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
Published: 1943 | Series: Standalone Two brothers develop a fierce rivalry over the same woman. About Marjorie Bowen Margaret Gabrielle Vere Long (1885–1952) was a British author of historical romances, supernatural horror stories, popular history, and biographies. She wrote under numerous pseudonyms: Marjorie Bowen, George R. Preedy, Joseph Shearing, Robert
Published: 1981 | Series: Standalone Onizuka Kumako is suspected of killing her new husband Shirakawa Fukutaro, a rich widower desperate for companionship and unaware of her shady past. She proclaims her innocence, but doubt begins to creep in. About Seichō Matsumoto Seichō Matsumoto (1909-1992) was born in Fukuoka, Japan. Self-
Dear listeners, When reading murder mysteries, I tend to think of motive as a psychological question. What is it about the inner life of one of these characters that makes them willing to take the life of another? Revenge, greed, hate: these are internal factors that are then released into
Caroline: The crime at the heart of a classic murder mystery tends to be a personal, even intimate one. Whereas later twentieth century whodunnits and thrillers began to explore the crimes of strangers in greater depth — stalkers, serial killers, and so forth — during the interwar years, most fictional murderers were
The fascinating history of divorce in detective fiction.
The fascinating history of divorce in detective fiction.
Published: 1934 | Series: Standalone In this satirical novel, Herbert aimed to highlight the perceived flaws of contemporary divorce law. In fact, it played a major role in the popular debate about the liberalisation of divorce law in the mid-1930s, and helped pave the way for the 1937 statutory reforms.
Published: 1941 | Series: Inspector Charlesworth 1 Inspector Charlesworth, a young detective with Scotland Yard, investigates a murder at an upmarket dress shop in London's Bond Street. About Christianna Brand Mary Christianna Lewis (1907–1988), known professionally as Christianna Brand, was a British crime writer and children's
Published: 1940 | Series: Play In this stage comedy, a man and his mistress have run off the Venice; in his absence, the man's wife becomes a successful playwright. About Dorothy L. Sayers Dorothy L. Sayers (1893-1957) is best known as the author of twelve detective novels, most
Published: 2015 | Series: Short Stories In this anthology, there are fourteen stories ranging widely across the golden age of British crime fiction, from mysteries by Arthur Conan Doyle and G. K. Chesterton to hidden gems that have seldom been reprinted. What I've said about it on Shedunnit Stories
Published: 1937 | Series: Lord Peter Wimsey 11 Lord Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane spend their honeymoon at Talboys, an old farmhouse in Hertfordshire which he has bought her as a present, but it turns into a murder investigation when the seller of the house is found dead in the cellar.
Published: 1933 | Series: Short Stories This collection includes short stories following Lord Peter Wimsey and Montague Egg, as well as some miscellaneous mysteries. About Dorothy L. Sayers Dorothy L. Sayers (1893-1957) is best known as the author of twelve detective novels, most of which feature her aristocratic and literary-
Published: 1925 | Series: Dr Lancelot Priestley 1 Returning home one night from a nightclub, Harold Merefield finds a dead body in his bed. About John Rhode Cecil John Charles Street OBE MC (1884–1964), also known as John Street, was a major in the British Army and a crime fiction
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 February 2026.
This is the Shedunnit Book Club Fact File episode for February 2026.
Published: 1928 | Series: Dr Lancelot Priestley 4 Baffled by a succession of murders in the London neighbourhood of Praed Street, Scotland Yard seeks the help of Dr Lancelot Priestley and his unusual methods of investigation. About John Rhode Cecil John Charles Street OBE MC (1884–1964), also known as John
