Malice Aforethought: Best Crime Novels

Sarah, Carolyn, and guest Nate Harrison find Dr. Edmund Bickleigh entertaining, confusing, and terrifying. He has an inferiority complex with a big, whopping side of superiority. I guess everyone has truths that they hide from the world. What are we each hiding? And why?

Malice Aforethought by Francis Iles

Nate Harrison joins Sarah and Carolyn to discuss superman complexes, people who murder their spouses, and reasons why no one should ever eat a potted meat sandwich. Malice Aforethought ranks #16 in the Top 100 Crime Novels of All Time (Crime Writers’ Association). It’s worth a go!

Sam Spade: The Maltese Falcon

Author Mike Nugent joins Sarah and Carolyn to talk about noir, crime fiction, and all things Sam Spade (who’s described as resembling a blond satan). The Maltese Falcon changed the way crime fiction was written. You’ll want to read it in one sitting and then give our podcast a listen.

The Maltese Falcon Movie and Book

Sarah, Carolyn, and Mike Nugent keep the Maltese Falcon conversation flowing with LOADS more thoughts about Sam Spade, Effie Perine, Casper Gutman, Joel Cairo, and, of course, the ever-elusive Brigid O’Shaughnessy. Folks, we have a lot of ground to cover. Join us, won’t you?

The First of the Perry Mason Books

It’s time for Perry Mason! The year is 1933, and we meet Perry for the very first time, along with his trusted Girl Friday, Della Street. Perry has a moral code that’s hard to shake, and Della’s pretty cool — though she’s no Effie Perine. If we’re wrong, tell us. We can take it.