Scroll down to see the 2026 schedule and check out selections from years past.
2022 Schedule (1841-1910)
2023 Schedule (1911-1934)
2024 Schedule (1934-1939)
2025 Schedule (1939-1943)
Publication: 1943
THE MINISTRY OF FEAR by Graham Greene is a thrilling blend of espionage and psychological mystery set in wartime London. The story follows Arthur Rowe, an ordinary man caught up in Nazi intrigue. Celebrated for its moral complexity, it redefined the boundaries of the mystery genre.
GREEN FOR DANGER by Christianna Brand is a masterful wartime mystery set in a British hospital during the Blitz. When a patient dies under suspicious circumstances, Inspector Cockrill investigates a web of secrets among the medical staff. It’s a standout in Golden Age detective fiction.
DEATH COMES AS THE END by Agatha Christie is a groundbreaking historical mystery set in ancient Egypt. When a wealthy patriarch’s death sparks a series of murders within his family, suspicion and secrets abound. It’s the first full-length historical whodunit.
HOME SWEET HOMICIDE by Craig Rice features a trio of resourceful siblings who set out to solve a murder in their neighborhood. The novel exemplifies Rice’s talent for blending lighthearted storytelling with intricate puzzles, earning her acclaim in the genre — and a Time Magazine cover.
DIED IN THE WOOL by Ngaio Marsh is a compelling mystery set on a remote New Zealand sheep farm. When a politician is found murdered in a bale of wool, Inspector Alleyn uncovers political intrigue and secrets. Marsh was one of the Queens of Crime, and this novel is among her best.
THE MOVING TOYSHOP by Edmund Crispin is an ingenious mystery featuring eccentric Oxford professor Gervase Fen. When a poet discovers a murdered woman in a toyshop that later vanishes, Fen investigates the surreal case. Celebrated for its wit and inventive plot, it’s a crime fiction classic.
THE HORIZONTAL MAN by Helen Eustis is a psychological mystery set in an Ivy League women’s college. When an English professor is found murdered, suspicion falls on a troubled student. But as the investigation unfolds, the line between sanity and madness begins to blur.
THE BIG CLOCK by Kenneth Fearing is a thriller-noir about a man trapped inside the machinery of a powerful publishing empire. When a star journalist becomes entangled in a murder, he’s assigned to help hunt down the killer—who happens to be himself. This classic inspired the film No Way Out.
THE FABULOUS CLIPJOINT by Fredric Brown is a gritty mystery about the search for truth. When a man is murdered, his young son teams up with his uncle to uncover what really happened. Their investigation takes them through the burlesque houses, bars, and back alleys of Chicago.
IN A LONELY PLACE by Dorothy B. Hughes is a haunting psychological noir told from the perspective of a charming but deeply disturbed war veteran. As a series of L.A. stranglings terrifies the city, the truth about the protagonist’s volatile desires and violent impulses slowly unravel.
THE BLANK WALL by Elisabeth Sanxay Holding a suspenseful psychological thriller about an ordinary woman who becomes entangled in a man’s suspicious death while protecting her daughter from inside her seemingly quiet home. How far will she go to safeguard her family?
THE FRANCHISE AFFAIR by Josephine Tey is a mystery centered on a disturbing accusation. When a teenage girl claims she was kidnapped by two women, an attorney uncovers unsettling truths. The novel is celebrated for its nuanced psychology and dismantling of false narratives.
Ready to catch up on the books we’ve discussed in past years? Listen to the episodes anywhere you get your podcasts!
