Dark and Stormy Book Club

On 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 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

Joyce 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 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.

On 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 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.

On 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! 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.

Agatha 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 spies with Tommy and Tuppence? “Agatha Christie, She Watched” will introduce you to must-see movies (and must-avoid dogs) that prove Agatha’s genius depicting the hopeful and dark sides of human nature. These movies will tantalize you, mystify you, and make you laugh at the folly of humanity. For more than a century, Agatha Christie has thrilled readers with her classic mysteries and dark dramas that explore evil such as “And Then There Were None” and “Endless Night.” with more than 200 adaptations made from her stories, Agatha has been a huge part of the world’s movie and television culture. Teresa Peschel watched and reviewed 201 adaptations, from the German silent movie “Adventures, Inc.” (1929) to “See How They Run” and “Why Didn’t They Ask Evans?” (2022). Each was rated for fidelity to the original material and its overall quality. Each review takes up two pages and comes with six cast photos, and a list of the major actors, and the known film locations. Foreign movies with English subtitles from India, France, Russia, China, Japan, and Germany are also reviewed. Finally, there are eight movies in which the fictional Agatha Christie solves murder mysteries, debate Hercule Poirot about killing him in “Curtain,” battle a space wasp with Doctor Who, and plot to kill her husband’s mistress. “Agatha Christie, She Watched” is the only comprehensive collection of reviews about Agatha Christie adaptations. Use it to find the movies made from the novels and stories you love, fill in your movie collection, or hold an Agatha Christie festival of your own. Learn why Christie’s stories of passion and pain still grip the imaginations of her readers.

The 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-
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?

On 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 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.

WWAR 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 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.

WWAR 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 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.

Spy 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 out, Ben hasn’t been brought in because the C.I.A. expects him to succeed. Instead, he’s been brought in as bait to catch a dangerous enemy agent. Now, Ben needs to step up his game before he ends up dead. Can he solve the crime, get the girl and save the day? Maybe not, but it’ll be fun to watch him try!

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

The 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 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.

We 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 and helpful supernatural beings to please our own taste for the macabre and un-wonderful. Here we have it plain and simple – the quiet terror that follows seeing what we know we should not be able to see.And now, turn down the lights, and join us for “The Trial for Murder” by Charles Dickens….

This 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"

Leslie 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 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.

Elle 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 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

Tove 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 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

WWAR 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 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

Radioland
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.

Malice 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 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

Popup 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 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