Murder Mavens

Thought to be one of the earliest mysteries, Edgar Allen Poe wrote this armchair detective short story about a letter that was stolen and retrieved. You'll have to join us to see if the Mavens liked the book — was is too wordy, or the bones of a classic, or both? We also delve into the influence of Poe on Conan Doyle and his detective Sherlock Holmes.

The Mavens do read authors other than Agatha Christie but there is great comfort in coming back to a tried and true author - especially when they take new styles with every book. Today they not only talked about Five Little Pigs, but also shared some other books they enjoy and what they are reading now. Join us and see if you agree with what we like and dislike.

Does the FBI have too much overreach? Can we trust the police? Do the wealthy get away with murder because of their money? No, we are not talking current events. These are all questions Rex Stout were grappling with 60 years ago when he wrote The Doorbell Rang. Join the Murder Mavens as they discuss this 1965 Nero Wolf Archie Goodwin classic and get a little sidetracked with Girl Scout cookies. Af...

Did you know the author of Winnie the Pooh also wrote a murder mystery? Well, he did. It's a cozy little story filled with traditional English country manor mystery tropes — weekend guests that stay forever, hidden passages, long lost family, and more. The Murder Mavens Bookclub Podcast is a group of friends who love mystery books and want you to join them while the discuss the book.

Join the Mavens was we talk with Emily Soderberg as we learn how she accomplished the perfect literary trifecta — a murder mystery, featuring a dog, and set in our home town. We learn about her writing process, getting an agent, the publishing process, and the difficult time waiting to hear how the book is received. (spoiler - Barb has started the book and loves it.) If you have any interest in my...

The Murder Mavens discuss Jaqueline Winspear's, Maisie Dobbs, the first in her award-winning series about a WWI nurse who turns into a detective . Is it a mystery, historical fiction, a war story? Listen to find out if we ever decided.

Dashiell Hammett thought it was his best book. Joan loves this book. But the rest of the Mavens struggled to get through it, if it all. Why? What makes Joan love it? Did the rest learn to give it another try. Could it be because story was told through dialogue without anyone telling us what to think of the characters? Or was it because Joan is drawn to thugs? Join us and find out.

The Murder Mavens lose themselves in Three Pines, Quebec; or at least they want to. Overall they try to determine if this mystery book is a cozy, or is it more that Three Pines is cozy where an intricate mystery unfolds. Join us as our discussion goes from our desire to eat at the cafe, to April being a cruel month, to is Detective Gamache too perfect, to which town has more murders per capita - T...

The Murder Mavens dive into the Marlow Murder Club and look into issues like why does this author feel drawn to writing about older women, what is a friend, and can water be a main character.

The Murder Mavens delve deep into the classic Agatha Christie "Murder on the Orient Express." While discussing the book and some of the various movie adaptations, they try to answer some of the age old questions of was this justice vs. revenge and is Kenneth Branagh's mustache too big for Poirot.