Mystery Podcast Partnerships

Tea, Tonic & Toxin is a mystery and thriller podcast and book club that explores the best mysteries and thrillers ever written.

From Edgar Allan Poe and Agatha Christie to Patricia Highsmith and Ross Macdonald, we’re reading our way through the history of mystery, one remarkable book at a time.

Sarah Harrison and Carolyn Daughters, the hosts of Tea, Tonic & Toxin, bring together readers, writers, historians, literary experts, and fellow mystery enthusiasts to celebrate the books that shaped a genre and continue to captivate readers today.

We love collaborating with independent bookshops, publishers, authors, literary festivals, and organizations that share our passion for extraordinary storytelling.

The History of Mystery, One Book at a Time

Tea, Tonic & Toxin is more than a podcast. It’s an ongoing literary adventure through the evolution of mystery, detective fiction, suspense, and thrillers.

We began with Edgar Allan Poe’s groundbreaking 1841 story “The Murders in the Rue Morgue” and have been moving chronologically through the genre ever since. Our reading lists feature influential classics, forgotten gems, celebrated authors, and boundary-breaking books that deserve a place on every mystery lover’s shelf.

Each month, we select a book and explore what makes it extraordinary. We consider its characters, storytelling, historical context, literary innovations, and lasting influence. Sometimes we agree. Sometimes we don’t. Any way you slice it, there’s always plenty to discuss.

Our conversations are thoughtful, meticulously researched, occasionally irreverent, and grounded in a genuine love of reading. We also interview contemporary mystery and thriller authors, publishing professionals, historians, and other experts who bring fresh perspectives to the books we love.

We believe great books deserve great conversations. Join us, won’t you?

What We’re Reading: 2026-27

Our annual reading lists provide a natural foundation for bookshop partnerships, themed displays, reading groups, literary events, and collaborative promotions.

2026: Mysteries and Thrillers from 1943-1948

Our 2026 reading list explores the remarkable transformation of crime fiction during and immediately after World War II. From traditional whodunits and ingenious puzzles to psychological suspense and noir, these twelve novels demonstrate the extraordinary range of the genre.

Coming in 2027: Mysteries and Thrillers from 1949-1952

Our 2027 reading list continues the journey into the postwar era, when hardboiled detective fiction, psychological suspense, police procedurals, and classic British mysteries were developing in fascinating new directions.

We’ll explore 12 outstanding novels, including several that helped redefine crime fiction and others that deserve renewed attention.

The Moving Target (1949) by Ross Macdonald

Cat of Many Tails (1949) by Ellery Queen

A Murder Is Announced (1950) by Agatha Christie

Strangers on a Train (1950) by Patricia Highsmith

Smallbone Deceased (1950) by Michael Gilbert

The Asphalt Jungle (1949) by W. R. Burnett

A Gentle Murderer (1951) by Dorothy Salisbury Davis

The Daughter of Time (1951) by Josephine Tey

Beat Not the Bones (1952) by Charlotte Jay

Last Seen Wearing … (1952) by Hillary Waugh

The Killer Inside Me (1952) by Jim Thompson

The Tiger in the Smoke (1952) by Margery Allingham

Interested in collaborating? We’d love to explore bookshop displays, reading groups, author-focused promotions, and other creative ways to introduce these titles to new readers.

Extraordinary Books. Fascinating Guests.

One of the pleasures of Tea, Tonic & Toxin is welcoming people who love mysteries as much as we do.

Our guests have included internationally bestselling authors, award-winning novelists, literary historians, publishing executives, biographers, Egyptologists, journalists, and experts in everything from wartime espionage to the Golden Age of detective fiction.

Here are just a few of the remarkable people who’ve joined our conversations.

Otto Penzler

Legendary mystery editor, publisher, and bookseller, and founder of The Mysterious Bookshop in New York City.

Craig Johnson

NYT bestselling author of the Walt Longmire mystery series, which inspired the hit television series Longmire.

Sarah Weinman

Acclaimed crime fiction historian, editor, and author whose work has helped bring overlooked women crime writers back into the spotlight.

David Morrell

Thriller Master Award recipient and bestselling author of First Blood, the novel that introduced Rambo.

Arvind Ethan David

Award-winning writer/producer of theater, comics, fiction & TV (Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency and The Great Game).

Julie Rivett

Literary scholar and granddaughter of Dashiell Hammett, who’s preserving the legacy of one of America’s most influential crime writers.

Mike Ripley

Award-winning British crime novelist, critic, and historian of detective fiction, best known for his Albert Campion (Margery Allingham) continuation novels.

Erika Krouse

Novelist, essayist, and author of Tell Me Everything: The Story of a Private Investigation, a gripping memoir that won the Edgar for Best Fact Crime.

Get to Know the Podcast

The Ministry of Fear by Graham Greene: A chilling wartime espionage thriller about fear, identity, and moral responsibility, along with incredible historical insights from Dr. Robert Willingham. LISTEN

Traitor’s Purse by Margery Allingham: Crime novelist and historian Mike Ripley joins us to discuss the Albert Campion mysteries and Ripley’s experience continuing the series decades after Allingham’s death. LISTEN

Death Comes as the End by Agatha Christie: Ancient Egypt meets classic detective fiction in this groundbreaking 1944 mystery, set nearly 4,000 years ago. Egyptologist Dr. Nicky Nielsen weighs in. LISTEN

Stay Mysterious: Discover Your Next Great Read

Curious about a classic mystery but haven’t read it yet?

Our new Stay Mysterious series features short, spoiler-free episodes designed to introduce readers to extraordinary books without giving away the secrets that make them worth reading.

In about 20 minutes, we explore what makes a book special, why it matters, and why you might want to add it to your reading list.

For bookshops, Stay Mysterious offers a particularly natural collaboration opportunity: a quick introduction that helps customers discover a book, followed by an invitation to read it and join the conversation.

Start with: Stay Mysterious: The Moving Toyshop by Edmund Crispin

Our spoiler-free episodes complement our longer, in-depth discussions, giving listeners a way to discover a book before reading it and return for a richer conversation afterward.

Read the books. Join the conversation. Stay mysterious.

We believe the best literary partnerships begin with a shared enthusiasm for books and readers.

Here are few ideas we’d love to explore:

History of Mystery Bookshop Display: Curate a shelf featuring our 2026 or 2027 selections, with a QR code inviting shoppers to discover the podcast.
Bookseller Spotlight: Feature a bookseller’s favorite classic mysteries, recommendations, shop history, or expertise in a podcast interview or social media feature.
Read Along With Us: Invite customers to read a monthly selection and join a conversation online or in the shop.
Stay Mysterious Book Discovery: Pair spoiler-free episodes with booksellers’ recommendations to introduce classic mysteries to new readers.
Special Events and Giveaways: Collaborate on author conversations, themed promotions, book giveaways, or other activities that celebrate mystery fiction.

Whether you’re an independent bookseller, publisher, author, literary event organizer, or potential sponsor, we’d love to explore creative ways to work together. The most interesting partnerships often begin with a simple conversation.

Bookshops & Book Sellers

Bring our reading lists to your shelves through themed displays, recommended reading collections, book club partnerships, or special promotions. We also feature booksellers in podcast conversations and social content.

Authors, Publishers & Experts

Introduce readers to new books, rediscovered classics, fascinating literary histories, and fresh perspectives on the mystery genre through interviews, guest appearances, and collaborative content.

Literary Festivals & Communities

Explore live or virtual book discussions, author conversations, panel appearances, reading community challenges, and events that connect mystery and crime fiction enthusiasts.

Sponsors & Brand Partners

Reach an audience interested in books, culture, history, and thoughtful conversation through sponsorships, episode partnerships, giveaways, and other mutually beneficial opportunities.

A Personal Invitation from Sarah and Carolyn

Sarah Harrison

Carolyn Daughters

We started Tea, Tonic & Toxin because we love a good mystery and because talking about great books is almost as much fun as reading them. Along the way, we’ve discovered extraordinary authors, revisited old favorites, explored forgotten classics, and met fascinating people who share our enthusiasm for mysteries and crime fiction.

We’re always looking for more ways to bring those books and conversations to new audiences.

Do you own an independent bookshop, publish mysteries and thrillers, organize literary events, or simply have a creative idea worth exploring? We’d love to hear from you. We’re especially interested in collaborations that help readers discover wonderful books they might otherwise overlook.

After all, the only thing better than discovering a great mystery is sharing it with someone else.

Have a Mysterious Idea? Let’s Talk.

If you’re passionate about great mysteries, fascinating authors, and helping readers discover extraordinary books, we’d love to hear from you.

We’re always interested in connecting with bookshops, authors, publishers, literary organizations, and other potential collaborators.

Let’s find something wonderful to do together.