S&S Book Club: Gigi Pandian’s The Raven Thief
Tina, Lida and Jen chat about Carol’s pick: Gigi Pandian’s The Raven Thief. Carol says: I also love Gigi Pandian’s Accidental Alchemist mysteries featuring Dorian the Notre Dame gargoyle. So, it was an easy move for me to check out Pandian’s new Secret Staircase series.
Golden Girls (and Guys): Five Mysteries Starring Seniors
Lida writes: As a fan of mysteries with quirky characters, I set my sights on those featuring quirky, older characters who play a big role in solving crimes. They may appear as harmless chair-rockers, when in fact they’ve still got plenty of rocking to do out of their proverbial rocking chairs, with minds that function with a good amount of precision.
The Inside Scoop with Martin Edwards
Sleuths and Sidekicks is honored to host Martin Edwards, leading expert on the Golden Age of Mystery and President of the famed Detection Club, as our first Inside Scoop guest.
What We’re Reading: July 2023
A look over our shoulders to see what the women behind Sleuths & Sidekicks read this month.
One Image, Two Story Ideas: Italian Street
Jen and Tina love writing prompts. This month’s photo of an Italian street takes Jen to time-traveling historians and Tina to a plot to get even with a three-timing Lothario.
Picture a Mystery: Laura Dave’s The Last Thing He Told Me
Carol writes: The Last Thing He Told Me, by Laura Dave, follows Hannah as she searches for her husband, Owen, who mysteriously disappears one morning. With her stepdaughter, Bailey, who resents Hannah and wants nothing to do with her, they discover that Owen has lied about everything.
What I Learned from the Screenwriters and Filmmakers of Yellowstone, The Sopranos, and the Harry Potter Movies
Carol writes: I've learned so much about setting, characters and the role of reality from the screenwriters and filmmakers of Yellowstone, The Sopranos, and the Harry Potter Movies.
S&S Book Club: Jacqueline Winspear’s The White Lady
Carol and Jen chat about Jen’s pick: Jacqueline Winspear’s The White Lady. Jen says: I’ve loved Jacqueline Winspear since she first debuted the celebrated Maisie Dobbs series in 2003. When my sister gave me a copy of Winspear’s newest book, The White Lady, featuring a new heroine, I couldn't wait to dive in.
16 Mysteries Perfect for Summer Reading
Jen, Tina, Carol, and Lida write: Summer says reading, and this month we are delighted to share some of our favorite mysteries perfect for the beach, airplane, or anyplace you find yourself with time to dig into a great book.
What We’re Reading: June 2023
A look over our shoulders to see what the women behind Sleuths & Sidekicks read this month.
Girl Sleuths
Carol writes: The girl sleuths in the books listed here are smart, sassy, independent, and clever. They’re strong role models for young readers looking for inspiration. Enjoy!
Picture a Mystery: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s A Study in Scarlet
Carol writes: A Study in Scarlet is the book where it all begins. When Scotland Yard Detective Gregson asks Holmes to meet him at a baffling crime scene, Holmes seizes the opportunity to show off his abilities to his new roommate and insists the doctor accompany him. So begins their wonderful partnership in crime. The game is afoot!
One Image, Two Story Ideas: Racecars
Jen and Tina love writing prompts. This month’s photo of two race cars takes Tina to a village with hidden rivalries, jealousies, and even romance and Jen to a new chapter in the world of The Wind In the Willows where Mr. Toad plays detective.
How I Make Time to Read: 9 Tricks that Work For Me
Jen writes: I love reading. I always have, but somehow the time available for reading seems to shrink as I get older. But as a writer, reading isn’t a luxury. It’s mandatory. I manage to read a lot of books each month. How do I make the time? I’m sharing 9 tips that work for me.
S&S Book Club: Ann Cleeves’ The Rising Tide
Lida, Tina & Jen chat about Carol’s pick: Ann Cleeves’s The Rising Tide, the 10th Vera Stanhope mystery. Carol says: I’ve read every book in the Vera series and can’t wait for the next one.
What We’re Reading: May 2023
A look over our shoulders to see what the women behind Sleuths & Sidekicks read this month.
Ten Great Mysteries for Little Kids
Jen writes: I have two avid readers at home, and there’s little I enjoy more than reading aloud with them. I’ve already posted a list of 11 Great Middle Grade Mysteries, and it’s long past time for my list for younger readers.
Picture a Mystery: Joseph Kanon’s Istanbul Passage
Carol writes: Joseph Kanon takes the reader on a wild ride, crisscrossing Istanbul, Turkey from the European side to the Asian side in the thrilling spy novel Istanbul Passage. Expat Leon Bauer works as a part-time courier in the years following World War II. When his final assignment goes horribly wrong, Leon finds himself trying to save a life, while running for his own life.
One Image, Two Story Ideas: Greek Island
Jen and Tina love writing prompts. This month’s photo of an island in Greece takes them both to Agatha Christie-inspired stories: Tina has a locked-room mystery on a luxurious cruise ship, Jen brings back Miss Daisy Dupree at a house party.
Getting Ideas
Lida writes: I was recently interviewed by a journalist who works for a local paper. Her first question was one often asked of writers, “Where do you get your ideas?”