbing case and an even more menacing secret.
Faced with a witness to his crimes, unexpected expenses for the family business, and the unrelenting curiosity of a small-town police officer, Frank must decide how far he’s willing to go to save the Home, and himself. And if he doesn’t listen to the peculiar warnings of a few locals, digging up too much history may bury him.

The Purple Bird
by Dylan Roche
Published March 1st 2019 by Little Creek Books
No matter how long he has yearned to escape his boring life as an ordinary teenager, nothing can prepare James Shannassy for the afternoon when he meets a figment bird called Archit and the two of them set off for the world of Nalgordia to break a centuries-old curse. Being the hero of his own fantasy adventure isn't exactly what James expected it to be, but when he finds himself caught up in an epic fight against a force of evil, he knows he might be the only one able to stop it. Archit's fate now rests entirely in his hands...and there's no turning back now!]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/47382220Tue, 09 Nov 2021 09:00:13 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubThis weeks episode we feature two authors we met at Fright Reads a spooky book festival in Maryland in early October. The Burgers Brothers' Family Funeral Home Published December 3rd 2019 by Clayton Tune The Burgers Brothers' Family Funeral Home is...

The Burgers Brothers' Family Funeral Home
Published December 3rd 2019 by Clayton Tune

The Burgers Brothers' Family Funeral Home is dying and Donnie Burgers wants out. When Donnie expresses his desire to sell the company, he expects the passionate resistance he receives from his younger brother, Frank. What he didn't expect from his brother was the dirt covered, bulky trash bag now hiding on his closet floor.

Convincing Frank to close the home won't be as easy as Donnie imagined. When a local, stuttering cop begins asking questions about a recent grave robbery, Donnie realizes his brother's plan to save the family business is disturbing more than just their relationship.

What Lies Between the Lakes
Published September 2021 by Clayton Tune
For a competitive price, Donnie and Frank Burgers’ Funeral Home will help bury your loved ones.

For the right price, Frank Burgers will dig them back up.

This scheme brings in extra money for the home but lands Frank in a morbid mess. Picking up where The Burgers Brothers’ Family Funeral Home left off, Frank discovers an anonymous package left at his front door. Inside is damning evidence of his lucrative grave robbing.

The person who left the package blackmails Frank into recovering a bizarre object from a teenager’s coffin, setting off an amateur investigation that will lead Frank and his friends to unearth a disturbing case and an even more menacing secret.
Faced with a witness to his crimes, unexpected expenses for the family business, and the unrelenting curiosity of a small-town police officer, Frank must decide how far he’s willing to go to save the Home, and himself. And if he doesn’t listen to the peculiar warnings of a few locals, digging up too much history may bury him.

The Purple Bird
by Dylan Roche
Published March 1st 2019 by Little Creek Books
No matter how long he has yearned to escape his boring life as an ordinary teenager, nothing can prepare James Shannassy for the afternoon when he meets a figment bird called Archit and the two of them set off for the world of Nalgordia to break a centuries-old curse. Being the hero of his own fantasy adventure isn't exactly what James expected it to be, but when he finds himself caught up in an epic fight against a force of evil, he knows he might be the only one able to stop it. Archit's fate now rests entirely in his hands...and there's no turning back now!]]>1215amreading,bookclub,bookfestival,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/robbie-bach-the-wilkes-insurrection--47265282Published November 2nd 2021 by Greenleaf Book Group Press

An elusive extremist hell-bent on destroying America.
​A woman of uncommon valor haunted by her tragic past.
A dark web hacker confronting his conscience.
A failed intelligence officer in search of redemption.

The relative calm at Offutt Air Force Base is shattered when commercial Flight 209 crashes down onto its runway. From the flaming wreckage, Major Tamika Smith must try to rescue survivors and make sense of the tragedy. But this isn’t just an isolated incident. In a time of national unrest and division, a cunning shadowy mastermind is tearing down the United States from the inside out, playing law enforcement like puppets. Soon, thousands are dying and there are precious few leads. Can Tamika and an unlikely collection of committed Americans stop the destruction in time to rescue a nation descending into chaos?

With heart-pounding action, compelling plot twists, and a rich tapestry of characters, The Wilkes Insurrection is a contemporary thriller of anarchic obsession and heroic ambition. Its perfect blend of callous villains, iconic heroes, and political intrigue will keep readers on the edge of their seats.


Robert J. Bach (born December 31, 1961), commonly known as Robbie Bach, was the President of Entertainment & Devices Division at Microsoft. He led the division that is responsible for the Xbox, Xbox 360, Zune, Windows Games, Windows Mobile and the Microsoft TV platform. After 22 years at Microsoft, Robert announced his retirement from Microsoft effective in the fall of 2010. Robert now speaks to corporate, academic and civic groups across the country and in 2015 completed his first book, Xbox Revisited: A Game Plan for Corporate and Civic Renewal.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/47265282Tue, 02 Nov 2021 08:00:10 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubThe Wilkes Insurrection: A Contemporary Thriller by Robbie Bach Published November 2nd 2021 by Greenleaf Book Group Press An elusive extremist hell-bent on destroying America. ​A woman of uncommon valor haunted by her tragic past. A dark web hacker...Published November 2nd 2021 by Greenleaf Book Group Press

An elusive extremist hell-bent on destroying America.
​A woman of uncommon valor haunted by her tragic past.
A dark web hacker confronting his conscience.
A failed intelligence officer in search of redemption.

The relative calm at Offutt Air Force Base is shattered when commercial Flight 209 crashes down onto its runway. From the flaming wreckage, Major Tamika Smith must try to rescue survivors and make sense of the tragedy. But this isn’t just an isolated incident. In a time of national unrest and division, a cunning shadowy mastermind is tearing down the United States from the inside out, playing law enforcement like puppets. Soon, thousands are dying and there are precious few leads. Can Tamika and an unlikely collection of committed Americans stop the destruction in time to rescue a nation descending into chaos?

With heart-pounding action, compelling plot twists, and a rich tapestry of characters, The Wilkes Insurrection is a contemporary thriller of anarchic obsession and heroic ambition. Its perfect blend of callous villains, iconic heroes, and political intrigue will keep readers on the edge of their seats.


Robert J. Bach (born December 31, 1961), commonly known as Robbie Bach, was the President of Entertainment & Devices Division at Microsoft. He led the division that is responsible for the Xbox, Xbox 360, Zune, Windows Games, Windows Mobile and the Microsoft TV platform. After 22 years at Microsoft, Robert announced his retirement from Microsoft effective in the fall of 2010. Robert now speaks to corporate, academic and civic groups across the country and in 2015 completed his first book, Xbox Revisited: A Game Plan for Corporate and Civic Renewal.]]>1392actionpacked,amreading,bookclub,booklove,edgeofyourseat,mustread,podcast,thrillerfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/w-w-a-r-october-2021--47152209by Angela M. Sanders
Published August 24th 2021 by Kensington Publishing Corporation
Finding your feet in a new job isn't always easy. That goes double for Josie Way, who's settling in as Wilfred, Oregon's, new librarian--and has just discovered she's a witch. But will her fledgling powers be enough to save her from a spell of murder?

While Josie develops her witchcraft with the help of letters left by her grandmother, there are other changes happening in her new hometown. A retreat center is being built at the old mill site, and rumor has it that the location is cursed. That piques Josie's interest almost as much as Sam Wilfred, handsome FBI agent and descendent of the town's founder...

When Sam's soon-to-be ex-wife, Fiona, goes missing at the same time that a bloodied weapon is found, Josie enlists her witchy insight, and her cat familiar, to clear Sam's name. But then the mill project's architect is found dead, and it's clear that someone has been drawing up a vicious plan. Now Josie will have to divine her way out of fatal mischief, before this deadly trouble turns double...

Poison for Breakfast by Lemony Snicket
Published August 31st 2021 by Liveright
For more than twenty years, Lemony Snicket has led millions of young readers through a mysterious world of bewildering questions and unfortunate events. With this latest book—a love letter to readers young and old about the vagaries of real life—longtime fans and new readers alike will experience Snicket’s distinctive voice in a new way.

This true story—as true as Lemony Snicket himself—begins with a puzzling note under his door: You had poison for breakfast. Following a winding trail of clues to solve the mystery of his own demise, Snicket takes us on a thought-provoking tour of his predilections: the proper way to prepare an egg, a perplexing idea called “tzimtzum,” the sublime pleasure of swimming in open water, and much else.


Be My Ghost (A Haunted Haven Mystery #1)
by Carol J. Perry
Published August 31st 2021 by Kensington Publishing Corporation
Maureen Doherty and her golden retriever Finn have taken possession of a charming old inn--only to discover that it's already possessed by tenants whose lease on life already ran out . . .

Maureen's career as a sportswear buyer hits a snag just before Halloween, when the department store declares bankruptcy. Meanwhile, Finn's lost his way as a guide dog after flunking his test for being too friendly and easily distracted. Sadly, only one of them can earn unemployment, so Maureen's facing a winter of discontent in Boston--when she realizes she can't afford her apartment.

Salvation comes when she receives a mysterious inheritance: an inn in Haven, Florida. A quaint, scenic town on the Gulf of Mexico hidden away from the theme parks, Maureen believes it's a good place to make a fresh start with a new business venture. But she gets more than she bargained for when she finds a dead body on her property--and meets some of the inn's everlasting tenants in the form of ghosts who offer their otherworldly talents in order to help her solve the mystery...]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/47152209Tue, 26 Oct 2021 08:00:12 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubSeven-Year Witch (Witch Way Librarian Mysteries #2) by Angela M. Sanders Published August 24th 2021 by Kensington Publishing Corporation Finding your feet in a new job isn't always easy. That goes double for Josie Way, who's settling in as Wilfred,...by Angela M. Sanders
Published August 24th 2021 by Kensington Publishing Corporation
Finding your feet in a new job isn't always easy. That goes double for Josie Way, who's settling in as Wilfred, Oregon's, new librarian--and has just discovered she's a witch. But will her fledgling powers be enough to save her from a spell of murder?

While Josie develops her witchcraft with the help of letters left by her grandmother, there are other changes happening in her new hometown. A retreat center is being built at the old mill site, and rumor has it that the location is cursed. That piques Josie's interest almost as much as Sam Wilfred, handsome FBI agent and descendent of the town's founder...

When Sam's soon-to-be ex-wife, Fiona, goes missing at the same time that a bloodied weapon is found, Josie enlists her witchy insight, and her cat familiar, to clear Sam's name. But then the mill project's architect is found dead, and it's clear that someone has been drawing up a vicious plan. Now Josie will have to divine her way out of fatal mischief, before this deadly trouble turns double...

Poison for Breakfast by Lemony Snicket
Published August 31st 2021 by Liveright
For more than twenty years, Lemony Snicket has led millions of young readers through a mysterious world of bewildering questions and unfortunate events. With this latest book—a love letter to readers young and old about the vagaries of real life—longtime fans and new readers alike will experience Snicket’s distinctive voice in a new way.

This true story—as true as Lemony Snicket himself—begins with a puzzling note under his door: You had poison for breakfast. Following a winding trail of clues to solve the mystery of his own demise, Snicket takes us on a thought-provoking tour of his predilections: the proper way to prepare an egg, a perplexing idea called “tzimtzum,” the sublime pleasure of swimming in open water, and much else.


Be My Ghost (A Haunted Haven Mystery #1)
by Carol J. Perry
Published August 31st 2021 by Kensington Publishing Corporation
Maureen Doherty and her golden retriever Finn have taken possession of a charming old inn--only to discover that it's already possessed by tenants whose lease on life already ran out . . .

Maureen's career as a sportswear buyer hits a snag just before Halloween, when the department store declares bankruptcy. Meanwhile, Finn's lost his way as a guide dog after flunking his test for being too friendly and easily distracted. Sadly, only one of them can earn unemployment, so Maureen's facing a winter of discontent in Boston--when she realizes she can't afford her apartment.

Salvation comes when she receives a mysterious inheritance: an inn in Haven, Florida. A quaint, scenic town on the Gulf of Mexico hidden away from the theme parks, Maureen believes it's a good place to make a fresh start with a new business venture. But she gets more than she bargained for when she finds a dead body on her property--and meets some of the inn's everlasting tenants in the form of ghosts who offer their otherworldly talents in order to help her solve the mystery...]]>1131amreading,bookclub,booklove,bookreview,mustread,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/gothic-mystery-roundup--47036170
The Vine Witch (The Vine Witch #1)
by Luanne G. Smith
Published October 1st 2019 by 47North
A young witch emerges from a curse to find her world upended in this gripping fantasy of betrayal, vengeance, and self-discovery set in turn-of-the-century France.

For centuries, the vineyards at Château Renard have depended on the talent of their vine witches, whose spells help create the world-renowned wine of the Chanceaux Valley. Then the skill of divining harvests fell into ruin when sorcière Elena Boureanu was blindsided by a curse. Now, after breaking the spell that confined her to the shallows of a marshland and weakened her magic, Elena is struggling to return to her former life. And the vineyard she was destined to inherit is now in the possession of a handsome stranger.

Vigneron Jean-Paul Martel naively favors science over superstition, and he certainly doesn’t endorse the locals’ belief in witches. But Elena knows a hex when she sees one, and the vineyard is covered in them. To stay on and help the vines recover, she’ll have to hide her true identity, along with her plans for revenge against whoever stole seven winters of her life. And she won’t rest until she can defy the evil powers that are still a threat to herself, Jean-Paul, and the ancient vine-witch legacy in the rolling hills of the Chanceaux Valley.


The Witch of Willow Hall by Hester Fox
Published October 2nd 2018 by Graydon House
Two centuries after the Salem witch trials, there’s still one witch left in Massachusetts. But she doesn’t even know it.

Take this as a warning: if you are not able or willing to control yourself, it will not only be you who suffers the consequences but those around you, as well.

New Oldbury, 1821

In the wake of a scandal, the Montrose family and their three daughters—Catherine, Lydia, and Emeline—flee Boston for their new country home, Willow Hall. The estate seems sleepy and idyllic. But a subtle menace creeps into the atmosphere, remnants of a dark history that call to Lydia, and to the youngest, Emeline.

All three daughters will be irrevocably changed by what follows, but none more than Lydia, who must draw on a power she never knew she possessed if she wants to protect those she loves. For Willow Hall’s secrets will rise, in the end…


The Bone Witch (The Bone Witch #1)
by Rin Chupeco
Published March 7th 2017 by Sourcebooks Fire
A story of scorned witches, sinister curses, and resurrection, The Bone Witch is the start of a dark fantasy trilogy.

When Tea accidentally resurrects her brother, Fox, from the dead, she learns she is different from the other witches in her family. Her gift for necromancy means that she’s a bone witch, a title that makes her feared and ostracized by her community. But Tea finds solace and guidance with an older, wiser bone witch, who takes Tea and her brother to another land for training.

In her new home, Tea puts all her energy into becoming an asha—one who can wield elemental magic. But dark forces are approaching quickly, and in the face of danger, Tea will have to overcome her obstacles…and make a powerful choice.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/47036170Tue, 19 Oct 2021 08:00:18 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubGothic Mystery Roundup The Vine Witch (The Vine Witch #1) by Luanne G. Smith Published October 1st 2019 by 47North A young witch emerges from a curse to find her world upended in this gripping fantasy of betrayal, vengeance, and self-discovery set...
The Vine Witch (The Vine Witch #1)
by Luanne G. Smith
Published October 1st 2019 by 47North
A young witch emerges from a curse to find her world upended in this gripping fantasy of betrayal, vengeance, and self-discovery set in turn-of-the-century France.

For centuries, the vineyards at Château Renard have depended on the talent of their vine witches, whose spells help create the world-renowned wine of the Chanceaux Valley. Then the skill of divining harvests fell into ruin when sorcière Elena Boureanu was blindsided by a curse. Now, after breaking the spell that confined her to the shallows of a marshland and weakened her magic, Elena is struggling to return to her former life. And the vineyard she was destined to inherit is now in the possession of a handsome stranger.

Vigneron Jean-Paul Martel naively favors science over superstition, and he certainly doesn’t endorse the locals’ belief in witches. But Elena knows a hex when she sees one, and the vineyard is covered in them. To stay on and help the vines recover, she’ll have to hide her true identity, along with her plans for revenge against whoever stole seven winters of her life. And she won’t rest until she can defy the evil powers that are still a threat to herself, Jean-Paul, and the ancient vine-witch legacy in the rolling hills of the Chanceaux Valley.


The Witch of Willow Hall by Hester Fox
Published October 2nd 2018 by Graydon House
Two centuries after the Salem witch trials, there’s still one witch left in Massachusetts. But she doesn’t even know it.

Take this as a warning: if you are not able or willing to control yourself, it will not only be you who suffers the consequences but those around you, as well.

New Oldbury, 1821

In the wake of a scandal, the Montrose family and their three daughters—Catherine, Lydia, and Emeline—flee Boston for their new country home, Willow Hall. The estate seems sleepy and idyllic. But a subtle menace creeps into the atmosphere, remnants of a dark history that call to Lydia, and to the youngest, Emeline.

All three daughters will be irrevocably changed by what follows, but none more than Lydia, who must draw on a power she never knew she possessed if she wants to protect those she loves. For Willow Hall’s secrets will rise, in the end…


The Bone Witch (The Bone Witch #1)
by Rin Chupeco
Published March 7th 2017 by Sourcebooks Fire
A story of scorned witches, sinister curses, and resurrection, The Bone Witch is the start of a dark fantasy trilogy.

When Tea accidentally resurrects her brother, Fox, from the dead, she learns she is different from the other witches in her family. Her gift for necromancy means that she’s a bone witch, a title that makes her feared and ostracized by her community. But Tea finds solace and guidance with an older, wiser bone witch, who takes Tea and her brother to another land for training.

In her new home, Tea puts all her energy into becoming an asha—one who can wield elemental magic. But dark forces are approaching quickly, and in the face of danger, Tea will have to overcome her obstacles…and make a powerful choice.]]>1013amreading,bookclub,booklove,gothic,murder,mustread,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/mobtown-paranormal-ghost-investigators--46929747
If you think you have paranormal activity in your home or at work, you can contact us for information, support, or arrange for an investigation. Investigations and services are free of charge.

We are a team of paranormal investigators whose primary goal is to document and investigate haunted locations. We investigate both public places and private residences. We strive to help those who live with hauntings deal with their fears and experiences. Although the use of psychics is not discredited, we instead use both simple and high-tech electronic equipment to document and substantiate our experiences. We are a serious group of professionally-minded adults who believe that skepticism is healthy, and that all reasonable explanations should be ruled out prior to declaring an experience to be paranormal in nature. Mobtownparanormal.com]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/46929747Tue, 12 Oct 2021 08:00:10 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubWelcome to the Mobtown Paranormal Research Team We interviewed Steve and Beth based out of Baltimore, Maryland. They investigate reported hauntings and ghost sightings throughout Maryland and southern Pennsylvania. If you think you have paranormal...
If you think you have paranormal activity in your home or at work, you can contact us for information, support, or arrange for an investigation. Investigations and services are free of charge.

We are a team of paranormal investigators whose primary goal is to document and investigate haunted locations. We investigate both public places and private residences. We strive to help those who live with hauntings deal with their fears and experiences. Although the use of psychics is not discredited, we instead use both simple and high-tech electronic equipment to document and substantiate our experiences. We are a serious group of professionally-minded adults who believe that skepticism is healthy, and that all reasonable explanations should be ruled out prior to declaring an experience to be paranormal in nature. Mobtownparanormal.com]]>1757amreading,bookclub,frightreads,ghosts,mustread,paranormal,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/clay-small-the-forger-s-forgery--46819508Published April 20th 2021
When Art Mimics Life, Somebody’s Going to Get What’s Coming to Them

Henry Lindon's flight across the north Atlantic was turbulent and sleepless. His plane has just touched down in Amsterdam, where he’s come to work as a visiting professor. Lindon is torn about leaving his troubled wife, Marylou, behind in Dallas, but relieved and excited to start a new chapter in a lively city. The taxi drops him off at an elegant building at Roetersstraat 8-1, where he’s greeted by his university liaison and soon-to-be neighbor, the lovely and spunky art professor, Bernadette Gordon. After settling into his apartment, Lindon changes clothes and sets out to explore canals and cafes, wondering what the dinner invitation from Bernadette means for his fresh start.

But troubles from the past soon cross the Atlantic. Lindon discovers that notorious Dutch art forger Han van Meegeren, born in 1899, is about to play a part in Lindon’s own personal drama. With evil closing in, Lindon, Bernadette, and Marylou find that secrets of the art world may hold the key to settling old scores and putting a predator away for good.

Whether you are new to the world of Henry Lindon from author Clay Small’s first book, Heels Over Head, or this is your introduction to his works, you’re in for an exciting and unusual international adventure with characters that will live on in your memory long after you’ve finished the book.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/46819508Tue, 05 Oct 2021 08:00:19 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubThe Forger's Forgery by Clay G. Small Published April 20th 2021 When Art Mimics Life, Somebody’s Going to Get What’s Coming to Them Henry Lindon's flight across the north Atlantic was turbulent and sleepless. His plane has just touched down in...Published April 20th 2021
When Art Mimics Life, Somebody’s Going to Get What’s Coming to Them

Henry Lindon's flight across the north Atlantic was turbulent and sleepless. His plane has just touched down in Amsterdam, where he’s come to work as a visiting professor. Lindon is torn about leaving his troubled wife, Marylou, behind in Dallas, but relieved and excited to start a new chapter in a lively city. The taxi drops him off at an elegant building at Roetersstraat 8-1, where he’s greeted by his university liaison and soon-to-be neighbor, the lovely and spunky art professor, Bernadette Gordon. After settling into his apartment, Lindon changes clothes and sets out to explore canals and cafes, wondering what the dinner invitation from Bernadette means for his fresh start.

But troubles from the past soon cross the Atlantic. Lindon discovers that notorious Dutch art forger Han van Meegeren, born in 1899, is about to play a part in Lindon’s own personal drama. With evil closing in, Lindon, Bernadette, and Marylou find that secrets of the art world may hold the key to settling old scores and putting a predator away for good.

Whether you are new to the world of Henry Lindon from author Clay Small’s first book, Heels Over Head, or this is your introduction to his works, you’re in for an exciting and unusual international adventure with characters that will live on in your memory long after you’ve finished the book.]]>1186amreading,art,bookclub,booklove,bookreview,forgery,mustread,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/what-we-are-reading-sept-2021--46715082Published July 13th 2021 by Little, Brown and Company

Science is a force for good in the world—at least usually. But sometimes, when obsession gets the better of scientists, they twist a noble pursuit into something sinister. Under this spell, knowledge isn’t everything, it’s the only thing—no matter the cost. Bestselling author Sam Kean tells the true story of what happens when unfettered ambition pushes otherwise rational men and women to cross the line in the name of science, trampling ethical boundaries and often committing crimes in the process.

The Icepick Surgeon masterfully guides the reader across two thousand years of history, beginning with Cleopatra’s dark deeds in ancient Egypt. The book reveals the origins of much of modern science in the transatlantic slave trade of the 1700s, as well as Thomas Edison’s mercenary support of the electric chair and the warped logic of the spies who infiltrated the Manhattan Project. But the sins of science aren’t all safely buried in the past. Many of them, Kean reminds us, still affect us today. We can draw direct lines from the medical abuses of Tuskegee and Nazi Germany to current vaccine hesitancy, and connect icepick lobotomies from the 1950s to the contemporary failings of mental-health care. Kean even takes us into the future, when advanced computers and genetic engineering could unleash whole new ways to do one another wrong.

Unflinching, and exhilarating to the last page, The Icepick Surgeon fuses the drama of scientific discovery with the illicit thrill of a true-crime tale. With his trademark wit and precision, Kean shows that, while science has done more good than harm in the world, rogue scientists do exist, and when we sacrifice morals for progress, we often end up with neither.


A Study in Crimson: Sherlock Holmes: 1942 by Robert J. Harris
Published June 1st 2021 by Pegasus Crime

Bringing Sherlock Holmes from the Victorian Era into the dark days of World War II, this imaginative new thriller confronts the world’s greatest detective with a killer emulating the murders of Jack the Ripper.


Skeptic in Salem: An Episode of Death (A Dubious Witch Cozy Mystery #3)
by Fiona Grace
Published May 13th 2021 by Fiona Grace

SKEPTIC IN SALEM: AN EPISODE OF DEATH is Book #3 in a charming new cozy mystery series by bestselling author Fiona Grace, author of Murder in the Manor, a #1 Bestseller with over 100 five-star reviews!

When Mia Bold, 30, learns that the pharmaceutical company she works for only cares about money, she quits on the spot, walking away from a high-powered career—and from her long-time boyfriend, who breaks up with her.

With the podcast and TV show taking off, Mia’s career and life are finally starting to bloom again—when her uptight family makes an unexpected visit to Salem, to cast doubts on her passion and to urge her to return home.

At the same time, Mia’s show must try to debunk a notoriously haunted house, now on the market for sale. Mia, unable to explain the phenomena, seems to have met her match—just as the real estate agent drops dead.

Could this house be as insidious as it seems?

Or might there be some other motive?

A mesmerizing page-turner, packed with intrigue, mystery, romance, pets, food—and most of all, the supernatural—SKEPTIC IN SALEM is a cozy with a twist, one you will cherish as it has you fall in love with its main character and as it keeps you glued (and laughing) throughout the night.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/46715082Tue, 28 Sep 2021 08:00:09 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubThe Icepick Surgeon by Sam Kean Published July 13th 2021 by Little, Brown and Company Science is a force for good in the world—at least usually. But sometimes, when obsession gets the better of scientists, they twist a noble pursuit into something...Published July 13th 2021 by Little, Brown and Company

Science is a force for good in the world—at least usually. But sometimes, when obsession gets the better of scientists, they twist a noble pursuit into something sinister. Under this spell, knowledge isn’t everything, it’s the only thing—no matter the cost. Bestselling author Sam Kean tells the true story of what happens when unfettered ambition pushes otherwise rational men and women to cross the line in the name of science, trampling ethical boundaries and often committing crimes in the process.

The Icepick Surgeon masterfully guides the reader across two thousand years of history, beginning with Cleopatra’s dark deeds in ancient Egypt. The book reveals the origins of much of modern science in the transatlantic slave trade of the 1700s, as well as Thomas Edison’s mercenary support of the electric chair and the warped logic of the spies who infiltrated the Manhattan Project. But the sins of science aren’t all safely buried in the past. Many of them, Kean reminds us, still affect us today. We can draw direct lines from the medical abuses of Tuskegee and Nazi Germany to current vaccine hesitancy, and connect icepick lobotomies from the 1950s to the contemporary failings of mental-health care. Kean even takes us into the future, when advanced computers and genetic engineering could unleash whole new ways to do one another wrong.

Unflinching, and exhilarating to the last page, The Icepick Surgeon fuses the drama of scientific discovery with the illicit thrill of a true-crime tale. With his trademark wit and precision, Kean shows that, while science has done more good than harm in the world, rogue scientists do exist, and when we sacrifice morals for progress, we often end up with neither.


A Study in Crimson: Sherlock Holmes: 1942 by Robert J. Harris
Published June 1st 2021 by Pegasus Crime

Bringing Sherlock Holmes from the Victorian Era into the dark days of World War II, this imaginative new thriller confronts the world’s greatest detective with a killer emulating the murders of Jack the Ripper.


Skeptic in Salem: An Episode of Death (A Dubious Witch Cozy Mystery #3)
by Fiona Grace
Published May 13th 2021 by Fiona Grace

SKEPTIC IN SALEM: AN EPISODE OF DEATH is Book #3 in a charming new cozy mystery series by bestselling author Fiona Grace, author of Murder in the Manor, a #1 Bestseller with over 100 five-star reviews!

When Mia Bold, 30, learns that the pharmaceutical company she works for only cares about money, she quits on the spot, walking away from a high-powered career—and from her long-time boyfriend, who breaks up with her.

With the podcast and TV show taking off, Mia’s career and life are finally starting to bloom again—when her uptight family makes an unexpected visit to Salem, to cast doubts on her passion and to urge her to return home.

At the same time, Mia’s show must try to debunk a notoriously haunted house, now on the market for sale. Mia, unable to explain the phenomena, seems to have met her match—just as the real estate agent drops dead.

Could this house be as insidious as it seems?

Or might there be some other motive?

A mesmerizing page-turner, packed with intrigue, mystery, romance, pets, food—and most of all, the supernatural—SKEPTIC IN SALEM is a cozy with a twist, one you will cherish as it has you fall in love with its main character and as it keeps you glued (and laughing) throughout the night.]]>1654amreading,bookclub,booklove,murder,mustread,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/bonus-episode-fright-reads-interview--46688255https://api.spreaker.com/episode/46688255Sun, 26 Sep 2021 03:36:38 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubAn interview with Harry Carpenter, Coordinator for the Fright Reads Book Convention to be held on October 2, 20211182authors,bookclub,convention,event,frightreads,horror,mustread,mystery,scifi,willreadfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/stephanie-kane-cold-case-story--46610133
Cold Case Story is about a family that fractured along the fault lines of a murder. It's about fiction colliding with a cold hard crime, and the very personal story of how it feels to ping-pong between participant and observer, novelist and witness to one's own uneasy set of facts. In the end, all are punished--even the guilty.


Stephanie Kane

Stephanie Kane is a lawyer and award-winning author of seven crime novels. Born in Brooklyn, New York, she came to Colorado as a freshman at CU. A second-degree black belt, she owned and ran a karate studio in Boulder. After becoming a corporate partner at a top Denver law firm, she quit to do criminal defense work. She lives in Denver with her husband and two black cats.

Stephanie’s legal thrillers starring defense lawyer Jackie Flowers have won the Colorado Book Award for Mystery and two Colorado Authors League Awards for Genre Fiction. She belongs to Mystery Writers of America, Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers and the Colorado Authors League.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/46610133Tue, 21 Sep 2021 08:00:02 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubCold Case Story is based on the brutal murder of a housewife in the Denver suburbs in 1973. A college student back then, Stephanie Kane was more than a witness to this terrible crime. For nearly thirty years, she remained silent. Then, in 2001, she...
Cold Case Story is about a family that fractured along the fault lines of a murder. It's about fiction colliding with a cold hard crime, and the very personal story of how it feels to ping-pong between participant and observer, novelist and witness to one's own uneasy set of facts. In the end, all are punished--even the guilty.


Stephanie Kane

Stephanie Kane is a lawyer and award-winning author of seven crime novels. Born in Brooklyn, New York, she came to Colorado as a freshman at CU. A second-degree black belt, she owned and ran a karate studio in Boulder. After becoming a corporate partner at a top Denver law firm, she quit to do criminal defense work. She lives in Denver with her husband and two black cats.

Stephanie’s legal thrillers starring defense lawyer Jackie Flowers have won the Colorado Book Award for Mystery and two Colorado Authors League Awards for Genre Fiction. She belongs to Mystery Writers of America, Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers and the Colorado Authors League.]]>1173amreading,bookclub,booklove,murder,mustread,podcast,truecrimefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ann-cleeves-recast--46507234https://api.spreaker.com/episode/46507234Tue, 14 Sep 2021 08:30:03 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubRecast of an interview with Ann Cleeves, author of the Vera Stanhope, the Shetland and the Two Rivers Mystery series.1202anncleeves,bookclub,britishmystery,detective,murder,mustread,mystery,podcast,tworivers,verafalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/bonnie-macbird-the-devils-due-recast--46400916https://api.spreaker.com/episode/46400916Tue, 07 Sep 2021 08:30:11 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubRecast of an interview with Bonnie MacBird, author of the Sherlock Holmes pastiche "The Devil's Due" from March of last year2290bonniemacbird,bookclub,conandoyle,devil,holmes,london,mustread,mystery,pastiche,podcast,sherlock,toread,victorianmysteryfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/charles-and-caroline-todd-interview-recast--46305647https://api.spreaker.com/episode/46305647Tue, 31 Aug 2021 08:00:12 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubMemorium episode and recast of episode 65 featuring an interview with Caroline and Charles Todd2341amreading,bookclub,booklove,carolinetodd,memorium,mustread,mystery,podcast,recastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/death-of-a-dispatcher-by-sheryl-ickes--46211298by Sheryl Ickes
Published March 25th 2021 by Independently Published
Becky and Rufus Bridgewater are a cross country trucking team that enjoy seeing the country as they work. Shortly after returning to their company in Tennessee because of a merger, Becky finds a much hated dispatcher dead and quickly becomes the prime suspect. Clearing her name with the help of a few friends is not easy nor safe. Rufus may have to get used to going solo, both in trucking and in life.

Sheryl C. D. Ickes lives in the Carlisle, Pa area with her husband, daughter, and two dogs. She draws from and uses her work experience and general observations of life to write her award winning mysteries. Her Slice of Life mysteries centers around Alexandra Applecake, owner of the Slice of Life bakery and supply shop, in the fictitious town of Creek Water, Pa. The Becky and Rufus Cross Country mysteries transport the reader into the wonderful world of cross country trucking. Sheryl is a member of Sisters in Crime. You can follow her on Instagram or connect with her on Facebook or through her website www.sherylcdickes.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/46211298Tue, 24 Aug 2021 08:00:02 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubDeath of a Dispatcher (A Becky and Rufus Cross-Country Mystery #1) by Sheryl Ickes Published March 25th 2021 by Independently Published Becky and Rufus Bridgewater are a cross country trucking team that enjoy seeing the country as they work. Shortly...by Sheryl Ickes
Published March 25th 2021 by Independently Published
Becky and Rufus Bridgewater are a cross country trucking team that enjoy seeing the country as they work. Shortly after returning to their company in Tennessee because of a merger, Becky finds a much hated dispatcher dead and quickly becomes the prime suspect. Clearing her name with the help of a few friends is not easy nor safe. Rufus may have to get used to going solo, both in trucking and in life.

Sheryl C. D. Ickes lives in the Carlisle, Pa area with her husband, daughter, and two dogs. She draws from and uses her work experience and general observations of life to write her award winning mysteries. Her Slice of Life mysteries centers around Alexandra Applecake, owner of the Slice of Life bakery and supply shop, in the fictitious town of Creek Water, Pa. The Becky and Rufus Cross Country mysteries transport the reader into the wonderful world of cross country trucking. Sheryl is a member of Sisters in Crime. You can follow her on Instagram or connect with her on Facebook or through her website www.sherylcdickes.com.]]>1063amreading,bookclub,booklove,murder,mustread,podcast,truckerlifefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/what-we-are-reading-august-2021--46111833by S.A. Lelchuk
Published April 13th 2021 by Flatiron Books

Nikki Griffin, a private-investigator when she isn’t running her small bookstore, is on a case. The matriarch of one of the wealthiest San Francisco families has been defrauded by a con-man, and her furious son enlists Nikki to find the money. And find the con-man.

Nikki isn’t a fan of men who hurt women. Her secret mission, born of revenge and trauma, is to do everything she can to remove women from dangerous situations—and to punish the men responsible.

As Nikki follows the trail toward the con-man, she realizes that no one involved is telling her the whole truth. When the case overlaps with her attempt to protect a woman in trouble, and Nikki’s own life is put in danger, Nikki has to make terrible choices about who to save—and how to keep herself alive.


Choose Me
by Tess Gerritsen and Gary Braver
Published July 1st 2021 by Thomas & Mercer

Taryn Moore is young, beautiful and brilliant...so why would she kill herself? When Detective Frankie Loomis arrives on the scene to investigate the girl's fatal plunge from her apartment balcony, she knows in her gut there's more to the story, especially after the autopsy reveals that the college senior was pregnant. It could be reason enough for suicide-or a motive for murder.

To English professor Jack Dorian, Taryn was the ultimate fantasy: intelligent, adoring, and completely off limits. But there was also a dark side to Taryn, a dangerous streak that threatened those she turned her affections to--including Jack. And now that she's dead, his problems are just beginning.

After Frankie uncovers a trove of sordid secrets, it becomes clear that Jack may know the truth. He is guilty of deception, but is he capable of cold-blooded murder?

A Few Drops of Bitters - A Savannah Reid Mystery #26
by G.A. McKevett\
Published July 27th 2021 by Kensington Publishing Corporation

Plus-sized PI Savannah Reid doesn't shy away from high-profile cases with the Moonlight Magnolia Detective Agency. But when an upscale party ends with murder, drawing clues from famous guests may prove trickier than squeezing into an old pair of jeans...

For the first time in recent memory, Savannah has no guilt about indulging in personal interests before her career. Between being a mom to her new foster son and arranging a lavish wedding for her sister, things are messy, unpredictable, and delightfully fulfilling. She even gains an impressive friend: Dr. Carolyn Erling, a caring veterinarian with a deeper story than her down-to-earth nature suggests . . .

When Savannah attends a birthday bash for Dr. Carolyn's husband, she's astonished to find that her no-frills acquaintance resides in a pristine hilltop mansion with Dr. Stephen Erling, a jet-setter brain surgeon boasting throngs of A-list patients around the globe. Before Savannah can get a headcount on the mingling celebrities, Dr. Stephen has one too many champagne toasts and drops dead.

With a poisonous residue found inside Dr. Stephen's glass, the search is on for the killer who spiked his drink. Motivated to set things right for a devastated Dr. Carolyn, Savannah must infiltrate the elite world of foreign dignitaries and Oscar-winning stars to identify the guilty culprit--or prepare to kiss this happy chapter in her life goodbye.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/46111833Tue, 17 Aug 2021 08:00:08 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubOne Got Away - Nikki Griffin #2 by S.A. Lelchuk Published April 13th 2021 by Flatiron Books Nikki Griffin, a private-investigator when she isn’t running her small bookstore, is on a case. The matriarch of one of the wealthiest San Francisco families...by S.A. Lelchuk
Published April 13th 2021 by Flatiron Books

Nikki Griffin, a private-investigator when she isn’t running her small bookstore, is on a case. The matriarch of one of the wealthiest San Francisco families has been defrauded by a con-man, and her furious son enlists Nikki to find the money. And find the con-man.

Nikki isn’t a fan of men who hurt women. Her secret mission, born of revenge and trauma, is to do everything she can to remove women from dangerous situations—and to punish the men responsible.

As Nikki follows the trail toward the con-man, she realizes that no one involved is telling her the whole truth. When the case overlaps with her attempt to protect a woman in trouble, and Nikki’s own life is put in danger, Nikki has to make terrible choices about who to save—and how to keep herself alive.


Choose Me
by Tess Gerritsen and Gary Braver
Published July 1st 2021 by Thomas & Mercer

Taryn Moore is young, beautiful and brilliant...so why would she kill herself? When Detective Frankie Loomis arrives on the scene to investigate the girl's fatal plunge from her apartment balcony, she knows in her gut there's more to the story, especially after the autopsy reveals that the college senior was pregnant. It could be reason enough for suicide-or a motive for murder.

To English professor Jack Dorian, Taryn was the ultimate fantasy: intelligent, adoring, and completely off limits. But there was also a dark side to Taryn, a dangerous streak that threatened those she turned her affections to--including Jack. And now that she's dead, his problems are just beginning.

After Frankie uncovers a trove of sordid secrets, it becomes clear that Jack may know the truth. He is guilty of deception, but is he capable of cold-blooded murder?

A Few Drops of Bitters - A Savannah Reid Mystery #26
by G.A. McKevett\
Published July 27th 2021 by Kensington Publishing Corporation

Plus-sized PI Savannah Reid doesn't shy away from high-profile cases with the Moonlight Magnolia Detective Agency. But when an upscale party ends with murder, drawing clues from famous guests may prove trickier than squeezing into an old pair of jeans...

For the first time in recent memory, Savannah has no guilt about indulging in personal interests before her career. Between being a mom to her new foster son and arranging a lavish wedding for her sister, things are messy, unpredictable, and delightfully fulfilling. She even gains an impressive friend: Dr. Carolyn Erling, a caring veterinarian with a deeper story than her down-to-earth nature suggests . . .

When Savannah attends a birthday bash for Dr. Carolyn's husband, she's astonished to find that her no-frills acquaintance resides in a pristine hilltop mansion with Dr. Stephen Erling, a jet-setter brain surgeon boasting throngs of A-list patients around the globe. Before Savannah can get a headcount on the mingling celebrities, Dr. Stephen has one too many champagne toasts and drops dead.

With a poisonous residue found inside Dr. Stephen's glass, the search is on for the killer who spiked his drink. Motivated to set things right for a devastated Dr. Carolyn, Savannah must infiltrate the elite world of foreign dignitaries and Oscar-winning stars to identify the guilty culprit--or prepare to kiss this happy chapter in her life goodbye.]]>1325amreading,bestselling,bookclub,booklove,bookreview,murder,mustread,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/paranormal-mystery-roundup--46031166
A Charming Deception (Magical Cures Mystery #13)
by Tonya Kappes
Published February 25th 2020
Welcome to Whispering Fall where magic and mystery collide!

Bubble... Bubble...

June Heal and Oscar Park are beyond thrilled with the upcoming arrival of their baby.

Cures and Trouble...

June's pregnancy is turning out to more at risk than anticipated and she has to go to a specialist doctor outside of Whispering Falls where patients are nosey and hormones are raging, leaving the nurses and receptionist at their wits ends and bickering at each other.

Magic Stirs...

Poor June is put on limited activity. The baby is proving to a little mischievous and magic before it's even born and leaving the doctors a little miffed with all the different ultrasound shenanigans.

Trouble Doubles...

June's hormones have messed with her intuition and spiritual gifts, leaving her unsure of things going on around her.On one of her many doctor appointments, June arrives a little early and find the receptionist has been murdered. June can't help herself and decides to put her amateur and magical sleuthing skills to the test to try to bring the killer to justice... or are her hormones deceiving her?


The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James
Published February 18th 2020 by Berkley
The secrets lurking in a rundown roadside motel ensnare a young woman, just as they did her aunt thirty-five years before, in this new atmospheric suspense novel from the national bestselling and award-winning author of The Broken Girls.

Upstate NY, 1982. Every small town like Fell, New York, has a place like the Sun Down Motel. Some customers are from out of town, passing through on their way to someplace better. Some are locals, trying to hide their secrets. Viv Delaney works as the night clerk to pay for her move to New York City. But something isn't right at the Sun Down, and before long she's determined to uncover all of the secrets hidden…


Murder, Take Two (Witch City Mystery #10)
by Carol J. Perry .

As a Salem, Massachusetts, native, WICH-TV field reporter and amateur sleuth Lee Barrett is well versed in the region’s lore. So when the murder of revered local professor Samuel Bond resembles a killing from almost two centuries ago, everyone is on edge. Especially assistant professor Cody McGinnis . . .

Not only did Cody have differences with Bond, he even taught a course on the historic murder. And when his fingerprints and ladder are found at the crime scene, the police are certain of his guilt. Cody’s family, however, believes otherwise and asks Lee for assistance. Now, with the help of her clairvoyant cat, O’Ryan, her tech-savvy librarian aunt and housemate Ibby, and Pete Mondello, her handsome detective beau, Lee will delve deeper than ever into Salem’s past—and into her own psychic gifts—to find the real killer—before someone else is history . . .


Theme Music by T. Marie Vandelly
Published July 23rd 2019 by Dutton Books

For the lucky among us, life is what you make of it, but for Dixie Wheeler, the theme music for her story was chosen by another long ago, on the day her father butchered her mother and brothers and then slashed a knife across his own throat. Only one-year-old Dixie was left alive, infamously known as Baby Blue for the song left playing in the aftermath of the slaughter.

Twenty-five years later, Dixie is still desperate for a connection to the family she can’t remember, so when her childhood home goes up for sale, Dixie sets aside all reason and moves in, re-creating a macabre decor with her family’s salvaged furniture. But as the ghosts of her family seemingly begin to take up residence in the home that was once theirs, Dixie starts to question her own sanity and wonders if the evil force menacing her is that of her father, or a demon of her own making.

In order to make sense of her present, Dixie becomes determined to unravel the truth of her past and seeks out the detective who originally investigated the murders. But the more she learns, the more she opens up the uncomfortable possibility that the sins of her father may belong to another, and, perhaps most tragically, to Dixie herself. As bodies begin to pile up around her, Dixie must find a way to expose the lunacy behind her family’s massacre and redeem what little remains of her soul.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/46031166Tue, 10 Aug 2021 08:00:12 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubParanormal Mystery Boooo ks we love A Charming Deception (Magical Cures Mystery #13) by Tonya Kappes Published February 25th 2020 Welcome to Whispering Fall where magic and mystery collide! Bubble... Bubble... June Heal and Oscar Park are beyond...
A Charming Deception (Magical Cures Mystery #13)
by Tonya Kappes
Published February 25th 2020
Welcome to Whispering Fall where magic and mystery collide!

Bubble... Bubble...

June Heal and Oscar Park are beyond thrilled with the upcoming arrival of their baby.

Cures and Trouble...

June's pregnancy is turning out to more at risk than anticipated and she has to go to a specialist doctor outside of Whispering Falls where patients are nosey and hormones are raging, leaving the nurses and receptionist at their wits ends and bickering at each other.

Magic Stirs...

Poor June is put on limited activity. The baby is proving to a little mischievous and magic before it's even born and leaving the doctors a little miffed with all the different ultrasound shenanigans.

Trouble Doubles...

June's hormones have messed with her intuition and spiritual gifts, leaving her unsure of things going on around her.On one of her many doctor appointments, June arrives a little early and find the receptionist has been murdered. June can't help herself and decides to put her amateur and magical sleuthing skills to the test to try to bring the killer to justice... or are her hormones deceiving her?


The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James
Published February 18th 2020 by Berkley
The secrets lurking in a rundown roadside motel ensnare a young woman, just as they did her aunt thirty-five years before, in this new atmospheric suspense novel from the national bestselling and award-winning author of The Broken Girls.

Upstate NY, 1982. Every small town like Fell, New York, has a place like the Sun Down Motel. Some customers are from out of town, passing through on their way to someplace better. Some are locals, trying to hide their secrets. Viv Delaney works as the night clerk to pay for her move to New York City. But something isn't right at the Sun Down, and before long she's determined to uncover all of the secrets hidden…


Murder, Take Two (Witch City Mystery #10)
by Carol J. Perry .

As a Salem, Massachusetts, native, WICH-TV field reporter and amateur sleuth Lee Barrett is well versed in the region’s lore. So when the murder of revered local professor Samuel Bond resembles a killing from almost two centuries ago, everyone is on edge. Especially assistant professor Cody McGinnis . . .

Not only did Cody have differences with Bond, he even taught a course on the historic murder. And when his fingerprints and ladder are found at the crime scene, the police are certain of his guilt. Cody’s family, however, believes otherwise and asks Lee for assistance. Now, with the help of her clairvoyant cat, O’Ryan, her tech-savvy librarian aunt and housemate Ibby, and Pete Mondello, her handsome detective beau, Lee will delve deeper than ever into Salem’s past—and into her own psychic gifts—to find the real killer—before someone else is history . . .


Theme Music by T. Marie Vandelly
Published July 23rd 2019 by Dutton Books

For the lucky among us, life is what you make of it, but for Dixie Wheeler, the theme music for her story was chosen by another long ago, on the day her father butchered her mother and brothers and then slashed a knife across his own throat. Only one-year-old Dixie was left alive, infamously known as Baby Blue for the song left playing in the aftermath of the slaughter.

Twenty-five years later, Dixie is still desperate for a connection to the family she can’t remember, so when her childhood home goes up for sale, Dixie sets aside all reason and moves in, re-creating a macabre decor with her family’s salvaged furniture. But as the ghosts of her family seemingly begin to take up residence in the home that was once theirs, Dixie starts to question her own sanity and wonders if the...]]>1647amreading,bookclub,booklove,bookpodcast,frightreads,mustread,podcast,spookyreadsfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/book-review-the-lost-apothecary-by-sarah-penner--45934223by Sarah Penner
Published March 2nd 2021 by Park Row
A female apothecary secretly dispenses poisons to liberate women from the men who have wronged them—setting three lives across centuries on a dangerous collision course.Rule #1: The poison must never be used to harm another woman.
Rule #2: The names of the murderer and her victim must be recorded in the apothecary’s register.

One cold February evening in 1791, at the back of a dark London alley in a hidden apothecary shop, Nella awaits her newest customer. Once a respected healer, Nella now uses her knowledge for a darker purpose—selling well-disguised poisons to desperate women who would kill to be free of the men in their lives. But when her new patron turns out to be a precocious twelve-year-old named Eliza Fanning, an unexpected friendship sets in motion a string of events that jeopardizes Nella’s world and threatens to expose the many women whose names are written in her register.

In present-day London, aspiring historian Caroline Parcewell spends her tenth wedding anniversary alone, reeling from the discovery of her husband’s infidelity. When she finds an old apothecary vial near the river Thames, she can’t resist investigating, only to realize she’s found a link to the unsolved “apothecary murders” that haunted London over two centuries ago. As she deepens her search, Caroline’s life collides with Nella’s and Eliza’s in a stunning twist of fate—and not everyone will survive.

NYT Bestselling author of The Lost Apothecary (Park Row Books/HarperCollins), to be translated into 23 languages worldwide. To learn more, visit SarahPenner.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/45934223Tue, 03 Aug 2021 08:00:14 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubThe Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner Published March 2nd 2021 by Park Row A female apothecary secretly dispenses poisons to liberate women from the men who have wronged them—setting three lives across centuries on a dangerous collision course.Rule #1:...by Sarah Penner
Published March 2nd 2021 by Park Row
A female apothecary secretly dispenses poisons to liberate women from the men who have wronged them—setting three lives across centuries on a dangerous collision course.Rule #1: The poison must never be used to harm another woman.
Rule #2: The names of the murderer and her victim must be recorded in the apothecary’s register.

One cold February evening in 1791, at the back of a dark London alley in a hidden apothecary shop, Nella awaits her newest customer. Once a respected healer, Nella now uses her knowledge for a darker purpose—selling well-disguised poisons to desperate women who would kill to be free of the men in their lives. But when her new patron turns out to be a precocious twelve-year-old named Eliza Fanning, an unexpected friendship sets in motion a string of events that jeopardizes Nella’s world and threatens to expose the many women whose names are written in her register.

In present-day London, aspiring historian Caroline Parcewell spends her tenth wedding anniversary alone, reeling from the discovery of her husband’s infidelity. When she finds an old apothecary vial near the river Thames, she can’t resist investigating, only to realize she’s found a link to the unsolved “apothecary murders” that haunted London over two centuries ago. As she deepens her search, Caroline’s life collides with Nella’s and Eliza’s in a stunning twist of fate—and not everyone will survive.

NYT Bestselling author of The Lost Apothecary (Park Row Books/HarperCollins), to be translated into 23 languages worldwide. To learn more, visit SarahPenner.com.]]>1672amreading,apothecary,bookclub,booklove,bookreview,historicalfiction,mustread,podcast,poisonfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/what-we-are-reading-july-2021--45851857Published March 5th 2019 by Mariner Books

Clare Cassidy is no stranger to murder. A high school English teacher specializing in the Gothic writer R. M. Holland, she teaches a course on it every year. But when one of Clare’s colleagues and closest friends is found dead, with a line from R. M. Holland’s most famous story, “The Stranger,” left by her body, Clare is horrified to see her life collide with the storylines of her favourite literature.

To make matters worse, the police suspect the killer is someone Clare knows. Unsure whom to trust, she turns to her closest confidant, her diary, the only outlet she has for her darkest suspicions and fears about the case. Then one day she notices something odd. Writing that isn't hers, left on the page of an old diary: "Hallo, Clare. You don’t know me."

Clare becomes more certain than ever: “The Stranger” has come to terrifying life. But can the ending be rewritten in time?


The Killer Across the Table: Unlocking the Secrets of Serial Killers and Predators with the FBI's Original Mindhunterby John E. Douglas, Mark Olshaker
Published May 7th 2019 by Dey Street Books

The legendary FBI criminal profiler, number-one New York Times bestselling author, and inspiration for the hit Netflix show Mindhunter delves deep into the lives and crimes of four of the most disturbing and complex predatory killers, offering never-before-revealed details about his profiling process, and divulging the strategies used to crack some of America’s most challenging cases.

The FBI’s pioneer of criminal profiling, former special agent John Douglas, has studied and interviewed many of America’s most notorious killers—including Charles Manson, ”Son of Sam Killer” David Berkowitz and ”BTK Strangler” Dennis Rader—trained FBI agents and investigators around and the world, and helped educate the country about these deadly predators and how they operate, and has become a legend in popular culture, fictionalized in The Silence of the Lambs and the hit television shows Criminal Minds and Mindhunter.

Twenty years after his famous memoir, the man who literally wrote the book on FBI criminal profiling opens his case files once again. In this riveting work of true crime, he spotlights four of the most diabolical criminals he’s confronted, interviewed and learned from. Going deep into each man’s life and crimes, he outlines the factors that led them to murder and how he used his interrogation skills to expose their means, motives, and true evil. Like the hit Netflix show, The Killer Across the Table is centered around Douglas’ unique interrogation and profiling process. With his longtime collaborator Mark Olshaker, Douglas recounts the chilling encounters with these four killers as he experienced them—revealing for the first time his profile methods in detail.

Going step by step through his interviews, Douglas explains how he connects each killer’s crimes to the specific conversation, and contrasts these encounters with those of other deadly criminals to show what he learns from each one. In the process, he returns to other famous cases, killers and interviews that have shaped his career, describing how the knowledge he gained from those exchanges helped prepare him for these.

A glimpse into the mind of a man who has pierced the heart of human darkness, The Killer Across the Table unlocks the ultimate mystery of depravity and the techniques and approaches that have countered evil in the name of justice.


Mother May I - by Joshilyn Jackson
Revenge doesn’t wait for permission.
Published April 6th 2021 by William Morrow

Growing up poor in rural Georgia, Bree Cabbat was warned by her single mother that the world was a dark and scary place. Bree rejected her mother’s fearful outlook, and life has proved her right. Having married into a family with wealth, power, and connections, Bree now has all a woman could ever dream of: a loving lawyer husband, two talented teenage daughters, a new baby boy, a gorgeous home, and every opportunity in the world.

Until the day she awakens and sees a witch peering into her bedroom window—an old gray-haired woman dressed all in black who vanishes as quickly as she appears. It must be a play of the early morning light or the remnant of a waking dream, Bree tells herself, shaking off the bad feeling that overcomes her.

Later that day though, she spies the old woman again, in the parking lot of her daugh­ters’ private school . . . just minutes before Bree’s infant son, asleep in his car seat only a few feet away, vanishes. It happened so quickly—Bree looked away only for a second. There is a note left in his place, warning her that she is being is being watched; if she wants her baby back, she must not call the police or deviate in any way from the instructions that will follow.

The mysterious woman makes contact, and Bree learns she, too, is a mother. Why would another mother do this? What does she want? And why has she targeted Bree? Of course Bree will pay anything, do anything. It’s her child.

To get her baby back, Bree must complete one small—but critical—task. It seems harmless enough, but her action comes with a devastating price, making her complicit in a tangled web of tragedy and shocking secrets that could destroy everything she loves. It is the beginning of an odyssey that will lead Bree to dangerous places, explosive confrontations, and chilling truths.

Bree will do whatever it takes to protect her family—but what if the cost tears their world apart?]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/45851857Tue, 27 Jul 2021 08:00:19 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubThe Stranger Diaries (Harbinder Kaur #1) by Elly Griffiths Published March 5th 2019 by Mariner Books Clare Cassidy is no stranger to murder. A high school English teacher specializing in the Gothic writer R. M. Holland, she teaches a course on it...Published March 5th 2019 by Mariner Books

Clare Cassidy is no stranger to murder. A high school English teacher specializing in the Gothic writer R. M. Holland, she teaches a course on it every year. But when one of Clare’s colleagues and closest friends is found dead, with a line from R. M. Holland’s most famous story, “The Stranger,” left by her body, Clare is horrified to see her life collide with the storylines of her favourite literature.

To make matters worse, the police suspect the killer is someone Clare knows. Unsure whom to trust, she turns to her closest confidant, her diary, the only outlet she has for her darkest suspicions and fears about the case. Then one day she notices something odd. Writing that isn't hers, left on the page of an old diary: "Hallo, Clare. You don’t know me."

Clare becomes more certain than ever: “The Stranger” has come to terrifying life. But can the ending be rewritten in time?


The Killer Across the Table: Unlocking the Secrets of Serial Killers and Predators with the FBI's Original Mindhunterby John E. Douglas, Mark Olshaker
Published May 7th 2019 by Dey Street Books

The legendary FBI criminal profiler, number-one New York Times bestselling author, and inspiration for the hit Netflix show Mindhunter delves deep into the lives and crimes of four of the most disturbing and complex predatory killers, offering never-before-revealed details about his profiling process, and divulging the strategies used to crack some of America’s most challenging cases.

The FBI’s pioneer of criminal profiling, former special agent John Douglas, has studied and interviewed many of America’s most notorious killers—including Charles Manson, ”Son of Sam Killer” David Berkowitz and ”BTK Strangler” Dennis Rader—trained FBI agents and investigators around and the world, and helped educate the country about these deadly predators and how they operate, and has become a legend in popular culture, fictionalized in The Silence of the Lambs and the hit television shows Criminal Minds and Mindhunter.

Twenty years after his famous memoir, the man who literally wrote the book on FBI criminal profiling opens his case files once again. In this riveting work of true crime, he spotlights four of the most diabolical criminals he’s confronted, interviewed and learned from. Going deep into each man’s life and crimes, he outlines the factors that led them to murder and how he used his interrogation skills to expose their means, motives, and true evil. Like the hit Netflix show, The Killer Across the Table is centered around Douglas’ unique interrogation and profiling process. With his longtime collaborator Mark Olshaker, Douglas recounts the chilling encounters with these four killers as he experienced them—revealing for the first time his profile methods in detail.

Going step by step through his interviews, Douglas explains how he connects each killer’s crimes to the specific conversation, and contrasts these encounters with those of other deadly criminals to show what he learns from each one. In the process, he returns to other famous cases, killers and interviews that have shaped his career, describing how the knowledge he gained from those exchanges helped prepare him for these.

A glimpse into the mind of a man who has pierced the heart of human darkness, The Killer Across the Table unlocks the ultimate mystery of depravity and the techniques and approaches that have countered evil in the name of justice.


Mother May I - by Joshilyn Jackson
Revenge doesn’t wait for permission.
Published April 6th 2021 by William Morrow

Growing up poor in rural Georgia, Bree Cabbat was warned by her single mother that the world was a dark and scary place. Bree rejected her mother’s fearful outlook, and life has proved her right....]]>1640amreading,booklove,bookreview,mustread,podcast,summerreadfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/mary-logue-the-streel-a-deadwood-mystery-no-1--45746408
When I was fifteen and my brother Seamus sixteen, we attended our own wake. Our family was in mourning, forced to send us off to America.

The year is 1880, and of all the places Brigid Reardon and her brother might have dreamed of when escaping Ireland’s potato famine by moving to America, Deadwood, South Dakota, was not one of them. But Deadwood, in the grip of gold fever, is where Seamus lands and where Brigid joins him after eluding the unwanted attentions of the son of her rich employer in St. Paul—or so she hopes. But the morning after her arrival, a grisly tragedy occurs; Seamus, suspected of the crime, flees, and Brigid is left to clear his name and to manage his mining claim, which suddenly looks more valuable and complicated than he and his partners supposed.

Mary Logue, author of the popular Claire Watkins mysteries, brings her signature brio and nerve to this story of a young Irish woman turned reluctant sleuth as she tries to make her way in a strange and often dangerous new world. From the famine-stricken city of Galway to the bustling New York harbor, to the mansions of Summit Avenue in St. Paul, and finally to the raucous hustle of boomtown Deadwood, Logue’s new thriller conjures the romance and the perils, and the tricky everyday realities, of a young immigrant surviving by her wits and grace in nineteenth-century America.

"I would have wanted to be a writer when I was a child if I had known it was possible. When I could only read two words: "you" and "I," I went through a wholebook and circled them. I knew reading was the key to the rest of the world. I wrote my first mystery when I was in sixth grade—it was about a mysterious trail around a pond. I continue to write about mysterious trails around Lake Pepin in my Claire Watkins mystery series. Some things never change.

Poetry, however, is the foundation of my work. I have written four books of poetry, my latest is Hand Work, which came out in 2009. This book was the result of an experiment to write a poem a day for a year. I have also published a young adult novel, Dancing with an Alien, and the Bloodwater mysteries with Pete Hautman. My non-fiction books include a biography of my grandmother, Halfway Home, and a book on Minnesota courthouses, both published by the Minnesota Historical Society Press.

She was an editor at the Village Voice, Graywolf Press, and The Creative Company. She published articles in the Village Voice, the New York Times and the Hungry Mind Review. For many year she taught at the Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis. Currently, she on faculty in the low-residency Children's Literature MFA program at Hamline University in St. Paul.

She is a bi-riverbank, living on both sides of the Mississippi, with writer Pete Hautman in Minnesota and Wisconsin.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/45746408Tue, 20 Jul 2021 08:00:07 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubThe Streel -Published May 12th 2020 by Univ Of Minnesota Press When I was fifteen and my brother Seamus sixteen, we attended our own wake. Our family was in mourning, forced to send us off to America. The year is 1880, and of all the places Brigid...
When I was fifteen and my brother Seamus sixteen, we attended our own wake. Our family was in mourning, forced to send us off to America.

The year is 1880, and of all the places Brigid Reardon and her brother might have dreamed of when escaping Ireland’s potato famine by moving to America, Deadwood, South Dakota, was not one of them. But Deadwood, in the grip of gold fever, is where Seamus lands and where Brigid joins him after eluding the unwanted attentions of the son of her rich employer in St. Paul—or so she hopes. But the morning after her arrival, a grisly tragedy occurs; Seamus, suspected of the crime, flees, and Brigid is left to clear his name and to manage his mining claim, which suddenly looks more valuable and complicated than he and his partners supposed.

Mary Logue, author of the popular Claire Watkins mysteries, brings her signature brio and nerve to this story of a young Irish woman turned reluctant sleuth as she tries to make her way in a strange and often dangerous new world. From the famine-stricken city of Galway to the bustling New York harbor, to the mansions of Summit Avenue in St. Paul, and finally to the raucous hustle of boomtown Deadwood, Logue’s new thriller conjures the romance and the perils, and the tricky everyday realities, of a young immigrant surviving by her wits and grace in nineteenth-century America.

"I would have wanted to be a writer when I was a child if I had known it was possible. When I could only read two words: "you" and "I," I went through a wholebook and circled them. I knew reading was the key to the rest of the world. I wrote my first mystery when I was in sixth grade—it was about a mysterious trail around a pond. I continue to write about mysterious trails around Lake Pepin in my Claire Watkins mystery series. Some things never change.

Poetry, however, is the foundation of my work. I have written four books of poetry, my latest is Hand Work, which came out in 2009. This book was the result of an experiment to write a poem a day for a year. I have also published a young adult novel, Dancing with an Alien, and the Bloodwater mysteries with Pete Hautman. My non-fiction books include a biography of my grandmother, Halfway Home, and a book on Minnesota courthouses, both published by the Minnesota Historical Society Press.

She was an editor at the Village Voice, Graywolf Press, and The Creative Company. She published articles in the Village Voice, the New York Times and the Hungry Mind Review. For many year she taught at the Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis. Currently, she on faculty in the low-residency Children's Literature MFA program at Hamline University in St. Paul.

She is a bi-riverbank, living on both sides of the Mississippi, with writer Pete Hautman in Minnesota and Wisconsin.]]>1921amreading,authorinterview,bookclub,booklove,deadwood,historicalfiction,murder,mustread,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/beach-reads-roundup--45648602
Much Ado about Nauticaling (Whit and Whiskers Mystery #1) Published July 27th 2021 by Kensington Publishing Corporation
by Gabby Allan

Whitney Dagner is your tour guide to a Pacific paradise that's to die for--only to find it's a place people are also willing to kill for--in Gabby Allan's Much Ado About Nauticaling, first in the "Whit and Whiskers Mystery" series.

After far too many years in the Los Angeles corporate world, Whitney Dagner has come home to Santa Catalina Island off the California coast to help her brother Nick run Nautically Yours, the family tourism business. Between gift shop shifts selling all manner of T-shirts and tchotchkes and keeping her feline Whiskers in fine fettle, she pilots the Sea Bounder, a glass bottom boat showing tourists the underwater sights of aquatic plants, marine life--and a murder victim?

The self-proclaimed Master of the Island, Jules Tisdale was a wealthy man with business interests throughout Catalina who was about to be honored as Person of the Year before someone strangled him with his own tie and tossed his body into the water. That someone appears to be Nick, who had a raw deal from Jules and no alibi the night of his murder. To clear her brother's name, Whit will have to investigate Jules' shady associates and not exactly grief-stricken family members--with the unwelcome help of Felix Ramirez, police diver and Whit's ex-boyfriend who's looking to rekindle their relationship.


Knot Ready for Murder (A Quilting Mystery #9) Published July 27th 2021 by Kensington Publishing Corporation
by Mary Marks

Before quilter Martha Rose can tie the knot to Crusher, she has to track down his missing first wife...

One loose thread threatens to unravel Martha's wedding plans: the groom-to-be married a pregnant teen to save her from scandal thirty years ago--and the marriage was never annulled. Now Crusher's wife Hadas is coming to LA, along with his sister Fanya. But soon after she arrives, their houseguest goes missing, with her room ransacked and a chloroform-soaked cloth left behind. Could her apparent abduction be connected to her brother's unsolved death from a hit-and-run six months ago? Martha and her quilting cohorts must find the pattern to solve the twin mysteries and determine if Crusher is still married--or now a widower...


Summer Club Published August 14th 2020 by Outskirts Press
by Katherine Dean Mazerov

Normally, politics and parent drama, drunken soirees and sex-capades reign at Lydia Phillips's swim and -tennis club. Now, a strange car following the club manager, a break-in at Lydia's home, and a shocking discovery on the club grounds have this stay-at-home mom dusting off her newspaper-reporting skills to unravel the mystery.

Then, a body surfaces in the river, and Lydia's life gets a whole lot more complicated--and dangerous.

In one moment, readers of Summer Club will be laughing at the colorful characters' outrageous antics. The next moment, they will be riveted as the story reveals a troubling, complex scheme involving fraud and murder.

Perfect for parents balancing career and family, Summer Club casts a beam of dark humor across the hidden reality that makes "domestic" life--raising children and volunteering for community and school groups--sometimes more harrowing than the most cutthroat of corporate jobs.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/45648602Tue, 13 Jul 2021 08:00:11 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubWhat to read at the beach, vacation or just your backyard hammock. Much Ado about Nauticaling (Whit and Whiskers Mystery #1) Published July 27th 2021 by Kensington Publishing Corporation by Gabby Allan Whitney Dagner is your tour guide to a Pacific...
Much Ado about Nauticaling (Whit and Whiskers Mystery #1) Published July 27th 2021 by Kensington Publishing Corporation
by Gabby Allan

Whitney Dagner is your tour guide to a Pacific paradise that's to die for--only to find it's a place people are also willing to kill for--in Gabby Allan's Much Ado About Nauticaling, first in the "Whit and Whiskers Mystery" series.

After far too many years in the Los Angeles corporate world, Whitney Dagner has come home to Santa Catalina Island off the California coast to help her brother Nick run Nautically Yours, the family tourism business. Between gift shop shifts selling all manner of T-shirts and tchotchkes and keeping her feline Whiskers in fine fettle, she pilots the Sea Bounder, a glass bottom boat showing tourists the underwater sights of aquatic plants, marine life--and a murder victim?

The self-proclaimed Master of the Island, Jules Tisdale was a wealthy man with business interests throughout Catalina who was about to be honored as Person of the Year before someone strangled him with his own tie and tossed his body into the water. That someone appears to be Nick, who had a raw deal from Jules and no alibi the night of his murder. To clear her brother's name, Whit will have to investigate Jules' shady associates and not exactly grief-stricken family members--with the unwelcome help of Felix Ramirez, police diver and Whit's ex-boyfriend who's looking to rekindle their relationship.


Knot Ready for Murder (A Quilting Mystery #9) Published July 27th 2021 by Kensington Publishing Corporation
by Mary Marks

Before quilter Martha Rose can tie the knot to Crusher, she has to track down his missing first wife...

One loose thread threatens to unravel Martha's wedding plans: the groom-to-be married a pregnant teen to save her from scandal thirty years ago--and the marriage was never annulled. Now Crusher's wife Hadas is coming to LA, along with his sister Fanya. But soon after she arrives, their houseguest goes missing, with her room ransacked and a chloroform-soaked cloth left behind. Could her apparent abduction be connected to her brother's unsolved death from a hit-and-run six months ago? Martha and her quilting cohorts must find the pattern to solve the twin mysteries and determine if Crusher is still married--or now a widower...


Summer Club Published August 14th 2020 by Outskirts Press
by Katherine Dean Mazerov

Normally, politics and parent drama, drunken soirees and sex-capades reign at Lydia Phillips's swim and -tennis club. Now, a strange car following the club manager, a break-in at Lydia's home, and a shocking discovery on the club grounds have this stay-at-home mom dusting off her newspaper-reporting skills to unravel the mystery.

Then, a body surfaces in the river, and Lydia's life gets a whole lot more complicated--and dangerous.

In one moment, readers of Summer Club will be laughing at the colorful characters' outrageous antics. The next moment, they will be riveted as the story reveals a troubling, complex scheme involving fraud and murder.

Perfect for parents balancing career and family, Summer Club casts a beam of dark humor across the hidden reality that makes "domestic" life--raising children and volunteering for community and school groups--sometimes more harrowing than the most cutthroat of corporate jobs.]]>1367beachreads,bookclub,booklove,murder,mustread,mysterbooks,podcast,summerreadsfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/agatha-award-nominee-roundup--45588224
A Spell for Trouble by Esme Addison
Published July 7th 2020 by Crooked Lane Books
Alexandra Daniels hasn't set foot in the quiet seaside town of Bellamy Bay, North Carolina in over twenty years. Ever since her mother's tragic death, her father has mysteriously forbidden her from visiting her aunt and cousins. But on a whim, Alex accepts an invitation to visit her estranged relatives and to help them in their family business: an herbal apothecary known for its remarkably potent teas, salves, and folk remedies.

Bellamy Bay doesn't look like trouble, but this is a town that harbors dark secrets. Alex discovers that her own family is at the center of salacious town gossip, and that they are rumored to be magical healers descended from mermaids. She brushes this off as nonsense until a local is poisoned and her aunt Lidia is arrested for the crime. Alex is certain Lidia is being framed, and she resolves to find out why.

Alex's investigation unearths stories that some have gone to desperate lengths to conceal: forbidden affairs, family rivalries, and the truth about Alex's own ancestry. And when the case turns deadly, Alex learns that not only are these secrets worth hiding, but they may even be worth killing for.


Catriona McPherson - The Turning Tide (Dandy Gilver, #14) Published November 14th 2019 by Hodder & Stoughton
It's a breezy Scottish summer of 1936 and aristocratic sleuth Dandy Silver, along with trusted colleague Alec Osborne, has been called to solve the strange case of the Cramond Ferrywoman, on the Firth of the Forth.

From their cheerless digs in a local stately home, Dandy and Alec track Vesper Kemp, the ferrywoman, to a tiny tidal island. She seems to have lost her mind, roaming the beaches in rags, ranting about snakes and mercury. What is even more troubling, is that Vesper claims she murdered Peter Haslett, a young man who fell into the river, trying to row past ones of its four water mills, and drowned.

A group of worried Cramond residents--the minister, the innkeeper, and the lady of the big house--are determined that Vesper is innocent. But with four local millers themselves remaining oddly tight-lipped and with all the suspicious strangers who lurk about the village, Dandy and Alec have their work cut out for them. And the closer they get to the answers they seek, the stronger the sense that great danger lies beneath the surface of these murky waters.


Phantom Lady: Hollywood Producer Joan Harrison, the Forgotten Woman Behind Hitchcock by Christina Lane Published November 20, 2020 Chicago Review Press.

In 1933, Joan Harrison was a twenty-six-year-old former salesgirl with a dream of escaping both her stodgy London suburb and the dreadful prospect of settling down with one of the local boys. A few short years later, she was Alfred Hitchcock’s confidante and one of the Oscar-nominated screenwriters of his first American film, Rebecca. Harrison had quickly grown from being the worst secretary Hitchcock ever had to one of his closest collaborators, critically shaping his brand as the “Master of Suspense.”

Forging her own public persona as the female Hitchcock, Harrison went on to produce numerous Hollywood features before becoming a television pioneer as the producer of Alfred Hitchcock Presents. A respected powerhouse, she acquired a singular reputation for running amazingly smooth productions— and defying anyone who posed an obstacle. She built most of her films and series from the ground up. She waged rough-and-tumble battles against executives and censors, and even helped to break the Hollywood blacklist. She teamed up with many of the most respected, well-known directors, writers, and actors of the twentieth century. And she did it all on her own terms.

Author Christina Lane shows how this stylish, stunning woman became Hollywood’s most powerful female writer-producer—one whom history has since overlooked.

There are many other nominees. We have interviewed most in the past. you can check our catalog to listen to any of them. We wish them all the best of luck!!]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/45588224Tue, 06 Jul 2021 08:00:15 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubWe selected three nominees from different categories to interview, to talk about their books they were nominated for. A Spell for Trouble by Esme Addison Published July 7th 2020 by Crooked Lane Books Alexandra Daniels hasn't set foot in the quiet...
A Spell for Trouble by Esme Addison
Published July 7th 2020 by Crooked Lane Books
Alexandra Daniels hasn't set foot in the quiet seaside town of Bellamy Bay, North Carolina in over twenty years. Ever since her mother's tragic death, her father has mysteriously forbidden her from visiting her aunt and cousins. But on a whim, Alex accepts an invitation to visit her estranged relatives and to help them in their family business: an herbal apothecary known for its remarkably potent teas, salves, and folk remedies.

Bellamy Bay doesn't look like trouble, but this is a town that harbors dark secrets. Alex discovers that her own family is at the center of salacious town gossip, and that they are rumored to be magical healers descended from mermaids. She brushes this off as nonsense until a local is poisoned and her aunt Lidia is arrested for the crime. Alex is certain Lidia is being framed, and she resolves to find out why.

Alex's investigation unearths stories that some have gone to desperate lengths to conceal: forbidden affairs, family rivalries, and the truth about Alex's own ancestry. And when the case turns deadly, Alex learns that not only are these secrets worth hiding, but they may even be worth killing for.


Catriona McPherson - The Turning Tide (Dandy Gilver, #14) Published November 14th 2019 by Hodder & Stoughton
It's a breezy Scottish summer of 1936 and aristocratic sleuth Dandy Silver, along with trusted colleague Alec Osborne, has been called to solve the strange case of the Cramond Ferrywoman, on the Firth of the Forth.

From their cheerless digs in a local stately home, Dandy and Alec track Vesper Kemp, the ferrywoman, to a tiny tidal island. She seems to have lost her mind, roaming the beaches in rags, ranting about snakes and mercury. What is even more troubling, is that Vesper claims she murdered Peter Haslett, a young man who fell into the river, trying to row past ones of its four water mills, and drowned.

A group of worried Cramond residents--the minister, the innkeeper, and the lady of the big house--are determined that Vesper is innocent. But with four local millers themselves remaining oddly tight-lipped and with all the suspicious strangers who lurk about the village, Dandy and Alec have their work cut out for them. And the closer they get to the answers they seek, the stronger the sense that great danger lies beneath the surface of these murky waters.


Phantom Lady: Hollywood Producer Joan Harrison, the Forgotten Woman Behind Hitchcock by Christina Lane Published November 20, 2020 Chicago Review Press.

In 1933, Joan Harrison was a twenty-six-year-old former salesgirl with a dream of escaping both her stodgy London suburb and the dreadful prospect of settling down with one of the local boys. A few short years later, she was Alfred Hitchcock’s confidante and one of the Oscar-nominated screenwriters of his first American film, Rebecca. Harrison had quickly grown from being the worst secretary Hitchcock ever had to one of his closest collaborators, critically shaping his brand as the “Master of Suspense.”

Forging her own public persona as the female Hitchcock, Harrison went on to produce numerous Hollywood features before becoming a television pioneer as the producer of Alfred Hitchcock Presents. A respected powerhouse, she acquired a singular reputation for running amazingly smooth productions— and defying anyone who posed an obstacle. She built most of her films and series from the ground up. She waged rough-and-tumble battles against executives and censors, and even helped to break the Hollywood blacklist. She teamed up with many of the most respected, well-known directors, writers, and actors of the twentieth century. And she did it all on her own terms.
1517agathaawards,agathanominees,amreading,bookclub,booklove,malicedomestic,mustread,mysteryauthor,podcast,teapotfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/lgbtq-author-roundup--45486286
Shadow Sands (Kate Marshall #2) Published November 3rd 2020 by Thomas & Mercer
by Robert Bryndza

The internationally bestselling author of Nine Elms and The Girl in the Ice is back with a nail-biting new Kate Marshall case, a woman with a dark secret and a powerful sense of justice.

When Kate Marshall finds the bloated body of a young man floating in the Shadow Sands reservoir, the authorities label it a tragic accident.

But the details don't add up: why was the victim there, in the middle of the night? If he was such a strong swimmer, how did he drown?

Kate is certain there is more to this case than meets the eye. As she and her research assistant Tristan Harper dig deeper, they discover a bloody trail that points towards an active serial killer hiding in plain sight. People have been silently disappearing for years, and when another woman is taken, Kate and Tristan have a matter of days to save her from meeting the same fate.

Scarlet Fever ("Sister" Jane #12) Published November 26th 2019 by Ballantine Books
by Rita Mae Brown

"Sister" Jane Arnold hopes to play matchmaker, but winds up playing detective when hunting season kicks off with a murder in a riveting mystery from the bestselling author of Homeward Hound.

Every fall, the start of hunting season brings crowds of people to Tattenhall Station. "Sister" Jane Arnold has long served as the proud Master of Foxhounds for the Jefferson Hunt, but this year she's noticed a new phenomenon: the men in their hunting scarlets are having an amorous effect on the women in the club. Delighted, she sets her mind to playing matchmaker, but the joys of hunting season are cut short when a body is discovered.

Was the death from illness, as everyone, including Sister Jane, is led to assume? She isn't so sure, and soon, with the help of hunters, horses, foxes, and hounds, she uncovers a nefarious scam involving an inheritance--turning this seemingly innocuous death into a murder.

Still Life (Inspector Karen Pirie #6) Published October 6th 2020 by Atlantic Monthly
by Val McDermid

From internationally bestselling author Val McDermid comes a propulsive new Karen Pirie thriller that delves into a historic missing persons case, fake identities, and art forgery.

When a lobster fisherman discovers a dead body in Scotland’s Firth of Forth, Karen is called into investigate. She quickly discovers that the case will require untangling a complicated web—including a historic disappearance, art forgery, and secret identities—that seems to orbit around a painting copyist who can mimic anyone from Holbein to Hockney. Meanwhile, a traffic crash leads to the discovery of a skeleton in a suburban garage. Needless to say, Karen has her plate full. Meanwhile, the man responsible for the death of the love of her life is being released from prison, reopening old wounds just as she was getting back on her feet.

Tightly plotted and intensely gripping, Still Life is Val McDermid at her best, and new and longtime readers alike will delight in the latest addition to this superior series.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/45486286Tue, 29 Jun 2021 08:00:08 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubWe pay tribute to the amazing and talented LGBTQ authors. This is just the tip of the iceberg of authors that represent this community. Shadow Sands (Kate Marshall #2) Published November 3rd 2020 by Thomas & Mercer by Robert Bryndza The...
Shadow Sands (Kate Marshall #2) Published November 3rd 2020 by Thomas & Mercer
by Robert Bryndza

The internationally bestselling author of Nine Elms and The Girl in the Ice is back with a nail-biting new Kate Marshall case, a woman with a dark secret and a powerful sense of justice.

When Kate Marshall finds the bloated body of a young man floating in the Shadow Sands reservoir, the authorities label it a tragic accident.

But the details don't add up: why was the victim there, in the middle of the night? If he was such a strong swimmer, how did he drown?

Kate is certain there is more to this case than meets the eye. As she and her research assistant Tristan Harper dig deeper, they discover a bloody trail that points towards an active serial killer hiding in plain sight. People have been silently disappearing for years, and when another woman is taken, Kate and Tristan have a matter of days to save her from meeting the same fate.

Scarlet Fever ("Sister" Jane #12) Published November 26th 2019 by Ballantine Books
by Rita Mae Brown

"Sister" Jane Arnold hopes to play matchmaker, but winds up playing detective when hunting season kicks off with a murder in a riveting mystery from the bestselling author of Homeward Hound.

Every fall, the start of hunting season brings crowds of people to Tattenhall Station. "Sister" Jane Arnold has long served as the proud Master of Foxhounds for the Jefferson Hunt, but this year she's noticed a new phenomenon: the men in their hunting scarlets are having an amorous effect on the women in the club. Delighted, she sets her mind to playing matchmaker, but the joys of hunting season are cut short when a body is discovered.

Was the death from illness, as everyone, including Sister Jane, is led to assume? She isn't so sure, and soon, with the help of hunters, horses, foxes, and hounds, she uncovers a nefarious scam involving an inheritance--turning this seemingly innocuous death into a murder.

Still Life (Inspector Karen Pirie #6) Published October 6th 2020 by Atlantic Monthly
by Val McDermid

From internationally bestselling author Val McDermid comes a propulsive new Karen Pirie thriller that delves into a historic missing persons case, fake identities, and art forgery.

When a lobster fisherman discovers a dead body in Scotland’s Firth of Forth, Karen is called into investigate. She quickly discovers that the case will require untangling a complicated web—including a historic disappearance, art forgery, and secret identities—that seems to orbit around a painting copyist who can mimic anyone from Holbein to Hockney. Meanwhile, a traffic crash leads to the discovery of a skeleton in a suburban garage. Needless to say, Karen has her plate full. Meanwhile, the man responsible for the death of the love of her life is being released from prison, reopening old wounds just as she was getting back on her feet.

Tightly plotted and intensely gripping, Still Life is Val McDermid at her best, and new and longtime readers alike will delight in the latest addition to this superior series.]]>1243amreading,bookclub,booklove,gayauthors,gaypride,podcast,pridemonthfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/eric-dezenhall-false-light--45391257
Seasoned reporter Sanford “Fuse” Petty is old-school in every way—anti-technology, anti-Millennial (don’t even mention Gen-Z), and anti-“gotcha” journalism. After Fuse is asked to leave his paper pending a disciplinary investigation, he has plenty of time on his hands. So when his oldest friend approaches him for advice after the man’s daughter says she was sexually assaulted by her boss, a prominent media star, Fuse agrees to help. He gives his buddy the only options he feels are available: report the incident to the police and risk a huge “he said/she said” smear campaign against the girl, or plan something even better—revenge.

As a journalist, Fuse has a colorful background investigating criminals, politicians, gangsters, drug lords, and all-around shysters—and knows plenty of shady sources—so he’s the perfect person to enact a complex (and ultimately, entertaining) plan to bring the popular media mogul down in the court of public opinion . . . and make him pay.

Eric Dezenhall is an author of eleven books, including three non-fiction texts on crisis communications and corporate witch hunts, journalist and damage control expert based in Washington, D.C. He is the CEO of Dezenhall Resources, a nationally recognized high stakes communications firm. He frequently lectures in academic and business circles, and regularly appears as a damage control expert in the international media. He has appeared on network television and radio outlets including NPR, CNN, FOX, CNBC, and MSNBC; and has been quoted in publications including Fortune, USA Today, Forbes, and The Washington Post. He has written for the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Los Angeles Times, and the USA Today, and writes for the Daily Beast and Huffington Post.

Eric's books have been widely cited in business, media, and academic circles. In addition to his non-fiction books, he is also the author of seven novels. His seventh novel, False Light, is a thrilling tale of revenge set against the vibrant backdrop of sensationalist modern media. A seasoned reporter embarks on an entertaining and complex plan to exact revenge on a predatory media star in the court of public opinion. Eric is a graduate of Dartmouth College, where he studied political science and the news media. He lives near Washington, D.C., with his family.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/45391257Tue, 22 Jun 2021 08:00:15 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubFalse Light - Published February 23rd 2021 by Greenleaf Book Group Press Seasoned reporter Sanford “Fuse” Petty is old-school in every way—anti-technology, anti-Millennial (don’t even mention Gen-Z), and anti-“gotcha” journalism. After Fuse is asked...
Seasoned reporter Sanford “Fuse” Petty is old-school in every way—anti-technology, anti-Millennial (don’t even mention Gen-Z), and anti-“gotcha” journalism. After Fuse is asked to leave his paper pending a disciplinary investigation, he has plenty of time on his hands. So when his oldest friend approaches him for advice after the man’s daughter says she was sexually assaulted by her boss, a prominent media star, Fuse agrees to help. He gives his buddy the only options he feels are available: report the incident to the police and risk a huge “he said/she said” smear campaign against the girl, or plan something even better—revenge.

As a journalist, Fuse has a colorful background investigating criminals, politicians, gangsters, drug lords, and all-around shysters—and knows plenty of shady sources—so he’s the perfect person to enact a complex (and ultimately, entertaining) plan to bring the popular media mogul down in the court of public opinion . . . and make him pay.

Eric Dezenhall is an author of eleven books, including three non-fiction texts on crisis communications and corporate witch hunts, journalist and damage control expert based in Washington, D.C. He is the CEO of Dezenhall Resources, a nationally recognized high stakes communications firm. He frequently lectures in academic and business circles, and regularly appears as a damage control expert in the international media. He has appeared on network television and radio outlets including NPR, CNN, FOX, CNBC, and MSNBC; and has been quoted in publications including Fortune, USA Today, Forbes, and The Washington Post. He has written for the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Los Angeles Times, and the USA Today, and writes for the Daily Beast and Huffington Post.

Eric's books have been widely cited in business, media, and academic circles. In addition to his non-fiction books, he is also the author of seven novels. His seventh novel, False Light, is a thrilling tale of revenge set against the vibrant backdrop of sensationalist modern media. A seasoned reporter embarks on an entertaining and complex plan to exact revenge on a predatory media star in the court of public opinion. Eric is a graduate of Dartmouth College, where he studied political science and the news media. He lives near Washington, D.C., with his family.]]>2155amreading,bookclub,booklove,falselight,metoo,mustread,podcast,revengefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/what-we-are-reading-june-2021--45303797On this episode we talk about.

Mirrorland Published April 20th 2021 by Scribner
by Carole Johnstone

With the startling twists of Gone Girl and the haunting emotional power of Room, Mirrorland is a thrilling work of psychological suspense about twin sisters, the man they both love, and the dark childhood they can’t leave behind.

Cat lives in Los Angeles, far away from 36 Westeryk Road, the imposing gothic house in Edinburgh where she and her estranged twin sister, El, grew up. As girls, they invented Mirrorland, a dark, imaginary place under the pantry stairs full of pirates, witches, and clowns. These days Cat rarely thinks about their childhood home, or the fact that El now lives there with her husband Ross.

But when El mysteriously disappears after going out on her sailboat, Cat is forced to return to 36 Westeryk Road, which has scarcely changed in twenty years. The grand old house is still full of shadowy corners, and at every turn Cat finds herself stumbling on long-held secrets and terrifying ghosts from the past. Because someone—El?—has left Cat clues in almost every room: a treasure hunt that leads right back to Mirrorland, where she knows the truth lies crouched and waiting...

A twisty, dark, and brilliantly crafted thriller about love and betrayal, redemption and revenge, Mirrorland is a propulsive, page-turning debut about the power of imagination and the price of freedom.


Bone Canyon (Eve Ronin #2) Published January 5th 2021 by Thomas & Mercer
by Lee Goldberg

A cold case heats up, revealing a deadly conspiracy in a twisty thriller by #1 New York Times bestselling author Lee Goldberg.

A catastrophic wildfire scorches the Santa Monica Mountains, exposing the charred remains of a woman who disappeared years ago. The investigation is assigned to Eve Ronin, the youngest homicide detective in the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, a position that forces her to prove herself again and again. This time, though, she has much more to prove.

Bones don’t lie, and these have a horrific story to tell. Eve tirelessly digs into the past, unearthing dark secrets that reveal nothing about the case is as it seems. With almost no one she can trust, her relentless pursuit of justice for the forgotten dead could put Eve’s own life in peril.



The Three Locks (Sherlock Holmes Adventure #4) Published April 13th 2021 by Collins Crime Club

by Bonnie MacBird

A heatwave melts London as Holmes and Watson are called to action in this new Sherlock Holmes adventure by Bonnie MacBird, author of "one of the best Sherlock Holmes novels of recent memory." In the West End, a renowned Italian escape artist dies spectacularly on stage during a performance – immolated in a gleaming copper cauldron of his wife's design. In Cambridge, the runaway daughter of a famous don is found drowned, her long blonde hair tangled in the Jesus Lock on the River Cam. And in Baker Street, a mysterious locksmith exacts an unusual price to open a small silver box sent to Watson. From the glow of London's theatre district to the buzzing Cavendish Laboratory in Cambridge where physicists explore the edges of the new science of electricity, Holmes and Watson race between the two cities to solve the murders, encountering prevaricating prestidigitators, philandering physicists and murderous mentalists, all the while unlocking secrets which may be best left undisclosed. And one, in particular, is very close to home.


The Next Wife by Kaira Rouda Published May 1st 2021 by Thomas & Mercer

There is no limit to the lies, suspicion, and secrets that can poison the perfect marriage in this twisting novel of suspense by USA Today bestselling author Kaira Rouda.

Kate Nelson had it all. A flourishing company founded with her husband, John; a happy marriage; and a daughter, Ashlyn. The picture-perfect family. Until John left for another woman. Tish is half his age. Ambitious. She’s cultivated a friendship with Ashlyn. Tish believes she’s won.

She’s wrong.

Tish Nelson has it all. Youth, influence, a life of luxury, and a new husband. But the truth is, there’s a lot of baggage. Namely, his first wife—and suspicions of his infidelity. After all, that’s how she got John. Maybe it’s time for a romantic getaway, far from his vindictive ex. If Kate plans on getting John back, Tish is one step ahead of her.

She thinks.

But what happens next is something neither Kate nor Tish saw coming. As best-laid plans come undone, there’s no telling what a woman will do in the name of love—and revenge.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/45303797Tue, 15 Jun 2021 08:00:09 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubBack by popular demand another What we are Reading for June. On this episode we talk about. Mirrorland Published April 20th 2021 by Scribner by Carole Johnstone With the startling twists of Gone Girl and the haunting emotional power of Room,...On this episode we talk about.

Mirrorland Published April 20th 2021 by Scribner
by Carole Johnstone

With the startling twists of Gone Girl and the haunting emotional power of Room, Mirrorland is a thrilling work of psychological suspense about twin sisters, the man they both love, and the dark childhood they can’t leave behind.

Cat lives in Los Angeles, far away from 36 Westeryk Road, the imposing gothic house in Edinburgh where she and her estranged twin sister, El, grew up. As girls, they invented Mirrorland, a dark, imaginary place under the pantry stairs full of pirates, witches, and clowns. These days Cat rarely thinks about their childhood home, or the fact that El now lives there with her husband Ross.

But when El mysteriously disappears after going out on her sailboat, Cat is forced to return to 36 Westeryk Road, which has scarcely changed in twenty years. The grand old house is still full of shadowy corners, and at every turn Cat finds herself stumbling on long-held secrets and terrifying ghosts from the past. Because someone—El?—has left Cat clues in almost every room: a treasure hunt that leads right back to Mirrorland, where she knows the truth lies crouched and waiting...

A twisty, dark, and brilliantly crafted thriller about love and betrayal, redemption and revenge, Mirrorland is a propulsive, page-turning debut about the power of imagination and the price of freedom.


Bone Canyon (Eve Ronin #2) Published January 5th 2021 by Thomas & Mercer
by Lee Goldberg

A cold case heats up, revealing a deadly conspiracy in a twisty thriller by #1 New York Times bestselling author Lee Goldberg.

A catastrophic wildfire scorches the Santa Monica Mountains, exposing the charred remains of a woman who disappeared years ago. The investigation is assigned to Eve Ronin, the youngest homicide detective in the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, a position that forces her to prove herself again and again. This time, though, she has much more to prove.

Bones don’t lie, and these have a horrific story to tell. Eve tirelessly digs into the past, unearthing dark secrets that reveal nothing about the case is as it seems. With almost no one she can trust, her relentless pursuit of justice for the forgotten dead could put Eve’s own life in peril.



The Three Locks (Sherlock Holmes Adventure #4) Published April 13th 2021 by Collins Crime Club

by Bonnie MacBird

A heatwave melts London as Holmes and Watson are called to action in this new Sherlock Holmes adventure by Bonnie MacBird, author of "one of the best Sherlock Holmes novels of recent memory." In the West End, a renowned Italian escape artist dies spectacularly on stage during a performance – immolated in a gleaming copper cauldron of his wife's design. In Cambridge, the runaway daughter of a famous don is found drowned, her long blonde hair tangled in the Jesus Lock on the River Cam. And in Baker Street, a mysterious locksmith exacts an unusual price to open a small silver box sent to Watson. From the glow of London's theatre district to the buzzing Cavendish Laboratory in Cambridge where physicists explore the edges of the new science of electricity, Holmes and Watson race between the two cities to solve the murders, encountering prevaricating prestidigitators, philandering physicists and murderous mentalists, all the while unlocking secrets which may be best left undisclosed. And one, in particular, is very close to home.


The Next Wife by Kaira Rouda Published May 1st 2021 by Thomas & Mercer

There is no limit to the lies, suspicion, and secrets that can poison the perfect marriage in this twisting novel of suspense by USA Today bestselling author Kaira Rouda.

Kate Nelson had it all. A flourishing company...]]>1555amreading,bookclub,booklove,bookpodcast,murder,mustread,podcast,sherlock,whatwearereadingfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/sarah-graves-death-by-chocolate-snickerdoodle-4th-in-the-death-by-chocolate-series--45207489
As co-owners of Eastport's beloved waterfront bakery, The Chocolate Moose, Jake and Ellie know their customers expect them to cream the competition. But they're really just in it for fun, hoping to get Jake's daughter-in-law baking again. Those plans collapse when fearsome local curmudgeon Alvin Carter is murdered, and every crumb of evidence points to Tiptree family friend—and all-around sweet guy—Billy Breyer.

Billy's sisters beg Jake and Ellie to prove his innocence. After all, lots of folks had gone sour on Alvin—the only thing the retired lawyer liked better than bilking widows was swindling orphans, and several victims of his long-ago schemes still lived in Eastport. But just as the ladies begin sifting through the suspects, a series of grass fires blaze across the island, cutting off access to the mainland. Could someone be trying to hide the truth about Alvin's murder?

Now, Jake and Ellie will need all their courage—and an extra dash of that down-east Maine stubbornness—to sniff out the real killer before anyone else gets burned...

Sarah Graves is the USA Today bestselling author of the Death by Chocolate Mysteries, the Home Repair is Homicide Mystery Series, and the Lizzie Snow suspense novels. Much like Jake Tiptree, the sleuth who stars in her cozy mysteries, she lives in a 200-year-old house in Eastport, Maine. When she's not cooking or baking something delectable (or writing about it) she tends a huge garden or shovels snow, depending upon the season.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/45207489Tue, 08 Jun 2021 08:00:11 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubIn the fourth Death by Chocolate Mystery by the bestselling author of the Home Repair is Homicide series, Jacobia "Jake" Tiptree and Ellie White are fired up for Eastport, Maine's Annual Cookie Baking Contest. But when a cunning killer and a...
As co-owners of Eastport's beloved waterfront bakery, The Chocolate Moose, Jake and Ellie know their customers expect them to cream the competition. But they're really just in it for fun, hoping to get Jake's daughter-in-law baking again. Those plans collapse when fearsome local curmudgeon Alvin Carter is murdered, and every crumb of evidence points to Tiptree family friend—and all-around sweet guy—Billy Breyer.

Billy's sisters beg Jake and Ellie to prove his innocence. After all, lots of folks had gone sour on Alvin—the only thing the retired lawyer liked better than bilking widows was swindling orphans, and several victims of his long-ago schemes still lived in Eastport. But just as the ladies begin sifting through the suspects, a series of grass fires blaze across the island, cutting off access to the mainland. Could someone be trying to hide the truth about Alvin's murder?

Now, Jake and Ellie will need all their courage—and an extra dash of that down-east Maine stubbornness—to sniff out the real killer before anyone else gets burned...

Sarah Graves is the USA Today bestselling author of the Death by Chocolate Mysteries, the Home Repair is Homicide Mystery Series, and the Lizzie Snow suspense novels. Much like Jake Tiptree, the sleuth who stars in her cozy mysteries, she lives in a 200-year-old house in Eastport, Maine. When she's not cooking or baking something delectable (or writing about it) she tends a huge garden or shovels snow, depending upon the season.]]>1304amreading,bookclub,chocolate,cozy,deathbychocolate,maine,murder,mustread,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/tammy-euliano-fatal-intent--45088796
Elderly patients are dying at home days after minor surgery. Natural causes? Malpractice? Or a serial killer? And why doesn’t anyone care? Anesthesiologist Dr. Kate Downey wants to know why, but her unorthodox investigation threatens her job, her family, and her very life. The stakes escalate to the breaking point when Kate, under violent duress, is forced to choose which of her loved ones to save—and which must be sacrificed.

By day, Tammy Euliano, MD is a Professor of Anesthesiology and Obstetrics & Gynecology at the University of Florida where she cares for obstetric patients, teaches medical students and residents, performs research, and invents cool stuff. She's been honored with numerous teaching awards, more than 100,000 views of her YouTube teaching videos, and was featured in a calendar of women inventors (copies available wherever you buy your out-of-date planners).

By night, she plays games with her family (now remotely), cuddles her dogs, reads, and writes medical thrillers.

Vacations are for exploring our amazing world. She has dragged her family of five to all the major US national parks, Alaska, Hawaii, Canada, Costa Rica, the Caribbean, the Galapagos, the Mediterranean, Europe and New Zealand. Trips are spent soaking up the history and culture while also experiencing nature, often in extreme fashion]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/45088796Tue, 01 Jun 2021 08:00:05 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubFatal Intent by Tammy Euliano Elderly patients are dying at home days after minor surgery. Natural causes? Malpractice? Or a serial killer? And why doesn’t anyone care? Anesthesiologist Dr. Kate Downey wants to know why, but her unorthodox...
Elderly patients are dying at home days after minor surgery. Natural causes? Malpractice? Or a serial killer? And why doesn’t anyone care? Anesthesiologist Dr. Kate Downey wants to know why, but her unorthodox investigation threatens her job, her family, and her very life. The stakes escalate to the breaking point when Kate, under violent duress, is forced to choose which of her loved ones to save—and which must be sacrificed.

By day, Tammy Euliano, MD is a Professor of Anesthesiology and Obstetrics & Gynecology at the University of Florida where she cares for obstetric patients, teaches medical students and residents, performs research, and invents cool stuff. She's been honored with numerous teaching awards, more than 100,000 views of her YouTube teaching videos, and was featured in a calendar of women inventors (copies available wherever you buy your out-of-date planners).

By night, she plays games with her family (now remotely), cuddles her dogs, reads, and writes medical thrillers.

Vacations are for exploring our amazing world. She has dragged her family of five to all the major US national parks, Alaska, Hawaii, Canada, Costa Rica, the Caribbean, the Galapagos, the Mediterranean, Europe and New Zealand. Trips are spent soaking up the history and culture while also experiencing nature, often in extreme fashion]]>1607amreading,bookclub,booklove,medicalmystery,mustread,podcast,suspensefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/timothy-miller-the-strange-case-of-eliza-doolittle--45015469
One Miss Eliza Doolittle, once nothing more than a cockney guttersnipe, has been transformed into a proper lady of London—perhaps even a duchess?—as if overnight. When Col. Pickering recovered from a bout of malaria, he was astounded at the woman before him. Is it possible this transformation is due to nothing more than elocution lessons and some splendid new hats? Or has Professor Henry Higgins surreptitiously traded one girl for another? And for God’s sake, why?

As the case unfolds, Holmes and Watson find themselves in ever stranger territory. Who are the four identical “Freddies” pursuing Miss Doolittle? What part do the respected Dr. Jekyll and his malevolent associate, Mr. Hyde, long thought dead, have to play in this caper? And who the devil is the devilish Baron von Stettin?

The Strange Case of Eliza Doolittle is an enthralling escapade starring some of Victorian literature’s most beloved characters—a historical mystery that will leave you delighted, perplexed, and positively bewildered.

Timothy Miller was raised in Shreveport, Louisiana. He has produced two screenplays, Scanned (2010) and At War with the Ants (2010). He
was featured on a morning news segment at Loyola University
in New Orleans. Miller's love of the Edwardian long summer
and golden age developed in grade school when he first read The
Wind in the Willows.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/45015469Tue, 25 May 2021 08:00:13 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubSherlock Holmes has retired to the Sussex countryside . . . that is, until a most formidable puzzle is dropped upon his doorstep by a certain Colonel Pickering. One Miss Eliza Doolittle, once nothing more than a cockney guttersnipe, has been...
One Miss Eliza Doolittle, once nothing more than a cockney guttersnipe, has been transformed into a proper lady of London—perhaps even a duchess?—as if overnight. When Col. Pickering recovered from a bout of malaria, he was astounded at the woman before him. Is it possible this transformation is due to nothing more than elocution lessons and some splendid new hats? Or has Professor Henry Higgins surreptitiously traded one girl for another? And for God’s sake, why?

As the case unfolds, Holmes and Watson find themselves in ever stranger territory. Who are the four identical “Freddies” pursuing Miss Doolittle? What part do the respected Dr. Jekyll and his malevolent associate, Mr. Hyde, long thought dead, have to play in this caper? And who the devil is the devilish Baron von Stettin?

The Strange Case of Eliza Doolittle is an enthralling escapade starring some of Victorian literature’s most beloved characters—a historical mystery that will leave you delighted, perplexed, and positively bewildered.

Timothy Miller was raised in Shreveport, Louisiana. He has produced two screenplays, Scanned (2010) and At War with the Ants (2010). He
was featured on a morning news segment at Loyola University
in New Orleans. Miller's love of the Edwardian long summer
and golden age developed in grade school when he first read The
Wind in the Willows.]]>1529amreading,bookclub,booklove,elizadoolittle,jekyllandhyde,mustread,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/what-we-are-reading-may-2021--44882462
The Last Exit
by Michael Kaufman
Published January 12th 2021 by Crooked Lane Books

Valentino Will Die
(The Adventures of Bianca Dangereuse #2)
by Donis Casey
Published February 2nd 2021 by Poisoned Pen Press

Two Truths and a Lie: A Murder, a Private Investigator, and Her Search for Justice
by Ellen McGarrahan
Published February 2nd 2021 by Random House

A Stranger at the Door
(Rachel Marin Thriller #2)
by Jason Pinter
Published January 12th 2021 by Thomas & Mercer]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/44882462Tue, 18 May 2021 08:00:14 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubFour books for your reading pleasure! The Last Exit by Michael Kaufman Published January 12th 2021 by Crooked Lane Books Valentino Will Die (The Adventures of Bianca Dangereuse #2) by Donis Casey Published February 2nd 2021 by Poisoned Pen Press...
The Last Exit
by Michael Kaufman
Published January 12th 2021 by Crooked Lane Books

Valentino Will Die
(The Adventures of Bianca Dangereuse #2)
by Donis Casey
Published February 2nd 2021 by Poisoned Pen Press

Two Truths and a Lie: A Murder, a Private Investigator, and Her Search for Justice
by Ellen McGarrahan
Published February 2nd 2021 by Random House

A Stranger at the Door
(Rachel Marin Thriller #2)
by Jason Pinter
Published January 12th 2021 by Thomas & Mercer]]>1731amreading,bookclub,booklove,mustread,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-last-tea-bowl-thief-by-jonelle-patrick--44744434
For three hundred years, a stolen relic passes from one fortune-seeker to the next, indelibly altering the lives of those who possess it.

In modern-day Tokyo, Robin Swann’s life has sputtered to a stop. She’s stuck in a dead-end job testing antiquities for an auction house, but her true love is poetry, not pottery. Her stalled dissertation sits on her laptop, unopened in months, and she has no one to confide in but her goldfish.

On the other side of town, Nori Okuda sells rice bowls and tea cups to Tokyo restaurants, as her family has done for generations. But with her grandmother in the hospital, the family business is foundering. Nori knows if her luck doesn’t change soon, she’ll lose what little she has left.

With nothing in common, Nori and Robin suddenly find their futures inextricably linked to an ancient, elusive tea bowl. Glimpses of the past set the stage as they hunt for the lost masterpiece, uncovering long-buried secrets in their wake. As they get closer to the truth—and the tea bowl—the women must choose between seizing their dreams or righting the terrible wrong that has poisoned its legacy for centuries.


Jonelle Patrick is the author of five novels set in Japan, and has been writing about Japanese culture and travel since she first moved to Tokyo in 2003. In addition to The Last Tea Bowl Thief and the Only In Tokyo mystery series, she produces the monthly newsletter Japanagram, and blogs at Only In Japan and on her travel site, The Tokyo Guide I Wish I’d Had.

She also teaches at writing workshops, appears as a panelist at Thrillerfest, and was the keynote speaker at the Arrow Rock Writing Workshop.

She’s a graduate of Stanford University and the Sendagaya Japanese Language Institute, she’s also a member of the Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers, and Sisters in Crime. She divides her time between Tokyo and San Francisco.

Author website: https://jonellepatrick.com
Only In Japan blog: http://jonellepatrick.me
Monthly newsletter: https://japanagram.me
Facebook: JonellePatrickAuthor
Twitter: @jonellepatrick
Instagram: @jonellepatrick]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/44744434Tue, 11 May 2021 08:00:21 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubThe Last Tea Bowl Thief by Jonelle Patrick For three hundred years, a stolen relic passes from one fortune-seeker to the next, indelibly altering the lives of those who possess it. In modern-day Tokyo, Robin Swann’s life has sputtered to a stop....
For three hundred years, a stolen relic passes from one fortune-seeker to the next, indelibly altering the lives of those who possess it.

In modern-day Tokyo, Robin Swann’s life has sputtered to a stop. She’s stuck in a dead-end job testing antiquities for an auction house, but her true love is poetry, not pottery. Her stalled dissertation sits on her laptop, unopened in months, and she has no one to confide in but her goldfish.

On the other side of town, Nori Okuda sells rice bowls and tea cups to Tokyo restaurants, as her family has done for generations. But with her grandmother in the hospital, the family business is foundering. Nori knows if her luck doesn’t change soon, she’ll lose what little she has left.

With nothing in common, Nori and Robin suddenly find their futures inextricably linked to an ancient, elusive tea bowl. Glimpses of the past set the stage as they hunt for the lost masterpiece, uncovering long-buried secrets in their wake. As they get closer to the truth—and the tea bowl—the women must choose between seizing their dreams or righting the terrible wrong that has poisoned its legacy for centuries.


Jonelle Patrick is the author of five novels set in Japan, and has been writing about Japanese culture and travel since she first moved to Tokyo in 2003. In addition to The Last Tea Bowl Thief and the Only In Tokyo mystery series, she produces the monthly newsletter Japanagram, and blogs at Only In Japan and on her travel site, The Tokyo Guide I Wish I’d Had.

She also teaches at writing workshops, appears as a panelist at Thrillerfest, and was the keynote speaker at the Arrow Rock Writing Workshop.

She’s a graduate of Stanford University and the Sendagaya Japanese Language Institute, she’s also a member of the Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers, and Sisters in Crime. She divides her time between Tokyo and San Francisco.

Author website: https://jonellepatrick.com
Only In Japan blog: http://jonellepatrick.me
Monthly newsletter: https://japanagram.me
Facebook: JonellePatrickAuthor
Twitter: @jonellepatrick
Instagram: @jonellepatrick]]>1989amreading,bookclub,booklove,japan,mustread,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/hispanic-author-roundup--44616442
Mexican Gothic
by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

The Secret in Their Eyes
by Eduardo Sacheri

The North Face of the Heart
(Trilogía del Baztán #0)
by Dolores Redondo, Michael Meigs (Translator)]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/44616442Tue, 04 May 2021 08:00:13 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubIn honor of Cinco de Mayo we highlight 3 Hispanic mystery authors. Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia The Secret in Their Eyes by Eduardo Sacheri The North Face of the Heart (Trilogía del Baztán #0) by Dolores Redondo, Michael Meigs (Translator)
Mexican Gothic
by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

The Secret in Their Eyes
by Eduardo Sacheri

The North Face of the Heart
(Trilogía del Baztán #0)
by Dolores Redondo, Michael Meigs (Translator)]]>1051amreading,bookclub,hispanicauthors,mustread,podcast,roundupfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/caitlin-rother-death-on-ocean-boulevard--44483453
Was this scrawled message a suicide note or a killer's taunt? Rebecca's death came two days after Jonah's six-year-old son, Max, took a devastating fall while in Rebecca's care. Authorities deemed Rebecca's death a suicide resulting from her guilt. But who would stage either a suicide or a murder in such a bizarre, elaborate way?
Award-winning investigative journalist Caitlin Rother weaves stunning new details into a personal yet objective examination of the sensational case. She explores its many layers-including the civil suit in which a jury found Adam Shacknai responsible for Rebecca's death, and the San Diego County Sheriff's Department bombshell decision to reconfirm its original findings. As compelling as it is troubling, this controversial real-life mystery is a classic American tragedy that evokes the same haunting fascination as the JonBenet Ramsey and O.J. Simpson cases.

New York Times bestselling author Caitlin Rother has written or co-authored 14 books, ranging from narrative non-fiction crime to mystery and memoir. Her newest book is DEATH ON OCEAN BOULEVARD: Inside the Coronado Mansion Case (April 27, 2021). Her backlist includes HUNTING CHARLES MANSON; SECRETS, LIES, AND SHOELACES; LOVE GONE WRONG; DEAD RECKONING; THEN NO ONE CAN HAVE HER; I'LL TAKE CARE OF YOU; NAKED ADDICTION; POISONED LOVE; BODY PARTS; TWISTED TRIANGLE; LOST GIRLS; WHERE HOPE BEGINS and MY LIFE, DELETED. A Pulitzer Prize nominee, Rother worked as an investigative reporter at daily newspapers for 19 years before quitting the news biz in 2006 to write books full-time. Her journalism has been published in Cosmopolitan, the Los Angeles Times, The San Diego Union-Tribune, the Chicago Tribune, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe and The Daily Beast. She has done more than 200 appearances as a crime commentator on TV, radio and podcasts, ranging from "20/20," "People Magazine Investigates," "Nancy Grace," and "Crime Watch Daily," to shows on HLN, Oxygen Network, Investigation Discovery, C-SPAN, XM Radio and PBS affiliates. She also works as a writing-research-promotions coach and consultant.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/44483453Tue, 27 Apr 2021 08:00:11 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubDeath on Ocean Boulevard - The call came on the morning of July 13, 2011, from the historic Spreckels Mansion, a lavish beachfront property in Coronado, California, owned by pharmaceutical tycoon and multimillionaire Jonah Shacknai. When authorities...
Was this scrawled message a suicide note or a killer's taunt? Rebecca's death came two days after Jonah's six-year-old son, Max, took a devastating fall while in Rebecca's care. Authorities deemed Rebecca's death a suicide resulting from her guilt. But who would stage either a suicide or a murder in such a bizarre, elaborate way?
Award-winning investigative journalist Caitlin Rother weaves stunning new details into a personal yet objective examination of the sensational case. She explores its many layers-including the civil suit in which a jury found Adam Shacknai responsible for Rebecca's death, and the San Diego County Sheriff's Department bombshell decision to reconfirm its original findings. As compelling as it is troubling, this controversial real-life mystery is a classic American tragedy that evokes the same haunting fascination as the JonBenet Ramsey and O.J. Simpson cases.

New York Times bestselling author Caitlin Rother has written or co-authored 14 books, ranging from narrative non-fiction crime to mystery and memoir. Her newest book is DEATH ON OCEAN BOULEVARD: Inside the Coronado Mansion Case (April 27, 2021). Her backlist includes HUNTING CHARLES MANSON; SECRETS, LIES, AND SHOELACES; LOVE GONE WRONG; DEAD RECKONING; THEN NO ONE CAN HAVE HER; I'LL TAKE CARE OF YOU; NAKED ADDICTION; POISONED LOVE; BODY PARTS; TWISTED TRIANGLE; LOST GIRLS; WHERE HOPE BEGINS and MY LIFE, DELETED. A Pulitzer Prize nominee, Rother worked as an investigative reporter at daily newspapers for 19 years before quitting the news biz in 2006 to write books full-time. Her journalism has been published in Cosmopolitan, the Los Angeles Times, The San Diego Union-Tribune, the Chicago Tribune, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe and The Daily Beast. She has done more than 200 appearances as a crime commentator on TV, radio and podcasts, ranging from "20/20," "People Magazine Investigates," "Nancy Grace," and "Crime Watch Daily," to shows on HLN, Oxygen Network, Investigation Discovery, C-SPAN, XM Radio and PBS affiliates. She also works as a writing-research-promotions coach and consultant.]]>2237amreading,bookclub,murder,podcast,rebeccazahau,spreckelsmansion,suicide,truecrimefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/scottish-author-roundup--44399120
Murder in a Scottish Shire (A Scottish Shire Mystery #1)
by Traci Hall

Known as the Brighton of the North, Nairn is both a charming Scottish town and a popular seaside resort—but to Paislee Shaw, it's simply home—unfortunately to a murderer . . .

For a twenty-eight-year-old single mum, Paislee has knit together a sensible life for herself, her ten-year-old son Brody, and Wallace, their black Scottish terrier. Having inherited a knack for knitting from her dear departed grandmother, Paislee also owns a specialty sweater shop called Cashmere Crush, where devoted local crafters gather weekly for her Knit and Sip.

Lately, though, Paislee feels as if her life is unraveling. She’s been served an eviction notice, and her estranged and homeless grandfather has just been brought to her door by a disconcertingly handsome detective named Mack Zeffer. As if all that wasn't enough, Paislee discovers a young woman who she recently rehired to help in the shop dead in her flat, possibly from an overdose of her heart medicine. But as details of the death and the woman’s life begin to raise suspicions for Detective Inspector Zeffer, it’s Paislee who must untangle a murderous yarn . . .

A Song for the Dark Times (Inspector Rebus #23)
by Ian Rankin

"He’s gone…"

When his daughter Samantha calls in the dead of night, John Rebus knows it’s not good news. Her husband has been missing for two days.

Rebus fears the worst – and knows from his lifetime in the police that his daughter will be the prime suspect.

He wasn’t the best father – the job always came first – but now his daughter needs him more than ever. But is he going as a father or a detective?

As he leaves at dawn to drive to the windswept coast – and a small town with big secrets – he wonders whether this might be the first time in his life where the truth is the one thing he doesn’t want to find.

and last but not least

M.C. BEATON has won international acclaim for her bestselling Hamish Macbeth and Agatha Raisin mysteries. She is also the author of over 100 romance titles and a series of romantic suspense, The Edwardian Mystery Series. Sadly She passed away early last year.


Hamish Macbeth is the eldest of seven siblings and has three brothers and three sisters. His parents are crofters and as the eldest son, Hamish is expected to contribute to his family's income. He lives in Lochdubh's police station and keeps some sheep and chickens and grows some vegetables. He is occasionally guilty of poaching a salmon, sometimes for himself, but often as a gift or bribe for others.

M.C. BEATON has won international acclaim for her bestselling Hamish Macbeth and Agatha Raisin mysteries. She is also the author of over 100 romance titles and a series of romantic suspense, The Edwardian Mystery Series. Sadly She passed away early last year.

Hamish has a reputation for laziness. He loves the town of Lochdubh (meaning 'black lake' (loch) in Gaelic and pronounced Lokh-DOO) and is content and at peace with his life and lacks ambition. Of great concern to Hamish and his fellow villagers is the threat of possible closure of Lochdubh's police station,[1][2] something his superior and archenemy, Chief Inspector Blair, would like to see. Hamish avoids promotion, occasionally even deliberately destroying attempts to give him recognition for his accomplishments. His position as "local bobby," sees him sometimes left out of official investigations and he must often work outside official channels, as the detectives from neighbouring Strathbane CID do not appreciate his help. Despite this, it is Hamish's natural "Highland curiosity" and local knowledge and intuition that combine to solve crimes.

Early in the series, Hamish has an on-again, off-again romance with Priscilla Halburton-Smythe, the daughter of a wealthy local landowner. The romance ultimately ends in a broken engagement because of her sexual coldness; thereafter, his luck with women, including Elspeth Grant, a reporter with whom he has a relationship, continues to be poor. Hamish is very attached to his pets, first his dog Towser, then in later books his dog Lugs (Scots for "ears") and a "domesticated" wildcat named Sonsie (Scots for "cheeky").

Hamish is tall and thin. He has hazel eyes and long eyelashes and fiery red hair.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/44399120Tue, 20 Apr 2021 08:00:18 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubIn honor of Tartan Day we bring you three Scottish mystery writers to check out. Murder in a Scottish Shire (A Scottish Shire Mystery #1) by Traci Hall Known as the Brighton of the North, Nairn is both a charming Scottish town and a popular...
Murder in a Scottish Shire (A Scottish Shire Mystery #1)
by Traci Hall

Known as the Brighton of the North, Nairn is both a charming Scottish town and a popular seaside resort—but to Paislee Shaw, it's simply home—unfortunately to a murderer . . .

For a twenty-eight-year-old single mum, Paislee has knit together a sensible life for herself, her ten-year-old son Brody, and Wallace, their black Scottish terrier. Having inherited a knack for knitting from her dear departed grandmother, Paislee also owns a specialty sweater shop called Cashmere Crush, where devoted local crafters gather weekly for her Knit and Sip.

Lately, though, Paislee feels as if her life is unraveling. She’s been served an eviction notice, and her estranged and homeless grandfather has just been brought to her door by a disconcertingly handsome detective named Mack Zeffer. As if all that wasn't enough, Paislee discovers a young woman who she recently rehired to help in the shop dead in her flat, possibly from an overdose of her heart medicine. But as details of the death and the woman’s life begin to raise suspicions for Detective Inspector Zeffer, it’s Paislee who must untangle a murderous yarn . . .

A Song for the Dark Times (Inspector Rebus #23)
by Ian Rankin

"He’s gone…"

When his daughter Samantha calls in the dead of night, John Rebus knows it’s not good news. Her husband has been missing for two days.

Rebus fears the worst – and knows from his lifetime in the police that his daughter will be the prime suspect.

He wasn’t the best father – the job always came first – but now his daughter needs him more than ever. But is he going as a father or a detective?

As he leaves at dawn to drive to the windswept coast – and a small town with big secrets – he wonders whether this might be the first time in his life where the truth is the one thing he doesn’t want to find.

and last but not least

M.C. BEATON has won international acclaim for her bestselling Hamish Macbeth and Agatha Raisin mysteries. She is also the author of over 100 romance titles and a series of romantic suspense, The Edwardian Mystery Series. Sadly She passed away early last year.


Hamish Macbeth is the eldest of seven siblings and has three brothers and three sisters. His parents are crofters and as the eldest son, Hamish is expected to contribute to his family's income. He lives in Lochdubh's police station and keeps some sheep and chickens and grows some vegetables. He is occasionally guilty of poaching a salmon, sometimes for himself, but often as a gift or bribe for others.

M.C. BEATON has won international acclaim for her bestselling Hamish Macbeth and Agatha Raisin mysteries. She is also the author of over 100 romance titles and a series of romantic suspense, The Edwardian Mystery Series. Sadly She passed away early last year.

Hamish has a reputation for laziness. He loves the town of Lochdubh (meaning 'black lake' (loch) in Gaelic and pronounced Lokh-DOO) and is content and at peace with his life and lacks ambition. Of great concern to Hamish and his fellow villagers is the threat of possible closure of Lochdubh's police station,[1][2] something his superior and archenemy, Chief Inspector Blair, would like to see. Hamish avoids promotion, occasionally even deliberately destroying attempts to give him recognition for his accomplishments. His position as "local bobby," sees him sometimes left out of official investigations and he must often work outside official channels, as the detectives from neighbouring Strathbane CID do not appreciate his help. Despite this, it is Hamish's natural "Highland curiosity" and local knowledge and intuition that combine to solve crimes.

Early in the series, Hamish has an...]]>1394amreading,bloodyscotland,bookclub,booklove,highlands,mustread,podcast,scottishmystery,tartannoirfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/e-a-barres-pseudonym-e-a-aymar-they-re-gone--44310619by E.A. Barres (Pseudonym), E.A. Aymar

Two women's husbands are murdered on the same night in the same way--and their investigation uncovers a terrifying connection.

Two men from vastly different backgrounds are murdered one after another on the same night, in the same fashion with two bullet wounds: one in the head, another in the heart. The two slayings sends their wives on a desperate search for answers--and a desperate attempt to save their families' lives.

Grief takes a heavy toll on northern Virginia freelance editor Deb Linh Thomas when she learns of her husband's murder. And utter dismay sets in when, just a week after the funeral, she discovers that he had been the subject of an FBI investigation after withdrawing a large sum of money from their shared accounts.

Elsewhere, Baltimore bartender Cessy Castillo is less bereft when her abusive husband, ex-cop Hector Ramirez, is killed. But it turns out that he was deep in hock--and now Cessy's expected to pay up.

Deb and the FBI agent assigned to her case start digging into her husband's murder and learn that he had been the target of criminals. As Deb and Cessy join forces to learn the truth, their investigation reveals an ever-darker web of clues, but if they're not careful, they may just end up like their husbands.

Anthony Award-nominated E.A. Aymar's most recent thriller, THEY'RE GONE, was published in 2020 under his pseudonym E.A. Barres. THEY'RE GONE received high praise from a variety of popular trade reviews, including Publishers Weekly, Buzzfeed, a starred review from Kirkus, the Washington City Paper, and many more.

Prior to that, his 2019 thriller, THE UNREPENTANT, received similar critical enthusiasm ("Gut-wrenching...Readers who appreciate depth of character alongside gritty nonstop action will be rewarded." - Publishers Weekly) and was a finalist for numerous awards, including the Foreword Indies, the Readers Favorites, the Next Gin Indie, and the Anthony for Best Paperback. It also reached the top of the sales charts and was an Amazon bestseller.

His other thrillers include the novels-in-stories THE NIGHT OF THE FLOOD and THE SWAMP KILLERS (in both, he served as co-editor and contributor).

His column, "Decisions and Revisions," appears monthly in the Washington Independent Review of Books. He is a former member of the national board of the International Thriller Writers and, for years, was the managing editor of The Thrill Begins, an online resource for debut and aspiring writers. He is also an active member of Crime Writers of Color, the Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime. He also runs the Noir at the Bar series for Washington, D.C., and has hosted and spoken at a variety of crime fiction, writing, and publishing events nationwide.

He was born in Panama and now lives and writes in, and generally about, the D.C./MD/VA triangle.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/44310619Tue, 13 Apr 2021 08:00:15 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubThey're Gone by E.A. Barres (Pseudonym), E.A. Aymar Two women's husbands are murdered on the same night in the same way--and their investigation uncovers a terrifying connection. Two men from vastly different backgrounds are murdered one after...by E.A. Barres (Pseudonym), E.A. Aymar

Two women's husbands are murdered on the same night in the same way--and their investigation uncovers a terrifying connection.

Two men from vastly different backgrounds are murdered one after another on the same night, in the same fashion with two bullet wounds: one in the head, another in the heart. The two slayings sends their wives on a desperate search for answers--and a desperate attempt to save their families' lives.

Grief takes a heavy toll on northern Virginia freelance editor Deb Linh Thomas when she learns of her husband's murder. And utter dismay sets in when, just a week after the funeral, she discovers that he had been the subject of an FBI investigation after withdrawing a large sum of money from their shared accounts.

Elsewhere, Baltimore bartender Cessy Castillo is less bereft when her abusive husband, ex-cop Hector Ramirez, is killed. But it turns out that he was deep in hock--and now Cessy's expected to pay up.

Deb and the FBI agent assigned to her case start digging into her husband's murder and learn that he had been the target of criminals. As Deb and Cessy join forces to learn the truth, their investigation reveals an ever-darker web of clues, but if they're not careful, they may just end up like their husbands.

Anthony Award-nominated E.A. Aymar's most recent thriller, THEY'RE GONE, was published in 2020 under his pseudonym E.A. Barres. THEY'RE GONE received high praise from a variety of popular trade reviews, including Publishers Weekly, Buzzfeed, a starred review from Kirkus, the Washington City Paper, and many more.

Prior to that, his 2019 thriller, THE UNREPENTANT, received similar critical enthusiasm ("Gut-wrenching...Readers who appreciate depth of character alongside gritty nonstop action will be rewarded." - Publishers Weekly) and was a finalist for numerous awards, including the Foreword Indies, the Readers Favorites, the Next Gin Indie, and the Anthony for Best Paperback. It also reached the top of the sales charts and was an Amazon bestseller.

His other thrillers include the novels-in-stories THE NIGHT OF THE FLOOD and THE SWAMP KILLERS (in both, he served as co-editor and contributor).

His column, "Decisions and Revisions," appears monthly in the Washington Independent Review of Books. He is a former member of the national board of the International Thriller Writers and, for years, was the managing editor of The Thrill Begins, an online resource for debut and aspiring writers. He is also an active member of Crime Writers of Color, the Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime. He also runs the Noir at the Bar series for Washington, D.C., and has hosted and spoken at a variety of crime fiction, writing, and publishing events nationwide.

He was born in Panama and now lives and writes in, and generally about, the D.C./MD/VA triangle.]]>2083amreading,bookclub,booklove,murder,mustread,podcast,thrillerfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/daniel-pyne-water-memory-aubrey-sentro-1--44210517
A fast-paced, page-turning thriller that contemplates the consequences of motherhood, memory, and crime as a commodity.

Black ops specialist Aubrey Sentro may be one concussion away from death. But when pirates seize the cargo ship she’s on, she must decide whether to risk her life to save her fellow passengers.

Sentro’s training takes over, and she’s able to elude her captors, leaving bodies in her wake. But her problems are just getting started. Her memory lapses are getting more frequent, symptoms of serial-concussion syndrome.

As she plays a deadly game of cat and mouse with the pirates, she pushes herself to survive by focusing on thoughts of her children. She’s never told them what she really does for a living, and now she might not get the chance.

While her memories make her vulnerable, motherhood makes her dangerous.



Daniel Pyne wanders restlessly between prose fiction and screenwriting. He is the author of Twentynine Palms A Hole in the Ground Owned by a Liar, Fifty Mice, Catalina Eddy, and his latest work, Water Memory. Among Pyne's film credits are Backstabbing For Beginners, the remake of The Manchurian Candidate, Pacific Heights, Any Given Sunday and Fracture. Pyne's television work spans from the seminal hipster cop show Miami Vice to Amazon TV's longest running drama, Bosch. Pyne has a BA from Stanford University, where he toiled in economics but studied writing under Stegner fellows Chuck Kinder and John L‟heureux; he has an MFA from UCLA's Graduate School of Film, where he taught a seminar in screenwriting for a couple of decades. Born in Chicago, raised in Colorado, Pyne lives in Los Angeles and Santa Fe with his wife, rescue dog Luna, and an extremely sullen box turtle his grown children left in their wake.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/44210517Tue, 06 Apr 2021 08:00:17 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubWater Memory (Aubrey Sentro #1) A fast-paced, page-turning thriller that contemplates the consequences of motherhood, memory, and crime as a commodity. Black ops specialist Aubrey Sentro may be one concussion away from death. But when pirates seize...
A fast-paced, page-turning thriller that contemplates the consequences of motherhood, memory, and crime as a commodity.

Black ops specialist Aubrey Sentro may be one concussion away from death. But when pirates seize the cargo ship she’s on, she must decide whether to risk her life to save her fellow passengers.

Sentro’s training takes over, and she’s able to elude her captors, leaving bodies in her wake. But her problems are just getting started. Her memory lapses are getting more frequent, symptoms of serial-concussion syndrome.

As she plays a deadly game of cat and mouse with the pirates, she pushes herself to survive by focusing on thoughts of her children. She’s never told them what she really does for a living, and now she might not get the chance.

While her memories make her vulnerable, motherhood makes her dangerous.



Daniel Pyne wanders restlessly between prose fiction and screenwriting. He is the author of Twentynine Palms A Hole in the Ground Owned by a Liar, Fifty Mice, Catalina Eddy, and his latest work, Water Memory. Among Pyne's film credits are Backstabbing For Beginners, the remake of The Manchurian Candidate, Pacific Heights, Any Given Sunday and Fracture. Pyne's television work spans from the seminal hipster cop show Miami Vice to Amazon TV's longest running drama, Bosch. Pyne has a BA from Stanford University, where he toiled in economics but studied writing under Stegner fellows Chuck Kinder and John L‟heureux; he has an MFA from UCLA's Graduate School of Film, where he taught a seminar in screenwriting for a couple of decades. Born in Chicago, raised in Colorado, Pyne lives in Los Angeles and Santa Fe with his wife, rescue dog Luna, and an extremely sullen box turtle his grown children left in their wake.]]>1579amreading,blackops,bookclub,booklove,bookreview,cargoship,mustread,pirates,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/historical-woman-in-fiction-roundup--44106464
The Alice Network
by Kate Quinn Published June 6th 2017 by William Morrow Paperbacks

The Diabolical Bones (Brontë Sisters Mystery #2)
by Bella Ellis Published February 16th 2021 by Berkley Books (first published October 8th 2020)

A Knife in the Fog (Margaret Harkness and Arthur Conan Doyle #1)
by Bradley Harper Published October 2nd 2018 by Seventh Street Books

Dear Miss Kopp (Kopp Sisters #6)
by Amy Stewart Published January 12th 2021 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/44106464Tue, 30 Mar 2021 08:00:17 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubTo help celebrate the Woman's History Month. We feature four fiction books that include real woman of history. The Alice Network by Kate Quinn Published June 6th 2017 by William Morrow Paperbacks The Diabolical Bones (Brontë Sisters Mystery #2)...
The Alice Network
by Kate Quinn Published June 6th 2017 by William Morrow Paperbacks

The Diabolical Bones (Brontë Sisters Mystery #2)
by Bella Ellis Published February 16th 2021 by Berkley Books (first published October 8th 2020)

A Knife in the Fog (Margaret Harkness and Arthur Conan Doyle #1)
by Bradley Harper Published October 2nd 2018 by Seventh Street Books

Dear Miss Kopp (Kopp Sisters #6)
by Amy Stewart Published January 12th 2021 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt]]>1530amreading,bookclub,booklove,historical,historicalfiction,murder,mustread,podcast,womanshistorymonthfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/jackie-flaum-justice-tomorrow-sterling-brothers-ltd-number-1--43987428
Who lynched Henry Johnson?

Young investigators Madeline Sterling and Socractes Gray head a team sent to a Georgia town in 1965 to learn who lynched the son of a local civil rights leader.

Sterling doesn’t have her head on straight from her last assignment. And Gray knows pretty little Crossville, Georgia is no place for her or the handsom rookie she’s training to be a detective for the civil rights group, Justice Tomorrow.

The town’s seething with rage. Both Black and white commuinities are lashing out a the wrong enemy.

Sterling and Gray suspect someone is using prejudice, murder, arson, and feuds dating back to the Civil War to hide larceny on a grand scale. But it's hard to think when they're fighting a forbidden attraction.

Suddenly, their lives are in danger and time is running out for the investigators. Sterling and Gray must unravel a hundred-year-old murder to get justice for Henry Johnson--and somehow get out alive.

Meet Socrates Gray...
1961
Socrates Gray knew they would come at him sometime during his time at Yale University. He’d endured plenty of racial slights and slurs in his three years on the New Haven campus, but he always expected a physical attack that left him bruised and bloodied. Or dead.

Still, it surprised him when two white men stepped from the shadows of the trees and blocked his path from the apartment he shared with his younger brother. His eyes swept the park-like area warming in the spring afternoon sun. Empty. As he knew it would be. The men had planned the assault.

The taller and younger of the two men, had a hand—the one carrying his weapon no doubt—behind his back. The men didn’t hide their faces, which meant they came to kill so he couldn’t identify them. Not that the New Haven, Connecticut police would really try to find to those who killed or brutalized a black student.

“Socrates Gray?” The older man asked. His green eyes seemed to sparkle in the sun. He was much shorter than his companion or Gray. His shoulders squared, his lips pursed, and he appeared like a butler announcing dinner rather than an assassin.

Gray had learned to be wary of appearances. Some of the most proper, preppy-looking Yalies had peppered him with insults and threats.

“Gray. Call me Gray.” His weight shifting to his back foot.

“I’m Arthur Woolworth. Might we have a word?” His hand swept to a nearby park bench.
“I’m late. . .” Gray gathered his breath. For the first time he noticed they both wore suits. And the taller man’s hands were empty. No weapons. “I-I’m late for class.”

“It won’t take long, I promise. We have an extraordinary offer for you to consider,” said Woolworth. “If you say no, you can continue on to class—or we will drive you if you wish.”
“W-what—What kind of offer?”

Woolworth nodded to his companion and the taller man stepped aside, out of earshot. His eyes, however, scanned the area as though an assault was imminent.

“Please, can we sit. I’m not as young as I used to be and the blasted sun isn’t as warm as I’d hoped.” Before he sat, Woolworth flipped back his dark wool coat, reached into his hip pocket, and took out a billfold. He flipped through the contents a moment, then founded a picture to hand Gray.

The photo had white rippled edges like older Kodak pictures and there was no writing on the back. When Gray turned it over, he gasped.

“I see you recognize two of the people in the picture,” Woolworth said.

Gray sat on the bench. The Eiffel Tower in Paris filled the grainy background of the photo. Six, no eight, young people laughed at the camera. Two of them were his parents. Another was the younger version of the man in front of him.

“Your mother was so fair skinned she passed for white in Paris,” Woolworth said. “She thought it was funny. She actually made a game of it when we were around Americans. Florence—your mother—was daring. What she endured and the horrible stories she told..."

“She was a wonderful storyteller. My father, brother and I loved to hear her spin a yarn.” Gray stared at the photo, felt his eyes burn.

“Well, we were, all of us, idealists, philosophers, painters, and writers who would change the world with our vision. Back then we felt invincible. And we had plans. Your father came late to our gang of adventurers. Your mother met him—.”

“In a French café opposite the Sorbonne where he was a student,” Gray finished.

“As the war clouds gathered, all of us went home. First one, then another. They followed their dream of educating young Negroes in the South, hoping the South would become, well, as free and accepting as Paris. I went to war then followed dreams of a practical nature.You may recognize others in the picture as wealthy, influential people now. One is very well connected in government.” For a moment Woolworth studied his bony hands popping with blue veins. “I still paint a little.”

“You knew them.” Gray couldn’t believe his luck. Someone who could actually speak of his parents, what they were like, how they moved, who they loved.

Woolworth nodded. “For what it’s worth, even then I tried to talk them out of returning to the South after the war. Nothing changed there, even for men like your father who fought Hitler in the same trenches as whites. They were…they were warriors. I am sorry for you and your brother. I never knew of your existence until later. Much later.”

“We moved in with my aunt and kept our heads down. She tried to turn us into God-fearing Christians, who forgave our enemies.” Gray swallowed hard. “Too much to forgive.”


Jackie Ross Flaum
Born and raised in Ashland, Kentucky, I began my professional career as a reporter for The Hartford Courant in Connecticut. More fun than anything! I won a Sigma Delta Chi prize for editorial writing – and met my future husband, David, there.

After David became a business reporter we moved our little poodle Tucky and daughters Stephanie and Becky to Memphis. That’s where my new career in public relations, marketing, and executive speech writing began.

In Memphis, I wrote something different every week: speeches, magazine or newspaper stories, ad copy, even books. I did things like:
Executive speeches for Federal Express
A nationally syndicated newspaper column as a ghost-writer
A prize-winning national marketing plan for a local travel agency
Copy for an on-line city guide that won an Addy award
A Memphis magazine story on women in a Tennessee prison
Parts of AJ’s Tax Court (St. Luke’s Press) and Sex, Drugs, Rock and Roll (Professional Counselor Books).

Finally, I abandoned fact for fiction.

I entered an unfinished novel and won the 21st annual River City Romance Writers Duel on the Delta for romantic suspense. "One in Ten Thousand," alas, remains unfinished.
And I won the June short story then came in second in the six-month contests at Short Story Land.

I’m about to release the first novel. Hang on.

Outside writing and my family (I now have five grandchildren) my real passion is working to improve the lives of children.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/43987428Tue, 23 Mar 2021 08:00:04 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubJustice Tomorrow Who lynched Henry Johnson? Young investigators Madeline Sterling and Socractes Gray head a team sent to a Georgia town in 1965 to learn who lynched the son of a local civil rights leader. Sterling doesn’t have her head on...
Who lynched Henry Johnson?

Young investigators Madeline Sterling and Socractes Gray head a team sent to a Georgia town in 1965 to learn who lynched the son of a local civil rights leader.

Sterling doesn’t have her head on straight from her last assignment. And Gray knows pretty little Crossville, Georgia is no place for her or the handsom rookie she’s training to be a detective for the civil rights group, Justice Tomorrow.

The town’s seething with rage. Both Black and white commuinities are lashing out a the wrong enemy.

Sterling and Gray suspect someone is using prejudice, murder, arson, and feuds dating back to the Civil War to hide larceny on a grand scale. But it's hard to think when they're fighting a forbidden attraction.

Suddenly, their lives are in danger and time is running out for the investigators. Sterling and Gray must unravel a hundred-year-old murder to get justice for Henry Johnson--and somehow get out alive.

Meet Socrates Gray...
1961
Socrates Gray knew they would come at him sometime during his time at Yale University. He’d endured plenty of racial slights and slurs in his three years on the New Haven campus, but he always expected a physical attack that left him bruised and bloodied. Or dead.

Still, it surprised him when two white men stepped from the shadows of the trees and blocked his path from the apartment he shared with his younger brother. His eyes swept the park-like area warming in the spring afternoon sun. Empty. As he knew it would be. The men had planned the assault.

The taller and younger of the two men, had a hand—the one carrying his weapon no doubt—behind his back. The men didn’t hide their faces, which meant they came to kill so he couldn’t identify them. Not that the New Haven, Connecticut police would really try to find to those who killed or brutalized a black student.

“Socrates Gray?” The older man asked. His green eyes seemed to sparkle in the sun. He was much shorter than his companion or Gray. His shoulders squared, his lips pursed, and he appeared like a butler announcing dinner rather than an assassin.

Gray had learned to be wary of appearances. Some of the most proper, preppy-looking Yalies had peppered him with insults and threats.

“Gray. Call me Gray.” His weight shifting to his back foot.

“I’m Arthur Woolworth. Might we have a word?” His hand swept to a nearby park bench.
“I’m late. . .” Gray gathered his breath. For the first time he noticed they both wore suits. And the taller man’s hands were empty. No weapons. “I-I’m late for class.”

“It won’t take long, I promise. We have an extraordinary offer for you to consider,” said Woolworth. “If you say no, you can continue on to class—or we will drive you if you wish.”
“W-what—What kind of offer?”

Woolworth nodded to his companion and the taller man stepped aside, out of earshot. His eyes, however, scanned the area as though an assault was imminent.

“Please, can we sit. I’m not as young as I used to be and the blasted sun isn’t as warm as I’d hoped.” Before he sat, Woolworth flipped back his dark wool coat, reached into his hip pocket, and took out a billfold. He flipped through the contents a moment, then founded a picture to hand Gray.

The photo had white rippled edges like older Kodak pictures and there was no writing on the back. When Gray turned it over, he gasped.

“I see you recognize two of the people in the picture,” Woolworth said.

Gray sat on the bench. The Eiffel Tower in Paris filled the grainy background of the photo. Six, no eight, young people laughed at the camera. Two of them were his parents. Another was the younger version of the man in front of him.

“Your mother was so fair skinned she passed for white in Paris,” Woolworth said. “She...]]>22441960's,amreading,bookclub,booklove,civilrights,historicalmystery,mustread,podcast,racism,socialinjusticefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/irish-author-roundup--43881702
Murder in Connemara
(Home to Ireland Mystery #2)
by Carlene O'Connor

The Killer in Me
(Frankie Sheehan #2)
by Olivia Kiernan

A Keeper
by Graham Norton]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/43881702Tue, 16 Mar 2021 08:00:07 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubMay you have the luck of the Irish after you discover these Irish mystery authors. Murder in Connemara (Home to Ireland Mystery #2) by Carlene O'Connor The Killer in Me (Frankie Sheehan #2) by Olivia Kiernan A Keeper by Graham Norton
Murder in Connemara
(Home to Ireland Mystery #2)
by Carlene O'Connor

The Killer in Me
(Frankie Sheehan #2)
by Olivia Kiernan

A Keeper
by Graham Norton]]>1154amreading,bookclub,booklove,irishauthors,irishmysteries,mustread,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/anne-perry-interview--43800827
In 1990, Anne started a second series of detective novels with The Face of a Stranger. These are set about 35 years before and features the private detective William Monk and volatile nurse Hester Latterly. The most recent of these (24th in the series) is Dark Tide Rising.

Anne won an Edgar award in 2000 with her short story “Heroes”. The main character in the story features in an ambitious five-book series set during the First World War, which were published between 2003 and 2007. Anne is now working on more titles in the Pitt and Monk series, both of which are under option.

None of her books has ever been out of print, and they have received critical acclaim and huge popular success: over 26 million books are in print world-wide. Her books have appeared on bestseller lists in a number of foreign countries, where she has also had excellent reviews. Her books regularly appear in the New York Times bestseller list, and have also been bestsellers in France, Germany and Canada. The Times selected her as one of the “100 Masters of Crime”, and in 2015 she was awarded the Premio de Honor Aragón Negro.

Moving into a different area, Anne has responded to requests for workshops and teaching by producing her first ‘how to write’ instructional DVD “Put Your Heart On The Page: An Introduction To Writing” and her much-loved tote bags which also carry that slogan. Both items are now available to buy direct from her website. “Developing Your Characters” is the third instalment in Anne’s instructional films.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/43800827Tue, 09 Mar 2021 09:00:08 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubAnne’s publishing career began with The Cater Street Hangman. Published in 1979, this was the first book in the series to feature the Victorian policeman Thomas Pitt and his well-born wife Charlotte. This is arguably the longest sustained crime series...
In 1990, Anne started a second series of detective novels with The Face of a Stranger. These are set about 35 years before and features the private detective William Monk and volatile nurse Hester Latterly. The most recent of these (24th in the series) is Dark Tide Rising.

Anne won an Edgar award in 2000 with her short story “Heroes”. The main character in the story features in an ambitious five-book series set during the First World War, which were published between 2003 and 2007. Anne is now working on more titles in the Pitt and Monk series, both of which are under option.

None of her books has ever been out of print, and they have received critical acclaim and huge popular success: over 26 million books are in print world-wide. Her books have appeared on bestseller lists in a number of foreign countries, where she has also had excellent reviews. Her books regularly appear in the New York Times bestseller list, and have also been bestsellers in France, Germany and Canada. The Times selected her as one of the “100 Masters of Crime”, and in 2015 she was awarded the Premio de Honor Aragón Negro.

Moving into a different area, Anne has responded to requests for workshops and teaching by producing her first ‘how to write’ instructional DVD “Put Your Heart On The Page: An Introduction To Writing” and her much-loved tote bags which also carry that slogan. Both items are now available to buy direct from her website. “Developing Your Characters” is the third instalment in Anne’s instructional films.]]>2227amreading,anneperry,bestselling,bookclub,booklove,historicalmystery,mustread,newyorktimesbestseller,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/jennifer-dornbush-hole-in-the-woods--43697433
The television or movie screen is the closest most people will ever come to witnessing the forensic world. But Jennifer was raised in it. As the daughter of a small town medical examiner whose office was in their home. There were body parts in the fridge. She investigated her first fatality, an airplane crash, when she was 8 years old. Picking up pieces of skull with her father who simply saw it as an anatomy lesson. The first of many coroner lessons she experienced over two decades.

After exploring journalism and high school teaching, Jennifer turned seriously to screenwriting where she began to connect her coroner world to her writing. She sought out a degree at the Forensic Science Academy in Los Angeles to gain more forensic training and earned a unique kinship with LA’s top CSIs, fingerprint specialists, DNA scientists and detectives.

To share her love of forensics with the writing world, she authored the top selling non-fiction authoritative book, Forensic Speak, used by not only by show-runners and writers, but also crime investigators and law enforcement.

She created an Amazon top-selling mystery novel series, The Coroner’s Daughter. The first book in the series, The Coroner, released in 2018. The second in the series, Secret Remains, released January 2020. She is developing the series for TV.

She wrote the theatrically released film and novel, God Bless the Broken Road (2018). She has developed a TV crime drama series with Echo Lake and Hoplite Entertainment. Also she adapted a popular YA novel to script and sold a children’s show.

As a forensic consultant, she is frequently asked to consult with TV writers on shows such as: Bull, Conviction, Hawaii Five-O, Leverage, Suits and Rectify. She teaches screenwriting and mentors aspiring writers.

Jennifer is a member of the Writers’ Guild of America, Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America and FBI Citizen’s Academy Alumni.

And she has a great sense of gallows humor.
July 1989, in a sleepy Michigan town, high school grad, Nina Laramie, heads out with her friends and is never seen alive again. Months later, her skeleton is found near a remote party spot in the forest.

The ME determines Nina has been brutally raped and bludgeoned to death. Fear and anger ripple through this tight knit community when the case goes cold.

Thirty years later, Riley St. James, a Detroit PD assigned to Nina’s case, is determined to get her first big cold case win despite having a similar past to the victim. Relying on her investigative prowess and gut instinct, Riley tracks down a witness, who saw Nina Laramie’s murder. But as the truth comes to light, Riley must face the killers who want their secret to stay in the Hole in the Woods.

Based on the 1989 true-life murder case of Shannon Siders for Newaygo County, Michigan. After the case went dormant, a Michigan cold case team formed in 2011and uncovered new evidence that enabled them to arrest, try, and convict the killers, who were sent to prison for Shannon’s murder in 2015]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/43697433Tue, 02 Mar 2021 09:00:05 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubJennifer Dornbush is a screenwriter, author, international speaker and forensic specialist. As she says, “I grew up around death.” The television or movie screen is the closest most people will ever come to witnessing the forensic world. But Jennifer...
The television or movie screen is the closest most people will ever come to witnessing the forensic world. But Jennifer was raised in it. As the daughter of a small town medical examiner whose office was in their home. There were body parts in the fridge. She investigated her first fatality, an airplane crash, when she was 8 years old. Picking up pieces of skull with her father who simply saw it as an anatomy lesson. The first of many coroner lessons she experienced over two decades.

After exploring journalism and high school teaching, Jennifer turned seriously to screenwriting where she began to connect her coroner world to her writing. She sought out a degree at the Forensic Science Academy in Los Angeles to gain more forensic training and earned a unique kinship with LA’s top CSIs, fingerprint specialists, DNA scientists and detectives.

To share her love of forensics with the writing world, she authored the top selling non-fiction authoritative book, Forensic Speak, used by not only by show-runners and writers, but also crime investigators and law enforcement.

She created an Amazon top-selling mystery novel series, The Coroner’s Daughter. The first book in the series, The Coroner, released in 2018. The second in the series, Secret Remains, released January 2020. She is developing the series for TV.

She wrote the theatrically released film and novel, God Bless the Broken Road (2018). She has developed a TV crime drama series with Echo Lake and Hoplite Entertainment. Also she adapted a popular YA novel to script and sold a children’s show.

As a forensic consultant, she is frequently asked to consult with TV writers on shows such as: Bull, Conviction, Hawaii Five-O, Leverage, Suits and Rectify. She teaches screenwriting and mentors aspiring writers.

Jennifer is a member of the Writers’ Guild of America, Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America and FBI Citizen’s Academy Alumni.

And she has a great sense of gallows humor.
July 1989, in a sleepy Michigan town, high school grad, Nina Laramie, heads out with her friends and is never seen alive again. Months later, her skeleton is found near a remote party spot in the forest.

The ME determines Nina has been brutally raped and bludgeoned to death. Fear and anger ripple through this tight knit community when the case goes cold.

Thirty years later, Riley St. James, a Detroit PD assigned to Nina’s case, is determined to get her first big cold case win despite having a similar past to the victim. Relying on her investigative prowess and gut instinct, Riley tracks down a witness, who saw Nina Laramie’s murder. But as the truth comes to light, Riley must face the killers who want their secret to stay in the Hole in the Woods.

Based on the 1989 true-life murder case of Shannon Siders for Newaygo County, Michigan. After the case went dormant, a Michigan cold case team formed in 2011and uncovered new evidence that enabled them to arrest, try, and convict the killers, who were sent to prison for Shannon’s murder in 2015]]>1994amreading,bookclub,booklove,coroner,mustread,mystery,podcast,truecrimefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/our-tribute-to-black-mystery-authors--43591475
What You Don't Know by Bianca Sloane
From the author of "Killing Me Softly" comes a terrifying thriller that will make you think twice before you open the front door…

It’s Saturday morning. April Fool’s Day to be exact. Malcolm Gilbert is on his way to play golf. His wife, Blair, is headed to the hair salon.

That’s the plan anyway.

Then the doorbell rings.

And their nightmare begins.

For the next forty-eight hours, the Gilberts are at the mercy of sadists who unleash a seemingly unending campaign of terror against them.

But the question isn’t who would attack the Gilberts.

The question is why . . .

The next time your doorbell rings, will you answer it?


A Glimmer of Death by Valerie Wilson Wesley .
In the first of a thrilling new series, one woman's extraordinary psychic gift plunges her already-troubled present into chaos--and puts her future in someone's deadly sights...

Until now, Odessa Jones' inherited ability to read emotions and foretell danger has protected her. But second sight didn't warn her she would soon be a widow--and about to lose her home and the catering business she's worked so hard to build. The only things keeping Dessa going are her love for baking and her sometimes-mellow cat, Juniper. Unfortunately, putting her life back together means taking a gig at an all-kinds-of-shady real estate firm run by volatile owner Charlie Risko...

Until Charlie is brutally killed--and Dessa's bullied co-worker is arrested for murder. Dessa can't be sure who's guilty. But it doesn't take a psychic to discover that everyone from Charlie's much-abused staff to his long-suffering younger wife had multiple reasons to want him dead. And as Dessa follows a trail of lies through blackmail, dead-end clues, and corruption, she needs to see the truth fast--or a killer will bury her deep down with it.


Trouble Is What I Do (Leonid McGill #6) by Walter Mosley
Leonid McGill's spent a lifetime building up his reputation in the New York investigative scene. His seemingly infallible instinct and inside knowledge of the crime world make him the ideal man to help when Phillip Worry comes knocking.

Phillip "Catfish" Worry is a 92-year-old Mississippi bluesman who needs Leonid's help with a simple task: deliver a letter revealing the black lineage of a wealthy heiress and her corrupt father. Unsurprisingly, the opportunity to do a simple favor while shocking the prevailing elite is too much for Leonid to resist.

But when a famed and feared assassin puts a hit on Catfish, Leonid has no choice but to confront the ghost of his own felonious past. Working to protect his client and his own family, Leonid must reach the heiress on the eve of her wedding before her powerful father kills those who hold their family's secret.

Joined by a team of young and tough aspiring investigators, Leonid must gain the trust of wary socialites, outsmart vengeful thugs, and, above all, serve the truth -- no matter the cost.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/43591475Tue, 23 Feb 2021 09:00:05 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubWe each chose an author we wanted to highlight. What You Don't Know by Bianca Sloane From the author of "Killing Me Softly" comes a terrifying thriller that will make you think twice before you open the front door… It’s Saturday morning. April...
What You Don't Know by Bianca Sloane
From the author of "Killing Me Softly" comes a terrifying thriller that will make you think twice before you open the front door…

It’s Saturday morning. April Fool’s Day to be exact. Malcolm Gilbert is on his way to play golf. His wife, Blair, is headed to the hair salon.

That’s the plan anyway.

Then the doorbell rings.

And their nightmare begins.

For the next forty-eight hours, the Gilberts are at the mercy of sadists who unleash a seemingly unending campaign of terror against them.

But the question isn’t who would attack the Gilberts.

The question is why . . .

The next time your doorbell rings, will you answer it?


A Glimmer of Death by Valerie Wilson Wesley .
In the first of a thrilling new series, one woman's extraordinary psychic gift plunges her already-troubled present into chaos--and puts her future in someone's deadly sights...

Until now, Odessa Jones' inherited ability to read emotions and foretell danger has protected her. But second sight didn't warn her she would soon be a widow--and about to lose her home and the catering business she's worked so hard to build. The only things keeping Dessa going are her love for baking and her sometimes-mellow cat, Juniper. Unfortunately, putting her life back together means taking a gig at an all-kinds-of-shady real estate firm run by volatile owner Charlie Risko...

Until Charlie is brutally killed--and Dessa's bullied co-worker is arrested for murder. Dessa can't be sure who's guilty. But it doesn't take a psychic to discover that everyone from Charlie's much-abused staff to his long-suffering younger wife had multiple reasons to want him dead. And as Dessa follows a trail of lies through blackmail, dead-end clues, and corruption, she needs to see the truth fast--or a killer will bury her deep down with it.


Trouble Is What I Do (Leonid McGill #6) by Walter Mosley
Leonid McGill's spent a lifetime building up his reputation in the New York investigative scene. His seemingly infallible instinct and inside knowledge of the crime world make him the ideal man to help when Phillip Worry comes knocking.

Phillip "Catfish" Worry is a 92-year-old Mississippi bluesman who needs Leonid's help with a simple task: deliver a letter revealing the black lineage of a wealthy heiress and her corrupt father. Unsurprisingly, the opportunity to do a simple favor while shocking the prevailing elite is too much for Leonid to resist.

But when a famed and feared assassin puts a hit on Catfish, Leonid has no choice but to confront the ghost of his own felonious past. Working to protect his client and his own family, Leonid must reach the heiress on the eve of her wedding before her powerful father kills those who hold their family's secret.

Joined by a team of young and tough aspiring investigators, Leonid must gain the trust of wary socialites, outsmart vengeful thugs, and, above all, serve the truth -- no matter the cost.]]>1233amreading,blackauthors,bookclub,booklove,cozy,hardboiled,murder,mustread,podcast,thrillerfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/dr-mark-aldridge-agatha-christie-s-poirot-part-2--43465518https://api.spreaker.com/episode/43465518Tue, 16 Feb 2021 09:00:20 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubThis is a continuation of our conversation with Dr. Mark Aldridge. In this one hear all about Christies abilities to cement characters and We discuss her top ten list of all her books in 1972.1613agathachristie,amreading,bookclub,booklove,mustread,mysterylover,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/mark-aldridge-agatha-christie-s-poirot-the-greatest-detective-in-the-world-part-1--43357640

Hercule Poirot has had a near-permanent presence in the public eye ever since the 1920 publication of The Mysterious Affair at Styles. The detective who solves diabolical crimes using his “little grey cells” has enamored audiences not only in the original novels, short stories, and plays, but also across radio, television, and movies.

From Agatha Christie’s earliest conceptions and publication history, to forays on the stage and screen, the story of Poirot is as fascinating as it is enduring. Mark Aldridge tells this story decade-by-decade, exploring and analyzing Poirot’s many and often wildly different appearances, following the detective to present day when he is enjoying a worldwide renaissance.

Packed with original research, never-before-published correspondence, and images from the Agatha Christie archives, Agatha Christie's Poirot will delight fans of Hercule Poirot and mystery lovers alike.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/43357640Tue, 09 Feb 2021 09:00:11 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubDr Mark Aldridge is a senior lecturer at Solent University, Southampton. He was awarded his PhD at the University of Southampton in 2009, and previously wrote the definitive book about the film and television adaptations of Agatha Christie’s work,...

Hercule Poirot has had a near-permanent presence in the public eye ever since the 1920 publication of The Mysterious Affair at Styles. The detective who solves diabolical crimes using his “little grey cells” has enamored audiences not only in the original novels, short stories, and plays, but also across radio, television, and movies.

From Agatha Christie’s earliest conceptions and publication history, to forays on the stage and screen, the story of Poirot is as fascinating as it is enduring. Mark Aldridge tells this story decade-by-decade, exploring and analyzing Poirot’s many and often wildly different appearances, following the detective to present day when he is enjoying a worldwide renaissance.

Packed with original research, never-before-published correspondence, and images from the Agatha Christie archives, Agatha Christie's Poirot will delight fans of Hercule Poirot and mystery lovers alike.]]>2002agathachristie,amreading,bookclub,booklove,mustread,podcast,poirotfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/romantic-suspense-roundup--43236586Colleen Coble - https://colleencoble.com/
TWO REASONS TO RUN- #2 in the Pelican Harbor Series
Sandra Brown - https://sandrabrown.net/
THICK AS THIEVES
Ellen Hart- http://www.ellenhart.com/
A WHISPER OF BONES #25 Jane Lawless series]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/43236586Tue, 02 Feb 2021 09:00:07 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubSPECIAL ROMANTIC SUSPENSE EPISODE Colleen Coble - https://colleencoble.com/ TWO REASONS TO RUN- #2 in the Pelican Harbor Series Sandra Brown - https://sandrabrown.net/ THICK AS THIEVES Ellen Hart- http://www.ellenhart.com/ A WHISPER OF BONES #25 Jane...Colleen Coble - https://colleencoble.com/
TWO REASONS TO RUN- #2 in the Pelican Harbor Series
Sandra Brown - https://sandrabrown.net/
THICK AS THIEVES
Ellen Hart- http://www.ellenhart.com/
A WHISPER OF BONES #25 Jane Lawless series]]>1461amreading,bookclub,booklove,murder,mustread,podcast,romanticsuspensefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ellery-adams-ink-and-shadows-no-4-in-the-the-secret-book-scone-society-series--43116075
Ink and Shadows - Nora Pennington is known for her window displays, and as Halloween approaches, she decides to showcase fictional heroines like Roald Dahl's Matilda and Madeline Miller's Circe. A family-values group disapproves of the magical themes, though, and wastes no time launching a modern-day witch hunt. Suddenly, former friends and customers are targeting not only Nora and Miracle Books, but a new shopkeeper, Celeste, who's been selling CBD oil products.

Nora and her friends in the Secret, Book, and Scone Society are doing their best to put an end to the strife--but then someone puts an end to a life. Though the death is declared an accident, the ruling can't explain the old book page covered with strange symbols and disturbing drawings left under Nora's doormat, a postcard from an anonymous stalker, or multiple cases of vandalism.

The only hope is that Nora can be a heroine herself and lead the Secret, Book, and Scone Society in a successful investigation--before more bodies turn up and the secrets from Celeste's past come back to haunt them all . . .]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/43116075Tue, 26 Jan 2021 09:00:17 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubNew York Times bestseller author, Ellery Adams, has written over thirty novels and can’t imagine spending a day away from the keyboard. Ms. Adams, a Native New Yorker, has had a lifelong love affair with stories, food, rescue animals, and large bodies...
Ink and Shadows - Nora Pennington is known for her window displays, and as Halloween approaches, she decides to showcase fictional heroines like Roald Dahl's Matilda and Madeline Miller's Circe. A family-values group disapproves of the magical themes, though, and wastes no time launching a modern-day witch hunt. Suddenly, former friends and customers are targeting not only Nora and Miracle Books, but a new shopkeeper, Celeste, who's been selling CBD oil products.

Nora and her friends in the Secret, Book, and Scone Society are doing their best to put an end to the strife--but then someone puts an end to a life. Though the death is declared an accident, the ruling can't explain the old book page covered with strange symbols and disturbing drawings left under Nora's doormat, a postcard from an anonymous stalker, or multiple cases of vandalism.

The only hope is that Nora can be a heroine herself and lead the Secret, Book, and Scone Society in a successful investigation--before more bodies turn up and the secrets from Celeste's past come back to haunt them all . . .]]>2248amreading,bibliotherapy,bookclub,booklove,cbdoil,elleryadams,friends,murder,mustread,podcast,secretsfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-devil-and-the-dark-water-by-stuart-turton-book-review--42999251
Stuart lives in London with his amazing wife and daughter. He drinks lots of tea.

What else?

​When he left university he went travelling for three months and stayed away for five years. Every time his parents asked when he’d be back he told them next week, and meant it.

Stuart is not to be trusted. In the nicest possible way.

He’s got a degree in English and Philosophy, which makes him excellent at arguing and terrible at choosing degrees.

Having trained for no particular career, he has dabbled in most of them. He stocked shelves in a Darwin bookshop, taught English in Shanghai, worked for a technology magazine in London, wrote travel articles in Dubai, and now he’s a freelance journalist. None of this was planned, he just kept getting lost on his way to other places.

He likes a chat. He likes books. He likes people who write books and people who read books. He doesn’t know how to write a biography, so should probably stop before he tells you about his dreams or something. It was lovely to meet you, though.

Stuart's debut novel is called The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle in the UK and The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle in the US. They're the same book. Don't fret.


The Devil and the Dark Water
by Stuart Turton

A murder on the high seas. A detective duo. A demon who may or may not exist.

It's 1634 and Samuel Pipps, the world's greatest detective, is being transported to Amsterdam to be executed for a crime he may, or may not, have committed. Travelling with him is his loyal bodyguard, Arent Hayes, who is determined to prove his friend innocent.

But no sooner are they out to sea than devilry begins to blight the voyage. A twice-dead leper stalks the decks. Strange symbols appear on the sails. Livestock is slaughtered.

And then three passengers are marked for death, including Samuel.

Could a demon be responsible for their misfortunes?

With Pipps imprisoned, only Arent can solve a mystery that connects every passenger onboard. A mystery that stretches back into their past and now threatens to sink the ship, killing everybody on board.

The breathtaking new novel from Stuart Turton, author of the The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, winner of the Costa Best First Novel Award.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/42999251Tue, 19 Jan 2021 09:00:17 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubWe hope you enjoy our full book review of The Devil and the Dark Water by Stuart Turton Stuart lives in London with his amazing wife and daughter. He drinks lots of tea. What else? ​When he left university he went travelling for three months and...
Stuart lives in London with his amazing wife and daughter. He drinks lots of tea.

What else?

​When he left university he went travelling for three months and stayed away for five years. Every time his parents asked when he’d be back he told them next week, and meant it.

Stuart is not to be trusted. In the nicest possible way.

He’s got a degree in English and Philosophy, which makes him excellent at arguing and terrible at choosing degrees.

Having trained for no particular career, he has dabbled in most of them. He stocked shelves in a Darwin bookshop, taught English in Shanghai, worked for a technology magazine in London, wrote travel articles in Dubai, and now he’s a freelance journalist. None of this was planned, he just kept getting lost on his way to other places.

He likes a chat. He likes books. He likes people who write books and people who read books. He doesn’t know how to write a biography, so should probably stop before he tells you about his dreams or something. It was lovely to meet you, though.

Stuart's debut novel is called The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle in the UK and The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle in the US. They're the same book. Don't fret.


The Devil and the Dark Water
by Stuart Turton

A murder on the high seas. A detective duo. A demon who may or may not exist.

It's 1634 and Samuel Pipps, the world's greatest detective, is being transported to Amsterdam to be executed for a crime he may, or may not, have committed. Travelling with him is his loyal bodyguard, Arent Hayes, who is determined to prove his friend innocent.

But no sooner are they out to sea than devilry begins to blight the voyage. A twice-dead leper stalks the decks. Strange symbols appear on the sails. Livestock is slaughtered.

And then three passengers are marked for death, including Samuel.

Could a demon be responsible for their misfortunes?

With Pipps imprisoned, only Arent can solve a mystery that connects every passenger onboard. A mystery that stretches back into their past and now threatens to sink the ship, killing everybody on board.

The breathtaking new novel from Stuart Turton, author of the The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, winner of the Costa Best First Novel Award.]]>1183amreading,bookclub,booklove,bookreview,historicalfiction,mustread,mystery,podcast,stuartturtonfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/what-we-are-reading-ii--42890227
Death, Diamonds, and Deception (A Gilded Age Mystery #5)
by Rosemary Simpson

All the Devils Are Here (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache #16)
by Louise Penny

Never Look Back (Criminal Profiler #5)
by Mary Burton

A Pretty Deceit (Verity Kent #4)
by Anna Lee Huber

Crooked River (Pendergast #19)
by Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/42890227Tue, 12 Jan 2021 09:00:16 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubThe books we discuss on this episode are: Death, Diamonds, and Deception (A Gilded Age Mystery #5) by Rosemary Simpson All the Devils Are Here (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache #16) by Louise Penny Never Look Back (Criminal Profiler #5) by Mary...
Death, Diamonds, and Deception (A Gilded Age Mystery #5)
by Rosemary Simpson

All the Devils Are Here (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache #16)
by Louise Penny

Never Look Back (Criminal Profiler #5)
by Mary Burton

A Pretty Deceit (Verity Kent #4)
by Anna Lee Huber

Crooked River (Pendergast #19)
by Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child]]>1491amreading,bookclub,booklove,bookreviews,mustread,mysteries,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/edwin-hill-watch-her-book-3-in-the-hester-thursby-series--42790784
He was born in Duxbury, Massachusetts, and spent most of his childhood obsessing over The Famous Five, Agatha Christie, and somehow finding a way into C.S. Lewis’s wardrobe. His parents were fond of taking his sister and him on month-long family camping trips across the U.S. and Canada, and one of his best memories is of finishing a copy of The Seven Dials Mystery while the rest of the family visited Mount Rushmore. Growing up when VHS tapes were new meant that watching Alien, Jaws, The Shining, or Halloween whenever he wanted seemed luxurious, and still does today. Like Hester Thursby, he watched these movies – and others like them – a lot.

After attending Wesleyan University and graduating with a B.A. in American Studies, he headed west to San Francisco for the dotcom boom. Later, he returned to Boston, earned an MFA from Emerson College, and switched gears to work in educational publishing. He served as the vice president and editorial director for Bedford/St. Martin's, a division of Macmillan Learning for many years before turning to writing full time.

He lives in Roslindale, Massachusetts with his partner Michael and his favorite reviewer, their lab Edith Ann, who likes his first drafts enough to eat them.

A lot of people helped him create this series, and he is a big believer in paying forward. Don't be a stranger.


WATCH HER While attending a gala at Prescott University's lavish new campus, Hester Thursby and fellow guest, Detective Angela White, are called to the home of the college's owners, Tucker and Jennifer Matson. Jennifer claims that someone broke into Pinebank, their secluded mansion on the banks of Jamaica Pond. The more Hester and Angela investigate, the less they believe Jennifer's story, leaving Hester to wonder why she would lie.

When Hester is asked by the college's general manager to locate some missing alumni, she employs her research skills on the family and their for-profit university. Between financial transgressions, a long-ago tragedy, and rumors of infidelity, it's clear that the Matsons aren't immune to scandal or mishap. But when one of the missing students turns up dead, the mystery takes on new urgency. Hester is edging closer to the truth, but as a decades-old secret collides with new lies, a killer grows more determined to keep the past buried with the dead...]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/42790784Tue, 05 Jan 2021 09:00:09 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubEdwin is the Edgar- and Agatha-award nominated author of Little Comfort, The Missing Ones, and Watch Her. He was born in Duxbury, Massachusetts, and spent most of his childhood obsessing over The Famous Five, Agatha Christie, and somehow finding a...
He was born in Duxbury, Massachusetts, and spent most of his childhood obsessing over The Famous Five, Agatha Christie, and somehow finding a way into C.S. Lewis’s wardrobe. His parents were fond of taking his sister and him on month-long family camping trips across the U.S. and Canada, and one of his best memories is of finishing a copy of The Seven Dials Mystery while the rest of the family visited Mount Rushmore. Growing up when VHS tapes were new meant that watching Alien, Jaws, The Shining, or Halloween whenever he wanted seemed luxurious, and still does today. Like Hester Thursby, he watched these movies – and others like them – a lot.

After attending Wesleyan University and graduating with a B.A. in American Studies, he headed west to San Francisco for the dotcom boom. Later, he returned to Boston, earned an MFA from Emerson College, and switched gears to work in educational publishing. He served as the vice president and editorial director for Bedford/St. Martin's, a division of Macmillan Learning for many years before turning to writing full time.

He lives in Roslindale, Massachusetts with his partner Michael and his favorite reviewer, their lab Edith Ann, who likes his first drafts enough to eat them.

A lot of people helped him create this series, and he is a big believer in paying forward. Don't be a stranger.


WATCH HER While attending a gala at Prescott University's lavish new campus, Hester Thursby and fellow guest, Detective Angela White, are called to the home of the college's owners, Tucker and Jennifer Matson. Jennifer claims that someone broke into Pinebank, their secluded mansion on the banks of Jamaica Pond. The more Hester and Angela investigate, the less they believe Jennifer's story, leaving Hester to wonder why she would lie.

When Hester is asked by the college's general manager to locate some missing alumni, she employs her research skills on the family and their for-profit university. Between financial transgressions, a long-ago tragedy, and rumors of infidelity, it's clear that the Matsons aren't immune to scandal or mishap. But when one of the missing students turns up dead, the mystery takes on new urgency. Hester is edging closer to the truth, but as a decades-old secret collides with new lies, a killer grows more determined to keep the past buried with the dead...]]>1182amatuersluth,amreading,bookclub,booklove,boston,edwinhill,favoriteauthor,hesterthursby,murder,mustread,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/18-tiny-deaths-bruce-goldfarb-re-cast--42697950
18 Tiny Deaths: The Untold Story of Frances Glessner Lee and the Invention of Modern Forensics by Bruce Goldfarb

The story of the Gilded Age Chicago heiress who revolutionized forensic death investigation. As the mother of forensic science, Frances Glessner Lee is the reason why homicide detectives are a thing. She is responsible for the popularity of forensic science in television shows and pop culture. Long overlooked in the history books, this extremely detailed and thoroughly researched biography will at long last tell the story of the life and contributions of this pioneering woman.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/42697950Tue, 29 Dec 2020 09:00:15 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubWe hope you enjoy one of our all time favorite episodes of this past year. We will return next week with fresh content. HAPPY NEW YEAR. Here's to a year of great mysteries!!! 18 Tiny Deaths: The Untold Story of Frances Glessner Lee and the...
18 Tiny Deaths: The Untold Story of Frances Glessner Lee and the Invention of Modern Forensics by Bruce Goldfarb

The story of the Gilded Age Chicago heiress who revolutionized forensic death investigation. As the mother of forensic science, Frances Glessner Lee is the reason why homicide detectives are a thing. She is responsible for the popularity of forensic science in television shows and pop culture. Long overlooked in the history books, this extremely detailed and thoroughly researched biography will at long last tell the story of the life and contributions of this pioneering woman.]]>1880amreading,bookclub,favoriteepisode,happynewyear,historical,mustread,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/robert-bryndza-nine-elms-recast--42604447
Nine Elms (Kate Marshall #1)
by Robert Bryndza
Kate Marshall was a promising young police detective when she caught the notorious Nine Elms serial killer. But her greatest victory suddenly turned into a nightmare. Traumatized, betrayed, and publicly vilified for the shocking circumstances surrounding the cannibal murder case, Kate could only watch as her career ended in scandal.

Fifteen years after those catastrophic events, Kate is still haunted by the unquiet ghosts of her troubled past. Now a lecturer at a small coastal English university, she finally has a chance to face them. A copycat killer has taken up the Nine Elms mantle, continuing the ghastly work of his idol.

Enlisting her brilliant research assistant, Tristan Harper, Kate draws on her prodigious and long-neglected skills as an investigator to catch a new monster. Success promises redemption, but there’s much more on the line: Kate was the original killer’s intended fifth victim…and his successor means to finish the job.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/42604447Tue, 22 Dec 2020 09:00:22 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubWe are taking a much deserved winter break. We hope you enjoy our most listened to episode of this past year. Robert was a delight. We will be back after the first or year with fresh and exciting content. Nine Elms (Kate Marshall #1) by Robert...
Nine Elms (Kate Marshall #1)
by Robert Bryndza
Kate Marshall was a promising young police detective when she caught the notorious Nine Elms serial killer. But her greatest victory suddenly turned into a nightmare. Traumatized, betrayed, and publicly vilified for the shocking circumstances surrounding the cannibal murder case, Kate could only watch as her career ended in scandal.

Fifteen years after those catastrophic events, Kate is still haunted by the unquiet ghosts of her troubled past. Now a lecturer at a small coastal English university, she finally has a chance to face them. A copycat killer has taken up the Nine Elms mantle, continuing the ghastly work of his idol.

Enlisting her brilliant research assistant, Tristan Harper, Kate draws on her prodigious and long-neglected skills as an investigator to catch a new monster. Success promises redemption, but there’s much more on the line: Kate was the original killer’s intended fifth victim…and his successor means to finish the job.]]>1037amreading,bookclub,booklove,murder,mustread,mystery,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/smith-henderson-jon-marc-smith-make-them-cry--42491103
Jon Marc Smith teaches English at Texas State University and lives in San Marcos, Texas. Make Them Cry is their first novel.

Make Them Cry - It’s hard to make Diane Harbaugh flinch. A former prosecutor notorious for her aggressive tactics, she’s now a DEA agent who interrogates witnesses so effectively, she has them confessing in tears. But when she hears from Gustavo, a high-ranking cartel member with an invaluable secret about the international black market, she’s thrown for a loop. She heads to Mexico to meet him, and her entire understanding of justice and duty is thrown into question.

Gustavo sends her down a rabbit hole that leads to a criminal conspiracy more pervasive than anything she and the DEA ever suspected. She teams up with Ian Carver, a disillusioned CIA agent, and begins to unravel layers of deceptions, grifts, and schemes that date back to the beginnings of the Afghanistan War. As they learn more, they become the target of cartel assassins, embittered spies, and even their own government. They are at the center of an international manhunt with world-changing consequences—and the only way out is for Diane to do the one thing she promised herself she’d never do. Stylishly written and relentlessly plotted, Make Them Cry is an action-packed thriller of unimaginable stakes.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/42491103Tue, 15 Dec 2020 09:00:02 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubSmith Henderson is the recipient of the 2011 PEN Emerging Writers Award in fiction. He was a 2011 Philip Roth Resident in Creative Writing at Bucknell University, a 2011 Pushcart Prize winner, and a fellow at the Michener Center for Writers in Austin,...
Jon Marc Smith teaches English at Texas State University and lives in San Marcos, Texas. Make Them Cry is their first novel.

Make Them Cry - It’s hard to make Diane Harbaugh flinch. A former prosecutor notorious for her aggressive tactics, she’s now a DEA agent who interrogates witnesses so effectively, she has them confessing in tears. But when she hears from Gustavo, a high-ranking cartel member with an invaluable secret about the international black market, she’s thrown for a loop. She heads to Mexico to meet him, and her entire understanding of justice and duty is thrown into question.

Gustavo sends her down a rabbit hole that leads to a criminal conspiracy more pervasive than anything she and the DEA ever suspected. She teams up with Ian Carver, a disillusioned CIA agent, and begins to unravel layers of deceptions, grifts, and schemes that date back to the beginnings of the Afghanistan War. As they learn more, they become the target of cartel assassins, embittered spies, and even their own government. They are at the center of an international manhunt with world-changing consequences—and the only way out is for Diane to do the one thing she promised herself she’d never do. Stylishly written and relentlessly plotted, Make Them Cry is an action-packed thriller of unimaginable stakes.]]>1765amreading,bookclub,booklove,drugcartel,kickasswoman,mexico,murder,mustread,mystery,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/winter-holiday-mystery-roundup--42369521
Murder at an Irish Christmas (Irish Village Mystery #6)
by Carlene O'Connor

The Gift of the Magpie (Meg Langslow #28)
by Donna Andrews

A Christmas Carol Murder (A Dickens of a Crime #3)
by Heather Redmond

A Page Marked for Murder (Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery, #5)
by Lauren Elliott]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/42369521Tue, 08 Dec 2020 09:00:12 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubWe cover some Winter Holiday Mysteries in one of our Roundup episodes. Murder at an Irish Christmas (Irish Village Mystery #6) by Carlene O'Connor The Gift of the Magpie (Meg Langslow #28) by Donna Andrews A Christmas Carol Murder (A Dickens of a...
Murder at an Irish Christmas (Irish Village Mystery #6)
by Carlene O'Connor

The Gift of the Magpie (Meg Langslow #28)
by Donna Andrews

A Christmas Carol Murder (A Dickens of a Crime #3)
by Heather Redmond

A Page Marked for Murder (Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery, #5)
by Lauren Elliott]]>1607amreading,bookclub,booklove,cozychristmas,longwintersnight,podcast,roundup,winterreadingfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ian-k-smith-the-unspoken-an-ashe-cayne-novel--42250443
He is currently the solo host of the nationally syndicated, Emmy award-winning television show
THE DOCTORS, and a longtime medical contributor to Emmy award-winning The Rachael Ray Show.

He also served as the medical/diet expert for six seasons on VH1's highly-rated Celebrity Fit Club. He is the creator and founder of the national health initiatives The 50 Million Pound Challenge and The Makeover Mile. Dr. Smith is the former medical correspondent for NBC News Network and NewsChannel 4 in New York, where he filed reports for NBC Nightly News and The Today Show as well as WNBC's various news broadcasts. He has appeared extensively on numerous broadcasts, including The Oprah Winfrey Show, The View, Dr. Oz, Steve Harvey Show, The Talk, Larry King Live, Anderson Cooper 360, CNN, MSNBC, and many more. He has written for various publications including Time, Newsweek, Men's Fitness, and the New York Daily News. He has been featured in several other publications including, People, Redbook, Details Magazine, Essence, Ebony, Cosmopolitan, and Black Enterprise.

A highly sought-after speaker, Dr. Smith's work has been honored by several organizations, including the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for his coverage on the momentous events of September 11th, 2001. He is also very active in charitable causes. Dr. Smith has also served on the boards of the American Council on Exercise, the New York Mission Society, the Prevent Cancer Foundation, The New York Council for the Humanities, and The Maya Angelou Center for Health Equity.

Dr. Smith graduated from Harvard College with an AB and received a master's in science education from Teachers College of Columbia University. He attended Dartmouth Medical School and completed the last two years of his medical education and graduated from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine.

THE UNSPOKEN Former Chicago detective Ashe Cayne is desperate for redemption. After refusing to participate in a police department cover-up involving the death of a young black man, Cayne is pushed out of the force. But he won’t sit quietly on the sidelines: he’s compelled to fight for justice as a private investigator…even if it means putting himself in jeopardy.

When a young woman, Tinsley Gerrigan, goes missing, her wealthy parents from the North Shore hire Cayne to find her. As Cayne looks into her life and past, he uncovers secrets Tinsley’s been hiding from her family. Cayne fears he may never find Tinsley alive.

His worries spike when Tinsley’s boyfriend is found dead—another black man murdered on the tough Chicago streets. Cayne must navigate his complicated relationships within the Chicago PD, leveraging his contacts and police skills to find the missing young woman, see justice done, and earn his redemption.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/42250443Tue, 01 Dec 2020 09:00:17 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubDr. Ian Smith is the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling books, SHRED: THE REVOLUTIONARY DIET, SUPER SHRED: The Big Results Diet, BLAST THE SUGAR OUT, The Clean 20, THE ANCIENT NINE, CLEAN & LEAN and eleven other books with millions of copies...
He is currently the solo host of the nationally syndicated, Emmy award-winning television show
THE DOCTORS, and a longtime medical contributor to Emmy award-winning The Rachael Ray Show.

He also served as the medical/diet expert for six seasons on VH1's highly-rated Celebrity Fit Club. He is the creator and founder of the national health initiatives The 50 Million Pound Challenge and The Makeover Mile. Dr. Smith is the former medical correspondent for NBC News Network and NewsChannel 4 in New York, where he filed reports for NBC Nightly News and The Today Show as well as WNBC's various news broadcasts. He has appeared extensively on numerous broadcasts, including The Oprah Winfrey Show, The View, Dr. Oz, Steve Harvey Show, The Talk, Larry King Live, Anderson Cooper 360, CNN, MSNBC, and many more. He has written for various publications including Time, Newsweek, Men's Fitness, and the New York Daily News. He has been featured in several other publications including, People, Redbook, Details Magazine, Essence, Ebony, Cosmopolitan, and Black Enterprise.

A highly sought-after speaker, Dr. Smith's work has been honored by several organizations, including the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for his coverage on the momentous events of September 11th, 2001. He is also very active in charitable causes. Dr. Smith has also served on the boards of the American Council on Exercise, the New York Mission Society, the Prevent Cancer Foundation, The New York Council for the Humanities, and The Maya Angelou Center for Health Equity.

Dr. Smith graduated from Harvard College with an AB and received a master's in science education from Teachers College of Columbia University. He attended Dartmouth Medical School and completed the last two years of his medical education and graduated from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine.

THE UNSPOKEN Former Chicago detective Ashe Cayne is desperate for redemption. After refusing to participate in a police department cover-up involving the death of a young black man, Cayne is pushed out of the force. But he won’t sit quietly on the sidelines: he’s compelled to fight for justice as a private investigator…even if it means putting himself in jeopardy.

When a young woman, Tinsley Gerrigan, goes missing, her wealthy parents from the North Shore hire Cayne to find her. As Cayne looks into her life and past, he uncovers secrets Tinsley’s been hiding from her family. Cayne fears he may never find Tinsley alive.

His worries spike when Tinsley’s boyfriend is found dead—another black man murdered on the tough Chicago streets. Cayne must navigate his complicated relationships within the Chicago PD, leveraging his contacts and police skills to find the missing young woman, see justice done, and earn his redemption.]]>1213amreading,bookclub,booklove,chicago,detective,murder,mustread,mystery,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/leslie-rule-a-tangled-web--42131350
A veteran author for over three decades, Rule's works include two suspense novels and five nonfiction books on the paranormal, including Coast to Coast Ghosts, True Stories of Hauntings Across America. Rule was only seventeen when she started attending murder trials with her mother, author Ann Rule. "It was my job to shoot the killers, not with a gun, but with my camera," says Leslie. Many of her courtroom photographs have appeared in her mother's books.


A Tangled Web - It was a bleak November in 2012 when Cari Lea Farver vanished from Omaha, Nebraska. Cari, thirty-seven, was a devoted mother, reliable employee, and loyal friend--not the type to shirk responsibilities, abandon her son, and run off on an adventure while her dying father took his last breaths. Yet, the many texts from her phone indicated she had done just that.

It appeared that Cari had dumped her new boyfriend, quit her job, and relinquished custody of her son to her mother--all by text. While Cari's boyfriend, Dave Kroupa, and her supervisor were bewildered by her abrupt disappearance, they accepted the texts at face value. Her mother, Nancy Raney, however, was alarmed and reported Cari missing. Police were skeptical of her claims that a cyber impostor had commandeered her daughter's phone and online identity.

While Nancy was afraid for Cari, Dave Kroupa was growing afraid of her, for he believed Cari was stalking him. Never seen or heard, the stalker was aware of his every move and seemed obsessed by his casual girlfriend, Shanna "Liz" Golyar, often calling her "a fat whore" in the twelve thousand emails and texts he received in a disturbing three-year deluge.

How did the stalker know Dave's phone numbers immediately after he changed them, the names of his lady friends, even what he wore as he watched TV? He and Liz reported death threats, vandalism, and burglaries, but the stalker remained at large. The threats were vicious, vile and often obscene, sent mostly via text and always in Cari's name. There was some truth in the messages, but all of them contained one big lie. The culprit was not Cari -- but had killed and planned to kill again.

With mesmerizing detail and compelling narrative skill, Leslie Rule tracks every step of the heart-pounding path to long-awaited justice--from a sociopath's twisted past to the deadly deception and the high-tech forensics that condemned the killer to prison, where the tangled web of manipulations still draws trusting souls into danger.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/42131350Tue, 24 Nov 2020 09:00:12 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubLeslie Rule's true crime debut, A Tangled Web, covers a frightening Omaha love triangle murder. "I chose this case because I want to warn readers that the female sadistic sociopath may be the most dangerous killer of all." A veteran author for over...
A veteran author for over three decades, Rule's works include two suspense novels and five nonfiction books on the paranormal, including Coast to Coast Ghosts, True Stories of Hauntings Across America. Rule was only seventeen when she started attending murder trials with her mother, author Ann Rule. "It was my job to shoot the killers, not with a gun, but with my camera," says Leslie. Many of her courtroom photographs have appeared in her mother's books.


A Tangled Web - It was a bleak November in 2012 when Cari Lea Farver vanished from Omaha, Nebraska. Cari, thirty-seven, was a devoted mother, reliable employee, and loyal friend--not the type to shirk responsibilities, abandon her son, and run off on an adventure while her dying father took his last breaths. Yet, the many texts from her phone indicated she had done just that.

It appeared that Cari had dumped her new boyfriend, quit her job, and relinquished custody of her son to her mother--all by text. While Cari's boyfriend, Dave Kroupa, and her supervisor were bewildered by her abrupt disappearance, they accepted the texts at face value. Her mother, Nancy Raney, however, was alarmed and reported Cari missing. Police were skeptical of her claims that a cyber impostor had commandeered her daughter's phone and online identity.

While Nancy was afraid for Cari, Dave Kroupa was growing afraid of her, for he believed Cari was stalking him. Never seen or heard, the stalker was aware of his every move and seemed obsessed by his casual girlfriend, Shanna "Liz" Golyar, often calling her "a fat whore" in the twelve thousand emails and texts he received in a disturbing three-year deluge.

How did the stalker know Dave's phone numbers immediately after he changed them, the names of his lady friends, even what he wore as he watched TV? He and Liz reported death threats, vandalism, and burglaries, but the stalker remained at large. The threats were vicious, vile and often obscene, sent mostly via text and always in Cari's name. There was some truth in the messages, but all of them contained one big lie. The culprit was not Cari -- but had killed and planned to kill again.

With mesmerizing detail and compelling narrative skill, Leslie Rule tracks every step of the heart-pounding path to long-awaited justice--from a sociopath's twisted past to the deadly deception and the high-tech forensics that condemned the killer to prison, where the tangled web of manipulations still draws trusting souls into danger.]]>2000annrule,bookclub,leslierule,murder,podcast,truecrimefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/allen-eskens-nothing-more-dangerous--42011489
Allen lives with his wife, Joely, in greater Minnesota and is represented by Amy Cloughley of Kimberley Cameron and Associates, and is published by both Seventh Street Books and Mulholland/Little Brown.
To learn more about Allen, go to www.alleneskens.com.

Nothing More Dangerous - After fifteen years of growing up in the Ozark hills with his widowed mother, high-school freshman Boady Sanden is beyond ready to move on. He dreams of glass towers and cityscapes, driven by his desire to be anywhere other than Jessup, Missouri. The new kid at St. Ignatius High School, if he isn’t being pushed around, he is being completely ignored. Even his beloved woods, his playground as a child and his sanctuary as he grew older, seem to be closing in on him, suffocating him.

Then Thomas Elgin moves in across the road, and Boady’s life begins to twist and turn. Coming to know the Elgins--a black family settling into a community where notions of “us” and “them” carry the weight of history--forces Boady to rethink his understanding of the world he’s taken for granted. Secrets hidden in plain sight begin to unfold: the mother who wraps herself in the loss of her husband, the neighbor who carries the wounds of a mysterious past that he holds close, the quiet boss who is fighting his own hidden battle.

But the biggest secret of all is the disappearance of Lida Poe, the African-American woman who keeps the books at the local plastics factory. Word has it that Ms. Poe left town, along with a hundred thousand dollars of company money. Although Boady has never met the missing woman, he discovers that the threads of her life are woven into the deepest fabric of his world.

As the mystery of her fate plays out, Boady begins to see the stark lines of race and class that both bind and divide this small town, and he is forced to choose sides]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/42011489Tue, 17 Nov 2020 09:00:18 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubAllen Eskens is the USA Today-bestselling author of The Life We Bury, The Guise of Another, The Heavens May Fall, the Deep Dark Descending and The Shadows We Hide. He is the recipient of the Barry Award, Rosebud Award, Minnesota Book Award, and the...
Allen lives with his wife, Joely, in greater Minnesota and is represented by Amy Cloughley of Kimberley Cameron and Associates, and is published by both Seventh Street Books and Mulholland/Little Brown.
To learn more about Allen, go to www.alleneskens.com.

Nothing More Dangerous - After fifteen years of growing up in the Ozark hills with his widowed mother, high-school freshman Boady Sanden is beyond ready to move on. He dreams of glass towers and cityscapes, driven by his desire to be anywhere other than Jessup, Missouri. The new kid at St. Ignatius High School, if he isn’t being pushed around, he is being completely ignored. Even his beloved woods, his playground as a child and his sanctuary as he grew older, seem to be closing in on him, suffocating him.

Then Thomas Elgin moves in across the road, and Boady’s life begins to twist and turn. Coming to know the Elgins--a black family settling into a community where notions of “us” and “them” carry the weight of history--forces Boady to rethink his understanding of the world he’s taken for granted. Secrets hidden in plain sight begin to unfold: the mother who wraps herself in the loss of her husband, the neighbor who carries the wounds of a mysterious past that he holds close, the quiet boss who is fighting his own hidden battle.

But the biggest secret of all is the disappearance of Lida Poe, the African-American woman who keeps the books at the local plastics factory. Word has it that Ms. Poe left town, along with a hundred thousand dollars of company money. Although Boady has never met the missing woman, he discovers that the threads of her life are woven into the deepest fabric of his world.

As the mystery of her fate plays out, Boady begins to see the stark lines of race and class that both bind and divide this small town, and he is forced to choose sides]]>2101alleneskens,bookclub,booklove,mustread,ozarks,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/true-crime-round-up--41867191
The Cold Vanish: Seeking the Missing in North America's Wildlands
by Jon Billman
These are the stories that defy conventional logic. The proverbial vanished without a trace incidences, which happen a lot more (and a lot closer to your backyard) than almost anyone thinks. These are the missing whose situations are the hardest on loved ones left behind. The cases that are an embarrassment for park superintendents, rangers and law enforcement charged with Search & Rescue. The ones that baffle the volunteers who comb the mountains, woods and badlands. The stories that should give you pause every time you venture outdoors.
Through Jacob Gray's disappearance in Olympic National Park, and his father Randy Gray who left his life to search for him, we will learn about what happens when someone goes missing. Braided around the core will be the stories of the characters who fill the vacuum created by a vanished human being. We'll meet eccentric bloodhound-handler Duff and R.C., his flagship purebred, who began trailing with the family dog after his brother vanished in the San Gabriel Mountains. And there's Michael Neiger North America's foremost backcountry Search & Rescue expert and self-described "bushman" obsessed with missing persons. And top researcher of persons missing on public wildlands Ex-San Jose, California detective David Paulides who is also one of the world's foremost Bigfoot researchers.
It's a tricky thing to write about missing persons because the story is the absence of someone. A void. The person at the heart of the story is thinner than a smoke ring, invisible as someone else's memory. The bones you dig up are most often metaphorical. While much of the book will embrace memory and faulty memory -- history -- The Cold Vanish is at its core a story of now and tomorrow. Someone will vanish in the wild tomorrow. These are the people who will go looking.

If You Tell: A True Story of Murder, Family Secrets, and the Unbreakable Bond of Sisterhood by Gregg Olsen
After more than a decade, when sisters Nikki, Sami, and Tori Knotek hear the word mom, it claws like an eagle’s talons, triggering memories that have been their secret since childhood. Until now.
For years, behind the closed doors of their farmhouse in Raymond, Washington, their sadistic mother, Shelly, subjected her girls to unimaginable abuse, degradation, torture, and psychic terrors. Through it all, Nikki, Sami, and Tori developed a defiant bond that made them far less vulnerable than Shelly imagined. Even as others were drawn into their mother’s dark and perverse web, the sisters found the strength and courage to escape an escalating nightmare that culminated in multiple murders.

I Got a Monster: The Rise and Fall of America's Most Corrupt Police Squad
by Baynard Woods, Brandon Soderberg
When Baltimore police sergeant Wayne Jenkins said he had a monster, he meant he had found a big-time drug dealer--one that he wanted to rob. This is the story of Jenkins and the Gun Trace Task Force (GTTF), a super group of dirty detectives who exploited some of America's greatest problems: guns, drugs, toxic masculinity, and hypersegregation.

In the upside-down world of the GTTF, cops were robbers and drug dealers were the perfect victims, because no one believed them. When the federal government finally arrested the GTTF for robbery and racketeering in 2017, the stories of victims began to come out, revealing a vast criminal enterprise operating within the Baltimore Police Department.

Cops planted heroin to cover up a fatal crash that resulted from a botched robbery. They stole hundreds of thousands of dollars, faked video evidence, and forged a letter trying to break up the marriage of one of their victims to keep his wife from paying a lawyer. And a homicide detective was killed the day before he was scheduled to testify against the crooked cops.

I Got a Monster is the shocking history of the rise and fall of the most corrupt cops in America from Baynard Woods and Brandon Soderberg]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/41867191Tue, 10 Nov 2020 09:00:14 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubWe each reviewed a different True Crime book The Cold Vanish: Seeking the Missing in North America's Wildlands by Jon Billman These are the stories that defy conventional logic. The proverbial vanished without a trace incidences, which happen a lot...
The Cold Vanish: Seeking the Missing in North America's Wildlands
by Jon Billman
These are the stories that defy conventional logic. The proverbial vanished without a trace incidences, which happen a lot more (and a lot closer to your backyard) than almost anyone thinks. These are the missing whose situations are the hardest on loved ones left behind. The cases that are an embarrassment for park superintendents, rangers and law enforcement charged with Search & Rescue. The ones that baffle the volunteers who comb the mountains, woods and badlands. The stories that should give you pause every time you venture outdoors.
Through Jacob Gray's disappearance in Olympic National Park, and his father Randy Gray who left his life to search for him, we will learn about what happens when someone goes missing. Braided around the core will be the stories of the characters who fill the vacuum created by a vanished human being. We'll meet eccentric bloodhound-handler Duff and R.C., his flagship purebred, who began trailing with the family dog after his brother vanished in the San Gabriel Mountains. And there's Michael Neiger North America's foremost backcountry Search & Rescue expert and self-described "bushman" obsessed with missing persons. And top researcher of persons missing on public wildlands Ex-San Jose, California detective David Paulides who is also one of the world's foremost Bigfoot researchers.
It's a tricky thing to write about missing persons because the story is the absence of someone. A void. The person at the heart of the story is thinner than a smoke ring, invisible as someone else's memory. The bones you dig up are most often metaphorical. While much of the book will embrace memory and faulty memory -- history -- The Cold Vanish is at its core a story of now and tomorrow. Someone will vanish in the wild tomorrow. These are the people who will go looking.

If You Tell: A True Story of Murder, Family Secrets, and the Unbreakable Bond of Sisterhood by Gregg Olsen
After more than a decade, when sisters Nikki, Sami, and Tori Knotek hear the word mom, it claws like an eagle’s talons, triggering memories that have been their secret since childhood. Until now.
For years, behind the closed doors of their farmhouse in Raymond, Washington, their sadistic mother, Shelly, subjected her girls to unimaginable abuse, degradation, torture, and psychic terrors. Through it all, Nikki, Sami, and Tori developed a defiant bond that made them far less vulnerable than Shelly imagined. Even as others were drawn into their mother’s dark and perverse web, the sisters found the strength and courage to escape an escalating nightmare that culminated in multiple murders.

I Got a Monster: The Rise and Fall of America's Most Corrupt Police Squad
by Baynard Woods, Brandon Soderberg
When Baltimore police sergeant Wayne Jenkins said he had a monster, he meant he had found a big-time drug dealer--one that he wanted to rob. This is the story of Jenkins and the Gun Trace Task Force (GTTF), a super group of dirty detectives who exploited some of America's greatest problems: guns, drugs, toxic masculinity, and hypersegregation.

In the upside-down world of the GTTF, cops were robbers and drug dealers were the perfect victims, because no one believed them. When the federal government finally arrested the GTTF for robbery and racketeering in 2017, the stories of victims began to come out, revealing a vast criminal enterprise operating within the Baltimore Police Department.

Cops planted heroin to cover up a fatal crash that resulted from a botched robbery. They stole hundreds of thousands of dollars, faked video evidence, and forged a letter trying to break up the marriage of one of their victims to keep his wife from paying a lawyer. And a homicide detective was killed the day before he was scheduled to testify against the...]]>1945amreading,baltimore,bookclub,booklove,missingperson,murder,podcast,truecrimefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/susan-spann-ghost-of-the-bamboo-road-shinobi-mystery-7--41749060
Susan began reading precociously and voraciously from her preschool days in Santa Monica, California, and as a child read everything from National Geographic to Agatha Christie. In high school, she once turned a short-story assignment into a full-length fantasy novel (which, fortunately, will never see the light of day).

A yearning to experience different cultures sent Susan to Tufts University in Boston, where she immersed herself in the history and culture of China and Japan. After earning an undergraduate degree in Asian Studies, Susan diverted to law school. She returned to California to practice law, where her continuing love of books has led her to specialize in intellectual property, business and publishing contracts.

In 2017, Susan made the bold decision to face her fears and climb 100 Japanese mountains in a single year, but while preparing to leave the United States, she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer. She chronicles her fight to overcome cancer and fear, while learning what it means to “live your dream” in CLIMB: Leaving Safe & Finding Strength on 100 Summits in Japan (Prometheus Books, August 2020).

Susan’s interest in Japanese history, martial arts, and mystery also inspired her to write the Shinobi Mystery series featuring Hiro Hattori, a sixteenth-century ninja who brings murderers to justice with the help of Father Mateo, a Portuguese Jesuit priest.

Susan’s first novel, Claws of the Cat: A Shinobi Mystery (Minotaur Books, 2013) was named a Library Journal mystery debut of the month and was a finalist for the Silver Falchion Award for Best First Novel.

Ghosts of the Bamboo Road - January 1566: En route to Edo, Master ninja Hiro Hattori and Portuguese Jesuit Father Mateo spend the night in a rural mountain village whose inhabitants live in terror of a legendary vengeful ghost. When the innkeeper's wife is murdered and Father Mateo's housekeeper, Ana, is blamed for a crime she did not commit, Hiro and Father Mateo are forced to investigate and reveal the truth. But when another woman turns up murdered in the snow, the detectives must face the shocking truth that the vengeful yūrei the villagers fear might be more than just a legend after all.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/41749060Tue, 03 Nov 2020 09:00:12 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubSusan Spann is the award-winning author of CLIMB (Prometheus Books, 2020) and the Hiro Hattori mystery novels (Minotaur / Seventh Street Books), featuring ninja detective Hiro Hattori and Portuguese Jesuit Father Mateo. Susan began reading...
Susan began reading precociously and voraciously from her preschool days in Santa Monica, California, and as a child read everything from National Geographic to Agatha Christie. In high school, she once turned a short-story assignment into a full-length fantasy novel (which, fortunately, will never see the light of day).

A yearning to experience different cultures sent Susan to Tufts University in Boston, where she immersed herself in the history and culture of China and Japan. After earning an undergraduate degree in Asian Studies, Susan diverted to law school. She returned to California to practice law, where her continuing love of books has led her to specialize in intellectual property, business and publishing contracts.

In 2017, Susan made the bold decision to face her fears and climb 100 Japanese mountains in a single year, but while preparing to leave the United States, she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer. She chronicles her fight to overcome cancer and fear, while learning what it means to “live your dream” in CLIMB: Leaving Safe & Finding Strength on 100 Summits in Japan (Prometheus Books, August 2020).

Susan’s interest in Japanese history, martial arts, and mystery also inspired her to write the Shinobi Mystery series featuring Hiro Hattori, a sixteenth-century ninja who brings murderers to justice with the help of Father Mateo, a Portuguese Jesuit priest.

Susan’s first novel, Claws of the Cat: A Shinobi Mystery (Minotaur Books, 2013) was named a Library Journal mystery debut of the month and was a finalist for the Silver Falchion Award for Best First Novel.

Ghosts of the Bamboo Road - January 1566: En route to Edo, Master ninja Hiro Hattori and Portuguese Jesuit Father Mateo spend the night in a rural mountain village whose inhabitants live in terror of a legendary vengeful ghost. When the innkeeper's wife is murdered and Father Mateo's housekeeper, Ana, is blamed for a crime she did not commit, Hiro and Father Mateo are forced to investigate and reveal the truth. But when another woman turns up murdered in the snow, the detectives must face the shocking truth that the vengeful yūrei the villagers fear might be more than just a legend after all.]]>1817amreading,authorlife,bookclub,booklove,climb,ghosts,historicalfiction,interview,murder,ninjas,podcast,@susanspannfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/halloween-cozy-roundup--41653775
Witch Hunt (A Full Moon Mystery#1)by Cate Conte
Violet Mooney owns The Full Moon crystal shop in quaint North Harbor, Connecticut. Still grieving her beloved grandmother’s recent unexpected death, she takes comfort in her fat orange cat Monty and her work. Not everyone in town is thrilled with her business, however. When disagreeable town councilwoman Carla Fernandez picks a fight over Violet’s "voodoo shop," the two have a very public confrontation. Of course, when Carla turns up dead, Violet gets little sympathy from the police as suspect #1.

But the shock of two policemen showing up at her door pales in comparison to the sudden appearance of her estranged mother Fiona and a surprise sister, Zoe. What Fiona reveals will rock her world and her sense of self—and reawaken her long-dormant mysterious power. Good thing. She’s gonna need it . . .

Death of a Wicked Witch (Hayley Powell Mystery Book 13) By Lee Hollis
Bar Harbor, Maine, is quieter in the off-season, but the population has just increased a bit with the arrival of Ted and Trudy Lancaster. Ted’s taking over for a retiring minister, and Trudy runs a food truck called Wicked ’Wiches. When she stops in at the Island Times office to place an ad, Hayley happily devours the sample sub Trudy offers—and the two become fast friends.

When Trudy tragically dies in her truck while catering a Halloween party, suspicion falls on a cranky, competitive caterer who’d made veiled threats to Trudy. But the case becomes more complicated when Hayley’s husband admits he’d seen someone dressed as a witch hurrying away from the food truck—not very helpful when countless women at the party wore the same costume. Now Hayley finds herself sandwiched between witches and witnesses as she considers a smorgasbord of suspects. If she finds the killer, she’ll be a local hero . . .

What Not to Wear to a Graveyard (A Resale Boutique Mystery) By Debra Sennefelder
A socialite’s missing dog has made front page news in Lucky Cove—complete with a hefty reward. But between renovating the consignment shop, planning her costume for a 1970s themed Halloween party, and scouting a location for a fashion shoot, Kelly doesn’t have time to search. Yet a visit to the local colonial-era cemetery—ideal for the moody atmosphere she’s after—soon turns up the precious pooch. Kelly’s looking forward to collecting the check—until she makes a gruesome discovery in an abandoned farmhouse: The dog’s owner, stabbed through the heart.

Kelly can’t help wondering why Constance Lane was traipsing around the farmhouse in stilettos. But as Kelly gets decked out in a vintage disco caftan, that isn’t the only fashion misstatement spooking her. Hidden in the dead woman’s past is a secret that could be the motive for the murder. And as the Halloween party gets started, even a menacing clown and a threatening bearded lady can’t keep Kelly from trick or treating for the truth—even if it means her last dance . . .

The Last Seance: Tales of the Supernatural By Agatha Christie
For lovers of the supernatural and the macabre comes this collection of ghostly and chilling stories from legendary mystery writer Agatha Christie. Fantastic psychic visions, specters looming in the shadows, encounters with deities, a man who switches bodies with a cat—be sure to keep the light on whilst reading these tales.

The Last Séance gathers twenty stories, some featuring Christie’s beloved detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple, in one haunting compendium that explores all things occult and paranormal, and is an essential omnibus for Christie fans.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/41653775Tue, 27 Oct 2020 08:00:06 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubHere are some Spooky recommendations for some Halloween Cozy's Witch Hunt (A Full Moon Mystery#1)by Cate Conte Violet Mooney owns The Full Moon crystal shop in quaint North Harbor, Connecticut. Still grieving her beloved grandmother’s recent...
Witch Hunt (A Full Moon Mystery#1)by Cate Conte
Violet Mooney owns The Full Moon crystal shop in quaint North Harbor, Connecticut. Still grieving her beloved grandmother’s recent unexpected death, she takes comfort in her fat orange cat Monty and her work. Not everyone in town is thrilled with her business, however. When disagreeable town councilwoman Carla Fernandez picks a fight over Violet’s "voodoo shop," the two have a very public confrontation. Of course, when Carla turns up dead, Violet gets little sympathy from the police as suspect #1.

But the shock of two policemen showing up at her door pales in comparison to the sudden appearance of her estranged mother Fiona and a surprise sister, Zoe. What Fiona reveals will rock her world and her sense of self—and reawaken her long-dormant mysterious power. Good thing. She’s gonna need it . . .

Death of a Wicked Witch (Hayley Powell Mystery Book 13) By Lee Hollis
Bar Harbor, Maine, is quieter in the off-season, but the population has just increased a bit with the arrival of Ted and Trudy Lancaster. Ted’s taking over for a retiring minister, and Trudy runs a food truck called Wicked ’Wiches. When she stops in at the Island Times office to place an ad, Hayley happily devours the sample sub Trudy offers—and the two become fast friends.

When Trudy tragically dies in her truck while catering a Halloween party, suspicion falls on a cranky, competitive caterer who’d made veiled threats to Trudy. But the case becomes more complicated when Hayley’s husband admits he’d seen someone dressed as a witch hurrying away from the food truck—not very helpful when countless women at the party wore the same costume. Now Hayley finds herself sandwiched between witches and witnesses as she considers a smorgasbord of suspects. If she finds the killer, she’ll be a local hero . . .

What Not to Wear to a Graveyard (A Resale Boutique Mystery) By Debra Sennefelder
A socialite’s missing dog has made front page news in Lucky Cove—complete with a hefty reward. But between renovating the consignment shop, planning her costume for a 1970s themed Halloween party, and scouting a location for a fashion shoot, Kelly doesn’t have time to search. Yet a visit to the local colonial-era cemetery—ideal for the moody atmosphere she’s after—soon turns up the precious pooch. Kelly’s looking forward to collecting the check—until she makes a gruesome discovery in an abandoned farmhouse: The dog’s owner, stabbed through the heart.

Kelly can’t help wondering why Constance Lane was traipsing around the farmhouse in stilettos. But as Kelly gets decked out in a vintage disco caftan, that isn’t the only fashion misstatement spooking her. Hidden in the dead woman’s past is a secret that could be the motive for the murder. And as the Halloween party gets started, even a menacing clown and a threatening bearded lady can’t keep Kelly from trick or treating for the truth—even if it means her last dance . . .

The Last Seance: Tales of the Supernatural By Agatha Christie
For lovers of the supernatural and the macabre comes this collection of ghostly and chilling stories from legendary mystery writer Agatha Christie. Fantastic psychic visions, specters looming in the shadows, encounters with deities, a man who switches bodies with a cat—be sure to keep the light on whilst reading these tales.

The Last Séance gathers twenty stories, some featuring Christie’s beloved detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple, in one haunting compendium that explores all things occult and paranormal, and is an essential omnibus for Christie fans.]]>1465amreading,bookclub,booklove,halloween,library,podcast,roundup,scary,spookyfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/michelle-cox-a-child-lost-henrietta-and-inspector-howard-novel-5--41543390
A CHILD LOST-When Clive, anxious to distract a depressed Henrietta, begs Sergeant Frank Davis for a case, he is assigned to investigating a seemingly boring affair: a spiritualist woman operating in an abandoned schoolhouse on the edge of town who is suspected of robbing people of their valuables. What begins as an open and shut case becomes more complicated, however, when Henrietta―much to Clive’s dismay―begins to believe the spiritualist's strange ramblings.

Meanwhile, Elsie begs Clive and Henrietta to help her and the object of her budding love, Gunther, locate the whereabouts of one Liesel Klinkhammer, the German woman Gunther has traveled to America to find and the mother of the little girl, Anna, whom he has brought along with him. The search leads them to Dunning Asylum, where they discover some terrible truths about Liesel. When the child, Anna, is herself mistakenly admitted to the asylum after an epileptic fit, Clive and Henrietta return to Dunning to retrieve her. This time, however, Henrietta begins to suspect that something darker may be happening. When Clive doesn’t believe her, she decides to take matters into her own hands . . . with horrifying results.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/41543390Tue, 20 Oct 2020 08:00:17 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubMichelle Cox is the author of the multiple award-winning Henrietta and Inspector Howard series as well as "Novel Notes of Local Lore," a weekly blog dedicated to Chicago's forgotten residents. She suspects she may have once lived in the 1930s and,...
A CHILD LOST-When Clive, anxious to distract a depressed Henrietta, begs Sergeant Frank Davis for a case, he is assigned to investigating a seemingly boring affair: a spiritualist woman operating in an abandoned schoolhouse on the edge of town who is suspected of robbing people of their valuables. What begins as an open and shut case becomes more complicated, however, when Henrietta―much to Clive’s dismay―begins to believe the spiritualist's strange ramblings.

Meanwhile, Elsie begs Clive and Henrietta to help her and the object of her budding love, Gunther, locate the whereabouts of one Liesel Klinkhammer, the German woman Gunther has traveled to America to find and the mother of the little girl, Anna, whom he has brought along with him. The search leads them to Dunning Asylum, where they discover some terrible truths about Liesel. When the child, Anna, is herself mistakenly admitted to the asylum after an epileptic fit, Clive and Henrietta return to Dunning to retrieve her. This time, however, Henrietta begins to suspect that something darker may be happening. When Clive doesn’t believe her, she decides to take matters into her own hands . . . with horrifying results.]]>19501930's,amreading,bookclub,booklove,chicago,historicalfiction,murder,mustread,mystery,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/brian-freeman-funeral-for-a-friend--41429650Brian Freeman is a New York Times bestselling author of psychological thrillers, including the Jonathan Stride and Frost Easton series. His books have been sold in 46 countries and 22 languages. He is widely acclaimed for his "you are there" settings and his complex, engaging characters and twist-filled plots. Brian was also selected as the official author to continue Robert Ludlum's Jason Bourne series, and his new Bourne novel THE BOURNE EVOLUTION was released in 2020.

His novel THE NIGHT BIRD, the first in the Frost Easton series set in San Francisco, was one of the top 20 Kindle bestsellers of 2017. His latest releases include two standalones, the #1 Amazon Kindle bestseller THIEF RIVER FALLS and the #1 bestselling Audible Original THE DEEP, DEEP SNOW.

Brian's seventh novel SPILLED BLOOD won the award for Best Hardcover Novel in the annual Thriller Awards given out by the International Thriller Writers organization, and his fifth novel THE BURYING PLACE was a finalist for the same award. His debut thriller, IMMORAL, won the Macavity Award for Best First Novel and was a nominee for the Edgar, Dagger, Anthony, and Barry Awards. IMMORAL was named an International Book of the Month, a distinction shared with authors such as Harlan Coben and Lisa Unger.

All of Brian's books are also available in audiobook editions. His novels THE BONE HOUSE and SEASON OF FEAR were both finalists for Best Audiobook of the Year in Thriller/Suspense.


“You’re safe, Stride. I found the body at the Deeps. I buried him.”

Jonathan Stride’s best friend, Steve Garske, makes a shocking deathbed confession: he protected Stride by covering up a murder. Hours later, the police dig up Steve’s yard and find a body with a bullet hole in its skull.

Stride is pretty sure he knows who it is. Seven years ago, an out-of-town reporter disappeared while investigating anonymous allegations of rape against a prominent politician. Back then, the police believed that the reporter drowned at a dangerous swimming hole called the Deeps … but the discovery of the body changes everything. Now Stride’s partner, Maggie Bei, is forced to ask Stride an uncomfortable question: Did you kill him?

Stride is obviously hiding things. He was the last person to see the reporter alive. And he admits lying to Maggie about that meeting, but won’t tell her why. With suspicion in the murder pointing at him, Stride finds himself off the case and on leave from the Duluth Police.

His only ally in clearing his name is his wife, Serena, who retraces the reporter’s investigation into the explosive allegations. The clues all point to a hot Duluth summer years earlier that everyone in town would prefer to forget.

Someone was willing to kill rather than let those long-ago secrets come out, and the suspect with the strongest motive … is Stride.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/41429650Tue, 13 Oct 2020 08:00:03 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubFuneral for a Friend: A Jonathan Stride Novel (Jonathan Stride series, Book 10) (The Jonathan Stride Series, 10) Brian Freeman is a New York Times bestselling author of psychological thrillers, including the Jonathan Stride and Frost Easton series....Brian Freeman is a New York Times bestselling author of psychological thrillers, including the Jonathan Stride and Frost Easton series. His books have been sold in 46 countries and 22 languages. He is widely acclaimed for his "you are there" settings and his complex, engaging characters and twist-filled plots. Brian was also selected as the official author to continue Robert Ludlum's Jason Bourne series, and his new Bourne novel THE BOURNE EVOLUTION was released in 2020.

His novel THE NIGHT BIRD, the first in the Frost Easton series set in San Francisco, was one of the top 20 Kindle bestsellers of 2017. His latest releases include two standalones, the #1 Amazon Kindle bestseller THIEF RIVER FALLS and the #1 bestselling Audible Original THE DEEP, DEEP SNOW.

Brian's seventh novel SPILLED BLOOD won the award for Best Hardcover Novel in the annual Thriller Awards given out by the International Thriller Writers organization, and his fifth novel THE BURYING PLACE was a finalist for the same award. His debut thriller, IMMORAL, won the Macavity Award for Best First Novel and was a nominee for the Edgar, Dagger, Anthony, and Barry Awards. IMMORAL was named an International Book of the Month, a distinction shared with authors such as Harlan Coben and Lisa Unger.

All of Brian's books are also available in audiobook editions. His novels THE BONE HOUSE and SEASON OF FEAR were both finalists for Best Audiobook of the Year in Thriller/Suspense.


“You’re safe, Stride. I found the body at the Deeps. I buried him.”

Jonathan Stride’s best friend, Steve Garske, makes a shocking deathbed confession: he protected Stride by covering up a murder. Hours later, the police dig up Steve’s yard and find a body with a bullet hole in its skull.

Stride is pretty sure he knows who it is. Seven years ago, an out-of-town reporter disappeared while investigating anonymous allegations of rape against a prominent politician. Back then, the police believed that the reporter drowned at a dangerous swimming hole called the Deeps … but the discovery of the body changes everything. Now Stride’s partner, Maggie Bei, is forced to ask Stride an uncomfortable question: Did you kill him?

Stride is obviously hiding things. He was the last person to see the reporter alive. And he admits lying to Maggie about that meeting, but won’t tell her why. With suspicion in the murder pointing at him, Stride finds himself off the case and on leave from the Duluth Police.

His only ally in clearing his name is his wife, Serena, who retraces the reporter’s investigation into the explosive allegations. The clues all point to a hot Duluth summer years earlier that everyone in town would prefer to forget.

Someone was willing to kill rather than let those long-ago secrets come out, and the suspect with the strongest motive … is Stride.]]>2228amreading,authorinterview,booklove,jonathanstride,murder,mustread,podcast,seriesfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/mark-billingham-cry-baby-di-tom-thorne-series-17--41316656
A television series based on the Thorne novels is screening in the USA on Encore in June 2012, starring David Morrissey (from "The Walking Dead") as Tom Thorne and series based on the standalone thrillers RUSH OF BLOOd and IN THE DARK are currently in development with the BBC.

CRY BABY In the summer of 1996, two boys run from a playground into the adjoining woods, but only one comes out. DS Tom Thorne takes on a case that quickly spirals out of control when two people connected with the missing boy are murdered. As London prepares to host the European Soccer Championships, Thorne fights to keep on top of a baffling investigation while also dealing with the ugly fallout of his broken marriage.

A prequel to Billingham’s acclaimed debut Sleepyhead―which the Times voted “one of the 100 books that had shaped the decade”―this compelling novel highlights the case that shaped the career of one of British crime fiction’s most iconic characters.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/41316656Tue, 06 Oct 2020 08:00:08 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubMark Billingham is one of the UK's most acclaimed and popular crime writers. A former actor, television writer and stand-up comedian, his series of novels featuring D.I. Tom Thorne has twice won him the Crime Novel Of The Year Award as well as the...
A television series based on the Thorne novels is screening in the USA on Encore in June 2012, starring David Morrissey (from "The Walking Dead") as Tom Thorne and series based on the standalone thrillers RUSH OF BLOOd and IN THE DARK are currently in development with the BBC.

CRY BABY In the summer of 1996, two boys run from a playground into the adjoining woods, but only one comes out. DS Tom Thorne takes on a case that quickly spirals out of control when two people connected with the missing boy are murdered. As London prepares to host the European Soccer Championships, Thorne fights to keep on top of a baffling investigation while also dealing with the ugly fallout of his broken marriage.

A prequel to Billingham’s acclaimed debut Sleepyhead―which the Times voted “one of the 100 books that had shaped the decade”―this compelling novel highlights the case that shaped the career of one of British crime fiction’s most iconic characters.]]>1685amreading,bookclub,booklove,bookworm,crybaby,detective,murder,mustread,podcast,tomthornefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/historical-mystery-roundup--41193332by Dianne Freeman

London is known for its bustle and intrigues, but the sedate English countryside can host--or hide--any number of secrets. Frances, the widowed Countess of Harleigh, needs a venue for her sister Lily's imminent wedding, away from prying eyes. Risings, George Hazleton's family estate in Hampshire, is a perfect choice, and soon Frances, her beloved George, and other guests have gathered to enjoy the usual country pursuits--shooting, horse riding, and romantic interludes in secluded gardens.

But the bucolic setting harbors a menace, and it's not simply the arrival of Frances's socially ambitious mother. Above and below stairs, mysterious accidents befall guests and staff alike. Before long, Frances suspects these "accidents" are deliberate, and fears that the intended victim is Lily's fianc�, Leo. Frances's mother is unimpressed by Lily's groom-to-be and would much prefer that Lily find an aristocratic husband, just as Frances did. But now that Frances has found happiness with George--a man who loves her for much more than her dowry--she heartily approves of Lily's choice. If she can just keep the couple safe from villains and meddling mamas.

As Frances and George search for the culprit among the assembled family, friends, and servants, more victims fall prey to the mayhem. Mishaps become full-blooded murder, and it seems that no one is safe. And unless Frances can quickly flush out the culprit, the peal of wedding bells may give way to another funeral toll.

The Corpse at the Crystal Palace(Daisy Dalrymple #23)
by Carola Dunn

April 1928: Daisy Dalrymple Fletcher is visited in London by her young cousins. On the list of must-see sites is the Crystal Palace. Discovering that her children's nanny, Nanny Gilpin, has never seen the Palace, Daisy decides to make a day of it―bringing her cousins, her 3-year-old twins, her step-daughter Belinda, the nurserymaid, and Nanny Gilpin. Yet this ordinary outing goes wrong when Mrs. Gilpin goes off to the ladies’ room and fails to return. When Daisy goes to look for her, she doesn't find her nanny but instead the body of another woman dressed in a nanny's uniform.

Meanwhile, Belinda and the cousins spot Mrs. Gilpin chasing after yet another nanny. Intrigued, they trail the two through the vast Crystal Palace and into the park. After briefly losing sight of their quarry, they stumble across Mrs. Gilpin lying unconscious in a small lake inhabited by huge concrete dinosaurs.

When she comes to, Mrs. Gilpin can't remember what happened after leaving the twins in the nurserymaid's care. Daisy's husband, Detective Chief Inspector Alec Fletcher of Scotland Yard, finds himself embroiled in the investigation of the murdered nanny. Worried about her children's own injured nanny, Daisy is determined to help. First she has to discover the identity of the third nanny, the presumed murderer, and to do so, Daisy must uncover why the amnesic Mrs. Gilpin deserted her charges to follow the missing third nanny.

The Art of Deception (The Daughter of Sherlock Holmes Mysteries #4)
by Leonard Goldberg

USA Today bestselling author Leonard Goldberg returns with another puzzling case for the daughter of Sherlock Holmes to unravel in this exciting mystery, The Art of Deception, sure to be enjoyed by fans of Sherlock Holmes as well Laurie R. King and Charles Finch.

In the west end of London, an apparently crazed individual is on the loose, breaking into art galleries and private homes to slash valuable paintings of women. Despite Scotland Yard’s best efforts, the criminal remains at large and continues on his destructive path.

When Joanna and the Watsons are called in to solve the mystery, they soon discover that although the canvases have been slashed, their backings remain pristine, with no cuts or scratches. The criminal, it seems, is no mere vandal—he's searching for something hidden behind the portraits.

Suspicion soon falls on two skilled art restorers who previously worked at the gallery where all the vandalized art was purchased. When Joanna finds the body of one in a bricked off fireplace at the gallery, the other is left as the prime suspect. But then he's discovered dead as well. Luckily, Joanna has a plan for ensnaring the criminal once and for all. But it must not fail, or more paintings—and lives—will be lost.

The Hour of the Fox (Brother Chandler #1)
by Cassandra Clark

London. July, 1399. As rumours spread that his ambitious cousin, Henry Bolingbroke, has returned from exile in France, King Richard's grip on the English throne grows ever more precarious. Meanwhile, the body of a young woman is discovered at Dowgate sluice. When it's established that the dead woman was a novice from nearby Barking Abbey, the coroner calls in his friend, Brother Chandler, to investigate.

Who would cut the throat of a young nun and throw her remains in the river? And what was she doing outside the confines of the priory in the first place? Secretly acting as a spy for Henry Bolingbroke, Chandler is torn by conflicting loyalties and agonising self-doubt. As the king's cousin marches towards Wales and England teeters on the brink of civil war, Chandler's investigations will draw him into affairs of state - and endanger not only himself but all those around him.

The King's Justice (Maggie Hope #9)
by Susan Elia MacNeal

London. December, 1942. As the Russian army repels German forces from Stalingrad, Maggie Hope, secret agent and spy, takes a break from the Special Operations Executive division to defuse bombs in London. But Maggie herself is like an explosion waiting to happen. Shaken by a recent case, she finds herself living more dangerously--taking more risks than usual, smoking again, drinking gin and riding a motorcycle--and the last thing she wants is to get entangled in another crime. But when she's called upon to look into a stolen Stradivarius, one of the finest violins ever made, Maggie finds the case too alluring to resist.

Meanwhile, there's a serial killer on the loose in London and Maggie's skills are in demand. Little does she know that in the process of investigating this dangerous predator, she will come face to face with a new sort of evil...and discover a link between the precious violin and the murders no one could ever have expected.

The Cabinets of Barnaby Mayne
by Elsa Hart

London, 1703. In a time when the old approaches to science coexist with the new, one elite community attempts to understand the world by collecting its wonders. Sir Barnaby Mayne, the most formidable of these collectors, has devoted his life to filling his cabinets. While the curious-minded vie for invitations to study the rare stones, bones, books, and artifacts he has amassed, some visitors come with a darker purpose.

For Cecily Kay, it is a passion for plants that brings her to the Mayne house. The only puzzle she expects to encounter is how to locate the specimens she needs within Sir Barnaby’s crowded cabinets. But when her host is stabbed to death, Cecily finds the confession of the supposed killer unconvincing. She pays attention to details—years of practice have taught her that the smallest particulars can distinguish a harmless herb from a deadly one—and in the case of Sir Barnaby’s murder, there are too many inconsistencies for her to ignore.

To discover the truth, Cecily must enter the world of the collectors, a realm where intellect is distorted by obsession and greed. As her pursuit of answers brings her closer to a killer, she risks being given a final resting place amid the bones that wait, silent and still, in the cabinets of Barnaby Mayne.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/41193332Tue, 29 Sep 2020 08:00:16 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubA Lady's Guide to Mischief and Murder(Countess of Harleigh Mystery #3) by Dianne Freeman London is known for its bustle and intrigues, but the sedate English countryside can host--or hide--any number of secrets. Frances, the widowed Countess of...by Dianne Freeman

London is known for its bustle and intrigues, but the sedate English countryside can host--or hide--any number of secrets. Frances, the widowed Countess of Harleigh, needs a venue for her sister Lily's imminent wedding, away from prying eyes. Risings, George Hazleton's family estate in Hampshire, is a perfect choice, and soon Frances, her beloved George, and other guests have gathered to enjoy the usual country pursuits--shooting, horse riding, and romantic interludes in secluded gardens.

But the bucolic setting harbors a menace, and it's not simply the arrival of Frances's socially ambitious mother. Above and below stairs, mysterious accidents befall guests and staff alike. Before long, Frances suspects these "accidents" are deliberate, and fears that the intended victim is Lily's fianc�, Leo. Frances's mother is unimpressed by Lily's groom-to-be and would much prefer that Lily find an aristocratic husband, just as Frances did. But now that Frances has found happiness with George--a man who loves her for much more than her dowry--she heartily approves of Lily's choice. If she can just keep the couple safe from villains and meddling mamas.

As Frances and George search for the culprit among the assembled family, friends, and servants, more victims fall prey to the mayhem. Mishaps become full-blooded murder, and it seems that no one is safe. And unless Frances can quickly flush out the culprit, the peal of wedding bells may give way to another funeral toll.

The Corpse at the Crystal Palace(Daisy Dalrymple #23)
by Carola Dunn

April 1928: Daisy Dalrymple Fletcher is visited in London by her young cousins. On the list of must-see sites is the Crystal Palace. Discovering that her children's nanny, Nanny Gilpin, has never seen the Palace, Daisy decides to make a day of it―bringing her cousins, her 3-year-old twins, her step-daughter Belinda, the nurserymaid, and Nanny Gilpin. Yet this ordinary outing goes wrong when Mrs. Gilpin goes off to the ladies’ room and fails to return. When Daisy goes to look for her, she doesn't find her nanny but instead the body of another woman dressed in a nanny's uniform.

Meanwhile, Belinda and the cousins spot Mrs. Gilpin chasing after yet another nanny. Intrigued, they trail the two through the vast Crystal Palace and into the park. After briefly losing sight of their quarry, they stumble across Mrs. Gilpin lying unconscious in a small lake inhabited by huge concrete dinosaurs.

When she comes to, Mrs. Gilpin can't remember what happened after leaving the twins in the nurserymaid's care. Daisy's husband, Detective Chief Inspector Alec Fletcher of Scotland Yard, finds himself embroiled in the investigation of the murdered nanny. Worried about her children's own injured nanny, Daisy is determined to help. First she has to discover the identity of the third nanny, the presumed murderer, and to do so, Daisy must uncover why the amnesic Mrs. Gilpin deserted her charges to follow the missing third nanny.

The Art of Deception (The Daughter of Sherlock Holmes Mysteries #4)
by Leonard Goldberg

USA Today bestselling author Leonard Goldberg returns with another puzzling case for the daughter of Sherlock Holmes to unravel in this exciting mystery, The Art of Deception, sure to be enjoyed by fans of Sherlock Holmes as well Laurie R. King and Charles Finch.

In the west end of London, an apparently crazed individual is on the loose, breaking into art galleries and private homes to slash valuable paintings of women. Despite Scotland Yard’s best efforts, the criminal remains at large and continues on his destructive path.

When Joanna and the Watsons are called in to solve the mystery, they soon discover that although the canvases have been slashed, their backings remain pristine, with no cuts...]]>1801amreading,bookclub,booklove,historicalfiction,historicalmystery,mustread,podcast,sherlockfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/brad-parks-interference--41049960
Interference - Quantum physicist Matt Bronik is suffering from strange, violent seizures that medical science seems powerless to explain—much to the consternation of his wife, Brigid.

Matt doesn’t think these fits could be related to his research, which he has always described as benign and esoteric. That, it turns out, is not quite true: Matt has been prodding the mysteries of the quantum universe, with terrible repercussions for his health. And perhaps even for humanity as a whole.

Then, in the midst of another seizure, Matt disappears. When foul play is feared, there is no shortage of suspects. Matt’s research had gained the attention of Chinese competitors, an unscrupulous billionaire, and the Department of Defense, among others.

With Matt’s life in clear danger, Brigid sets out to find him. Will Matt be killed before she reaches him, or could the physics that endangered him actually be used to save his life?]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/41049960Tue, 22 Sep 2020 08:00:16 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubInternational bestselling author Brad Parks is the only writer to have won the Shamus, Nero, and Lefty Awards, three of American crime fiction’s most prestigious prizes. His novels have been translated into 15 languages and have won critical acclaim...
Interference - Quantum physicist Matt Bronik is suffering from strange, violent seizures that medical science seems powerless to explain—much to the consternation of his wife, Brigid.

Matt doesn’t think these fits could be related to his research, which he has always described as benign and esoteric. That, it turns out, is not quite true: Matt has been prodding the mysteries of the quantum universe, with terrible repercussions for his health. And perhaps even for humanity as a whole.

Then, in the midst of another seizure, Matt disappears. When foul play is feared, there is no shortage of suspects. Matt’s research had gained the attention of Chinese competitors, an unscrupulous billionaire, and the Department of Defense, among others.

With Matt’s life in clear danger, Brigid sets out to find him. Will Matt be killed before she reaches him, or could the physics that endangered him actually be used to save his life?]]>2006amreading,bookclub,booklove,murder,mustread,podcast,science,thrillerfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/what-are-we-reading--40904815
A BAD DAY FOR SUNSHINE (Sunshine Vicram #1)
by Darynda Jones
Sheriff Sunshine Vicram finds her cup o' joe more than half full when the small village of Del Sol, New Mexico, becomes the center of national attention for a kidnapper on the loose.

Del Sol, New Mexico is known for three things: its fry-an-egg-on-the-cement summers, strong cups of coffee - and, now, a nationwide manhunt? Del Sol native Sunshine Vicram has returned to town as the elected sheriff - thanks to her adorably meddlesome parents who nominated her--and she expects her biggest crime wave to involve an elderly flasher named Doug. But a teenage girl is missing, a kidnapper is on the loose, and all of this is reminding Sunshine why she left Del Sol in the first place. Add to that the trouble at her daughter's new school, plus and a kidnapped prized rooster named Puff Daddy, and, well, the forecast looks anything but sunny

THE LAST AGENT (Charles Jenkins #2)
by Robert Dugoni

An American operative in Russia is on the run for his life in a thriller of heart-stopping betrayal and international intrigue by the New York Times bestselling author of The Eighth Sister.

Betrayed by his own country and tried for treason, former spy Charles Jenkins survived an undercover Russian operation gone wrong. Exonerated, bitter, and safe, the retired family man is through with duplicitous spy games. Then he learns of a woman isolated in Moscow’s notorious Lefortovo Prison.

If it’s Paulina Ponomayova, the agent who sacrificed her life to save his, Jenkins can’t leave her behind. But there’s no guarantee it’s her. Or proof Paulina is still alive. To find out, Jenkins must return to Russia. Next move: blackmail Viktor Federov, a former Russian officer with his own ax to grind, into helping him infiltrate Lefortovo. The enemy who once pursued Jenkins across three continents is now the only man Jenkins can trust.

NOW YOU SEE THEM (Stephens & Mephisto Mystery #5)
by Elly Griffiths
The fifth gripping Brighton-based mystery from the bestselling author of the Dr Ruth Galloway series – a must-read for fans of Agatha Christie, cosy crime and TV series such as Grantchester and Midsomer Murders. One after another, young women go missing in Brighton, but who’s to say they didn’t leave of their own free choice?

Ten years have passed since the events described in The Vanishing Box. Edgar Stephens is now a Superintendent and married to former DS Emma Holmes. Edgar’s wartime partner in arms, magician Max Mephisto, is a movie star in Hollywood, while his daughter Ruby has her own TV show, Ruby Magic.

The funeral of Stan Parks, aka Diablo, actor and wartime comrade to Edgar and Max, throws the gang back together. The reunion sparks all sorts of feelings. Bob Willis, now a DI, is dealing with the disappearance of local schoolgirl Rhonda Miles. Emma, frustrated by living the life of a housewife and mother, keeps thinking how much better she would run the case. She is helped by Sam Collins, a woman reporter also hampered by sexism at work. Sam notices a pattern with other missing girls. Edgar listens to the theory but doesn’t give it much credence. He is preoccupied with the threatened invasion of Brighton by Mods and Rockers on the May Bank Holiday.

The case takes a more sinister turn when one of the missing girls is found dead. Then Ruby fails to turn up for a rendezvous and it becomes clear that she too has disappeared. Emma takes risks to track down the killer herself while Edgar is working flat out dealing with violent clashes between rival gangs on Brighton’s seafront. With tension and anger hitting him on all sides, Edgar must keep the coolest of heads to track down the killer.

THE BONE JAR (Detective Lew Kirby, #1)
by S.W. Kane
Two murders. An abandoned asylum. Will a mysterious former patient help untangle the dark truth?

The body of an elderly woman has been found in the bowels of a derelict asylum on the banks of the Thames. As Detective Lew Kirby and his partner begin their investigation, another body is discovered in the river nearby. How are the two murders connected?

Before long, the secrets of Blackwater Asylum begin to reveal themselves. There are rumours about underground bunkers and secret rooms, unspeakable psychological experimentation, and a dark force that haunts the ruins, trying to pull back in all those who attempt to escape. Urban explorer Connie Darke, whose sister died in a freak accident at the asylum, is determined to help Lew expose its grisly past. Meanwhile Lew discovers a devastating family secret that threatens to turn his life upside down.

As his world crumbles around him, Lew must put the pieces of the puzzle together to keep the killer from striking again. Only an eccentric former patient really knows the truth—but will he reveal it to Lew before it’s too late?

THE MOLTON CITY (DI Tom Harper #8)
by Chris Nickson

Detective Superintendent Tom Harper senses trouble ahead when the prime minister plans a visit. Can he keep law and order on the streets while also uncovering the truth behind a missing child?

Leeds, September 1908. There's going to be a riot. Detective Superintendent Tom Harper can feel it. Herbert Asquith, the prime minster, is due to speak in the city. The suffragettes and the unemployed men will be out in the streets in protest. It's Harper's responsibility to keep order. Can he do it?

Harper has also received an anonymous letter claiming that a young boy called Andrew Sharp was stolen from his family fourteen years before. The file is worryingly thin. It ought to have been bulging. A missing child should have been headline news. Why was Andrew's disappearance ignored? Determined to uncover the truth about Andrew Sharp and bring the boy some justice, Harper is drawn deep into the dark underworld of child-snatching, corruption and murder as Leeds becomes a molten, rioting city

HID FROM OUR EYES
(The Rev. Clare Fergusson & Russ Van Alstyne Mysteries #9)
by Julia Spencer-Fleming
New York Times bestseller Julia Spencer-Fleming returns to her beloved Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne mystery series with new crimes that span decades.

1952. Millers Kill Police Chief Harry McNeil is called to a crime scene where a woman in a party dress has been murdered with no obvious cause of death.

1972. Millers Kill Police Chief Jack Liddle is called to a murder scene of a woman that's very similar to one he worked as a trooper in the 50s. The only difference is this time, they have a suspect. Young Vietnam War veteran Russ van Alstyne found the body while riding his motorcycle and is quickly pegged as the prime focus of the investigation.

Present-day. Millers Kill Police Chief Russ van Alstyne gets a 911 call that a young woman has been found dead in a party dress, the same MO as the crime he was accused of in the 70s. The pressure is on for Russ to solve the murder before he's removed from the case.

Russ will enlist the help of his police squad and Reverand Clare Fergusson, who is already juggling the tasks of being a new mother to her and Russ's baby and running St. Alban's Church, to finally solve these crimes.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/40904815Tue, 15 Sep 2020 08:00:21 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubA roundup of books we are currently in love with. A BAD DAY FOR SUNSHINE (Sunshine Vicram #1) by Darynda Jones Sheriff Sunshine Vicram finds her cup o' joe more than half full when the small village of Del Sol, New Mexico, becomes the center of...
A BAD DAY FOR SUNSHINE (Sunshine Vicram #1)
by Darynda Jones
Sheriff Sunshine Vicram finds her cup o' joe more than half full when the small village of Del Sol, New Mexico, becomes the center of national attention for a kidnapper on the loose.

Del Sol, New Mexico is known for three things: its fry-an-egg-on-the-cement summers, strong cups of coffee - and, now, a nationwide manhunt? Del Sol native Sunshine Vicram has returned to town as the elected sheriff - thanks to her adorably meddlesome parents who nominated her--and she expects her biggest crime wave to involve an elderly flasher named Doug. But a teenage girl is missing, a kidnapper is on the loose, and all of this is reminding Sunshine why she left Del Sol in the first place. Add to that the trouble at her daughter's new school, plus and a kidnapped prized rooster named Puff Daddy, and, well, the forecast looks anything but sunny

THE LAST AGENT (Charles Jenkins #2)
by Robert Dugoni

An American operative in Russia is on the run for his life in a thriller of heart-stopping betrayal and international intrigue by the New York Times bestselling author of The Eighth Sister.

Betrayed by his own country and tried for treason, former spy Charles Jenkins survived an undercover Russian operation gone wrong. Exonerated, bitter, and safe, the retired family man is through with duplicitous spy games. Then he learns of a woman isolated in Moscow’s notorious Lefortovo Prison.

If it’s Paulina Ponomayova, the agent who sacrificed her life to save his, Jenkins can’t leave her behind. But there’s no guarantee it’s her. Or proof Paulina is still alive. To find out, Jenkins must return to Russia. Next move: blackmail Viktor Federov, a former Russian officer with his own ax to grind, into helping him infiltrate Lefortovo. The enemy who once pursued Jenkins across three continents is now the only man Jenkins can trust.

NOW YOU SEE THEM (Stephens & Mephisto Mystery #5)
by Elly Griffiths
The fifth gripping Brighton-based mystery from the bestselling author of the Dr Ruth Galloway series – a must-read for fans of Agatha Christie, cosy crime and TV series such as Grantchester and Midsomer Murders. One after another, young women go missing in Brighton, but who’s to say they didn’t leave of their own free choice?

Ten years have passed since the events described in The Vanishing Box. Edgar Stephens is now a Superintendent and married to former DS Emma Holmes. Edgar’s wartime partner in arms, magician Max Mephisto, is a movie star in Hollywood, while his daughter Ruby has her own TV show, Ruby Magic.

The funeral of Stan Parks, aka Diablo, actor and wartime comrade to Edgar and Max, throws the gang back together. The reunion sparks all sorts of feelings. Bob Willis, now a DI, is dealing with the disappearance of local schoolgirl Rhonda Miles. Emma, frustrated by living the life of a housewife and mother, keeps thinking how much better she would run the case. She is helped by Sam Collins, a woman reporter also hampered by sexism at work. Sam notices a pattern with other missing girls. Edgar listens to the theory but doesn’t give it much credence. He is preoccupied with the threatened invasion of Brighton by Mods and Rockers on the May Bank Holiday.

The case takes a more sinister turn when one of the missing girls is found dead. Then Ruby fails to turn up for a rendezvous and it becomes clear that she too has disappeared. Emma takes risks to track down the killer herself while Edgar is working flat out dealing with violent clashes between rival gangs on Brighton’s seafront. With tension and anger hitting him on all sides, Edgar must keep the coolest of heads to track down the killer.

THE BONE JAR (Detective Lew Kirby, #1)
by S.W. Kane
Two murders. An abandoned asylum. Will a mysterious former...]]>1493amreading,bookclub,booklove,library,mustread,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/august-norman-sins-of-the-mother-2nd-in-the-caitlin-bergman-mystery-series--40755057
Caitlin Bergman's mother is dead. That's what the award-winning journalist has told everyone for the past forty years. Easier to lie than explain how Maya abandoned her only daughter before dropping off the map forever.

But when a rural sheriff invites Caitlin to the woods of coastal Oregon to identify her mother's remains, Caitlin drops everything to face the woman she's spent a lifetime hating. Unfortunately, the body--abandoned on the land of a reclusive cult, the Daughters of God--was left faceless. Instead, Caitlin finds the diary of a woman obsessed with the end of the world, one that hints the cult's spiritual leader knows the identity of Caitlin's real father. She's not the only one looking for clues in her mother's writing. Johnny Larsen, a violent white supremacist whose family runs the county, thinks the Daughters of God kidnapped his teen-aged daughter--and will do anything to get her back.

At the top of a hill, an army of women wait for the end of days. In the town below, the Larsens plot to purify their county. Caught in the middle, Caitlin must decide which is more important--learning the truth about her past, or saving Mama Maya's chosen daughters from the end of the world.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/40755057Tue, 08 Sep 2020 08:00:15 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubOriginally from central Indiana, thriller and mystery author August Norman has called Los Angeles home for two decades, writing for and/or appearing in movies, television, stage productions, web series, and even commercial advertising. A lover and...
Caitlin Bergman's mother is dead. That's what the award-winning journalist has told everyone for the past forty years. Easier to lie than explain how Maya abandoned her only daughter before dropping off the map forever.

But when a rural sheriff invites Caitlin to the woods of coastal Oregon to identify her mother's remains, Caitlin drops everything to face the woman she's spent a lifetime hating. Unfortunately, the body--abandoned on the land of a reclusive cult, the Daughters of God--was left faceless. Instead, Caitlin finds the diary of a woman obsessed with the end of the world, one that hints the cult's spiritual leader knows the identity of Caitlin's real father. She's not the only one looking for clues in her mother's writing. Johnny Larsen, a violent white supremacist whose family runs the county, thinks the Daughters of God kidnapped his teen-aged daughter--and will do anything to get her back.

At the top of a hill, an army of women wait for the end of days. In the town below, the Larsens plot to purify their county. Caught in the middle, Caitlin must decide which is more important--learning the truth about her past, or saving Mama Maya's chosen daughters from the end of the world.]]>1909amreading,bookclub,booklove,murder,mustread,podcast,sinsofthemotherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/alex-gilly-death-rattle--40624581
Death Rattle - When Carmen Vega's boyfriend tries to kill her, she hands over all her savings to a smuggler and sets out from Tijuana in a small, leaky boat. Within sight of the California coast, the boat starts to sink, and its passengers have to be rescued by marine interdiction agents.

Soon, Carmen turns up dead in a privately-operated migrant detention center. Neither Nick Finn, the agent who saved Carmen from drowning, nor his wife, migrants-rights lawyer Mona Jimenez, are satisfied with the prison's account of what happened to Carmen.

Trouble is, the company that runs the prison is on the verge of signing a billion-dollar procurement contract with Homeland Security. And there are people in this world for whom a billion dollars is worth a whole lot more than one human life. Or even three.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/40624581Tue, 01 Sep 2020 08:00:15 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubALEX GILLY is a writer and translator and who was born in New York City and has lived in Australia, Canada, France, California, and the UK. One of his translations, Thierry Cruvellier's THE MASTER OF CONFESSIONS, was longlisted for the 2015 PEN...
Death Rattle - When Carmen Vega's boyfriend tries to kill her, she hands over all her savings to a smuggler and sets out from Tijuana in a small, leaky boat. Within sight of the California coast, the boat starts to sink, and its passengers have to be rescued by marine interdiction agents.

Soon, Carmen turns up dead in a privately-operated migrant detention center. Neither Nick Finn, the agent who saved Carmen from drowning, nor his wife, migrants-rights lawyer Mona Jimenez, are satisfied with the prison's account of what happened to Carmen.

Trouble is, the company that runs the prison is on the verge of signing a billion-dollar procurement contract with Homeland Security. And there are people in this world for whom a billion dollars is worth a whole lot more than one human life. Or even three.]]>1469amreading,bookclub,booklove,borderpatrol,mustread,podcast,thrillerfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/paul-haynes-interview-i-ll-be-gone-in-the-dark-re-cast-re-visit--40477769
In May of 2019 soon after the Best Selling I'LL BE GONE IN THE DARK was published we had the honor of interviewing Paul Haynes: Michelle McNamara's researcher and then after Michelle's untimely death, he along with others helped finish the book that meant so much to her.
We then asked Paul to join us for an update right before the sentencing.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/40477769Tue, 25 Aug 2020 08:00:05 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubJoseph James DeAngelo, better known as the Golden State Killer, has been sentenced to 26 consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole, four decades after he terrorized the suburbs of Sacramento and stalked neighborhoods in southern...
In May of 2019 soon after the Best Selling I'LL BE GONE IN THE DARK was published we had the honor of interviewing Paul Haynes: Michelle McNamara's researcher and then after Michelle's untimely death, he along with others helped finish the book that meant so much to her.
We then asked Paul to join us for an update right before the sentencing.]]>2624amreading,bookclub,goldenstatekiller,lifesentence,murder,mustread,podcast,serialmurder,truecrimefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/c-m-gleason-murder-at-the-capitol-book-3-lincoln-s-white-house-mysteries--40376559
On Independence Day, the citizens of Washington, DC, are celebrating as if there isn’t a war on. But the city is teeming with green Union recruits while President Lincoln and his War Department are focused on military strategy to take Richmond in Secessionist Virginia in order to bring the conflict to a swift end. Manassas, Virginia, near Bull Run Creek, is in their sights.

The very next morning, as Congress convenes once more, a dead body is found on the marble floor of the Rotunda beneath the unfinished dome of the Capitol. Lincoln’s close confidante, Adam Speed Quinn, is called upon to determine whether the man fell, or was pushed to his death.

With the help of Dr. George Hilton and journalist Sophie Gates, Quinn investigates what turns out to be murder. But the former scout is about to be blindsided, for a Southern sympathizer in the city is running a female spy network reporting to the Confederacy, and she has an insidious plot to get to Lincoln himself through Quinn—by employing the charms of one Constance Lemagne…]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/40376559Tue, 18 Aug 2020 08:00:18 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubC. M. Gleason is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling and award-winning author. She lives with her family and two dogs in the Midwest, where she is hard at work on the next Lincoln White House Mystery. On Independence Day, the citizens of...
On Independence Day, the citizens of Washington, DC, are celebrating as if there isn’t a war on. But the city is teeming with green Union recruits while President Lincoln and his War Department are focused on military strategy to take Richmond in Secessionist Virginia in order to bring the conflict to a swift end. Manassas, Virginia, near Bull Run Creek, is in their sights.

The very next morning, as Congress convenes once more, a dead body is found on the marble floor of the Rotunda beneath the unfinished dome of the Capitol. Lincoln’s close confidante, Adam Speed Quinn, is called upon to determine whether the man fell, or was pushed to his death.

With the help of Dr. George Hilton and journalist Sophie Gates, Quinn investigates what turns out to be murder. But the former scout is about to be blindsided, for a Southern sympathizer in the city is running a female spy network reporting to the Confederacy, and she has an insidious plot to get to Lincoln himself through Quinn—by employing the charms of one Constance Lemagne…]]>2044amreading,bookclub,booklove,bookworm,historicalmystery,murder,mustread,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/michael-elias-you-can-go-home-now--40256696He was a member of The Living Theatre and acted in The Brig by Kenneth Brown in New York and London.
At WarnerBros he and Rich Eustis created and produced the award-winning series "Head of the Class" that ran for five seasons on ABC starring Howard Hesseman and Billy Connolly.

Elias wrote and directed the acclaimed jazz drama "Lush Life" starring Forest Whitaker, Jeff Goldblum, Don Cheadle, and Cathy Baker. Mr. Elias was nominated as Best Director in the Cable Ace Awards.
His produced screenplays include "The Jerk", "The Frisco Kid", "Serial", "Envoyez les Violons", and "Young Doctors in Love".

His play "The Catskill Sonata" about blacklisted artists premiered in Los Angeles directed by Paul Mazursky. The LA Weekly named it number one in its list of ten best plays of the year.

His new novel YOU CAN GO HOME NOW will be published by HarperCollins on June 23, 2020.

Elias is a member of Writer's Branch of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and serves on its Foreign Language Committee. He is also a member of the WGA, the DGA, and PEN.
He graduated from St. John's College in Annapolis, Maryland with a degree in mathematics and philosophy.
Michael Elias lives in Los Angeles and Paris.

YOU CAN GO HOME NOW - Nina is a tough Queens detective with a series of cold case homicides on her desk – men whose widows had the same alibi: they were living in Artemis, a battered women’s shelter, when their husbands were killed.

Nina goes undercover into Artemis. Though she is playing the victim, she’s anything but. Nina knows about violence and the bullies who rely on it because she’s experienced it in her own life.

In this heart-pounding thriller Nina confronts the violence of her own past in Artemis where she finds solidarity with a community of women who deal with abusive and lethal men in their own way.

For the women living in Artemis there is no absolute moral compass, there is the law and there is survival. And, for Nina, who became a cop so she could find the man who murdered her father, there is only revenge.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/40256696Tue, 11 Aug 2020 08:00:15 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubMICHAEL ELIAS was born and raised in upstate New York. He has worked in motion pictures, television and stage as an actor, writer, producer, and director in New York, Los Angeles, and London. He was a member of The Living Theatre and acted in The Brig...He was a member of The Living Theatre and acted in The Brig by Kenneth Brown in New York and London.
At WarnerBros he and Rich Eustis created and produced the award-winning series "Head of the Class" that ran for five seasons on ABC starring Howard Hesseman and Billy Connolly.

Elias wrote and directed the acclaimed jazz drama "Lush Life" starring Forest Whitaker, Jeff Goldblum, Don Cheadle, and Cathy Baker. Mr. Elias was nominated as Best Director in the Cable Ace Awards.
His produced screenplays include "The Jerk", "The Frisco Kid", "Serial", "Envoyez les Violons", and "Young Doctors in Love".

His play "The Catskill Sonata" about blacklisted artists premiered in Los Angeles directed by Paul Mazursky. The LA Weekly named it number one in its list of ten best plays of the year.

His new novel YOU CAN GO HOME NOW will be published by HarperCollins on June 23, 2020.

Elias is a member of Writer's Branch of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and serves on its Foreign Language Committee. He is also a member of the WGA, the DGA, and PEN.
He graduated from St. John's College in Annapolis, Maryland with a degree in mathematics and philosophy.
Michael Elias lives in Los Angeles and Paris.

YOU CAN GO HOME NOW - Nina is a tough Queens detective with a series of cold case homicides on her desk – men whose widows had the same alibi: they were living in Artemis, a battered women’s shelter, when their husbands were killed.

Nina goes undercover into Artemis. Though she is playing the victim, she’s anything but. Nina knows about violence and the bullies who rely on it because she’s experienced it in her own life.

In this heart-pounding thriller Nina confronts the violence of her own past in Artemis where she finds solidarity with a community of women who deal with abusive and lethal men in their own way.

For the women living in Artemis there is no absolute moral compass, there is the law and there is survival. And, for Nina, who became a cop so she could find the man who murdered her father, there is only revenge.]]>1533amreading,bookclub,booklove,metoo,mustread,podcast,revenge,writerslifefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ellen-kirschman-the-cop-doc--40122430www.ellenkirschman.com. She also blogs with Psychology Today.

She also writes fiction.Police psychologist Dr. Dot Meyerhoff series. There are three books in the series with more to come.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/40122430Tue, 04 Aug 2020 08:00:15 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubEllen Kirschman, PhD, is a clinical psychologist, volunteer clinician at the First Responder Support Network, and sought-after speaker and workshop facilitator. Dr. Kirschman is a recipient of the Award for Outstanding Contributions to Police and...www.ellenkirschman.com. She also blogs with Psychology Today.

She also writes fiction.Police psychologist Dr. Dot Meyerhoff series. There are three books in the series with more to come.]]>2309amreading,bookclub,booklove,copdoc,important,justice,mustread,pandemic,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/kate-winkler-dawson-american-sherlock-murder-forensics-and-the-birth-of-american-csi--40009779
AMERICAN SHERLOCK
From the acclaimed author of Death in the Air (“Not since Devil in the White City has a book told such a harrowing tale”–Douglas Preston) comes the riveting story of the birth of criminal investigation in the twentieth century.

Berkeley, California, 1933. In a lab filled with curiosities–beakers, microscopes, Bunsen burners, and hundreds upon hundreds of books–sat an investigator who would go on to crack at least two thousand cases in his forty-year career. Known as the “American Sherlock Holmes,” Edward Oscar Heinrich was one of America’s greatest–and first–forensic scientists, with an uncanny knack for finding clues, establishing evidence, and deducing answers with a skill that seemed almost supernatural.

Heinrich was one of the nation’s first expert witnesses, working in a time when the turmoil of Prohibition led to sensationalized crime reporting and only a small, systematic study of evidence. However with his brilliance, and commanding presence in both the courtroom and at crime scenes, Heinrich spearheaded the invention of a myriad of new forensic tools that police still use today, including blood spatter analysis, ballistics, lie-detector tests, and the use of fingerprints as courtroom evidence. His work, though not without its serious–some would say fatal–flaws, changed the course of American criminal investigation.

Based on years of research and thousands of never-before-published primary source materials, American Sherlock captures the life of the man who pioneered the science our legal system now relies upon–as well as the limits of those techniques and the very human experts who wield them.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/40009779Tue, 28 Jul 2020 08:00:17 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubKate Winkler Dawson is a seasoned documentary producer, whose work has appeared in The New York Times, WCBS News and ABC News Radio, Fox News Channel, United Press International, PBS NewsHour, and Nightline. She teaches journalism at The University of...
AMERICAN SHERLOCK
From the acclaimed author of Death in the Air (“Not since Devil in the White City has a book told such a harrowing tale”–Douglas Preston) comes the riveting story of the birth of criminal investigation in the twentieth century.

Berkeley, California, 1933. In a lab filled with curiosities–beakers, microscopes, Bunsen burners, and hundreds upon hundreds of books–sat an investigator who would go on to crack at least two thousand cases in his forty-year career. Known as the “American Sherlock Holmes,” Edward Oscar Heinrich was one of America’s greatest–and first–forensic scientists, with an uncanny knack for finding clues, establishing evidence, and deducing answers with a skill that seemed almost supernatural.

Heinrich was one of the nation’s first expert witnesses, working in a time when the turmoil of Prohibition led to sensationalized crime reporting and only a small, systematic study of evidence. However with his brilliance, and commanding presence in both the courtroom and at crime scenes, Heinrich spearheaded the invention of a myriad of new forensic tools that police still use today, including blood spatter analysis, ballistics, lie-detector tests, and the use of fingerprints as courtroom evidence. His work, though not without its serious–some would say fatal–flaws, changed the course of American criminal investigation.

Based on years of research and thousands of never-before-published primary source materials, American Sherlock captures the life of the man who pioneered the science our legal system now relies upon–as well as the limits of those techniques and the very human experts who wield them.]]>1866amreading,author,authorinterview,authorlife,bookclub,booklove,forensics,mustread,podcast,sherlock,truecrimefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/paul-papa-maximum-rossi-a-las-vegas-crime-noir-massimo-rossi-book-1--39874830
Maximum Rossi - He came to Las Vegas for a bachelor party and never left. When a game of high stakes poker turns into a boxing match, Massimo "Max" Rossi, the son of a Boston Rossi, a mob "fixer," winds up with more than he bargained for. All eyes turn to him when the police find his opponent, a hitman from Chicago, dead. And if that isn’t bad enough, his only alibi, a dancer—the dead man’s girlfriend—is missing.

Now, if the cops don’t get him, the mob will!

Rossi is in the struggle of his life, where every turn brings him closer to an untimely end. He’s got to find the dancer before his time runs out. But in fledgling Las Vegas, time is an abstract concept, and people can hide almost anywhere. Rossi came to Vegas to escape his past, but his past came with him.

Set in Las Vegas of the 1950s, Maximum Rossi takes the reader on a thrilling crime noir ride, reminiscent of tales penned by the likes of Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett. Rossi takes his place as a true hard-boiled detective. A man who doesn’t take no for an answer, and isn’t about to let himself get pushed around by anyone...especially a dame.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/39874830Tue, 21 Jul 2020 08:00:02 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubPaul W. Papa is a full-time writer and ghost writer who has lived in Las Vegas for more than thirty years. He developed a fascination with the area, and all its wonders, while working for nearly fifteen years at several Las Vegas casinos. In his role...
Maximum Rossi - He came to Las Vegas for a bachelor party and never left. When a game of high stakes poker turns into a boxing match, Massimo "Max" Rossi, the son of a Boston Rossi, a mob "fixer," winds up with more than he bargained for. All eyes turn to him when the police find his opponent, a hitman from Chicago, dead. And if that isn’t bad enough, his only alibi, a dancer—the dead man’s girlfriend—is missing.

Now, if the cops don’t get him, the mob will!

Rossi is in the struggle of his life, where every turn brings him closer to an untimely end. He’s got to find the dancer before his time runs out. But in fledgling Las Vegas, time is an abstract concept, and people can hide almost anywhere. Rossi came to Vegas to escape his past, but his past came with him.

Set in Las Vegas of the 1950s, Maximum Rossi takes the reader on a thrilling crime noir ride, reminiscent of tales penned by the likes of Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett. Rossi takes his place as a true hard-boiled detective. A man who doesn’t take no for an answer, and isn’t about to let himself get pushed around by anyone...especially a dame.]]>13761950's,amreading,authorlife,beachread,bookclub,booklove,lasvegas,mustread,mystery,noir,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/d-c-alexander-blood-in-the-bluegrass--39601775authordcalexander@gmail.com

BLOOD in the BLUEGRASS - A few days before the Kentucky Derby, a rising star jockey is found murdered near Churchill Downs. Louisville homicide detective Laurel Arno's investigation takes her from the private dens of elite gamblers, to the ancestral mansions of Kentucky bourbon barons and horse breeders, to the treacherous corridors of a depraved State Capitol. Along the way, she exposes a shadowy world of political corruption, secret societies, and ancient feuds. As she closes in on a hidden killer, she discovers that a killer may also be closing in on her.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/39601775Tue, 14 Jul 2020 08:00:12 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubD.C. Alexander is a former federal agent. His debut novel, "The Legend of Devil's Creek," was a #1 Amazon Kindle best seller. He was born and raised in the Seattle area, and now lives in Louisville, Kentucky. He is also a former judge for the...authordcalexander@gmail.com

BLOOD in the BLUEGRASS - A few days before the Kentucky Derby, a rising star jockey is found murdered near Churchill Downs. Louisville homicide detective Laurel Arno's investigation takes her from the private dens of elite gamblers, to the ancestral mansions of Kentucky bourbon barons and horse breeders, to the treacherous corridors of a depraved State Capitol. Along the way, she exposes a shadowy world of political corruption, secret societies, and ancient feuds. As she closes in on a hidden killer, she discovers that a killer may also be closing in on her.]]>1589bookclub,booklove,foodiemystery,horseracing,kentucky,murder,mustread,podcast,policefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/heather-young-the-distant-dead--36498917
THE DISTANT DEAD- A body burns in the high desert hills. A boy walks into a fire station, pale with the shock of a grisly discovery. A middle school teacher worries when her colleague is late for work. By day’s end, when the body is identified as local math teacher Adam Merkel, a small Nevada town will be rocked to its core by a brutal and calculated murder.

Adam Merkel left a university professorship in Reno to teach middle school in Lovelock seven months before he died. A quiet, seemingly unremarkable man, he connected with just one of his students: Sal Prentiss, a lonely sixth grader who lives with his uncles on a desolate ranch in the hills. The two outcasts developed a tender, trusting friendship that brought each of them hope in the wake of tragedy. But it is Sal who finds Adam’s body, charred almost beyond recognition, half a mile from his uncles’ compound.

Nora Wheaton, the middle school’s social studies teacher, dreamed of a life far from Lovelock only to be dragged back on the eve of her college graduation to care for her disabled father, a man she loves but can’t forgive. She sensed in the new math teacher a kindred spirit--another soul bound to Lovelock by guilt and duty. After Adam’s death, she delves into his past for clues to who killed him and finds a dark history she understands all too well. But the truth about his murder may lie closer to home. For Sal Prentiss’s grief seems heavily shaded with fear, and Nora suspects he knows more than he’s telling about how his favorite teacher died. As she tries to earn the wary boy’s trust, she finds he holds not only the key to Adam’s murder, but an unexpected chance at the life she thought she’d lost.

Weaving together the last months of Adam’s life, Nora’s search for answers, and a young boy’s anguished moral reckoning, this unforgettable thriller brings a small American town to vivid life, filled with complex, flawed characters wrestling with the weight of the past, the promise of the future, and the bitter freedom that forgiveness can bring.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/36498917Tue, 07 Jul 2020 08:00:02 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubHeather is the author of two novels. Her debut, The Lost Girls, won the Strand Award for Best First Novel and was nominated for an Edgar Award. The Distant Dead was published on June 9, 2020, and was named one of the Best Books of Summer by People...
THE DISTANT DEAD- A body burns in the high desert hills. A boy walks into a fire station, pale with the shock of a grisly discovery. A middle school teacher worries when her colleague is late for work. By day’s end, when the body is identified as local math teacher Adam Merkel, a small Nevada town will be rocked to its core by a brutal and calculated murder.

Adam Merkel left a university professorship in Reno to teach middle school in Lovelock seven months before he died. A quiet, seemingly unremarkable man, he connected with just one of his students: Sal Prentiss, a lonely sixth grader who lives with his uncles on a desolate ranch in the hills. The two outcasts developed a tender, trusting friendship that brought each of them hope in the wake of tragedy. But it is Sal who finds Adam’s body, charred almost beyond recognition, half a mile from his uncles’ compound.

Nora Wheaton, the middle school’s social studies teacher, dreamed of a life far from Lovelock only to be dragged back on the eve of her college graduation to care for her disabled father, a man she loves but can’t forgive. She sensed in the new math teacher a kindred spirit--another soul bound to Lovelock by guilt and duty. After Adam’s death, she delves into his past for clues to who killed him and finds a dark history she understands all too well. But the truth about his murder may lie closer to home. For Sal Prentiss’s grief seems heavily shaded with fear, and Nora suspects he knows more than he’s telling about how his favorite teacher died. As she tries to earn the wary boy’s trust, she finds he holds not only the key to Adam’s murder, but an unexpected chance at the life she thought she’d lost.

Weaving together the last months of Adam’s life, Nora’s search for answers, and a young boy’s anguished moral reckoning, this unforgettable thriller brings a small American town to vivid life, filled with complex, flawed characters wrestling with the weight of the past, the promise of the future, and the bitter freedom that forgiveness can bring.]]>1258amreading,authorlife,bookclub,booklove,murder,mustread,mystery,nevada,podcast,slowburnfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/our-cozy-episode--34673217Dead in Dublin (The Dublin Driver Series #1) Catie Murphy
Death Bee Comes Her (The Oregon Honeycomb Mystery Series #1) Nancy Coco
Murder Carries a Torch (Southern Sisters #7) Anne George]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/34673217Tue, 30 Jun 2020 08:00:14 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubWe Highlight three cozy mysteries we have enjoyed reading Dead in Dublin (The Dublin Driver Series #1) Catie Murphy Death Bee Comes Her (The Oregon Honeycomb Mystery Series #1) Nancy Coco Murder Carries a Torch (Southern Sisters #7) Anne GeorgeDead in Dublin (The Dublin Driver Series #1) Catie Murphy
Death Bee Comes Her (The Oregon Honeycomb Mystery Series #1) Nancy Coco
Murder Carries a Torch (Southern Sisters #7) Anne George]]>1515amreading,bookclub,booklove,catmysteries,cozymysteries,murder,mustread,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/casey-cep-furious-hours-murder-fraud-and-the-last-trial-of-harper-lee--32542436
A proud graduate of the Talbot County Public Schools, she has an A.B. from Harvard College and an M.Phil. from the University of Oxford, where she studied as a Rhodes Scholar. She was born and raised on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, where she still lives with her family.

Furious Hours: The stunning story of an Alabama serial killer and the true-crime book that Harper Lee worked on obsessively in the years after To Kill a Mockingbird.

Reverend Willie Maxwell was a rural preacher accused of murdering five of his family members for insurance money in the 1970s. With the help of a savvy lawyer, he escaped justice for years until a relative shot him dead at the funeral of his last victim. Despite hundreds of witnesses, Maxwell’s murderer was acquitted–thanks to the same attorney who had previously defended the Reverend.

Sitting in the audience during the vigilante’s trial was Harper Lee, who had traveled from New York City to her native Alabama with the idea of writing her own In Cold Blood, the true-crime classic she had helped her friend Truman Capote research seventeen years earlier. Lee spent a year in town reporting, and many more working on her own version of the case.

Now Casey Cep brings this story to life, from the shocking murders to the courtroom drama to the racial politics of the Deep South]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/32542436Tue, 23 Jun 2020 08:00:12 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubCasey Cep is a staff writer at The New Yorker. Her first book, Furious Hours: Murder, Fraud, and the Last Trial of Harper Lee, was an instant New York Times bestseller, and is available in hardcover, as an e-book, and as an audiobook. A proud...
A proud graduate of the Talbot County Public Schools, she has an A.B. from Harvard College and an M.Phil. from the University of Oxford, where she studied as a Rhodes Scholar. She was born and raised on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, where she still lives with her family.

Furious Hours: The stunning story of an Alabama serial killer and the true-crime book that Harper Lee worked on obsessively in the years after To Kill a Mockingbird.

Reverend Willie Maxwell was a rural preacher accused of murdering five of his family members for insurance money in the 1970s. With the help of a savvy lawyer, he escaped justice for years until a relative shot him dead at the funeral of his last victim. Despite hundreds of witnesses, Maxwell’s murderer was acquitted–thanks to the same attorney who had previously defended the Reverend.

Sitting in the audience during the vigilante’s trial was Harper Lee, who had traveled from New York City to her native Alabama with the idea of writing her own In Cold Blood, the true-crime classic she had helped her friend Truman Capote research seventeen years earlier. Lee spent a year in town reporting, and many more working on her own version of the case.

Now Casey Cep brings this story to life, from the shocking murders to the courtroom drama to the racial politics of the Deep South]]>2749amreading,authorlife,bookclub,booklove,harperlee,historical,murder,podcast,tokillamockingbird,truecrime,voodoofalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/liz-freeland-an-orphan-of-hell-s-kitchen-3rd-in-the-louise-faulk-mystery-series--31014577
An Orphan of Hell's Kitchen - In 1914, Hell's Kitchen is an apt name for New York City's grittiest neighborhood, as one of the city's first policewomen, Louise Faulk, is about to discover when the death of a young prostitute leads her on a grim journey through the district's darkest corners . . .

Filthy, dangerous, and deadly--Hell's Kitchen is no place for a lady, but Louise Faulk is no ordinary woman. The amateur investigator turned rookie policewoman is investigating the death of young prostitute, Ruthie, who leaves behind a baby boy. Although detectives are quick to declare it a suicide, Louise is less certain after she discovers clues implying murder while attempting to find a caretaker for Ruthie's orphaned son.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/31014577Tue, 16 Jun 2020 08:00:17 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubLiz Freeland lives with her husband in Montreal, where she writes and astounds the locals with her makeshift French. An elderly cat or dog (or two . . . or four) can typically be found in her apartment, and during the busiest day, Liz usually finds...
An Orphan of Hell's Kitchen - In 1914, Hell's Kitchen is an apt name for New York City's grittiest neighborhood, as one of the city's first policewomen, Louise Faulk, is about to discover when the death of a young prostitute leads her on a grim journey through the district's darkest corners . . .

Filthy, dangerous, and deadly--Hell's Kitchen is no place for a lady, but Louise Faulk is no ordinary woman. The amateur investigator turned rookie policewoman is investigating the death of young prostitute, Ruthie, who leaves behind a baby boy. Although detectives are quick to declare it a suicide, Louise is less certain after she discovers clues implying murder while attempting to find a caretaker for Ruthie's orphaned son.]]>1303amreading,authorlife,bookclub,booklove,historicalmystery,library,murder,mustread,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/laurie-r-king-riviera-gold-16th-russell-holmes--29940678
Riviera Gold - The Riviera in 1925 is a playground for the rich built on corruption and greed. It is a place where treasure can be false, where love can destroy, and where life, as Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes will discover, can be cheap—even when it is made of solid gold.

It’s summertime on the Riviera, and the Jazz Age has come to France’s once-sleepy coastline. Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes find themselves immersed in the social scene of American expatriates, who spend their days on the beach and their evenings in villas filled with music and enthralling conversation. And even more enticing is the nearby Monte Carlo, where fortunes are won, lost, stolen, and sometimes hidden away.

But despite the luxury and leisure, a new mystery arises. Mrs. Hudson, Russell and Holmes’ former housekeeper, hasn’t been seen since she fled England under a cloud of murder accusations. But she proves elusive, managing to avoid even the great Sherlock Holmes as he and Russell try to figure out what new trouble she is in.

For a beautiful young man has been found dead in Mrs. Hudson’s front room—making her the prime suspect in yet another murder. Russell is certain that Mrs. Hudson is innocent; Holmes is not quite so sure. But the old woman’s colorful past has been a source of tension between them before this, and now, the dangerous players who control Monte Carlo’s gilded casinos may stop at nothing to keep the pair away from the dark corners that Mrs. Hudson’s youthful history could bring to light.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/29940678Tue, 09 Jun 2020 08:00:20 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubLaurie R. King is the New York Times bestselling author of 27 novels and other works, including the Mary Russell-Sherlock Holmes stories (from The Beekeeper’s Apprentice, named one of the 20th century’s best crime novels by the IMBA, to 2018’s Island...
Riviera Gold - The Riviera in 1925 is a playground for the rich built on corruption and greed. It is a place where treasure can be false, where love can destroy, and where life, as Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes will discover, can be cheap—even when it is made of solid gold.

It’s summertime on the Riviera, and the Jazz Age has come to France’s once-sleepy coastline. Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes find themselves immersed in the social scene of American expatriates, who spend their days on the beach and their evenings in villas filled with music and enthralling conversation. And even more enticing is the nearby Monte Carlo, where fortunes are won, lost, stolen, and sometimes hidden away.

But despite the luxury and leisure, a new mystery arises. Mrs. Hudson, Russell and Holmes’ former housekeeper, hasn’t been seen since she fled England under a cloud of murder accusations. But she proves elusive, managing to avoid even the great Sherlock Holmes as he and Russell try to figure out what new trouble she is in.

For a beautiful young man has been found dead in Mrs. Hudson’s front room—making her the prime suspect in yet another murder. Russell is certain that Mrs. Hudson is innocent; Holmes is not quite so sure. But the old woman’s colorful past has been a source of tension between them before this, and now, the dangerous players who control Monte Carlo’s gilded casinos may stop at nothing to keep the pair away from the dark corners that Mrs. Hudson’s youthful history could bring to light.]]>1680agatha,authorlife,bookclub,booklove,holmes,murder,mustread,mystery,podcast,sherlockfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/elly-griffiths-the-lantern-men-ruth-galloway-12--28855913
THE LANTERN MEN(Ruth Galloway #12) She has a new job, home and partner, and is no longer North Norfolk police's resident forensic archaeologist. That is, until convicted murderer Amyas March offers to make DCI Nelson a deal. Nelson was always sure that March killed more women than he was charged with. Now March confirms this, and offers to show Nelson where the other bodies are buried - but only if Ruth will do the digging.

Curious, but wary, Ruth agrees. March tells Ruth that he killed four more women and that their bodies are buried near a village bordering the fens, said to be haunted by the Lantern Men, mysterious figures holding lights that lure travellers to their deaths.

Is Amyas March himself a lantern man, luring Ruth back to Norfolk? What is his plan, and why is she so crucial to it? And are the killings really over?]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/28855913Tue, 02 Jun 2020 08:00:03 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubElly Griffiths' Ruth Galloway novels take for their inspiration Elly's husband, who gave up a city job to train as an archaeologist, and her aunt who lives on the Norfolk coast and who filled her niece's head with the myths and legends of that area....
THE LANTERN MEN(Ruth Galloway #12) She has a new job, home and partner, and is no longer North Norfolk police's resident forensic archaeologist. That is, until convicted murderer Amyas March offers to make DCI Nelson a deal. Nelson was always sure that March killed more women than he was charged with. Now March confirms this, and offers to show Nelson where the other bodies are buried - but only if Ruth will do the digging.

Curious, but wary, Ruth agrees. March tells Ruth that he killed four more women and that their bodies are buried near a village bordering the fens, said to be haunted by the Lantern Men, mysterious figures holding lights that lure travellers to their deaths.

Is Amyas March himself a lantern man, luring Ruth back to Norfolk? What is his plan, and why is she so crucial to it? And are the killings really over?]]>1155agatha,amreading,authorinterview,bookclub,booklove,bookworm,murder,mustread,mystery,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/lori-rader-day-the-lucky-one--28317085
THE LUCKY ONE - As a child, Alice was stolen from her yard in a tiny Indiana community, but against the odds, her policeman father tracked her down within twenty-four hours and rescued her from harm. In the aftermath of the crime, her family decided to move to Chicago and close the door on that horrible day.

Yet Alice hasn’t forgotten. She devotes her spare time volunteering for a true-crime website called The Doe Pages scrolling through pages upon pages of missing and unidentified people, searching for clues that could help reunite families with their missing loved ones. When a face appears on Alice’s screen that she recognizes, she’s stunned to realize it’s the same man who kidnapped her decades ago. The post is deleted as quickly as it appeared, leaving Alice with more questions than answers.

Embarking on a search for the truth, she enlists the help of some amateur sleuths from The Doe Pages to connect the dots and find her kidnapper before he hurts someone else. Then Alice crosses paths with Merrily Cruz, another woman who’s been hunting for answers of her own. Together, they begin to unravel a dark, painful web of lies that will change what they thought they knew—and could cost them everything.

Twisting and compulsively readable, The Lucky One explores the lies we tell ourselves to feel safe.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/28317085Tue, 26 May 2020 08:00:06 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubLori Rader-Day is the Edgar Award-nominated and Anthony and Mary Higgins Clark award-winning author of The Lucky One (coming in February), Under a Dark Sky, The Day I Died, Little Pretty Things, and The Black Hour. She lives in Chicago, where she is...
THE LUCKY ONE - As a child, Alice was stolen from her yard in a tiny Indiana community, but against the odds, her policeman father tracked her down within twenty-four hours and rescued her from harm. In the aftermath of the crime, her family decided to move to Chicago and close the door on that horrible day.

Yet Alice hasn’t forgotten. She devotes her spare time volunteering for a true-crime website called The Doe Pages scrolling through pages upon pages of missing and unidentified people, searching for clues that could help reunite families with their missing loved ones. When a face appears on Alice’s screen that she recognizes, she’s stunned to realize it’s the same man who kidnapped her decades ago. The post is deleted as quickly as it appeared, leaving Alice with more questions than answers.

Embarking on a search for the truth, she enlists the help of some amateur sleuths from The Doe Pages to connect the dots and find her kidnapper before he hurts someone else. Then Alice crosses paths with Merrily Cruz, another woman who’s been hunting for answers of her own. Together, they begin to unravel a dark, painful web of lies that will change what they thought they knew—and could cost them everything.

Twisting and compulsively readable, The Lucky One explores the lies we tell ourselves to feel safe.]]>2172amreading,authorlife,bookclub,booklist,booklove,library,mustread,mystery,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/sara-paretsky-dead-land-v-i-warshawski-20-and-liz-decker-caprichos-books--27716084
The protagonist of all but two of Paretsky's novels is V.I. Warshawski, a female private investigator. Warshawski's eclectic personality defies easy categorization. She drinks Johnnie Walker Black Label, breaks into houses looking for clues, and can hold her own in a street fight, but also she pays attention to her clothes, sings opera along with the radio, and enjoys her sex life.

Paretsky is credited with transforming the role and image of women in the crime novels.


Chicago may be the city of broad shoulders, but its political law is “Pay to Play.” Money changes hands in the middle of the night, and by morning, buildings and parks are replaced by billion-dollar projects.

DEAD LAND - Chicago PI V.I. Warshawski gets pulled into one of these clandestine deals through her impetuous goddaughter, Bernie Fouchard. Bernie tries to rescue Lydia Zamir, a famed singer-songwriter now living on the streets; Zamir’s life fell apart when her lover was murdered next to her in a mass shooting at an outdoor concert. Not only does Bernie plunge her and V.I. headlong into the path of some ruthless developers, they lead to the murder of the young man Bernie is dating. He’s a computer geek working for a community group called SLICK.

V.I. is desperate to find a mysterious man named Coop, who roams the lakefront in the middle of the night with his dog. She’s sure he holds the key to the mounting body count within SLICK. Coop may even know why an international law firm is representing the mass murderer responsible for Lydia’s lover’s death. Instead, the detective finds a terrifying conspiracy stretching from Chicago’s parks to a cover-up of the dark chapters in America’s meddling in South American politics. Before she finds answers, this electrifying novel pushes V.I. close to the breaking point: People who pay to play take no prisoners.

Liz Decker is the owner of Caprichos Books an independent book store in Bel Air, Maryland. These are trying times for small business owners. Liz shares how she is coping and finding ways to to keep the book store a vital part of downtown Bel Air.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/27716084Tue, 19 May 2020 08:00:19 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubSara Paretsky is a modern American author of detective fiction. Paretsky was raised in Kansas, and graduated from the state university with a degree in political science. She did community service work on the south side of Chicago in 1966 and returned...
The protagonist of all but two of Paretsky's novels is V.I. Warshawski, a female private investigator. Warshawski's eclectic personality defies easy categorization. She drinks Johnnie Walker Black Label, breaks into houses looking for clues, and can hold her own in a street fight, but also she pays attention to her clothes, sings opera along with the radio, and enjoys her sex life.

Paretsky is credited with transforming the role and image of women in the crime novels.


Chicago may be the city of broad shoulders, but its political law is “Pay to Play.” Money changes hands in the middle of the night, and by morning, buildings and parks are replaced by billion-dollar projects.

DEAD LAND - Chicago PI V.I. Warshawski gets pulled into one of these clandestine deals through her impetuous goddaughter, Bernie Fouchard. Bernie tries to rescue Lydia Zamir, a famed singer-songwriter now living on the streets; Zamir’s life fell apart when her lover was murdered next to her in a mass shooting at an outdoor concert. Not only does Bernie plunge her and V.I. headlong into the path of some ruthless developers, they lead to the murder of the young man Bernie is dating. He’s a computer geek working for a community group called SLICK.

V.I. is desperate to find a mysterious man named Coop, who roams the lakefront in the middle of the night with his dog. She’s sure he holds the key to the mounting body count within SLICK. Coop may even know why an international law firm is representing the mass murderer responsible for Lydia’s lover’s death. Instead, the detective finds a terrifying conspiracy stretching from Chicago’s parks to a cover-up of the dark chapters in America’s meddling in South American politics. Before she finds answers, this electrifying novel pushes V.I. close to the breaking point: People who pay to play take no prisoners.

Liz Decker is the owner of Caprichos Books an independent book store in Bel Air, Maryland. These are trying times for small business owners. Liz shares how she is coping and finding ways to to keep the book store a vital part of downtown Bel Air.]]>2297amreading,bookclub,detective,indiebooks,indiebookseller,murder,mustread,podcast,supportindiebooks,supportlocalfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/amy-engle-the-familiar-dark-shauna-holyoak-kazu-jones-and-the-denver-dog-nappers--27118421
We discuss her latest book. Set in the poorest part of the Missouri Ozarks, in a small town with big secrets, The Familiar Dark opens with a murder. Eve Taggert, desperate with grief over losing her daughter, takes it upon herself to find out the truth about what happened. Eve is no stranger to the dark side of life, having been rwith her family. Her next literary thriller, THE FAMILIAR DARK, will be published by Dutton in Spring 2020.aised by a hard-edged mother whose lessons Eve tried not to pass on to her own daughter. But Eve may need her mother's cruel brand of strength if she's going to face the reality about her daughter's death and about her own true nature. Her quest for justice takes her from the seedy underbelly of town to the quiet woods and, most frighteningly, back to her mother's trailer for a final lesson.

Shauna has been telling stories long before she could ride a bike, and some of them are even true! She writes for kids and teens and thinks it’s kinda the best job ever. Kazu Jones and the Denver Dognappers is her debut novel, and it will be released on April 23, 2019! She lives in Idaho Falls, ID with her husband, six of their seven children, and two naughty dogs.

We discuss her Agatha nominated book "Kazu Jones and the Denver Dognappers" Packed with high stakes mystery and tons of heart, this first installment in a new series introduces Kazu Jones-a spunky, scrappy detective who's this generation's Harriet the Spy.

When a string of dognappings grips her Denver neighborhood, Kazu Jones vows to track down the culprits. She can't stand to see more dogs go missing-especially once her neighbors' beloved pet is taken because of her gigantic mistake.

With the help of her gang-including her best friend and expert hacker, March; and her ginormous, socially anxious pup, Genki-Kazu uncovers evidence that suggests the dognapping ring is bigger than she ever imagined. But the more she digs, the more dangerous her investigation becomes. The dognappers are getting bolder, and Genki could be next.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/27118421Tue, 12 May 2020 08:00:16 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubAmy Engel is an American author of suspense and youth adult genres. She was born in Kansas and spent her childhood in Iran, Taiwan and in several states within the United States including Kansas, California, Missouri, and Washington D.C. Amy has a law...
We discuss her latest book. Set in the poorest part of the Missouri Ozarks, in a small town with big secrets, The Familiar Dark opens with a murder. Eve Taggert, desperate with grief over losing her daughter, takes it upon herself to find out the truth about what happened. Eve is no stranger to the dark side of life, having been rwith her family. Her next literary thriller, THE FAMILIAR DARK, will be published by Dutton in Spring 2020.aised by a hard-edged mother whose lessons Eve tried not to pass on to her own daughter. But Eve may need her mother's cruel brand of strength if she's going to face the reality about her daughter's death and about her own true nature. Her quest for justice takes her from the seedy underbelly of town to the quiet woods and, most frighteningly, back to her mother's trailer for a final lesson.

Shauna has been telling stories long before she could ride a bike, and some of them are even true! She writes for kids and teens and thinks it’s kinda the best job ever. Kazu Jones and the Denver Dognappers is her debut novel, and it will be released on April 23, 2019! She lives in Idaho Falls, ID with her husband, six of their seven children, and two naughty dogs.

We discuss her Agatha nominated book "Kazu Jones and the Denver Dognappers" Packed with high stakes mystery and tons of heart, this first installment in a new series introduces Kazu Jones-a spunky, scrappy detective who's this generation's Harriet the Spy.

When a string of dognappings grips her Denver neighborhood, Kazu Jones vows to track down the culprits. She can't stand to see more dogs go missing-especially once her neighbors' beloved pet is taken because of her gigantic mistake.

With the help of her gang-including her best friend and expert hacker, March; and her ginormous, socially anxious pup, Genki-Kazu uncovers evidence that suggests the dognapping ring is bigger than she ever imagined. But the more she digs, the more dangerous her investigation becomes. The dognappers are getting bolder, and Genki could be next.]]>1658agatha,amreading,bookclub,bookworm,murder,mustread,mystery,podcast,revengefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ann-cleeves-interview-the-long-call-1st-in-the-two-rivers-series--26736212
THE LONG CALL For the first time in 20 years, Ann Cleeves --international bestselling and award-winning author of the Vera and Shetland series, both of which are hit TV shows-- embarks on a gripping new series.
In North Devon, where two rivers converge and run into the sea, Detective Matthew Venn stands outside the church as his father’s funeral takes place. Once loved and cherished, the day Matthew left the strict evangelical community he grew up in, he lost his family too.

Now, as he turns and walks away again, he receives a call from one of his team. A body has been found on the beach nearby: a man with a tattoo of an albatross on his neck, stabbed to death.

The case calls Matthew back into the community he thought he had left behind, as deadly secrets hidden at its heart are revealed, and his past and present collide.

An astonishing new novel told with compassion and searing insight, The Long Call will captivate fans of Vera and Shetland, as well as new readers.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/26736212Tue, 05 May 2020 08:00:20 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubAnn is the author of the books behind ITV's VERA, , and the BBC's SHETLAND, Ann's DI Vera Stanhope series of books is set in Northumberland and features the well loved detective along with her partner Joe Ashworth. Ann's Shetland series bring us DI...
THE LONG CALL For the first time in 20 years, Ann Cleeves --international bestselling and award-winning author of the Vera and Shetland series, both of which are hit TV shows-- embarks on a gripping new series.
In North Devon, where two rivers converge and run into the sea, Detective Matthew Venn stands outside the church as his father’s funeral takes place. Once loved and cherished, the day Matthew left the strict evangelical community he grew up in, he lost his family too.

Now, as he turns and walks away again, he receives a call from one of his team. A body has been found on the beach nearby: a man with a tattoo of an albatross on his neck, stabbed to death.

The case calls Matthew back into the community he thought he had left behind, as deadly secrets hidden at its heart are revealed, and his past and present collide.

An astonishing new novel told with compassion and searing insight, The Long Call will captivate fans of Vera and Shetland, as well as new readers.]]>1570agatha,amreading,anncleeves,bookclub,mustread,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/gabriel-valjan-and-connie-berry-interviews-agatha-nominees--26237853
He is nominated for Best Historical Fiction for: The Company Files: The Naming Game (Book 2 )Jack Marshall, a CIA officer, was really hoping to enjoy his vacation from work in DC and to spend some time in Malibu with his family, but a call from the LAPD’s Chief William Parker changed everything. Not only was script writer Charles Loew murdered, Jack has reason to believe FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover was somehow connected to the homicide.
In post-war Hollywood, everyone lies for a living but with Senator Joe McCarthy’s hunting for Communists, even one harmless secret has the power to destroy lives. With the help of his subordinates, Walker and Leslie, they investigate the case for Jack, and quickly enter the world of Hollywood scandals and blacklisted writers, which may prove more dangerous than fighting Nazis. When Jack’s own family is threatened, time is running out.

Like her protagonist, Connie Berry was raised in the high-end antiques trade. After teaching theology for twenty-five years, she began writing mysteries featuring
antiques and the legacy of the past. Connie loves history, cute animals, travel with a hint of adventure, and all things British. Her debut novel, A Dream of Death, has been nominated for an Agatha. She lives in Ohio with her husband and adorable dog, Millie. You can find her at www.connieberry.com.

Connie is nominated for Best First Mystery Novel for A Dream of Death
(Kate Hamilton Mysteries #1) On a remote Scottish island, American antique dealer Kate Hamilton sleuths a killing that eerily replicates a murder still unsolved after 200 years.

Autumn has come and gone on Scotland's Isle of Rothsay, and the locals gather for the Tartan Ball, the annual end-of-tourist-season gala. Among the invited guests is American antique dealer Kate Hamilton. Returning to the island where her husband died is brutal, but Kate is determined to repair her relationship with her sister-in-law, Elenor Spurgeon, the proprietor of Rothsay's deluxe country house hotel.

Kate has hardly unpacked when a body turns up, murdered in an eerie recreation of an infamous unsolved murder two hundred years before. And the only clue to the killer's identity lies in a curiously embellished antique casket. When Bo Duff, the gentle handyman who had tried to save Kate’s husband's life, is taken into custody, she teams up with vacationing Detective Inspector Tom Mallory to clear Bo’s name. To accomplish that, they’ll have to unmask a killer who seems bizarrely fixated on the past…because two hundred years is an awfully long time to hold a grudge in A Dream of Death, the tantalizing series debut by Connie Berry.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/26237853Tue, 28 Apr 2020 08:00:03 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubGabriel Valjan lives in Boston’s South End where he enjoys the local restaurants. He is the author of two series, Roma and Company Files, with Winter Goose Publishing. The Naming Game, the second book in the Company Files series, was nominated for an...
He is nominated for Best Historical Fiction for: The Company Files: The Naming Game (Book 2 )Jack Marshall, a CIA officer, was really hoping to enjoy his vacation from work in DC and to spend some time in Malibu with his family, but a call from the LAPD’s Chief William Parker changed everything. Not only was script writer Charles Loew murdered, Jack has reason to believe FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover was somehow connected to the homicide.
In post-war Hollywood, everyone lies for a living but with Senator Joe McCarthy’s hunting for Communists, even one harmless secret has the power to destroy lives. With the help of his subordinates, Walker and Leslie, they investigate the case for Jack, and quickly enter the world of Hollywood scandals and blacklisted writers, which may prove more dangerous than fighting Nazis. When Jack’s own family is threatened, time is running out.

Like her protagonist, Connie Berry was raised in the high-end antiques trade. After teaching theology for twenty-five years, she began writing mysteries featuring
antiques and the legacy of the past. Connie loves history, cute animals, travel with a hint of adventure, and all things British. Her debut novel, A Dream of Death, has been nominated for an Agatha. She lives in Ohio with her husband and adorable dog, Millie. You can find her at www.connieberry.com.

Connie is nominated for Best First Mystery Novel for A Dream of Death
(Kate Hamilton Mysteries #1) On a remote Scottish island, American antique dealer Kate Hamilton sleuths a killing that eerily replicates a murder still unsolved after 200 years.

Autumn has come and gone on Scotland's Isle of Rothsay, and the locals gather for the Tartan Ball, the annual end-of-tourist-season gala. Among the invited guests is American antique dealer Kate Hamilton. Returning to the island where her husband died is brutal, but Kate is determined to repair her relationship with her sister-in-law, Elenor Spurgeon, the proprietor of Rothsay's deluxe country house hotel.

Kate has hardly unpacked when a body turns up, murdered in an eerie recreation of an infamous unsolved murder two hundred years before. And the only clue to the killer's identity lies in a curiously embellished antique casket. When Bo Duff, the gentle handyman who had tried to save Kate’s husband's life, is taken into custody, she teams up with vacationing Detective Inspector Tom Mallory to clear Bo’s name. To accomplish that, they’ll have to unmask a killer who seems bizarrely fixated on the past…because two hundred years is an awfully long time to hold a grudge in A Dream of Death, the tantalizing series debut by Connie Berry.]]>2323agatha,amreading,bookclub,library,malicedomestic,mustread,mystery,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ang-pompano-shawn-reilly-simmons-interviews-agatha-nominees--25819571
WHEN IT'S TIME FOR LEAVING Agatha Nomination for Best 1st Novel. Al DeSantis is ready to get out of Connecticut. Suffering a recent breakup and a gnarly car crash which invokes in him a phobia of bridges, Al sets his sights on Los Angeles, only to have his plans foiled by his estranged father, Big Al, who is passing on the Blue Palmetto Detective Agency in Savannah, Ga., to his son. Begrudgingly, Al finds himself in the South and wrapped up in investigating a dead body found on the agency dock—a murder case that quickly becomes anything but straightforward.

Shawn Reilly Simmons is the author of The Red Carpet Catering Mysteries featuring Penelope Sutherland, an on-set movie caterer, and of several short stories appearing in various anthologies including "Burnt Orange" in Passport to Murder: the 2017 Bouchercon Anthology (Down & Out Books), and "The Prodigy" in Mystery Tour, the Crime Writers' Association Anthology (Orenda Books).

"The Last Word" which appears in Malice Domestic: Mystery Most Edible, was nominated for a 2019 Agatha Award for Best Short Story.

Shawn was born in Indiana, grew up in Florida, and began her professional career in New York City as a sales executive after graduating from the University of Maryland with a BA in English. Since then Shawn has worked as a book store manager, fiction editor, convention organizer, wine rep, and movie set caterer. She serves on the Board of Malice Domestic, and is an editor at Level Best Books.

Shawn is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, the International Thriller Writers, and the Crime Writers' Association in the U.K.

Cooking behind the scenes on movie sets perfectly combined two of her great loves, movies and food, and provides the inspiration for the Red Carpet Catering series.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/25819571Tue, 21 Apr 2020 08:00:21 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubAng Pompano CAS ’95 has been writing mystery for more than 20 years. When It’s Time for Leaving, his debut novel, was launched at the Wesleyan R.J. Julia Bookstore in October. It was nominated for a Best First Novel Agatha Award. WHEN IT'S TIME FOR...
WHEN IT'S TIME FOR LEAVING Agatha Nomination for Best 1st Novel. Al DeSantis is ready to get out of Connecticut. Suffering a recent breakup and a gnarly car crash which invokes in him a phobia of bridges, Al sets his sights on Los Angeles, only to have his plans foiled by his estranged father, Big Al, who is passing on the Blue Palmetto Detective Agency in Savannah, Ga., to his son. Begrudgingly, Al finds himself in the South and wrapped up in investigating a dead body found on the agency dock—a murder case that quickly becomes anything but straightforward.

Shawn Reilly Simmons is the author of The Red Carpet Catering Mysteries featuring Penelope Sutherland, an on-set movie caterer, and of several short stories appearing in various anthologies including "Burnt Orange" in Passport to Murder: the 2017 Bouchercon Anthology (Down & Out Books), and "The Prodigy" in Mystery Tour, the Crime Writers' Association Anthology (Orenda Books).

"The Last Word" which appears in Malice Domestic: Mystery Most Edible, was nominated for a 2019 Agatha Award for Best Short Story.

Shawn was born in Indiana, grew up in Florida, and began her professional career in New York City as a sales executive after graduating from the University of Maryland with a BA in English. Since then Shawn has worked as a book store manager, fiction editor, convention organizer, wine rep, and movie set caterer. She serves on the Board of Malice Domestic, and is an editor at Level Best Books.

Shawn is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, the International Thriller Writers, and the Crime Writers' Association in the U.K.

Cooking behind the scenes on movie sets perfectly combined two of her great loves, movies and food, and provides the inspiration for the Red Carpet Catering series.]]>1964amreading,bookclub,library,murder,mustread,mysterypodcast,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/mo-moulton-and-frances-schoonmaker-interviews-agatha-nominees--25468675
Dr. Mo Moulton is a historian of 20th century Britain and Ireland, interested in gender, sexuality, and colonialism/postcolonialism. They work as a Senior Lecturer in the History Department at the University of Birmingham, where they are the Director of the Modern British Studies Centre. Moulton earned their PhD from Brown University and spent several years working in the History & Literature program at Harvard University.

Frances Schoonmaker Born in Lawton, OK, Schoonmaker and her two brothers were reared on a farm. Her parents were farmers and schoolteachers. As a child, she was fascinated by stories told by pioneer grandparents and exploring the remains of the dugout where her mother was born. Books about pioneers and those that create imaginative worlds were among her favorites. Schoonmaker makes room for both fact and fancy in The Last Crystal Trilogy, historical fantasy for middle grades and above. She draws on her childhood in rural Oklahoma to furnish vivid details of place and context for all three books of the trilogy.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/25468675Tue, 14 Apr 2020 08:00:08 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubWe bring you two more Agatha Nominee interviews. Mo Moulton nominated for Best non-fiction The Mutual Admiration Society: How Dorothy L. Sayers and Her Oxford Circle Remade the World for Women. Frances Schoonmaker for Best Middle Grade/Young Adult...
Dr. Mo Moulton is a historian of 20th century Britain and Ireland, interested in gender, sexuality, and colonialism/postcolonialism. They work as a Senior Lecturer in the History Department at the University of Birmingham, where they are the Director of the Modern British Studies Centre. Moulton earned their PhD from Brown University and spent several years working in the History & Literature program at Harvard University.

Frances Schoonmaker Born in Lawton, OK, Schoonmaker and her two brothers were reared on a farm. Her parents were farmers and schoolteachers. As a child, she was fascinated by stories told by pioneer grandparents and exploring the remains of the dugout where her mother was born. Books about pioneers and those that create imaginative worlds were among her favorites. Schoonmaker makes room for both fact and fancy in The Last Crystal Trilogy, historical fantasy for middle grades and above. She draws on her childhood in rural Oklahoma to furnish vivid details of place and context for all three books of the trilogy.]]>2815agatha,amreading,bookclub,murder,mustread,podcast,writerslifefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/agatha-nominees-tara-laskowski-art-taylor--24908270
Art Taylor is the author of the story collection The Boy Detective & The Summer of ’74 and Other Tales of Suspense and of the novel in stories On the Road with Del & Louise, winner of the Agatha Award for Best First Novel. He won the 2019 Edgar Award for Best Short Story for “English 398: Fiction Workshop,” originally published in Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, and he has won three additional Agatha Awards, an Anthony Award, three Macavity Awards, and three consecutive Derringer Awards for his short fiction. His work has also appeared in Best American Mystery Stories, and he edited Murder Under the Oaks: Bouchercon Anthology 2015, winner of the Anthony Award for Best Anthology or Collection. He is an associate professor of English at George Mason University, and he has contributed frequently to the Washington Post, the Washington Independent Review of Books, and Mystery Scene Magazine.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/24908270Tue, 07 Apr 2020 08:00:13 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubTARA LASKOWSKI is the award-winning author of the debut suspense novel, One Night Gone, and two short story collections, Modern Manners for Your Inner Demons and Bystanders. She has had stories published in numerous magazines and anthologies such as...
Art Taylor is the author of the story collection The Boy Detective & The Summer of ’74 and Other Tales of Suspense and of the novel in stories On the Road with Del & Louise, winner of the Agatha Award for Best First Novel. He won the 2019 Edgar Award for Best Short Story for “English 398: Fiction Workshop,” originally published in Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, and he has won three additional Agatha Awards, an Anthony Award, three Macavity Awards, and three consecutive Derringer Awards for his short fiction. His work has also appeared in Best American Mystery Stories, and he edited Murder Under the Oaks: Bouchercon Anthology 2015, winner of the Anthony Award for Best Anthology or Collection. He is an associate professor of English at George Mason University, and he has contributed frequently to the Washington Post, the Washington Independent Review of Books, and Mystery Scene Magazine.]]>1999agatha,amreading,bookclub,bookreview,murder,mysterywriter,podcast,shortstory,writerslifefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/book-reviews-lorie-lewis-ham-from-mystery-rat-maze-podcast--24662307
We interview Lorie Lewis Ham and talk to her about the mystery podcast Mystery Rat Maze. Lorie Lewis Ham has been writing since she was a child. Her first song and poem were published when she was 13 and she has gone on to publish many articles, short stories, and poems throughout the years as well as write for a local newspaper. Four out of her 5 published mystery novels feature gospel singer Alexandra Walters.. She is currently working on the first in a new series set in the Tower District of Fresno, CA and featuring an entertainment podcaster named Roxi Carlucci which will hopefully come out the end of 2020. She has also been the publisher of the online magazine Kings River Life for the past 10 years (www.kingsriverlife.com) and launched a mystery podcast called Mysteryrat's Maze (https://mysteryratsmaze.podbean.com/) almost 2 years ago. Lorie is married to Larry Ham, and they have 2 children, Jessica and Joseph, 5 cats, 4 dogs, 2 rats & 1 rabbit.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/24662307Tue, 31 Mar 2020 08:00:02 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubTodays show will feature a review of The Shaker Mystery Series by Elenor Kuhn and a review of THE OTHER GLORIA by L.A. Villafane. We interview Lorie Lewis Ham and talk to her about the mystery podcast Mystery Rat Maze. Lorie Lewis Ham has been...
We interview Lorie Lewis Ham and talk to her about the mystery podcast Mystery Rat Maze. Lorie Lewis Ham has been writing since she was a child. Her first song and poem were published when she was 13 and she has gone on to publish many articles, short stories, and poems throughout the years as well as write for a local newspaper. Four out of her 5 published mystery novels feature gospel singer Alexandra Walters.. She is currently working on the first in a new series set in the Tower District of Fresno, CA and featuring an entertainment podcaster named Roxi Carlucci which will hopefully come out the end of 2020. She has also been the publisher of the online magazine Kings River Life for the past 10 years (www.kingsriverlife.com) and launched a mystery podcast called Mysteryrat's Maze (https://mysteryratsmaze.podbean.com/) almost 2 years ago. Lorie is married to Larry Ham, and they have 2 children, Jessica and Joseph, 5 cats, 4 dogs, 2 rats & 1 rabbit.]]>1587amreading,bookclub,bookreview,library,murder,mustread,mystery,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/marcia-clark-final-judgement-samantha-brinkman-series-book-4--24230324Final Judgement- A murder investigation draws firebrand attorney Samantha Brinkman into her boyfriend's past in this novel of high-risk suspense by bestselling author Marcia Clark.When it comes to relationships and self-preservation, defense attorney Samantha Brinkman has always been cut and run. But it's different with her new lover, Niko, an ambitious and globally famous entrepreneur. Sam is putting her faith in him. She has to. He's also her new client--a suspect in the murder of an investor whose shady dealings turned Niko's good life upside down.He had the motive: revenge. As did many others who banked a fortune on the wrong man. That's a point in Niko's favor. So is his alibi for the day of the slaying. Until that alibi mysteriously disappears. As Sam's feverish search for another viable killer begins, the investigation only leads deeper into Niko's past and its secrets.From the darkest suspicions to final judgment, fighting for Niko is Sam's job. To do it, she must risk everything on a man who could make all her worst fears come true. Available April 21, 2020]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/24230324Tue, 24 Mar 2020 08:00:03 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubCalifornia native Marcia Clark is the author of The Rachel Knight and Samantha Brinkman mystery series . A practicing criminal lawyer since 1979, she joined the Los Angeles District Attorney's office in 1981, where she served as prosecutor for the...Final Judgement- A murder investigation draws firebrand attorney Samantha Brinkman into her boyfriend's past in this novel of high-risk suspense by bestselling author Marcia Clark.When it comes to relationships and self-preservation, defense attorney Samantha Brinkman has always been cut and run. But it's different with her new lover, Niko, an ambitious and globally famous entrepreneur. Sam is putting her faith in him. She has to. He's also her new client--a suspect in the murder of an investor whose shady dealings turned Niko's good life upside down.He had the motive: revenge. As did many others who banked a fortune on the wrong man. That's a point in Niko's favor. So is his alibi for the day of the slaying. Until that alibi mysteriously disappears. As Sam's feverish search for another viable killer begins, the investigation only leads deeper into Niko's past and its secrets.From the darkest suspicions to final judgment, fighting for Niko is Sam's job. To do it, she must risk everything on a man who could make all her worst fears come true. Available April 21, 2020]]>1350amreading,bitcoin,bookclub,legalthriller,marciaclark,murder,mustread,mystery,podcast,writerslifefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/chad-dundas-the-blaze--23960856
The Blaze-Having lost much of his memory from a traumatic brain injury sustained in Iraq, army veteran Matthew Rose is called back to Montana after his father's death to settle his affairs, and hopefully to settle the past as well. It's not only a blank to him, but a mystery. Why as a teen did he suddenly become sullen and vacant, abandoning the activities and people that had meant most to him? How did he, the son of hippy activists, wind up enlisting in the first place?

Then on his first night back, Matthew sees a house go up in flames, and it turns out a local college student has died inside. And this event sparks a memory of a different fire, an unsolved crime from long ago, a part of Matthew's past that might lead to all the answers he's been searching for. What he finds will connect the old fire and the new, a series of long-unsolved mysteries, and a ruthless act of murder.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/23960856Tue, 17 Mar 2020 08:00:14 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubChad Dundas’ debut novel Champion of the World was a 2016 Boston Globe Best Book of the Year as well as a finalist for the David J. Langum Sr. Prize for Historical Fiction and Reading the West Book Awards. His short fiction has appeared in the Beloit...
The Blaze-Having lost much of his memory from a traumatic brain injury sustained in Iraq, army veteran Matthew Rose is called back to Montana after his father's death to settle his affairs, and hopefully to settle the past as well. It's not only a blank to him, but a mystery. Why as a teen did he suddenly become sullen and vacant, abandoning the activities and people that had meant most to him? How did he, the son of hippy activists, wind up enlisting in the first place?

Then on his first night back, Matthew sees a house go up in flames, and it turns out a local college student has died inside. And this event sparks a memory of a different fire, an unsolved crime from long ago, a part of Matthew's past that might lead to all the answers he's been searching for. What he finds will connect the old fire and the new, a series of long-unsolved mysteries, and a ruthless act of murder.]]>1600amreading,bookclub,montana,murder,mustread,mystery,podcast,theblaze,writerslifefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/bonnie-macbird-the-devil-s-due-a-sherlock-holmes-adventure--23697996
The Devil’s Due London, 1890. A series of diabolical murders of philanthropists with shady pasts has Holmes and Watson on a dangerous hunt facing radicals and royals, mudlarks and musicians, playwrights and policemen with agendas as they race through the fog of a London winter, trying to stop the carnage as a mysterious “Lucifer” draws ever closer to home.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/23697996Tue, 10 Mar 2020 08:00:08 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubSan Francisco native Bonnie MacBird attended Stanford University where she earned a BA in Music and an MA in Film. Her long Hollywood career includes four years as a feature film development exec at Universal, the original screenplay for the movie...
The Devil’s Due London, 1890. A series of diabolical murders of philanthropists with shady pasts has Holmes and Watson on a dangerous hunt facing radicals and royals, mudlarks and musicians, playwrights and policemen with agendas as they race through the fog of a London winter, trying to stop the carnage as a mysterious “Lucifer” draws ever closer to home.]]>2330bookclub,interview,london,murder,mustread,mystery,podcast,sherlock,writerslifefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/bruce-goldfarb-18-tiny-deaths-the-untold-story-of-frances-glessner-lee-the-invention-of-modern-forensics--23411958
18 Tiny Deaths is the story of a woman whose ambition and accomplishments far exceeded the expectations of her time, 18 Tiny Deaths follows the transformation of a young, wealthy socialite into the mother of modern forensics...
Frances Glessner Lee, born a socialite to a wealthy and influential Chicago family in the 1870s, was never meant to have a career, let alone one steeped in death and depravity.
Yet she developed a fascination with the investigation of violent crimes, and made it her life's work. Best known for creating the Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death, a series of dollhouses that appear charming―until you notice the macabre little details: an overturned chair, or a blood-spattered comforter. And then, of course, there are the bodies―splayed out on the floor, draped over chairs―clothed in garments that Lee lovingly knit with sewing pins.
18 Tiny Deaths, by official biographer Bruce Goldfarb, delves into Lee's journey from grandmother without a college degree to leading the scientific investigation of unexpected death out of the dark confines of centuries-old techniques and into the light of the modern day.
Lee developed a system that used the Nutshells dioramas to train law enforcement officers to investigate violent crimes, and her methods are still used today.
18 Tiny Deaths transports the reader back in time and tells the story of how one woman, who should never have even been allowed into the classrooms she ended up teaching in, changed the face of science forever.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/23411958Tue, 03 Mar 2020 09:00:18 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubBruce Goldfarb is an award-winning writer whose work has appeared in the Baltimore Sun, Washington Post, USA Today, Baltimore magazine, American Archaeology, American Health and many other publications. Since 2012 Bruce has served as executive...
18 Tiny Deaths is the story of a woman whose ambition and accomplishments far exceeded the expectations of her time, 18 Tiny Deaths follows the transformation of a young, wealthy socialite into the mother of modern forensics...
Frances Glessner Lee, born a socialite to a wealthy and influential Chicago family in the 1870s, was never meant to have a career, let alone one steeped in death and depravity.
Yet she developed a fascination with the investigation of violent crimes, and made it her life's work. Best known for creating the Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death, a series of dollhouses that appear charming―until you notice the macabre little details: an overturned chair, or a blood-spattered comforter. And then, of course, there are the bodies―splayed out on the floor, draped over chairs―clothed in garments that Lee lovingly knit with sewing pins.
18 Tiny Deaths, by official biographer Bruce Goldfarb, delves into Lee's journey from grandmother without a college degree to leading the scientific investigation of unexpected death out of the dark confines of centuries-old techniques and into the light of the modern day.
Lee developed a system that used the Nutshells dioramas to train law enforcement officers to investigate violent crimes, and her methods are still used today.
18 Tiny Deaths transports the reader back in time and tells the story of how one woman, who should never have even been allowed into the classrooms she ended up teaching in, changed the face of science forever.]]>2157baltimore,bookclub,bookreview,forensics,historical,mustread,nutshellgallery,podcast,truecrimefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/jason-pinter-hide-away-a-rachel-marin-thriller-book-1--23153740
Hide Away - On the surface, Rachel Marin is an ordinary single mother; on the inside, she’s a fierce, brilliant vigilante. After an unspeakable crime shatters her life, she changes her identity and moves to a small town in Illinois, hoping to spare her children from further trauma…or worse. But crime follows her everywhere.
When the former mayor winds up dead, Rachel can’t help but get involved. Where local detectives see suicide, she sees murder. They resent her for butting in—especially since she’s always one step ahead. But her investigative genius may be her undoing: the deeper she digs, the harder it is to keep her own secrets buried.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/23153740Tue, 25 Feb 2020 09:00:17 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubJason Pinter is the internationally bestselling author of HIDE AWAY, the first Rachel Marin novel, and the Henry Parker thriller series (THE MARK, THE GUILTY, THE STOLEN, THE FURY, and THE DARKNESS), as well as the acclaimed standalone thriller THE...
Hide Away - On the surface, Rachel Marin is an ordinary single mother; on the inside, she’s a fierce, brilliant vigilante. After an unspeakable crime shatters her life, she changes her identity and moves to a small town in Illinois, hoping to spare her children from further trauma…or worse. But crime follows her everywhere.
When the former mayor winds up dead, Rachel can’t help but get involved. Where local detectives see suicide, she sees murder. They resent her for butting in—especially since she’s always one step ahead. But her investigative genius may be her undoing: the deeper she digs, the harder it is to keep her own secrets buried.]]>1254amreading,bookclub,murder,mustread,mystery,podcast,thrillerfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/donis-casey-the-wrong-girl--22896416Donis left academia in 1988 to start a Scottish import gift shop in downtown Tempe. After more than a decade as an entrepreneur, she decided to devote herself full-time to writing. The Old Buzzard Had It Coming is her first book. For the past twenty years, Donis has lived in Tempe, AZ, with her husband.

"The Wrong Girl" Blanche Tucker longs to escape her drop-dead dull life in tiny Boynton, Oklahoma. Then dashing Graham Peyton roars into town. Posing as a film producer, Graham convinces the ambitious but naive teenager to run away with him to a glamorous new life. Instead, Graham uses her as cruelly as a silent-picture villain. Yet by luck and by pluck, taking charge of her life, she makes it to Hollywood. Six years later, Blanche has transformed into the celebrated Bianca LaBelle, the reclusive star of a series of adventure films, and Peyton's remains are discovered on a Santa Monica beach. Is there a connection? With all of the twists and turns of a 1920s melodrama, The Wrong Girl follows the daring exploits of a girl who chases her dream from the farm to old Hollywood, all while showing just how risky―and rewarding―it can be to go off-script.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/22896416Tue, 18 Feb 2020 09:00:04 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubDONIS CASEY was born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma. A third generation Oklahoman, she and her siblings grew up among their aunts and uncles, cousins, grandparents and great-grandparents on farms and in small towns, where they learned the love of...Donis left academia in 1988 to start a Scottish import gift shop in downtown Tempe. After more than a decade as an entrepreneur, she decided to devote herself full-time to writing. The Old Buzzard Had It Coming is her first book. For the past twenty years, Donis has lived in Tempe, AZ, with her husband.

"The Wrong Girl" Blanche Tucker longs to escape her drop-dead dull life in tiny Boynton, Oklahoma. Then dashing Graham Peyton roars into town. Posing as a film producer, Graham convinces the ambitious but naive teenager to run away with him to a glamorous new life. Instead, Graham uses her as cruelly as a silent-picture villain. Yet by luck and by pluck, taking charge of her life, she makes it to Hollywood. Six years later, Blanche has transformed into the celebrated Bianca LaBelle, the reclusive star of a series of adventure films, and Peyton's remains are discovered on a Santa Monica beach. Is there a connection? With all of the twists and turns of a 1920s melodrama, The Wrong Girl follows the daring exploits of a girl who chases her dream from the farm to old Hollywood, all while showing just how risky―and rewarding―it can be to go off-script.]]>1574amreading,bookclub,bookworm,murder,mustread,mystery,podcast,silentfilm,writerslifefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/vicki-delany-there-s-a-murder-afoot--22634456
There’s a Murder Afoot: Just in time for Sherlock Holmes’s 166th birthday, the fifth installment in national bestselling author Vicki Delany’s Sherlock Holmes Bookshop mystery takes Sherlockania to the max with a Holmes convention and historic 221 Baker Street.
Gemma Doyle and her friends travel to London for a Sherlock Holmes convention–but will Gemma’s father take the fall for a felonious forger’s fatality?
The 6th of January is Sherlock Holmes’s birthday, and lucky for Gemma Doyle, January is also the slowest time of the year at both the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium, and Mrs. Hudson’s Tea Room. It’s a good time for Gemma and her friends to travel to England for a Holmes Convention. For Gemma, the trip provides an opportunity to visit her parents, Jayne Wilson is excited about seeing all the sites London has to offer, and Ryan Ashburton just wants to spend some time with Gemma. But the trip is immediately derailed when Gemma’s father Henry recognizes his brother-in-law Randolph Denhaugh, who disappeared more than thirty years ago on the night he stole a valuable painting from his own parents.
Henry, a retired detective with Scotland Yard, has been keeping tabs on the man’s career as a forger of Old Masters and he warns Randy to stay away from his family. It’s up to Gemma, with the help of her friends, to plunge into the “lowest and vilest alleys” of London to save her father from prison.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/22634456Tue, 11 Feb 2020 09:00:12 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubVicki Delany is one of Canada’s most prolific and varied crime writers and a national bestseller in the U.S. She has written more than thirty books: clever cozies to Gothic thrillers to gritty police procedurals, to historical fiction and novellas...
There’s a Murder Afoot: Just in time for Sherlock Holmes’s 166th birthday, the fifth installment in national bestselling author Vicki Delany’s Sherlock Holmes Bookshop mystery takes Sherlockania to the max with a Holmes convention and historic 221 Baker Street.
Gemma Doyle and her friends travel to London for a Sherlock Holmes convention–but will Gemma’s father take the fall for a felonious forger’s fatality?
The 6th of January is Sherlock Holmes’s birthday, and lucky for Gemma Doyle, January is also the slowest time of the year at both the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium, and Mrs. Hudson’s Tea Room. It’s a good time for Gemma and her friends to travel to England for a Holmes Convention. For Gemma, the trip provides an opportunity to visit her parents, Jayne Wilson is excited about seeing all the sites London has to offer, and Ryan Ashburton just wants to spend some time with Gemma. But the trip is immediately derailed when Gemma’s father Henry recognizes his brother-in-law Randolph Denhaugh, who disappeared more than thirty years ago on the night he stole a valuable painting from his own parents.
Henry, a retired detective with Scotland Yard, has been keeping tabs on the man’s career as a forger of Old Masters and he warns Randy to stay away from his family. It’s up to Gemma, with the help of her friends, to plunge into the “lowest and vilest alleys” of London to save her father from prison.]]>1570amreading,bookclub,bookreview,cozymystery,cozywriter,mustread,podcast,sherlock,womankillingit,writerslifefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/lee-goldberg-lost-hills--22387089He’s written and produced TV shows in Canada (Murphy’s Law, Cobra, Missing), England (Stick With Me Kid, She Wolf of London) and Germany (Fast Track: No Limits). His mystery writing for television has earned him two Edgar Award nominations from the Mystery Writers of America.
His two careers, novelist and TV writer, merged when he wrote the eight books in the Diagnosis Murder series of original novels, based on the hit CBS TV mystery that he also wrote and produced. He followed that up by writing fifteen bestselling novels based on Monk, another TV show that he worked on. His Monk novels have been translated and published in Germany, Poland, Thailand, Japan, Turkey, and many other countries.
In addition to his writing, he’s worked as an international TV development expert and consulting producer for production companies and major networks in Canada, France, Germany, Spain, Sweden, Belgium, and the Netherlands.
But perhaps he’s best known for his pioneering work mapping the human genome and negotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement.
Goldberg lives in Los Angeles with his wife and his daughter and still sleeps in Man From U.N.C.L.E. pajamas.

LOST HILLS-A detective’s brutal first case could make or break her career in an exhilarating thriller by #1 New York Times bestselling author Lee Goldberg.
A video of Deputy Eve Ronin’s off-duty arrest of an abusive movie star goes viral, turning her into a popular hero at a time when the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is plagued by scandal. The sheriff, desperate for more positive press, makes Eve the youngest female homicide detective in the department’s history.
Now Eve, with a lot to learn and resented by her colleagues, has to justify her new badge. Her chance comes when she and her burned-out, soon-to-retire partner are called to the blood-splattered home of a missing single mother and her two kids. The horrific carnage screams multiple murder—but there are no corpses.
Eve has to rely on her instincts and tenacity to find the bodies and capture the vicious killer, all while battling her own insecurities and mounting pressure from the media, her bosses, and the bereaved family. It’s a deadly ordeal that will either prove her skills…or totally destroy her.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/22387089Tue, 04 Feb 2020 09:00:05 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubLee Goldberg broke into television with a freelance script sale to Spenser: For Hire. Since then, his TV writing & producing credits have covered a wide variety of genres, including sci-fi (seaQuest), cop shows (Hunter, The Glades), martial arts...He’s written and produced TV shows in Canada (Murphy’s Law, Cobra, Missing), England (Stick With Me Kid, She Wolf of London) and Germany (Fast Track: No Limits). His mystery writing for television has earned him two Edgar Award nominations from the Mystery Writers of America.
His two careers, novelist and TV writer, merged when he wrote the eight books in the Diagnosis Murder series of original novels, based on the hit CBS TV mystery that he also wrote and produced. He followed that up by writing fifteen bestselling novels based on Monk, another TV show that he worked on. His Monk novels have been translated and published in Germany, Poland, Thailand, Japan, Turkey, and many other countries.
In addition to his writing, he’s worked as an international TV development expert and consulting producer for production companies and major networks in Canada, France, Germany, Spain, Sweden, Belgium, and the Netherlands.
But perhaps he’s best known for his pioneering work mapping the human genome and negotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement.
Goldberg lives in Los Angeles with his wife and his daughter and still sleeps in Man From U.N.C.L.E. pajamas.

LOST HILLS-A detective’s brutal first case could make or break her career in an exhilarating thriller by #1 New York Times bestselling author Lee Goldberg.
A video of Deputy Eve Ronin’s off-duty arrest of an abusive movie star goes viral, turning her into a popular hero at a time when the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is plagued by scandal. The sheriff, desperate for more positive press, makes Eve the youngest female homicide detective in the department’s history.
Now Eve, with a lot to learn and resented by her colleagues, has to justify her new badge. Her chance comes when she and her burned-out, soon-to-retire partner are called to the blood-splattered home of a missing single mother and her two kids. The horrific carnage screams multiple murder—but there are no corpses.
Eve has to rely on her instincts and tenacity to find the bodies and capture the vicious killer, all while battling her own insecurities and mounting pressure from the media, her bosses, and the bereaved family. It’s a deadly ordeal that will either prove her skills…or totally destroy her.]]>1700amreading,bookclub,crimefiction,detective,murder,mustread,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/eugenia-lovett-west-firewall--22141187
FIREWALL - Former opera singer Emma Streat has survived the murder of her husband and the destruction of her beautiful old house. Now a full-time single mother, she struggles to move forward and make a home for her two sons. Because of her detection skills, she has become a go-to person for help--so, when her rich, feisty, socialite godmother is blackmailed, she turns immediately to Emma. Soon, Emma founds herself thrust into the dark world of cybercrime. Mounting challenges take her to exclusive European settings where she mixes with top people in the financial and art collecting worlds and has intriguing and emotion-packed experiences with men--including her dynamic ex-lover, Lord Andrew Rodale. When she is targeted by a cybercrime network using cutting-edge technology, it takes all of Emma's resilience and wits to survive and bring the wily, ruthless criminal she's hunting to justice. Action-packed and full of twists and turns, this third book of the Emma Streat Mystery series does not disappoint!]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/22141187Tue, 28 Jan 2020 09:00:05 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubEugenia Lovett West was born in Boston. She attended Sarah Lawrence College and worked for Harper’s Bazaar and the American Red Cross. Then came marriage, four children, volunteer work, and freelancing for local papers. Eugenia divides her time...
FIREWALL - Former opera singer Emma Streat has survived the murder of her husband and the destruction of her beautiful old house. Now a full-time single mother, she struggles to move forward and make a home for her two sons. Because of her detection skills, she has become a go-to person for help--so, when her rich, feisty, socialite godmother is blackmailed, she turns immediately to Emma. Soon, Emma founds herself thrust into the dark world of cybercrime. Mounting challenges take her to exclusive European settings where she mixes with top people in the financial and art collecting worlds and has intriguing and emotion-packed experiences with men--including her dynamic ex-lover, Lord Andrew Rodale. When she is targeted by a cybercrime network using cutting-edge technology, it takes all of Emma's resilience and wits to survive and bring the wily, ruthless criminal she's hunting to justice. Action-packed and full of twists and turns, this third book of the Emma Streat Mystery series does not disappoint!]]>1193amreading,bookclub,bookworm,cybercrime,murder,mustread,podcast,writerslifefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/robert-bryndza-nine-elms--21900698
Kate Marshall was a promising young police detective when she caught the notorious Nine Elms serial killer. But her greatest victory suddenly turned into a nightmare. Traumatized, betrayed, and publicly vilified for the shocking circumstances surrounding the cannibal murder case, Kate could only watch as her career ended in scandal.
Fifteen years after those catastrophic events, Kate is still haunted by the unquiet ghosts of her troubled past. Now a lecturer at a small coastal English university, she finally has a chance to face them. A copycat killer has taken up the Nine Elms mantle, continuing the ghastly work of his idol.
Enlisting her brilliant research assistant, Tristan Harper, Kate draws on her prodigious and long-neglected skills as an investigator to catch a new monster. Success promises redemption, but there’s much more on the line: Kate was the original killer’s intended fifth victim…and his successor means to finish the job.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/21900698Tue, 21 Jan 2020 09:00:17 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubIn addition to writing crime fiction, He has published a bestselling series of romantic comedy novels. His new novel, Nine Elms, the first in my Kate Marshall private detective series has just been published. Author of the international #1 bestseller...
Kate Marshall was a promising young police detective when she caught the notorious Nine Elms serial killer. But her greatest victory suddenly turned into a nightmare. Traumatized, betrayed, and publicly vilified for the shocking circumstances surrounding the cannibal murder case, Kate could only watch as her career ended in scandal.
Fifteen years after those catastrophic events, Kate is still haunted by the unquiet ghosts of her troubled past. Now a lecturer at a small coastal English university, she finally has a chance to face them. A copycat killer has taken up the Nine Elms mantle, continuing the ghastly work of his idol.
Enlisting her brilliant research assistant, Tristan Harper, Kate draws on her prodigious and long-neglected skills as an investigator to catch a new monster. Success promises redemption, but there’s much more on the line: Kate was the original killer’s intended fifth victim…and his successor means to finish the job.]]>1206amreading,bookclub,library,murder,podcast,thriller,writerslifefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/rachel-monroe-savage-appetites--21660024
Savage Appetites - In this illuminating exploration of women, violence, and obsession, Rachel Monroe interrogates the appeal of true crime through four narratives of fixation. In the 1940s, a frustrated heiress began creating dollhouse crime scenes depicting murders, suicides, and accidental deaths. Known as the “Mother of Forensic Science,” she revolutionized the field of what was then called legal medicine. In the aftermath of the Manson Family murders, a young woman moved into Sharon Tate’s guesthouse and, over the next two decades, entwined herself with the Tate family. In the mid-nineties, a landscape architect in Brooklyn fell in love with a convicted murderer, the supposed ringleader of the West Memphis Three, through an intense series of letters. After they married, she devoted her life to getting him freed from death row. And in 2015, a teenager deeply involved in the online fandom for the Columbine killers planned a mass shooting of her own.

Each woman, Monroe argues, represents and identifies with a particular archetype that provides an entryway into true crime. Through these four cases, she traces the history of American crime through the growth of forensic science, the evolving role of victims, the Satanic Panic, the rise of online detectives, and the long shadow of the Columbine shooting. In a combination of personal narrative, reportage, and a sociological examination of violence and media in the twentieth and twenty-first century, Savage Appetites scrupulously explores empathy, justice, and the persistent appeal of violence.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/21660024Tue, 14 Jan 2020 09:00:14 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubRachel Monroe is a writer and volunteer firefighter living in Marfa, Texas. Her work has appeared in The Best American Travel Writing 2018, The New Yorker, The Atlantic, The New York Times, The New York Times Magazine, and elsewhere. Savage...
Savage Appetites - In this illuminating exploration of women, violence, and obsession, Rachel Monroe interrogates the appeal of true crime through four narratives of fixation. In the 1940s, a frustrated heiress began creating dollhouse crime scenes depicting murders, suicides, and accidental deaths. Known as the “Mother of Forensic Science,” she revolutionized the field of what was then called legal medicine. In the aftermath of the Manson Family murders, a young woman moved into Sharon Tate’s guesthouse and, over the next two decades, entwined herself with the Tate family. In the mid-nineties, a landscape architect in Brooklyn fell in love with a convicted murderer, the supposed ringleader of the West Memphis Three, through an intense series of letters. After they married, she devoted her life to getting him freed from death row. And in 2015, a teenager deeply involved in the online fandom for the Columbine killers planned a mass shooting of her own.

Each woman, Monroe argues, represents and identifies with a particular archetype that provides an entryway into true crime. Through these four cases, she traces the history of American crime through the growth of forensic science, the evolving role of victims, the Satanic Panic, the rise of online detectives, and the long shadow of the Columbine shooting. In a combination of personal narrative, reportage, and a sociological examination of violence and media in the twentieth and twenty-first century, Savage Appetites scrupulously explores empathy, justice, and the persistent appeal of violence.]]>1766amreading,bookclub,murder,mustread,obsession,podcast,savageappetites,truecrime,writerslifefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/bella-ellis-the-vanished-bride--21422096
"The Vanished Bride" Yorkshire, 1845. A young wife and mother has gone missing from her home, leaving behind two small children and a large pool of blood. Just a few miles away, a humble parson’s daughters—the Brontë sisters—learn of the crime. Charlotte, Emily, and Anne Brontë are horrified and intrigued by the mysterious disappearance.

These three creative, energetic, and resourceful women quickly realize that they have all the skills required to make for excellent “lady detectors.” Not yet published novelists, they have well-honed imaginations and are expert readers. And, as Charlotte remarks, “detecting is reading between the lines—it’s seeing what is not there.”]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/21422096Tue, 07 Jan 2020 09:00:10 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubBella Ellis is the Brontë-esque pseudonym of an acclaimed author of numerous novels for adults and children. She first visited the former home of the Brontë sisters when she was ten years old. She first visited the former home of the Brontë sisters...
"The Vanished Bride" Yorkshire, 1845. A young wife and mother has gone missing from her home, leaving behind two small children and a large pool of blood. Just a few miles away, a humble parson’s daughters—the Brontë sisters—learn of the crime. Charlotte, Emily, and Anne Brontë are horrified and intrigued by the mysterious disappearance.

These three creative, energetic, and resourceful women quickly realize that they have all the skills required to make for excellent “lady detectors.” Not yet published novelists, they have well-honed imaginations and are expert readers. And, as Charlotte remarks, “detecting is reading between the lines—it’s seeing what is not there.”]]>1182bookclub,bronte,murder,mystery,podcast,thevanishedbridefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/happy-new-year-alan-bradley-interview-recast--21205513
Alan Bradley was born in Toronto, Ont. and grew up in the pleasant lakeside town of Cobourg, Ont. After a long career in television broadcasting, he took early retirement from the University of Saskatchewan to write full-time. He has published many children’s stories as well as lifestyle and arts columns in Canadian newspapers. His adult stories have been broadcast on CBC radio and published in various literary journals. He has also written several screenplays and taught university-level courses in screenwriting. He was the recipient of the first Saskatchewan Writers Guild Award for Children’s Literature. After writing for several years on the Maltese island of Gozo, Alan Bradley now lives on the Isle of Man.
The first book of his Flavia de Luce series, “The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie” won the 2007 Debut Dagger Award of the Crime Writers Association in the UK; the 2009 Agatha Award for Best First Novel; the 2010 Dilys, awarded by the International Mystery Booksellers Association; the Spotted Owl Award, given by the Friends of Mystery, and the 2010 Arthur Ellis Award, given by the Crime Writers of Canada for Best First Novel. “The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie” has also been nominated for an Anthony Award, a Barry Award, and a Macavity Award. Besides appearing on the New York Times bestsellers list as a Favorite Mystery of 2009, “Sweetness” was also, among other honours, an American Library Association nominee as Best Book For Young Adults; a Barnes and Noble Bestseller, and was named to the 2009 Bloomer List. The audiobook version of “The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie” was voted Best AudioBook by iTunes.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/21205513Tue, 31 Dec 2019 09:00:12 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubWe would like to wish all of our listeners a very Happy New Year full of reading and discovering new authors. As we take a well deserved rest and time to spend with our family and friends. We wanted to share our favorite episode to date. Our...
Alan Bradley was born in Toronto, Ont. and grew up in the pleasant lakeside town of Cobourg, Ont. After a long career in television broadcasting, he took early retirement from the University of Saskatchewan to write full-time. He has published many children’s stories as well as lifestyle and arts columns in Canadian newspapers. His adult stories have been broadcast on CBC radio and published in various literary journals. He has also written several screenplays and taught university-level courses in screenwriting. He was the recipient of the first Saskatchewan Writers Guild Award for Children’s Literature. After writing for several years on the Maltese island of Gozo, Alan Bradley now lives on the Isle of Man.
The first book of his Flavia de Luce series, “The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie” won the 2007 Debut Dagger Award of the Crime Writers Association in the UK; the 2009 Agatha Award for Best First Novel; the 2010 Dilys, awarded by the International Mystery Booksellers Association; the Spotted Owl Award, given by the Friends of Mystery, and the 2010 Arthur Ellis Award, given by the Crime Writers of Canada for Best First Novel. “The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie” has also been nominated for an Anthony Award, a Barry Award, and a Macavity Award. Besides appearing on the New York Times bestsellers list as a Favorite Mystery of 2009, “Sweetness” was also, among other honours, an American Library Association nominee as Best Book For Young Adults; a Barnes and Noble Bestseller, and was named to the 2009 Bloomer List. The audiobook version of “The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie” was voted Best AudioBook by iTunes.]]>1542agatha,amreading,bookclub,flavia,happynewyear,mystery,podcast,writerslifefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/in-memory-of-a-dear-friend-rowland-savage--21019190Rowland Savage grew up in Baltimore, Maryland with his sister, Patricia; mother, Dorothea; and father, Milton. He entered the seminary as a young man and later switched to different academic pursuits. After attending St. Charles, he received his B. A. from Mount St. Mary's College in 1967; M.S. from Johns Hopkins University in 1974; and an advanced degree in C.A.S.E., Clinical Theory and Therapy from Johns Hopkins University in 1978. He began his professional career as a teacher at Towson Catholic High School. He was drawn by a need to help young people, so he pursued his licensure as a National Certified Counselor and Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor. Within the Baltimore County Public Schools system, he became Department Chair, Supervisor, and then Coordinator for the Office of Guidance and Counseling Services where he provided supervision and program leadership for over 250 school counselors serving 162 schools.
Rowland was a sought-after national public speaker and an expert on many topics including youth suicide prevention, crisis management, bereavement counseling, traumatic loss, conflict resolution, peer helper training, and personality disorders. He was involved in numerous teaching roles as an adjunct instructor at Johns Hopkins University, Towson State University, Goucher College, and Loyola College. Rowland was the recipient of the Governor’s Citation for Service in Support of Youth Suicide Prevention, 1996; Excellence in Teaching Award, Johns Hopkins University, 1999; Governor’s Award for Outstanding Contributions to Suicide Prevention, 2001; and the Maryland School Counselor Association’s Counseling Advocate, 2004. Upon his retirement in 2005 from his position as Coordinator for the Baltimore County Public Schools Office of School Counseling, Rowland received recognition from the County and Maryland State Department of Education commending him for his 38 years of dedicated support to their students.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/21019190Tue, 24 Dec 2019 09:00:20 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubWe dedicate this episode to Rowland, his family and friends. We miss him and wanted to take the time to re-release an episode we recorded last year. Rowland Savage grew up in Baltimore, Maryland with his sister, Patricia; mother, Dorothea; and...Rowland Savage grew up in Baltimore, Maryland with his sister, Patricia; mother, Dorothea; and father, Milton. He entered the seminary as a young man and later switched to different academic pursuits. After attending St. Charles, he received his B. A. from Mount St. Mary's College in 1967; M.S. from Johns Hopkins University in 1974; and an advanced degree in C.A.S.E., Clinical Theory and Therapy from Johns Hopkins University in 1978. He began his professional career as a teacher at Towson Catholic High School. He was drawn by a need to help young people, so he pursued his licensure as a National Certified Counselor and Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor. Within the Baltimore County Public Schools system, he became Department Chair, Supervisor, and then Coordinator for the Office of Guidance and Counseling Services where he provided supervision and program leadership for over 250 school counselors serving 162 schools.
Rowland was a sought-after national public speaker and an expert on many topics including youth suicide prevention, crisis management, bereavement counseling, traumatic loss, conflict resolution, peer helper training, and personality disorders. He was involved in numerous teaching roles as an adjunct instructor at Johns Hopkins University, Towson State University, Goucher College, and Loyola College. Rowland was the recipient of the Governor’s Citation for Service in Support of Youth Suicide Prevention, 1996; Excellence in Teaching Award, Johns Hopkins University, 1999; Governor’s Award for Outstanding Contributions to Suicide Prevention, 2001; and the Maryland School Counselor Association’s Counseling Advocate, 2004. Upon his retirement in 2005 from his position as Coordinator for the Baltimore County Public Schools Office of School Counseling, Rowland received recognition from the County and Maryland State Department of Education commending him for his 38 years of dedicated support to their students.]]>2620bookclub,memorial,mystery,readingfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ellison-cooper-buried--20809590Senior Special Agent Sayer Altair studies the minds of psychopaths. But even she didn't expect to uncover a killer within the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Rooting him out and exposing internal corruption got her a bullet wound and six months of desk duty. Now, she's finally back in the field, called in when an off-duty FBI agent and his cadaver dog fall into a sinkhole filled with human bones.
Found deep in Virginia's Shenandoah National Park, the skeletal remains date back almost two decades, the same time a beloved local teen disappeared. The cold case quickly heats up when Sayer's team finds two fresh corpses among the bones. When a gruesome clue ties these new bodies to a woman recently kidnapped along with her young daughter, Sayer has to uncover the connection between the old bones and the new bodies before the mother and child become the next victims.
But the killer is one step ahead, attacking her team and sabotaging their efforts. With Sayer's investigation compromised and unsure of who to trust, she receives unwanted help from Subject 037, one of the anonymous psychopaths she is currently studying. She has the chilling realization that he's someone powerful in Washington DC, - and he is not about to let a mundane serial killer jeopardize his own ominous agenda for Sayer....]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/20809590Tue, 17 Dec 2019 09:00:03 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubIn Ellison Cooper's suspense thriller Buried, an FBI neuroscientist is on the trail of a serial killer who's turned up the heat on a cold case.... Senior Special Agent Sayer Altair studies the minds of psychopaths. But even she didn't expect to...Senior Special Agent Sayer Altair studies the minds of psychopaths. But even she didn't expect to uncover a killer within the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Rooting him out and exposing internal corruption got her a bullet wound and six months of desk duty. Now, she's finally back in the field, called in when an off-duty FBI agent and his cadaver dog fall into a sinkhole filled with human bones.
Found deep in Virginia's Shenandoah National Park, the skeletal remains date back almost two decades, the same time a beloved local teen disappeared. The cold case quickly heats up when Sayer's team finds two fresh corpses among the bones. When a gruesome clue ties these new bodies to a woman recently kidnapped along with her young daughter, Sayer has to uncover the connection between the old bones and the new bodies before the mother and child become the next victims.
But the killer is one step ahead, attacking her team and sabotaging their efforts. With Sayer's investigation compromised and unsure of who to trust, she receives unwanted help from Subject 037, one of the anonymous psychopaths she is currently studying. She has the chilling realization that he's someone powerful in Washington DC, - and he is not about to let a mundane serial killer jeopardize his own ominous agenda for Sayer....]]>1548amreading,bookclub,murder,mustread,mystery,podcast,writerslifefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/rebecca-cantrell-f-is-for-fred--20611238Fluent in German, she received her high school diploma from the John F. Kennedy Schule in Berlin and studied at the Freie Universität in Berlin and the Georg August Universität in Göttingen before graduating from Carnegie Mellon University.
She and her husband and son just moved back to Hawaii from Berlin. Find Rebecca Cantrell on Facebook, Twitter, and at www.rebeccacantrell.com.

F IS FOR FRED is Rebecca's latest book. After a caviar-related disaster, Sofia Salgado races to prevent the assassination of Maloney Investigations’ greatest celebrity—Fred the seagull.
When Sofia returns from vacation, she discovers that her “pet” seagull, Fred, has become her greatest enemy: the paparazzi. Her former agent has dressed him with a tiny camera and created a wildly successful YouTube channel using his footage. To ensure his loyalty, her agent has been bribing Fred with caviar, feeding into his addiction and stoking a fire within his tiny bird heart that can only be quenched by more caviar. So he starts hitting luxurious parties. And that’s where it all goes south.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/20611238Tue, 10 Dec 2019 09:00:15 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubNew York Times and USA Today bestselling author Rebecca Cantrell has published sixteen novels in over ten different languages. Her novels have won the ITW Thriller, the Macavity, and the Bruce Alexander awards. They have been nominated for the...Fluent in German, she received her high school diploma from the John F. Kennedy Schule in Berlin and studied at the Freie Universität in Berlin and the Georg August Universität in Göttingen before graduating from Carnegie Mellon University.
She and her husband and son just moved back to Hawaii from Berlin. Find Rebecca Cantrell on Facebook, Twitter, and at www.rebeccacantrell.com.

F IS FOR FRED is Rebecca's latest book. After a caviar-related disaster, Sofia Salgado races to prevent the assassination of Maloney Investigations’ greatest celebrity—Fred the seagull.
When Sofia returns from vacation, she discovers that her “pet” seagull, Fred, has become her greatest enemy: the paparazzi. Her former agent has dressed him with a tiny camera and created a wildly successful YouTube channel using his footage. To ensure his loyalty, her agent has been bribing Fred with caviar, feeding into his addiction and stoking a fire within his tiny bird heart that can only be quenched by more caviar. So he starts hitting luxurious parties. And that’s where it all goes south.]]>1389amreading,bookclub,murder,mustread,mystery,podcast,writerslifefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/j-k-franko-eye-for-eye--20440618
After a disastrous first year of college pre-Med, he ended up getting a BA in philosophy (not acceptable), then he went to law school (salvaging the family name).

Franko was on law journal. His work was cited by courts, and he was recognized on the National Law Journal’s “Worth Reading” list – which for law is the equivalent to a top review in the New York Times.

We discuss the first in The Talion Trilogy EYE FOR EYE. What would you do if someone hurt a loved one? How far would you go to get revenge? The first book in the trilogy sees one couple take the law into their own hands with disastrous consequences.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/20440618Tue, 03 Dec 2019 09:00:13 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubJ.K. Franko was born and raised in Texas at a time when what he really wanted to do in life – writing and film – were not considered legitimate jobs. His Cuban-American parents believed there were only three acceptable career paths for a male child:...
After a disastrous first year of college pre-Med, he ended up getting a BA in philosophy (not acceptable), then he went to law school (salvaging the family name).

Franko was on law journal. His work was cited by courts, and he was recognized on the National Law Journal’s “Worth Reading” list – which for law is the equivalent to a top review in the New York Times.

We discuss the first in The Talion Trilogy EYE FOR EYE. What would you do if someone hurt a loved one? How far would you go to get revenge? The first book in the trilogy sees one couple take the law into their own hands with disastrous consequences.]]>1642amreading,bookclub,bookreview,bookworm,eyeforeye,mustread,podcast,revenge,thriller,writerslifefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/rosemary-simpson-gilly-macmillan-interviews--20276440
Gilly Macmillan is the internationally bestselling author of five novels including WHAT SHE KNEW, THE PERFECT GIRL, ODD CHILD OUT, I KNOW YOU KNOW and THE NANNY.

A former art historian and photographer, Gilly studied at Bristol University and the Courtauld Institute of Art in London. She lives in Bristol, UK, with her husband and three children.

Her first novel, WHAT SHE KNEW, was a Target pick, a LibraryReads pick, an Indie Next pick, an Edgar award nominee, and an International Thriller Writers award finalist.

Gilly MacMillan novels have appeared on the New York Times, Sunday Times, Globe & Mail and Der Spiegel bestseller lists, been translated into over 20 languages and sold over one million copies worldwide. She’s been described as ‘one heck of a good writer’ (Wall Street Journal) and her novels have been praised as ‘nuanced, completely addictive’ (People), ‘riveting’ (Publishers Weekly), and ‘visceral, emotionally charged…heart-wrenchingly well told’ (The Daily Mail).

She is currently working on her sixth novel.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/20276440Tue, 26 Nov 2019 12:12:47 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubRosemary Simpson is the author of two previous historical novels, The Seven Hills of Paradise and Dreams and Shadows, and three previous Gilded Age Mysteries: What the Dead Leave Behind, Lies that Comfort and Betray, and Let the Dead Keep Their...
Gilly Macmillan is the internationally bestselling author of five novels including WHAT SHE KNEW, THE PERFECT GIRL, ODD CHILD OUT, I KNOW YOU KNOW and THE NANNY.

A former art historian and photographer, Gilly studied at Bristol University and the Courtauld Institute of Art in London. She lives in Bristol, UK, with her husband and three children.

Her first novel, WHAT SHE KNEW, was a Target pick, a LibraryReads pick, an Indie Next pick, an Edgar award nominee, and an International Thriller Writers award finalist.

Gilly MacMillan novels have appeared on the New York Times, Sunday Times, Globe & Mail and Der Spiegel bestseller lists, been translated into over 20 languages and sold over one million copies worldwide. She’s been described as ‘one heck of a good writer’ (Wall Street Journal) and her novels have been praised as ‘nuanced, completely addictive’ (People), ‘riveting’ (Publishers Weekly), and ‘visceral, emotionally charged…heart-wrenchingly well told’ (The Daily Mail).

She is currently working on her sixth novel.]]>1999amreading,bookclub,deception,murder,mystery,podcast,thriller,writerslifefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/john-glatt-the-family-next-door--20108025To their family, neighbors, and online friends, Louise and David Turpin presented a picture of domestic bliss: dressing their thirteen children in matching outfits and buying them expensive gifts. But what police discovered when they entered the Turpin family home would eclipse the most shocking child abuse cases in history. For years, David and Louise had kept their children in increasing isolation, trapping them in a sinister world of torture, abuse, and near starvation.
In the first major account of the case, investigative journalist and author John Glatt delves into the disturbing details and recounts the bravery of the thirteen siblings in the face of unimaginable horror.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/20108025Tue, 19 Nov 2019 09:00:06 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubJohn Glatt's latest true crime book THE FAMILY NEXT DOOR tells the horrific story of the Turpin Family. On January 14, 2018, a seventeen-year-old girl climbed out of the window of her Perris, California home and dialed 911 with shaking fingers....To their family, neighbors, and online friends, Louise and David Turpin presented a picture of domestic bliss: dressing their thirteen children in matching outfits and buying them expensive gifts. But what police discovered when they entered the Turpin family home would eclipse the most shocking child abuse cases in history. For years, David and Louise had kept their children in increasing isolation, trapping them in a sinister world of torture, abuse, and near starvation.
In the first major account of the case, investigative journalist and author John Glatt delves into the disturbing details and recounts the bravery of the thirteen siblings in the face of unimaginable horror.]]>1596amreading,bookclub,podcast,truecrime,writerslifefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/navada-barr-interview--19981830
Ann gave a book report on "Murder Knocks Twice" by Susanna Calkins. The first mystery in Susanna Calkins' captivating new series takes readers into the dark, dangerous, and glittering underworld of a 1920's Chicago speakeasy.Gina Ricci takes on a job as a cigarette girl to earn money for her ailing father--and to prove to herself that she can hold her own at Chicago's most notorious speakeasy, the Third Door. She's enchanted by the harsh, glamorous world she discovers: the sleek socialites sipping bootlegged cocktails, the rowdy ex-servicemen playing poker in a curtained back room, the flirtatious jazz pianist and the brooding photographer--all overseen by the club's imposing owner, Signora Castallazzo. But the staff buzzes with whispers about Gina's predecessor, who died under mysterious circumstances, and the photographer, Marty, warns her to be careful. When Marty is brutally murdered, with Gina as the only witness, she's determined to track down his killer. What secrets did Marty capture on his camera--and who would do anything to destroy it? As Gina searches for answers, she's pulled deeper into the shadowy truths hiding behind the Third Door.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/19981830Tue, 12 Nov 2019 09:00:16 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubIn our next installment of "In Agatha's Footsteps" We interview one of the greats. Navada Barr. She is an award-winning novelist and New York Times best-selling author. She has a growing number of Anna Pigeon mysteries to her credit as well as...
Ann gave a book report on "Murder Knocks Twice" by Susanna Calkins. The first mystery in Susanna Calkins' captivating new series takes readers into the dark, dangerous, and glittering underworld of a 1920's Chicago speakeasy.Gina Ricci takes on a job as a cigarette girl to earn money for her ailing father--and to prove to herself that she can hold her own at Chicago's most notorious speakeasy, the Third Door. She's enchanted by the harsh, glamorous world she discovers: the sleek socialites sipping bootlegged cocktails, the rowdy ex-servicemen playing poker in a curtained back room, the flirtatious jazz pianist and the brooding photographer--all overseen by the club's imposing owner, Signora Castallazzo. But the staff buzzes with whispers about Gina's predecessor, who died under mysterious circumstances, and the photographer, Marty, warns her to be careful. When Marty is brutally murdered, with Gina as the only witness, she's determined to track down his killer. What secrets did Marty capture on his camera--and who would do anything to destroy it? As Gina searches for answers, she's pulled deeper into the shadowy truths hiding behind the Third Door.]]>1068agatha,amreading,bookclub,bookreview,bookworm,murder,mustread,mystery,podcast,writerslifefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/robert-mccaw-off-the-grid--19859860A scrap of cloth fluttering in the wind leads Hilo police Chief Detective Koa Kāne to the tortured remains of an unfortunate soul, left to burn in the path of an advancing lava flow. For Koa, it’s the second gruesome homicide of the day, and he soon discovers the murders are linked. These grisly crimes on Hawaiʻi’s Big Island could rewrite history―or cost Chief Detective Koa Kāne his career.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/19859860Tue, 05 Nov 2019 09:00:20 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubOFF THE GRID A tautly paced, impressively accomplished police procedural...” ―Kirkus Reviews A scrap of cloth fluttering in the wind leads Hilo police Chief Detective Koa Kāne to the tortured remains of an unfortunate soul, left to burn in the path...A scrap of cloth fluttering in the wind leads Hilo police Chief Detective Koa Kāne to the tortured remains of an unfortunate soul, left to burn in the path of an advancing lava flow. For Koa, it’s the second gruesome homicide of the day, and he soon discovers the murders are linked. These grisly crimes on Hawaiʻi’s Big Island could rewrite history―or cost Chief Detective Koa Kāne his career.]]>1492alwaysreading,amreading,bookclub,bookish,bookobsessed,bookreview,bookworm,greatread,hawaii,murder,podcast,writerslifefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/rea-frey-because-you-re-mine--19740462Forty-eight hours later, someone is dead.

We also highlighted THE PEARL DAGGER the third installment in the Art Deco Mystery Series by L.A. Chandlar. As the Great Depression loosens its grip on New York City, Mayor La Guardia and his team meet their greatest foe in the fight against organized crime.
Lane Sanders and her fiery boss, Mayor Fiorello “Fio” La Guardia have managed to contain the explosive underground conspiracies of New York’s most sinister schemers. But after a seemingly harmless pinball racket claims the life of a trusted ally, a new ringleader signals the rebirth of an all-too-familiar crime network at home and across the pond …
Spurred on by the possibility of a violent syndicate spreading like wildfire through Europe, Lane sets sail for London—the city where her parents began the undercover work that led to their tragic undoing. And this time, she won’t chase down childhood nightmares without Finn Brodie, who vows to dispel his own difficult secrets abroad …]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/19740462Tue, 29 Oct 2019 08:00:20 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubRea Frey is an award-winning author of several nonfiction books. She released her debut novel, "Not Her Daughter" on Aug. 21, 2018, and followed the book's success with her second novel, "Because You're Mine," (Aug. 6, 2019, Griffin/St. Martin's). Rea...Forty-eight hours later, someone is dead.

We also highlighted THE PEARL DAGGER the third installment in the Art Deco Mystery Series by L.A. Chandlar. As the Great Depression loosens its grip on New York City, Mayor La Guardia and his team meet their greatest foe in the fight against organized crime.
Lane Sanders and her fiery boss, Mayor Fiorello “Fio” La Guardia have managed to contain the explosive underground conspiracies of New York’s most sinister schemers. But after a seemingly harmless pinball racket claims the life of a trusted ally, a new ringleader signals the rebirth of an all-too-familiar crime network at home and across the pond …
Spurred on by the possibility of a violent syndicate spreading like wildfire through Europe, Lane sets sail for London—the city where her parents began the undercover work that led to their tragic undoing. And this time, she won’t chase down childhood nightmares without Finn Brodie, who vows to dispel his own difficult secrets abroad …]]>1404amreading,bookclub,murder,mystery,podcast,thriller,writerslifefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/hallowread-author-interviews--19621204This spooky book convention is Bringing Authors And Readers Together For A Hauntingly Good Time October 25th-26th 2019
Keynote Speaker New York Times and USA Today #1 Bestselling Author Kami Garcia
And Alys Arden. Go to Hallowread.com for more details]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/19621204Tue, 22 Oct 2019 08:00:09 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubWe will be attending HallowRead this year. Because this is a new event for us we thought we would get to know some of the authors that will be attending. We interviewed Susan Viemeister, She writes the Parker Williams and Bealtown Mystery Series....This spooky book convention is Bringing Authors And Readers Together For A Hauntingly Good Time October 25th-26th 2019
Keynote Speaker New York Times and USA Today #1 Bestselling Author Kami Garcia
And Alys Arden. Go to Hallowread.com for more details]]>1624amreading,authorslife,bookcon,hallowread,podcast,spookyfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/joshilyn-jackson-never-have-i-ever--19509321A former actor, Jackson reads the audio versions of both her own novels and the books of other writers; her work in this field has been nominated for the Audie Award, was selected by AudioFile Magazine for their best of the year list, won three Earphones awards, made the 2012 Audible All-Star list for highest listener ranks/reviews, and garnered three Listen Up awards from Publisher’s Weekly.

ABA INDIE NEXT Pick | ALA Library Reads Pick | SIBA Okra Pick | One of CrimeReads’ Most Anticipated Crime Books of Summer | Recommended Summer Read by Wall Street Journal, Atlanta-Journal Constitution, Pop Sugar, Deep South Magazine, Book Bub, Atlanta Magazine, Atlanta Intown, The Augusta Chronicle, She Reads, and Modern Mrs. Darcy.

In her first psychological thriller NEVER HAVE I EVER, Joshilyn asks the question Have you ever done something so bad, so shameful that you would do anything to keep it secret? What if your worst enemy knew . . . and was determined to expose you?
Amy Whey is proud of her ordinary life and the simple pleasures that come with it—teaching diving lessons, baking cookies for new neighbors, helping her best friend, Charlotte, run their local book club. Her greatest joy is her family: her devoted professor husband, her spirited fifteen-year-old stepdaughter, her adorable infant son. And, of course, the steadfast and supportive Charlotte. But Amy’s sweet, uncomplicated life begins to unravel when the mysterious and alluring Angelica Roux arrives on her doorstep one book club night.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/19509321Tue, 15 Oct 2019 00:54:35 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubNew York Times and USA Today bestselling novelist Joshilyn Jackson’s newest book, Never Have I Ever, is available now wherever books are sold. You can check out her previous eight novels and other work here. Joshilyn’s books have been translated into...A former actor, Jackson reads the audio versions of both her own novels and the books of other writers; her work in this field has been nominated for the Audie Award, was selected by AudioFile Magazine for their best of the year list, won three Earphones awards, made the 2012 Audible All-Star list for highest listener ranks/reviews, and garnered three Listen Up awards from Publisher’s Weekly.

ABA INDIE NEXT Pick | ALA Library Reads Pick | SIBA Okra Pick | One of CrimeReads’ Most Anticipated Crime Books of Summer | Recommended Summer Read by Wall Street Journal, Atlanta-Journal Constitution, Pop Sugar, Deep South Magazine, Book Bub, Atlanta Magazine, Atlanta Intown, The Augusta Chronicle, She Reads, and Modern Mrs. Darcy.

In her first psychological thriller NEVER HAVE I EVER, Joshilyn asks the question Have you ever done something so bad, so shameful that you would do anything to keep it secret? What if your worst enemy knew . . . and was determined to expose you?
Amy Whey is proud of her ordinary life and the simple pleasures that come with it—teaching diving lessons, baking cookies for new neighbors, helping her best friend, Charlotte, run their local book club. Her greatest joy is her family: her devoted professor husband, her spirited fifteen-year-old stepdaughter, her adorable infant son. And, of course, the steadfast and supportive Charlotte. But Amy’s sweet, uncomplicated life begins to unravel when the mysterious and alluring Angelica Roux arrives on her doorstep one book club night.]]>1661amreading,bookclub,mystery,podcast,writerslifefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/lauren-north-the-perfect-son-desmond-ryan-man-at-the-door--19394535

For almost thirty years, Desmond P. Ryan began every day of his working life with either a victim waiting in a hospital emergency room, or a call to a street corner or a blood-soaked room where someone had been left for dead. Murder, assaults on a level that defied humanity, sexual violations intended to demean, shame, and haunt the individuals who were no more than objects to the offenders: all in a day's work. It was exhilarating, exhausting, and often heartbreaking. As a Detective with the Toronto Police Service, Desmond P. Ryan wrote thousands of reports detailing the people, places, and events that led up to the moment he came along. He investigated the crimes and wrote synopses for guilty pleas detailing the circumstances that brought the accused individuals before the Courts. He also wrote a number of files to have individuals deemed either Not Criminally Responsible due to mental incapacity, or Dangerous Offenders to be held in custody indefinitely. Now, as a retired investigator with three decades of research opportunities under his belt, Desmond P. Ryan writes crime fiction. Real Detective. Real Crime. Fiction.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/19394535Tue, 08 Oct 2019 08:00:15 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubLauren North writes psychological suspense novels that delve into the darker side of relationships and families. She has a lifelong passion for writing, reading, and all things books. Lauren's love of psychological suspense has grown since childhood...

For almost thirty years, Desmond P. Ryan began every day of his working life with either a victim waiting in a hospital emergency room, or a call to a street corner or a blood-soaked room where someone had been left for dead. Murder, assaults on a level that defied humanity, sexual violations intended to demean, shame, and haunt the individuals who were no more than objects to the offenders: all in a day's work. It was exhilarating, exhausting, and often heartbreaking. As a Detective with the Toronto Police Service, Desmond P. Ryan wrote thousands of reports detailing the people, places, and events that led up to the moment he came along. He investigated the crimes and wrote synopses for guilty pleas detailing the circumstances that brought the accused individuals before the Courts. He also wrote a number of files to have individuals deemed either Not Criminally Responsible due to mental incapacity, or Dangerous Offenders to be held in custody indefinitely. Now, as a retired investigator with three decades of research opportunities under his belt, Desmond P. Ryan writes crime fiction. Real Detective. Real Crime. Fiction.]]>1634amreading,bookclub,podcast,suspense,writingcommunityfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/anna-lee-huber-penny-for-your-secrets--19300925www.annaleehuber.com.

In Penny for Your Secrets The third in the Verity Kent series. The Great War may be over, but for many, there are still obstacles on the home front. Reconciling with her estranged husband makes Verity sympathetic to her friend Ada’s marital difficulties. Bourgeois-bred Ada, recently married to the Marquess of Rockham, is overwhelmed trying to navigate the ways of the aristocracy. And when Lord Rockham is discovered shot through the heart with a bullet from Ada’s revolver, Verity fears her friend has made a fatal blunder.

While striving to prove Ada’s innocence, Verity is called upon for another favor. The sister of a former Secret Service colleague has been killed in what authorities believe was a home invasion gone wrong. The victim’s war work—censoring letters sent by soldiers from the front—exposed her to sensitive, disturbing material. Verity begins to suspect these two unlikely cases may be linked. But as the connections deepen, the consequences—not just for Verity, but for Britain—grow more menacing than she could have imagined.

We highlight R.J. Lee's Grand Slam Murder The debut in A Bridge to Death mystery series. After four bridge players are poisoned, newspaper reporter Wendy Winchester sets out to catch a killer who's not playing with a full deck . . .

When the four wealthy widows who make up the venerable Rosalie Bridge Club never get up from their card table, this quiet Mississippi town has its first quadruple homicide. Who put cyanide in their sugar bowl? An aspiring member and kibitzer with the exclusive club, Wendy takes a personal interest in finding justice for the ladies.

She also has a professional motivation. A frustrated society columnist for the Rosalie Citizen, she's ready to deal herself a better hand as an investigative reporter. This could be her big break. Plus, she has a card or two up her sleeve: her sometimes boyfriend is a detective and her dad is the local chief of police.

Partnering up with the men in her life, Wendy starts shuffling through suspects and turning over secrets long held close to the chest by the ladies. But when a wild card tries to take her out of the game, Wendy decides it's time to up the ante before she's the next one to go down . . .]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/19300925Tue, 01 Oct 2019 08:00:11 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubAnna Lee Huber is the Daphne award-winning author of the national bestselling Lady Darby Mysteries, the Verity Kent Mysteries, the Gothic Myths series, and the forthcoming anthology The Deadly Hours. She is a summa cum laude graduate of Lipscomb...www.annaleehuber.com.

In Penny for Your Secrets The third in the Verity Kent series. The Great War may be over, but for many, there are still obstacles on the home front. Reconciling with her estranged husband makes Verity sympathetic to her friend Ada’s marital difficulties. Bourgeois-bred Ada, recently married to the Marquess of Rockham, is overwhelmed trying to navigate the ways of the aristocracy. And when Lord Rockham is discovered shot through the heart with a bullet from Ada’s revolver, Verity fears her friend has made a fatal blunder.

While striving to prove Ada’s innocence, Verity is called upon for another favor. The sister of a former Secret Service colleague has been killed in what authorities believe was a home invasion gone wrong. The victim’s war work—censoring letters sent by soldiers from the front—exposed her to sensitive, disturbing material. Verity begins to suspect these two unlikely cases may be linked. But as the connections deepen, the consequences—not just for Verity, but for Britain—grow more menacing than she could have imagined.

We highlight R.J. Lee's Grand Slam Murder The debut in A Bridge to Death mystery series. After four bridge players are poisoned, newspaper reporter Wendy Winchester sets out to catch a killer who's not playing with a full deck . . .

When the four wealthy widows who make up the venerable Rosalie Bridge Club never get up from their card table, this quiet Mississippi town has its first quadruple homicide. Who put cyanide in their sugar bowl? An aspiring member and kibitzer with the exclusive club, Wendy takes a personal interest in finding justice for the ladies.

She also has a professional motivation. A frustrated society columnist for the Rosalie Citizen, she's ready to deal herself a better hand as an investigative reporter. This could be her big break. Plus, she has a card or two up her sleeve: her sometimes boyfriend is a detective and her dad is the local chief of police.

Partnering up with the men in her life, Wendy starts shuffling through suspects and turning over secrets long held close to the chest by the ladies. But when a wild card tries to take her out of the game, Wendy decides it's time to up the ante before she's the next one to go down . . .]]>1622amreading,amwriting,bookclub,bookworm,historicalfiction,murder,mystery,podcast,writerslifefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/faye-snowden-a-killing-fire--19206024​
Aside from her publications, she also managed two boys, a husband, five dogs and three writing fellowships over the years. Today, Faye works and writes from her home in Northern California.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/19206024Tue, 24 Sep 2019 08:00:13 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubFaye Snowden is the author of three published mysteries with Kensington— Spiral of Guilt (1999), The Savior (2003, 2004) and Fatal Justice (2005, 2006). She has published short stories and poems in various literary journals and small presses including...​
Aside from her publications, she also managed two boys, a husband, five dogs and three writing fellowships over the years. Today, Faye works and writes from her home in Northern California.]]>1651amreading,authorinterview,bookclub,darkandstormy,murder,mystery,podcast,writerslifefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/saul-lelchuk-save-me-from-dangerous-men--19122788
SAVE ME FROM DANGEROUS MEN is the start of a series featuring bookseller and private investigator Nikki Griffin. The series has been optioned for film and television and the foreign rights have sold in multiple countries.

S. A. Lelchuk is a member of the Mystery Writers of America (MWA) and International Thriller Writers (ITW). He is represented by the LGR Literary Agency in New York and the Gersh Agency.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/19122788Tue, 17 Sep 2019 08:00:14 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubS. A. Lelchuk holds a B.A. in English from Amherst College and a master's degree from Dartmouth College. He divides his time between Berkeley, California and Hanover, New Hampshire. SAVE ME FROM DANGEROUS MEN is the start of a series featuring...
SAVE ME FROM DANGEROUS MEN is the start of a series featuring bookseller and private investigator Nikki Griffin. The series has been optioned for film and television and the foreign rights have sold in multiple countries.

S. A. Lelchuk is a member of the Mystery Writers of America (MWA) and International Thriller Writers (ITW). He is represented by the LGR Literary Agency in New York and the Gersh Agency.]]>2120amreading,bookclub,bookreport,bookreview,bookstore,mystery,podcast,writingfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/rich-cohen-the-last-pirate-of-ny-anita-zannin-blood-stain-pattern-analysis-expert--19053039
Next we interview Anita Zannin. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Buffalo State College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Forensic Chemistry and a second Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice. She received a Master of Science degree in Forensic Science from Syracuse University. Additionally, she taught for 4 years for Syracuse University's Forensic and National Security Sciences Institute and has been named a Visiting Professor at Francisco Marroquin Law School in Guatemala. Additionally she served as the faculty advisor to Syracuse University’s Forensic and National Security Sciences Institute’s Graduate Student Organization; Forensic Science: Code Orange (FSCO). Prior to entering the Forensics field, Ms. Zannin worked and studied in the medical field for many years. We discuss her role in crime solving and whether fiction gets it right.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/19053039Tue, 10 Sep 2019 08:00:21 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubOn this episode we will focus on the factual side of mysteries. First we interview Rich Cohen and discuss his latest historical true crime. THE LAST PIRATE OF NEW YORK A GHOST SHIP, A KILLER AND THE BIRTH OF A GANGSTER NATION. The true account of...
Next we interview Anita Zannin. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Buffalo State College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Forensic Chemistry and a second Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice. She received a Master of Science degree in Forensic Science from Syracuse University. Additionally, she taught for 4 years for Syracuse University's Forensic and National Security Sciences Institute and has been named a Visiting Professor at Francisco Marroquin Law School in Guatemala. Additionally she served as the faculty advisor to Syracuse University’s Forensic and National Security Sciences Institute’s Graduate Student Organization; Forensic Science: Code Orange (FSCO). Prior to entering the Forensics field, Ms. Zannin worked and studied in the medical field for many years. We discuss her role in crime solving and whether fiction gets it right.]]>2523amreading,podcast,truecrimefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ann-aguirre-the-third-mrs-durst--18983858
We discuss her latest book THE THIRD MRS. DURST-Some people just need killing. Marlena Altizer Durst lives in her husband's shadow. He controls her every move--what she wears, the food she eats, and the friends she's allowed to make. If she disobeys, there are...consequences. And he has all the power. To outsiders, it seems that she leads a fairy-tale life. But nobody ever wonders if Cinderella was happy after she married the prince. Marlena has traded freedom and safety for luxurious imprisonment, and most days, that seems like a bad bargain. Death may be the only exit she's allowed. Just like his first wife. And his second. Unless she flips the script. Some people just need killing.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/18983858Tue, 03 Sep 2019 08:00:12 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubAnn Aguirre is an American author of speculative fiction. She writes urban fantasy, romantic science fiction, apocalyptic paranormal romance, paranormal romantic suspense, and post-apocalyptic dystopian young adult fiction. We discuss her latest...
We discuss her latest book THE THIRD MRS. DURST-Some people just need killing. Marlena Altizer Durst lives in her husband's shadow. He controls her every move--what she wears, the food she eats, and the friends she's allowed to make. If she disobeys, there are...consequences. And he has all the power. To outsiders, it seems that she leads a fairy-tale life. But nobody ever wonders if Cinderella was happy after she married the prince. Marlena has traded freedom and safety for luxurious imprisonment, and most days, that seems like a bad bargain. Death may be the only exit she's allowed. Just like his first wife. And his second. Unless she flips the script. Some people just need killing.]]>2236amreading,mystery,podcast,thriller,writerslifefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/edwin-hill-the-missing-ones--18924114
Hester Thursby has given up using her research skills to trace people who don’t want to be found. A traumatic case a few months ago unearthed a string of violent crimes, and left Hester riddled with self-doubt and guilt. Caring for a four-year-old is responsibility enough in a world filled with terrors Hester never could have imagined before.
Finisterre Island, off the coast of Maine, is ruggedly beautiful and remote—the kind of place tourists love to visit, though rarely for long. But not everyone who comes to the island is welcome. A dilapidated Victorian house has become home to a group of squatters and junkies, and strangers have a habit of bringing trouble with them. A young boy disappeared during the summer, and though he was found safely, the incident stirred suspicion among locals. Now another child is missing. Summoned to the island by a cryptic text, Hester discovers a community cleaning up from a devastating storm—and uncovers a murder.

We discuss Diane Fanning’s latest true crime book DEATH ON THE RIVER]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/18924114Tue, 27 Aug 2019 08:00:16 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubEdwin Hill is the author of the critically-acclaimed Hester Thursby mystery series. His first novel, LITTLE COMFORT, was nominated for an Agatha Award for best debut. The second in the series, THE MISSING ONES, will be available in September. He lives...
Hester Thursby has given up using her research skills to trace people who don’t want to be found. A traumatic case a few months ago unearthed a string of violent crimes, and left Hester riddled with self-doubt and guilt. Caring for a four-year-old is responsibility enough in a world filled with terrors Hester never could have imagined before.
Finisterre Island, off the coast of Maine, is ruggedly beautiful and remote—the kind of place tourists love to visit, though rarely for long. But not everyone who comes to the island is welcome. A dilapidated Victorian house has become home to a group of squatters and junkies, and strangers have a habit of bringing trouble with them. A young boy disappeared during the summer, and though he was found safely, the incident stirred suspicion among locals. Now another child is missing. Summoned to the island by a cryptic text, Hester discovers a community cleaning up from a devastating storm—and uncovers a murder.

We discuss Diane Fanning’s latest true crime book DEATH ON THE RIVER]]>1875amreading,bookclub,podcast,writerslifefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/hank-phillippi-ryan-the-murder-list--18860699We discuss her latest stand alone thriller. Law student Rachel North will tell you, without hesitation, what she knows to be true. She's smart, she's a hard worker, she does the right things. She's successfully married to a faithful and devoted husband, a lion of Boston's defense bar. She's a rising-star intern in the prosecutor's office. Problem is—she's wrong. And if she takes one false step in this cat-and-mouse game, the battle for justice will become a battle for survival.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/18860699Tue, 20 Aug 2019 08:00:15 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubHank Phillippi Ryan A nationally bestselling author of 11 mystery novels, Ryan has won multiple prestigious awards for her crime fiction: five Agathas, three Anthonys, the Daphne, two Macavitys, and for The Other Woman, the coveted Mary Higgins Clark...We discuss her latest stand alone thriller. Law student Rachel North will tell you, without hesitation, what she knows to be true. She's smart, she's a hard worker, she does the right things. She's successfully married to a faithful and devoted husband, a lion of Boston's defense bar. She's a rising-star intern in the prosecutor's office. Problem is—she's wrong. And if she takes one false step in this cat-and-mouse game, the battle for justice will become a battle for survival.]]>2343amreading,podcast,themurderlist,thriller,writerslifefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/samantha-downing-my-lovely-wife-mary-lawrence-the-alchemist-of-lost-souls--18802296
Mary Lawrence lives in Maine and writes the Bianca Goddard Mysteries set in Tudor London featuring a cast of commoners. Bianca uses her wits and a smattering of alchemy to solve murders in the slums of Southwark. Her debut, The Alchemist’s Daughter (Kensington, 2015) was named by Suspense Magazine as a “Best Book of 2015” in the historical mystery category. Her articles have appeared in several publications most notably the national news blog, The Daily Beast. The Bianca Goddard Mystery series also includes Death of an Alchemist, Death at St. Vedast, The Alchemist of Lost Souls, and the forthcoming The Lost Boys of London.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/18802296Tue, 13 Aug 2019 08:00:20 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubSamantha Downing is the author of the USA Today and #1 International Best Seller, My Lovely Wife, She was born and raised in Marin County, California, and now lives in New Orleans, where she is furiously typing away on her next thrilling standalone....
Mary Lawrence lives in Maine and writes the Bianca Goddard Mysteries set in Tudor London featuring a cast of commoners. Bianca uses her wits and a smattering of alchemy to solve murders in the slums of Southwark. Her debut, The Alchemist’s Daughter (Kensington, 2015) was named by Suspense Magazine as a “Best Book of 2015” in the historical mystery category. Her articles have appeared in several publications most notably the national news blog, The Daily Beast. The Bianca Goddard Mystery series also includes Death of an Alchemist, Death at St. Vedast, The Alchemist of Lost Souls, and the forthcoming The Lost Boys of London.]]>2194amreading,mystery,podcast,writerslifefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/laura-lippman-lady-in-the-lake--18735744Her work has been awarded the Edgar ®, the Anthony, the Agatha, the Shamus, the Nero Wolfe, Gumshoe and Barry awards.
She also has been nominated for other prizes in the crime fiction field, including the Hammett and the Macavity. She was the first-ever recipient of the Mayor’s Prize for Literary Excellence and the first genre writer recognized as Author of the Year by the Maryland Library Association. Ms. Lippman grew up in Baltimore and attended city schools through ninth grade.
After graduating from Wilde Lake High School in Columbia, Md., Ms. Lippman attended Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. Her other newspaper jobs included the Waco Tribune-Herald and the San Antonio Light.
Ms. Lippman returned to Baltimore in 1989 and has lived there since. She is the daughter of the late Theo Lippman Jr., a Sun editorial writer who retired in 1995, and Madeline Mabry Lippman, a former Baltimore City school librarian. Her sister, Susan, is a local bookseller.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/18735744Tue, 06 Aug 2019 08:00:10 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubThis months recipient of the IN AGATHA'S FOOTSTEPS goes to Laura Lippman. She was a reporter for twenty years, including twelve years at The (Baltimore) Sun. She began writing novels while working full-time and published seven books about “accidental...Her work has been awarded the Edgar ®, the Anthony, the Agatha, the Shamus, the Nero Wolfe, Gumshoe and Barry awards.
She also has been nominated for other prizes in the crime fiction field, including the Hammett and the Macavity. She was the first-ever recipient of the Mayor’s Prize for Literary Excellence and the first genre writer recognized as Author of the Year by the Maryland Library Association. Ms. Lippman grew up in Baltimore and attended city schools through ninth grade.
After graduating from Wilde Lake High School in Columbia, Md., Ms. Lippman attended Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. Her other newspaper jobs included the Waco Tribune-Herald and the San Antonio Light.
Ms. Lippman returned to Baltimore in 1989 and has lived there since. She is the daughter of the late Theo Lippman Jr., a Sun editorial writer who retired in 1995, and Madeline Mabry Lippman, a former Baltimore City school librarian. Her sister, Susan, is a local bookseller.]]>1686amreading,baltimore,podcast,writerslifefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/amy-stewart-misty-simon-interviews--18671265
Misty Simon always wanted to be a storyteller…preferably behind a Muppet. Animal was number one, followed closely by Sherlock Hemlock… Since that dream didn’t come true, she began writing stories to share her world with readers, one laugh at a time. She knows how to hula, was classically trained to sing opera, co-wrote her high school Alma Mater, and can’t touch raw wood. Never hand her a Dixie cup with that wooden spoon/paddle thing. It’s not pretty.
Touching people’s hearts and funny bones are two of her favorite things, and she hopes everyone at least snickers in the right places when reading her books. She lives with her husband, daughter, and two insane dogs in Central Pennsylvania where she is hard at work on her next novel or three. She loves to hear from readers. We discuss her lighthearted Tallie Graver Mystery Series.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/18671265Tue, 30 Jul 2019 08:00:10 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubAmy Stewart is the New York Times best-selling author of ten books, including Girl Waits with Gun and the rest of the Kopp Sisters series, which are based on the true story of one of America’s first female deputy sheriffs and her two rambunctious...
Misty Simon always wanted to be a storyteller…preferably behind a Muppet. Animal was number one, followed closely by Sherlock Hemlock… Since that dream didn’t come true, she began writing stories to share her world with readers, one laugh at a time. She knows how to hula, was classically trained to sing opera, co-wrote her high school Alma Mater, and can’t touch raw wood. Never hand her a Dixie cup with that wooden spoon/paddle thing. It’s not pretty.
Touching people’s hearts and funny bones are two of her favorite things, and she hopes everyone at least snickers in the right places when reading her books. She lives with her husband, daughter, and two insane dogs in Central Pennsylvania where she is hard at work on her next novel or three. She loves to hear from readers. We discuss her lighthearted Tallie Graver Mystery Series.]]>3078author,mystery,podcast,writerslifefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/bess-carnan-mikita-brottman-interviews--18606396
Makita Brottman - She is a writer, mostly of non-fiction. Her work blends memoir, history, psychoanalysis, and creative speculation. Currently, she is especially interested in reconsidering and interrogating the true crime genre. This interest is at the heart of her most recent book, An Unexplained Death (Henry Holt, 2018).]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/18606396Tue, 23 Jul 2019 08:00:03 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubBess Carnan - 2019 Winner of the William F. Deeck – Malice Domestic Grant for Unpublished Writers. These days she and her husband live in Orlando, Florida with their rescued garbage cat, Squeaker, and an endless stream of foster kittens. In between...
Makita Brottman - She is a writer, mostly of non-fiction. Her work blends memoir, history, psychoanalysis, and creative speculation. Currently, she is especially interested in reconsidering and interrogating the true crime genre. This interest is at the heart of her most recent book, An Unexplained Death (Henry Holt, 2018).]]>1965amreading,podcast,truecrime,writingcommunityfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/robert-dugoni-the-eighth-sister--18549754
Dugoni's espionage novel, The Eighth Sister, inspired by real events, released in April 2019.

His critically acclaimed literary novel, The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell (2018) won Suspense Magazine's Crimson Scribe Award as The Best Book of 2018 and has drawn comparison's to novelist John Irving's work. Dugoni also won a Golden Microphone for his narrationo that novel. Connect with him on Facebook @AuthorRobertDugoni, on Twitter @robertdugoni, and on Instagram, robertdugoni, author

Dugoni is also the author of the David Sloane series: The Jury Master, Wrongful Death, Bodily Harm, Murder One and The Conviction.

Dugoni is the winner of the 2015 Nancy Pearl Award for Fiction, has twice been a finalist for the Harper Lee Award for Legal Fiction, twice been a finalist for the Silver Falchion award for his mysteries, was a 2015 and 2017 International Thriller Writer's finalist for thriller of the year, and a 2017 Mystery Writers of America Edgar Finalist for his stand alone novel, The Seventh Canon. His books are sold world-wide in more than 30 countries and have been translated into dozens of languages including French, German, Italian and Spanish.

Dugoni's first in the Tracy Crosswhite series, My Sister's Grave (Nov. 2014), became a months-long #1 Amazon Bestseller in the United States, France, Italy, Germany and in the UK, as well as a New York Times and Wall Street Journal Best Seller and won the 2014 Nancy Pearl Award for fiction. Library Journal gave it a Starred Review and said it "Combines the best of a police procedural with a legal thriller, and the end result is outstanding...Dugoni continues to deliver emotional and gut-wrenching, character-driven suspense stories that will resonate with any fan of the thriller genre."]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/18549754Tue, 16 Jul 2019 08:00:13 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubRobert Dugoni is the New York Times, #1 Wall Street Journal, and #1 Amazon Internationally Bestselling Author of the Tracy Crosswhite Series : My Sister's Grave (2014), Her Final Breath (2015), In the Clearing (2015), The Trapped Girl (2016), Close to...
Dugoni's espionage novel, The Eighth Sister, inspired by real events, released in April 2019.

His critically acclaimed literary novel, The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell (2018) won Suspense Magazine's Crimson Scribe Award as The Best Book of 2018 and has drawn comparison's to novelist John Irving's work. Dugoni also won a Golden Microphone for his narrationo that novel. Connect with him on Facebook @AuthorRobertDugoni, on Twitter @robertdugoni, and on Instagram, robertdugoni, author

Dugoni is also the author of the David Sloane series: The Jury Master, Wrongful Death, Bodily Harm, Murder One and The Conviction.

Dugoni is the winner of the 2015 Nancy Pearl Award for Fiction, has twice been a finalist for the Harper Lee Award for Legal Fiction, twice been a finalist for the Silver Falchion award for his mysteries, was a 2015 and 2017 International Thriller Writer's finalist for thriller of the year, and a 2017 Mystery Writers of America Edgar Finalist for his stand alone novel, The Seventh Canon. His books are sold world-wide in more than 30 countries and have been translated into dozens of languages including French, German, Italian and Spanish.

Dugoni's first in the Tracy Crosswhite series, My Sister's Grave (Nov. 2014), became a months-long #1 Amazon Bestseller in the United States, France, Italy, Germany and in the UK, as well as a New York Times and Wall Street Journal Best Seller and won the 2014 Nancy Pearl Award for fiction. Library Journal gave it a Starred Review and said it "Combines the best of a police procedural with a legal thriller, and the end result is outstanding...Dugoni continues to deliver emotional and gut-wrenching, character-driven suspense stories that will resonate with any fan of the thriller genre."]]>1624amreading,espionage,podcast,writerslifefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/s-c-perkins-murder-once-removed-leslie-karst-murder-from-scratch--18495001
Leslie Karst, now retired from the law, she spends her time cooking, singing alto in her local community chorus, gardening, cycling, and of course writing. Leslie and her wife, Robin, and their Jack Russell mix, Ziggy, split their time between Santa Cruz and Hilo, Hawai‘i. We talk about the latest in her Sally Solari culinary mystery series, MURDER FROM SCRATCH.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/18495001Tue, 09 Jul 2019 08:00:04 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubS.C. PERKINS is a fifth-generation Texan who grew up hearing fascinating stories of her ancestry and eating lots of great Tex-Mex, both of which inspired the plot of her debut mystery novel. Murder Once Removed was the winner of the 2017 Malice...
Leslie Karst, now retired from the law, she spends her time cooking, singing alto in her local community chorus, gardening, cycling, and of course writing. Leslie and her wife, Robin, and their Jack Russell mix, Ziggy, split their time between Santa Cruz and Hilo, Hawai‘i. We talk about the latest in her Sally Solari culinary mystery series, MURDER FROM SCRATCH.]]>2495mystery,podcast,writerslifefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/susan-elia-macneal-interview-maggie-hope-mystery-series--18437363
We discuss an opinion piece in the Boston Globe Updated June 17, 2019 by Clea Simon "He wrote/she wrote. On gender in mystery writing"]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/18437363Tue, 02 Jul 2019 08:15:09 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubSusan Elia MacNeal is the author of The New York Times, Washington Post, Publishers Weekly, and USA Today-bestselling Maggie Hope mystery series, starting with the Edgar Award-nominated and Barry Award-winning Mr. Churchill’s Secretary, which is now...
We discuss an opinion piece in the Boston Globe Updated June 17, 2019 by Clea Simon "He wrote/she wrote. On gender in mystery writing"]]>1803amreading,mystery,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/lou-berney-interview-november-road--18354407
Ann Dark Highlights "The Tale of Two Murders" by Heather Redmond, In the winter of 1835, young Charles Dickens is a journalist on the rise at the Evening Chronicle. Invited to dinner at the estate of the newspaper's co-editor, Charles is smitten with his boss's daughter, vivacious nineteen-year-old Kate Hogarth. They are having the best of times when a scream shatters the pleasant evening. Charles, Kate, and her father rush to the neighbors' home, where Miss Christiana Lugoson lies unconscious on the floor. By morning, the poor young woman will be dead.

We also talk about Booklist online article by Bill Ott - The Year's Best Crime Novels : 2019 (First pub. May 1, 2019 (booklist)

Last but surely not least we give a shoutout to Art Kilmer our latest supporter on Patreon.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/18354407Tue, 25 Jun 2019 08:00:07 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubWe interview Lou Berney who is the author of November Road (a Washington Post Best Book of 2018), The Long and Faraway Gone (winner of the Edgar, Anthony, Barry, Macavity, and ALA awards), Whiplash River, and Gutshot Straight, all from William Morrow....
Ann Dark Highlights "The Tale of Two Murders" by Heather Redmond, In the winter of 1835, young Charles Dickens is a journalist on the rise at the Evening Chronicle. Invited to dinner at the estate of the newspaper's co-editor, Charles is smitten with his boss's daughter, vivacious nineteen-year-old Kate Hogarth. They are having the best of times when a scream shatters the pleasant evening. Charles, Kate, and her father rush to the neighbors' home, where Miss Christiana Lugoson lies unconscious on the floor. By morning, the poor young woman will be dead.

We also talk about Booklist online article by Bill Ott - The Year's Best Crime Novels : 2019 (First pub. May 1, 2019 (booklist)

Last but surely not least we give a shoutout to Art Kilmer our latest supporter on Patreon.]]>1842amlistening,amreading,bookclub,bookworm,darkandstormy,dickens,historicalfiction,library,murder,mystery,novemberroad,reading,writer,writingcommunityfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/steve-hockensmith-interview-holmes-on-the-range-series--18287308
We also highlight two books we are currently reading. An American Family: A Gripping Contemporary Suspense Drama by Jackson Baer. and The Trial of Lizzie Borden by Cara Robertson. The remarkable new account of an essential piece of American mythology—the trial of Lizzie Borden—based on twenty years of research and recently unearthed evidence.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/18287308Tue, 18 Jun 2019 08:00:09 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubSteve Hockensmith is the author of more than a dozen published novels, including two Edgar finalists, a New York Times bestseller and a Foreword Reviews IndieFab Mystery Book of the Year. He's written several series, including the "Holmes on the...
We also highlight two books we are currently reading. An American Family: A Gripping Contemporary Suspense Drama by Jackson Baer. and The Trial of Lizzie Borden by Cara Robertson. The remarkable new account of an essential piece of American mythology—the trial of Lizzie Borden—based on twenty years of research and recently unearthed evidence.]]>1839amlistening,amreading,amwriting,bookworm,crimedrama,detective,historicalfiction,library,lizzieborden,murder,mystery,podcast,read,reading,sherlockian,thriller,truecrime,writerslifefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/charles-and-caroline-todd-interview--18232995https://api.spreaker.com/episode/18232995Tue, 11 Jun 2019 08:00:10 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubIn our next installment of In Agatha's Footsteps, we interviewed Charles and Caroline Todd. Charles and Caroline are a mother-and-son writing team who live on the east coast of the United States. They write the Best selling Ian Rutledge and Bess...2372amlistening,amreading,authorinterview,darkandstormy,historicalfiction,library,murder,mystery,podcast,reader,theblackascot,writer,writerslife,wwifalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/paul-haynes-interview-i-ll-be-gone-in-the-dark--18153770
Originally from South Florida, Paul's work with Michelle was the culmination of a decadelong obsession with unsolved serial cases, and the Golden State Killer in particular. He has also worked as a film critic, video editor, and screenwriter, and is currently co-executive producing the HBO docuseries of Michelle's book.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/18153770Tue, 04 Jun 2019 08:00:06 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubPaul Haynes is a Los Angeles-based writer. Known as "The Kid" in Michelle McNamara's I'LL BE GONE IN THE DARK, Paul worked closely with Michelle as her researcher and investigative partner, and helped finish the book after her death. Originally...
Originally from South Florida, Paul's work with Michelle was the culmination of a decadelong obsession with unsolved serial cases, and the Golden State Killer in particular. He has also worked as a film critic, video editor, and screenwriter, and is currently co-executive producing the HBO docuseries of Michelle's book.]]>1878amlistening,amreading,amwriting,bookclub,bookworm,crimewriter,darkandstormy,ear,goldenstatekiller,hbo,investigativemystery,library,murder,mustread,mystery,podcast,truecrime,writerslife,writingfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/hannah-dennison-interview-revisit-with-ellen-butler--18097685
She has served on numerous judging committees for Mystery Writers of America and is currently on the MWA board for 2018-2019.

After twenty-five years living on the West Coast, Hannah returned to the UK where she shares her life with two crazy Hungarian Vizslas. She enjoys all country pursuits, movies, and theatre, reading and seriously good chocolate.


We then welcome back Best Selling Author Ellen Butler to talk about the latest in her Karina Cardinal mystery series- "Fatal Legislation" When a senator drops dead at Karina Cardinal’s feet, her status quickly changes from “dogged DC lobbyist” to “person of interest.” Certain the FBI could change that status to “suspect” at any moment, she conducts her own back-channel investigation…which could change her status to “dead.”]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/18097685Tue, 28 May 2019 08:00:17 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubWe interview Hannah Dennison. British born, Hannah originally moved to Los Angeles to pursue screenwriting. She has been an obituary reporter, antique dealer, private jet flight attendant and Hollywood story analyst. For many years Hannah taught...
She has served on numerous judging committees for Mystery Writers of America and is currently on the MWA board for 2018-2019.

After twenty-five years living on the West Coast, Hannah returned to the UK where she shares her life with two crazy Hungarian Vizslas. She enjoys all country pursuits, movies, and theatre, reading and seriously good chocolate.


We then welcome back Best Selling Author Ellen Butler to talk about the latest in her Karina Cardinal mystery series- "Fatal Legislation" When a senator drops dead at Karina Cardinal’s feet, her status quickly changes from “dogged DC lobbyist” to “person of interest.” Certain the FBI could change that status to “suspect” at any moment, she conducts her own back-channel investigation…which could change her status to “dead.”]]>1810amlistening,amreading,amwriting,bookclub,bookworm,darkandstormy,library,murder,mystery,read,reader,thriller,write,writer,writerslifefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/david-reichenbaugh-in-pursuit-the-hunt-for-the-beltway-snipers-interview--18029891We also highlight two books. First Gary Allan Ruse's Murder in Deer Park Join President Grover Cleveland and his young bride as their resort honeymoon is interrupted by murder and intrigue, forcing the appealing couple to become detectives and solve the crime!

The year is 1886 and Grover Cleveland, 22nd President of the United States, has at age 49 taken a bride, the lovely 21 year old Frances Folsom. Married in the White House itself they have raced by swift carriage, with meddlesome reporters trailing their every move, to take a private train to the isolated Victorian mountain resort in Deer Park, Maryland, where they hope to share a wonderful honeymoon.

But, unbeknownst to them, besides the annoying presence of the press, there are dastardly schemes afoot and the suspicious death of one of the reporters complicates things for the happy couple, forcing them to investigate the mystery with the help of the police and others guarding them.

Written by Gary Alan Ruse, author of 5 published novels ("Houndstooth" and "A Game of Titans," published in hardcover by Prentice-Hall, "The Gods of Cerus Major," published in hardcover by Doubleday, and "Morlac: The Quest of the Green Magician" and "Death Hunt on a Dying Planet," paperback originals by NAL/Signet Books) and numerous stories in magazines and anthologies, as well as hundreds of newspaper stories for Miami's Community Newspapers and the old Miami News.
Second Staging is Murder by Grace Topping- Laura Bishop just nabbed her first decorating commission—staging for sale a 19th-century mansion that hasn’t been updated for decades. But when a body falls from a laundry chute and lands at Laura’s feet, replacing flowered wallpaper becomes the least of her duties.

To clear her young assistant of the murder and save her fledgling business, Laura’s determined to find the killer. Turns out it’s not as easy as renovating a manor home, especially with two handsome men complicating her mission: the police detective assigned to the case and the real estate agent trying to save the manse from foreclosure.

Worse still, the meddling of a horoscope-guided friend, a determined grandmother, and the local funeral director could get them all killed before Laura props the first pillow.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/18029891Tue, 21 May 2019 08:00:11 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubWe interview David Reichenbaugh and discuss his book. October 2, 2002. A bullet pierced the window of a crafts store in Maryland, just missing the cashier. But other bullets hit their targets. In Pursuit follows the hunt for the Beltway snipers during...We also highlight two books. First Gary Allan Ruse's Murder in Deer Park Join President Grover Cleveland and his young bride as their resort honeymoon is interrupted by murder and intrigue, forcing the appealing couple to become detectives and solve the crime!

The year is 1886 and Grover Cleveland, 22nd President of the United States, has at age 49 taken a bride, the lovely 21 year old Frances Folsom. Married in the White House itself they have raced by swift carriage, with meddlesome reporters trailing their every move, to take a private train to the isolated Victorian mountain resort in Deer Park, Maryland, where they hope to share a wonderful honeymoon.

But, unbeknownst to them, besides the annoying presence of the press, there are dastardly schemes afoot and the suspicious death of one of the reporters complicates things for the happy couple, forcing them to investigate the mystery with the help of the police and others guarding them.

Written by Gary Alan Ruse, author of 5 published novels ("Houndstooth" and "A Game of Titans," published in hardcover by Prentice-Hall, "The Gods of Cerus Major," published in hardcover by Doubleday, and "Morlac: The Quest of the Green Magician" and "Death Hunt on a Dying Planet," paperback originals by NAL/Signet Books) and numerous stories in magazines and anthologies, as well as hundreds of newspaper stories for Miami's Community Newspapers and the old Miami News.
Second Staging is Murder by Grace Topping- Laura Bishop just nabbed her first decorating commission—staging for sale a 19th-century mansion that hasn’t been updated for decades. But when a body falls from a laundry chute and lands at Laura’s feet, replacing flowered wallpaper becomes the least of her duties.

To clear her young assistant of the murder and save her fledgling business, Laura’s determined to find the killer. Turns out it’s not as easy as renovating a manor home, especially with two handsome men complicating her mission: the police detective assigned to the case and the real estate agent trying to save the manse from foreclosure.

Worse still, the meddling of a horoscope-guided friend, a determined grandmother, and the local funeral director could get them all killed before Laura props the first pillow.]]>2359amlistening,amreading,amwriting,author,bookclub,bookreview,books,darkandstormy,murder,mystery,read,sniper,truecrime,witing,write,writerslifefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/iafs-anne-hillerman-interview--17921083The Tale Teller merges parallel mysteries
When Ann took over the series that made her father, Tony, famous, she gave voice to the female characters in the series, bring­ing them into the mainstream narrative without taking anything away from the male characters upon whom the series was built. Hillerman wisely left the best parts of her father’s beloved characters’ storylines intact while creating compelling new additions. This time, in The Tale Teller (Harper, $26.99, 320 pages, 9780062391957), three paral­lel tales merge with unexpected results for each of the three protag­onists. Retired cop Joe Leaphorn is investigating a case that the local museum director would like to have cleared up before her imminent retirement, that of a priceless traditional Navajo dress that has gone missing. Leaphorn’s former colleague Jim Chee is involved in an in­vestigation of jewelry thefts, largely of Native American antiques. And Bernadette “Bernie” Manuelito must, somewhat reluctantly, share the stage with the FBI in the investigation of a murder on a popular run­ning trail in the Arizona desert. As is always the case with Hillerman novels (either Tony or Anne), the supernatural is never far from the reader’s mind. Witchcraft and Na­tive American lore permeate the narrative in a way that has appealed to readers for nigh on 50 years, with no end in sight.” (From Whodunit by Bruce Tierney)]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/17921083Tue, 14 May 2019 08:00:20 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubIn our next installment of In Agatha's Footsteps we interview Anne Hillerman and talk about her latest“ Book the Tale Teller Continuing a...The Tale Teller merges parallel mysteries
When Ann took over the series that made her father, Tony, famous, she gave voice to the female characters in the series, bring­ing them into the mainstream narrative without taking anything away from the male characters upon whom the series was built. Hillerman wisely left the best parts of her father’s beloved characters’ storylines intact while creating compelling new additions. This time, in The Tale Teller (Harper, $26.99, 320 pages, 9780062391957), three paral­lel tales merge with unexpected results for each of the three protag­onists. Retired cop Joe Leaphorn is investigating a case that the local museum director would like to have cleared up before her imminent retirement, that of a priceless traditional Navajo dress that has gone missing. Leaphorn’s former colleague Jim Chee is involved in an in­vestigation of jewelry thefts, largely of Native American antiques. And Bernadette “Bernie” Manuelito must, somewhat reluctantly, share the stage with the FBI in the investigation of a murder on a popular run­ning trail in the Arizona desert. As is always the case with Hillerman novels (either Tony or Anne), the supernatural is never far from the reader’s mind. Witchcraft and Na­tive American lore permeate the narrative in a way that has appealed to readers for nigh on 50 years, with no end in sight.” (From Whodunit by Bruce Tierney)]]>1878agathachristie,amlistening,amreading,amwriting,author,bookclub,bookworm,darkandstormy,detective,library,murder,mystery,podcast,read,sleuth,whodunit,writerslife,writing,writingcommunityfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/john-dedakis-lark-chadwick-mystery-series-john-verdon-dave-gurney-mystery-series--17854650DeDakis (pronounced deh-DAY-kiss) is the author of four mystery/suspense novels -- Fast Track, Bluff, Troubled Water, and Bullet in the Chamber. The novels provide a behind-the-scenes look at real-world journalism. We discuss his latest book "Fake" available September 1, 2019.
Next we interview John Verdon, author of the Best Selling Dave Gurney Mystery Series. Including THINK OF A NUMBER, SHUT YOUR EYES TIGHT, LET THE DEVIL SLEEP, PETER PAN MUST DIE, WOLF LAKE and WHITE RIVER BURNING.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/17854650Tue, 07 May 2019 08:00:14 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubWe interview award-winning author John DeDakis who is a former CNN Senior Copy Editor for the Emmy and Peabody-Award winning news program "The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer." DeDakis (pronounced deh-DAY-kiss) is the author of four...DeDakis (pronounced deh-DAY-kiss) is the author of four mystery/suspense novels -- Fast Track, Bluff, Troubled Water, and Bullet in the Chamber. The novels provide a behind-the-scenes look at real-world journalism. We discuss his latest book "Fake" available September 1, 2019.
Next we interview John Verdon, author of the Best Selling Dave Gurney Mystery Series. Including THINK OF A NUMBER, SHUT YOUR EYES TIGHT, LET THE DEVIL SLEEP, PETER PAN MUST DIE, WOLF LAKE and WHITE RIVER BURNING.]]>2459amlistening,amreading,amwriting,bookclub,darkandstormy,detective,library,murder,mustread,mystery,podcast,read,reading,sleuth,thriller,write,writerslife,writingfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/lea-wait-mainely-needlepoint-and-edward-humes-burned-interviews--17784065
Then we interview Pulitzer prize-winning author Edward Humes and discuss his true crime book "Burned-A Story of Murder and the Crime that Wasn't". A chilling and vivid narrative of Joann Parks who is currently servinglife. A 30 year old arson-murder conviction now being reopened as the science behind it is challenged as mere guesswork.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/17784065Tue, 30 Apr 2019 08:00:08 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubWe go from one end of the mystery genre to the other. First we interview Lea Wait USA Today best-selling author and speaker who writes the Mainely Needlepoint mystery series, the Shadows Antique Print mystery series, and the Maine Murder Mystery...
Then we interview Pulitzer prize-winning author Edward Humes and discuss his true crime book "Burned-A Story of Murder and the Crime that Wasn't". A chilling and vivid narrative of Joann Parks who is currently servinglife. A 30 year old arson-murder conviction now being reopened as the science behind it is challenged as mere guesswork.]]>3043amlistening,amreading,amwriting,arson,bookworm,burned,california,cozywriter,innocenceproject,library,murder,mystery,podcast,read,reading,truecrime,write,writerslife,writingfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/agatha-nominees-nancy-j-cohen-ben-guterson-shari-randall-jane-ann-turzillo--17717973https://api.spreaker.com/episode/17717973Tue, 23 Apr 2019 08:00:16 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubIn our last but surely not least episode of Agatha Nominees we interview Nancy J. Cohen Nominated for Best Nonfiction for Writing the Cozy Mystery (Orange Grove Press), Ben Guterson nominated for Best Children's Y/A Mystery for Winterhouse (Henry...2281amreading,amwriting,awards,bookclub,booklover,bookworm,darkandstormy,library,malice_domestic,murder,mystery,mysterylover,podcast,read,reading,write,writerlife,writingfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/agatha-nominees-ellen-byron-l-a-chandlar-bruce-robert-coffin-dianne-freeman--17652712https://api.spreaker.com/episode/17652712Tue, 16 Apr 2019 08:00:21 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubRound four of our special Agatha Nominee interviews. Ellen Byron nominated for Best Contemporary Novel for Mardi Gras Murder (Crooked Lane Books), L.A. Chandlar nominated for Best Historical Novel for The Gold Pawn(Kensington), Bruce Robert Coffin...3168agatha,amlistening,amreading,amwriting,authorslife,bookworm,library,malice_domestic,murder,mystery,podcast,podcasting,reading,writerslife,writingfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/bonus-1-year-podiversary-episode--17631489https://api.spreaker.com/episode/17631489Sat, 13 Apr 2019 11:45:38 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubHelp us celebrate our PODIVERSARY! Find out who some of our favorite books and guest were over this past year. We also run the numbers and let you know what were the most listened to episodes.1176amlistening,amreading,author,bookclub,bookreview,bookworm,library,murder,mystery,mysteryauthor,podcast,reading,writerslife,writingfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/agatha-nominees-cindycallaghan-annette-dashofy-aimee-hix--17575929https://api.spreaker.com/episode/17575929Tue, 09 Apr 2019 08:00:13 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubRound three of our special Agatha Nominee Interviews. Cindy Callaghan nominated for Best Childrens Y/A for Potion Problems (Just Add Magic) (Aladdin), Annette Dashofy nominated for Best Contemporary Novel for Cry Wolf (Henery Press) and Aimee Hix...2027agathaaward,amlistening,amreading,amwriting,bookclub,booklover,bookworm,darkandstormy,detective,library,malicedomestic,murder,mystery,podcast,writer,writerslife,writingcommunityfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/agatha-nominees-edith-maxwell-margalit-fox-keenan-powell--17505808https://api.spreaker.com/episode/17505808Tue, 02 Apr 2019 08:00:06 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubRound two of our special Agatha Nominee interviews. Edith Maxwell nominated for Best Historical Novel for Turning the Tide (Midnight Ink), Margalit Fox nominated for Best Non-Fiction for Conan Doyle for the Defense (Random House) and Keenan Powell...2397agathaaward,amlistening,amreading,amwriting,booklover,bookworm,darkandstormy,detective,library,murder,mystery,podcast,truecrime,writer,writerslifefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/agatha-nominees-cynthia-surrisi-edwin-hill-laura-thompson--17436782https://api.spreaker.com/episode/17436782Tue, 26 Mar 2019 08:35:04 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubThe first in the series of interview with Agatha Award Nominees. Cynthia Surrisi, nominated for Best YA Novel , Edwin Hill, nominated for Best First Novel, and Laura Thompson, nominated for Best Non Fiction, were the first group we selected.2115agathaaward,amreading,amwriting,bestfirst,bookclub,bookworm,darkandstormy,library,malicedomestic,murder,mustread,mystery,mysteryreader,nominee,nonfiction,podcast,reading,writerslife,writing,youngadultfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/iafs-rhys-bowen-interview--17366728https://api.spreaker.com/episode/17366728Tue, 19 Mar 2019 08:00:16 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubOn this installment of "In Agatha's Footsteps" We feature an interview with Rhys Bowen who is the New York Times Bestselling Author of the Royal Spyness Series, Molly Murphy Mysteries, and Constable Evans. She has won the Agatha Best Novel Award and...1692agatha,amlistening,amreading,amwriting,askauthor,bookish,booklover,bookworm,darkandstormy,greatreads,historicalfiction,mystery,podcast,rhysbowen,writerslife,writingtipsfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/be22-wendy-tyson-desmond-p-ryan-interviews--17294347Wendy is a writer, lawyer, and former therapist whose background has inspired her mysteries and thrillers. Wendy writes three mystery series, the bestselling Greenhouse Mystery Series and the popular Allison Campbell Mystery Series (Henery Press), and the Delilah Percy Powers crime series (Down & Out Books). Wendy’s short stories have appeared in literary journals, and she has short fiction in two anthologies, The Night of the Flood and Betrayed. Wendy and her family live in Vermont.

We then welcome back Desmond P. Ryan to discuss his latest Mike O'Shea mystery "Death Before Coffee" Now, as a retired detective with three decades of research opportunities under his belt, he writes crime fiction. We also talk about a new series he has in the works.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/17294347Tue, 12 Mar 2019 08:30:11 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubWe first interview Wendy Tyson and talk about her latest Greenhouse Mystery "Rooted in Deceit" Wendy is a writer, lawyer, and former therapist whose background has inspired her mysteries and thrillers. Wendy writes three mystery series, the...Wendy is a writer, lawyer, and former therapist whose background has inspired her mysteries and thrillers. Wendy writes three mystery series, the bestselling Greenhouse Mystery Series and the popular Allison Campbell Mystery Series (Henery Press), and the Delilah Percy Powers crime series (Down & Out Books). Wendy’s short stories have appeared in literary journals, and she has short fiction in two anthologies, The Night of the Flood and Betrayed. Wendy and her family live in Vermont.

We then welcome back Desmond P. Ryan to discuss his latest Mike O'Shea mystery "Death Before Coffee" Now, as a retired detective with three decades of research opportunities under his belt, he writes crime fiction. We also talk about a new series he has in the works.]]>1687amlistening,amreading,bookclub,booklover,bookworm,cozy,darkandstormy,detective,library,malicedomestic,murder,mystery,toronto,writerslifefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/nicola-upson-interview-and-review--17225635https://api.spreaker.com/episode/17225635Tue, 05 Mar 2019 09:00:11 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubWe feature an interview with Nicola Upson who is a British novelist, author of An Expert in Murder, and several other novels featuring a fictional version of Josephine Tey as the heroine and detective. The latest in the series will be released in...1161amlistening,amreading,bookclub,bookworm,darkandstormy,detective,goldenagemysteries,josephinetey,library,murder,mystery,reading,writerslifefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/be21-second-rider-by-alex-beer-coma-dreams-by-n-lawrence-mann--17126216https://api.spreaker.com/episode/17126216Sat, 23 Feb 2019 16:14:48 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubOn today's episode we highlighted two books. We reviewed "The Second Rider" by Alex Beer. It is a post World War I set in Vienna. Then we reviewed "Coma Dreams" by N. Lawrence Mann, a fantastical thriller with elements of addiction fiction.1086amlistening,amreading,bookclub,darkandstormy,intrigue,library,murder,mustread,mystery,suspense,thriller,vienna,writerslife,wwifalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/be20-highlight-hollywood-homicide-by-k-garrett-and-kinfolk-killers-by-l-v-nield--16995358
Then we highlight KINFOLK KILLERS by L.V. Nield. Prior to retiring with her husband to Vancouver Island, Canada, L.V. Nield practiced law for many years in New York State. Working primarily in Elder Law, Laura was always aware of the vulnerability of seniors.

KINFOLK KILLERS - An Olive Reader Mystery, while a work of pure fiction, incorporates potential abuses of the old and frail.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/16995358Sat, 09 Feb 2019 16:00:04 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubWe focus on two books this week the first is HOLLYWOOD HOMICIDE by Kellye Garrett. Kellye's first novel, Hollywood Homicide, won Agatha, Anthony, Lefty and IPPY awards for best first novel. It was also nominated for Macavity and Barry awards....
Then we highlight KINFOLK KILLERS by L.V. Nield. Prior to retiring with her husband to Vancouver Island, Canada, L.V. Nield practiced law for many years in New York State. Working primarily in Elder Law, Laura was always aware of the vulnerability of seniors.

KINFOLK KILLERS - An Olive Reader Mystery, while a work of pure fiction, incorporates potential abuses of the old and frail.]]>1387amlistening,amreading,amwriting,bookclub,booklover,bookworm,darkandstormy,homicide,murder,mystery,mysterywriter,podcast,reading,writerslife,writingfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/peggy-townsend-interview-aloa-snow-mystery-series--16928095https://api.spreaker.com/episode/16928095Sat, 02 Feb 2019 16:00:20 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubWe interview Peggy Townsend she is a longtime newspaper reporter who has won multiple state and national awards for her work. She has chased a serial killer through a graveyard at midnight, panhandled with street kids, and sat on a mountaintop with a...1705amlistening,amreading,author,bookworm,darkandstormy,interview,journalist,library,murder,mystery,podcast,writer,writerslifefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/be-19-cathy-ace-interview-highlight-books-by-ian-andrews-and-roger-johns--16849538Then we highlight Roger Johns, RIVER OF SECRETS the 2nd in the Wallace Hartman mystery series. When a controversial politician is murdered in cold blood, Baton Rouge Police Detective Wallace Hartman struggles to find the killer amid conspiracies and corruption.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/16849538Sat, 26 Jan 2019 17:32:32 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubWe have a packed episode with a revisit from one of our favorites Cathy Ace. We discuss her new stand-alone THE WRONG BOY. Cathy Ace is the author of the award-winning Cait Morgan Mysteries and the WISE Enquiries Agency Mysteries. Now she’s turned to...Then we highlight Roger Johns, RIVER OF SECRETS the 2nd in the Wallace Hartman mystery series. When a controversial politician is murdered in cold blood, Baton Rouge Police Detective Wallace Hartman struggles to find the killer amid conspiracies and corruption.]]>1833amreading,amwriting,batonrouge,bookclub,bookworm,crime,darkandstormy,fallguys,indiewriter,library,murder,mysterwriter,mystery,reading,riverofsecrets,wales,wrongboyfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/andrew-shaffer-author-of-hope-never-dies-first-in-the-obama-biden-mystery-series--16755879https://api.spreaker.com/episode/16755879Sat, 19 Jan 2019 15:47:49 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubThis episode features an interview with Andrew Shaffer who is a New York Times bestselling author and screenwriter whose books include the parody Fifty Shames of Earl Grey and the humorous survival guide How to Survive a Sharknado and Other Unnatural...1900amlistening,amreading,bookclub,booklover,bookstore,bookworm,bromance,buddymystery,darkandstormy,darkstormynight,hope,library,murder,mystery,mysteryauthor,mysterywriter,obamabiden,shafferfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/iafs-tess-gerritsen-interview--16713701https://api.spreaker.com/episode/16713701Tue, 15 Jan 2019 16:00:07 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubOur next honoree of "In Agatha's Footsteps" is Internationally bestselling author Tess Gerritsen. Her books have been top-3 bestsellers in the United States and number one bestsellers abroad. She has won both the Nero Wolfe Award (for Vanish) and the...1603agatha,amlistening,amreading,author,awardwinning,bookclub,booklover,bookworm,darkandstormy,library,medicalthriller,murder,mystery,mysteryauthor,newyorktimesbestseller,reading,rizzoliandisles,suspense,tessgerritsenfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/be-18-steven-c-levi-interview-highlight-kenn-grimes-paint-the-librarian-dead--16692526https://api.spreaker.com/episode/16692526Sat, 12 Jan 2019 16:00:13 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubBookends #18 features an interview with Steven C. Levi. We discuss his book DEAD MEN DO COME BACK. Our book highlight this week is a 1920's small town mystery PAINT THE LIBRARIAN DEAD by Kenn Grimes.1636alaska,amlistening,amreading,bookclub,booklover,bookstore,darkandstormy,goldrush,indieauthors,library,michigan,murder,mystery,readfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/brad-ricca-author-of-mrs-sherlock-holmes-interview--16636930https://api.spreaker.com/episode/16636930Sat, 05 Jan 2019 17:18:01 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubWe interview Brad Ricca and discuss his book-"Mrs. Holmes"it tells the incredible story of Grace Humiston, the lawyer, and detective who solved the famous cold case of Ruth Cruger, an 18-year-old girl who disappeared in 1917. Grace was an amazing...1789amlistening,amreading,author,bookclub,bookworm,bradricca,darkandstormy,history,library,murder,mysterywriter,newyork,podcast,truecrime,writerfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/author-updates-part-ii--16588301https://api.spreaker.com/episode/16588301Sat, 29 Dec 2018 16:00:14 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubPart II of our catch up with the authors we interviewed this past year included- Alice Castle, T.G. Campbell, Hilder sif Thorarensen, Ellen Butler, Nick van der Leek, Cathy Ace, Dennis Palumbo and Desmond P. Ryan.1113amlistening,amreading,authorupdate,booklover,bookreview,bookworm,crime,crimewriter,detective,library,murder,mystery,newrelease,podcast,reading,yearendfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/author-updates-part-i--16547429https://api.spreaker.com/episode/16547429Sat, 22 Dec 2018 16:11:21 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubWe take the time to catch up with the amazing authors we have had the pleasure of encountering this past year. Steven Axelrod, Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli, Lauren Carr, Jana DeLeon, Karen Ellis (Katia Lief), Thomas Fincham, Celina Grace, Jane Haseldine,...11352019,amlistening,amreading,bookclub,bookreview,bookstore,darkandstormy,greatgifts,library,murder,mystery,mysteryauthor,newbooks,newrelease,reading,yearendfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/d-n-a-does-fiction-get-it-right-virginia-sladko-interview--16482816https://api.spreaker.com/episode/16482816Sat, 15 Dec 2018 16:00:06 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubLearn how DNA has changed crime scene investigations. Virginia Sladko, a forensic scientist with the Baltimore Police Department, will discuss the part DNA has played in solving cases and in overturning wrongful convictions.1794baltimore,biology,bloodsworth,bookclub,booklover,crimesolving,darkandstormy,dna,fiction,forensics,library,mystery,mysterywriter,podcast,reader,wrongfulconvictionfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/d-m-quincy-author-of-the-atlas-catesby-mystery-series-interview--16417694https://api.spreaker.com/episode/16417694Sat, 08 Dec 2018 16:00:18 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubD.M. Quincy is an award-winning journalist who--after covering many unsolved murders--decided to conceive her own stories in which a brilliant amateur detective always gets the bad guy (or girl). She writes about Regency England, a time of elegance...1880amateursleuth,amlistening,amreading,bookclub,booklover,bookreview,books,darkandstormy,dmqunicy,england,library,murder,mustread,mystery,mysterywriter,podcast,regencyfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/bookends-16-adam-croft-interview-and-t-reilly-interview--16358597
We then interview up and coming author Tom Reilly and we discuss his journey into the independent publishing world and we talk about his debut book GRAYSCALE.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/16358597Sat, 01 Dec 2018 16:00:05 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubThis episode focuses on the independent publishing world. From one end of the spectrum to the other. First we feature an interview with Adam Croft who is an international best-selling writer of crime fiction. He has become one of the biggest-selling...
We then interview up and coming author Tom Reilly and we discuss his journey into the independent publishing world and we talk about his debut book GRAYSCALE.]]>1948adamcroft,amlistening,amreading,bookclub,books,crimefiction,darkandstormy,grayscale,indiepublisher,murder,mustread,mystery,mysterywriter,podcast,theperfectlie,treillyfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/mark-pryor-interview-author-of-the-hugo-marston-mystery-series--16295261https://api.spreaker.com/episode/16295261Sat, 24 Nov 2018 16:00:03 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubWe interview Mark Pryor who is a British mystery writer and Assistant District Attorney for Travis County, Texas. He is best known for his mystery novels featuring Hugo Marston, a former FBI agent from Texas, and now head of security at the U.S....1404amlistening,amreading,bookclub,booklover,bookreview,books,crime,darkandstormy,hugomarston,library,markpryor,murder,mustread,mystery,mysterywriter,paris,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/bookend-15-desmond-p-ryan-interview-death-by-diploma-by-k-kaye-guilt-by-a-robson--16246203https://api.spreaker.com/episode/16246203Sat, 17 Nov 2018 15:00:00 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubWe had a lively interview with Desmond P. Ryan, author of "10-33 Assist PC". Ryan, an almost 30 year veteran of the Toronto, Canada police force. We also highlighted two books, "Guilt" by Amanda Robson, a dark psychological thriller. We then...199610-33assistpc,amlistening,amreading,bookclub,colorado,cozy,crime,darkandstormy,deathbydiploma,detective,guilt,library,london,murder,mustread,podcast,police,psychological,thriller,torontofalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/in-agatha-s-footsteps-3-hank-philippi-ryan--16213367https://api.spreaker.com/episode/16213367Thu, 15 Nov 2018 16:00:09 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubHank Phillippi Ryan is the on-air investigative reporter for Boston's WHDH-TV. She's won 34 EMMYs and dozens more journalism honors. The nationally bestselling author of 10 mysteries, Ryan's also an award-winner in her second profession—with five...2298agathachristie,amlistening,amreading,bookclub,darkandstormy,hankpryan,library,murder,mystery,mysterywriter,nancydrew,podcast,trustmefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/chris-ould-interview-author-of-the-faroes-trilogy--16185655https://api.spreaker.com/episode/16185655Sat, 10 Nov 2018 16:00:05 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubWe feature an interview with Chris Ould who is a BAFTA award-winning screenwriter who has worked on TV shows including The Bill, Soldier Soldier, Casualty and Hornblower. We discuss his Faroes Trilogy featuring Jan Reyna.1456amlistening,amreading,bookclub,books,chrisould,crime,darkandstormy,detective,faroesislands,library,murder,mustread,mystery,mysterywriter,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/bookends-14-jessica-jarlvi-nick-van-der-leek-interview-hunt-for-the-troll-highlight--16126628https://api.spreaker.com/episode/16126628Sat, 03 Nov 2018 15:18:03 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubBookends#14 We have two interviews. First, we interview award winning Swedish Author Jessica Jarlvi and discuss her new thriller WHAT DID I DO. We then welcome back Nick Van der Leek and talk about his new book that is ripped right from the...2087amlistening,amreading,bookclub,bookreview,books,chicago,chriswatts,colorado,darkandstormy,interview,jessicajarlvi,library,markrichardson,murder,mysterywriter,nickvanderleek,sweden,thriller,troll,truecrimefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/chris-nickson-interview--16068166
Above all, though, its Leeds I love, the people, the sense of the place changing with time. Yes, I write mysteries, but ultmiateoly they're books about people and their relationships, and the crime becomes a moral framework for the story.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/16068166Sat, 27 Oct 2018 15:00:07 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubChris nickson is a novelist and music journalist, the author of many books set between the 1730s and 1950s in Leeds, as well as others in medieval Chesterfield and 1980s Seattle. Above all, though, its Leeds I love, the people, the sense of the place...
Above all, though, its Leeds I love, the people, the sense of the place changing with time. Yes, I write mysteries, but ultmiateoly they're books about people and their relationships, and the crime becomes a moral framework for the story.]]>1677amlistening,amreading,bookclub,booklover,bookreview,books,chrisnickson,crime,darkandstormy,historicalmysteries,leeds,library,murder,mustread,mystery,mysterywriter,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/bookends-13-dennis-palumbo-interview-usual-suspects-bookclub--16010409https://api.spreaker.com/episode/16010409Sat, 20 Oct 2018 16:48:48 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubWe feature an interview with Former Hollywood screenwriter (My Favorite Year; Welcome Back, Kotter, etc.), DENNIS PALUMBO. He is now a licensed psychotherapist and author. We highlighted USUAL SUSPECTS book club in Columbia, MD.2729amlistening,amreading,bookclub,booklover,dark&stormy,dennispalumbo,hollywood,library,murder,mystery,psychotherapist,thriller,usualsuspectsfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/iafs-2-victoria-thompson-interview--15961646https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15961646Mon, 15 Oct 2018 15:00:09 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubIn the second installment of "In Agatha's Footsteps" we feature an interview with best-seller author of the Gaslight Mystery Series, Victoria Thompson.1932agathachristie,amlistening,amreading,bestseller,bookclub,booklover,books,bookworm,crime,dark&stormy,gaslight,library,murder,mustread,mystery,mysteryauthor,newyork,podcast,victoriathompsonfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/becky-masterman-interview--15953055https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15953055Sat, 13 Oct 2018 14:31:17 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubOn today's episode, we will recap a written interview with Becky Masterman. We will discuss her Brigid Quinn mystery series and discover how art imitates life.1536amlistening,amreading,arizona,beckymasterman,bookclub,darkandstormy,fbi,florida,library,murder,mystery,retiredfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/bookend-12-cathy-ace-interview-levis-keltner-highlight--15883767https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15883767Sat, 06 Oct 2018 15:00:03 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubWe interview Welsh Canadian author Cathy Ace and discuss her Cait Morgan mystery series. We also highlight Levis Keltner's book "Into That Good Night"2112amlistening,amreading,bookclub,caitmorgan,cathyace,cozy,darkandstormy,darkstormynight,indieauthor,leviskeltner,library,murder,mustread,mystery,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/alice-loweecey-interview--15838872https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15838872Sat, 29 Sep 2018 14:44:58 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubWe interview former nun turned mystery writer Alice Loweecey, author of the Driscoll and Falcone mystery series.1947amlistening,amreading,bookclub,booklover,books,bookworm,crime,darkandstormy,darkstormynight,detective,katemorgan,library,loweecey,murder,mustread,mystery,nun,podcast,sleuthfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/bookends-11-nick-van-der-leek-the-murder-of-vincent-van-gogh-highlight-splinter-in-the-blood--15779213https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15779213Sat, 22 Sep 2018 15:00:05 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubWe have a very interesting interview with the author of "The Murder of Vincent van Gogh," Nick Van der Leek. Ann Dark highlighted "Splinter in the Blood" by Ashley Dyer.2527amlistening,amreading,art,bookclub,booklover,bookworm,darkandstormy,ebook,library,murder,mystery,nickvanderleek,reading,splinterintheblood,truecrime,vangoghfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/in-agatha-s-footsteps-1-interview-alan-bradley-author-of-the-flavia-de-luce-mysteries--15724658https://twitter.com/darkstormybc
https://www.facebook.com/Itwasadarkandstormybookclub/
https://www.instagram.com/darkandstormybc/
https://itwasadarkandstormybookclub.com/]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15724658Sat, 15 Sep 2018 18:00:06 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubHappy Birthday, Dame Agatha! In honor of Agatha Christie's 128th birthday. We have added a new episode we will do every once in a while called "In Agatha's Footsteps." Our first recipient is Alan Bradley well known for his Flavia de Luce mystery...https://twitter.com/darkstormybc
https://www.facebook.com/Itwasadarkandstormybookclub/
https://www.instagram.com/darkandstormybc/
https://itwasadarkandstormybookclub.com/]]>2123alanbradley,amlistening,amreading,author,birthday,bookclub,books,bookworm,dameagatha,flaviadeluce,iafs,inagathasfootsteps,interview,library,murder,mystery,readingfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/cynthia-kuhn-s-semester-of-our-discontent-1st-in-the-lila-maclean-mystery-series--15722560https://www.instagram.com/stories/darkandstormybc, https://www.facebook.com/Itwasadarkandstormybookclub/, https://twitter.com/darkstormybc
visit our website https://itwasadarkandstormybookclub.com/]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15722560Sat, 15 Sep 2018 15:00:05 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubWe review "Semester of Our Discontent" by Cynthia Kuhn. A cozy in an academic setting. https://www.instagram.com/stories/darkandstormybc, https://www.facebook.com/Itwasadarkandstormybookclub/, https://twitter.com/darkstormybc visit our website...https://www.instagram.com/stories/darkandstormybc, https://www.facebook.com/Itwasadarkandstormybookclub/, https://twitter.com/darkstormybc
visit our website https://itwasadarkandstormybookclub.com/]]>2128academic,amlistening,amreading,bookclub,bookreview,colorado,cozy,darkandstormy,kuhn,library,murder,mystery,podcast,tenurefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/bookend-10-psychopaths-and-sociopaths-in-mystery-fiction-highlight-mystery-readers-nocal--15670523https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15670523Sat, 08 Sep 2018 14:34:29 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubWe take a break from our normal Bookends episode. We interview Rowland Savage a clinical professional counselor to discuss Psychopaths and Sociopaths in mystery fiction. We highlight a bookclub in Berkley, CA. Mystery Readers NoCal.2976amlistening,amreading,berkley,bookclub,books,bookworm,conversation,counseling,darkandstormy,library,mystery,mysteryreaders,nocal,podcast,psychology,psychopaths,sociopathsfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/jane-jensen-interview-kingdom-come-the-first-in-the-elizabeth-harris-mystery-series--15618796https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15618796Sat, 01 Sep 2018 15:00:06 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubWe did our first face to face interview with author Jane Jensen. We discussed her Elizabeth Harris mystery series that take place in Pennsylvania's Amish community. We also discuss her other books she writes under Eli Eastman.3169amish,amlistening,amreading,bookclub,booklover,darkandstormy,janejensen,kingdomcome,library,murder,mystery,pennsylvania,policefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/bookends-9-ellen-butler-isabella-s-painting-and-mystery-lovers-book-club--15567155https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15567155Sat, 25 Aug 2018 14:40:45 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubOn our 9th Bookends episode we interview Ellen Butler and discuss her thrilling book "Isabella's Painting." The book revolves around the art heist at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. We then highlight Mystery Lovers Book Club in Newton, Kansas.1523amateursleuth,amlistening,amreading,artheist,bookclub,bookends,books,butler,crime,darkandstormy,isabellaspainting,kansas,library,mustread,mystery,mysterylovers,podcast,sleuth,washingtondcfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/review-of-lone-star-by-ed-ifkovic-first-in-the-edna-ferber-mystery-series--15517440Edna Ferber the writer of "Giant." James Dean's last movie is our protagonist.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15517440Sat, 18 Aug 2018 15:40:06 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubWe review "Lone Star" by Ed Ifkovic. The cast of characters is a literal whos who of 1950's Hollywood. Edna Ferber the writer of "Giant." James Dean's last movie is our protagonist.Edna Ferber the writer of "Giant." James Dean's last movie is our protagonist.]]>29081950s,amlistening,amreading,booklover,crime,darkandstormy,detective,ednaferber,hollywood,ifkovic,jamesdean,library,lonestar,murder,mystery,mysterywriter,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/b-e-8-hildur-sif-thorarensen-interview-bookstore-in-delray-beach-fl-murder-on-the-beach--15470322https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15470322Sat, 11 Aug 2018 14:51:40 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubOn today's episode we will interview Hildur Sif Thorarensen from Norway and discuss her book "Loner." We then interview Joanne Sinchuk former owner and current manager of "Murder on the Beach" mystery bookstore in Delray Beach, Florida.1663amlistening,amreading,bookclub,books,bookstore,darkandstormy,detective,iceland,library,loner,murder,murderonthebeach,mustread,mystery,mysterywriter,nordicnoir,norway,podcast,thorarensen,thrillerfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-last-time-she-saw-him-jane-haseldine-interview--15419938https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15419938Sat, 04 Aug 2018 15:29:06 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubWe interviewed Jane Haseldine who writes the Julia Gooden Mystery Series. We reviewed her first book in the series. "The Last Time She Saw Him" We announced our next book, "Lone Star" by Ed Ifkovic.2998amlistening,amreading,bookclub,coldcase,crime,crimereporter,darkandstormy,detective,fanatisism,janehaseltime,juliagooden,kidnapping,library,michigan,mother,murder,mustread,mystery,podcast,thelastimeshesawhimfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/bookends-7-charles-kowalski-mind-virus-and-christie-capers-book-club--15347331https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15347331Sat, 28 Jul 2018 13:02:08 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubWe highlight Charles Kowalski answers the questions we sent him about his new thriller "Mind Virus." Christie Capers Book Club in Windsor Lock, CT is our highlighted bookclub.1029amlistening,amreading,bookclub,booklover,books,bookworm,christiecapers,darkandstormy,kowalski,library,mindvirus,murder,mustread,mystery,podcast,thrillerfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/celina-grace-s-hushabye-review-1st-in-the-kate-redman-series--15301948https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15301948Sat, 21 Jul 2018 17:40:45 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubIn this, our 8th full episode, we reviewed our G Book - "Hushabye" by Celina Grace. This was the first in her Kate Redman series. The infant son of Nick and Casey Fullman is kidnapped from his nursery and his nanny has been killed. Casey, a former...2187amlistening,amreading,bookclub,booklover,bookreview,bookworm,celinagrace,darkandstormy,detective,indiewriter,kateredman,kidnapped,library,murder,mystery,mysterywriter,podcast,police,reading,suspensefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/bookends-6-t-g-campbell-interview-mystery-readers-int--15255660https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15255660Sat, 14 Jul 2018 14:02:34 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubWe interview T. G. Campbell who writes The Bow Street Society Mystery Series. We also highlight Mystery Readers International1653amlistening,amreading,bookends,booklover,bookreview,bookworm,bowstreetsociety,darkandstormy,historicalmystery,library,murder,mysteries,mystery,mysteryreader,podcast,police,reader,tgcampbellfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/review-of-thomas-fincham-s-book-the-silent-reporter-first-in-the-hyder-ali-series--15210244https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15210244Sat, 07 Jul 2018 16:07:28 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubWe reviewed the Thomas Fincham book, "The Silent Reporter." This introduces Hyder Ali, a Muslim man who works for the local newspaper. He discovers that his mentor, Professor Eric Freeland has committed suicide. Hyder teams up with Professor...1534amateursleuth,amlistening,amreading,bookclub,booklover,bookreviews,california,corporategreed,crime,darkandstormy,fincham,hyderali,indieauthor,library,muslim,mustread,mystery,pakistani,silentreporter,suspensefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/book-ends-5-alice-castle-interview-south-end-slooths-bc--15165360https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15165360Sat, 30 Jun 2018 14:56:25 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubWe interviewed Alice Castle Author of The London Murder Mystery series. We highlighted South End Slooths in Auburn, Washington. We then discussed what we are currently reading.1255alicecastle,amlistening,amreading,bookclub,booklover,cozy,darkandstormy,detective,dulwich,england,library,london,londonmysteryseries,mystery,mysterywriter,podcast,slueth,southendslooths,washington,whatwereadfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-map-of-the-dark-karen-ellis-interview-and-review--15104845https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15104845Sat, 23 Jun 2018 16:05:04 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubOn today's episode we interviewed Katia Lief who wrote "A Map of the Dark" under the name Karen Ellis. We then reviewed the book. Then we announced our next book, "The Silent Reporter" by Thomas Fincham to be reviewed in two episodes. We gave a...2096amapofthedark,amlistening,amreading,bookclub,booklover,bookworm,crime,darkandstormy,detective,interview,karenellis,katialief,library,mustread,mysteries,mystery,mysterywriter,partnersincrime,podcast,sleuthfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/bookends-4-6-16-18-murder-among-friends-bc-michael-h-rubin-interview--15063567https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15063567Sat, 16 Jun 2018 16:19:32 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubOn our 4th Bookends episode, we highlighted another book club located in Lisle, IL, Murder Among Friends. We then interviewed Micheal H. Rubin and talked about his books "The Cottoncrest Curse" and "Cashed Out"1362amlistening,amreading,bookclub,booklover,books,cashedout,crime,darkandstormy,historicalfiction,library,lisle,louisiana,michealhrubin,murder,murderamongfriends,mustread,mystery,mysterywriter,podcast,sleuthfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/louisiana-longshot-deleon-review--15008136https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15008136Sat, 09 Jun 2018 20:54:54 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubWe reviewed "Louisiana Longshot" by Jana DeLeon. We welcomed Kathy Night, a new club member. We announced the next book, "A Map of the Dark" by Karen Ellis.2186amlistening,amreading,bayou,bookclub,booklover,cozy,crime,darkandstormy,humor,janadeleon,louisiana,missfortune,murder,mustread,mystery,podcast,sinfulladies,sleuth,southern,writerfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/bookends-3-6-2-18--14957021https://api.spreaker.com/episode/14957021Sun, 03 Jun 2018 00:40:31 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubWe reported on our attendance at the Baltimore Rock Opera Society's production of "Incredibly Dead", we gave an honorable mention review to Helen Cadbury's "To Catch a Rabbit," and we highlighted another book club, Centuries and Sleuths in Forest...837amreading,baltimore,bookclub,booklover,cadbury,centuriesandsleuths,cozy,darkandstormy,deleon,illinois,library,louisiana,louisianalongshot,murder,mustread,mystery,mysterywriter,podcast,rockopera,tocatcharabbitfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ice-lauren-carr-review--14895556https://api.spreaker.com/episode/14895556Sat, 26 May 2018 20:16:57 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubA lively interview with author Lauren Carr, who wrote "Ice" a Chris Matheson Cold Case Mystery. It was a delightful interview with Ms. Carr who told us how she developed her storyline and also her love of animals featured in the books. Our review...2320amreading,author,bookclub,booklover,bookworm,coldcase,darkandstormy,dogmystery,geezersquad,ice,investigate,laurencarr,library,murder,mustread,mystery,mysterylady,mysterywriter,podcast,proceduralfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/bookend-2-5-19-18--14834906https://api.spreaker.com/episode/14834906Sat, 19 May 2018 16:21:18 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubOur second bookends mini-episode. We discussed the book, "I'll Be Gone In The Dark," by Michelle McNamara, which precluded the arrest of the Golden State Killer. We highlighted the East Bay Mystery Readers Group in Oakland, California. Finally, we...967amreading,amwriting,author,book,bookclub,booklover,california,carr,darkandstormy,eastarearapist,eastbaymysteryreaders,goldenstatekiller,ice,library,mcnamara,murder,mustread,mystery,podcast,readingfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/dead-dogs-and-englishmen-buzzelli-review--14778036https://api.spreaker.com/episode/14778036Sat, 12 May 2018 17:45:35 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubA review of the 2nd book in our series of A-Z author's names. "Dead Dogs and Englishmen" by Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli. 4th book in the Emily Kincaid mystery series. We assigned our C book "Ice" by Lauren Carr, 1st book in the Chris Matheson Cold Case...1981amreading,author,bookclub,booklover,bookreview,buzzelli,darkandstormy,deaddogs,doglover,englishmen,kincaid,library,michigan,murder,murdermystery,mustread,mystery,mysterywriter,podcast,spreakerfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/bookends-5-5-18--14714372https://api.spreaker.com/episode/14714372Sat, 05 May 2018 17:01:20 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubOur first "Bookends" mini episode. We discussed the Edgar Award winners. We also Featured a mystery book club and talked about our field trip to see the Nutshell murder dioramas.738amreading,amwriting,author,bookclub,bookreview,books,dark&stormy,library,murder,mysteryfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/nantucket-five-spot-axelrod-review--14657123https://api.spreaker.com/episode/14657123Sat, 28 Apr 2018 20:15:14 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubA review and discussion of author Steven Axelrod's Mystery "Nantucket Five Spot" and the assignment of our "B" book, "Dead Dogs and Englishmen" by Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli2199author,axelrod,bomb,bookclub,books,crime,darkandstormy,detective,fivespot,iamreading,murder,mystery,nantucket,police,review,sherlock,sleuth,suspense,terrorism,writerfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/premier-episode--14601407https://api.spreaker.com/episode/14601407Sun, 22 Apr 2018 19:18:46 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubIntroducing Ann Dark and Tracey Stormy, the hosts and assignment of the first book to read for the book club discussion, "Nantucket Five Spot" by Steven Axelrod, Poisoned Pen Press, 2015712author,axelrod,bookclub,books,cozy,darkandstormy,detective,intrigue,investigation,literature,murder,mystery,noir,novels,police,sherlock,sleuth,suspense,whodoneit,writerfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/dark-and-stormy-teaser--14536170https://api.spreaker.com/episode/14536170Sat, 14 Apr 2018 02:40:04 +0000Dark and Stormy Book ClubA brief introduction to the Dark and Stormy Book Club. More episodes coming soon!47audiobook,authors,bookclub,books,booktomovie,dark,darkandstormy,detective,fiction,library,murder,mysterious,mystery,paperback,procedural,reading,sherlock,sleuth,stormy,suspensefalsefull