The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving

 aired the week of October 27, 2025

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving is one of the earliest examples of American fiction with enduring popularity.  Written in 1820 the story is set in 1790 in the Dutch Settlement of Tarry Town.  Ichabod Crane is a school teacher who hopes to win the hand of the local farmer's daughter Katrina Von Tassel. When golden boy Abraham "Brom Bones" Van Brunt tells the story of the headless horseman Ichabod believes he is being chased by the headless horseman as he leaves the community gathering.

The Murder of Mr. Ma by John Shen Yen Nee & S.J. Rozan

 aired the week of October 20, 2025

The Murder of Mr. Ma by John Shen Yen Nee & S.J. Rozan is the first in a series that is a Chinese version of Sherlock Holmes.  Set in London in 1924 academic Lao She teams up with Judge De Ren Jie to track down the killer who is systematically killing men who served in the Great War with Judge Dee.  This twisty mystery with likeable characters and a well drawn historical setting is recommended for fans of Nilima Rao's Disappearance in Fiji, the Bangalore Detective Club series, the Perveen Mistry series and the Jane Wunderly series.

1. The Murder of Mr. Ma (2024)

2. The Railway Conspiracy (2025) 

Breadsong by Kitty & Al Tait

aired the week of October 13, 2025

Breadsong by Kitty & Al Tait is more than a cookbook for bread, it is the story of how Kitty Tait got her life back after a long fight with debilitating depression.  Kitty and her dad Al share how learning to bake bread and share it with friends in their small English village of Watlington was the start of a whole new life for fourteen-year-old Kitty and her entire family.  This is a story of overcoming and how a community rallied together to help their friend and neighbor.  Pair this with other food stories like Ruth Reichl's My Kitchen Year: 136 Recipes that Saved My Life and Ten Tomatoes that Changed the World by William Alexander.

One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig

 aired the week of October 6, 2025

One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig is a thrilling gothic fantasy which follows Elspeth Spindle. When she was nine, Elspeth caught the infection that gives people magic that will eventually kill them. However, no magic showed up for her until she touched an exceedingly rare magic card called the Nightmare Card. Now, the monster from the card is in her mind and refuses to be ignored. When Elspeth draws the attention of the King's family, she wind up in the middle of a dire plot of treason, magic, and secrecy. As much as she wants to ignore the Nightmare in her mind, she may not be able to any longer. This is the first book in the Shepherd King duology and is perfect for anyone who wants a spooky book for Halloween that isn't too scary.

All the Beauty in the World by Patrick Bringley

 aired the week of September 29, 2025

All the Beauty in the World by Patrick Bringley is a beautifully written autobiography about Bringley's time working for the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.  After Brignley's brother dies from cancer Bringley quits his job at the New Yorker Magazine and seeks solace and meaning in the most beautiful place he can imagine.  He answers an ad and becomes a guard at the Met.  Join Bringley for a behind the scenes tour of one of the most iconic art museums in the world.  Recommended for those who enjoyed Paul Kalanithi's When Breath Becomes Air, Randy Pauch's Last Lecture, and Margaret Renkl's The Comfort of Crows.

Novel Threat by Traci Hunter Abramson

 aired the week of September 22, 2025

Novel Threat by Traci Hunter Abramson introduces CIA financial analyst Kimber Seidel.  Kimber has been writing novels but too shy to submit her manuscript to a publisher.  Now one of her coworkers has submitted her book and the CIA is using it as cover to infiltrate a publisher who might be funding a terrorist organization.  Kimber is no field agent and she is afraid she will blow the cover of the agent already in the organization.  Imagine her surprise when she finds out Brandon whom she met on a flight is the other agent.  Recommended for fans of Lynette Eason and Karen Cleveland.

The Plum Tree by Ellen Marie Wiseman

 aired the week of September 15, 2025

The Plum Tree by Ellen Marie Wiseman tells the story of Christine Boltz a young German woman in love with a Jewish neighbor.  The Nazi party is rising to power and it has become illegal to have anything to do with Jews so Christine and Isaac must sneak around.  This powerful story told from Christine's point of view brings home what it was like to be a German citizen during World War II.  Recommended for readers of Pam Jenoff and Ronald Balson.

A Disappearance in Fiji by Nilima Rao

 aired the week of September 8, 2025

A Disappearance in Fiji by Nilima Rao is the first in a historical mystery series featuring Police Sergeant Akal Singh who is of Indian descent but stationed on the island of Fiji.  Akal seems to always be on the bad side of the Inspector-General so is surprised when he is given a new case.  A coolie has disappeared from one of the plantations and a local priest has talked to the newspaper claiming she was kidnapped.  It is Akal's job to get to the bottom of things and make this problem go away.

1. A Disappearance in Fiji

2. A Shipwreck in Fiji 

A Pirate's Life for Tea by Rebecca Thorne

 *aired the week of September 1

A Pirate's Life for Tea by Rebecca Thorne is a charming book full of humor, adventure, and love. Reyna and Kianthe are tracking dragon eggs, but along the way they get roped into dealing with a pirate problem. It become quickly apparent that the pirate and the constable chasing her know each other, and Reyna and Kianthe jump at the chance to live their pirate fantasies and play matchmaker. This is the second book in the Tomes & Tea series, but the story is independent enough that it could be read on its own. If you want puns, comfort, and just a touch of magic, this is the perfect book for you.

All Good People Here by Ashley Flowers

 aired the week of August 25, 2025

All Good People Here by Ashley Flowers introduces crime reporter Margot Davis who has returned to her hometown of Wakarusa, Indiana where she is taking care of her uncle who is in the early stages of dementia.  While there Margot hears of the abduction of a young girl from the playground of a town just down the road.  It brings back memories of when six-year-old Margot's best friend January Jones was taken and later murdered.  Could this be the work of the same killer? Margot's journalistic instincts kick in as she tires to unravel the mysteries of the past.  Recommended for fans of Megan Miranda, Liz Moore, Shari Lapena and Mary Higgins Clark.

All-of-a-Kind-Family by Sydney Taylor

 aired the week of August 18, 2025

 All-of-a-Kind-Family by Sydney Taylor was published in 1951 and was selected as one of the ten best children's books of the year according to Child Life magazine. This first in a series is set in 1912.  The family, modeled after Taylor's own family has 5 little girls.  The family lives in a 2 bedroom apartment on Manhattan's lower east side.  Join them as they live their life and celebrate the holidays and traditions of their Jewish faith.

1.  All-of-a-Kind-Family - 1951

2. More All-of-a-Kind-Family - 1954

3, All-of-a-Kind-Family Uptown - 1958

4.  All-of-a-Kind-Family Downtown - 1972

5. Ella of All-of-a-Kind-Family - 1978 

The Five Year Lie by Sarina Bowen

 aired the week of August 11, 2025

The Five Year Lie by Sarina Bowen starts with a shocking text message, "There's trouble.  I need to see you.  Meet me in one hour under the candelabra tree.  Don't tell anyone where you are going." Ariel can't believe she has heard from Drew after five years of silence.  She knows he died in a motorcycle accident, so is this some sort of cruel joke?  As she digs into their past things just don't add up.  Who was Drew, what was he up to and what happened? This romantic suspense novel is recommended for fans of Laura Dave's The Last Thing He Told Me.

They Came for the Schools by Mike Hixenbaugh

 *aired the week of August 4, 2025

They Came for the Schools by Mike Hixenbaugh follows the Carroll School district from Southlake, Texas as they went through a variety of media storms, from viral videos of students saying racial slurs, to book bans and school board debates after COVID-19. Southlake has been at the forefront of school politics at a national level, showing the impact that even one school district can make on the whole country. Mike Hixenbaugh, a NBC investigative journalist was reporting on the school district from the first viral video in 2018 to the end, so while this book does contain his opinions, it is still an interesting first-hand account on some of the current controversies facing schools and school boards right now. 

Shelterwood by Lisa Wingate

aired the week of July 28, 2025

Shelterwood by Lisa Wingate is set in the Winding Stair Mountain of southeastern Oklahoma.  Following two timelines the reader gets the story from eleven year old Olive Augusta Peele who along with her younger Choctaw sister are trying to hide from their lecherous stepfather in 1909.  Fast forward to 1990 where National Park Service Ranger Valerie Boren-Odell is working to get a new park ready for the grand opening when human remains are discovered in a cave within the park.  As Valerie learns more about the area's past and the plight of the elf children who were abandoned to the woods she becomes convinced someone is trying to hide the past and sabotage the park's grand opening.  Recommended for fans of Jess Montgomery and Amanda Skenandore.  For more information on the fate of Native Americans in Oklahoma pick up David Grann's Killers of the Flower Moon.

The Blessing Way by Tony Hillerman

 aired the week of July 21, 2025

The Blessing Way by Tony Hillerman written in 1970 introduces tribal police officer Joe Leaphorn.  Set on the Navajo Reservation in the Four Corners area of Arizona, Joe is following up on a missing person case that turns deadly.  He has to find out how this murder fits in with rumors of a witch in the shape of a gray wolf that has been spotted in the area. The Blessing Way is the first in an 18 title series by Hillerman who passed away in 2006.  Recommended for fans of Margaret Coel, Craig Johnson, C.J. Box and Aimee Thurlo.

Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies by Catherine Mack

 aired the week of July 14, 2025

Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies by Catherine Mack is a very tongue in cheek cozy mystery.  Eleanor Dash is the author of the very popular vacation mystery series.  She is on a tour in Italy to celebrate her 10th title in 10 years.  She is plotting ways to kill off her main character who happens to be her former love interest Connor.  But before she can plan it out, the real Connor tells her that someone is really trying to kill him.  Eleanor must team up with Connor and other friends to find out who is out to get him or is it just all in his head?  Recommended for fans of Jennifer Crusie and Elle Cosimono.

1. Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies (2024)

2. No One Was Supposed to Die at this Wedding (2025)

3. This Weekend Doesn't End Well for Anyone (2026) 

The Gatekeeper by James Byrne

 aired the week of July 7, 2025

The Gatekeeper by James Byrne is the first in the Dez Limerick thriller series. Dez is a gatekeeper which means he has military training and controls egress.  When he spots a sniper he gets involved saving a beautiful woman and getting himself embroiled in a plot to overthrow the government.  Recommended for fans of Lee Child's Jack Reacher series and books by Marc Cameron, Nick Petrie and Joseph Finder.

1. The Gatekeeper (2022)

2. Deadlock (2023)

3. Chain Reaction (2025)

4. Storm Warning (2026) 

The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune

 *aired the week of June 30, 2025

The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune is a delightful book about found family, prejudice, and finding humanity in the slog of endless systems and rules. Linus Baker is a 43 year old case worker for the Department in Charge of Magical Youth who gets assigned to make sure a classified orphanage is following all of the Rules and Regulations. However, the children he finds at the orphanage are anomalies, even as far as magical youth go. Linus quickly realizes that no Rules or Regulations can sufficiently care for these children with the compassion they deserve. But how can he ensure they get the support they need without the structure he has relied on all his life. The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune is a novel with captivating characters and a great deal of heart.