We discuss chapters 1-7 of the eleventh Albert Campion novel by Margery Allingham. A man who does not know himself awakens in a war-emptied hospital, and overhears word that he has killed a policeman. In a panic, the man pulls the fire alarm and flees in an unlocked car outside. A daring chase follows wherein he is tailed by his fiancé and the man he was supposed to meet, had he remembered he was supposed to do so. It turns out he was investigating the Bridge Institute for... something. Probably the card game, right?

We're also joined by author Pamela Hart to talk about 'An A-List For Death', the second Poppy McGowan novel, ahead of two events at this year's BAD: Sydney Crime Writers' Festival. Catch Pamela on Friday the 9th of September, from 10:30AM at the 'And Now For Something Slightly Different' panel, or her workshop 'The Victim is the Story' from 12:30PM.

We discuss chapters 10-13 of Dorothy L. Sayers first novel in her Lord Peter Wimsey series. Are murder mysteries realistic, you ask? As the scope tightens and we laser focus on the actions of our lead suspect, Lord Peter Wimsey sits down with a medical student who thinks the genre has unrealistic holes in its premise and debates the point. Unfortunately for the student, they are a character in a murder mystery, so they're fated to lose this fight and recover their lost memory of the final clue for the case. The requisite confession letter arrives, and we learn the true nature of the 'genius' behind this crime.

We also speak with Westender and debut novelist Jamie West about his upcoming release 'Death on the Pier'. In Jamie's revival of the decades-lost Brighton Palace Pier Theatre, an actress is shot under the cover of her character dying in a play, and it falls to Bertie Carroll to translate the oddities of theatre to his old friend, Chief Detective Inspector Hugh Chapman. Get subscribed to Death of the Reader's podcast to hear the full spoiler discussion when the book launches in October!

We discuss chapters 5-9 of Dorothy L. Sayers first novel in her Lord Peter Wimsey series. As the police continue to protest Wimsey's involvement with the case, we get to the dense core of the novel, complete with coronary hearings, debates between the Lords Wimsey and Parker, plus a ceaseless list of people named William. Many have said the heart of the novel lies in the interactions between Bunter and Wimsey in this chapter. Can Herds get to the bottom of it all, or is the case all a bit too clinical?

We discuss chapters 1-4 of Dorothy L. Sayers first novel in her Lord Peter Wimsey series. A forgetful moment returns Lord Peter home just in time for news of a grizzly death, suited perfectly to his hobby of detection. An unknown man has been found in the bath of Alfred Thipps, naked but for a pair of spectacles. Inspector Sugg, a policeman already disgruntled by Lord Wimsey's previous efforts, pins the crime on Thipps maid, and Wimsey amasses his allies to hunt the real killer. With a delightful and scattered tone, can Herds unravel this curious debut?

We're also joined by Yoyu Li, one of the team behind 'Whispers in the West', a cooperative murder mystery video game we played just before its' Kickstarter launched. We talk about the game's development, the link between narrative and game design, and more.

We're joined by Craig Sisterson, Vanda Symon and Lindy Cameron three of the creative minds behind 'Dark Deeds Down Under', to talk about the collection, the impending series, and what you can look forward to when you get a copy of the anthology. Dark Deeds Down Under is a collection of some of the best of Australian and New Zealand mystery fiction, recently released by Clan Destine Press.

In this collection, you'll find the work of Alan Carter, Nikki Crutchley, Aoife Clifford, Garry Disher, Helen Vivienne Fletcher, 
Lisa Fuller, Sulari Gentil, Kerry Greenwood, Narrelle M Harris, Katherine Kovacic, 
Shane Maloney, RWR McDonald, Dinuka McKenzie, Lee Murray & Dan Rabarts,
 Renée, Stephen Ross, Fiona Sussman, Vanda Symon, David Whish-Wilson. All this is compiled by editor Craig Sisterson, commissioned by Lindy Cameron.

There are two more entries in this anthology series to come, featuring amongst others Emma Viskic, Charity Norman, Jack Heath, Peter Corris, Ben Hobson, Helen Fitzgerald, Anna Downes, Stephen Johnson, Natalie Conyer, Robert Gott, and Dorothy Porter.

You can find more information about the collection on the announcement blog post here.

Dark Deeds Down Under was purchased independently by Death of the Reader, but we are friends with many of the creatives behind it.

We discuss chapters 25-36 of Tara Moss' new Billie Walker novel, 'The Ghosts of Paris'. Now in Paris, ready for the requisite showdown with the Nazis on her tail, Billie founds herself under the watchful eye over a resistance faction that has been tracking down war criminals on the run after the Second World War. Just her luck, it turns out, that one of them knows her perhaps a little too well. It's time to ponder over Dom's solution as we meet the Ghosts of Paris themselves.

We're also joined by Lindy Cameron, Craig Sisterson and Vanda Symon to talk about 'Dark Deeds Down Under', a collection of some of the best of Australian and New Zealand mystery fiction, recently released by Clan Destine Press. With two more volumes in this anthology series already on the way, there's plenty to revel in as our local best get together.

Thank you to Harper Collins for copies of the book.

We discuss chapters 13-24 of Tara Moss' new Billie Walker novel, 'The Ghosts of Paris'. Billie's journey through Europe in search of not one, but two, estranged husbands begins. Featuring uncomfortable run-ins with some men who think we're being too harsh on the Germans, to the altogether silly rules against women wearing pants in Paris, the post-war hustle and bustle is on full display. Billie finds out one of her friends has seen Jack, only to find a similar looking man on a morgue slab. Could it all be going awry?

We're also joined by Nicolas Pleskof, director of French Murder Mystery Comedy 'Murder Party', to talk about playfulness and suffocation, the great game, and the Australian release of his film.

Thank you to Harper Collins for copies of the book.

We discuss chapters 1-12 of Tara Moss' new Billie Walker novel, 'The Ghosts of Paris'. After her last showdown in 'The War Widow', Billie Walker has made quite the name for herself as a private inquiry agent in Sydney, with a unique clientele as the only woman in the country doing her line of work. One client leads to the next, until one Vera Montgomery comes with a blank cheque to find her missing husband. If Billie can prove he's dead, she is free to live her own life. Issues don't always disappear with their times, this intelligent, socially conscious novel sets an intriguing opening as we take to the skies on our way to explore the human stories often swept up in the theatre of war. Solving this one is 2SER's Sponsorship manager Dom Romeo, and if you want our help promoting your business, Dom tells us you should get in touch with him!

We're also joined by Tara herself to talk about the all-seeing eye of a noir detective, the way we portray ourselves through fashion, and the heroics in the little things. Thank you to Harper Collins for copies of the book, and arranging our time with Tara.

Welcome to your Murder Mystery Detour! Once a whenever-we-can, Flex and Herds go live (or undead, as the case may be), to talk about their latest fixations in the crime fiction world, and we hear from you about yours! With Herds unfortunately unwell at the last hour, 2SER's own Sponsorship Manager Dom Romeo stepped in ahead of his trial-by-fire for Tara Moss' The Ghosts of Paris. This iteration, we spoke about:

We also listened to 'Watching the Detectives' by Elvis Costello, but that's been excised for the podcast! Check out the YouTube page for live chat and a bonus discussion about 'The Quarry'.

We've simply not had enough of Miss Jane Marple, and so it was that we decided to watch all manner of adaptations of 'The Body in the Library' before continuing on the world tour. Featuring the chaotic South Korean 'Ms. Ma: Nemesis', and the staple BBC 'Agatha Christie's Miss Marple', we also challenged you to bring your favourite to the table.

Ms. Ma: Nemesis, also known as 'God of Revenge', stars Yunjin Kim of LOST fame, and brings Marple to the modern day. It features convoluted overarching drama, tenuous links to the original novels, and some thrillingly bizarre performances from the supporting cast. Perhaps not one to dive in to part way, it's a competent but questionable reinterpretation of a truly classic character.

Agatha Christie's Miss Marple, on the other hand, provides a more faithful adaptation of the story, occasionally to the show's detriment as they juggle the contradictions of a protagonist who knows the answers but hasn't yet spoken, taking it in a curious direction, and showing up their South Korean counterparts on how to do ludicrously blunt sound design.

Let us know about your favourite when we go LIVE, Thursday 21st of July at 7:30PM AEST for Death of the Reader: UNDEAD