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Terrifyingly Typical True CrimeEpisode 21 - Michael Tabb: The Pastor’s Secret LifeAround 6 PM on August 5, 2002, Pastor Michael Tabb arrived home with his two-year-old. He noticed the front door was slightly open but entered anyway. He called out for his wife, Marla, but there was no answer. He found the badly bludgeoned body of his wife clad in pajamas on their bedroom floor. Police would later note that the crime did notseem to be a robbery gone horrifyingly wrong. Nothing was stolen. Who would kill the pastor’s wife? When the police finally decided to take a closer look at the Tabb’s marriage, they would find that the good pastor did not...2025-07-2733 min
Revenge and Red HerringsEpisode 43 - The Honeymoon by Shalini Boland: Her Mini Murder KitWe’re talking about The Honeymoon by Shalini Boland. Among other things, we discuss pickpockets and our preference for European architecture. Give your opinion on the book in a comment below! We also wanted to let you know that we’re going to be taking an indefinite hiatus. We’re going to be focusing fully on our other podcast Terrifyingly Typical True Crime, but we want to thank everyone who has listened. We truly appreciate it and hope you continue to discover new good books and if you aren’t able to avoid those that just are...2025-07-1430 minTerrifyingly Typical True CrimeEpisode 20 - Arthur Burton Schirmer: The Method(ist) of MurderWhen Rosemarie Cobb went to Reeders, Pennsylvania for her brother’s memorial service in October 2008, she had no idea that his suicide was tied to a man linked to two other deaths, a pastor who happened to be having an affair with her sister-in-law. After pushing for an investigation, the formerly closed cases were given a second look. His first wife, Jewel, had died after a fall down the stairs nine years earlier, and hissecond wife, Betty, had died after a car crash only months earlier. Either Pastor Arthur Burton Schirmer was incredibly unlucky, or he had a hand in...2025-07-131h 06Terrifyingly Typical True CrimeEpisode 19 - Heather Pressdee: Woefully Underqualified, Continually PromotedWhen a family member chooses a residential facility or nursing home for their loved one, they expect them to be safe. When they are able to visit their relatives often, they feel confident that they chose the right place. However, without safeguards in place to advise potential employers of someone’s alarming job history and amid a global pandemic and staff shortages, the perfect situation is set for someone with malicious intent. Taking advantage of all of these things was nurse Heather Pressdee who used insulin as her weapon of choice in various medical facilities across four counties in Pi...2025-07-0657 minRevenge and Red HerringsEpisode 42 - The Suicide House by Charlie Donlea: That Childhood Trauma Cuts DeepJoin us as we review The Suicide House by Charlie Donlea. We dive back into Rory and Lane’s relationship and partnership. We talk about how kids love to scare themselves (does anyone else remember playing the Bloody Mary game?) and how teenagers frequent abandoned places. We also give our opinions on wearing masks on planes and on playing pranks. Let us know what you thought of The Suicide House!2025-06-3035 minTerrifyingly Typical True CrimeEpisode 18 - Jane Toppan: Sexual Sensationalism or Broken-Hearted Bitterness?In 1887, Amelia Phinney was recovering from surgery at Cambridge Hospital. As she lay awake from the postoperative pain, a nurse named Jane Toppan gave her something that thankfully made her pain ebb away, but then Amelia felt the bed sink as someone got in beside her. However, after another nurse came by, Jane jumped out of Amelia’s bed. Once the effects of the nearly fatal drugs Jane had given her wore off, she began to question her memory. She wouldn't recount the incident until she, and the rest of the world, learned the names of Jane’s dozens of l...2025-06-291h 03Terrifyingly Typical True CrimeEpisode 17 - Kimberly Saenz: Brazen With BleachWith her spotty employment history and her nursing license free from infractions, because her Demerol theft hadn’t yetbeen investigated, Kimberly Saenz was unconcerned and optimistic about her new job at the Lufkin, Texas DaVita Dialysis Center. Eight months in, her training was complete, and she was finding her groove. That’s when things started to change. In April 2008, five patients would die and five more would be injured when she inexplicably injected them with bleach. Sources: https://globaldialysis.com/dialysis-world-news/100-dialysis-industry-news/261353005-the-day-kimberly-saenz-got-caught-lufkin-daily-news.html https://www.davita.com/treatment-options/dialysis/in-center-hemodialysis/patient-care-technicians-at-the-dialysis-center https...2025-06-2247 minRevenge and Red HerringsEpisode 41 - Some Choose Darkness by Charlie Donlea: Some Karmic JusticeJoin us as we discuss Some Choose Darkness by Charlie Donlea. After providing a brief biography of Charlie Donlea, we give our opinions on porcelain dolls (don’t we all feel watched?). We mention germy kids and problems with vigilantism. We also dive into doctors disclosing information and erotic asphyxiation (no kink shaming here). Leave a comment to let us know your thoughts on the book!Sources: https://www.charliedonlea.com/bio https://www.charliedonlea.com/post/the-making-of-a-novel-part-ii https://www.charliedonlea.com/post/the-firm-only-better https://www.illinoisauthors.org/php/getSpe...2025-06-1635 minTerrifyingly Typical True CrimeEpisode 16 - Beverley Allitt: A Sick Need for AttentionIn February 1991, 22-year-old Beverley Allitt started her first job as a children’s nurse at Lincolnshire’s Grantham and Kesteven Hospital. After less than a week in her new role, 7-week-old Liam Taylor was being treated on the children’s ward for a chest infection. He recovered from two respiratory emergencies, but his luck ran out when he was on his own with Beverley. Even though the attending team did their best to save Liam, he later died from a heart attack. He was to become the first of Beverley’s young victims. Three more would be murdered and another...2025-06-1556 minTerrifyingly Typical True CrimeEpisode 15 - Genene Jones: Killing Instead of CaringWorking at Bexar County Medical Hospital in the pediatric ICU with the sickest children was where LVN Genene Jones wanted to be. She found the life-and-death emergencies exciting and wanted to be by the bedside of the sickest children. Colleagues who first viewed her as wanting to do a job that not every nurse was comfortable with soon started asking questions: Why were so many children dying during Genene’s shift? Whispers and rumors had begun gaining steam. Was Genene killing children during her “death shift”?Sources: https://www.texasmonthly.com/true-crime/the-death-shift-2/ https://w...2025-06-0846 minRevenge and Red HerringsEpisode 40 - Tell Me Lies by J.P. Pomare: Evil, Much?We’re diving into Tell Me Lies by J.P. Pomare. We dissect the protagonist’s skill and ethics as a psychologist, and we examine (and sympathize with) the antagonist’s motivations. We name this instance as the one time we think the other woman might have been more at fault than the married man (we weren’t sure it would ever happen, but here we are). We also tackle online bullying within the gaming sphere (just because something’s commonplace doesn’t mean it’s okay). Give your opinion on the book in a comment below! 2025-06-0230 minTerrifyingly Typical True CrimeEpisode 14 - Elizabeth Wettlaufer: Dialing-Up for Dastardly DeedsWe’re starting our next true crime theme: female killer nurses. Between 2007 and 2016, Ontario nurse Elizabeth Wettlaufer killed eight elderly patients and tried to kill or harm six more, administering insulin overdoses to those with dementia to relieve the “red surge” of pressure she felt in her chest. Elizabeth had a habit of stealing and using medication on the job and had been fired twice before. So, when her crimes came out, lawsuits were filed and an inquiry was launched as the public grappled with how this abuse of power was allowed to go on for almost a decade.S...2025-06-011h 11Terrifyingly Typical True CrimeEpisode 13 - Selena Quintanilla: For the Record, It Was MurderOn March 31, 1995, Grammy-award winning Selena Quintanilla was about to finally get her hands on the remaining financial records in the possession of her former employee who had been recently fired for embezzling. But that employee, the founder of Selena’s fan club, was not about to let the object of her obsession cut her out of her life. At the Days Inn in Corpus Christi, Texas, 34-year-old Yolanda Saldívar pulled out a .38-caliber revolver and shot the singer. While falling to the floor of the lobby, 23-year-old Selena used her final words to ensure that no one was in...2025-05-251h 01Revenge and Red HerringsEpisode 39 - If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio: Misogyny Strikes AgainWe’re talking about If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio. We discuss acting as a career choice and playing the same role versus playing a completely different character in each new production (which do you think is more difficult?). We also give our interpretations of the ending (do you agree?). Let us know what you thought of If We Were Villains!Sources: https://mlrio.com/about/ https://mlrio.com/tag/music/ https://www.theatticoneighth.com/blog/interview-m-l-rio https://crimereads.com/m-l-rio-on-the-connection-between-writing-and-dreams/ https://lapl.org/collections-resources/blogs...2025-05-1940 minTerrifyingly Typical True CrimeEpisode 12 - John Lennon: “Above Us, Only Sky”On December 8, 1980, one of the most famous and prolific musicians of a generation, John Lennon, 40, was gunned down in front of the Dakota building, which housed his Upper West Side apartment in the adopted city that he loved, where he could walk around freely without getting bombarded by fans. However, one mentally unstable anddisillusioned fan, Mark David Chapman, 25, who had been planning John’s murder for months, finally completed his mission. Did Mark take Holden Caulfield’s catchphrase of “phony” a little too literally?Sources: https://www.biography.com/musicians/john-lennon https://biographics.org/john...2025-05-181h 09Terrifyingly Typical True CrimeEpisode 11 - Christina Grimmie: My Celebrity “Soul Mate”It was a typical meet and greet, and the former contestant of The Voice, Christina Grimmie, stretched out her arms to hug a shy fan. But Kevin James Loibl didn’t return her embrace. Instead, he reached for his first 9mm handgun and shot his “soul mate,” a woman he had never met but with whom he had become obsessed, four times. Despite Christina’s brother tackling Kevin, Kevin scrambled away, took out his second handgun, and turned it on himself. We’re touching on YouTube fans and the personal connection they think they have with their favorite creators as we disc...2025-05-1156 minRevenge and Red HerringsEpisode 38 - The Girlfriend by K.L. Slater: Quite a Bit of Delusional ThinkingJoin us as we review The Girlfriend by K.L. Slater. We give a brief biography of K.L. Slater (did you know she used to write YA novels?) before mentioning gossip and Eleanor Roosevelt. We talk about hobbies (stamp collecting, anyone?), nesting, and security footage. We also discuss concussions and fancy dress (do you also picture Bridget Jones?). Leave a comment to let us know your thoughts on the book! Sources:https://www.klslaterauthor.com/https://nottinghamcityofliterature.com/blog/kim-slater-interview-nottingham-voice/https://www.frostmagazine.com/2021/03/my-writing-process-kl-slater/ 2025-05-0541 minTerrifyingly Typical True CrimeEpisode 10 - Darrell Abbott: Driven by the Music, From Diamond to DimebagDays before wrapping up their tour to head home for the Christmas holidays, the band Damageplan was playing a show at the Alrosa Villa Nightclub in Columbus, Ohio. However, this would be the last show for “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott and three other people. Nathan Gale went on a shooting spree that would send ripples through the heavy metal music community by ending the life of one of metal’s most influential power guitar players, leaving people to question how he was able to access the club and end the lives of four people in a matter of minutes.Sour...2025-05-0439 minTerrifyingly Typical True CrimeEpisode 9 - Andrés Escobar: A Steaming Cup of Soccer Steeped in CocaineAgainst the backdrop of Colombian narco-soccer, Medellín’s Atlético Nacional qualified for the 1994 World Cup in the United States. Having lost only one of the twenty-six games they played in the lead-up to the World Cup, the team was helping Colombian fans forget the perils they faced during the tumultuous time following Pablo Escobar’s death. But after being eliminated during the group stage, soccer star Andrés Escobar was shot to death upon his return to Medellín. We’re back with another episode on a celebrity who was killed for the own goal he scored in one of...2025-04-2744 minRevenge and Red HerringsEpisode 37 - The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena: Bar Bros CamaraderieJoin us as we discuss The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena. After providing a short biography of Shari Lapena (did you know she used to write literary comedies?), we dive into postpartum depression and kidnapping. We talk about AC vents (they can have more than one use) and the risk of starting a business. We consider paying ransoms and offering rewards. We also give our interpretations of the ending (including what we hope will happen next), and we mention the case of Madeleine McCann. Give your opinion on the book in a comment below! Sources: 2025-04-2133 minTerrifyingly Typical True CrimeEpisode 8 - Rebecca Schaeffer: Before Stalking Was a FelonyWe’re starting our new true crime theme: when celebrity fandom turns to murder. Rebecca Schaeffer was a 21-year-old actress whose career was just starting to take off. On the morning of her murder, she was anxiously waiting for a messenger to deliver the script for the highly anticipated third and final Godfather movie which she would be auditioning for later that afternoon. She opened her apartment door to be met not with a messenger, but a troubled fan named Robert John Bardo. Rebecca’s death would send shockwaves through Hollywood and force law enforcement to finally take stalking seri...2025-04-2037 minTerrifyingly Typical True CrimeEpisode 7 - Lizzie Borden: The Picture of Fragile Femininity“Lizzie Borden took an ax …” You may know the rhyme, but do you know the true story behind it? Today, for our final case on daughters who kill, we’re talking about Lizzie Borden. Even though she was acquitted, most people still believe that Lizzie Borden killed her father, Andrew Borden, and stepmother, Abby Borden with a hatchet in 1892. Could she have been innocent, or did Lizzie kill them for her inheritance? What about the rumors of incest? Give our last episode on daughters who kill a listen and tell us what you think!Sources: https...2025-04-1341 minRevenge and Red HerringsEpisode 36 - Between Husbands and Wives by Susannah Glenn: A Man-Child Who Couldn’t Handle His EmotionsIn this week’s episode, we’re diving into Between Husbands and Wives by Susannah Glenn. We give our opinions on public proposals (just no), breakups, and egging. We discuss smear campaigns and medical malpractice (there’s a difference between a mistake and gross negligence). We also touch on our desire to visit Australia, and we try to wrap our brains around the climate in the Southern Hemisphere. Let us know what you thought of Between Husbands and Wives!2025-04-0733 minTerrifyingly Typical True CrimeEpisode 6 - Jennifer Pan: When Your Lies Become Your Whole LifePolice arrived at the two-story home in quiet Markham, Ontario on November 8, 2010, in response to 24-year-old Jennifer Pan’s 911 call in which she told the dispatcher that three men had broken into her home and shot her parents, Hann and Bich Pan. Police and ambulance services pulled up to find a bloodied Hann in the front yard. Upon entering the home, they discovered Jennifer tied to the upstairs banister, apparently uninjured, but Bich was found in the basement, dead from multiple gunshots. Jennifer hadn’t made a lucky escape, though, she had been the one behind the hit on her...2025-04-0637 minTerrifyingly Typical True CrimeEpisode 5 - Jasmine Richardson: One “300-Year-Old Werewolf,” Two Goths, and Three MurdersA blood-soaked scene, three bodies, and one missing girl, the police can hardly be faulted for assuming they were looking at an abduction following a triple murder. But the person who had plotted the murders of Debra and Marc Richardson and their eight-year-old son, Tyler Jacob, wasn’t a stranger. It was 12-year-old Jasmine Richardson who had enlisted the help of her “boyfriend,” 23-year-old Jeremy Steinke, to kill her family. We’re back with another daughter who killed her family in this week’s episode on the youngest Canadian to have ever been convicted of multiple counts of first-degree murder who...2025-03-3053 minRevenge and Red HerringsEpisode 35 - Find Her by Sarah A. Denzil: Creepy Little Incel F*cker That He WasWe’re talking about Find Her by Sarah A. Denzil in this week’s episode. We discuss jury service (and wanting to get out of it), discrimination, and harassment. We tackle the mentality of incels (it really is nightmare fuel) and our imagined knee-jerk reactions to finding out someone is being abused. We also dive into panic attacks and the related shame. Leave a comment to let us know your thoughts on the book! 2025-03-2434 minTerrifyingly Typical True CrimeEpisode 4 - Suzane von Richthofen: “How Sharper Than a Serpent's Tooth It Is To Have a Thankless Child”São Paulo, Brazil’s largest city, experienced plenty of crime in 2002. With many citizens living in poverty and struggling to survive, police were used to being called to crime scenes in the poorer neighborhoods. However, getting called to the wealthy area of Campo Belo was not the norm. Entering the residence, police found that the rooms on the lower level largely appeared undisturbed, except for the office, where it looked like items had been strewn about. After going upstairs, though, they found the owners of the home, Manfred and Marisa von Richthofen, both in theirbeds, obviously dead. While thei...2025-03-2338 minRevenge and Red HerringsEpisode 34 - Verity by Colleen Hoover: Team Manuscript or Team Letter?Join us as we review Verity by Colleen Hoover. We give some hot takes on why we didn’t like the book (unlikable characters, anyone?) and share whether we’re team letter or team manuscript (and if the extra chapter changed our minds). We touch on working with an ex and living in a stranger’s house. We also discuss creepy kids (always with the creepy kids), once-in-a-lifetime job offers, and vigilantism. Give your opinion on the book in a comment below! 2025-03-1744 minTerrifyingly Typical True CrimeEpisode 2 - Verity Beck and Shabnam Ali: For Love or MoneyWe will be covering two separate cases about daughters who kill this week. First, when Reid and Miriam Beck’s son, Justin, visits their home on January 17, 2023, because he hadn’t talked to his parents in a few days, his sister, Verity, who is also living in the house, tells him things have “been bad.” Justin can see that when he notices what looks like a body covered with a sheet and a chainsaw nearby. Second, local villagers in Bawan Kheri, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, heard crying and pleading late in the evening of April 15, 2008. After ma...2025-03-1633 minTerrifyingly Typical True CrimeEpisode 3 - Kim Edwards: Britain’s Youngest Double MurderersWith the bodies of her mother, Elizabeth, and sister, Katie, upstairs, Kim Edwards watched the Twilight movies with her boyfriend Lucas Markham, reveling in their unobstructed relationship before police came to arrest them. Having long been jealous of her mother and sister’s close relationship, Kim wanted revenge for how her mother had treated her, and getting Lucas to kill Elizabeth for her was hardly difficult. After all, Elizabeth had never kept her disapproval of their relationship a secret. We're continuing with our theme of daughters who kill as we dig into Kim and Lucas’s relationship and the resu...2025-03-1635 minTerrifyingly Typical True CrimeEpisode 1 - Virginia McCullough: How to Build a Makeshift MausoleumDaughters who kill … That’s our first ever theme, and today, we’re diving into the case of Virginia McCullough. We’ve all dug ourselves into a hole with our lies before. Most of us, though, don’t see murder as our only way out. However, Virginia McCullough decided that murdering her parents, John and Lois, was her only answer. When the police showed up at the family home, they learned that Virginia hadn’t just been living with what she’d done, she’d been living with the bodies of her parents for the past four years.Sources: 2025-03-1038 minRevenge and Red HerringsEpisode 33 - Just the Nicest Couple by Mary Kubica: Fantasizing About Killing Your Neighbor Is Never a Good ThingJoin us as we discuss Just the Nicest Couple by Mary Kubica. We briefly talk about ignoring red flags (haven’t we all done it?) and being pregnant or ill in prison. We touch on teaching high school students (that’s some level of commitment) and engaging in predatory behavior. We also question how helpful cameras are in solving crimes and how likely it is not to find an unhidden body. Let us know what you thought of Just the Nicest Couple!2025-03-1029 minRevenge and Red HerringsEpisode 32 - My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing: The Amount of Weird Sh*t That Has Happened in FloridaIn this week’s episode, we’re diving into My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing. We talk about moving back to a place that holds a lot of bad memories (would you also rather move somewhere new?) and criminals being released on a technicality. We discuss victim blaming, finding out your ex is a murderer (that’s going to be hard to get over), and blackmail. We also put forward our theories about the ending. Leave a comment to let us know your thoughts on the book! 2025-03-0330 minRevenge and Red HerringsEpisode 31 - The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley: Let’s Just Call Them PredatorsWe’re talking about The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley in this week’s episode. We start off by giving a brief biography of Lucy Foley (did you know that she used to write historical fiction?). We mention unsafe work environments and riots. We also discuss a man’s perceived lack of self-control and destroying pictures of a person (is cutting the eyes out of a picture ever a good sign?). Give your opinion on the book in a comment below! Sources:https://www.harpercollins.com/blogs/authors/lucy-foley-20153312312930 https://www.irishtimes.com/culture...2025-02-2438 minRevenge and Red HerringsEpisode 30 - An Inconvenient Woman by Stéphanie Buelens: Pedos in Your PocketJoin us as we reviewAn Inconvenient Womanby Stéphanie Buelens. We discuss mental hospitals (does anyone else immediately think ofAmerican Horror Story: Asylum?), unnecessary lies, and sin eaters. We touch on people who date those with kids when they don’t want them (how is that going to end well?) and single people living fulfilled lives. We also briefly give our opinions on studying in Paris. Let us know what you thought ofAn Inconvenient Woman!Source:https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/restraining-orders/prohibited-items#:~:text=If%20a%20judge%20grants%20a,%2C%20shotgun%2C%20and%20assault%20weapon.2025-02-1731 minRevenge and Red HerringsEpisode 29 - The Family Remains by Lisa Jewell: Bad B*tch AttitudeJoin us as we discuss The Family Remains by Lisa Jewell, the sequel to The Family Upstairs. We touch on the lasting effects of trauma and having a last name that perfectly matches your profession (Gold for a jeweler, anyone?). We talk about wanting to be someone else (haven’t we all at one point or another?) and recognizing love bombing as abuse. We also mention the feasibility of buying a house and our willingness to suspend disbelief for our favorite plot points. Leave a comment to let us know your thoughts on the book! 2025-02-1028 minRevenge and Red HerringsEpisode 28 - The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell: Did He Read a “How to Be a Cult Leader” Handbook?In this week’s episode, we’re diving into The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell. After providing a short biography of Lisa Jewell (did you know she used to write romantic comedies?), we talk about exploring old houses (never at night). We also discuss wannabe cult leaders, outwardly turning your life around, and sympathizing with slightly evil characters (at least they’re interesting). Give your opinion on the book in a comment below!
Sources:
https://www.instagram.com/lisajewelluk/?hl=en
https://www.curtisbrown.co.uk/client/lisa-jewell
https://www.readmoreco.com/bl...2025-02-0329 minRevenge and Red HerringsEpisode 27 - Zero Days by Ruth Ware: Brush Up on Those Dusty Investigative Skills and Look DeeperWe’re talking about Zero Days by Ruth Ware in this week’s episode. We start off by giving a brief biography of Ruth Ware (did you know that she wrote YA novels under her real name?). We then discuss penetration testing (it’s a real career), police officers committing crimes, and the necessity of hiring a lawyer when talking to the police. We also consider epilogues and random acts of kindness. Let us know what you thought of Zero Days!
Sources:
https://evewhite.co.uk/authors/ruth-ware/
https://ruthware.com/about/
https...2025-01-2730 minRevenge and Red HerringsEpisode 26 - Good Bad Girl by Alice Feeney: You Aren’t Absolved Just Because You ApologizedJoin us as we review Good Bad Girl by Alice Feeney. We talk about being fired from a job you hate and undeserving, entitled grandparents (we’ve all met one). We touch on living in a houseboat (it’s not for us) and black-and-white thinking. We also discuss the positive role of art and books, forming healthy relationships in prison, and having more than one mother or father figure. Leave a comment to let us know your thoughts on the book! 2025-01-2031 minRevenge and Red HerringsEpisode 25 - The Lost Night by Andrea Bartz: Seriously, Lindsay, Employ Some Critical Thinking SkillsJoin us as we discuss The Lost Night by Andrea Bartz. We talk about living with an ex, when we start to side-eye age gaps in relationships, and trying for a baby to fix a relationship (does that seem like a solid plan?). After mentioning our appreciation for the inclusion of more than just one token gay character, we touch on jealousy in friendships (it’s not ideal) and the difficulties of graduating from college during the Great Recession. We also give our thoughts on having hobbies that bring joy. Give your opinion on the book in a comment be...2025-01-1333 minRevenge and Red HerringsEpisode 24 - First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston: A Super Villain Power TripIn this week’s episode, we’re diving into First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston. We touch on con artists and beating ourselves up for things that are out of our control (does anyone not do this?). We discuss origami and digitally altered voices (is there any way for them not to sound ominous?). We also talk about names that sound fake and the U.S. healthcare system. Let us know what you thought of First Lie Wins!2025-01-0630 minRevenge and Red HerringsEpisode 23 - The Appeal by Janice Hallett: Don’t Look Too Closely, You May Not Like What You SeeWe’re talking about The Appeal by Janice Hallett in this week’s episode. We lament the fact that our favorite character died and that several people who need therapy haven’t yet received it. We go over our theories about how much some of the characters actually knew about what was going on (do you think we’re off-base?). We also discuss the inclusion of a secret code (don’t they always elevate a novel?) and if one of the characters is being haunted. Leave a comment to let us know what you thought of the book!
Source: 2024-12-2329 minRevenge and Red HerringsEpisode 22 - The Fury by Alex Michaelides: Strap In, Things Are Going DownJoin us as we review The Fury, Alex Michaelides’s third and most recent book. We comment on the top-notch acting skills of several characters. We mention how prolonged isolation causes issues (another reason we have to interact with other people, sigh) and how it’s never great when someone’s first reaction is to turn to physical violence. As in the last episode, we again note the recurring characters and the references to Greek tragedy and mythology (were you also a fan?) Give your opinion on the book in a comment below! 2024-12-1624 minRevenge and Red HerringsEpisode 21 - The Maidens by Alex Michaelides: Weird-A** Initiation CeremoniesJoin us as we discuss The Maidens, Alex Michaelides’s second book. We touch on the characters from The Silent Patient who make a guest appearance in The Maidens. We recommend side-eyeing students who worship their professors and people who display an unhealthy interest in someone when they have access to where they live (not that any kind of unhealthy interest is ideal). We also mention our appreciation for the numerous references to Tennyson’s life and work. Let us know what you thought of The Maidens!
Source:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bonekickers/history/arth...2024-12-0930 minRevenge and Red HerringsEpisode 20 - The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides: Like a Mannequin in a Wheelchair Pushed in the CornerIn this week’s episode, we’re diving into The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides. We give a brief biography of Alex Michaelides before talking about how people can only change if they want to (therapists can’t make their clients change; they can only help them do so). We question if it’s ever okay to have a personal relationship with your therapist. We also mention how exhausting it is to be around people who thrive on drama (we all have one of those in our lives),
how you can be right to be paranoid, and how the stigma s...2024-12-0240 minRevenge and Red HerringsEpisode 19 - Look Closer by David Ellis: Must Be Nice Not to Have a ConscienceWe’re talking about Look Closer by David Ellis in this week’s episode. We discuss our love for fictional vengeance (this probably doesn’t say anything good about us) and the stereotype that only men can have sex and remain emotionally unattached. We touch on the fact that no amount of money can cancel out someone’s trauma and that more schools need to have comprehensive preventative steps in place to stop bullying before it happens. We also quickly mention actus reus (it’s interesting, we promise) and engaging in weird mental habits to reduce anxiety. Give your opinion on...2024-11-2532 minRevenge and Red HerringsEpisode 18 - Mother-Daughter Murder Night by Nina Simon: Can We All Just F*cking Get Over Ourselves?Join us as we review Mother-Daughter Murder Night by Nina Simon. We mention our admiration for female characters of color in positions of authority and for people living with chronic conditions. We note the tendency to admire a man who is tough in his professional life while calling a woman who acts the same way a bitch (WTF?) and that continuing to commit crimes to cover up the first one isn’t a solid plan. We also talk about our hatred of the feminine wiles trope (do you have an issue with it, too?). Let us know what you th...2024-11-1832 minRevenge and Red HerringsEpisode 17 - The Silent Woman by Minka Kent: A Little SusJoin us as we discuss The Silent Woman by Minka Kent. We talk about the interesting work of biographers, how we’re all curious to learn more about other people’s lives (why else do we have the desire to look in someone’s medicine cabinet?), and how refreshing it is for a female character not to be jealous of their partner’s ex. We note that therapy is a good investment (we’ve all got issues) and the desire to marry for money is legit. We also touch on narcissism being partly related to genetics. Leave a comment to let us...2024-11-1127 minRevenge and Red HerringsEpisode 16 - Blood Sugar by Sascha Rothchild: Kids Can Be PsychopathsIn this week’s episode, we’re diving into Blood Sugar by Sascha Rothchild. We talk about relating to the serial killer protagonist (she really is likable; we promise) and the enormous difficulties that come with living with a chronic condition. We mention the characters we wish the protagonist had killed (let’s not pretend we’re not rooting for the deaths of characters we don’t like), that there is no one right way to grieve, and how it’s always a plus when books represent characters of color or those who belong to the LGBTQ+ community. Give your opinion...2024-11-0434 minRevenge and Red HerringsEpisode 15 - Before We Were Innocent by Ella Berman: Nuance? What’s That?We’re talking about Before We Were Innocent by Ella Berman in this week’s episode. We discuss how the media vilifies teenage girls who make mistakes but often gives boys a free pass (WTF with “Boys will be boys?”). We touch on the fact that very few people would want to go back to being teenagers (we’re giving those that say high school was the best time of their lives the side-eye). We also briefly go into how narcissists need to control those around them and our interpretations of what happened to one of the main characters. Let us kno...2024-10-2836 minRevenge and Red HerringsEpisode 14 - On a Quiet Street by Seraphina Nova Glass: The Tired Stereotype of the Hysterical, Crazy, Jealous WifeJoin us as we review On a Quiet Street by Seraphina Nova Glass. We talk about people who cheat wanting to get caught and how no one is a villain in their own mind (even though they’re the monster in everyone else’s story). We tackle the believability of quick turnarounds and rushed reveals. We also discuss how children often know the state of their parent’s relationship and how teenagers in real life and in books can be hard to like (weren’t we all self-absorbed at that age?). Leave a comment to let us know what you thin...2024-10-2141 minRevenge and Red HerringsEpisode 13 - The Butcher Game by Alaina Urquhart: It’s Just Way Too Horror Movie for MeIn this week’s episode, we’re talking about The Butcher Game by Alaina Urquhart, the second book in the Dr. Wren Muller series. We mention hybristophilia and how we wish we had green thumbs. We discuss dream scenes (do you like them?), a lack of interdepartmental collaboration in law enforcement, and how there isn’t one right way to heal. We also give our thoughts on getting Jeremy’s perspective and say what we agree with him about (there isn’t much, but he does make one good argument). Let us know what you thought of The Butcher Game!
...2024-10-1445 minRevenge and Red HerringsEpisode 12 - The Butcher and the Wren by Alaina Urquhart: What Was His Body Count at This Point?We’re discussing The Butcher and the Wren by Alaina Urquhart in this week’s episode. We provide a brief biography of Alaina Urquhart (let us know if you want more author bios!) before talking about the scenes from the book that wouldn’t be out of place in a horror movie. We touch on our admiration for Wren (would you also have panicked?) and the authenticity Alaina brings as a former autopsy technician. We mention the true crime cases we were reminded of while reading along with our own trip to New Orleans (we would definitely recommend a visit...2024-10-0732 minRevenge and Red HerringsEpisode 11 - The Teacher by Freida McFadden: High School HellWe’re giving our thoughts on The Teacher by Freida McFadden in this week’s episode. We discuss why some kids suck (bullies and those with a superiority complex come to mind), touch again on dumb protagonists, and mention how shared trauma can bring the unlikeliest of people together. We also talk about twists that don’t make sense (there is only so far you can suspend your disbelief), the need for more backstory, and plot holes galore. Finally, we challenge the tendency to minimize the inappropriateness of certain types of teacher-student relationships (do you agree?). Leave a comment to let...2024-09-3037 minRevenge and Red HerringsEpisode 10 - Husband and Wife by K.L. Slater: But I’m a Man, So I Have NeedsIn this week’s episode, we’re diving into Husband and Wife by K.L. Slater. We give a hot take on staying in a relationship for your kid’s sake and tackle blaming the other woman to excuse the behavior of a cheating husband (again with seeing women as evil temptresses men can’t control themselves around? * heavy sigh *). We also state our preference for smart characters, even those who are morally ambiguous (do you also choose the intelligent antagonist over the idiotic protagonist?). Let us know what you thought of Husband and Wife!2024-09-2330 minRevenge and Red HerringsEpisode 9 - What Lies Beneath by J.G. Hetherton: Diabolical DianeJoin us as we discuss What Lies Beneath by J.G. Hetherton, the second book in the Laura Chambers Mystery Series. We lament Diane’s continued presence in Laura’s life (did you hate her as much as we did?) and the existence of another misogynistic male in a position of
authority. We question if anyone really deserves a dog's love and if any prisons are pleasant. We also talk about the evolution of Laura's boss and what we would like next for Laura (do you also want her to leave the hellhole that
is the fictional version of Hill...2024-09-1627 minRevenge and Red HerringsEpisode 8 - Last Girl Gone by J.G. Hetherton: Your Therapist Isn't Your FriendWe’re talking about Last Girl Gone by J.G. Hetherton in this week’s episode. Because we will be covering the second book in this series next week, we give a short biography of J.G. Hetherton before diving into his first book. We discuss the erosion of female culpability due to sexist thinking (do you think women are as dangerous as men?) and the author’s portrayal of misogyny (do you buy into the idea that writers can’t accurately depict people of another gender?) Leave a comment to let us know what you think of the book!2024-09-0928 minRevenge and Red HerringsEpisode 7 - The Perfect Escape by Leah Konen: The Evil Other WomanIn this week’s episode, we give our thoughts on The Perfect Escape by Leah Konen. We provide a brief definition of the domestic thriller subgenre before tackling our usual questions along with the stereotype of the evil other woman (internalized misogyny, anyone?). We also offer a hot take on relationships progressing quickly (are we just cynics?) Tell us what you think about The Perfect Escape!
Sources:
https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-fiction/5-tips-for-writing-a-domestic-thriller#:~:text=Unlike%20action%2Dpacked%20political%20or,family%20members%2C%20or%20close%20friends.
https://www.mysteryandsuspense.com/what-is-a-domestic-thriller/
https://celadonbooks.com/what...2024-09-0225 minRevenge and Red HerringsEpisode 6 - The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley: Don’t F**k with FolkloreCome check out this week’s episode on Lucy Foley’s latest thriller: The Midnight Feast. We talk about including supernatural elements in thrillers (are you a fan?) and how you shouldn’t mess with folklore and superstitions (even if you don’t believe in them). We also bring up creepy children’s songs and creepy children (there’s a reason many horror stories feature fucked-up kids). Let us know your thoughts on the book! 2024-08-2625 minRevenge and Red HerringsEpisode 5 - All Good People Here by Ashley Flowers: Better to Be Sensitive Than a SociopathJoin us for our fifth episode as we talk about All Good People Here by Ashley Flowers. We mention being Crime Junkie fans, but don’t hold back from saying how we really feel about the book's ending (do you agree?). We also discuss being firmly on our favorite character’s side (are you the same way?) and offer a hot take on the behavior of certain journalists, like Margot. Let us know what you think of All Good People Here!2024-08-1929 minRevenge and Red HerringsEpisode 4 - The Christie Affair by Nina de Gramont: Penises of PurificationCome check out our fourth episode in which we discuss The Christie Affair by Nina de Gramont. We give a brief biography of Agatha Christie and compare her real-life disappearance to the one featured in the book (why do you think Agatha disappeared?). We name our favorite and least favorite characters and give our opinions about the twist (were you also reminded of an Agatha Christie mystery?) and the ending. Let us know your thoughts on the book!
Sources:
https://www.agathachristie.com/about-christie
https://www.thoughtco.com/agatha-christie-1779787
https://blog.na...2024-08-1241 minRevenge and Red HerringsEpisode 3 - One Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware: Reality BitesJoin us for our third episode as we talk about Ruth Ware’s latest book: One Perfect Couple. We discuss reality TV shows, our favorite and least favorite moments from the book (what are yours?), and the comparison of this book to And Then There Were None. We also offer a hot take on one of Ruth Ware’s most popular books: The Woman in Cabin 10 (do you agree?). Let us know what you think of One Perfect Couple!2024-08-0141 minRevenge and Red HerringsEpisode 2 - A Slow Fire Burning by Paula Hawkins: Hurt People Hurt PeopleCome check out our second episode in which we discuss A Slow Fire Burning by Paula Hawkins. Along with talking about another book we were reminded of (and which we liked better), we briefly give our thoughts on Paula Hawkins’s The Girl on the Train and the movie adaptation (did you prefer the book or the movie?). Feel free to leave a comment with your opinion of the book!
2024-08-0126 minRevenge and Red HerringsEpisode 1 - The Accomplice by Lisa Lutz: Don’t Stick Your Fingers In Someone’s MouthJoin us for our first episode as we talk about The Accomplice by Lisa Lutz. We discuss our favorite and least favorite characters (are you on Luna’s side?) and give our opinions about the twists and the ending (is there a possible HEA?). Let us know your thoughts on the book!
2024-07-3130 min