It Was A Dark And Stormy Book Club

We 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 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.ca

This week we take a breather and talk about a few articles that we found that are interestingWHAT 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 ShakespeareLet us count the books...By Harry Pearson | Published Jul 12, 2022 https://murder-mayhem.com/

Temperance Brennan #21Cold, Cold BonesJuly 5, 2022 by ScribnerKathy ReichsWinter 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

The Agathas #1The Agathas May 3, 2022 by Delacorte PressKathleen Glasgow, Liz LawsonLast 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 lu

After 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 aside everything she wants or needs, then she invites her many friends in to sip sherry and help themselves to whatever they want from all that’s left.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 t

With 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 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 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 Po

We 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.

Vacation rebroadcast of the 200th episode of Dark and Stormy Book Club

Vacation recast of episode 177 "The Lost Apothecary" by Sarah Penner

Three 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 AtlanticPublishedMarch 29, 2022 by Kensington - Erica Ruth NeubauerFor 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

Down a Dark River - Inspector Corravan #1 by Karen OddenLondon, 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

We 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.

Maureen 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 non-fiction relating to creativity, as well as four professionally produced plays.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 product

Three books to get you started for Summer readingBlood Royal: A True Tale of Crime and Detection in Medieval ParisBy Eric Jager First published February 25, 2014On 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 SistersBy Robert Dugoni Publ

The 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 murdered nearly twenty years earlier…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 h

We 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 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 wi

Our 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 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

While 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 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 a

A recap of the winners of the 2021 Agatha Awards from Malice Domestic awarded 4/23/22

As 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 NovelCajun 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 NovelMurder 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 NovelThe 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