Killer Author Club

We’re celebrating a milestone with Karin Slaughter—her 25th novel, We Are All Guilty Here! Karin takes us inside her newest thriller and introduces a powerful new protagonist destined to keep readers hooked for books to come. We talk about her fearless approach to writing violence against women with both urgency and empathy, and what it’s like to see her stories leap from the page to the television screen. Twenty-five novels in, an...

James L’Etoile joins us to talk about River of Lies, a gripping mystery that blends page-turning suspense with real-world social issues. He shares his fiery research into arson, how he crafts twists that are as ironic as they are iconic, and the challenge of weaving relevance into riveting storytelling. We also shine a light on James’s work as a tireless volunteer in the crime writing community—and how giving back fuels his creativ...

Hannah Mary McKinnon is back with Only One Survives, a tense, twisty thriller about fame, friendship, and the dark side of all-female bands. She takes us behind the scenes of writing original lyrics, weaving music into the storyline, and the technical challenge of crafting a timeline full of flashbacks. Oh—and the six little words that started it all.

Download and listen today—because fame may be fleeting... but secrets can be kille...

The legendary Anthony Horowitz returns to the Killer Author Club to talk about Marble Hall Murders, the latest entry in his wildly clever Susan Ryeland/Atticus Pünd series. He shares the challenge of weaving stories within stories, his inspiration for creating crime fiction that’s both clever and self-aware, and why his writing process—though deeply rewarding—is far from easy or fast. Plus, we get exciting updates on book-to-screen...

J.T. Ellison joins us to talk about her gripping thriller It’s One of Us, a story that tackles a zeitgeisty—and deeply personal—topic with her signature twisty flair. We explore why marriage is the perfect pressure cooker for suspense, the surprising (and shady) world of sperm banks, and how setting her stories in Nashville and beyond adds layers of atmosphere and danger.

Download and listen today—because in J.T.’s world, family sec...

Bestselling author Peter Swanson stops by to talk about the brilliant mind games behind his latest thriller—and the despair (and delight) of writing a story backwards. We dig into why he calls his work “New England noir,” what makes the region such fertile ground for suspense, and how real-life people sneak into his novels. Plus, don’t miss hearing about the chilling scene he set in an infamous—and iconic—location.

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TikTok sensation Kiersten Modglin joins us to talk about her latest twisty thriller, Do Not Open—a book one reviewer dubbed “Misery on Crack.” She shares how she draws from her own darkest places to create unforgettable characters, what it means to be vulnerable on the page and off, and how she maintains a jaw-dropping pace as one of the most prolific authors in the game.

Download and listen today—because when Kiersten says Do Not O...

Clémence Michallon returns with Our Last Resort, a haunting thriller set against the eerie isolation of a remote Utah resort. She shares her deep research into cults (and her personal connection to the Nxivm cult), how a single haunting song sparked the idea for the novel, and what it takes to psych herself up to write in a language that isn’t her native tongue. This week’s episode is about resilience, reinvention, and the stories ...

Chris Bohjalian joins us to talk about his glitzy, twisty novel The Princess of Las Vegas, inspired by a real-life royal who flipped the script on a centuries-old monarchy. Chris shares why he set this story in the neon-lit world of gambling and grit as we dive into the underbelly of seedy casinos, the fascinating lives of tribute show performers, and—yes—Chris’s very own Las Vegas love story.

Download and listen today for royal int...

Julie Clark joins us to unravel the layers of her latest twist-filled novel, The Ghostwriter. We talk about striking the perfect balance between suspense and emotional depth, and how growing up in the 70s helped shape the atmosphere of the book’s haunting past timeline. Julie dives into using flawed—and fading—memory as both a plot device and a ticking clock, and shares how a real-life unsolved murder inspired the story’s chilling ...

Lisa Gardner is back, and this time, it’s personal—and terrifying. In this episode, she takes us behind the scenes of Still See You Everywhere, sharing what it was like to travel to a remote island for research, weather monster storms, and face off with killer crabs bigger than dogs (yes, really). Plus, she dives into the dark and fascinating experience of visiting a real-life body farm to bring chilling authenticity to her work.

Do...

This week, Killer Author Club co-host Heather Gudenkauf is joined by special guest co-hosts Emily and Ashley from The Creepy Book Club for a thrill-packed conversation with Killers Kimberly Belle and Kaira Rouda. We dig into why strangers and spouses with secrets make the perfect thriller fuel, how dual narrators can twist a story in unexpected ways, and the power of perception vs. reality. Plus, what one book lured our guests to t...

Debut sensation Matthew Blake joins us to talk about his breakout thriller Anna O, a chilling tale inspired by real cases of people committing murder while sleepwalking. We dive into the dark, fascinating research behind the story, why writing a novel is like assembling a jigsaw puzzle, and how AnnaO made a splash right out of the gate. Plus, some exciting TV news—and yes, we’re spilling the tea (the poisonous kind).

You don’t want ...

Jaime Lynn Hendricks joins us to dish on her latestjaw-dropping thriller, where no one is who they seem and everyone has something to hide. We dig into dangerous double lives, deadly exes, and the risky thingspeople will do for love—and money. Jaime also explores the razor-thin line between justice and revenge, and why the glittering world of the 1% makes the perfect backdrop for betrayal, manipulation, and murder.

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Our very own Heather Gudenkauf joins the Killer Author Club to talk about her twisty thriller, Everyone Is Watching. From deadly reality show competitions to the dark side of social media and live streaming, Heather unpacks the high-stakes world of this locked-room mystery. We dive into how buried secrets always find a way to the surface, and why she left small-town Iowa behind for the lush, deceptive beauty of Northern California...

Amy Tintera stops by to talk about her addictive adult debut, Listen for the Lie. We dive into her bold leap from YA to adult fiction, how she crafts unlikeable characters we end up loving anyway, and the book she wishes she’d written—plus how it inspired her own twisty tale. Amy shares the real-life spark behind the story (hint: it’s more than just a favorite podcast) and teases some thrilling TV news.

Download and listen today—and...

Lauren Thoman joins us to talk about her mind-bendingthriller You Shouldn’t Be Here, where nothing is quite what it seems. We dive into how she blends genres with ease—mixing suspense, time travel, and ghosts to craft stories that defy expectations. Lauren shares how she taps into thepower of the subconscious to fuel her writing and reveals how she pulls off twists so sharp, not even the most experienced Killers will see them comin...

Heather Graham—queen of thrillers, romance, and the paranormal—joins us to talk about her latest spine-chiller, The Murder Machine. With over 200 books to her name, Heather shares the secret to her prolific career, how she cranks out four novels a year, and the one book that meant the most to her (and why). We also dive into the dark and disturbing real-world AI research that inspired this latest thriller.

Download and listen today—...

The Killer Author Club gets extra deadly as Kimberly Belle, Cate Holahan, Vanessa Lillie, and Layne Fargo reunite to dish on Desperate Deadly Widows—the outrageous follow-up to their #1 bestselling Young Rich Widows. What zany antics are the widows up to this time? How do four authors manage to co-write not one but two wild thrill rides? And what’s in store for everyone’s favorite 80s femme fatales? From shoulder pads to murder plo...