My 2025 Summer Reading Guide is out! It is an 18-page printable document that contains over 60 reading recommendations including books from spring and summer 2025 as well mystery series recommendations, fiction/nonfiction pairings, fall 2025 titles that I love, backlist titles, and some fall most anticipated reads. I have read every page of over 90 books and sampled at least 40 more to find the ones that really resonated with me and that I can personally recommend. Please fill out this form to indicate which form of payment (a tip in the amount of your choosing), and I will send it to you!

Episodes

Oct. 20, 2020

Nancy Thayer - GIRLS OF SUMMER

Nancy discusses her latest novel Girls of Summer, writing about the intricacies and mysteries of family, her love of crafting beach reads with happy endings, the way technology has impacted her job, and the importance of independent book stores.

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Oct. 19, 2020

Christopher Swann - NEVER TURN BACK

Chris discusses his latest mystery Never Turn Back, the personal family story that served as his inspiration, the challenges of writing a thriller, the incredible author community, the importance of independent book stores, and much more.

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Oct. 13, 2020

Natalie Jenner - THE JANE AUSTEN SOCIETY

Natalie discusses her debut novel The Jane Austen Society, the long-lasting impact and continued relevance of Jane Austen’s books, the importance of independent book stores, launching a debut novel during the pandemic, and more.The Jane Austen Society c...

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Oct. 6, 2020

Hazel Gaynor - WHEN WE WERE YOUNG & BRAVE

Hazel discusses When We Were Young & Brave, her inspiration for the story, writing about World War 2 in the Pacific, her extensive research for the book, exploring the human condition, her reading recommendations, and much more. When We Were Young & Bra...

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Oct. 5, 2020

Joe Berkowitz - AMERICAN CHEESE

Joe discusses his new book American Cheese: An Indulgent Odyssey Through the Artisan Cheese World, how he became interested in artisanal cheese, the role of Whole Foods in the American cheese renaissance, the role of cheese influencers, and much more.

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Oct. 2, 2020

Tori Whitaker - MILLICENT GLENN'S LAST WISH

Tori discusses her debut novel Millicent Glenn’s Last Wish, her inspiration for the story, creating a love letter to Cincinnati, the generational theme in the book, her advice for aspiring authors, and much more.Millicent Glenn’s Last Wish can be purcha...

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Sept. 29, 2020

Jane Igharo - TIES THAT TETHER

Jane discusses her debut novel Ties That Tether, writing about Nigerian culture and being an immigrant, exploring the themes of culture and identity, her vision for the cover of this book, participating in Pitch Wars, advice for aspiring authors, and mor...

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Sept. 25, 2020

Pamela Redmond - OLDER

Pamela discusses her latest novel Older, writing a book that provides some humor during these troubling times, enjoying her novel Younger as a television show and having Sutton Foster cast in the show, writing about aging, and much more. Older can be pu...

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Sept. 22, 2020

John Cribb - OLD ABE

John talks about his latest novel Old Abe, writing a fictional account of Lincoln’s life, conducting research on one of the most famous men in history, how he decided to tackle this subject, and much more.Old Abe can be purchased at Murder by the Book. ...

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Sept. 18, 2020

Kristin Harmel - THE BOOK OF LOST NAMES

Kristin talks about her latest novel the New York Times bestseller The Book of Lost Names, the research she did regarding the forgery of documents during World War 2, writing about ordinary people who rise up to do extraordinary things, the large number ...

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Sept. 15, 2020

Signe Pike - THE FORGOTTEN KINGDOM

Signe and I discuss her latest novel The Forgotten Kingdom, researching people and events from the sixth century, telling stories previously lost to time and history, working as an acquisitions editor, and much more. The Forgotten Kingdom can be purchas...

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Sept. 11, 2020

Wendy Walker - DON'T LOOK FOR ME

Wendy discusses her new novel Don’t Look For Me, her personal inspiration for this story, the psychology of grief, creating a strong sense of place in this novel, the fight or flight impulse in humans, her recommended reads, and much more.Don’t Look For...

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Sept. 8, 2020

Asha Lemmie - FIFTY WORDS FOR RAIN

Asha discusses her debut novel Fifty Words for Rain, setting her novel in post-World War 2 Japan, her lifelong love of the country and its language, having her novel chosen as a Good Morning America book club selection, and much more. Fifty Words for Ra...

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Sept. 4, 2020

Jason B. Rosenthal - MY WIFE SAID YOU MAY WANT TO MARRY ME

Jason discusses his book My Wife Said You May Want to Marry Me, his wife Amy’s viral essay and his response, processing grief, advice for writing a memoir, attending Burning Man, and much more. My Wife Said You May Want to Marry Me can be purchased at M...

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Sept. 1, 2020

Gill Paul - JACKIE AND MARIA

Gill discusses her latest novel Jackie and Maria, the reader who gave her the inspiration for this story, Jackie and her sister Lee’s complex relationship, the rivalry between Jackie and Maria, her year-round love of swimming, and more.

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Aug. 28, 2020

David Heska Wanbli Weiden - WINTER COUNTS

David discusses his debut mystery Winter Counts, the inspiration for his story, Lakota traditions, maintaining racial identity and culture, life on the Rosebud Reservation, the Indigenous food revolution, and much more.Winter Counts can be purchased at ...

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Aug. 25, 2020

S. C. Perkins - LINEAGE MOST LETHAL

Stephanie discusses her new novel Lineage Most Lethal, her lifelong interest in genealogy, writing about World War 2 and spy craft, her favorite places to conduct research, and much more.Lineage Most Lethal can be purchased at Murder by the Book. Steph...

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Aug. 21, 2020

Kathleen Carter

Kathleen discusses how she became a literary publicist and eventually started her own firm, a typical day as a publicist, her favorite part of the job, trends in the book industry, the effects of the pandemic on the book world, celebrity book clubs and m...

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Aug. 18, 2020

S. F. Kosa - THE QUIET GIRL

Sarah discusses her new novel The Quiet Girl, writing under the name S.F. Kosa, her background as a psychologist, switching genres, constructing a thriller plot, trying to understand the human psyche, and much more.The Quiet Girl can be purchased at Mur...

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Aug. 14, 2020

Megan Collins - BEHIND THE RED DOOR

Megan talks about her new novel Behind the Red Door, her fascination with memory repression, the importance of normalizing anxiety, creating terrible parents in her novels, and much more.Behind the Red Door can be purchased at Murder by the Book. Megan...

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Aug. 13, 2020

Alka Joshi - THE HENNA ARTIST

Alka speaks about her debut novel The Henna Artist, having Reese Witherspoon select her book for her May book club, honoring her mother, the importance of women telling their stories, and much more.The Henna Artist can be purchased at Murder by the Book...

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Aug. 12, 2020

Alex George - THE PARIS HOURS

Alex discusses his latest novel The Paris Hours, the challenge of writing a story that takes place over the course of one day, owning an independent bookstore, setting a book in Paris, and much more.The Paris Hours can be purchased at Murder by the Book...

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Aug. 11, 2020

Julie Pennell - LOUISIANA LUCKY

Julie discusses her latest novel Louisiana Lucky, winning the lottery and what often happens next, her love of print journalism, which character she likes the most in this book, what makes someone lucky, and much more.Louisiana Lucky can be purchased at...

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Aug. 10, 2020

Bryn Turnbull - THE WOMAN BEFORE WALLIS

Bryn discusses her debut novel The Woman Before Wallis, Thelma Furness and her twin sister Gloria Vanderbilt, the characters she enjoyed writing the most in this book, her gorgeous cover, the research she did, and much more.The Woman Before Wallis can b...

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