Killer Author Club

Nicole Baart joins us to talk about Where He Left Me, a lush and haunting thriller where nature itself becomes a character. She shares how the eerie Hemlock House setting amplifies tension, how she balances poetic prose with heart-pounding suspense, and what her research into planetary sciences revealed about love, loss, and connection. We also dive into the origins of the unforgettable tagline—“In every world, I’d find you”—and Nicole’s “writing hygiene,” her go-to rituals for getting into the creative zone.

Download and listen today—because some stories are written in the stars.

Sandra Block joins us to dish about The Bachelorette Party, the thriller that came to her in the middle of the night and refused to let go. We talk about weaving true crime into fiction, her bold research into real-life serial killers, and why female friendships gone wrong make such irresistible reading. Plus, she confesses how real people sometimes inspire her most deliciously dark characters.

Download and listen today—because this bachelorette party ends with more than secrets on the table.

Tessa Wegert kicks off a brand-new series with In the Bones, set in the eerie, atmospheric Thousand Islands region of upstate New York. She shares the chilling real-life concept of phrogging (yes, it’s as creepy as it sounds), how she learned to stomach some truly disgusting research for the sake of accuracy, and the secret room hidden inside her 120-year-old house. Moody, mysterious, and unforgettable—this one’s got it all.

Download and listen today—because in Tessa Wegert’s world, someone’s always hiding in the walls.

Zoje Stage returns with Dear Hanna, bringing back the unforgettable character from Baby Teeth in a chilling new story. We dig into her research on sociopaths, the eerie differences between child and adult versions, and what it’s like to write from inside the minds of psychopaths and sociopaths. Zoje also shares how she blurs genre lines to keep readers off balance—and why her next project might surprise you: a children’s book!

Download and listen today—because with Zoje Stage, nothing is ever as innocent as it seems.

Chevy Stevens is back with The Hitchhikers, a thriller designed to make readers sweat. Set in 1976, she talks about the joys—and challenges—of writing historical fiction, plus how synesthesia and even her dreams fuel her prose. Chevy shares her winding path from art to real estate to bestselling author, and why she keeps a secret file of passion projects waiting in the wings. A fun and fascinating glimpse into the mind of one of today’s most compelling thriller writers.

Download and listen today—because The Hitchhikers will stay with you long after the ride ends.

Rachel Howzell Hall joins us to talk about What the Fire Brings, a searing thriller where memory, trauma, and identity collide. She reveals how real-life stories of people of color going missing inspired the novel, why poisonous tomatoes might one day appear in her books, and how even the happiest childhoods can fuel the darkest, most gruesome fiction. A powerful, layered conversation that blends social urgency with edge-of-your-seat suspense.

Download and listen today—because Rachel Howzell Hall proves every mystery hides a deeper truth.

Journalist-turned-novelist Elise Hart Kipness serves up high-stakes suspense in her latest thriller Close Call. Inspired by her own career in reporting, Elise shares why she set a kidnapping story against the cutthroat backdrop of professional tennis. We talk about how technology raises the stakes in her thrillers, what it takes to write convincingly about pro athletes, and the delicate balance between adrenaline-pumping pacing and the emotional weight of secrets, betrayals, and family ties.

Step onto the court if you dare—download and listen today.

Hank Phillippi Ryan joins us to talk about The House Guest and the killer details behind her storytelling. She shares her preferred method of murder on the page—and how it helps her characters reclaim their power. We dig into the discipline of sitting down to write for months while trusting the process, the balance of being both a bestselling novelist and an Emmy-winning investigative reporter, and the not-so-surprising career advice she once got from Harlan Coben.

Download and listen today—because with Hank, every secret has a breaking point.

Bestselling author Sarah Pekkanen takes us inside The Locked Ward, a chilling story born from her real-life visit to an actual psychiatric ward. We talk about the fascinating nature vs. nurture dynamic of twins separated at birth, the delicate balance of portraying mental illness with sensitivity and respect, and the technical challenge of controlling what readers know—and when. Packed with tension, empathy, and psychological depth, this episode pulls back the curtain on Sarah’s most haunting novel yet.

Download and listen today—before visiting hours in The Locked Ward are over.

We’re celebrating a milestone with Karin Slaughter—her 25th novel, We Are All Guilty Here! Karin takes us inside her newest thriller and introduces a powerful new protagonist destined to keep readers hooked for books to come. We talk about her fearless approach to writing violence against women with both urgency and empathy, and what it’s like to see her stories leap from the page to the television screen. Twenty-five novels in, and Karin shows no signs of slowing down.

Download and listen today—because Karin Slaughter always delivers the kill.