Mystery Books Podcast

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📬 Do you love mysteries where the format is part of the puzzle? What about crime fiction told through letters, emails, and documents? If you answered yes to either question, join me as I explore epistolary mysteries—one of my favorite subsets of the mystery genre.

✉️ I share the inspiration behind my own Mysteries in the Mail letter subscription featuring Lady Eileen and Fitzhugh, two de...

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🚢 What secrets unravel when a murderer strikes aboard a Nile steamer? 

In this special bonus episode, I take you behind the scenes of my new mystery novel, Murder on the S.S. Cleopatra, the second book in the 1920s Lady Traveler in Egypt series.

🔎 I share how Blix and Hildy's tranquil cruise turns into a classic closed-circle whodunit filled with secrets, intriguing characters, and ...

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🔍 Ever wondered what happens when you combine medieval French scholarship, advertising expertise, and detective fiction? Meet Dorothy L. Sayers, whose Lord Peter Wimsey mysteries revolutionized the genre.

✍️ Join me as I explore the interesting career of one of the founding authors of the Detection Club who wrote mysteries where love bloomed between intellectual equals then went on to wr...

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🎭 Did you know the Queen of Regency Romance was also a master of murder mysteries? Join me as we explore Georgette Heyer's lesser-known but equally interesting career as a crime writer.

🏰 Heyer’s mysteries usually revolved around country house murders with police sleuths, Superintendent Hannasyde and Inspector Hemingway. 

⭐️ Whether you're a fan of her Regency romances or new t...

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🔍 Are you fascinated by detectives who aren't quite what they appear to be? Join me for a deep dive into Margery Allingham's world, where her famous sleuth Albert Campion hides his clever mind behind a decidedly foolish facade.

📖 Allingham was born into a family of storytellers and was a child prodigy who earned her first writing fee at age eight, then went on to become one of...

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🎭 What happens when two Australian nurses move to New York City and start writing "wacky cozies"? Join me for the interesting story of the Little Sisters, whose 21 mysteries combined clever plots with laugh-out-loud humor.

🏥 I explore the backstory of their unique collaboration style and how Constance and Gwenyth Little's experiences as working nurses influenced their res...

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🔍 Ever wondered what happens when two mystery writers fall in love and collaborate? That’s exactly what happened with the two authors behind the pen name Kelley Roos. The result is a series of books where marriage and mystery meet.

🌆 Audrey and William Roos created sophisticated stories that balanced romance and suspense. Their Jeff and Haila Troy series, beginning with Made Up to Kill,...

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🔍 Agatha Christie is often remembered for her mysterious 11-day disappearance, but there’s so much more to her story. From her early struggles as a writer to her rise as the best-selling fiction author of all time, Christie’s life was as interesting as her novels.
 
 ☠️ In this episode, I explore how her wartime experience* contributed to her mystery writing and how her travel i...

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🔎 From lockdown to the land of pyramids: learn how I researched 1920s Egypt during 2020, and created a heroine who was one of the original travel influencers.

📸 Meet Blix, my intrepid lady photographer who captures foreign locations on film and then entertains lecture halls full of curious Brits with tales of her adventures.

🌴 In this bonus episode, I give you a behi...

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From "giggle water" to "the bee's knees," I explore the unique expressions that defined a generation in this episode. Hear how I incorporated this snazzy lingo into my High Society Lady Detective series, including Murder at Archly Manor.

Discover the differences between American and British slang of the era and find out how these phrases helped the young...

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High Society Hijinks:  Discover the elaborate jokes that shocked and amused the London elite!

From fake art exhibits to outrageous social stunts, the Bright Young People of the era knew how to make a statement. 😎

We'll take a closer look at the infamous Bruno Hat hoax, where a group of pranksters fooled the art world with a fictional artist and his bizarre creatio...

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Step into the world of luxurious London living and intriguing mystery 🏢

These upscale apartments offered a new level of comfort and convenience for the affluent, with amenities like maid service, meal delivery, and even squash courts! 🎾

Discover the real-life inspiration behind fictional service flats like Hercule Poirot's swanky Whitehaven Mansions, and learn ho...

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Ring! Ring! Join me this episode for a look at the history of the red telephone box, a quintessential symbol of British culture. 

I’ll trace the evolution of this iconic kiosk and delve into the controversies surrounding the telephone box's appearance, the public's reaction to proposed changes, and the innovative ways these classic kiosks have been repurposed in modern...

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Step back in time and explore the fascinating world of forensic investigation during the Golden Age of detective fiction. 

I’ll dive into the real-life CSI methods used by detectives in the 1920s and how they compare to the techniques employed by fictional sleuths like Sherlock Holmes.

I’ll also take a closer look at a true crime case from 1923 that led to the creation ...

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Servant Life: it wasn’t all elegance and extravagance in the 1920s

Join me for a deep dive into life "downstairs” in a country house. From the servant hierarchy to the grueling work to the lack of personal freedom, the staff had a completely different experience from those “upstairs.”

We also take a little detour into the history of household appliances, including a socialit...

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Creative genius and chaotic influence: how a society photographer inspired a character

This episode delves into the character of  Sebastian Blakely, a vibrant and unconventional photographer who brings his own unique form of turmoil to the High Society Lady series. Inspired by real-life society photographer Cecil Beaton, Blakely's cheeky wit and penchant for stirring the po...

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🪩 They knew how to throw a killer party in the 1920s!  

Join me as I explore the opulence and extravagance of the themed parties of the Bright Young People and their over-the-top gatherings.

From the circus party with wolves and horses to the bath and bottle parties that drew the attention of the police, the era's lavish soirées inspired the Silver and Gold Party in Murder ...

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Why set a book in the 1920s? Because a time of great change makes for an interesting setting. The phrase "may you live in interesting times," certainly applies to the tumultuous post-World War I period.

Find out how motorcars, bobbed hair, short hemlines, and makeup compacts play into the changing social mores in this “Story Behind the Story” of Chapters 5 and 6 of Murder at Arc...

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⛲️ Love an English stately home? Then come with me on a tour of Chatsworth House and find out how the English country home inspired not one, but two book series in this “Story Behind the Story” of Chapter 4 of Murder at Archly Manor, a 1920s historical mystery. Plus reading recommendations for Sherlock Holmes fans! 🕵️‍♀️

Recent read: The Missing Maid by Holly Hepburn (Affiliate link) and...