Quick Picks

To celebrate Halloween, Michelle Habrych and I have recommendations for all tastes. Michelle brings her list of sweet-treat books, and I have the trickier dark ones.

Discussed Treats by Michelle:

The Kindred Spirits Supperclub, by Amy Reichert

The Book Witch, by Meg Shaffer

The Dead Romantics, by Ashley Poston

The Forget-Me-Not Library, by Heather Webber

The Secret, Book & Scone Society, by Ellery Adams

Paper Ghosts, by Sarah Addison Allen

The Night Circus, by Erin Morgenstern

Sea of Charms, by Sarah Beth Durst

(Also mentioned by Sarah Beth Durst: The Spellshop, The Enchanted Greenhouse, The Magical Cheese Emporium, and The Lost)

Dungeon Crawler Carl, by Matt Dinnman

Discussed Tricks by Nikki:

Stay Buried, by Jennifer McMahon

The Decomposition Book, by Sara Van Os

Play Nice, by Rachel Harrison

Spread Me, by Sarah Gailey

Just Like Home, by Sarah Gailey

Incidents Around the House, by Josh Malerman

I Am the Monster Under the Bed, by Emily Zinnikas

Chasing the Boogeyman, by Richard Chizmar

The Caretaker, by Marcus Kliewer

Tana returns to talk with us about her favorite books from this summer and also books we're looking forward to in the fall.

Favorites:

Five, by Ilona Bannister

Japanese Gothic, by Kylie Lee Baker

Violent Masterpiece, by Jordan Harper

The Devil & Mrs. Gooch, by Oliver Darkshire

Good People, by Patmeena Sabit

Dissection of a Murder, by Jo Murray

Whistler, by Ann Patchett

The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, by Beth Brower

Upcoming releases:

Murder on Charity Lane, by Jo Nichols (August)

Do You See What I See?, by Peter Swanson (October)

Mrs. Wolcott's Ghost, by Louise Penny (October)

The Amateur, by Chris Bohjalian (August)

House of Gardinas, by Isabel Cañas (September)

Off the Reservation, by Stephen Graham Jones (October)

Ransom Burning, by James Markert (January)

The Chain House, by JK Markert (October)

Killing the Boogeyman, by Richard Chizmar (October)

Incarnate, by Alma Katsu (September)

Taipei Story, by RF Kuang (September)

Mazywood, by Tananarive Due (September)

Hell to Pay, by Kylie Lee Baker (March)

Stitched, by Eli McCann (September)

Milkteeth, by Caitlin Starling (October)

Daggerbound, by T. Kingfisher (August)

Numb Were the Beadsman's Fingers, by Alan Bradley (November)

[verified, he did pass away in May, 2026]

Mestra, by Madeline Miller (September)

Stars Look a Lot Like Home, by TJ Klune (January)

Slantwise Histories, by Alix E. Harrow (October)

The Magical Cheese Emporium, by Sarah Beth Durst (January)

Pirate Queen, by Ariel Lawhon (September)

Peck & Peck, by Bonnie Garmus (October)

The Gates of Midnight, by Helene Wecker (September)

We Chase Shadows, by Richard Osman (September)

Serious Music, by Percival Everett (March)

Daughters of the Pink City, by Alka Joshi (March)

Life Out of Order, by Audrey Niffenegger (October)

Hollow Bones, by Jodi Picoult (September)

Creature of the Night, by Annelise Ryan (January)

Partita, by Barbara Kingsolver (October)

Big Little Truths, by Liane Moriarty (August)

Our Noble Selves, by Kate Atkinson (September)

I Am the Monster Under the Bed, by Emily Zinnikas (September)

Our Cut of Salt, by Deena Helm (September)

Other Worlds Than These, by Stephen King & Peter Straub (October)

Murder at the Grand Alpine Hotel, by Lucy Foley (September)

American Hagwon, Min Jin Lee (September)

Dead Beat, by Leigh Bardugo (September)

Hollywood, Ending, by John Green (September)

An Edge Sharp Enough, by Jesse Q. Sutanto (August)

Victorious, by V.E. Schwab (October)

A Married Little Christmas, by Abby Jimenez (October)

The Witch, by Freida McFadden (October)

The French Illusion, by John Grisham (September)

The Law Student, by John Grisham (September)

Birth of the Witch, by Nora Roberts (November)

We had a tremendous opportunity to collaborate with another library podcast and I thoroughly enjoyed talking books with Tessa an Sara from the Checked Out podcast from the Green Hills Public Library. We chose the topic of books for all seasons, where we recommended 2 books each that evoke and are meaningful for each season.

Discussed:

Summer

Tessa: Death at Morning House, by Maureen Johnson

Nikki: Razorblade Tears, by S.A. Cosby

Sara: If Not For My Baby, by Kate Golden

Tessa: The Laws of the Skies, by Grégoire Courtois

Nikki: House In the Cerulean Sea, by T.J. Klune

Sara: Seven Year Slip, by Ashley Posten

Fall

Sara: Heartbreak Hotel, by Ellen O'Clover

Tessa: One Dark Window, by Rachel Gillig

Nikki: House With Good Bones, by T. Kingfisher

Sara: Talking at Night, by Claire Daverly

Tessa: Half City, by Kate Golden

Nikki: September House, by Carissa Orlando

Winter

Sara: Tyrant Alpha's Rejected Mate, by Cate C. Wells

Tessa: Fairydale, by Veronica Lancett

Nikki: The Fox Wife, Yangsze Choo

Sara: Mating Game, by Lana Ferguson

Tessa: Enchantra, by Kaylie Smith

Nikki: Winter People, by Jennifer McMahon

Spring

Sara: Alone With You in the Ether, by Olivie Blake

Tessa: The Poppy Fields, by Nikki Erlick

Nikki: The Emily Wild series, by Heather Fawcett

Sara: Forget Me Not, by Julie Soto

Tessa: Bridge Kingdom, by Danielle L. Jensen

Nikki: Braiding Sweetgrass, by Robin Wall Kimmerer

Bonus:

Molka, by Monika Kim

Tana joins me this time to discuss books with really interesting older characters well worth reading.

Discussed:

Ms. Mebel Goes Back to the Chopping Block - Jesse Q. Sutanto (Mention: Dial A for Aunties, Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers)

The Forgotten Book Club - Kate Storey

Life: A Love Story - Elizabeth Berg

Mad Mabel - Sally Hepworth

Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett - Annie Lyons

When the Cranes Fly South - Lisa Ridzén

The Ferryman and His Wife - Frode Grytten

The Road to Tender Hearts - Annie Hartnett

Eddie Winston is Looking for Love - Marianne Cronin

We Burned So Bright - T.J. Klune

Best Little Motel in Texas - Lyla Lane

Murder Most Haunted -Emma Mason

Murder at World's End - Ross Montgomery

We Don't Talk About Carol - Kristen L. Berry

The Correspondent - Virginia Evans

Theo of Golden - Allen Levi

Whidbey - T. Kira Madden

Notes on an Execution - Danya Kukafka

Heartwood - Amity Gaige

I don't know what our fascination is with twins, but there sure are a lot of books out there featuring twins, and I have some to recommend if you're in the mood.

Discussed:

Grim Reaper's Guide to Cheating Death -- Maxie Dara

A Rather Peculiar Poisoning -- Chrystal Schleyer

The Seven Miracles of Beatrix Holland -- Rachel Herron

High Season -- Katie Bishop

The Forgotten Girls -- Sara Blaedel

Blood on Her Tongue -- Joanna van Veen

Keepers of Metsan Valo -- Wendy Webb

Dying to Meet You -- Sarina Bowen

The New Neighbor -- Carter Wilson

What Blooms From Dust -- J.H. Markert

Missing Sister -- Joshilyn Jackson

Once There Were Wolves -- Charlotte McConaghy

The Good Sister -- Sally Hepworth

Also mentioned:

The Secret History -- Donna Tartt

Poisonwood Bible -- Barbara Kingsolver

The Prince of Tides -- Pat Conroy

The Thirteenth Tale -- Diane Setterfield

The Dragonlance Chronicles -- Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman

I'll Give You the Sun -- Jandy Nelson

I Know This Much Is True -- Wally Lamb

In the Woods -- Tana French

Memory Keeper's Daughter -- Kim Edwards

Vanishing Half -- Britt Bennett

The God of Small Things -- Arundhati Roy

Flowers in the Attic -- V.C. Andrews

Game of Thrones -- George R.R. Martin

Tana and I address some great books that have mistakenly been dubbed "historical" but are set in the recent past and we have a beef with the "historical" description.

Discussed:

How to Commit a Postcolonial Murder, by Nina McConigley

What Kind of Paradise, by Janelle Brown

Atmosphere, by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Mary Jane, by Jessica Anya Blau

The Women on Platform Two, by Laura Anthony

The Hired Man, by Sandra Dallas

Book of Forbidden Words, by Louise Fein

Take My Hand, by Dolen Perkins-Valdez

Everything I Never Told You, by Celeste Ng

Reprieve, by James Han Mattson

The Great Alone, by Kristin Hannah

Upcoming recommendations:

We Burned So Bright, by T.J. Klune

Last One Out, by Jane Harper

The Keeper, by Tana French

Whistler, by Ann Patchett

Japanese Gothic, by Kylie Lee Baker

Mad Mable, by Sally Hepworth

With my library being renovated, I don't have access to my equipment or my studio, so here's a solo episode of my favorite recent cozies.

Discussed:

Isabella Nagg and the Pot of Basil, Oliver Darkshire

The Enchanted Greenhouse, Sarah Beth Durst

The Lost, Sarah Beth Durst

The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year, Ally Carter

A Rather Peculiar Poisoning, Chrystal Schleyer

The Emily Wilde series, Heather Fawcett

Agnes Aubert's Mystical Cat Shelter, Heather Fawcett

The Best Little Motel in Texas, Lyla Lane

The Monster Hunter Mysteries, Annalise Ryan

The Murder at World's End, Ross Montgomery

The Old Juniper Bookstore Mysteries, PJ Nelson

The Astral Library, Kate Quinn

The Cozy Cottage series, Liz Delton

A Field Guide to Murder, Michelle L. Cullen

The Pub Across the Pond, Carlene O'Connor

Murder Most Haunted, Emma Mason

The Crinoline Academy series, Mimi Matthews

Nick and Tana join me this time to talk about shows and movies they've enjoyed.

Discussed:

Thursday Murder Club

Reacher

Monster: The Ed Gein Story

Scarpetta

Bosch

Fallout

Righteous Gemstones

Invincible

The Residence

Only Murders in the Building

The Diplomat

Lincoln Lawyer

Mobland

James Bond Movies

Batman

Traitors

The Rehearsal

Chair Company

The Pitt

Black Rabbit

Ozark

Task

Heated Rivalry

Primal

Severance

Shrinking

The Studio

Slow Horses

Bugonia

Poor Things

28 Years Later

No Other Choice

Marty Supreme

Good Time

Uncut Gems

One Battle After Another

Sinners

Hamnet

Reception

Frankenstein

Pinocchio

Train Dreams

F1

Wicked

Tana and I *love* to recap our year in books, and we're happy to share our favorites this year, with emphasis on books that aren't getting talked about enough.

Discussed:

Lion Women of Tehran, by Marjan Kamali

Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng, by Kylie Lee Baker

This Motherless Land, by Nikki May

The Everlasting, by Alix E. Harrow

The Correspondent, by Virginia Evans

Symphony of Monsters, by Marc Levy

Emperor of Gladness, by Ocean Vuong

Transplants, by Daniel Tam-Claiborne

I See You've Called In Dead, by John Kenney

The Lamb, by Lucy Rose

Heart the Lover, by Lily King

Long Bright River, by Liz Moore

Wild Dark Shore, by Charlotte McConaghy

Play Nice, by Rachel Harrison

How to Read a Book, by Monica Wood

Graceview Patient, by Caitlin Starling

My Friends, Fredrik Backman

So Far Gone, by Jess Walter

King of Ashes, by S.A. Cosby

Buffalo Hunter Hunter, by Stephen Graham Jones

The Last Thing He Told Me, by Laura Dave

The First Time I Saw Him, by Laura Dave

Possession of Alba Diaz, by Isabel Cañas

Vampires of El Norte, by Isabel Cañas

The Hacienda, by Isabel Cañas

September House, by Carissa Orlando

This Book Made Me Think of You, by Libby Page

Witchcraft for Wayward Girls, by Grady Hendrix

Astral Library, by Kate Quinn

Books by Annelise Ryan

Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil, by V.E. Schwab

Tana and I spent November honoring Native American Heritage Month by reading lots of books by or about indigenous people, and we discussed the highlights.

Mentioned briefly:

Council of Dolls, by Mona Susan Power

Buffalo Hunter Hunter, by Stephen Graham Jones

Only Good Indians, by Stephen Graham Jones

Mongrels, by Stephen Graham Jones

The Night Watchman, by Louise Erdrich

Calling For a Blanket Dance, by Oscar Hokeah

Discussed:

Crow Mary, by Kathleen Grissom

Winter Count, by David Heska Wanbli Weiden

Big Chief, by Jon Hickey

Where They Last Saw Her, Marcie Rendon

Cash Blackbear series, by Marcie Rendon

Syd Walker series, by Vanessa Lillie

Mask of the Deer Woman, by Laurie L. Dove

Ten Sleep, by Nicholas Belardes

Ryan Tapia series, by Thomas E. Ricks

VenCo, by Cherie Dimaline

Empire of Wild, by Cherie Dimaline

Moon of the Crusted Snow, by Waubgeshig Rice

The Sentence, by Louise Erdrich

Round House, by Louise Erdrich