Books & Looks

It took 30 years, multiple rewrites, and a publisher going out of business, but author Cindy Fazzi's groundbreaking story is finally here. In this episode, we sit down with Cindy for an in-depth author interview about her perseverance and the incredible journey behind the Domingo the Bounty Hunter series, a compulsively readable set of novels that turn the hard-boiled genre on its head. How do you tell a thrilling story ab...

What's deadlier: a puffer fish or a great white shark? A tiger or a lion? A beautiful flower or a venomous snake? In this episode, we sit down with PhD entomologist and author Eleanor Spicer Rice to explore the shocking, fascinating, and sometimes gross world of her hit The Deadliest book series. Prepare to have your assumptions challenged as we uncover which creatures are nature's most lethal competitors - and why the win...

Were the Martian canals real? For decades, some of the world's most respected astronomers and newspapers answered with a resounding YES. But how did a simple misunderstanding spiral into a global belief in an advanced, dying civilization on the Red Planet? This episode unwraps the incredible story of the turn-of-the-century Martian craze, a period when fact and fiction blurred, and humanity collectively looked to the stars...

What if you could transform your life from a pack-a-day smoker who gets winded after 500 meters to a world-record athlete? In this episode, we talk to Marie Leautey, the fastest woman to run around the world, who did exactly that. She reveals the incredible story of how an ordinary financial director with no athletic background ran the equivalent of a marathon every single day for 825 days, covering 28,249 kilometers acros...

What happens in Sherlock Holmes' world when the master detective is away and Dr. Watson is kidnapped? In this episode, we sit down with author Jeri Westerson to do a deep dive into her An Irregular Detective Mystery series, a thrilling and historically rich take on the Victorian detective genre. When Dr. Watson goes missing, it’s up to Tim Badger, a former Baker Street Irregular, and his partner, the scientifically-minded ...

Have you ever wondered about the dark side of the American dream? In this episode, we delve into the complete Seabrook Farms history, a story of ambition, innovation, and betrayal that built—and ultimately destroyed—one of America's largest agricultural empires. Author John Seabrook, grandson of the company's visionary founder, joins us to discuss his book, The Spinach King, and unearth the secrets buried beneath a dynasty...

Ever wondered about the real story behind a bottle of tequila? It's not just about agave and distilling; it's a dramatic saga of revolution, political betrayal, and intense family rivalries. In this episode, we're joined by author Ted Genoways to uncover the incredible history of Jose Cuervo, a story that is far more turbulent and cinematic than you can imagine. We'll explore how one man's ambition to build a business empi...

Step inside a world of opulence, excess, and elaborate deception. While the Gilded Age is known for its industrial titans and lavish parties, a dark and fascinating criminal underworld was thriving, run by some of history's most audacious con artists. In this episode, we uncover the shocking true stories of the female grifters of the Gilded Age, a group of women who used society's expectations against itself to swindle for...

Go behind the music and uncover the secrets of one of the world's most iconic supergroups. In this episode, award-winning Swedish music journalist Jan Gradvall joins us to reveal The Story of ABBA, drawing from his new book, "The Story of ABBA: Melancholy Undercover." We explore the fascinating human drama, the cultural clashes, and the surprising musical genius that propelled a band from Sweden to global domination. What ...

During World War II, a groundbreaking group of elite female aviators flew over 60 million miles in every type of military aircraft, from the P-51 Mustang to the B-17 Flying Fortress. They were the Women's Air Force Service Pilots (WASP), and after proving that women belonged in the cockpit, their program was abruptly disbanded and their contributions were erased from history for decades. How did this happen? In this episod...

What if a centuries-old chess piece could trigger a murder spree in modern-day Iceland? Join molecular geneticist and author Sara Winokur as she delves into Ivory Bones: The Lewis Chessmen Murders, a thrilling tale where ancient artifacts, cutting-edge DNA forensics, and a chilling 1627 Turkish pirate raid collide. Discover how this historical fiction/murder mystery unravels centuries-old family secrets and grab your copy ...

Unparalleled Access: CNN journalist Jill Dougherty spent 30 years inside Russia, witnessing Vladimir Putin's rise from KGB officer to global adversary. In this interview based on her book, "My Russia," she shares unique insights, from covering Gorbachev and Yeltsin to the Ukraine war and surprising personal encounters. Understand the man behind the power, the historical context, and the future challenges in this pivotal re...

Secrets, family drama, and unexpected turns of fate are revealed in author Ruth Foster's unique novel. In this Books and Looks interview, Ruth discusses how "A Perfect Year?" uses annual Christmas newsletters to trace the lives of three families over decades in a British commuter town. Discover the hidden stories in plain sight and the inspiration behind this fascinating tapestry of human experience and suburban life.

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Are you ready to uncover a Gilded Age mystery that blurred the lines between fiction and reality? This week on Books & Looks, join Blaine DeSantis as he talks with acclaimed historical fiction author Marie Benedict about her new book, "The Queens of Crime." Step back to 1931 London, where legendary mystery writers Agatha Christie, Dorothy Sayers, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham, and Baroness Orczy form a secret group to...

Dive into the explosive Yankees-Red Sox rivalry, disco fever, and the birth of iconic TV moments as author David Krell joins Blaine DeSantis to unpack his fascinating book "1978: Baseball and America in the Disco Era." From Louisiana Lightning's unstoppable pitching to Robin Williams' star-making alien debut, discover how this pivotal year shaped American culture both on and off the diamond. Whether you're a baseball fanat...

Meet Rose Valland, the art historian turned spy who documented the Nazi's massive art theft operation from inside occupied Paris. In this riveting episode, author Michelle Young reveals how Valland secretly recorded details of over 650,000 stolen masterpieces using her near-photographic memory while facing a Nazi death warrant. Young shares previously unknown details about Valland's dangerous double life, her relationship ...

From choosing steak knives for celebrities to outsmarting dawn trash room inspectors, Jamie Cooperstein reveals how rejection from sports broadcasting ("your voice is too local") led her to discover her true calling behind luxury concierge desks. In her memoir "True Hospitality," Cooperstein shares how a decade serving Philadelphia's elite transformed her understanding of human connection and the psychological art of excep...

In 1890s Bombay, a murdered silversmith and his partner holding the bloody knife set the stage for a mystery that unveils colonial India's soul. Join author Nev March, born in India herself, as she guides host Blaine DeSantis through the cultural labyrinth of "The Silversmith's Puzzle," where mixed-race detective Captain Jim and his high-society wife Lady Diana navigate forbidden marriages and rigid hierarchies while racin...

At age six, Pavel Baldea was dragged from his bed at 2AM by Communist police who imprisoned his parents and abandoned their children on the streets. Decades later, after a daring escape across borders to America, this Romanian refugee with a scientific mind has distilled 20 years of biblical study into "The Last Day on Earth," a book that deliberately strips away theological complexity to explore humanity's ultimate questi...