Shedunnit

There’s an art to bringing classic crime tropes into the 21st century.

Many thanks to my guest, Maureen Johnson. Check out the latest installment in her Stevie Bell mystery series, The Velvet Knife. Learn more about her books on her website at maureenjohnsonbooks.com.

Books mentioned in this episode:— Your Guide to Not Getting Murdered in a Quaint English Village by Maureen Johnson and Jay Cooper (Illus.)— You Are the Detective: The Creeping Hand Murder by Maureen Johnson and Jay Cooper (Illus.)— Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson— Death at Morning House by Maureen Johnson— The Velvet Knife by Maureen Johnson— The Murder at World's End by Ross Montgomery— I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith— Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons— The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley— Gaudy Night by Dorothy L Sayers
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Why has Agatha Christie’s spinster sleuth endured?

This episode was recorded live at the 2026 International Agatha Christie Festival in Torquay, Devon. Alongside Caroline on the panel was Professor Michelle Kazmer from Florida State University and the historian Rachel Trethewey, with the journalist Sarah Ransome in the chair.

Support the podcast by joining the Shedunnit Book Club and get extra Shedunnit episodes every month plus access to the monthly reading discussions and community: shedunnitbookclub.com/join.

Books mentioned in this episode:— Sleeping Murder by Agatha Christie— A Caribbean Mystery by Agatha Christie— The Mirror Crack'd by Agatha Christie— A Pocket Full of Rye by Agatha Christie— The Moving Finger by Agatha Christie— The Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie— An Autobiography by Agatha Christie— The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman— Agatha Christie: A Very Elusive Woman by Lucy Worsley— They Do It With Mirrors by Agatha Christie— Death Comes as the End by Agatha Christie— 4.50 from Paddington by Agatha Christie

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Katie Lumsden joins Caroline to examine the swan song of A.J. Raffles.

No major plot spoilers until you hear Caroline say we are "entering the spoiler zone", at 13:03. After that, expect full spoilers.

Learn more about Katie Lumsden, her novels and YouTube channel, at Katie's website, www.katielumsden.co.uk.

A full list of titles in the Penguin series can be found at penguinfirsteditions.com. The next book discussed in this series will be The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle.

Support the podcast by joining the Shedunnit Book Club and get extra Shedunnit episodes every month plus access to the monthly reading discussions and community: shedunnitbookclub.com/join.

Books mentioned in this episode:— Mr Justice Raffles by E.W. Hornung— The Brotherhood of the Seven Kings by L.T. Meade and Robert Eustace— The Amateur Cracksman by E.W. Hornung— The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle— Trilby by George du Maurier

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Where does the tradition of younger women solving crimes begin?

Support the podcast by joining the Shedunnit Book Club and get extra Shedunnit episodes every month plus access to the monthly reading discussions and community: shedunnitbookclub.com/join.

Books and stories mentioned in this episode:— The Leavenworth Case by Anna Katharine Green— "Problem One: The Golden Slipper" by Anna Katharine Green, collected in The Golden Slipper, And Other Problems For Violet Strange

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Caroline rereads Christianna Brand's 1944 crime novel, Green for Danger.

Join my live event at the International Agatha Christie Festival in Torquay on Saturday, 19th September. Tickets are available at iacf-uk.org.

Support the podcast by joining the Shedunnit Book Club and get extra Shedunnit episodes every month plus access to the monthly reading discussions and community: shedunnitbookclub.com/join.

Books mentioned in this episode:— Green for Danger by Christianna Brand— "Dear Mr Editor..." by Christianna Brand, collected in Murder by the Book— Death of Jezebel by Christianna Brand— London Particular by Christianna Brand; alternate title: Fog of Doubt

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