Second Sunday Books

Mafia Spies is the definitive account of America’s most remarkable espionage plots ever—with CIA agents, mob hitmen, “kompromat” sex, presidential indiscretion, and James Bond-like killing devices together in a top-secret mystery full of surprise twists and deadly intrigue. In the early 1960s, two top gangsters, Johnny Roselli and Sam Giancana, were hired by the CIA to kill Cuba’s Communist leader, Fidel Castro, only to wind up murdered themselves amidst Congressional hearings and a national debate about the JFK assassination.

INTERVIEWER'S NOTE: This was a fascinating interview! Anyone who is a student of late 20th century history will get chills from this detailed and surprising era, primarily during the 1960s and 1970s. Please tune in -- it's lengthier than some of my shows, but well worth every minute.

Thomas Maieris an award-winning author, journalist, and television producer. His book Masters of Sex was the basis for the Emmy-winning Showtime drama that ran for four seasons. His other books include When Lions Roar: The Churchills and the Kennedys; The Kennedys: America's Emerald Kings; Dr. Spock: An American Life (named a "“Notable Book of the Year" by the New York Times); and Newhouse: All the Glitter, Power and Glory of America's Richest Media Empire and the Secretive Man Behind It (winner of the Frank Luther Mott Award as Best Media Book of the Year presented by the National Honor Society in Journalism and Mass Communication). He has worked as an investigative reporter for Newsday for over thirty years.

Kent Krueger stops by Second Sunday Books 10 days before the release of his sure to be best-selling historical novel THIS TENDER LAND.

#1 Indie Next Pick for September!

“Lively . . . Krueger’s enjoyable riff on The Odyssey will satisfy fans of American heartland epics.”—Publishers Weekly

“Richly  imagined and exceptionally well plotted and written, the novel is, most  of all, a compelling, often haunting story that will captivate both  adult and young adult readers”—Booklist

“A  book you won’t own. It will own you. Long, sprawling, and utterly  captivating, readers will eat up every delicious word of it.”—New York Journal of Books

Join me for a chat with author Patricia Skalka about her new medical mystery Death by the Bay.

On a chilly Monday in late spring, Door County Sheriff Dave Cubiak is at the Green Arbor Lodge for lunch when a scream from a nearby medical conference disrupts the scene. Leaping into action, he finds the ninety-three-year-old director of the prestigious Institute for Progressive Medicine collapsed on the floor, dead of a suspected heart attack. As Cubiak interrogates the witnesses, he’s struck by the inconsistencies in their stories. Some evade questions while others offer contradictory statements. Then suddenly another scream pierces the air. . . .

Past and present merge as long-buried secrets rise to the surface. The resourceful sheriff must rely on his skills and wits, along with the advice and memories of friends and family, to uncover the dark truth behind the Institute for Progressive Medicine. Dedicated and new fans alike will find themselves captivated by this intelligently plotted story as Cubiak untangles the twisted threads of this intricate mystery.

About the Author:

Join host Libby Fischer Hellmann in conversation with Author Cara Black as they discuss her latest release Murder in Bel-Air.

Cara Black’s riveting 19th installment in her New York Times bestselling Parisian detective series entangles private investigator Aimée Leduc in a dangerous web of international spycraft, post-colonial Franco-African politics, and neighborhood secrets in Paris’s 12th arrondissement.

Parisian private investigator Aimée Leduc is about to go onstage to deliver the keynote address at a tech conference that is sure to secure Leduc Detective some much-needed business contracts when she gets an emergency phone call from her daughter’s playgroup: Aimée’s own mother, who was supposed to pick Chloe up, never showed. Abandoning her hard-won speaking gig, Aimée rushes to get Chloe, annoyed that her mother has let her down yet again.

But as Aimée and Chloe are leaving the playground, Aimée witnesses the body of a homeless woman being wheeled away from the neighboring convent, where nuns run a soup kitchen. The last person anyone saw the dead woman talking to was Aimée’s mother, who has vanished. Trying to figure out what happened to Sydney Leduc, Aimée tracks down the dead woman’s possessions, which include a huge amount of cash. What did Sydney stumble into? Is she in trouble?

About Cara:

This is a trademarked copyrighted podcast solely owned by the Authors on the Air Global Radio Network LLC.

Join host Libby Fischer Hellmann in coversation with Author Susanna Calkins.

The first mystery in Susanna Calkins’ captivating new series takes readers into the dark, dangerous, and glittering underworld of a 1920's Chicago speakeasy.

MURDER KNOCKS TWICE:

When Marty is brutally murdered, with Gina as the only witness, she’s determined to track down his killer. What secrets did Marty capture on his camera—and who would do anything to destroy it? As Gina searches for answers, she’s pulled deeper into the shadowy truths hiding behind the Third Door.

About Susanna:

I hold a PhD in history and currently work at Northwestern University. Born and raised in Philadelphia, I live in the Chicago area with my husband and two sons.

Join host Libby Fischer Hellmann in conversation with Debut Author Rachel Barenbaum.

A BEND IN THE STARS

About Rachel:

A.C. Frieden stops by to chat with Libby Fischer Hellmann about his latest release in the Jonathan Brooks Thriller Series - The Pyongyang Option.