Mystery Books Podcast

Suggest a book for the podcast or say hello!

Suggest a book for the podcast or say hello!

Suggest a book for the podcast or say hello!

Suggest a book for the podcast or say hello!

Suggest a book for the podcast or say hello!

Suggest a book for the podcast or say hello!

Suggest a book for the podcast or say hello!

Suggest a book for the podcast or say hello! 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 younger generation set themselves apart from the old fogies. By the end of this episode, you'll be ready to charm your friends with your newfound knowledge of 1920s jargon – and maybe even solve a mystery or two!

Suggest a book for the podcast or say hello! 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.

Suggest a book for the podcast or say hello! Step into the world of luxurious London living and intriguing mystery

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 times.

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 of the iconic "murder bag”

Servant Life: it wasn't all elegance and extravagance in the 1920sJoin 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 socialite who invented the modern dishwasher!

Creative genius and chaotic influence: how a society photographer inspired a characterThis 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 pot keeps things interesting.Recent read: A Traitor in Whitehall (Affiliate link) Read-alikes: WWII mysteries MBP S1 E3 Poppy Redfern and the Midnight Murders by Tessa ArlenS2 E6 – Olive Bright, PigeoneerNext chapters in the next episode! If you want the rest of the mystery right now, you can get Murder in Archly Manor in ebook, audio, and print at SaraRosettBooks.com. Support the show

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 Archly Manor, a 1920s historical mystery. Recent read: The Antique Hunter's Guide to Murder by C.L. Miller (Affiliate link) Read-alikes: the Kate Hamilton mystery series. A Dream of Death by Connie Berry (Affiliate link).Chapters 5 and 6 of Murder at Archly Manor narrated by Elizabeth Klett.Next chapter in the next episode! If you want the rest of the mystery right now, you can get Murder in Archly Manor in ebook, audio, and print at SaraRosettBooks.com. Support the show

⛲️ 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!

Family tensions and inspiration from Agatha Christie are the “Story Behind the Story” of Chapter 3 of Murder at Archly Manor, a 1920s historical mystery. Recent read: A Report of Murder by F.L. Everett (Affiliate link)Mentioned: The Moving Finger by Agatha Christie (Affiliate link)Next chapter in the next episode! If you want the rest of the mystery right now, you can get Murder in Archly Manor in ebook, audio, and print at SaraRosettBooks.com. Support the show

We're traveling back to the 1920s in this season of Mystery Books Podcast with a chapter by chapter deep dive into Murder at Archly Manor, the first book in the High Society Lady Detective series. What inspired the location of Murder at Archly Manor? Was I intimidated to write historical fiction? (You bet I was!) How did I take the first step to write about the 1920s, despite my worries about accurately capturing the time between the wars? Find out in the “Story Behind the Story” section of this episode.Then Elizabeth Klett narrates the first two chapters of Murder at Archly Manor. Book recommendation: Your Turn, Mr. Moto by John P. Marquand. (Affiliate link)Next chapter in the next episode! If you want 1920s mystery right now, you can get Murder in Archly Manor in ebook, audio, and print at SaraRosettBooks.com.Support the show

Tis the season for . . . holiday mysteries!  Get your holiday reading sorted with this list of mysteries that feature holly, mistletoe, and plenty of murder.Snowed-in country estates abound with tense family gatherings in these books. Cranky family members, too much food, and a patriarch threatening to change his will are the ingredients of a festive Christmas mystery. Mystery book to read at Christmas: Murder on a Midnight Clear by Sara Rosett (Published: 2020; Setting: 1923) Season 1 Bonus episode: Murder on a Midnight Clear: https://www.sararosett.com/mbps1bonus/Murder at Midnight by Katharine Schellman (Published 2023; Setting: 1816)A Christmas Party by Georgette Heyer (1941)Hercule Poirot's Christmas by Agatha Christie (1938)The Santa Klaus Murder by Mavis Hay (1936)An English Murder by Cyril Hare (1951) Support the show

⚓️ All aboard for a look at Death on the Isle, an amateur sleuth mystery from M. H. Eccleston with a nautical theme.

Mystery Books Podcast is back with Season 4. Join me for spoiler-free discussions of mystery fiction along with “read-alike” book recommendations to keep your TBR (to be read) pile stocked.

Who wouldn't want to visit a library made up of first editions from Golden Age authors? That's the premise of The First Edition Library series by Marty Wingate. Haley is a curator at the unique private library in Bath. The third book in the series, “The Librarian Always Rings Twice” delves into the fun Books About Books trope. It's a story rich in layers with mysteries in the main storyline as well as in the story within the story.Read-alike recommendations include contemporary cozies by Martie Wingate, books set in Bath UK, and books about books.What's your favorite book or series about books?

Do you have a fondness for lady scientists of the early 20th century who encounter mysteries? Then you'll want to read “A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons” by Kate Khavari.

Do you enjoy enjoy the “Upstairs, Downstairs” contrasts of Downton Abbey, but wish it had the added element of a murder mystery? Then you'll want to check out "Murder at Mallowan Hall" by Colleen Cambridge, which features a mashup of fiction and real life as it considers the the question, "What if Agatha Christie's housekeeper had to solve a murder?" My read-a-like book recommendations include lists of country home mysteries, “Upstairs, Downstairs” mysteries, and historical figures as sleuths.

If you'd like a fresh take on 1920s historical mysteries, check out “The Bangalore Detectives Club” by Harini Nagendra, which takes readers to India. Newly married to a doctor, Kaveri is juggling her own ambitions to get a degree in mathematics with society's pressure to be a good wife. When a murder occurs, Kaveri is compelled to investiagate. Besides catching the culprit, she also creates a unique position for herself in her new world.

If you enjoy eccentric sleuths of a certain age, crosswords, and ensemble cast mysteries, you'll want to check out The Marlow Murder Club. Seventy-seven year old Judith Potts is just fine on her own, thank you very much. That is, until she overhears a murder. Her questions bring her into contact with two women who are quite different from her. The three ladies set out to discover the truth and find friendship along the way. If you're a fan of The Thursday Murder Club, The Marlow Murder Club is a read-alike. 

Mystery Books Podcast is back with a new season of spoiler-free discussions of mystery fiction along with “read-alike” book recommendations to keep your TBR (to be read) pile stocked.

We return to Singapore for “Revenge in Rubies” by A. M. Stuart, but this time we're seeing things through the British Colonial perspective. The 1910s are a bit of an underserved time period for historical readers, so if you're fond of books set during the Edwardian era you'll want to check this novel with a sleuthing couple. However, this time the pairing is more platonic than romantic (at least for now).The Bookish Sleuth is a journal and planner designed exclusively for mystery readers. Find it at Sara Rosett.com/journal.

Travel to romantic Hawaii in the 1920s for Charlie Chan's first case in The House Without a Key by Earl Derr Biggers. Chan's "Watson" is a stuffy Bostonian who thaws out in the tropics. We have another exotic locale for a murder plus a black sheep victim trope along with something a bit different from the usual love triangle subplot— a love rectangle. The Bookish Sleuth is a journal and planner designed exclusively for mystery readers. Find it at Sara Rosett.com/journal.

If you want a look at a little-known aspect of World War II, check out the historical mystery "Olive Bright, Pigeoneer" by Stephanie Graves. It's got an English village full of quirky characters, a romantic subplot with a pretend relationship, and the classic trope of a name spoken as the victim dies. Poirot references also abound! The Bookish Sleuth is a journal and planner designed exclusively for mystery readers. Find it at Sara Rosett.com/journal.

If you like to experience other cultures through reading, you'll enjoy The Mimosa Tree Mystery. Ovidia Yu gives us a look at Singapore in the 1930s during the Japanese occupation. Her brainy young female protagonist must figure out not only codes and ciphers but also her place in society.The Bookish Sleuth is a journal and planner designed exclusively for mystery readers. Find it at Sara Rosett.com/journal.

Murder, Mystery, and . . . Subtitles! I've discovered two foregin language TV shows, Crimes of Passion and The Art of Crime. Find out how the shows work in hints of Agatha Christie, Jurassic Park Syndrome, tension triangles, lost Old Masters, and the always popular tropes of crime in beautiful locations. One is a mid-century modern mystery (think Mad Men, but with murder). The other is art history and mystery.The Bookish Sleuth is a journal and planner designed exclusively for mystery readers. Find it at Sara Rosett.com/journal.

Mix together a World War II setting and a heist story, and you've got the very entertaining novel, A Peculiar Combination by Ashley Weaver. This book has so many twists on tropes--cat burglars, Cinderella, and opposites attract, to name just a few. Plus, a safecracker protagonist torn between loyalty and revenge. So much to unlock! See what I did there? :) The Bookish Sleuth is a journal and planner designed exclusively for mystery readers. Find it at Sara Rosett.com/journal.

If you have a soft spot for rather dense sidekicks and you miss detectives from the 1920s, you'll enjoy The Sloane Square Mystery, a novel from one of Golden Age fiction's prolific writers, Herbert Adams. Published in 1925, The Sloane Square Mystery gives us a look at how the Bright Young People lived in High Society and how they handled the stress of the Great War. Plus we get a look at a well-rounded female secondary character who embodies the Plucky Young Woman trope.The Bookish Sleuth is a journal and planner designed exclusively for mystery readers. Find it at Sara Rosett.com/journal.

The Thursday Murder Club was the feel-good hit of 2020—and we certainly needed that in 2020! I think the novel is also an example of a new type of subgenre, upscale mystery book club fiction. Join me for a look at this new subgenre, plus an exploration of the Gang of Misfits trope and what it all has to do with yet another possible new trope, retirement club fiction. #SoManyTropesThe Bookish Sleuth is a journal and planner designed exclusively for mystery readers. Find it at Sara Rosett.com/journal.

Mystery Books Podcast is back (finally!) with Season Two.

Are you fond of a jolly little Christmas mystery? I certainly am. Join me for a look at the inspiration and research behind Murder on a Midnight Clear, a 1920s Christmas mystery.I can’t pass up a mystery set at a snowbound country estate, so that’s exactly the situation I put my characters in for the sixth book in the High Society Lady Detective series. In this episode I delve into the wonderful world of vintage luggage, American slang from the 1920s, and my research trip to London and what it has to do with a world-wide lockdown.

S1 E10 / This American-set 1920s mystery with an odd-couple pairing is a madcap American twist on Downton Abbey, with a murder mystery added, of course. Full show notes at https://www.sararosett.com/mbps1e10

S1 E9 / A small town cozy with plenty of humor and lots of Southern tropes? Yes, please! In this episode, we take a look at the clever set-up of this amateur sleuth mystery that features an obit writer who suspects the death of her old school friend wasn't suicide, but murder.Full show notes at https://www.sararosett.com/mbps1e9

S1 E8 / If you like Agatha Christie's mystery The Secret Adversary, you'll want to check out Patricia Wentworth's The Astonishing Adventure of Jane Smtih. It features a plucky young woman set on adventure, a dashing Scotland Yard man, and a mansion on a cliff by the sea. Gothic tropes abound! Plus find out the connection between Jane Smith and Ethan Hunt of the Mission Impossible franchise. #BonusTriviaFull show notes at https://www.sararosett.com/mbps1e8

S1 E7 / Sara pivots to look at mystery television in this episode. By-the-book British detective Miranda Blake goes to sunny Mallorca to escort a prisoner back to the UK, but things go very wrong. She must work with a relaxed German detective to solve the case, which results in some funny scenes and an enteratining odd couple pairing. Full show notes at https://www.sararosett.com/mbps1e7