Wednesday, July 20, 2022

by Katie Killian

If you’re anything like me, you’re catching up on your favorite shows and they’re leaving you wanting for more! The one I’m currently binging is Only Murders in the Building. And though I might not be much of a podcast junkie in real life, I love following along with the antics of the show. It’s an interesting twist on the regular murder mystery tv show and gives viewers insider access to the point of view of ameteur sleuth podcastors. We get to see them not only building the motive for the murder/s, but also putting together the pieces of the audio and story for their listeners (which is something you can totally do right here at the Idea Studio!). 

For those searching for books with a similar sense of humor, hubris, and/or mayhem, here are some titles which might intrigue you:

 My Killer Vacation by Tessa Bailey

For a beachy good time, murder, mystery, and all the sexy mayhem you could wish for: This one takes one ameteur 2nd grade teacher’s podcast fangirl dreams and ups the ante when her vacation home turns out to be the site of a murder. Enjoy all the hijinx that ensue when she teams up with a real life bounty hunter to solve the case. 

 The Adventure Zone: Murder on the Rockport Limited (book 3 of the series) by Clint McElroy, Griffin McElroy, Justin McElroy, Travis McElroy, and Carey Pietsch

Are you more of a TT/RP gamer? In for more of a rollicking good time? This book had me laughing out loud, and is sure to bring out some giggles in even the most stoic of readers. The lively, bright illustrations should capture just about anyone’s attention.

 Conviction by Denise Mina

With her life newly in shambles, Anna turns to a distraction to ease her mind: true-crime podcasts. Turns out, it hits a little closer to home than she expected, and now she’s convinced only she has the answers for the mysteries of the goings on behind her favorite stories. Readers who enjoyed watching Only Murders’ main characters get sucked in deeper to the mystery until they became part of the story themselves will enjoy this tale.

 Welcome to Night Vale by Joseph Fink; Jeffrey Cranor

Mysteries abound in Night Vale, a town seemingly plagued by government secrets, aliens, and all the inexplicable things one can imagine. But when two women and two mysteries get tangled up and the words “KING CITY” seem to be at the center of it all, what will come of all the confusion? Will there be answers? Or only more questions? This book was based on the popular podcast by the same name - also highly recommended.

YA

 A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder (book 1 of the series) by Holly Jackson 

To get more of a podcast-y vibe, I can highly recommend the audiobook version of this beloved book. The narrator is fantastic, and there’s a full cast of characters backing her up as suspects and side characters in her evidence files. The main character of this book - though the typical A student - is not your typical podcaster, and this book will send readers for a few unexpected twists and turns. 

 

 Sadie by Courtney Summers

Alternating viewpoints between Sadie trying to solve the murder of her younger sister and a podcast about a missing girl - Sadie - before it’s too late. This one is a little darker, but so well-crafted that it’ll drag you in and leave you reeling well after-the-fact. Trigger warnings: tough topics in this book. Be sure to look into it before picking it up.

Katie Killian is a librarian in the Fond du Lac Public Library's information and outreach services department.