Siste episoder av Dark and Stormy Book Club podcast

1. Saying goodbye to Ann Dark13.03.2024 (00:03:39)
2. A Special Announcement13.02.2024 (00:01:30)

   We need to step away for about a month our beloved Ann Dark needs to take some time to heal. She can't wait to return to the podcast. Please join her family and freinds in wishing her well. We will be posting further updates on here or our facebook page. Thank you for your continue support and understanding.

3. Recommendations for your TBR list06.02.2024 (00:19:12)

   Recommendations For Your TBRShow NotesOn today's episode, we feature six books that we recommend for our listener's TBR. These are books thathave been sent to us for review. There is no way we can read every book but we want to make sure theyare highlighted in some way.Ann reported on Good Girls Don't Die by Christina Henry (Berkeley 11/23). This is the story of threewoman with one way out.Tracey reported on The Repurposed Spy by Oliver Dowson (self 3/22) A modern spy novel filled withhumor and intrigue.Misty had Miss Blaine, The Prefect & the Weird Sisters by Olga Wojtas (Felony & Mayhem Press 3/23) Aprefect who time travels to help people.Ann's second book is The Murder of Andrew Johnson by Burt Solomon (Forge Books 10/23) An inspectorlooks to see if the president was killed in his home state of TennesseeTracey 's second book is Anna-O by Matthew Blake (Harper 1/24) The story of a woman who commitstwo murders while sleepwalking and then never wakes up again.Misty's second book is The Lies I tell by Julie Clark (Source books 12/22) The story of a con woman whobecomes what her mark needs her to be.Tracey is currently reading “the Carrow Haunt” by Darcie Coates and the “Night Circus” by ErinMorgensternAnn is currently reading “The Deepest Kill” by Lisa Black, “The Waxworks Man” by J.C. Briggs, and“The Huntress” by Kate Quinn.Misty is currently working on her new mystery series based on a diner with dead people.

4. What We Are Reading January 202430.01.2024 (00:25:00)

   1-24 WWARNew BeginningsShow NotesFor our first WWAR for 2024, we discussed three books that feature new beginnings for the protagonist orstorylMisty reported on her book “Poison Ivy” by Misty Simon. This is the first book she had published in2004. It has been re-released two more times since then and has just been again re-released. She says thebook is still a lot of fun to read.Tracey reported on her book “What Waits In the Woods.” by Kieran Scott It features a ballerina who hasto begin over when she damages her leg and has to give up her dream of ballet. On the day she arrivesback in her hometown in rural Pennsylvania, a body is found behind her father's house.Ann reported on “Conflicting Loyalties: My Life As A Mob Enforcer turned DOJ Informant” by AidenGabor. It is a true story of a teenager who is forced to become an informant for the Justice Department inorder to stay out of jail. He remained an informant for almost 20 years when he got out. He then has tostart his life over a second time when he was diagnosed with ALS.We also reported on the books we are currrently reading.Misty is reading “Writing A Cozy Mystery” by Nancy J. Cohen, and says she reads it often to make sureshe is including everything in her books.Tracey is reading “A Good House For Children” by Kate CollinsAnn is currently reading “Seed” by Anya Allborne and “Calico” by Lee Goldberg.

5. Who to Believe - Edwin Hill Interview23.01.2024 (00:18:11)

   Edwin HillShow NotesToday we talk with Edwin Hill about his book Who To Believe. It will release today from KensingtonBooks.Monreith, Massachusetts, was once a small community of whalers and farmers. These days it’s a well-to-dotown filled with commuters drawn to its rugged coastline and country roads. A peaceful, predictable place—until popular restaurateur Laurel Thibodeau is found brutally murdered in her own home. Suspicion naturallyfalls on Laurel’s husband, Simon, who had gambling debts that only her life insurance policy could fix. Butthere are other rumors too . . .Among the group of six friends gathered for Alice Stone’s fortieth birthday, theories abound concerningLaurel’s death. Max Barbosa, police chief, has heard plenty of them, as has his longtime friend, Unitarianminister Georgia Fitzhugh. Local psychiatrist Farley Drake is privy to even more, gleaning snippets of gossipand information from his patients while closely guarding his own past.But maybe everyone in Monreith has something to hide. Because before this late-summer evening has cometo a close, one of these six will be dead. And as jealousy, revenge, adultery, and greed converge, thequestion becomes not who among these friends might be capable of such a thing, but—who isn’t?

6. Dark & Stormy's Top 5 Books of 202316.01.2024 (00:20:28)

   Top Five RundownShow notesOn today's episode we review our top 5 books we read over the past year.\5Ann – The Last Orphan by Greg HurwitzTracey – The Devil's Chew Toy by Rob Osler4Ann - Last Known Port by Sue AngerTracey - Bone Rattler by Elliot Pattison3Ann – The Hunter by Jennifer HereraTracey – The Camp by Nancy Bush2Ann – Malibu Burning by Lee GoldbergTracey – Just Like Home by Sarah Gailey1Ann – The Bones of Birka by Cynthia SurrisiTracey – Blacktop Wasteland by S.A. CosbyWe had a few honorable mentions of books that we did not cover on the program but were so good theydeserve a mentionAnn's listThe Girl in the Eagle's Talons by Karen SchmirnoffThe Road To Station X by Sarah BaringHolly by Stephen KingTracey's listThe Only One Left by Riley SagerVerity by Coleen HooverCarrie by Stephen KingTRIVIALast week's questionWhich mystery author has a span of 29 years between the publishing of one of her mysteries?a. Mary Roberts Reinhartb. Ruth Rendellc. Mildred Davisd. Amanda CrossThe answer is c. Mildred Davis. She wrote 18 mystery novels between the years 1948 and 1977. Shedidn't publish another until 2006 when she began the Murder in Maine mystery series with her daughterKatherine Roome.This week's question is:Author Robert Barnard wrote over 40 mysteries. He wrote 4 mysteries under the name Bernard Bastable.Who was his famous protagonist?a. Wolfgang Mozartb. Thomas Wolfec. Agatha Christied. Robert Barnard

7. David Simmons Interview - Ghosts of East Baltimore09.01.2024 (00:31:19)

   David SimmonsGhosts of E#ast BaltimoreShow NotesOn the first official episode of 2024, we talked with David Simmons about his book “Ghosts of EastBaltimore.: David was delightful. Worm, fresh out of jail, tries to make a little money to get back on his feet,and make it back to the halfway house before his 9 pm curfew. But what should be a simple drop-off, spiralsinto a nightmare. Worm is faced with a number of obstacles like Greek gangsters, gimps, mecha suits, wilddrugs, and more. This feels like the perfect cross-genre book written for me especially with the cloneconspiracy theory sprinkled in.Ghosts of East Baltimore is a wild ride and the perfect mix of elegant yet literary cosmic hood horror withtextured prose that not many could pull off. Rich with history, and a deep-seated love for Baltimore, this is afantastic crime fiction debut.TRIVIAAuthor Gary Phillips has edited several anthologies over the years. One that won particular accolades wasone that paid homage to a past president. Which one?a. Nixonb. Bushc. Washingtond. ObamaPhillips has edited a number of anthologies including Orange County Noir and The Obama Inheritance:Fifteen Stories of Conspiracy Noir, with the latter receiving the 2018 Anthony Award for Best Anthology. TheObama Inheritance was inspired by the many conspiracy theories generated about President Barack Obama.Each story in the anthology focused on one conspiracy theory as a means to "Riff on it, take it apart and turn iton its head, and give the reader a thrill ride of weirdo, noirish, pulpy goodnessWhich mystery author has a span of 29 years between the publishing of one of her mysteries?a. Mary Roberts Reinhartb. Ruth Rendellc. Mildred Davisd. Amanda Cross

8. St Nicholas -Short Story by Bruce Robert Coffin02.01.2024 (00:13:45)

   In the last of our Holiday Break short stories We read a story that Bruce Robert Coffin sent to us. It is a perfect story to end this season of giving and caring. Please enjoy!! Tune in next week for our regularly scheduled episodes.

9. The Noir Before Christmas by Ang Pompano26.12.2023 (00:28:49)

   The Noir before Christmas written and read by Ang Pompano

10. Disappear by Sue Anger19.12.2023 (00:33:29)

    The second in our Holiday Vacation series, Disappear is written and performed by the author, Sue Angejr. It tells the story of a sister's love and loss over the holidays.

11. Holiday Story Time part 112.12.2023 (00:17:00)

    Dark and Stormy is off enjoying the season. Please enjoy a few weeks of Holiday stories brought to you by some of our favorite authors. We will return in January with more original episodes.

12. December WWAR Winter Cold addition05.12.2023 (00:22:27)

    Ann reported on The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon (Anchor 2015)West Hall, Vermont, has always been a town of strange disappearances and old legends. Themost mysterious is that of Sara Harrison Shea, who, in 1908, was found dead in the field behindher house just months after the tragic death of her daughter.Now, in present day, nineteen-year-old Ruthie lives in Sara’s farmhouse with her mother, Alice,and her younger sister. Alice has always insisted that they live off the grid, a decision that hasweighty consequences when Ruthie wakes up one morning to find that Alice has vanished. Inher search for clues, she is startled to find a copy of Sara Harrison Shea's diary hidden beneaththe floorboards of her mother's bedroom. As Ruthie gets sucked into the historical mystery, shediscovers that she’s not the only person looking for someone that they’ve lost. But she may bethe only one who can stop history from repeating itself.Creepy, goosebumpy, scary ghost stories aren't only for cool fall evenings. It turns out that themiddle of January in remote Vermont when it's buried in snow is also the perfect setting for apsychological thriller filled with ghosts.Written by Jennifer McMahon, this is two stories in one with the common factor the setting of anold farmhouse on a secluded road in the very small town of West Hall, Vermont. The storiesalternate: One takes place in January 1908, including flashbacks about 20 years earlier. Theother takes place in the present day, also in January. This thickly-wooded homestead includesan outcropping of giant boulders that looks so much like a hand, the area has always beencalled Devil's Hand. Wander too far into the woods, and you might not make it out alive.Something is going on here, and those who have seen it believe there are ghosts in this spookyforest.It's January 1908. Sara Harrison Shea and her husband Martin Shea live in the farmhouse withtheir little girl, Gertie, who is 8 years old. One day she is found dead, having fallen 50 feet downa well. Sara collapses in grief, but writes her fears, anguish, and hopes into a secret diary. Saracomes to an untimely and gruesome death, which remains the stuff of legend in West Hall ahundred years later. She hid her diary in one of the hidey-holes in the old farmhouse, and manypeople want to find it because in it she supposedly left instructions on how to raise the dead tolife.Meanwhile in the present-day, Alice Washburne lives in the same farmhouse with her twodaughters, Ruthie, 19, and Fawn, 6. Alice, who is widowed, has lived off the grid for about 20years. No computer. No cell phone. No links to anyone in the world. Even in this small town, noteveryone knows who she is. On New Year's Day, Alice disappears. More than anything, Alicedislikes the police, so Ruthie knows she shouldn't call the cops. (This is one of several plotpoints—some small, some big—that make the mystery work. If Ruthie did call the cops orsomeone didn't lock her cell phone in the car so she didn't have it when she really needed it,things would have worked out quite differently. A little cheesy, perhaps.) The two stories—pastand present—converge as Ruthie discovers dark secrets about her own past and thosesurrounding this strange house.This is one of the creepiest stories I have ever read, and while the plots from both time periodsare rather farfetched, the book is a page-turner. It will keep you up past your bedtime, and if youread it then, you may very well have nightmares.Tracey's book was A Dark and Snowy Night by Sally Goldenbaum, #5 in the Seaside KnittersMystery Series (Kensington 2022)It’s holiday season in the picturesque, coastal town of Sea Harbor, Massachusetts! But in USAToday bestselling author Sally Goldenbaum’s latest Seaside Knitters Society mystery, theknitting club sleuths will have to take a break from crafting cozy Christmas gifts to investigate amurder at the Mayor’s holiday party.Winter in Sea Harbor is a feast for the senses—crackling bonfires, the scent of snow in the saltyair, carols ringing out on the village green. This year, the Seaside Knitters have a sackful ofobligations in addition to their usual Christmas preparations. Izzy is so overloaded with knittingclasses that she hires an extra salesperson, but the new addition has trouble fitting into the yarnshop’s holiday spirit. Cass, juggling the stresses of running her lobster fishery, has finally founda nanny for her active toddler. Molly Flanigan seems practically perfect in every way—until shesuddenly disappears, taking Cass’s beloved rescue mutt with her...Meanwhile, the holidays are kicking off in style at Mayor Beatrice Scaglia’s holiday party, wherea well-dressed crowd admires the mayor’s sumptuous new home and the celebrity chef cateringthe event. An additional treat for Ben and Nell Endicott at the festive affair is reconnecting with adear college friend, Oliver Bishop. But it’s not just reunions and the appetizers that are to-die-for.Before the party-goers can toast the beginning of Sea Harbor’s festive season, the chef—andyoung wife of the Endicott’s old Harvard friend—is found dead beneath the mistletoe.Izzy, Birdie, Nell, and Cass must uncover the pattern to these mysteries to remove suspicionfrom those they love, bring a murderer to justice—and keep Sea Harbor’s holiday magic fromvanishing into the chill winter air...TRIVIALast week's question was:Which mystery author was also a barrister?a. Linda Howardb. Patricia Moyesc. Eileen Dewshurstd. Nancy SpainThe answer is c. Eileen Dewhurst. She wrote the Hilary Tamar series This series of fourbooks, described as "legal whodunits", were written over a period of twenty years. Their primarysetting is the top floor of 62 New Square at Lincoln's Inn where four young junior barristers havetheir chambers: Michael Cantrip, Desmond Ragwort, Selena Jardine and Timothy Shepherd.While the last named only appears sporadically, taxes barrister Julia Larwood, who works in theadjacent premises, is a regular visitor and is in effect the fifth member of the group. Thesecharacters are in some ways thinly drawn (Selena is highly organized and efficient, Julia isclumsy and chaotic, Cantrip is casual and modern, Ragwort is elegant and conservative), nevercommunicating in anything other than an ironic tone, so that even when they are in deadlydanger the atmosphere remains uniformly light-hearted.This week's question is:Author Gary Phillips has edited several anthologies over the years. One that won particular accolades wasone that paid homage to a past president. Which one?a. Nixonb. Bushc. Washingtond. ObamaTune in next week for the answer.

13. Meet the Jersey Ghouls28.11.2023 (00:32:06)

    Jersey GhoulsShow notesToday we talked with Marissa and Jacki, two women we met at Fright Reads They host the Jersey Ghoulspodcast which features horror movies with a feminist twist. We Are in the process of planning acollaboration with them. They primarily feature movies in the horror genre and we will do a book versusmovie episode of Dark and Stormy Book Club.We are happy we met up with the girls and look forward to working with them.TRIVIA:Last week's question wasMark Andrew Twitchell is a Canadian filmmaker. He became famous in April 2011 for what?a. He used a fictional murderer as a guideline for the crimeb. He pulled off the biggest jewel heist in historyc. He murdered his wife and 6 childrend. He murdered a man and filmed the murderThe answer is a. He used a fictional murder as a guideline for murder. He was convicted of first-degree murder in April 2011 for the murder of John Brian Altinger His trial attracted particularmedia attention because Twitchell had allegedly been inspired by the fictional characteWhich mystery author was also a barrister?A/ Linda Howardb. Patricia Moyesc. Eileen Dewshurstd. Nancy Spain

14. Rapid Reads - Speed round reviews21.11.2023 (00:11:36)

    Rapid ReadsShow NotesFor our first Rapid Reads episode we gave short reviews of six different books:Militia House by John Milas“This is a beautiful horror story told masterfully and elegantly. It is a brilliant, different kind of warnovel, one that reveals the insidious ways the violences of war can tear people apart from the insideout. “Midnight is the Darkest Hour by Ashley Winstead“a gothic Southern thriller about a killer haunting a small Louisiana town, where twooutcasts―the preacher's daughter and the boy from the wrong side of the tracks―hold the key touncovering the truth. “Murder with Chocolate Tea by Karen Rose SmithTea shop owner and bride-to-be Daisy Swanson must solve a murder before she can say “I do”in the latest Daisy’s Tea Garden Mystery set in Pennsylvania’s Amish country...What Wild Women Do by Karma BrownTwo women's lives unexpectedly collide at a camp in the Adirondacks in this fascinating dual-timeline novel full of ambition, secrets, betrayal, mystery, intrigue, nature, inspiration, and a journey ofself-discovery.Spy Coast by Tess Gerritsen“This is a nice take on retirement—five old spooks whose bones may ache but whose mindsremain sharp. You can expect mystery, action, and bloodshed in this exciting thriller launched straightfrom the peaceful shores of Maine.”TRIVIALast week's question was:Which mystery author used the pseudonym Mark Sadler, John Crowe, Carl Dekker and William Arden?a. Dan Brownb. John Grishamc. Mickey Spillaned. Michael CollinsThe answer is d. Michael Collins but the name Michael Collins is actually a pseudonym for Dennis Lynds.Beginning in 1968 with The Mystery of the Moaning Cave and ending in 1989 with Hot Wheels, Lynds wrotefourteen novels under the pen name William Arden for the juvenile detective series The Three Investigators,which was originated by Robert Arthur, Jr. Under this same name, he also wrote five novels featuring privateeye Kane Jackson, a former military policeman who has become an industrial security specialist after leavingthe military. The first Jackson novel, A Dark Power, appeared in 1968.Prolific, explaining that he had more ideas than he knew what to do with, in addition to his Collins name, hecreated additional series under the pseudonyms Mark Sadler, John Crowe, and Carl Dekker. For a few years,he published under three of these pseudonyms at the same time at three different publishing housesThis week's question is::Mark Andrew Twitchell (born July 4, 1979) is a Canadian filmmaker. He became famous in April 2011 forwhat?a. He used a fictional murderer as a guideline for the crimeb. He pulled off the biggest jewel heist in historyc. He murdered his wife and 6 childrend. He murdered a man and filmed the murder

15. Lee Goldberg Interview - Malibu Burning14.11.2023 (00:19:25)

    Lee GoldbergMalibu Burning Show NotesToday we talked with our old friend Lee Goldberg about his bool Malibu Burning. It is the first in hisnew seriues featuring arson investigators Walter Sharpe and Andrew Walker. It is published by Thomas &Mercer and was released on September 1 of this year.Hell comes to Southern California every October. It rides in on searing Santa Ana winds that blast at nearhurricane force, igniting voracious wildfires. Master thief Danny Cole longs for the flames. A tsunami of fire isexactly what he needs to pull off a daring crime and avenge a fallen friend.As the most devastating firestorms in Los Angeles’ history scorch the hills of Malibu, relentless arsoninvestigator Walter Sharpe and his wild card of a new partner, Andrew Walker, a former US marshal, suspectthat someone set the massive blazes intentionally, a terrifying means to an unknown end.While the flames rage out of control, Danny pursues his brilliant scheme, unaware that Sharpe and Walker areclosing in. But when they all collide in a canyon of fire, everything changes, pitting them against anunexpected enemy within an inescapable inferno.TRIVIALast week's question was:John Dickinson Carr is famous for writing what?a. The most re-issued mysteriesb. Mysteries with hints given throughout the storyc. Impossible mysteries or locked room mysteriesd. First person mysteries.The answer is c. Impossible or locked room mysteries. John Dickinson Carr is credited with writing the first“impossible” mystery, Carr is generally regarded as one of the greatest writers of so-called "Golden Age"mysteries; complex, plot-driven stories in which the puzzle is paramount. He was influenced in this regard bythe works of Gaston Leroux and by the Father Brown stories of G. K. Chesterton. He was a master of the so-called locked room mystery, in which a detective solves apparently impossible crimes. The Dr. Fellmystery The Hollow Man (1935), usually considered Carr's masterpiece, was selected in 1981 as the bestlocked-room mystery of all time by a panel of 17 mystery authors and reviewers.[1] He also wrote a number ofhistorical mysteries.This week's question is:Which mystery author used the psynonym Mark Sadler, John Crowe, Carl Dekker and William Arden?a. Dan Brownb. John Grishamc. Mickey Spillaned. Michael CollinsTune in next week for the answer.

16. WWAR NOVEMBER 202307.11.2023 (00:29:44)

    WWAR OctoberShow NotesOn today's episode, we selected mysteries that were set in Colonial America.Misty reported on “A Shaker Murder” by Eleanor Kuhns. It is #6 in her Will Rees mystery series.Fresh from facing allegations of witchcraft and murder, travelling weaver Will Rees, his heavily pregnant wifeLydia and six adopted children take refuge in Zion, a Shaker community in rural Maine. Shortly after theirarrival, screams in the night reveal a drowned body ... but is it murder or an unfortunate accident? The ShakerElders argue it was just an accident, but Rees believes otherwise.As Will investigates further, more deaths follow and a young girl vanishes from the community. Haunted bynightmares for his family’s safety, Rees must rush to uncover the truth before the dreams can become realityand more lives are lost. Yet can the Shaker Elders be trusted, or is an outsider involved? Misty highlyrecommends this series.Ann reported on “Brutalized” by J. R. Thompson. 17th-century Dublin, Ireland, preteen Callum McCarthyis shipped to the English Colonies, where he will endure horrors of the Irish slave trade. Intense and powerful,JR Thompson’s Brutalized explores ideas of greed, loneliness and despair, determination, and faith.Growing up in an area where poor Irish families are as welcome as malaria, Callum, the son of a drunkardfather and neglectful mother, already has the odds stacked against him. But when the boy is kidnapped fromhis own home, he’s plunged into a living nightmare.Upon arrival in America, a cruel man by the name of Josiah Gillcrest makes Callum his ill-treated workhorse.Bone-chilling secrets Callum uncovers on the tobacco plantation force him to make difficult decisions. Shouldhe make a run for it? Kill the wicked overseer, who happens to be his master’s son? Lead a slave uprising?The possibilities are endless.Mystery, brutality, and deep, dirty secrets saturate Brutalized as Thompson shares truths of white slavery fromIreland and Germany to Colonial America. Callum’s detective skills could prove useful in bringing crucialchanges to the plantation if they don’t kill him first.Finalkly Tracey reported on the book. Bone Rattler by Eliot Pattison. Unfairly convicted and force intoindentured servitude, young Highland Scot Duncan McCallum finds himself aboard a prisoner ship bound forthe New World. A series of mysterious deaths plagues the passengers and claims the life of Duncan’s dearfriend Adam Munroe. Enlisted by his captors to investigate, a strange trail of clues leads Duncan into the NewWorld and eventually thrusts him into the bloody maw of the French and Indian War.Duncan is indentured to the British Lord Ramsey, whose estate in the uncharted New York woodlands is aHeart of Darkness where multiple warring factions―the British, rogue Scots, the French, the Huron, and theIroquois―are engaged in battle. Exploring a frontier world shrouded in danger, Duncan, the exiled chief of hisnear-extinct Scottish clan, finds that sometimes justice cannot be reached unless the cultures and spirits ofthose involved are resolved.

17. Lou Berney Interview - Dark Ride31.10.2023 (00:18:48)

    Dark Rideby Lou Berney9/23/23 William MorrowThis week we visited with an old friend, Lou Berney, about his new book “Dark Ride.:From Lou Berney, the acclaimed, multi award-winning author of November Road and The Long and FarawayGone, comes a Dark RideSometimes the person you least expect is just the hero you needTwenty-one-year-old Hardy “Hardly” Reed—good-natured, easygoing, usually stoned—is drifting through life.A minimum-wage scare actor at an amusement park, he avoids unnecessary effort and unrealistic ambitions.Then one day he notices two children, around six or seven, sitting all alone on a bench. Hardly checks ifthey’re okay and sees injuries on both children. Someone is hurting these kids.He reports the incident to Child Protective Service.That should be the end of it. After all, Hardly's not even good at looking out for himself so the last thing hewants to do is look out for anyone else. But he's haunted by the two kids, his heart breaking for them. And themore research he does the less he trusts that Child Protective Services —understaffed and overworked—willdo anything about it.That leaves...Hardly. He is probably the last person you’d ever want to count on. But those two kids havenobody else but him. Hardly has to do what's right and help them.For the first time in his life, Hardly decides to fight for something. This might be the one point in his entire life,he realizes, that is the entire point of his life. He will help those kids.At first, trying to gather evidence that will force the proper authorities to intervene, Hardly is a total disaster.Gradually, with assistance from unexpected allies, he develops investigative skills and discovers he’s smarterand more capable than he ever imagined.But Hardly also discovers that the situation is more dangerous than he ever expected. The abusive father whohas been hurting these children isn’t just a lawyer—he also runs a violent drug-dealing operation. The motherclaims she wants to escape with the kids—but Hardly isn't sure he can trust her.Faced with a different version of himself than he has ever known, Hardly refuses to give up. But hiscommitment to saving these kids from further harm might end up getting the kids, and Hardly himself, killed.TRIVIALast week's question was:Isaac Asminov was a prolific author but he had one serious phobia.. What was it?a. Fear of the number 13b. Fear of Heightsc. Fear of Closed spacesd. Fear of flyingThe answer is d. Fear of Flying.. Asimov was afraid of flying, doing so only twice: once in the course ofhis work at the Naval Air Experimental Station and once returning home from Oahu In 1946. Consequently, heseldom traveled great distances. This phobia influenced several of his fiction works, such as the Wendell Urthmystery stories and the Robot novels featuring Elijah Baley. In his later years, Asimov found enjoymenttraveling on cruise ships, beginning in 1972 when he viewed the Appollo 11 launch from a cruise ship. Onseveral cruises, he was part of the entertainment program, giving science-themed talks aboard ships such asthe Queen Elizabeth 2. He sailed to England in June 1974 on the SS France for a trip mostly devoted tolectures in London and Birmingham, though he also found time to visit Stonehenge.This week's question is:Mystery author Charlotte MacLeod had a family connection to which criminala. Whitey Bulgerb. John Gottic. Al Caponed. Albert Anastasia

18. Vanessa Riley Interview24.10.2023 (00:29:02)

    Today we visited wi6h Vanessa Riley about her bnook Murder at Drury Lane. Portraying the true diversity of the Regency-era and the hidden intrigue of England’s abolitionist movement, this vibrant, inclusive new historical mystery from acclaimed author Vanessa Riley features an engaging heroine with an independent streak, a notorious past, and a decided talent for sleuthing…Pressed into a union of convenience, Lady Abigail Worthing knew better than to expect love. Her marriage to an absent lord does at least provide some comforts, including a box at the Drury Lane theater, owned by the playwright Richard Brinsley Sheridan. Abigail has always found respite at the theater, away from the ton’s judgmental stares and the risks of her own secret work to help the cause of abolition—and her fears that someone from her past wants her permanently silenced. But on one particular June evening everything collides, and the performance takes an unwelcome turn . . .Onstage, a woman emits a scream of genuine terror. A man has been found dead in the prop room, stabbed through the heart. Abigail’s neighbor, Stapleton Henderson, is also in attendance, and the two rush backstage. The magistrate, keen to avoid bringing more attention to the case and making Lady Worthing more of a target, asks Abigail not to investigate. But she cannot resist, especially when the usually curmudgeonly Henderson offers his assistance.Abigail soon discovers a tangled drama that rivals anything brought to the stage, involving gambling debts, a beautiful actress with a parade of suitors, and the very future of the Drury Lane theatre. For Abigail the case is complicated still further, for one suspect is a leading advocate for the cause dearest to her heart—the abolition of slavery within the British empire. Uncovering the truth always comes at a price. But this time, it may be far higher than she wishes to pay.

19. Robert Bryndza "Fear The Silence"17.10.2023 (00:18:23)

    ‘Do you believe Will took his own life?’The question echoed off the white tiles in the hospital’s cold, cavernous morgue, and I studied my husband in peaceful repose. I leaned down and put my forehead against his. Silent tears ran down my cheeks. They felt hot, and he felt so cold. It was five days since his death, and my grief felt heavy, like a vast, dark mass pushing down on me.”When Maggie’s husband, Will, is shot dead in their London home, she thinks he is the victim of a burglary until the police tell her the shocking news that Will was the one who pulled the trigger.Maggie is consumed with grief and questions. Will wasn’t suicidal. He had so much to live for.After the funeral, Maggie travels to their holiday home on a small Croatian island to escape London. She finds a disturbing letter written by Will, containing clues to a dark secret.As Maggie puts the pieces together, she discovers Will’s death is connected to someone from his past… Someone who will go to extreme lengths to keep Maggie silent.Three can keep a secret... If two of them are dead.The international multi-million bestselling author of The Girl in the Ice is back with his first stand-alone thriller, a heart-racing, hold-your-breath read that will keep you hooked until the very last page.

20. Desmond P Ryan Interview and Fright Reads recap10.10.2023 (00:32:12)

    Desmond P. Ryan and Fright Reads RecapShow NotesOn this episode we talked with old friend Desmond Ryan. His Mary Margaret O'Shea mystery series hasfinally been published.Mary Margaret and The Case of The Lapsed Parishoner (Level Best Books 8.28.23) When Mary-MargaretO'Shea, a woman of a certain age with mildly Machiavellian tendencies, discovers a homicide scene andmeets an unimpressive lead investigator, she realizes that she has no choice but to solve the crime herself.With little help from Michael, her police-detective son, she enlists Arthur, her eccentric housekeeper, to helpher find the killer.In Mary-Margaret and The Case of The Lapsed Parishioner, a series of assumptions and misguided stepsmay lead her to the killer, or they may make her the next victim.Desmond is working on two new series and has begun a writers event at a local pub near his home inToronto. We wish him all the best and look forward to talking with him soon.We then gave a quick recap of the Fright Reads Book Convention we attended last weekend. The event hasgrown over the years and we were thrilled and had a wonderful time. We were honored to hose three authorpanels during the event. We met many new friends and were very pleased to meet the Jersey Ghouls. Theyhave a podcast which mainly covers horror movies with a feminist twist.. We are planning on having acollaboration with them next year. We thank Harry Carpenter and his team for their expertise on planning andexecuting such a great event. We can't wait for next year.Due to the length of today's episode, we will defer trivia until next week.

21. WWAR Oct 2023 Spooky Reads03.10.2023 (00:23:19)

    WWAR October 2023Show NotesToday is WWAR for October and our theme is Horror or Spooky reads.Tracey reported on Just Like Home by Sarah Gailey. Just Like Home is a darkly gothic thriller perfect forfans of Netflix's The Haunting of Hill House as well as HBO's true crime masterpiece I'll Be Gone in the Dark.“Come home.” Vera’s mother called and Vera obeyed. In spite of their long estrangement, in spite of thememories ― she's come back to the home of a serial killer. Back to face the love she had for her father andthe bodies he buried there, beneath the house he'd built for his family.Coming home is hard enough for Vera, and to make things worse, she and her mother aren’t alone. Aparasitic artist has moved into the guest house out back and is slowly stripping Vera’s childhood for spareparts. He insists that he isn’t the one leaving notes around the house in her father’s handwriting... but whoelse could it possibly be?There are secrets yet undiscovered in the foundations of the notorious Crowder House. Vera must face themand find out for herself just how deep the rot goes.She then touched on Mary by Nat Cassidy (Tor Nightfire 7/22). Mary is a quiet, middle-aged woman doingher best to blend into the background. Unremarkable. Invisible. Unknown even to herself.But lately, things have been changing inside Mary. Along with the hot flashes and body aches, she can’t lookin a mirror without passing out, and the voices in her head have been urging her to do unspeakable things.Fired from her job in New York, she moves back to her hometown, hoping to reconnect with her past andinner self. Instead, visions of terrifying, mutilated specters overwhelm her with increasing regularity and shebegins auto-writing strange thoughts and phrases. Mary discovers that these experiences are echoes of aninfamous serial killer.Then the killings begin again.Mary’s definitely going to find herself.Ann reported on the book Holly by Stephen King (Scribner 9/5/23). It really isn't a horror novel but itdoes have a very spooky vibe.Stephen King’s Holly marks the triumphant return of beloved King character Holly Gibney. Readers havewitnessed Holly’s gradual transformation from a shy (but also brave and ethical) recluse in Mr. Mercedes toBill Hodges’s partner in Finders Keepers to a full-fledged, smart, and occasionally tough private detectivein The Outsider. In King’s new novel, Holly is on her own, and up against a pair of unimaginably depraved andbrilliantly disguised adversaries.When Penny Dahl calls the Finders Keepers detective agency hoping for help locating her missing daughter,Holly is reluctant to accept the case. Her partner, Pete, has Covid. Her (very complicated) mother has justdied. And Holly is meant to be on leave. But something in Penny Dahl’s desperate voice makes it impossiblefor Holly to turn her down.Mere blocks from where Bonnie Dahl disappeared live Professors Rodney and Emily Harris. They are thepicture of bourgeois respectability: married octogenarians, devoted to each other, and semi-retired lifelongacademics. But they are harboring an unholy secret in the basement of their well-kept, book-lined home, onethat may be related to Bonnie’s disappearance. And it will prove nearly impossible to discover what they areup to: they are savvy, they are patient, and they are ruthless.Holly must summon all her formidable talents to outthink and outmaneuver the shockingly twisted professorsin this chilling new masterwork from Stephen King.Her second book is much more or a horror novel. She reported on the book Knock, Knock, Open Wide byNeil Sharpson. (Tor Nightfire 10/3/23)Knock Knock, Open Wide weaves horror and Celtic myth into a terrifying, heartbreaking supernatural tale offractured family bonds, the secrets we carry, and the veiled forces that guide Irish life.Driving home late one night, Etain Larkin finds a corpse on a pitch-black country road deep in the Irishcountryside. She takes the corpse to a remote farmhouse. So begins a night of unspeakable horror that willtake her to the very brink of sanity.She will never speak of it again.Two decades later, Betty Fitzpatrick, newly arrived at college in Dublin, has already fallen in love with thedrama society, and the beautiful but troubled Ashling Mallen. As their relationship blossoms, Ashling goes togreat lengths to keep Betty away from her family, especially her alcoholic mother, Etain.As their relationship blossoms, Betty learns her lover's terrifying family history, and Ashling's secret obsession.Ashling has become convinced that the horrors inflicted on her family are connected to a seemingly innocentchildren's TV show. Everyone in Ireland watched this show in their youth, but Ash soon discovers that no oneremembers it quite the same way. And only Ashling seems to remember its star: a small black goat puppetwho lives in a box and only comes out if you don’t behave. They say he’s never come out.Misty reported on the book “The 2ndGrave On the Left” by Darynda Jones. It is the second book in theCharley Davidson Mystery series. (St. Martins 8/2011)When Charley Davidson and Cookie (her best friend/receptionist) have to track down a missing woman, thecase is not quite as open and shut as they anticipate. A friend of Cookie's named Mimi disappeared five daysearlier. This friend then sends Cookie a cryptic message telling them to meet her at a nearby coffee shop. Thecoffee is brewing, but Mimi's still missing. There is, however, a clue left on the bathroom wall: a woman'sname, scribbled by Mimi. Mimi's husband explains that his wife had been acting strange since she found outan old friend of hers from high school had been murdered a couple weeks prior. The same woman Mimi hadnamed in her message.Meanwhile, Reyes Alexander Farrow (otherwise known as the Son of Satan. Yes. Literally) has left hiscorporeal body and is haunting Charley. He's left his body because he's being tortured by demons who wantto lure Charley closer. But Reyes can't let that happen. Because if the demons get to Charley, they'll have aportal to heaven. And if they have a portal to heaven...well, let's just say it wouldn't be pretty. Can Charleyhandle hot nights with Reyes and even hotter days tracking down a missing woman? Can she keep those sheloves out of harm's way? And is there enough coffee and chocolate in the world to fuel her as she does?Here is your signpost for the most hilarious read of the summer: Second Grave On The Left.TRIVIALast week's question was:Author Stephen King has become well known for appearing in film adaptations of his ownbooks. What made his first appearance in a movie notable?a. He was just passing byb. He wrote himself into the storyc. the movie was not from one of his booksd. He was highThe answer is c. The movie was not from one of his books. King appeared in George ARomero's “Knightriders”. He played Hoagie Man and would go on to appear in the adaptation ofCreepshow in 1982.This week's question is:Which mystery author was born with the name Howard Allen Frances O'Brien?a. Dick Francisb. Ann Ricec. Maureen Jenningsd. Harold PinterTune in next week for4 the answer

22. Annen and Rada episode26.09.2023 (00:30:58)

    On today's episode, we spoke with two more of the authors who will be featured at Fright Reads. Melissa C. Annen is an author who writes a series called the Agent Raines series. There are currently two books in the series and she is working on the third. She is planning to release a stand alone book at Fright Reads titled “The Familiar Stranger.” Melissa also produces a podcast with her best friend. The podcast is called Nothing Happens In A Small Town. They grew up in a small town and, of course, things happen in a small town. It is available of Spreaker, Spotify and other podcast hosting sites. Her website is https://melissacannen.com We then talked with James Rada, Jr. Jim is an Amazon.com-bestselling author who writes non-fiction history and historical fiction. His books include the historical novels “Canawlers,” 'October Mourning,” “Between Rail and River,” and”The Rain Man.” His non-fiction books include “Battlefield Angels: The Daughters of Charity Work as Civil War Nurses” and “Looking Back: True Stories of Mountain Maryland.” Many of his books have been bestsellers in their categories on Amazon.com. He also writes fantasy, horror, and young adult fiction under the pen name J. R. Rada. You can find out more about these books under the J. R. Rada tab. He lives in Gettysburg, Pa., where he works as a freelance writer. Jim has received numerous awards from the Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association, Associated Press, Maryland State Teachers Association and Community Newspapers Holdings, Inc. for his newspaper writing. His website is https://jamesrada.com

23. Fright Reads Spotlight Joyce Elaine and Roasalie Spielman19.09.2023 (00:28:04)

    Joyce Elaube?Rosalie SpielmanToday we talk with two of the authors for Fright Reads Book Conference which will be help September30 and October 1 in Millersville, MarylandJoyce Elaine is a hard working kind of gal who loves to get out and see new thingsand have little adventures during her down time. She also loves to write. She hasenjoyed writing ever since she learned how to write. She can remember being 13years old, with a notebook, and big yard at home to sit down in and write. She wroteabout many things. Sge made up stories, kept a journal, and wrote poems. As shegot older, she realized how much she really enjoy writing and that people actuallyenjoy reading what she writes. Her dream is to be a published author and she iscurrently working on that journey! She also wants to travel – get out and see theworld. She has a side project with her husband called Marylander’s Visiting. Theyhave set out to visit every single city in Maryland as time permits. They also plan tovisit more states and other countries to add to their project. You can find all myFacebook pages by simply scrolling down and clicking on the one of your choice.Check back often. Read. Comment. Share.Her book series has three books – The Gift of Death, the Gift of Death – Revenge and she is working onthe third book called The Final GiftHer website is joyceelainewrites.comWe then spoke with Rosalie Spielman. She is a contributing author for the Aloha Lagoon Mystery seriesput out by Gemma Holiday Publishing. She also writes a Hometown Mystery Series based on a retiredveteran living in a small town in Oregon. Her books are titled “Welcome Home to Murder,”“Home is Where the Murder Is” and the third book in her series will come out in November “MurderComes Home.”Originally from a tiny town in the Palouse region of Idaho, as a military brat, Army officer, andmilitary spouse (retired), Rosalie has moved more times than she has fingers to count, ond shehas just broken her record of living six years at one address.Somewhere along the way, she discovered that she could make other people laugh with herwriting. She enjoys reading to escape from the real world and hopes to give readers the samewith her stories.Her website is https://rosalie-spielman-author.Join us at Fright Reads and meet these and the other wonderful authors.TRIVIALast week's question was:Where did Carole Nelson Douglas find Midnight Louie?a. At the ASPCAb. A neighbor gave him to herc, In the newspaperd. He was found on her doorstepThe answer was C. In the newspaper. Douglas was a theater and English literature major in college. Aftergraduation, she worked as a newspaper reporter and then editor in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. During hertime there, she discovered a long, expensive classified advertisement offering a black cat named MidnightLouie to the "right" home for one dollar and wrote a feature story on the plucky survival artist, putting it into thecat's point of view. The cat found a country home but its name was revived for her feline PI mystery seriesmany years later. Some of the Midnight Louie series entries include the dedication "For the real and originalMidnight Louie. Nine lives were not enough.This week's question is:In 1991, Dutch writer Richard Klinkhamer wrote his book “Wednesday, Mince Day.” What did hedo right before he delivered the manuscript.a. murdered his wifeb. Robbed a bankc. Shot himselfd. Cashed a forged checkTune in next week for the answer.

24. Harry Carpenter Fright Reads12.09.2023 (00:24:56)

    On today's episode, we visit with Harry Carpenter, an author and the Founder and Producter of the Fright Reads Book Festival. This will be the third year for the event and it has grown over the past three years. Harry goes into the guest celebrities and authors he has lined up. The event is to be held in Millersville Maryland on September 30 and October 1. For information on the event or for tickets, visit https://frightreads.com. It was lovely talking with Harry and we look forward to the event. The next two weeks of Dark and Stormy Book Club Podcast will feature interviews with some of the authors we will meet at the event.

25. Sept 2023 WWAR complete05.09.2023 (00:28:24)

    On today's episode, we selected libraries and librarians for our WWAR subject for this month. Misty reported on the book “Librarians and Larceny” (Book One in the Rebel Librarian Crime Fighter Mystery series by Cyndy Cypress LARCENY! KIDNAPPING! MURDER! OH MY!In the cozy college town of Kootenai Hills, Montana, a beloved librarian goes missing … right under the noses of Rebecca Fulton, the university's newest library coordinator, and Jenn Acosta, a mature grad student and aspiring librarian!And it happened in broad daylight … during homecoming weekend, no less!But that's not the only thing that's disappeared. An important historical manuscript tied to the missing librarian's past, leaves the women wondering just what Rebecca's boss and beloved mentor got himself into.What happened to Professor Clifford Smith?Rebecca and Jenn are determined to find out, but they have a few of their own challenges to work through first - a grumpy police captain being one of them.Do these two polar opposites have what it takes to break away from their quiet, campus-librarian lifestyles and make it as amateur sleuths? Can they save the professor, find the manuscript, and stop those responsible from getting away with the perfect crime? Or will their naivety and inexperience put their lives in danger and land Rebecca behind bars?There's only one way to find out.Welcome to Cascade University, where you’ll meet the latest budding female detectives, along with Jenn’s uncommonly intelligent canine sidekick, and an eccentric old man who lives in his motorhome.What could possibly go wrong?Enjoy this totally addictive cozy mystery. Tracey then reported on “The Librarian of Crooked Lane” (Book one in the Glass Library series) by C.J. Archer. Librarian Sylvia Ashe knows nothing about her past, having grown up without a father and a mother who refused to discuss him. When she stumbles upon a diary that suggests she’s descended from magicians, she’s skeptical. After all, magicians are special, and she’s just an ordinary girl who loves books. She seeks the truth from a member of the most prominent family of magicians, but she quickly learns that finding the truth won’t be easy, especially when he turns out to be as artless as her, and more compelling and dangerous than books.War hero Gabe is gifted with wealth, a loving family, and an incredible amount of luck that saw him survive four harrowing years of a brutal war without injury. But not all injuries are visible. Burying himself in his work as a consultant for Scotland Yard, Gabe is going through the motions as he investigates the theft of a magician-made painting. But his life changes when he unwittingly gets Sylvia dismissed from her job and places her in danger.After securing her new employment in a library housing the world’s greatest collection of books about magic, Gabe and Sylvia’s lives become intwined as they work together to find both the painting and the truth about Sylvia’s past before powerful people can stop them.But sometimes the past is better left buried… Ann then reported on “Checked Out” (Number one in the Village Library Mystery Series) by Elizabeth Spann Craig. There are no renewals when you’re permanently checked out. When librarian Ann Beckett finally reluctantly agrees to being set-up on a blind date by one of her over-eager patrons, she figures the worst that could happen would be the two of them wouldn’t hit it off. Little did she know that she’d be stood up...because her date was murdered. With help from her patrons, Ann tries to find out who might be responsible in the small town of Whitby before more residents are permanently checked out.