Suggest a book for the podcast or say hello! 🔍 Ever wondered what happens when you combine medieval French scholarship, advertising expertise, and detective fiction? Meet Dorothy L. Sayers, whose Lord Peter Wimsey mysteries revolutionized the genre. ✍️ Join me as I explore the interesting career of one of the founding authors of the Detection Club who wrote mysteries where love bloomed between intellectual equals then went on to write something completely different! Where to start with Dorothy ...
Mar 26, 2025•8 min•Season 6Ep. 6
Suggest a book for the podcast or say hello! 🎭 Did you know the Queen of Regency Romance was also a master of murder mysteries? Join me as we explore Georgette Heyer's lesser-known but equally interesting career as a crime writer. 🏰 Heyer’s mysteries usually revolved around country house murders with police sleuths, Superintendent Hannasyde and Inspector Hemingway. ⭐️ Whether you're a fan of her Regency romances or new to Heyer, you'll discover why her twelve mystery novels still intrigue fans...
Mar 12, 2025•6 min•Season 6Ep. 5
Suggest a book for the podcast or say hello! 🔍 Are you fascinated by detectives who aren't quite what they appear to be? Join me for a deep dive into Margery Allingham's world, where her famous sleuth Albert Campion hides his clever mind behind a decidedly foolish facade. 📖 Allingham was born into a family of storytellers and was a child prodigy who earned her first writing fee at age eight, then went on to become one of the "Queens of Crime." 💫 Join me and discover why Margery Allingham stan...
Feb 26, 2025•7 min•Season 6Ep. 4
Suggest a book for the podcast or say hello! 🎭 What happens when two Australian nurses move to New York City and start writing "wacky cozies"? Join me for the interesting story of the Little Sisters, whose 21 mysteries combined clever plots with laugh-out-loud humor. 🏥 I explore the backstory of their unique collaboration style and how Constance and Gwenyth Little's experiences as working nurses influenced their resourceful heroines. ⭐️ Their recently “rediscovered” books blend romance and mys...
Feb 12, 2025•6 min•Season 6Ep. 3
Suggest a book for the podcast or say hello! 🔍 Ever wondered what happens when two mystery writers fall in love and collaborate? That’s exactly what happened with the two authors behind the pen name Kelley Roos. The result is a series of books where marriage and mystery meet. 🌆 Audrey and William Roos created sophisticated stories that balanced romance and suspense. Their Jeff and Haila Troy series, beginning with Made Up to Kill , brings to life the glamour and intrigue of mid-century New Yor...
Jan 29, 2025•5 min•Season 6Ep. 2
Suggest a book for the podcast or say hello! 🔍 Agatha Christie is often remembered for her mysterious 11-day disappearance, but there’s so much more to her story. From her early struggles as a writer to her rise as the best-selling fiction author of all time, Christie’s life was as interesting as her novels. ☠️ In this episode, I explore how her wartime experience* contributed to her mystery writing and how her travel influenced her settings. ✨ Join me as I uncover the full story of the Queen o...
Jan 15, 2025•11 min•Season 6Ep. 1
Suggest a book for the podcast or say hello! 🔎 From lockdown to the land of pyramids: learn how I researched 1920s Egypt during 2020, and created a heroine who was one of the original travel influencers. 📸 Meet Blix, my intrepid lady photographer who captures foreign locations on film and then entertains lecture halls full of curious Brits with tales of her adventures. 🌴 In this bonus episode, I give you a behind-the-scenes look at the research and inspiration for Murder Among the Pyramids , ...
Dec 20, 2024•8 min
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...
Jul 12, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Season 5Ep. 12
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. 😎 We'll take a closer look at the infamous Bruno Hat hoax, where a group of pranksters fooled the art world with a fictional artist and his bizarre creations. Book recommendation: Death Comes to Costa Del Sol by M.H. Eccleston - check out first...
Jun 28, 2024•36 min•Season 5Ep. 11
Suggest a book for the podcast or say hello! Step into the world of luxurious London living and intriguing mystery 🏢 These upscale apartments offered a new level of comfort and convenience for the affluent, with amenities like maid service, meal delivery, and even squash courts! 🎾 Discover the real-life inspiration behind fictional service flats like Hercule Poirot's swanky Whitehaven Mansions, and learn how I created my own fictional service flat, South Regent Mansions, for my mystery novel M...
Jun 14, 2024•37 min•Season 5Ep. 10
Suggest a book for the podcast or say hello! 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. 📚☎️ And did you know an authentic red telephone box could be the ultimate ho...
May 31, 2024•37 min•Season 5Ep. 9
Suggest a book for the podcast or say hello! 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” 💼 - a precursor to the modern crime scene investigation ...
May 17, 2024•56 min•Season 5Ep. 8
Suggest a book for the podcast or say hello! Servant Life: it wasn’t all elegance and extravagance in the 1920s Join 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! 🫧 Current Read: Nosy Neighbors by Freya...
May 03, 2024•1 hr•Season 5Ep. 7
Suggest a book for the podcast or say hello! Creative genius and chaotic influence: how a society photographer inspired a character This 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)...
Apr 16, 2024•52 min•Season 5Ep. 6
Suggest a book for the podcast or say hello! 🪩 They knew how to throw a killer party in the 1920s! Join me as I explore the opulence and extravagance of the themed parties of the Bright Young People and their over-the-top gatherings. From the circus party with wolves and horses to the bath and bottle parties that drew the attention of the police, the era's lavish soirées inspired the Silver and Gold Party in Murder at Archly Manor, which was an excellent backdrop for murder and mystery. Recent ...
Apr 03, 2024•57 min•Season 5Ep. 5
Suggest a book for the podcast or say hello! 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 G...
Mar 19, 2024•42 min•Season 5Ep. 4
Suggest a book for the podcast or say hello! ⛲️ 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! 🕵️♀️ Recent read: The Missing Maid by Holly Hepburn (Affiliate link) and thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for a review copy. Al...
Mar 05, 2024•25 min•Season 5Ep. 3
Suggest a book for the podcast or say hello! 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 . Su...
Feb 20, 2024•18 min•Season 5Ep. 2
Suggest a book for the podcast or say hello! 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 ...
Feb 06, 2024•37 min•Season 5Ep. 1
Suggest a book for the podcast or say hello! 🤨 Are you fond of impossible crime mysteries? What about swanky settings for 1920s mysteries? If you answered yes to either question, join me for a look at the inspiration and research behind Murder in the Alps , a 1920s mystery set in the glamorous winter playground of St. Moritz. 🔎 Olive Belgrave, discreet sleuth for the posh set, and her dashing companion Jasper, travel to the snowy resort for a little holiday, but find themselves mixed up in a m...
Dec 07, 2023•11 min•Season 4Ep. 7
Suggest a book for the podcast or say hello! 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 (Publi...
Nov 16, 2023•7 min•Season 4Ep. 6
Suggest a book for the podcast or say hello! 🕵️♀️ 🕵️ Get double the detection with this episode about odd couple crime-solving duos on TV. 🔎 The mismatched partners span the globe, from small town librarians to big city detectives, grumpy inspectors and sunny caterers. Even though they get off to a rocky start, these teams find their differences make them unstoppable. From ancient Roman Baths to the sun-soaked Australian outback, these crime shows traverse the world. ⭐️ For each show, I'll r...
Nov 02, 2023•15 min
Suggest a book for the podcast or say hello! ⚓️ All aboard for a look at Death on the Isle , an amateur sleuth mystery from M. H. Eccleston with a nautical theme. 🚤 This isle-set mystery takes you to the Isle of Wight during yachting season. When freelance art restorer Astrid takes on a freelance job of appraising the art in an estate on the island, she ends up investigating a suspicious death with help from an artsy crew. A dash of family drama and a peek into luxury lifestyles of the uber ric...
Oct 19, 2023•8 min•Season 4Ep. 4
Suggest a book for the podcast or say hello! 🍿 If you're in the mood for a mystery with Golden Age overtones combined with a behind-the-scenes look at the film industry, grab your popcorn and settle in for a discussion of The Three Dahlias by Katy Watson. 🏛️ The modern day mystery is set at Aldermere House, home to the legendary author Lettice Davenport and her fictional 1930s sleuth, Dahlia Lively. ⭐️ Three rival actresses, connected to Dahlia's adaptations, must collaborate to solve a murder...
Oct 05, 2023•11 min•Season 4Ep. 3
Suggest a book for the podcast or say hello! 📺 If you ever wished your favorite Doris Day/Rock Hudson movie was a whodunit, then the 1950s mystery, “The Socialite’s Guide to Murder,” by S. K. Golden is for you. 🏢 Wealthy Evelyn lives a life of privilege in the New York hotel her father owns. The swanky Park Avenue address has everything she could want–a luxurious suite, excellent cuisine, a dress boutique, and attentive staff. In fact, she hasn’t left the hotel premises in fourteen months, so ...
Sep 21, 2023•9 min•Season 4Ep. 2
Suggest a book for the podcast or say hello! 🔎 Are you looking for a mystery for a book club pick with a Golden Age flavor similar to Agatha Christie with the bonus of deep themes and interesting characters? Then you’ll want to read “Unnatural Ends” by Christopher Huang. 🧩 “Unnatural Ends” has a classic set-up. A patriarch dies and when the family gathers to read the will, it’s revealed the death was murder. Where “Unnatural Ends” departs from many classic mysteries is the depth of characteriz...
Aug 25, 2023•11 min•Season 4Ep. 1
Suggest a book for the podcast or say hello! 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. 🔎📚✨ Support the show 📚 Buy Sara's books: SaraRosettBooks.com 🔎 Get more mystery in your life when you sign up for Sara's updates ....
Aug 25, 2023•42 sec
Suggest a book for the podcast or say hello! 🔎 If you like mysteries with dapper gentlemen sleuths, vintage CSI, and Golden Age fiction with themes that still resonate today, you’ll enjoy The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club by Dorothy L. Sayers. 🎩 Lord Peter Wimsey is the epitome of the dapper gentleman sleuth. He hides his sharp intellect under a foppish and sometimes silly manner. In many ways, he’s a 1920s update to The Scarlet Pimpernel, a mystery-solving Sir Percy Blakeney. ☠️ When a v...
Oct 06, 2022•17 min•Season 4Ep. 9
Suggest a book for the podcast or say hello! 🏛Take “Downton Abbey,” add a lady interested in science who becomes involved in a murder mystery, and you’d have “Poison at Pemberton Hall” by Fran Smith. 🧪As Vita Carew pursues the murderer, the book considers some serious questions about education (and obstacles women encountered in 1903), the perceptions of beauty, and beauty versus brains. Thanks to Vita’s dry wit, the story has a light, fun tone. I was rooting for Vita to catch the culprit and ...
Sep 22, 2022•9 min•Season 3Ep. 8
Suggest a book for the podcast or say hello! 🧐If you every wished for a mashup of Jane Austen’s Catherine Moreland from Northanger Abbey and a Christie-type shipboard murder, you’ll want to check out “Death in a Deck Chair” by K.K. Beck. 🕯While “Death in a Deck Chair” doesn’t have gothic overtones or take place at an abbey, it does feature Iris Cooper, a plain-Jane kind of heroine similar to Catherine Moreland. 🚢It’s the 1920s and Catherine is on an Atlantic crossing when one of the passenger...
Sep 08, 2022•10 min•Season 3Ep. 7
