Meet the LITERARY LOOKBOOK, a comprehensive but not exhaustive collection of 182 upcoming 2024 releases curated by Kelly Hooker and me. The Lookbook includes titles from January-May 2024 from a variety of genres and features cover designs organized by publication date. Buy it here: Literary Lookbook

Historical Mystery Episodes

Jan. 16, 2024

Karl Marlantes - COLD VICTORY

In this interview, I chat with Karl Marlantes about Cold Victory, how he came up with the idea for this story, why the Cold War enthralls people even today, his title and cover, educating people about the past because it …

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Nov. 14, 2023

Celeste Connally - ACT LIKE A LADY, THINK LIKE A LORD

In this interview, I chat with Celeste Connally about Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord, her new pseudonym and how she selected it, writing historical books instead of contemporary, what it was like for women to live in …

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Oct. 11, 2023

Interview with Julia Kelly - A TRAITOR IN WHITEHALL

In this interview, Julia Kelly and I discuss A Traitor in Whitehall, writing an historical mystery, choosing the books her character loves to read, setting a story in the Churchill War Rooms, the inspiration for Evelyne's early years, and much …

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Sept. 5, 2023

Interview with William Kent Krueger - THE RIVER WE REMEMBER

In this interview, Kent and I discuss The River We Remember, creating a strong sense of place in his stories, how his father was changed by fighting in World War 2, the time period following this war in the U.S., …

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Aug. 1, 2023

Interview with Sara DiVello - BROADWAY BUTTERFLY

In this interview, Sara and I discuss Broadway Butterfly, how it took her nine years to research this book, deciding what to include and what not to include, building the tension as the story progresses, her stunning cover, Mystery & …

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March 24, 2023

Interview with Jacqueline Winspear - THE WHITE LADY

In this interview, Jacqueline and I discuss The White Lady , the woman who inspired Elinor, the emotional impact writing this book had on her, what surprised her the most when drafting The White Lady, writing a standalone, an...

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March 10, 2023

Interview with Deanna Raybourn - A SINISTER REVENGE

In this interview, Deanna and I discuss A Sinister Revenge, her Veronica Speedwell title generator, Killers of a Certain Age and its success, weaving prominent people from history into her stories, her book covers, Stoker's brothers, and much more.

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Sept. 16, 2022

Interview with Mark Pryor - DIE AROUND SUNDOWN

In this interview, Mark and I discuss Die Around Sundown, his fascination with World Wars 1 and 2, why he sets his books in Paris, his own experiences with misophonia, the easiest and hardest characters to write in this book, …

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Feb. 16, 2022

Deanna Raybourn - THE IMPOSSIBLE IMPOSTER

Deanna and I discuss The Impossible Imposter, the inspiration for Veronica and Stoker, crowdsourcing information about her previous books on her Twitter feed, how much fun it is to create this series, her beautiful covers and the Easter eggs hidden …

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Feb. 23, 2021

Bella Ellis - THE DIABOLICAL BONES

Bella and I discuss The Diabolical Bones, the Brontë novels that inspire the books in this series, the Brontë sister who influenced her pen name, the joy she feels writing these books, how she came up with the word detectors, …

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Oct. 26, 2020

Rhys Bowen- THE LAST MRS. SUMMER

Rhys discusses her latest novel The Last Mrs. Summers, creating an homage to Rebecca, writing two books a year, reading historical fiction during these stressful times, advice for aspiring authors, and much more.The Last Mrs. Summers can be purchased at...

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