Dear listeners, There has been a lot going on chez moi, which is why I haven't been sending the Shedunnit newsletter as often as I would like. But earlier this month I got to do something very special because of the podcast and I wanted to tell you
Music Welcome to Shedunnit. I'm Caroline Crampton. 2026 marks fifty years since the final Miss Marple novel, Sleeping Murder, was published. But as Shedunnit listeners well know, the conversation about Agatha Christie's most unassuming yet deadly sleuth is very far from over. At this year'
Why has Agatha Christie’s spinster sleuth endured?
Why has Agatha Christie’s spinster sleuth endured?
Katie Lumsden joins Caroline to examine the swan song of A.J. Raffles.
Green Penguin Music Caroline: Welcome to Shedunnit. I’m Caroline Crampton. And welcome back to Green Penguin Book Club, a series within Shedunnit that documents my journey of reading and discussing every crime or green title from the main Penguin series, in order. Our book today is Mr Justice Raffles
This is the Shedunnit Book Club Conversation episode for September 2026.
This is the Shedunnit Book Club Fact File episode for September 2026.
Katie Lumsden joins Caroline to examine the swan song of A.J. Raffles.
Where does the tradition of younger women solving crimes begin?
Caroline: As you might expect from a podcast titled "Shedunnit", I talk a fair bit here about women detectives. I noticed recently, though, that many of these golden age lady sleuths tend to be of more mature years, shall we say, especially the famous and recurring ones. Miss
This is your audiobook for September 2026.
Where does the tradition of younger women solving crimes begin?
Caroline: The high point of golden age detective fiction occurred between the First and Second World Wars. That's a generally accepted fact. Of course, when Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers and co were writing and publishing in the 1930s, they didn't know they were part of
Caroline rereads Christianna Brand's 1944 crime novel, Green for Danger.
This is the Shedunnit Book Club Conversation episode for August 2026.
This is the Shedunnit Book Club Fact File episode for August 2026.
Caroline: Here are a few things that all crime fiction lovers know to be true. Detective stories work best when they are firmly focused on reality, giving the supernatural a wide berth. A classic whodunnit needs a clear, unambiguous ending: the good end happily and the bad, unhappily. And Agatha
Let’s meet Agatha Christie’s strangest creation.
Let’s meet Agatha Christie’s strangest creation.
This is your audiobook for August 2026.
Dear listeners, I'm hoping that today's new episode will prompt you to air some of your own opinions, or perhaps pick up a novel you haven't read in a while: in it, I'm discussing the ten Agatha Christie novels that I think
Beyond the famous novels, there’s a whole world to discover.
Beyond the famous novels, there’s a whole world to discover.
Beyond the famous novels, there’s a whole world to discover.
Plus: some thoughts about podcast schedules.
Music Caroline: As fans of the golden age of detective fiction, we're used to reading books where the science is now part of history. Which is fascinating, of course — there have been several titles I've featured on the show in the past couple of years, like
This is the Shedunnit Book Club Fact File episode for July 2026.
On science-driven crime fiction in the 1920s and the 2020s. Many thanks to my guest, Kathy Reichs. The paperback of Evil Bones is published on 30th July in the UK. You can find out more about Kathy and her work at her website, kathyreichs.com. Support the podcast by
This is the Shedunnit Book Club Conversation episode for July 2026.
On science-driven crime fiction in the 1920s and the 2020s.
Being Miss Marple's neighbour might not be much fun.
Why did Agatha Christie set her murders in villages?
Caroline: The English village is at the heart of Agatha Christie's work, and at the heart of its success. Her books are not always set in villages, of course, but is hard to imagine her achieving the same level of popularity if she had not set many of
Why did Agatha Christie set her murders in villages?
This is your audiobook for July 2026.
Why is this murder from 1910 still so fascinating to us?
Music Caroline: Welcome to Shedunnit. I'm Caroline Crampton. Music I mostly talk about fictional murders on this show. But there is one real life case, from 1910, that has been on my mind since the very start of Shedunnit. The second ever episode I made, back in 2018,
Why is this murder from 1910 still so fascinating to us?
There's a reason why Agatha Christie knew so much about poisons.
Caroline: Agatha Christie received a lot of accolades during her long writing career. She had fans all over the world, her books sold thousands upon thousands of copies and (mostly) received good reviews, and in 1971 she was made a Dame by the Queen for her services for literature. But
This is the Shedunnit Book Club Conversation episode for June 2026.
This is the Shedunnit Book Club Fact File episode for June 2026.
There's a reason why Agatha Christie knew so much about poisons.
This is your audiobook for June 2026.
He published over 140 novels. Which ones are actually good?
Ronaldo Fagarazzi joins Caroline for a 1920s serial killer mystery.
Caroline: Welcome to Shedunnit. I’m Caroline Crampton. And welcome back to Green Penguin Book Club, a series within Shedunnit that documents my journey of reading and discussing every crime or green title from the main Penguin series, in order. Our book today is The Murders in Praed Street by
Ronaldo Fagarazzi joins Caroline for a 1920s serial killer mystery.
Thoughts on The Silent Passenger (1935).
Caroline: Being a writer is a funny business. You work alone most of the time. Sometimes, that work just involves staring blankly into space. And even once your project is finally released to the world, it can be hard to gauge if you've done well. Some would say
Why did Dorothy L. Sayers hate the first Peter Wimsey film so much?
Why did Dorothy L. Sayers hate the first Peter Wimsey film so much?
This is the Shedunnit Book Club Conversation episode for May 2026.
This is the Shedunnit Book Club Fact File episode for May 2026.
Dear listeners, A belated welcome back to our monthly book recommendations newsletter in which the Shedunnit team — that is, me and my production assistant Leandra — share what we have been reading while making the show. We missed April because I was unwell, but we're back now! Caroline Has
This is your audiobook for May 2026.
Are Agatha Christie’s stories as chaste as they seem?
Are Agatha Christie’s stories as chaste as they seem?
Caroline:: A hundred years ago this year, Lady Chatterley was born, soon appearing in DH Lawrence’s highly controversial novel Lady Chatterley’s Lover in 1928. Another very famous female literary character was born at almost exact the same time – Miss Marple, who made her debut in 1927. Lawrence’s
Are Agatha Christie’s stories as chaste as they seem?
Caroline: It is Sunday afternoon, preferably before the war. The wife is already asleep in the armchair, and the children have been sent out for a nice long walk. You put your feet up on the sofa, settle your spectacles on your nose, and open the News of the World.
What George Orwell can teach us about detective fiction.
What George Orwell can teach us about detective fiction.
This is the Shedunnit Book Club Conversation episode for April 2026.
This is the Shedunnit Book Club Fact File episode for April 2026.
Dear listeners, Things have been a little hectic on my end the past few weeks, so I've missed a couple of newsletters. I'm sorry about that and hope to be resuming normal weekly service soon. As such, there are two new episodes that I need to
The childhood nightmare that informed a crime writing career.
Caroline: At the heart of every good golden age mystery is the closed circle — that limited group of suspects from which the detective will, eventually, pick out the murderer. This isn't a form of crime writing that generally concerns itself with faceless strangers or unknown assailants. Part of
This is your audiobook for April 2026.
The childhood nightmare that informed a crime writing career.
Green Penguin Music Caroline: Welcome to Shedunnit. I’m Caroline Crampton. And welcome back to Green Penguin Book Club, a series within Shedunnit that documents my journey of reading and discussing every crime or green title from the main Penguin series, in order. Our book today is The Sanfield Scandal
Jim Noy joins Caroline for some Jolly Adventures in a castle.
Jim Noy joins Caroline for some Jolly Adventures in a castle.
Published: 1914 | Series: The Abbey Girls 1 Set in Miss Macey's school in Wycombe and in the surrounding hamlets and villages, this first book tells how Cicely Hobart comes to Whiteleaf to be near her maternal grandparents. About Elsie J. Oxenham Elsie Jeanette Dunkerley (1880–1960) wrote children&
Published: 1942 | Series: The Famous Five 1 There's a shipwreck off Kirrin Island! But where is the treasure? The Famous Five are on the trail. About Enid Blyton Enid Mary Blyton (1897–1968) was an English children's writer. Blyton's books have been worldwide bestsellers
Published: 1930 | Series: Standalone About Clifford Hosken Clifford James Wheeler Hosken (1882-1950) was an English writer who also published under the pseudonym Richard Keverne. Hosken served in the Flying Corps during the First World War, and he was a journalist for the Daily Mirror. His series characters were Inspector
Published: 1939 | Series: Gideon Fell 10 A box of deadly poisoned chocolates from Sodbury Cross's high street shop haunts the group of friends and relatives assembled at Bellegarde. About John Dickson Carr John Dickson Carr (1906–1977) was an American author of detective stories. He also published under
Published: 1925 | Series: Standalone When Anthony Cade agrees to deliver a parcel to an English country house on behalf of a friend, he never expected that decision would make him the centrepiece of a murderous international conspiracy. About Agatha Christie Agatha Christie (1890-1976) was a British author who became
Published: 1926 | Series: Standalone Michael Carteret is sent to a quiet rest home in Suffolk for a nerves cure. Once there, rather than rest, he stumbles on a smuggling operation. About Richard Keverne Clifford James Wheeler Hosken (1882-1950) was an English writer who also published under the pseudonym Richard
Published: 1936 | Series: Sergeant Jakob Studer 2 A child-murderer escapes from a Swiss insane asylum, and the director is discovered with a broken neck in the boiler room. About Friedrich Glauser Born in Vienna, Friedrich Glauser (1896–1938) was a German-language Swiss writer. He was addicted to morphine
Published: 1936 | Series: Commissario De Vincenzi 7 Not long after Inspector De Vincenzi receives an anonymous letter warning of imminent danger at the Three Roses, a body is found hanging in the hotel’s stairwell. As De Vincenzi investigates, more deaths follow. About Augusto De Angelis Augusto De Angelis (1888–
Published: 1959 | Series: Agaton Sax 4 When the Koh-Mi-Nor diamond is stolen, the thief leaves coded messages about it in the personal column of the newspaper published by the Swedish detective Agaton Sax. About Nils-Olof Franzen Nils-Olof Franzén (1916–1997) was a Swedish writer who wrote
Published: 1950 | Series: Standalone Amateur murder mystery writer Akimitsu Takagi is sent to investigate a haunting presence in the Chizurui family mansion. But then, tragedy strikes the Chizurui family. About Akimitsu Takagi Akimitsu Takagi (1920–1995) was the pen-name of a popular Japanese crime fiction writer active during the
Published: 1948 | Series: Detective Kosuke Kindaichi 2 Kosuke Kindaichi arrives on the remote Gokumon Island bearing tragic news but also a dying man's message. While on the island, there is a series of gruesome murders. About Seishi Yokomizo Seishi Yokomizo (1902–1981) was a Japanese mystery novelist, known
Dear listeners, Welcome to our reading recommendations newsletter! Once a month, I pop into your inbox to share what the Shedunnit team — that is, me and my production assistant Leandra — have been reading while we are making the show. I hope you'll find some ideas for what you
This is the Shedunnit Book Club Conversation episode for March 2026.
This is the Shedunnit Book Club Fact File episode for March 2026.
Published: 1961 | Series: Standalone When a young woman calling herself Annabel Winslow, who supposedly died four years ago, comes home to Whitescar, Con Winslow and his half-sister Lisa must find out whether she really is who she says she is. About Mary Stewart Mary Stewart (1916–2014) was a
Published: 2024 | Series: Mr. Darcy & Miss Tilney 3 Amateur sleuths Jonathan Darcy and Juliet Tilney are tasked with preventing the murder of the imperious Lady Catherine de Bourgh. About Claudia Gray Claudia Gray is the pseudonym of Amy Vincent. She is the author of the Mr. Darcy & Miss
Published: 1929 | Series: Standalone In this light-hearted thriller, a practical joke involving eight clocks backfires horribly. One of the clocks has gone missing, and someone is dead. About Agatha Christie Agatha Christie (1890-1976) was a British author who became the best-selling novelist of all time. She wrote
Published: 1948 | Series: Inspector Alan Grant 3 The residents at the Franchise have been accused of kidnapping a young girl named Betty Kane. About Josephine Tey Josephine Tey (1896-1952) is the pen name of Elizabeth MacKintosh. The Scottish author's other pen name was Gordon Daviot. Under the
Dear listeners, I've been reading lots more short stories in the last couple of months, as I continue trying to cultivate the habit of not staying up too late reading "just one more chapter" of a novel. I talked about this recently in a bonus episode
Caroline: I imagine that most crime fiction fans have a mental list of their favourite tropes and plot devices. I know I do, and it's always a pleasure to encounter them out there in the wild as I'm reading my way through as much golden age
What could possibly go wrong?
What could possibly go wrong?
This is your audiobook for March 2026.
Dear listeners, We're very fortunate to be living in an era of reprints. It is now the norm that publishers big and small are bringing crime fiction from the past back into ready availability. Especially with more ebook and audio editions as well, reading classic detective fiction has
Published: 1928 | Series: The Baffle Book 1 Part of the “solve-it-yourself” detective book craze of the 1920s and 1930s, these thirty short crime problems make the reader play detective, challenging them to solve whodunnit. About Lassiter Wren and Randle McKay Lassiter Wren (pseudonym of John T. Colter), with
Published: 1947 | Series: Lady Lupin 3 While trying to help a young married couple, Lady Lupin runs into what appears to be murder most foul. About Joan Coggin Joan Coggin (1898–1980) was a British crime writer during the golden age of detective fiction. Her series detective is Lady Lupin
