KPL Podcast

This week on the KPL Podcast, we welcome back author Vanessa Lillie to discuss her latest novel , The Bone Thief .  This gripping mystery blends history, fiction, and cultural reckoning. In the pre-dawn hours at a local summer camp, Bureau of Indian Affairs archaeologist Syd Walker receives a disturbing call: newly discovered skeletal remains have been stolen. A Native teen girl vanished near the...

This week on the KPL Podcast, we’re joined by debut author Zoe Rankin to discuss her gripping novel The Vanishing Place . Set in the rugged New Zealand bush, this nature-infused thriller begins when an eight-year-old girl emerges from the wilderness—alone, injured, and starving. But there’s something even more unsettling: she’s the exact likeness of a child who vanished without a trace twenty year...

 This week on the KPL Podcast, we welcome back author Julie Leong to discuss her enchanting new novel, The Keeper of Magical Things . Set in the same whimsical world as her debut, The Teller of Small Fortunes , this story follows a novice mage with limited powers who’s been given a deceptively simple assignment—transport and catalog magical artifacts alongside a brilliant (and unfairly attractive)...

This week on the KPL Podcast, we welcome author Kristen Loesch to discuss her latest novel, The Hong Kong Widow . Set in 1950s Hong Kong, the story follows Mei, a young refugee fleeing the shadows of her past in Shanghai. When Mei is invited to compete in a chilling contest among six spirit mediums inside one of the city’s most haunted houses, she must confront both restless ghosts and her own bur...

 In this episode, we dive into Heartland Masala , a vibrant new cookbook that pairs 99 recipes from Indian cooking instructor Jyoti Mukharji with cultural and historical essays by her son, Auyon Mukharji. This joyful collaboration celebrates Indian cuisine, family traditions, and the immigrant experience in the American Midwest. Packed with dazzling recipes, rich storytelling, and stunning visuals...

 This week on the KPL Podcast, we welcome author Amanda Chapman to discuss her new novel, Mrs. Christie at the Mystery Guild Library . In this spirited mystery, book conservator Tory Van Dyne teams up with a woman claiming to be Agatha Christie—on holiday from the Great Beyond—to catch a killer.  The Grand Tour by Agatha Christie Come, Tell Me How You Live by Agatha Christie The Thursday Murder Cl...

If you love horror, The Whistler   is a chilling read that lingers long after the last page. Drawing on the Native superstition that warns against whistling at night for fear of summoning spirits, the novel builds its terror from cultural lore and personal tragedy. Henry Hotard, once a rising star in the world of ghost-hunting videos, sees his future collapse after an accident leaves him a quadrip...

 This week on the KPL Podcast, we sat down with debut author Ken Miller to discuss his novel High Finance . Miller delivers an eye-opening look at the financial world in the years leading up to the 2008 market crash. The story follows Jed Czincosca, a high-powered dealmaker who rises to the top of Wall Street by orchestrating multibillion-dollar transactions, indulging in drugs and alcohol, and tr...

This week on the KPL Podcast, we welcome author Daphne Fama to discuss her spellbinding debut novel, The House of Monstrous Women . Set in the Philippines in 1986, this gothic horror tale follows a young woman who becomes entangled in a perilous game after accepting an invitation to the labyrinthine home of her childhood friend—rumored to be a witch. Fama’s lush prose and chilling imagination weav...

 We’re excited to welcome back author Anne Shaw Heinrich to the KPL Podcast! This week, we’ll be diving into her newest release, Violet is Blue , the second book in her Women of Paradise County series. Listeners will get a chance to meet fresh faces in Paradise County while also catching up with some familiar characters from her debut novel, God Bless the Child . If you love heartfelt stories abou...

 This week we’re joined by KT Hoffman to talk about his highly anticipated debut romcom, The Prospects . Recently named one of the Best Romance Books of 2024, this sweet and heartfelt queer love story follows two minor league baseball players as they discover that the biggest wins can happen off the field. Hoffman shares how his own love of baseball shaped the story and what it means to write joyf...

This week on the podcast, we speak with Elyse Graham about her fascinating new book, Book and Dagger . Did you know that modern spycraft was shaped by librarians and professors? Graham uncovers the surprising story of how the OSS—later known as the CIA—took root when the United States entered World War II, blending scholarship with espionage in ways you’ve never imagined. Author reads 1. The Art S...

 This week on the KPL Podcast, we explore A History of the World in Six Plagues with historian Edna Bonhomme. Through riveting storytelling and rigorous research, Bonhomme traces the devastating impact of pandemics across centuries and continents—from Port-au-Prince to plantation-era America—revealing how disease and systemic inequality have long gone hand in hand. Don’t miss this powerful look at...

This week on the KPL Podcast, we’re joined by special guest Andrew Kuhlman to talk about Austen’s Pride —the dazzling new musical now playing at the Kirkwood Performing Arts Center. In this imaginative reworking of Pride and Prejudice , Jane Austen herself takes center stage, embarking on a journey of self-discovery. As the iconic romance between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy unfolds in a fresh l...

This week on the KPL Podcast: When the Blum family trades Brooklyn for a quiet Maine college town, they expect a fresh start—until a shocking event on Hazel’s first day of senior year shakes everything. Hazel Says No is a warm, witty debut about family, identity, and the ripple effects of change. A small-town story with big heart and unforgettable characters. Author Reads Consider Yourself Kissed...

In this week's KPL Podcast episode we dive into The World’s Greatest Detective and Her Just Okay Assistant   by Liza Tully.  A sharp-tongued Boomer sleuth teams up with her eager Gen Z assistant to solve a suspicious death at a wealthy family's estate on Lake Champlain. What looks like suicide might be murder—and the deeper they dig, the messier it gets. Full of wit, twists, and intergen...

This week on the KPL Podcast, we spoke with Maxie Dara about A Grim Reaper's Guide to Catching a Killer. The story is a cozy mystery with a paranormal twist, following grim reaper Kathy Valence as she investigates a murder within her department. The story blends humor, heart, and a unique premise to explore themes of family, love, and personal growth.  Dead and Breakfast by Kate Kingsbury A R...

This week on the podcast we have Aaron John Curtis here to tell us about his debut novel.   In Old School Indian , a sharp and tender novel, Abe Jacobs—facing a terminal diagnosis—returns to the Rez after decades away. As he reckons with his crumbling marriage, a skeptical healing ceremony, and his own past, Abe embarks on a moving journey of self-discovery, family, and cultural reconnection.  Sou...

In this week's KPL Podcast episode, Alicia Thompson brings us a swoony second-chance romance set on a cruise with a reunited band, Never Been Shipped. Micah is determined not to repeat past mistakes—no drama, no falling in love. But when her former bandmate (and best friend) John steps back into her life, the sparks are impossible to ignore.  Listen to learn more. Author Reads All's Fair...

In this episode, we dive into Don’t Sleep with the Dead   by Nghi Vo—a haunting, magical companion to The Chosen and the Beautiful . Set in the late 1930s, Nick Carraway is still pretending—about his past, his identity, and his humanity—until a familiar figure from 1922 returns. Dead or not, Gatsby isn’t finished with him. A reimagining of The Great Gatsby   like you’ve never heard before. Author...

This week on the KPL Podcast we have debut author Lucas Schaefer to tell us about his novel, The Slip .  This is an American novel about a missing teenage boy, cases of fluid and mistaken identity, and the transformative power of boxing. This novel was named a Most Anticipated Book of 2025 by The New York Times, The Washington Post, and NPR.   Listen to learn more.  Author Reads: White Teeth by Za...

Welcome back to the KPL Podcast.  This week we spoke with Jessie Rosen about her new novel, All The Signs .  If you are into astrology than you'll enjoy this fun, light hearted novel about a doctor who's life is turned upside down with she learns she's out of alignment with her star chart. Listen to learn more.  Author reads Hot Air by Marcy Dermansky It's a Love Story by Annab...

This week on the KPL Podcast, we spoke with author Tom Lamont about his novel Going Home .  This is a sweet, heartwarming story three men not suited to be fathers  but step up to take charge of a toddler after an unexpected loss. Both parenting and friendship are examined in a whole new light.  Listen to learn more.  Author Reads Home by Marilynne Robinson Human Voices by Penelope Fitzgerald Hidde...

Welcome back to the KPL Podcast.  This week we spoke with Annie Mare about her latest novel Cosmic Love at the Multiverse Hair Salon.  Two women meet when one accidentally texts the wrong number.  They begin to chat back and forth and try to meet up in person but learn they are separated by five months.  One of them is in May and other in October for the same year.  Listen to learn more. Author re...

Let's get sciency on the KPL Podcast.  This week we spoke with author Jack Lohmann about his book White Light: The Elemental Role of Phosphorus in Our Cells, in Our Food, and In Our World.   This book takes us into the world of phosphorus mining, the environmental and socio economic impact, and food production. Author Reads Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell Animal's People by Indira Sinha Pi...