Murder Your Employer by Rupert Holmes

 aired the week of October 28, 2024

Murder Your Employer by Rupert Holmes is a tongue in cheek murder mystery that follows Cliff Iverson as he becomes a scholarship student at the McMasters Conservatory for the Applied Arts.  McMasters is a school dedicated solely to helping those attend achieve the goal of getting away with murder.  Cliff would like to end the life of his former boss who has ruined so many other lives and McMasters is just the place to help him accomplish that goal.  But will he be successful in the application of his thesis to end the life of Merrill Fiedler?  Recommended for fans of Anthony Horowitz, Elle Cosimano and Deanna Raybourn.

Assassination Vacation by Sarah Vowell

 aired the week of October 21, 2024

Assassination Vacation by Sarah Vowell is a fascinating and humorous look into the stories behind three presidential assassinations by historian, author and journalist Sarah Vowell.  Sarah takes the reader along on her trips to museums, libraries and historical sites to learn more about the assassinations of Presidents Abraham Lincoln, James Garfield and William McKinley.  Recommended for fans of David Sedaris, Mary Roach and Sloan Crosley.

My Murder by Katie Williams

 aired the week of October 14, 2024

My Murder by Katie Williams is set in the near future where cloning is possible.  Lou was murdered by a serial killer and now she and the rest of his victims are back to continue on with their interrupted lives.  Lou feels disconnected from the old Lou and as she digs into her past she is confronted with a whole new mystery.  Who really wanted her dead?  Recommended for fans of David Bell and Kimberly McCreight.

Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney

 aired the week of October 7, 2024

Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney is a locked room mystery in the tradition of Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None. Daisy Darker's family is gathering at her Nana's cottage by the sea to celebrate Nana's 80th birthday.  Over dinner Nana drops the bomb that she is leaving everything to Daisy's 15-year-old niece.  Overnight family members start to be killed, one by one, but who could be doing it when no one from the outside can get to the house and everyone is in the same room together.  Everyone is hiding many secrets.  For fans of Ruth Ware, Paula Hawkins, Lucy Foley and B.A. Paris.

Tangled Vines by John Glatt

 *aired the week of September 30

Tangled Vines by John Glatt is a thrilling account of the history and downfall of the Murdaugh family. In 2022, Alex Murdaugh was convicted of first degree murder, after killing his wife and son. In this book, investigative journalist John Glatt researches the history of the family from 1793 when they first arrived in Hampton County, South Carolina to the trial in 2022. Through his investigation, Glatt uncovers a string of drug trafficking, substance abuse, and financial crimes that were covered up by the family for years, explaining how the family came to be known as a legal dynasty that everyone believed to be above the law itself.

Brave the Wild River: the Untold Story of Two Women Who Mapped the Botany of the Grand Canyon by Melissa Sevigny

 aired the week of September 23, 2024

Brave the Wild River by Melissa Sevigny is the story of Elzada Clover and Lois Jotter both botanists at the University of Michigan who undertake to catalogue the plants of the Grand Canyon during a 43 day boat journey down the Colorado River in 1938.  This work of narrative non fiction utilizes primary source materials including letters and diaries to bring the two women's story to life.  Recommended for fans of Empress of the Nile by Lynne Olson or Grandma Gatewood's Walk by Ben Montgomery

The Comfort of Crows: a Backyard Year by Margaret Renkl

 aired the week of September 16, 2024

The Comfort of Crows: a Backyard Year by Margaret Renkl is a beautifully illustrated volume of nature essays each one encompassing a week of the year following the seasons in Renkl's hometown of Nashville, Tennessee. Renkl an essayist for the New York Times makes the reader think about personal interactions with the natural world and how our actions affect the plants an animals around us.  Powerful and though provoking this book is recommended for fans of Gathering: a Memoir of a Seed Saver by Diane Ott Whealy.

The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer

 aired the week of September 9, 2024

The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer introduces us to Lucy Hart an aide in a Kindergarten class in California.  Her favorite children's author is holding a contest and she will be participating.  She is going to his home on Clock Island off the coast of Maine to participate in a series of contests against 3 other people.  If she wins, the prize will make it possible for her to provide a home for Christopher the young boy in foster care that she hopes to adopt.  Recommended for fans of Sarah Addison Allen and Sarah Jio.

You Can't Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne

 aired the week of September 2, 2024

You Can't Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne is a new addition to our Cozy Fantasy collection. Reyna and Kianthe run away from their responsibilities to open a tea and book shop on the border of two countries. However, dragon attacks and a vindictive queen threaten their newfound happiness. Can they keep the simple, comfortable life they created for themselves? This book is the perfect fall read if you enjoy a bit of magic, a tinge of mystery, and a lot of comfort.

Delphine Jones Takes a Chance by Beth Morrey

 aired the week of August 26, 2024

Delphine Jones Takes a Chance by Beth Morrey asks the question, are we brave enough to make the change needed even if it may be difficult or scary? Delphine has been hiding in plain sight, barely scraping by working as a barista and taking care of her father and 11-year-old daughter.  But she yearns for more in life.  Will she be brave enough to take life by the horns when that chance is offered to her.  A beautiful gentle story recommended for fans of Jojo Moyes, Nancy Thayer and Elizabeth Berg.

Spoon River Anthology by Edgar Lee Masters

 aired the week of August 19, 2024

Spoon River Anthology by Edgar Lee Masters was first published in 1914 and has since become part of the American Literary canon. It is a collection of stories spoken by the dead in a fictionalized Illinois graveyard.  These 244 accounts given by 212 separate characters are written as short free verse poems and serve as epitaphs for the residents of Spoon River, Illinois.  Who would you trust to sum up your life?  This classic work came to my attention when it was mentioned in Monica Wood's How to Read a Book.

Black Widows by Cate Quinn

 aired the week of August 12, 2024

Black Widows by Cate Quinn opens with the police visiting Blake Nelson's remote Utah ranch.  Blake's body has been found by a hiker and he didn't take his own life.  Because of the remote location it looks like the murderer must be his wife, but the question is which one?  The story follows Rachel, Tina and Emily three women who are married to Blake but don't like each other.  Who killed him and how will they get to the bottom of this twisty story full of dark secrets?  This thriller is recommended for fans of B.A. Paris, Jessica Strawser, sally Hepworth and Kimberly Belle.

Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan

 *aired the week of August 5, 2024

Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan is a heartwarming tale about family and coping with loss.  Willow Chance is a 12-year-old genius who is mostly concerned with gardens, medical conditions, and middle school until tragedy strikes.  As her world is falling apart, she has to learn to rely on an unlikely group of people to relearn what community and family means when everything seems to go wrong.  This book is perfect for readers of all ages and would be fun for parents and children to read together.

The Blonde Identity by Ally Carter

aired the week of July 29, 2024

The Blonde Identity by Ally Carter is a fun romantic spy romp.  A young woman comes to in the snow on the streets of Paris.  She has no idea who she is or why she is there but when a hot guy runs up to her she quickly learns she is a spy and all the bad guys are after her for stealing sensitive information from the Russians.   Trying to stay one step ahead of her would be killers is a lot of work as she tries to piece together who she is and what happened.  For fans of Ava Glass's Alias Emma.

How to Read a Book by Monica Wood

aired the week of July 22, 2024

How to Read a Book by Monica Wood is a beautiful story about second chances, unlikely friendships and the power of sharing stories.  Violet is serving a prison sentence for killing a kindergarten teacher while drunk driving.  In prison she meets Harriet a retired English teacher leading the book group.  On the outside Violet runs into Harriet in the local bookshop where Frank, whose wife was killed by Violet, works.  The reader is drawn into the beautifully rendered story of how these three very different individuals are able to help each other and form lasting bonds. Recommended for fans of Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt.

Lone Women by Victor Lavalle

 aired the week of July 15, 2024

Lone Women by Victor Lavalle is a genre bending novel that is part historical fiction, part western and part horror.  The year is 1915 and 31-year-old Adelaide Henry has just left her home in the Lucerne Valley of California to homestead on the Montana prairie.  She leaves behind her parents corpses in their burning farmhouse but takes with her a heavy padlocked steamer trunk that has her secrets and past.  Adelaide may be making a new start but when someone opens that steamer trunk her whole world is turned upside down.  Recommended for fans of Stephen King and Joe Hill.

Happy Place by Emily Henry

 aired the week of July 8, 2024

Happy Place by Emily Henry is a good summer beach read.  Harriet has recently broken up with her fiance Win but neither of them have been brave enough to tell their college friend group.  When everyone gets together for their annual summer vacation in Maine it becomes increasingly difficult to keep their breakup a secret but neither Harriet or Win want to ruin their best friend's summer and surprise wedding plans. Recommended for fans of Tessa Bailey, Abby Jimenez, Susan Mallery and Jill Shalvis.

Democracy Awakening by Heather Cox Richardson

 aired the week of July 1, 2024

Democracy Awakening by Heather Cox Richardson is a historical perspective on America's relationship with authoritarianism and what Richardson calls the "liberal consensus."  Richardson explores the changes to the Republican party from the New Deal until present day and gives a historical perspective to the current political climate.  This book is suggested to those who are interested by history and politics.

Playing the Fool by Lina Chern

 aired the week of June 24, 2024

Playing the Fool by Lina Chern is the first in a new mystery series.  Katie True loves to read Tarot cards and sometimes talks people into reading their cards when they come into the import store where she works.  When a disheveled man walks in she offers to read his cards.  He leaves his phone unlocked on the counter while using the restroom.  Katie quickly takes a peak.  In the message thread open she sees the photo of her best friend Marley propped up against a dumpster with a bullet hole in her temple.  What should Katie do?  Why is this picture on his phone and how can she track down her friend's killer when they can't find a body?  For fans of Elle Cosimano and Darynda Jones.

1. Playing the Fool (2023)

2. Tricks of Fortune (2025)

The Wager: a tale of Shipwreck Mutiny and Murder by David Grann

 aired the week of June 17, 2024

The Wager: a tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder by David Grann gives an accounting of what happened to the 28 gun warship that went aground off the coat of Chile after rounding Cape Horn in a storm.  There were varying accounts and the capability of Captain David Cheap was called into question.  A true story of historical intrigue by master storyteller David Grann.

The Murder Rule by Dervla McTiernan

 aired the week of June 10, 2024

The Murder Rule by Dervla McTiernan introduces Hannah Rokeby a law school student desperate to join The Innocence Project.  The group is working with convicted murderer Michael Dandridge and Hannah knows he isn't innocent.  What lengths will she go to to prove his guilt.?  For fans of Jane Harper, William Landy, Tana French and Karin Slaughter.