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

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...

Listen to the Episode
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...

Listen to the Episode
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...

Listen to the Episode
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...

Listen to the Episode
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...

Listen to the Episode
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...

Listen to the Episode
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...

Listen to the Episode
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...

Listen to the Episode
Aug. 7, 2020

Fiona Davis - THE LIONS OF FIFTH AVENUE

Fiona speaks about her latest novel The Lions of Fifth Avenue, writing about iconic New York City buildings and how she conducts her research, the manner in which the title and cover influenced her storyline for this book, what she is working on next, an...

Listen to the Episode
Aug. 4, 2020

Stephen P. Kiernan - UNIVERSE OF TWO

Stephen and I discuss his latest novel Universe of Two and the story behind it, the building of the atomic bomb and life at Los Alamos, the moral qualms of those who worked on the bomb, finding redemption, and much more.Universe of Two can be purchased ...

Listen to the Episode
July 31, 2020

Deborah Royce - FINDING MRS. FORD

Deborah talks about her book Finding Mrs. Ford, her role as Silver Kane (Erica’s half-sister) on All My Children, where she gets her inspiration, and much more.Finding Mrs. Ford can be purchased at Murder by the Book.   Deborah’s 3 recommended reads ar...

Listen to the Episode
July 28, 2020

Emily Liebert - PERFECTLY FAMOUS

Emily and I talk about her latest novel Perfectly Famous, her partnership with WACOAL for this novel and modeling their products on her front porch, marketing in today’s digital world, her preference for shorter titles, and much more.Perfectly Famous ca...

Listen to the Episode
July 24, 2020

Bridgett Davis - THE WORLD ACCORDING TO FANNIE DAVIS

Bridgett discusses her decision to honor her mother with a memoir, growing up in Detroit and participating in her mother’s business, writing the screenplay for The World According to Fannie Davis for Brad Pitt’s production company Plan B, and some great ...

Listen to the Episode
July 21, 2020

Amy Poeppel - MUSICAL CHAIRS

Amy talks about her latest book Musical Chairs, best laid plans, having adult children living back (especially during the pandemic), why she chose to write about a classical music trio, the inspiration for her characters, and finding humor in everyday things.

Listen to the Episode
July 17, 2020

Katherine Center - WHAT YOU WISH FOR

Episode 9 – Katherine discusses her latest book WHAT YOU WISH FOR, finding joy in little things, her love of OUTLANDER (the books not the TV show), why she set this book in Galveston, and the making of THE LOST HUSBAND movie.WHAT YOU WISH FOR can be pur...

Listen to the Episode
July 13, 2020

Kristy Woodson Harvey - FEELS LIKE FALLING

Episode 8 - Kristy Woodson Harvey is the USA Today bestselling author of FEELS LIKE FALLING and 5 other novels. She blogs with her mom Beth Woodson on Design Chic about how creating a beautiful home can be the catalyst for creating a beautiful life. Desi...

Listen to the Episode
July 7, 2020

Elise Hooper - FAST GIRLS

Episode 7 – A native New Englander, Elise spent several years writing for television and online news outlets before getting a MA and teaching high-school literature and history. She now lives in Seattle with her husband and two daughters.FAST GIRLS can ...

Listen to the Episode
July 3, 2020

Farrah Rochon - THE BOYFRIEND PROJECT

Episode 6 – USA Today Bestselling author Farrah Rochon hails from a small town just west of New Orleans. She has garnered much acclaim for her Holmes Brothers, New York Sabers, Bayou Dreams and Moments in Maplesville series. Her newest novel, THE BOYFRIE...

Listen to the Episode
June 28, 2020

Eric Eyre - DEATH IN MUD LICK

Episode 5 – Eric Eyre has been a reporter at the Charleston Gazette-Mail since 1998. In 2017, his investigation into massive shipments of opioids to West Virginia’s southern coalfields was awarded a Pulitzer prize. He lives in Charleston, West Virginia, ...

Listen to the Episode
June 27, 2020

Ava Homa- DAUGHTERS OF SMOKE AND FIRE

Episode 4 – Ava Homa is a writer, journalist, and activist specializing in women’s issues and Middle Eastern affairs. She holds an MA in English and Creative Writing from the University of Windsor in Canada. Her collection of short stories, ECHOES FROM T...

Listen to the Episode
June 25, 2020

Lisa Duffy - MY KIND OF PEOPLE

Episode 3 - Lisa Duffy is the author of THE SALT HOUSE, named by Real Simple as a Best Book of the Month upon its June release and one of Bustle’s 17 Best Debut Novels by Women in 2017, and THIS IS HOME, a favorite book club pick. Lisa received her MFA i...

Listen to the Episode
June 22, 2020

Nguyen Phan Que Mai - THE MOUNTAINS SING

Episode 2 - Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai was born in Việt Nam in 1973, and grew up witnessing the war’s devastation of her country. She worked as a street seller and rice farmer before winning a scholarship to attend university in Australia. She is the author of ...

Listen to the Episode
June 14, 2020

Susie Orman Schnall - WE CAME HERE TO SHINE

Episode 1 - Susie Orman Schnall is the author of four novels, and her latest is WE CAME HERE TO SHINE. Susie's writing has appeared in numerous publications including The New York Times, The Huffington Post, Writer's Digest, and Glamour. She is also a fr...

Listen to the Episode