I’ve listened to podcasts about writing for years, but recently I discovered a new niche in the podcast world that’s so exciting–podcasts for mystery readers! Each one has a slightly different angle. Some focus on a single mystery author, while others concentrate on a sub-genre of mystery. Some of the podcasts feature a guest interview for each show, while others have a discussion format. The hosts chat about current reads and news of interest to mystery readers. Read on to discover your perfect mystery podcast.
Mystery Books Podcast
If you’re looking for a new mystery, check out my podcast, Mystery Books Podcast, where I delve into the mystery novel in all its forms from contemporary cozies to Golden Age mysteries. It’s a fun, fast overview of the books with no spoilers. Come find your next mystery read.
Perfect for: readers looking for new authors to try, especially those who love cozies and historical mysteries.
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Sticher
All About Agatha
If you’re a fan of Agatha Christie, All About Agatha is the podcast for you. Hosts Catherine Brobeck and Kemper Donovan are working their way through the Christie catalog–reading and discussing every Christie book, short story, and play as well as the television and movie adaptations. For each podcast focused on Christie’s novels, they list the victim, the suspects, and the clues. They analyze Christie’s presentation of “the world as it seems,” then reveal “the world as it really is.” Brobeck and Donovan are also ranking the novels, giving points for categories like plot mechanics and credibility, along with setting and tone, while deducting points for stories that are “stuck in their time.” I’ve learned a surprising amount about how Christie wrote her books, and I’ve found answers to questions every modern reader of Christie wants to know like what is a spill vase? It’s a clever and entertaining podcast that intersperses snippets of movies, music, and television shows. If you want more Christie, they have a Patreon for all the extra Agatha they can’t fit into the regular podcast.
Perfect for: Agatha Christie fans, Golden Age mystery fans, and readers and writers interested in the mechanics of how Christie created such enduring mysteries
Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | All About Agatha Facebook Page
The Joys of Binge Reading
With a focus on mystery, romance, and historical fiction, host and author Jenny Wheeler interviews authors on The Joys of Binge Reading podcast. Each episode is a conversation, ranging from writing-related topics (how authors came to write novels and what inspired their current book or series) to reader-focused topics (what books and series the authors binge-reading).
Perfect For: Fans of historical mysteries, cozy mysteries, and historical fiction
Partners in Crime
Authors Adam Croft and Robert Daws delve into crime fiction on a broad scale in the Partners in Crime Podcast. Some shows are discussions between the two hosts about what they’re reading or have in their TBR pile. Other episodes are guest interviews with mystery and thriller authors, non-fiction authors, as well as celebrities from the world of film and television like Hugh Fraser (Hastings in Poirot) and Roger Simonsz (Death in Paradise).
Perfect For: Fans of mystery, thriller, and suspense genres; fans of episodic mystery television
It Was a Dark and Stormy Bookclub
Hosts Ann Dark, Tracey Stormy and Kathy Night are power readers, and they’ve channeled their love of cozy mysteries into the It Was A Dark and Story Book Club podcast. Each episode features interviews with mystery authors, most in the cozy sub-genre. The hosts are voracious readers. They’ve often read all the books in the author’s series! The hosts delight in getting to know their favorite authors.
Perfect For: Fans of cozy mysteries and general mystery fiction.
Read or Dead
In the Read or Dead Podcast, hosts Rincey Abraham and Katie McLain explore “everything related to mysteries, thrillers, suspense books, and even some book-adjacent news and topics,” according to BookRiot.com. This podcast tends to focus on traditionally published books as well as news about upcoming television and movie adaptations. Each bi-weekly episode is a discussion between the hosts, who provide reading recommendations for the week’s theme. They round out the episodes with a chat about what books they’ve just finished and what’s up next on their to-be-read list.
Perfect For: Readers who want to keep up with mystery and thriller news and upcoming releases; fans of mystery-related movies and television
Shout-out to Ellen Jacobson for her post on her favorite podcasts, which inspired me to share the podcasts in my listening queue!
This list looks great! I can’t wait to try these. Thanks!
You’re welcome! Hope you find some new podcasts. :)
The Christie one is especially interesting to us HM fans. I’ve passed along the info to the Crime Thru Time email group, letting them know where I got the information of course, mentioning you and your books.
Thanks, Helen! Yes, I agree about the Christie podcast. It’s extremely interesting. My favorite thing bout it is its thoroughness. It goes much deeper than a blog post or article. And the Crime Thru Time sounds like a wonderful group. :)