Hearts & Daggers

Summary: Grab your SPF 30 and watch out for rip currents, we’re headed to the beach! Today, Holly and Devin bring books that take place at the beach and by the sea. The summer vibes are strong, and Holly and Devin find that they crave more whimsical, light versions of the books in their wheelhouses this time of year. They agree that beach-themed books across genres can flood the market and not all of them are gems. When done well, however, these books provide escapism and fun they both can’t get enough of. 

Topics Discussed:

• The Dagger (4:06): Holly discussed Evil Under the Sun by Agatha Christie, a 1941 murder mystery novel that follows our favorite detective Hercule Poirot on what was meant to be a vacation and quickly turns into the murder investigation of the beautiful actress, Arlena Marshall. Her key takeaways were:

• The beach is central to the novel in both fun and important ways; Arlena is found strangled on the beach, and Poirot tracks the fun in the sun activities of all his suspects throughout the novel until we find our killer.
• As with Christie’s other novels, this book is a product of the time in which it was written and some descriptions of characters or phrases contain the racism and xenophobia prevalent at the time, and unfortunately still prevalent in many arenas today. 
• If you’re looking for books with a similar structure but a more modern voice, Holly recommends:
• Sujata Massey’s the Satapur Moonstone (from Ep. 6)
• Soji Shimada’s Murder in the Crooked House
• Shamini Flint’s Inspector Singh Investigates Series
• Christopher Huang’s A Gentleman’s Murder
• Christie’s books are hinged on small details - objects, things that go missing or suddenly reappear, timing, etc. and the puzzle of it all is Holly’s favorite part; you know that by the end you will have found the killer, and the rest of the time is fun in the sun following Poirot as he hunts. 

• The Heart (19:03): Devin discussed The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune, a novel following boring, solitary Linus Baker from his desk job for the Department in Charge of Magical Youth (DICOMY) to a magical orphanage on an island in which 6 magical children reside with their caretaker, the charming Arthur Parnassus. Her key takeaways were:

• The beach and ocean in this novel play myriad roles, but the clearest comes in the contracts between Linus’ life before (very black and white) and his life when he arrives on the island (high saturation, vibrant color). It serves to separate the orphanage from the mainland, but also brings comfort, power, and happiness to all the characters.
• The quirky and fascinating cast of characters (including the Antichrist and a were-Pomeranian) teach Linus (and therefore the reader) about passion, authenticity, love, and finding your own super power. Linus is the only non-magical person on the island, and his evolution shows us that kindness is magical too. 
• Klune, in an interview, stated that this novel was inspired in part by The Sixties Scoop - the mass removal of Aboriginal children from their families to the child welfare system, in most cases without consent, throughout the 1960s in Canada. This caused a fair bit of controversy, and readers can choose to engage with the book or not at their discretion. However, we encourage respect for T.J. Klune himself and remind everyone that inspiration can come from anywhere - it doesn’t mean the work itself is valueless. 

• Hot On the Shelf (37:17):

• Holly: The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine 
• Devin: Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert

• What’s Making Our Hearts Race (41:20):

• Holly: Season 4 of Stranger Things on Netflix
• Devin: Heartstopper on Netflix
• Graphic Novel Series: Heartstopper by Alice Oseman

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience. 

Summary: The sun is out and people are either making out or getting murdered! Today, Holly and Devin dish on books that take place at summer camp. Their key takeaways were that these lighter romances and thrillers are a blast, and the setting creates all kinds of tension - whether creepy tension beside Murder Lake, or sexy tension in the medical tent. 

Topics Discussed:

• The Heart (3:14): Devin discussed You Have a Match by Emma Lord. This book brings protagonist Abby to a summer camp, confronting not only her crush and best friend Leo, but the biological sister she didn’t know she had until she took a DNA test, Savannah. Her key takeaways were:

• The book, told from Abby’s perspective, has a vivid sense of place and the key cast of characters are all well rounded and engaging. Abby, as a photographer and clumsy adventure seeker, is someone we can all rally around. 
• Beginning with the Big Embarrassing Incident (B.E.I.) that hints at a burgeoning romance with her best friend Leo, the book explores the romantic possibilities, but ultimately that isn’t the main focus of the plot (to Devin’s chagrin). 
• A surprise biological sister in Savannah turns this book much more into a coming-of-age story, and ultimately Lord perhaps packed too much into a single book to do every plotline justice. 

• The Dagger (18:55): Holly discussed The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager, a thriller spanning decades that begins with the disappearance of three girls from Camp Nightingale. Protagonist Emma Davis has become a successful artist in New York City in the 15 years since her friends disappeared, but is called back to work as an art teacher by Franny Harris-White, the camp’s owner. Holly’s key takeaways were:

• The book centers around a “two truths and a lie” structure, playing into the camp classic to build tension and mistrust for anyone involved in the cold case that Emma just can’t let go of. 
• Assigned to the same cabin and bunk she occupied when her 3 friends snuck away to evaporate into thin air all those years ago, things quickly turn incredibly creepy and Emma is haunted by the sense she is being watched. 
• The rich setting and the isolation of a sleepaway camp allow Sager to turn up the intensity quickly on a woman who has processed her trauma as a child via vivid art depicting the girls she was never able to find. 

• Hot On the Shelf (36:33):

• Devin: Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
• Holly: Fuzz by Mary Roach

• What’s Making Our Hearts Race (42:14):

• Devin: Bill Nye’s MasterClass
• Holly: The Righteous Gemstones on HBO Max

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience. 

Summary: Today, Holly and Devin explore uncharted territories with books that center around multiple realities, sometimes referred to as multiverses. While the two books vary wildly in terms of actual plot and the structure of the realities, they agree that a multiverse opens an author up to explore themes like grief, privilege, and identity in unique ways. Overall, there are many more thrillers with multiple realities versus romances, but when done well they are guaranteed enjoyable reads. 

Topics Discussed:

• The Dagger (2:22): Holly discussed The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson, a post-apocalyptic story of a world in which multiverse travel is possible. Her key takeaways were:

• Cara, the protagonist, is able to travel to almost 400 other universes because the version of herself on those worlds has already died; this makes her a perfect candidate for multiverse travel since you cannot travel to a dimension in which you are still alive. 
• This book explores identity in a unique way; as Cara bops between worlds, you get to see other versions of the characters you know from “Earth Zero,” exploring how they are similar or totally different. 
• There is an interesting tension between science and spirituality, and unique power dynamics since the least privileged people on Earth Zero are the most appealing candidates for multiverse travel (since they are more likely to have died already in the other universes). 

• The Heart (18:53): Devin discussed The Two Lives of Lydia Bird by Josie Silver, a romance that begins with the death of the love of Lydia’s life. Her key takeaways were: 

• Once she begins to take sleep meds to help with her grief, Lydia’s life is split between two worlds: Awake and Asleep. When she sleeps, she continues to live a life where Freddie, her fiancé, never died in a car accident on her 29th birthday. 
• Silver explores grief through this multiverse exercise; how can Lydia reconcile (or not) the worlds in which Freddie still exists and the “more real” one in which he does not? Is escaping into Asleep as much as possible the best way forward? 
• Lydia is surrounded by powerful characters such as her sister, Elle, who help her navigate a future she never expected, and the path to becoming a person she never expected, turning the novel from a strict romance into an exploration of myriad kinds of love and how they prop us up or weaken us. 

• Hot On the Shelf (35:23):

• Holly: Hide by Kiersten White 
• Devin: Bittersweet by Susan Cain

• What’s Making Our Hearts Race (39:56):

• Holly: Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness
• Devin: Thor: Love and Thunder

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Summary: Welcome to our first LoveFest! Today, Holly and Devin discuss myriad works from one of their favorite authors, Neil Gaiman. They first discuss books they’ve both read, sharing key themes and impacts the books made. Then, they each share a Gaiman book they’ve read the other hasn’t experienced yet. Overall, Gaiman unites Holly and Devin because of how he approaches humanity in his books - allowing each character to be flawed, to self-discover a new path, and to fight physical manifestations of the metaphorical demons we all battle. 

Topics Discussed:

• Books in Common (2:28):

• Neverwhere: The first Gaiman book both Holly and Devin ever read, this introduction into Gaiman’s style and his techniques of world-building ignited a desire in both hosts to dive in more deeply to other Gaiman works. Protagonist Richard Mayhew finds himself in London Below, and discovers through a series of creepy and challenging events that he is more than just a young boring businessman. 
• The Graveyard Book: Inspired by The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling, this book follows a boy who is raised in a graveyard by ghosts. Even though the novel opens with the murder of three people, even Devin wasn’t deterred because of Gaiman’s wit and care for all his characters and the assurance that good wins in the end. 
• Good Omens: By far their favorite Gaiman book of all time, this book and the accompanying Amazon Prime show by the same name are staples for Holly and Devin; the dynamic between angel Aziraphale and demon Crowley actually inspired the structure of Hearts & Daggers itself. Co-authored with Terry Pratchett, this book can be summed up well by Aziraphale’s comment to Adam, the Antichrist - “I was scared that you’d be hell incarnate. I hoped you’d be heaven incarnate. But you’re not either of those things; you’re much better. You’re human incarnate.” 

• Separate Experiences (27:53):

• Devin - American Gods: This brick of a book follows Shadow, an ex-convict who is released from prison early when his wife is killed in a car accident alongside his best friend, with whom she had been having an affair. From there, Shadow is contracted as a bodyguard for Mr. Wednesday, a mysterious mafioso who sends Shadow all over America, to run into dozens of modern gods - a leprechaun, Easter, Whiskey jack, Johnny Appleseed, and more. Gaiman, while British, does a fantastic rendering of the expansiveness, the vapidness, and the hunger of American culture and the gods we worship today. 
• Holly - The Sandman Series: Gaiman worked at DC Comics for some time, where he conceived of a series that tells the tale of the ageless, anthropomorphic personification of Dream, his sister, Death (one of Holly’s personal favorites) and the other five Endless. The series began in 1989 and ran through 1996, but will be coming to Netflix as a series this year! Holly loved the creativity and execution of the artwork and plot in the Sandman series, and recommends it to comics lovers and the uninitiated alike. 

• Gaiman Overall (39:14): Holly and Devin could have talked about Neil Gaiman for hours. To conclude, though, they have a deep love for Gaiman and would read anything he writes, even a grocery list. While many of his books walk the line between humor and terror, his works are accessible even to folks like Devin who normally shy away from scary stories. Gaiman uses his monsters to teach us all about being brave, facing our fears, and standing for what we believe in despite pressure to do otherwise. 

• Hot On the Shelf (43:21):

• Holly: The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn
• Devin: Greedy by Jen Winston

• What’s Making Our Hearts Race (45:42):

• Holly: Elizabeth Holmes (journalist)
• Devin: Minx on HBO Max

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience. 

Summary: Holly and Devin dove into a super fun theme this week - workplace drama. Rarely in the podcast have they discussed a theme that pans out so differently in romances vs. thrillers, and the books they brought highlighted those differences well. Holly was pleasantly surprised by her book, as she is often left feeling like workplace dramas drag. Workplace romances are a common trope in the books Devin reads, and the inherent taboo of coworkers falling in love creates a tension she always enjoys. 

Topics Discussed:

• The Heart (1:43): Devin discussed The Hating Game by Sally Thorne. The book follows two executive assistants - Lucy Hutton and Joshua Templeman - who hate each other loudly, aggressively, and passionately. When a Managing Director role opens up at the recently merged Bexley & Gamin publishing house, their animosity is taken to the next level - and becomes mixed with another kind of passion. Her key takeaways were:

• The tension and banter in this novel are next-level, with great dialogue and intriguing evolution of Lucy and Joshua’s dynamic. The make-out session in the elevator is one of her favorite elevator moments of all time.
• The story is told from Lucy’s POV, which keeps Joshua’s feelings and intensions in the dark and maintains the “will they, won’t they” dynamic until the climactic end - sometimes to the point where you question Lucy’s empathy and perspective on Joshua, however. 
• This book is great for someone looking for a light romantic read. The character’s lives don’t extend much beyond work, with almost all of the scenes taking place in the office until the 3rd act. 

• The Dagger (19:34): Holly discussed All Her Little Secrets by Wanda M. Morris. The book starts off with a bang, as protagonist Ellice Littlejohn finds her boss dead in his office - the boss with whom she’s been having an affair. From there, Ellice is caught up in a world of police investigations, corporate plots and cover-ups, and reckoning with her own past. Holly’s key takeaways were:

• This propulsive corporate thriller has it all - Morris explores racism, white supremacy, childhood trauma, corporate corruption, and more. While Holly sometimes fears workplace thrillers can be dry or dense, Morris executed well in this instance. 
• Set in Atlanta, the tense sense of office atmosphere keeps the reader moving through the story and reflecting on who we are in the office and our personal lives, and if reinventing ourselves is even possible.
• Holly recommends this book to anyone who enjoys thrillers that weave more complex themes and social commentary throughout - Ellice is not only combating against a murder investigation, but also climbing the corporate ladder as a Black woman. 

• Hot On the Shelf (36:16):

• Devin: The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
• Holly: Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy I. Lin

• What’s Making Our Hearts Race (39:25):

• Devin: Her new car (named Ruth Zardo) a 2022 Hybrid Honda CR-V
• Holly: Pachinko on Apple TV

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience. 

Summary: Holly and Devin both bring books that feature characters struggling with depression in this week’s episode. While the overall tone of each book differs greatly, they unite around key aspects of trauma, mental health, reckoning with the past and our choices, and seeking help to heal. Both Holly and Devin agree that these portrayals, when handled deftly, are helpful to any reader - especially those struggling with anxiety and depression - to ensure no one ever feels alone.  Topics Discussed:

• The Dagger (2:05): Holly discussed When The Stars Go Dark by Paula McLain, a literary mystery novel that takes place in Northern California and follows a missing person’s detective, Anna Hart. Her key takeaways were:

• McLain, as a historical fiction author, takes a deep look into the psychology of the characters throughout, highlighting the psychological effects of trauma and how it can drive bad decisions. 
• A slower burn book, it is technically a detective procedural but differs in the diligence of McLain’s analyses into not only victims and suspects but the detectives themselves. 
• The book explores the dangers of untreated traumas and grief leading to poor decisions, and how those traumas make us susceptible to people who will take advantage, including potentially violent predators. 

• The Heart (20:23): Devin discussed Honey Girl by Morgan Rogers, a romantic coming of age story that follows Grace Porter as she wraps up her Astronomy PhD and realizes that she hasn’t yet figured out who she is and what she wants from her life. Her key takeaways were:

• Burnout leading to depression and the existential crisis Grace experiences should resonate with anyone who has either graduated school or had a transition that ripped the rug out from under their previous way of life. 
• The number of systemic barriers in place for Grace - her womanhood, her Blackness, her queerness - add extra pressure and drive her toward a deeper existential crisis than her ex-military father’s disapproval would have done on it’s own.
• The dynamic between Grace and the woman she married while blacked out in Las Vegas, Yuki, helped explore the key theme of depression, loneliness, and self-exploration, but sometimes Rogers’ writing made the dynamic feel YA instead of a true adult romance. 

• Hot On the Shelf (38:14):

• Holly: Gallant by V.E. Schwab
• Devin: Atlas of the Heart by Brené Brown

• What’s Making Our Hearts Race (44:13):

• Holly: Hot & Bothered Podcast, Season 4 “Live at Pemberly” 
• Devin: Abbott Elementary on Hulu

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Summary: Holly and Devin dive into books about mothers, what they go through, and how authors portray them. While some tropes about motherhood can be worn out and uninteresting, they both agreed that a fresh and nuanced perspective on mothers can bring a lot of richness to any book. 

Topics Discussed:

• The Heart (1:36): Devin discussed Still Life with Bread Crumbs by Anna Quindlen. A financially strapped professional photographer Rebecca Winters finds herself leaving Manhattan for rural New York in an effort to save money. Once there, she not only uncovers a new community but a new perspective on herself, her family, and her future. Her key takeaways were:

• While set up as so many Hallmark movies are, with the Big City Woman going to find a Small Town Fella, Quindlen’s empathy and creativity around each character adds a depth that creates profundity while the reader also gets to enjoy the coffee shop banter and peacefulness quintessential to daytime TV rom coms. 
• While our protagonist is a mother herself, a key exploration of the theme came in her art; Rebecca initially became famous for a series of photographs from domestic life and the messiness therein for mothers, as well as photos of her infant son. 
• The 3 generations of family portrayed by the Winters clan (Rebecca’s mother, Rebecca, and Rebecca’s son) gives a nuanced and important portrayal of parenthood, trauma, and the past’s impact on present-day choices. 

• The Dagger (20:29): Holly discussed The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan. Our protagonist Frida is struggling through a divorce with a one year-old little girl to take care of. One bad choice brings her in front of Child Protective Services, and lands her at the School for Good Mothers, where she must prove that she is capable again of having custody of her daughter, Harriett. Holly’s key takeaways were: 

• Chan works to expose society’s lack of support for mothers, racism, and unhealthy expectations for parents via an extreme scenario: forcing those who have made mistakes into a cruel rehabilitation program.
• This dystopian novel is close enough to reality that the added layers at the School of Good Mothers are especially disturbing and impactful. There is an unexpected sci-fi element and the novel called to mind others like The Push and Klara and the Sun.
• This book will give the reader even more empathy for mothers and to critically analyze their own biases and judgements of parents, motherhood, and portrayals on social media. 

• Hot On the Shelf (41:38):

• Devin: One Italian Summer by Rebecca Searle
• Holly: The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James

• What’s Making Our Hearts Race(45:01):

• Holly: Inventing Anna on Netflix
• Devin: Turning Red on Disney+

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience. 

Summary: Today, Holly and Devin dig into one of their favorite themes, books set in the past! They are in agreement that historical settings work well for both mysteries and romances, especially when the author does their research and works hard to make the setting vivid and accurate. Both books touched on feminist characters and themes, and have connections to the British colonial empire. Beyond that, though, the books diverge in plot but remain united as fantastic examples of historical settings done well.

Topics Discussed:

• The Dagger (2:24): Holly discussed The Satapur Moonstone by Sujata Massey. The year is 1922 and the princely state of Satapur, India has suffered multiple tragedies that culminate in the new king being a 10 year-old boy. The dowager queen and her daughter-in-law seek the aid of Perveen Mistry, the only female lawyer in Bombay. Her key takeaways from this book were:

• Feminism and female empowerment are a major theme, with explorations ranging from a purdah (custom in some Muslim and Hindu societies where women sequester themselves to stay out of sight of men) to a woman going to Oxford to become a lawyer and coming back to pioneer the career in Bombay. 
• The vivid description of the environment and the jungle/rural area of Satapur transported Holly in an enjoyable way; Massey described the treacherous journeys back and forth from where Perveen was staying and the palace itself.
• If you enjoy literary mysteries and historical fiction, this series is a must-read. Massey’s books combine the techniques of Agatha Christie and Louise Penny, while following a badass lawyer. 

• The Heart (18:46): Devin discussed Portrait for a Scotsman by Evie Dunmore. In this third book of the League of Extraordinary Women series, Dunmore explores 1880s England and Scotland with two enemies who end up in a forced marriage - Hattie Greenfield and Lucian Blackstone. Her key takeaways were:

• Dunmore touches on similar themes to her past novels in the series, driving home key messages on the patriarchy and the restrictive society in late 19th century England. In this novel, though, she adds an extra socialist layer by examining themes like worker’s rights and socioeconomic inequality.
• If you ship Dramione (Draco Malfoy/Hermione Granger), this is the book for you. The romance and intimacy is explicitly and steamy, and the redemption arc for Lucian as the initial villain is juicy. 
• At times, Hattie comes across as just a bit too privileged and pampered to be sympathetic, whereas Lucian is the true hero of the book and the exploration into his motivations and traumas is the actual cornerstone of the book. 

• Hot On the Shelf (41:04):

• Holly: A Court of Mist and Fury Sarah J Maas
• Devin: Musicophilia by Oliver Sacks

• What’s Making Our Hearts Race (47:46):

• Holly: Love is Blind Japan on Netflix
• Devin: Our Flag Means Death on HBO Max

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience. 

Summary: Today, Holly and Devin tackle books that center around time travel, but in two very different ways. They agree that time travel can often create gaping plot holes and can become a distraction from other themes and elements of plot. In the two books they brought, however, the time travel was well executed and augmented other aspects of the story instead of detracting. Both books were united not only in time travel but how moving through time opened up analyses of civil rights struggles for BIPOC and the LGBTQIA+ community.  Topics Discussed:

• The Heart (1:48): Devin discussed One Last Stop by Casey McQuinston, a book that centers a romance in the most unlikely place - the Q train in New York City. Her key takeaways were: 

• Found family in the queer community was a major element of the book, and the cast of characters felt authentic, unique, and delightful as rendered by McQuinston’s sharp writing.
• The magic elements around Jane’s time travel not only served as a conduit to better understand the LGBTQIA+ struggles of the 70s and 80s, but also served to increase tension and romance throughout the novel. 
• August and Jane have incredibly strong chemistry for a couple that cannot meet outside of a train car on the Q, and the sex scenes are a cleverly rendered display of queer passion in unusual circumstances. 

• The Dagger (24:54): Holly discussed Kindred by Octavia Butler, a gripping thriller in which the protagonist, Dana, is sent against her will between 1970s Los Angeles, CA and an antebellum plantation in Maryland. Her key takeaways were:

• Butler used Dana’s experiences in modern day and antebellum Maryland to explore how the past affects the present, how the present impacts the past, and how history affects how we understand ourselves. 
• The narrative explores the complex and long-reaching horrors of slavery from the viewpoint of a modern Black woman who knows she’s descended from these individuals. 
• After an explosive and gripping opening sequence, Butler’s approach to time travel is unique; by forcing Dana without her express will between eras, Butler evaporates time between the two and emphasizes how close that period in history still is to our modern experience. 

• Hot On the Shelf (42:56):

• Devin: The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab
• Holly: Just One Damned Thing After Another by Jodi Taylor

• What’s Making Our Hearts Race (47:06):

• Holly: The Last Duel, film featuring Jodie Comer, Adam Driver, and Matt Damon
• Devin: Heli Skiing at Silverton Mountain in South-Western Colorado. 

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience. 

Summary: Today, Holly and Devin rave about books with elderly protagonists. They review how older characters open up books to touch on other themes beyond youthful searches for meaning. Themes of death, illness, health concerns unite both books, but so do themes of change, renewal, vigor, and fulfillment at any age. They end by agreeing that they want more books focusing on elderly protagonists and that it’s a theme they’re both drawn to. 

Topics Discussed:

 

• The Heart (2:24): Devin discussed Its Not All Downhill From Here by Terry McMillan, a book centered around a group of female friends as they explore how to make the most of their late 60s and grapple with relationship challenges, health concerns, and what it means to not give up in old age. Her key takeaways were:

 

• While not a true romance novel, there are romantic elements threaded throughout the novel; these friends discuss love and sex, look for love, find love, break up, try online dating, and validate that you can crave intimacy and connection at any age.
• Told from the first-person perspective of Loretta “Lo” Curry, the reader gets a front-row seat into her white lies, her not-so-white lies, her opinions of her friends, and her grief, hope, despair, fear, and excitement through the novel.
• McMillan does a lot of work setting up what “downhill” would look like for this group of friends, covering health concerns, financial issues, family challenges, and despair at aging; the turning point doesn’t come until 75% through the book, but the resolution is satisfying and meaningful.

 

• The Dagger (21:03): Holly discussed The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman, a book that follows a quartet of folks in a retirement community who gather once a week to discuss cold cases, until they land with a very warm case with a murder in their own community. Her key takeaways were:

 

• This murder mystery feels at times cute, jaunty and warm but there are definite dark elements and a clear sense that, even though they’re investigating the murder, any of the characters could be guilty or involved. 
• Osman creates a vibe where Louise Penny mysteries meet A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman, with dark humor as well as moments of sudden depth (and death). 
• Ultimately, the mystery itself was a little convoluted and opaque, but the way Osman treats aging, grief, dementia, and meaning for these characters with care and humor. 

 

• Hot On the Shelf (35:57):

 

• Holly: Violeta by Isabel Allende
• Devin: The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow

 

• What’s Making Our Hearts Race (41:09):

 

• Holly: Binging Agatha Christie on audiobook 
• Devin: The 2022 Winter Olympics

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience. 

Keywords: Literature, Books, Reading, Bookish, Pop-culture, Romance, Mystery, Elderly, Elderly Protagonists, Its Not All Downhill From Here, Terry McMillan, The Thursday Murder Club, Richard Osman, Violeta, Isabel Allende, The Ten Thousand Doors of January, Alix Harrow, Agatha Christie, Olympics, 2022 Winter Olympics, Beijing, Old People, Murder