Monthly Archives: April 2025

Epsiode 163: Interview with Wes Browne, author of They All Fall the Same

April 23, 2025Author Interviewappalachia, crooked lane books, hillbilly hustle, kentucky, matt godfrey, they all fall the same, wes brownetopshelfatmerricklibrary

They All Fall the Same by Wes Browne has already made waves, earning a spot as one of Goodreads’ biggest mysteries and thrillers of 2025 and a most anticipated book of the year by Book Riot’s Read or Dead. Author Kelly J. Ford raves, “The hills of Kentucky burn in this thrilling tale of warring crime families that harks back to the furies of the Hatfields and McCoys.”

In this episode, Wes joins me to discuss his gripping character development, the art of crafting suspenseful action scenes, and how his experience as a criminal defense attorney helped shape characters that feel intensely real.

This novel is a fast-paced, runaway train of a story—packed with twists, surprises, and high-stakes action that kept me on the edge of my seat. And the audiobook narrated by Matt Godfrey? Pure dynamite. You won’t want to miss either version of They All Fall the Same.

Wes Browne recommends: Trampoline by Robert Gipe; When We Were Hardcore by Linda Michel-Cassidy; Asides by George Singleton; King of Ashes by S.A. Cosby, the work of David Joy; the work of Leah Hampton.

Place your hold for both Wes Browne titles here.

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Episode 162: Interview with Belinda Bauer, author of The Impossible Thing

April 9, 2025Author Interviewbelinda bauer, blacklands, Crime, cwa dagger, darkside, exit, high rollers, historical mystery, rubbernecker, snap, the beautiful dead, the facts of life and death, the impossible thing, the shut eyetopshelfatmerricklibrary

Belinda Bauer on The Impossible Thing… A Crime Story Like No Other

A taut, brilliantly imagined novel packed with intrigue at every turn, The Impossible Thing cements Belinda Bauer’s place as one of our great crime writers. From the two-time winner of the CWA Crime Novel of the Year and Sunday Times bestselling author of Snap and Exit, this gripping new mystery follows a young girl, an impossible discovery, and a crime that remained unsolved for a century—until now.

Blending crime caper with historical mystery, Bauer crafts a story so compelling it’s impossible to put down. In this episode, she shares the fascinating true story behind the novel—the real-life case of the missing Maitland eggs—along with insights into the book’s intricate structure, the challenges of writing it, and how her screenwriting background shaped the narrative flow. Plus, she reveals why she always knows the last line of her books before she begins.

Belinda, thank you for such an insightful and engaging conversation! It was a true joy to have you on the show. Belinda Bauer recommends: Tommy the Bruce by James Yorkston; High Rollers by Jack Bowman, and Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson.

Place your holds here for all Belinda Bauer titles. Follow Belinda Bauer on Facebook.

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Episode 161: Interview with Danielle Arceneaux, author of Glory Daze

April 2, 2025Author Interviewdanielle arceneaux, glory be, glory broussard, glory daze, Louisiana, Mystery Series, Pegasus Books, pegasus crime, Simon and Schustertopshelfatmerricklibrary

One of my favorite mystery series just got a brand-new installment! Glory Daze by Danielle Arceneaux has officially launched, and I couldn’t be more excited. In this highly anticipated follow-up to the award-winning Glory Be, Glory Broussard is drawn into the mystery of her ex-husband’s death—this time with an unexpected ally by her side.

Compelling, humorous, and heartfelt, this book delivers everything I love about Glory: her sharp wit, her resilience, and the way she always seems to stumble into trouble. In this episode, we dive into what makes Glory such a complex yet relatable character, whether this book fits into the Cozy Mystery genre, what Danielle is working on next, and, of course, where to find the best muffuletta in Louisiana (tune in to find out). Oh, and I may have gone on a little tangent about my love of Pyrex!

Tune in for a fantastic conversation. Thank you so much, Danielle! Follow Danielle Arceneaux on Instagram @darceneaux.

Danielle recommends, The Most by Jessica Anthony. Place your holds here for the Glory Broussard books.